A wise person recognizes, then avoids, potential problems. But, someone who is overconfident gets angry. That’s how to make disastrous choices!
This blog post contains my personal LinkedIn posts for January 23 through February 12, 2023.
What’s New With You?
To a large extent, technology is generational.
Today, we assume WiFi is a standard part of many homes. But, it didn’t exist until the early 2000’s.
Cell phones in the U.S. became popular about ten years prior to WiFi.
Similarly, multi-television homes, and Internet-ready TV’s, are a recent “norm.”
An Observation: You don’t miss something you never had, or that didn’t exist when you were younger.
A Question: What’s the latest technology you’ve adopted, say in the past five years or so?
For what it’s worth, Solomon observed in Ecclesiastes 1.9 that “there’s no new thing under the sun.” He then repeats himself in the next verse, “Can it be said of anything ‘See this is new?’ because things were like this before.” proverbsforprofessionals.net
One Aspect of Life Balance
Each of us must balance who we are right now with who we can become.
We’re who we are right now because of our past experiences and choices we’ve made.
We’re who we are becoming because of our willingness to grow, thus to be transformed.
An Observation: Choose growth but don’t abandon the best of the life values you hold right now.
The Precept: Proverbs 27.19 teaches that our reflection shows us what we look like on the outside. Conversely, our character shows us who we really are deep inside.
A Question: How have you grown personally and professionally while retaining the best of who you are right now?
Personal growth is an inside-out process where we discover, develop, and demonstrate our purpose-driven self. The outcome is our unique ability to minister to others who need what we are giving away. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Got a Tech Problem? Ask a Teenager!
My wife and I recently jumped into the decade of the 2000’s by dropping our land-line telephone.
The issue? Our grandchildren have newer cell phones than either of us!
The benefit? When we have cell problems we’ve several teenagers to consult for advice.
An Observation: My parents never owned a cell phone. It was always land-line for them, with a single, rotary-dial device mounted to the wall!
A Question: Do you use your cell phone for anything more than talk, text, and GPS?!
In order to change, we must first recognize a need to change. Then, we commit to some process of personal transformation. Finally, we need a path of growth with goals that moves us forward. This applies even for something as simple as cell phone usage! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Where Wisdom Lives
Our reasoning ability is dramatically multiplied when engaged with our integrity, our conscious, our soul.
Wisdom recognizes that knowing is incomplete by itself. Knowledge must be paired with insight to guide our doing.
Thus, there must be balance between facts and insight.
Today’s Observation: Wisdom isn’t native intelligence. Instead, it’s the intersection between facts and insight. That’s where wisdom lives.
Get the facts but lean heavily on intuition, discernment, and experiential insight.
Thinking that produces new knowledge is good. However, thinking that’s guided by intuition and experiential insight is best. proverbsforprofessionals.net
How To Make Disastrous Choices!
This past weekend in the U.S. was the anniversary of the Challenger disaster, 01/28/86.
Decision makers ignored engineer’s warnings about vulnerability due to low temperatures.
Today’s Observation: Risks are inevitable. Careless overconfidence is avoidable. A leader’s responsibility is to know the difference.
The Precept: From Proverbs 14.16 we learn that a wise person recognizes, then avoids, potential problems. But, someone who is overconfident gets angry at the challenge, perhaps believing he/she can never fail or be held accountable.
A Question: What are the personal risks for taking a stand when organizational risks are excessive?
Remember, all successes aren’t because we are absolutely wonderful planners or have such incredible foresight! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Our Inner Light
We often hear: “Don’t let anyone dim your light.”
That’s good advice for us to follow. The assumption is we’re aware of our “inner light” hence, the unique value we bring to others.
Today’s Observation: As a divine creation, by faith, each one of us has a light inside that can shine on others, if we so choose.
The Precept: “Inner Light” reminds me of Matthew 5.16, which says “let your light shine…”
A Question: What aspects of professional growth lets you develop your inner light?
Personal growth is inside-out. We discover, develop, and demonstrate our inner light to others. proverbsforprofessionals.net
What’s Better – Foresight or Hindsight?
It’s good to learn from life experiences. We do that by reflecting on what has happened.
Hence, hindsight.
However, it’s of greater value to look ahead, recognize risks and rewards. Then decide wisely.
Hence, foresight.
A Question: How do you balance these two?
The Precept: Proverbs 22.3 says a critical thinking person recognizes risks and takes corrective action. A simple-minded person ignores the warnings, thus will walk into problems.
Foresight is of much greater value than hindsight! Certainly we can learn from both failures and successes, thus the value of hindsight. But, our lives are less prone to disaster if we use foresight to carefully consider likely outcomes, then act accordingly. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Purpose – Passion – Process
Our life purpose produces passion in us when we recognize the possibilities of WHO we can become.
What’s left is a process, hence daily self-disciplines, for making that life purpose a possibility!
Continual inner transformation draws me toward my divinely-appointed life purpose. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Essential Practice 1: Be Proactive
Covey’s Habit 1 says a proactive person takes responsibility for life outcomes.
They’re not a victim who blames life outcomes on others.
Today’s Observation: A proactive person accepts responsibility for changing themselves so their life outcomes will change.
This first habit says very clearly I am purposeful about my life choices.
The Precept: Proverbs 18.1 says we should:
1). Deeply desire to grow.
2). Focus on growth, to the exclusion of other activities.
3). Find sound content to guide that growth.
A Question: What enables you to stay focused on your personal growth goals?
We all get to choose our influences, which in turn, drive our behavior. If you want good outcomes in your life, choose your influences wisely. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Essential Practice 2: Begin With the End in Mind
Covey’s Habit 2 says begin with the end in mind.
Be goal oriented. Have a target. Envision your future self.
Combine that desire with very specific action to move toward your goal.
An Observation: I should think critically about who I am, where I want to go, and why I want to go there. Then, construct an action plan for reaching that desired end point.
Habit 2 says I know where I’m going. I have clarity about life purpose and the goals that are associated with that purpose.
The Precept: Proverbs 16.21 teaches that the wise hearted are discerning. They’re growing in their knowledge of the world around them.
A Question: How do you decide a desired end point for your life?
Each one of us is an influencer. Our personal influence occurs when we share with others those life truths that have most impacted us. Therefore, choose your life truths wisely. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Essential Practice 3: First Things First
Covey’s Habit 3 speaks to priorities.
It pushes us to say NO to many things so we can focus our energy on our life purpose.
First Things First changes our behavior. It means some things will NOT get done because they’re NOT a priority.
An Observation: I determine my priorities by starting with life purpose. Ask “Why should I be doing this?”
My actions should directly support my life purpose. Thus, priorities must be purpose-driven.
Habit 3 says I know what the first thing is AND I make that first thing the first thing!
A Question: What’s the role of values in determining First Things in your life?
The alternative to focus? Be all over the place with unfocused activities. Don’t forget the old saying: “Activity is no substitute for productivity!” proverbsforprofessionals.net