Michael Nichols | Leadership Made Simple
Leadership Made Simple
There comes a time when you need to speak up – to take up for others who needs your support.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not suggesting that we go around looking to get all up in everyone’s business. Yet, it’s entirely appropriate to speak up when someone is being wronged or taken advantage of.
An unusual experience yesterday reminded me just how important it is to look out for others…
It’s so much easier to complain about a problem than it is to solve it.
Photo Credit: M. Oppenheim/Getty Images
I’ve worked with hundreds of organizations over the past 15 years. And I’ve learned that nearly everyone complains – many do it regularly.
There are several reasons people complain:
We’re having a baby – a boy! And we need help!
In just a few days, as he makes his debut in the delivery room I’m going to greet him with his first fist bump.
He’ll be our second child – our first boy. And as the due date has drawn closer, I’ve been thinking a lot about two things.
First – I’ve been imagining what it’s going to be like to hang with a boy – MY boy.
When it comes to spending and savings, I always considered myself fiscally conservative. I was wrong.
In grade school I learned to leverage small sums of money to make more. My dad helped me start a company with $300 at 11 years old. This same company paid my way through college. In fact, I’ve leveraged debt to invest in businesses, homes, and commercial real estate without ever losing money on a significant investment.
After several substantial pay increases, we still felt like we were living month to month. We couldn’t seem to find margin in our budget. At the same time, like you, we watched as stock prices and real estate values plummeted. At that point I realized 3 things…
They never came to you – they just believed what they were told. There was more to the story – much more. Not just your side, but the truth.
If only they had asked you.
It’s happened to me, too. My motives have been questioned many times. In some instances, I was aware of the questions. But many times I was not – because they never came to me. Grace was not extended – the same grace desired by every person in the world when wrongly accused.
