Michael Nichols | Leadership Made Simple
Leadership Made Simple
When I feel like there’s nothing left, when I’m under enormous pressure, when my life and work are chaotic – even then, I can give more – to my family, to my team, to my friends, to future leaders. And so can you.
Feel free to copy and share the photo.
I wrote previously about a life-changing experience that taught me I could give more. Check out that article – it will add value to this one.
Every person should have a SIMPLE Personal Life Plan that is reviewed and updated regularly.
I wrote a personal life plan in 2004. Shortly after I wrote my life plan, I began working with an Executive Coach. These two changes (a new personal plan and an executive coach) significantly impacted my life and work. Within a few months, I sat down and noted 3 Reasons Why Everyone Should Have a Personal Plan.
Here they are – with a personal plan, you can…
Most of us made resolutions and set goals in January. But, sadly, many will never realize those objectives.
Let’s face it – setting goals is easy. And it’s just as easy to quickly become distracted, discouraged, and derailed. When that happens, most people give up or change direction.
It doesn’t have to be that way. As we move into the second half of the year, there is one secret that could energize your vision and give you momentum.
Tough times are inevitable. Something is going to happen to you that you didn’t want to happen – you didn’t expect to happen. What are you going to do about it?
A couple of weeks ago, I visited the George W. Bush Presidential Library on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. And in my first visit to a presidential library, I was reminded of the difficult moments, days, weeks, and months following the September 11, 2001 attacks on our country.
In one of the exhibits, I watched a short video in which the former president said:
I never wanted to be a wartime president.
And there are going to be things that happen to you that you didn’t want – or expect to happen to you.
Let’s face it – Life is going to deal you a hand that you don’t want to play. And the fundamental question is – how are you going to play it?
That’s just the way life is.
Like you (and our 43rd president), I have been confronted by some incredibly difficult circumstances. Yes – there were times when the pain was the byproduct of my own poor choices. But many times, it was not.
And rather than wasting precious time and enormous amounts of energy regretting my path, asking why or what if – I have chosen to focus on these 5 things when I’m faced with tough times…
“We all want experiences that we can be proud of, but what we fail to realize is that the best moments may be happening right now.”
In his newest book, The In-Between, Jeff Goins writes, “Maybe the good stuff isn’t ahead or behind us. Maybe it’s somewhere in-between.”
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(Take a few seconds and watch the book trailer – it’s the best I’ve ever seen!)
On Saturday, I will celebrate my 40th birthday. There are moments in every life that seem to demand a pause – for reflection on the past experiences and to envision a future that can be. For me, turning 40 is one of those moments.
Looking back, I’ve done a lot of waiting in my life. More than I ever expected. There have been many delays, detours, and postponements. Looking forward I see more of the same – more waiting. More in-between. And that’s ok, because the in-between is “a place to slow down. Where we learn to be present in an increasingly noisy world. It’s the place where we learn to let go.” And live.
