“I need to see if there is a book on how to be a catcher.” – Mark Miller
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:
- Uncommon Leader Insights – In a recent episode of The Uncommon Leader Podcast, I sat down with seasoned leader and author, Mark Miller, to uncover the subtle intricacies of authentic leadership. With a conversation that focused on his new book Uncommon Greatness (a book I highly suggest!)and packed over 45 years of Chick-Fil-A leadership wisdom, here are three takeaways that you shouldn’t miss:
- Trust – Mark skillfully reminded us that trust is the cornerstone of leadership, a matter of the heart. As he profoundly stated, “We just don’t follow people that we don’t trust.” Recognizing that more leaders stumble due to heart issues than skill deficiencies, we are compelled to embrace trust as the bedrock of lasting impact.
- Value Results AND Relationships – In leadership, there is a perpetual tension between achieving results and nurturing relationships. Uncommon leaders understand that it’s not an “either-or” scenario but a “both-and” requirement. Balancing the two is pivotal for both individual and organizational success. While, as leaders, we may tend to lean towards one aspect naturally, creating an environment where are both are present is essential.
- Lifelong Learning – Our conversation shed light on the indispensable role of continuous growth and adaptation in leadership. Leaders are perpetual learners, constantly reassessing and evolving their strategies, systems, and processes. Mark eloquently reminded us that “without change, leaders would not be necessary.” This challenges us to embrace progress and innovation, even when we find ourselves comfortable with our current performance (maybe even MORE so when we are comfortable!).
This episode serves not only as a treasure trove of leadership insights but as an actionable guide towards uncommon greatness. I strongly urge you to listen to the full episode to hear more of Mark’s wisdom nuggets. Also, you can connect with him on his website.
Stay tuned for more engaging episodes of the Uncommon Leader Podcast, where we continue to unlock the wisdom of exceptional leaders and empower you on your leadership journey!
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
- Build Faith & More – I finished up a 5-part devotional on the Bible app this week titled, Born to Lead. The fifth entry especially struck a chord with me. I shared it with a client who is facing a relevant challenge, and I felt nudged to share it with you:
Ephesians 2:10 reads: “ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Resourcefulness is the ability to find creative ways to solve problems. When faced with challenges, look outside the box for solutions. As you lead, resourcefulness helps you reflect on your current skills and determine if there are any you need to strengthen or develop. All these involve the resolve and resilience of the human spirit. In the book Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success, legendary basketball coach John Wooden says,
“Resourcefulness is using our wits, proper judgment and common sense to solve problems and meet challenges. It is using initiative in difficult situations and involves inventing, creating, imagining, synthesizing, evaluating, classifying, observing and analyzing solutions to overcome the trials that life throws at us. Resourcefulness is dreaming up ways to meet our goals.”
John Wooden had to be resourceful when he lived in a fraternity house at Purdue University. He had trouble studying because there was always so much noise, so he decided to start getting up at 3 a.m. to accomplish the task in peace and quiet. When he needed money, he had to put his resourcefulness to use again, selling food at football games and selling basketball programs during the basketball season. He says that most people would call this an entrepreneurial spirit, but he just saw it as being resourceful.
Resourcefulness is a mindset, and to be successful, you must embody characteristics such as discipline, dedication, hard work, confidence, and willingness. As Ernest Hemingway said, “Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.”
Taken from Born to Lead
Quality #18 – Self-Discipline
The First Person You Lead Is You
Quality #18: Self-discipline—it resonates profoundly in the realm of lifelong personal development. In this chapter, Maxwell sets the stage by illustrating the self-discipline of the legendary wide receiver, Jerry Rice – in my opinion, the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). While gifted athletes and leaders possess innate abilities, their true potential remains unfulfilled without the application of self-discipline.
Reflecting on the chapter’s moving action points, one quote stood out: “To do important tasks, two things are necessary: a plan and not quite enough time.” As leaders, our lives are already brimming with responsibilities. Often, personal development takes a back seat, inducing feelings of guilt when allocating time away from work or family. It’s a paradoxical struggle: “I lack time for personal growth, yet without it, I cannot evolve.” Embracing self-discipline as a lifestyle requires the development of systems and routines—long-term commitments rather than seasonal endeavors. Frequently, our limiting beliefs show up as excuses. French classical writer Francois La Rochefoucauld aptly remarked, “Almost all our faults are more pardonable than the methods we think up to hide them.” Let’s overcome the self-imposed barriers and excuses that hinder our self-discipline.
Here are a few specific takeaways that resonated with me:
- Point: Author H. Jackson Brown Jr. humorously quipped, “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it is going to be forward, backward, or sideways.” Reflecting on last week’s calendar, ask yourself what intentional steps you took to point you to grow personally and professionally. If you don’t schedule your time, someone else will.
- Prioritize: Identify the factors getting in the way of your self-discipline. Are there an overwhelming number of tasks on your plate? Develop a plan to prune those tasks through deselecting, deferring, delegating, or deconstructing your current activities, thereby creating space in your calendar for exponential growth.
- Purpose: To cultivate greater self-discipline, gain clarity on why it matters to you. Display your “why” somewhere visible, leveraging it as a guiding force to help you follow through.
Discipline is the unwavering commitment to doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, even when you don’t feel like doing it. What is holding you back? Remember: “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago… The second best time is today.” If you haven’t already, plant the tree of self-discipline in your life today. And if you have, keep nurturing it with utmost care. You’ll be amazed at the success that awaits you.
Next week: Servanthood
Quote of the week: “A good reputation takes time to earn, just as it takes time for gold and silver to purify.” – Zig Ziglar
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: Here are some questions you can ask yourself to ensure you are making the most of every situation when your mind is stuck:
• Is there another way to get what I want? If your current plan does not work, prepare a plan B.
• Is my desired outcome really what’s best? You may be going down a wrong path and need to course correct.
• Who else has the information I need? You may not have all the answers, but there is always someone who does. Find that person.
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, Go 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!!
