“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. Discipline weighs ounces–regret weighs tons” – Jim Rohn
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
Grab your favorite coffee cup and get ready to embark on a transformative journey. The Champions Brew Newsletter is here to invigorate your mornings and ignite your drive for personal growth and impact! Fuel your mornings with motivation and purpose. As you savor your first cup of the day, let the Champions Brew infuse you with the insights and strategies you need to make each day a stepping stone towards your aspirations. Let’s Go!
- Uncommon Leader Insights –Throughout his career, Chris Garavito has exemplified leadership that is both innovative and profoundly personal. In my recent interview with him on The Uncommon Leader Podcast , he offered several insights that are essential for anyone striving to balance professional success with personal fulfillment. Consider how my three takeaways from Chris’s journey could resonate with your path:
- Find and Benefit from Mentorship: Chris underscored the transformative power of mentors in various business aspects, including hands-on techniques, marketing, and leadership. A mentor doesn’t hand over all the answers; rather, they guide and challenge you to find them yourself. They teach you from wins and challenges they have experienced over their career. Mentorship can be found in friendships, through paid learning opportunities, or in the books, podcasts and newsletter you read. Chris’s story illustrates that the right mentors can help shape your journey, making lifelong learning an integral part of your growth.
- You can Succeed at Business AND Home: Chris prioritizes family commitments and insists on being present in both personal and professional spaces. Success in business and at home is Double Win and this can only happen with intentionality. It’s about ensuring you’re planning your time so that you can be present physically, emotionally and spiritually at work and at home.
- Embody Integrity: When asked about the message he’d put on a billboard, Chris chose “integrity.” He believes that staying true to yourself and maintaining honest relationships are critical in both personal and business contexts. Integrity is not just about ethics; it’s about creating a foundation of trust and being consistent in your actions and decisions. I have heard it described as what you do when no one else is around. This principle guides leaders in building transparent relationships with our team, family, and community, fostering a trustworthy and reliable leadership style.
I encourage you all to watch & listen to the fantastic episode and consider how these takeaways can influence your own approach to leadership.
Being successful as a leader requires intentional leadership habits. That’s why I developed the Ideal Week template – a tool that helps me identify disciplines and habits needed for success and allocate the necessary time. It guides you through planning your ideal week, ensuring you dedicate time to the activities that bring you closer to your goals.
Want to give it a try? Email me at [email protected] with the words ‘IDEAL WEEK’ in the subject line and I’ll send you a copy of the Ideal Week template complete with a sample to get you started!
- Be Intentional – “Good intention without discipline leads to excuses.” Whether you are aiming to advance in your career, improve your physical fitness, or enhance your mental well-being, discipline is the keystone that holds everything together. Here are four thoughts on how discipline plays an essential role in personal development.
- Discipline = Freedom– If you aim for anything meaningful in life, whether it’s a lasting transformation in your health, career, or personal relationships, discipline is non-negotiable. Scheduling the important items in your day are viewed by many as too restrictive, but the fact is we do the things we need to do when we need to do them SO THAT we can do the things we want do to when we want to do them(aka, Freedom!).
- Morning Routines Set the Tone for the Day – One powerful way to incorporate discipline into your life is by establishing a morning routine. A well-crafted morning routine does more than just prepare you for the day; it sets the tone for your productivity and mindset. For example, starting the day with activities like reading, prayer, and exercise, can significantly boost your mood and focus. The key is to stick to these activities consistently and resist the temptation to hit the snooze button. A disciplined morning routine sends a message to your mind and body that you are in control and ready to tackle the day’s challenges.
- Continuous Learning Fuels Discipline – Discipline isn’t a destination. It evolves as you continue to learn and grow. Investing time in reading personal development books, listening to podcasts, or learning new skills can continually refresh your purpose. Books like “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, which dive into the science of habit formation, or “The Standard” by Ben Newman, focusing on the importance of consistency, can offer valuable insights into maintaining disciplined habits. This ongoing learning nourishes your discipline, ensuring you stay focused and driven in the long run.
- Inspiration Overcomes Motivation – Achieving discipline means rising above the mediocrity that can easily set in when we lack motivation. Many people have lofty aspirations but fall short because they are unwilling to make the sacrifices required. Discipline helps you push beyond your comfort zone and consistently perform at a high level, setting you apart from those who settle for average. It’s the difference between merely having goals and relentless pursuit of perfection.
Whether you’re striving for personal, professional, or spiritual growth, discipline remains an essential component of your journey. By establishing strong routines and engaging in continuous learning, you can create a foundation for sustained success and personal transformation. It’s not always easy, but the rewards are unparalleled. “Good discipline with good intention leads to Excellence!”
- Read More & Build Faith– Bringing People Together: A Leadership Lesson from Jesus
I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing my takeaways from Jesus the High Road Leader by John Maxwell and Chris Hodges. Each behavior identified in the book offers valuable insights that we can all learn from, regardless of our faith. I hope you have found these reflections as enlightening as I have.
The last behavior outlined in the book was “Jesus Brought People Together”
Biblical Illustration: The Story of Zacchaeus
One powerful example of Jesus bringing people together is found in the story of Zacchaeus. In Luke 19:1-10, we learn about Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector who was curious about Jesus but could not see Him over the crowds. To get a better view, he climbed a sycamore tree. When Jesus passed by, He looked up and called out, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today” (Luke 19:5). This act of connection was profound; Jesus chose to share a meal with Zacchaeus, forging a strong relationship and demonstrating the importance of connection before correction.
As leaders, our goal should be to create lives that attract others, encouraging them to follow us for who we are, not just what we can offer. When we go the extra mile to serve others and meet their needs, people notice. They begin to wonder about our motivations, providing us with the perfect opportunity to share our values and beliefs. This approach naturally brings people together.
Encouragement also plays a crucial role in uniting those around us. Our words hold immense power; they can uplift others when they need it most. As high road leaders, we are called to bless rather than curse, to attract rather than repel. By fostering an environment of support and positivity, we can create a sense of community that resonates deeply with others.
I hope that this weekly review of these behaviors has been both inspiring and encouraging. We should value all people, avoid keeping score, give more than we take, acknowledge our humanity, do the right things for the right reasons, embrace authenticity, place people above our own agendas, and strive to bring people together. To be great leaders, we must walk the high road. Jesus provides an exemplary path for us to follow.
- Quote of the week:
“Preach the Gospel, and if necessary, use words.” – St Francis of Assisi
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: Each day, we receive the opportunity to choose whether we take the high road as leaders. This road is the road less travelled. Which road will you take?
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!!
