Happy Friday, Brew Nation !
Grab your favorite coffee cup, sit back, relax, and get ready to sip on some enriching and thought-provoking content that will equip you to thrive in all areas of your life:
- Work Hard – Do you often find yourself too busy to Learn? Clayton King smacked me directly in the face this week when I was reading from his new book One-Minute Prayers for Busy Leaders. He said this: “Fact is, each of us is given twenty-four hours every single day, and we get to decide how we use that time. It’s important that no matter how full your calendar gets, you stay in the habit of learning new information on a regular basis. Researchers have found that stretching your mind with new knowledge keeps the brain fresh and elastic, even warding off cognitive decline. Proverbs 23:12 instructs us to “Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.” So, redeem your commute to work (or your daily walk or fitness time) by listening to a podcast, or a book on audible.” By stacking a couple daily habits you can double your productivity in no time.
Are you aware that The Champions Brew explores various topics that I frequently coach and consult on with other leaders and organizations? If you or someone you know is seeking to elevate their business or personal life from underperforming to uncommon, I would love to connect with you and discuss 1:1 or group coaching, as well as performance consulting. In fact, click the following link to schedule a FREE CALL to explore how coaching could benefit you and your team. Let’s work together to unleash your full potential and achieve your goals!
- Love Always – As I sit down to write this week’s Champions Brew, I reflect on the numerous travel obstacles I’ve encountered during my nearly three decades of business travel. This week, however, has been particularly challenging. To illustrate, I’ve faced three delays, four instances where I was next in line for standby but failed to secure a seat, and a grueling five-hour journey on two separate flights with a screaming 2-year-old. To add insult to injury, my backpack opened while I was rushing to catch a flight, spilling its contents on the floor. All of this resulted in a lost day of work with a client. And to top it all off, I still have two more flights to endure this week.
The definition of Equanimity is the ability to remain composed, calm and mild-tempered, even in difficult situations. I know that years ago, I would NOT have been able to maintain composed as I experienced these inconveniences. I believe that because of studying stories from others through books, podcasts, and mentoring I have been able to develop this ‘skill’. Here are four tips I might suggest on maintaining equanimity:
1. Awareness: By being aware of my thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without being judgmental, I have been able to maintain calm in difficult situations.
2. Control the controllables: I can only control what I can control. Getting angry with a flight attendant or customer service representative will not make the situation any better. In fact, the opposite usually occurs.
3. Compassion: Compassion is the ability to empathize with others and respond with kindness and understanding. I found myself praying for the parents of the 2-year old who was clearly going through the infamous “terrible twos” and I remember those days as well. Don’t get me wrong. I still prayed for her to stop screaming as well ! And, I still have one leg of the trip to get home this weekend, so could you have compassion for me and say a quick prayer for an uneventful trip home?!
4. Gratitude: Despite the travel challenges, I found several reasons to feel grateful. For instance, I cherished spending quality time with a mentor while collaborating on a project, enjoying the fellowship and as well as a couple delicious meals. Additionally, I had the chance to reconnect with a client I hadn’t seen in almost two years, which was truly uplifting. When I found myself stranded at the airport for more than half a day, I was fortunate enough to have one airline lounge pass left, allowing me to wait in comfort. Thanks to technology, I was able to make a few essential calls and focus on an upcoming presentation I needed to complete. Above all, I am deeply grateful for having had a safe journey. So, recognizing the things to be thankful for amidst challenges can prove to be incredibly beneficial.
- Read More –So, I am finding my groove with John Maxwell’s newest book, The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication – Apply Them and Make the Most of Your Message. Each week, I will travel with you through a chapter of this book. This week we review Law # 4 of 16:
Law # 4 – The Law of Preparation
You Cannot Deliver What You Have Not Developed
This chapter struck a chord for me. I am sure that won’t be the last time I write that sentence… “You cannot share that which you do not feel” – Jim Rohn
I must admit, I am not enamored with the preparation process. Part of it is the time that it takes because I know I am inefficient at creating the slides that I want to present or message I want to communicate. Secondly, though, I believe that perfection gets in the way of great. So, I loved the questions that the author asks to help to frame a message at the start:
1) What do I want the people to See?
2) What do I want the people to Know?
3) What do I want the people to Feel?
4. What do I want the people to Do?
When I construct an outline, these are the steps that I use to get my best message across:
1) Tell them a relevant story. (what I want them to SEE) – Share an experience have I had that illustrates the point
2) Tell them what you are going to tell them (what I want them to KNOW) – Outline the key points I am about to share.
3) Tell them – Go through those key points in more detail
4) Tell them what you told them in a concise statement (what I want them to FEEL) – Summarize with a memorable statement or quote. You can often assess the effectiveness of these quotes when the listeners take out their phones to snap a quick photo of the quote on the screen. Remember the Maya Angelou quote, “People won’t remember what you did. They won’t remember what you said. They will remember how you made them feel!”. Amen!!
5) Call them to action (what I want them to DO) – End with a call to action that inspires your audience to take the next step (like sharing the Champions Brew with someone else, or subscribing to the Champions Brew 😉). Make it clear what you want your audience to do and why it matters.
By following this outline, you can increase the impact of your presentation and leave your audience feeling inspired, and empowered.
Quote of the week:
“THE PURPOSE OF COMMUNICATION ISN’T TO IMPRESS YOUR AUDIENCE. THE PURPOSE OF COMMUNICATION IS TO EMPOWER YOUR AUDIENCE.”
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: So, how do you practice Equanimity? What can you do this week to develop that skill?
It’s an honor to be your trusted “Friday Coffee Guy”. Each week, I’m excited to provide yet another round of curated content that I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, or thinking over. The purpose of the Champions Brew is to inspire, equip and encourage you to become the uncommon leader you were designed to be. I am so grateful for your decision to invest a few moments with me! I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with someone who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.
Until next time, Work Hard, Love Always, Read More, and Grow Champions!
P.S. – Are you a podcast fan? Maybe the Uncommon Leader podcast is for you. Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast? Do you have a story to tell? Email me [email protected] and let’s have a chat and set something up!!
