Inspiration from Space

If you follow my blog, you know I also know you can follow me on Twitter (if you didn't know, look to the right).  I enjoy sending words of inspiration, food for thought, into the universe to help others.  As would be expected, I also follow the tweets of those people who follow me.  Some tweets are funny, some are nonsensical and some are very inspirational.  The inspirational ones, the ones that make me stop and think, I save in my Favorites file.  I got a thought the other day that I should share these tweets so others can also be inspired. (after all, not everyone is on Twitter).  So, here are some of my favorite tweets and the Twitter name of the person who sent out the tweet.  Yes, sometimes there are multiple tweets from one person.

Leadership Defined

The other day, I was reading a Facebook post praising a mentor of mine.  I agreed wholeheartedly with the post and wanted to add my two cents.  I began to compose a comment saying how I learned more from watching what he did, his behavior, than from what he told me to do.  And it hit me.....a leader is someone who models behavior that people follow.  And it hit me again.....I am a leader.

You see, my definition of leader was narrow.  To me, a leader was a person who had been to a place or achieved a goal he was leading people to.  The old "I've been to the top of Mt. Everest so I know the terrain and can lead you there" definition.  Since I have goals I have not achieved, I didn't see myself as a leader.  After all, what "terrain" did I know?  Why would people follow me down a road I know nothing about?

Reading4Champions Book Club: February Book

Hello Champions!

So far on our championship journey we have learned to re-think what opportunity means and to embrace it in "Opportunity Knocks" by Pat Mesiti.  We learned to think like champions in "177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class" by Steve Siebold.  We have learned to embrace setbacks and failures, and to move forward from them in "A Setup is a Setup for a Comeback" by Willie Jolley and in "Failing Foward" by John Maxwell.  Last month, we learned to be tenacious and to never forsake our dreams in "Never Give Up!" by Joyce Meyer.  (If you have not finished reading any of these books, continue until you do finish).  There is no doubt we have amassed some powerful weapons to use on our championship journey. 

The February book will further arm you in the mental arena.  

New New Year's Resolution

Just as a young man's fancy turns to love in the spring, it's January of a new year and people's fancy turns to New Year resolutions.  People resolve to change - loose weight, make more money, exercise more, eat healthier, save more money, etc.  People resolve to do, or not to do, things that will improve their lives and give themselves a year to make the change.  Resolutions are good and people are sincere in making these yearly resolutions.  But statistics show that by the end of February, most people have forgotten their resolutions only to remember them again in December when it's time to make New Year resolutions again.  This is not good.  I propose a new New Year's Resolution: instead of only treating the beginning of a new year as a time to make resolutions, treat the beginning of a new day as a time to make resolutions.

Reading4Champions Book Club: Never Give Up

Happy New Year Champions!

In December, in "Failing Forward" by John C. Maxwell, we learned a powerful championship lesson: failing is okay, normal and to be embraced.  

The book for January is "Never Give Up!" by Joyce Meyer.  Ms. Meyer is one of the world's leading Bible teachers.  She has written numerous inspirational books and is a #1 New York Times bestselling author.  Her ministry, Enjoying Everyday Life®, is enjoyed by two-thirds of the planet daily over radio and television.  I selected this book as our next read because it reinforces what we learned in "Failing Forward"- circumstances are always ideal, but we should learn something from the and never give up.  Also, it's the first month of a new year, a time when you are making resolutions to change.  What better time to change your mindset so that you will not abandon your resolutions by February, but actually accomplish them?

In the introduction, Ms. Meyer says:

Think of this book as a manual to use as you pursue the best in every area of your life.  It will give you the inspiration you need to keep putting one foot in front of the other when you grow weary on your journey and remind you over and over again, in a variety of ways: you can do it if never give up. 

This is the second time I am reading this book and I am excited!  Already, I have highlighted ideas and concepts that I did not pick up on during my first read.  Read pages 15-28 and tell me what you think in the comments section.

Question for Comment: Did you learn how to fail from reading last month's book?  Do you have a book you would like to suggest for reading and why?

Thanking and Giving

Each year, between November 1st and December 31, people focus on thanking and giving...... just in time for the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.  Thinking of others is good, but thanking and giving are not relegated to a season. Thanking and giving are for everyday. 

The Bible says:
  
    "[i]n everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1Thessalonians 5:18

Think you have no one to thank or no reason to thank everyday?  Well, for a moment, sit back and see yourself standing on a street corner with nothing but the clothes you have on right now.  Imagine you have no home, no possessions, no job, no money, no family and no friends.  Also imagine no one sees you and no one acknowledges you.