My worst advice was “don’t take the risks involved in career growth.” Instead, settle for what you can do right now. What’s your worst advice ever received?
This blog post contains my personal LinkedIn weekday posts for December 6 through December 10, 2021. Enjoy!
That’s nonsense!
Ever read a social media post and think, Huh? That’s complete nonsense!
I occasionally see those posts. Often, in the form of a poorly-worded poll.
Similarly, year’s ago there was a comedian, Professor Irwin Corey.
He billed himself as “the world’s foremost authority.” That’s right, he never said foremost authority of what!
Corey made his living by talking. But, the dialog was a stream of nonsense! It was entertaining. But, it was total nonsense.
Posting sound content on social media should not be like Professor Corey! That is, don’t be guilty of publishing complete nonsense that no one gets!
Today’s Insight: Always ask yourself if others will understand what you are publishing.
The issue with impactful communication isn’t my intention to be well-meaning. Instead, the issue is communicating well! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Proverbs 12.23 notes that useless communication is rooted in a foolish character. Likewise, Proverbs 13.16 shares how fools publicly publicize their foolishness but critical thinkers manage knowledge effectively.
Did they really say that?
Perhaps you have heard “money is the root of all evil.”
Actually, the verse says “the love of money is the root of all evil” – see 1 Timothy 6.10. Hence, the core problem is greed, not the material resource.
What are some take-aways for leaders?
1). Verify everything! Go back to the source to find out what was actually said.
2). Watch your responses. Don’t jump to conclusions or respond based on rumors.
3). Build discernment. Don’t be naïve. Think critically enough to ask “Is that really true?”
Today’s Insight: Fact checking takes time. However, fixing an inappropriate response takes more time!
Being concealed or unclear doesn’t mean something is unknowable. So, spend the time needed to get down to root cause and to know the facts. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Proverbs 25.2 observes that effective leaders build their influence, in part, by getting to the heart of an issue.
Purposeful and fulfilled!
Are you purposeful? That is, are your choices deliberate, based on clearly-understood goals?
Additionally, do those purposeful actions provide a deep sense of fulfillment in your life?
Out of the four possible combinations of answers to these questions, let’s focus on YES-NO, that is, purposeful but unfulfilled.
First, let’s focus on motives. I can be purposeful out of anger, vengeance, or self-consumption for example.
Think your motives are pure? Ask your spouse, or a close friend, or your mentor.
Second, assuming good motives, look at your goals. One way to be purposeful but unfulfilled is by pursuing goals that belong to someone else, not you.
Or, the goals are based on the “you” from years ago that you have now outgrown.
Today’s Insight: We must be self-aware enough to recognize OUR own life purpose. Else, we continue going through the motions of an unfulfilled life.
There’s no fulfillment in living a life that belongs to someone else! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Proverbs 3.4 speaks of a life marked by grace and of grasping what’s essential. It comes when we are intentional about living in balance. Here, by balancing mercy and truth – knowing and doing.
What’s your worst advice?
Mine was a version of “don’t take the risks involved in career growth.” Instead, settle for what you can do right now.
I had tried a career move that failed. I was digging myself and my family out of a hole.
I didn’t take the well-meaning advice. We – my wife and I – together chose growth. To take a different path. To make a dramatic change in career direction.
Thirty years later I look back and conclude that although difficult, not settling but choosing to grow was indeed a very good decision.
Today’s Insight: It’s much easier to blame externals on our life situation than to take responsibility for the choices we have made.
Regrets are the leftovers of our unwillingness to make hard choices and take the disciplined action that’s required for productive change to occur. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Proverbs 14.4 observes that “no ox” means the stall is clean. However, if you want increase, don’t leave the stall empty!
We choose how we act!
So, choose wisely in order to behave wisely!
Changed behavior is an inside-out process. That is, we should focus first on WHO we are inside.
That character transformation is assisted by critical thinking. Clearer thinking drives good judgment, which in turn, changes how I act.
Habit formation is nice, but it’s outside-in. Thus, isn’t a substitute for change deep inside.
Inside-out change enables us to behave wisely.
Today’s Question: What lifestyle practices assist you in building behavior-transforming traits such as integrity and discernment?
After David defeated the giant he didn’t let that early win go to his head by getting over-confident. Instead, he chose to “behave himself wisely” as described in First Samuel 18.5. Thus, at times, who we are is exhibited by how we act after a big win in life.
Behaving wisely is a source of influence for a leader, or even for an emerging leader. For an example, see First Samuel 18.14-16 where David – prior to becoming king – behaved wisely and built a following as a result. proverbsforprofessionals.net
