The biggest risk of all is to do nothing. Thus, the risks of no growth is to live below your potential as an individual.
This blog post contains my personal LinkedIn entries for August 29 through September 4, 2022.
You still must decide
For me, most of the difficult decisions I’ve dealt with involved other people.
I suspect that’s true for many of us.
“Tomorrow” is the day of the week that comes just before “some day.” Don’t allow your decision processes to follow this delaying pattern! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Really difficult decisions often involve unpleasant outcomes for yourself or someone else. But, you still must decide!
The Precept: Proverbs 3.5-6 is a familiar passage about seeking God’s leadership. We’re told to trust wholeheartedly. And, don’t rely on your own ability to make sense of things!
A Question: What decision algorithm(s) do you use for tough choices?
The risks of no growth
The biggest risk of all is to do nothing.
To never change.
To refuse to grow.
Thus, to live below your potential.
Thus, to not become WHO you should be. Your most impactful and authentic self.
We are of value to others by knowing our life purpose, and then sharing with others our authentic self. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: If I miss my WHO, I miss my WHY. Thus, I fail to recognize and pursue my divinely-appointed life purpose, my WHY.
The Precept: In Proverbs 23.26 we read “give me your heart”. It doesn’t say “give me your head”! Wisdom demands our character, not our smarts!
The question: What’s motivating you to grow your character?
Growth demands self honesty
Personal growth demands we be honest. With ourselves!
But…
Self-honesty is a risk.
It demands reflection.
Moreover, it demands we admit “this isn’t working.”
An important part of consistently being my authentic self involves not only relationships with others, but also my (sometimes painful!) interactions with myself! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: We become accustomed to not addressing the need for change. We don’t practice self-honesty. As a result, we stay stuck!
The Precept: James 1.22-24 says we should act, not just reflect. It compares not changing to looking in a mirror, then forgetting what you just saw!
The Question: Have you ever had the “this isn’t working” conversation with yourself? What was the outcome?
Introvert Tip: Control Your Schedule
Recently someone asked me how my week went.
My response: “I’m retired – every week is great!”
When scheduling my annual physical, the nurse asked which days were better. I answered, “I’m retired – every day is Saturday!”
If you’re an introvert, and not retired, then you need to find ways to control your schedule.
Never forget the well-worn advice to schedule your priorities rather than to prioritize your schedule! One way to make priorities happen is by having a weekly planning meeting with yourself. Block times of your calendar for essential activities. proverbsforprofessionals.net
The Question: How do you as an introvert manage your daily schedule to provide the needed slack time?
Wet towel on top!
Summer is over. Kids are back from camp.
How do they pack for the return trip?
From my experience, their wet towel from the last morning of swimming goes on top of everything else in their bag!
The Question: What’s your experience with how a 10-year old packs a bag at the end of summer camp?
What’s your truth?
It’s the expression of your unique value.
Personal truth requires:
1). Knowing our truth – our unique value.
2). Developing our voice – our distinctive messages.
3). Sharing that truth – by speaking, writing.
We use our physical voice while sharing our distinctive life message. As an outcome, that sharing of our authentic self draws an audience who values our distinctive message! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Once we have a voice, we must share those messages by believing in the transforming value of our truth.
The Precept: Proverbs 23.23 instructs us to “buy the truth” as part of knowing wisdom and making sense of things. Our personal truth is a key element of that growth process.
Have you created your value proposition? It’s expressed as:
I share (my distinctive value), to (a specific audience), producing (an outcome in lives of others).
