Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Leadership, self empowerment, self growth
What’s your gigantic impossible dream? Do you have one? Have you given up on one? Why would anyone want a dream when the economy is so sluggish? I mean after all we are in the midst of a serious recession. Did you know it is official now?
Dreaming big is critical to powerful leadership and living life. Lots of people don’t have dreams for fear they may not come true. If you don’t believe me, I encourage you to ask the next 10 people you meet. What’s your dream? Most people get this semi glazed look about them, and go into some part of the brain that may not have been accessed for quite awhile.
Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream. At that time his dream was considered by many to be ridiculous. I think his dream was accomplished. He had a dream that one day blacks and whites could drink from the same water fountain, as one tiny example of his dream. I wonder what it would have been like for Dr. King to get up out of bed with the idea of accomplishing his dream. My sense is that he jumped out of bed. I bet the little things in life did not stop him for too long. I think it is partly why we celebrate his very life. Most people take a day off on his birthday. .He had a dream that was manifest through his leadership. While his tragic assassination ended his life short…was his short life well lived?
How about Richard Branson the billionaire owner of Virgin airlines etc. I know he has dreams. He keeps living into his dreams. Does he face obstacles? Yes, my guess is that Mr. “adventure” Branson has some very real obstacles. So what? I think living as a leader requires having a big ass dreams. Dreams can propel us into a new way of being. Dreams keep us edgy, real, authentic and inspired. Dreams are like Baked Alaska…they are only ordered on special occasions.
In one of my coaching sessions this week, I asked my client to create his impossible dream. He was amazing. I could tell he had given it considerable thought. It did not take him long to list the gigantic dreams that he has. Were they all realistic? Heck no. That’s just the point. His dreams were so big that I know (he knows) he will never accomplish some of them. Once he spent some time in “Dreamville” (is that a real place?) I dropped the billion dollar question. Who would you have to be as a leader to make that happen? Ok, now you could hear a pin drop. Then very gently I lifted the velvet hammer. Why not just start being that way today. His face lit up. His shoulders went back and he became the man he had always wanted to be. Well, at least in that moment. Now, he gets to practice consistently leading his life from that place.
Leaders are good at being .You must be the thing that you want to lead into. Be it now. Don’t wait. The dream will give you permission to behave in the way that the dream requires. The brain is funny that way. I don’t mean funny as in humorous. I mean funny as in peculiar. The brain does not know the difference between imagined and real. Don’t believe me? Take a bite of an imaginary lemon right now. What happened?
I challenge you to dream big. This is the perfect time of year to consider a big dream goal for next year. Be specific…then behave consistently in the direction of that dream. My sense is that the quality of your leadership/life will change.
Enjoy the process. Please share with me. What is your Impossible Dream? Perhaps one day, I can assist you in making that happen?
Lead on. Dream on.
Filed under: Personal Transformation | Tags: Leadership, Personal Development
What if you knew you had one year left to live? I asked a client this question today. He looked at me like I had antlers on my head. Oh Deer…pardon the pun. Listen, as leaders we need to be willing to ask tough questions and get ourselves and others out of our auto reply zone. I have been listening in on many conversations lately. They tend to smack of mundane, polite, niceties that may not be serving those around us. I find that a well placed “outrageous” question can really assist us in higher thinking.
We all know that Living Life as a Leader requires some unreasonable questions of ourselves and of others. These questions will generate an entirely different thought process for the people around us .Different thought processes create different results. If you are a person that is interested in generating different results, then I recommend asking different questions. Perhaps the questions are a bit edgy or thought provoking. It’s OK - it won’t hurt anybody. It will make us all think. I find the worst thing that can happen from an edgy question is; the person just does not want to answer. That’s OK too.
As you know, I endeavor to practice what I preach. So, I am also a fan of asking myself these kinds of questions on a regular basis. The results are mind blowing. For example: What could I do in 2009 to double my business? That question makes me think. You will also note these questions create inspiration and focus. You must admit that is a very different question than: How can I do the same sales volume that I accomplished last year? Or…How can I stay profitable in a tough economy? You will get an answer to the questions you ask. That is just sensible. The better the question - the better the answer- the better the answer - the better the solution - and the better the solution the better the result.
I encourage all of you to practice asking some edgy questions and see what happens. You got no-thing to loose and every-thing to gain. Have fun and ask away.
Let me know what you discover?
Would you be willing to “fire” a client if you thought it would serve them? What if that action meant leaving thousands of dollars on the table? For example; a plastic surgeon that knew that liposuction was based in some low self image and not remotely necessary. Would you tell your client you did not think she needed the surgery, or would you go for the dollars?
Moreover my question is: What is your willingness to really serve other people regardless of the business that you are in? Most of us are afraid to really serve. We serve others when it is convenient for us. What about the times it is not convenient or lucrative to serve others? How honest would you be with your client?
I feel most of us have limits on how we would serve people. Up until now I have been afraid to really serve people. I thought I was serving people. I meant to be serving people. As I look at it more closely, I was terrified to serve. Serving someone might mean I could get taken advantage of, or even worse they might not approve of my renegade ways of being. Now I can see more clearly as I attune more to the Spirit of Service. It really has very little to do with me or what I think. It has much more to do with my listening to the guidance of Spirit in my life.
Also, in terms of serving others…there is a belief that I had to shift. The endemic thought I had in the past was: Can people handle the truth? In a way, that was just me really wondering? Can I handle the truth? Once I began to handle the truth in my life, I have been able to share truth more fully with my clients and the people around me. My new belief is: “Of course people can handle the truth”. That has been a large shift for me. That willingness to serve has created for me the largest client base of my 12 years of teaching leadership.
I find that as I get older I am willing to go to any degree to serve other human beings. I get juiced up from it. I feel alive and edgy from it. I feel free when I serve others in a myriad of ways. Service is the bed rock to any business I can think of. Service is the infrastructure to leadership. Would you follow a leader that was unwilling to serve? I have done that in the past and you won’t find me doing it again. I invite you to consider the following question: How could I serve my family, clients and associates? What are the limits to my willingness to serve? What value is there for me to serve others? Let me know what you discover?
Today would be a great day to Take 5 from the apparent crisis and all the exciting political news. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could just simply hit the “mute” button and turn off the chaos and claim our own personal peace on Earth – no matter what is going on in the world? Lately the rhetoric seems like it is out of control - like a childish temper tantrum tsunami (“But I want it NOW Daddy!” says Veruca in Willy Wonka).
Here’s a few headlines to ponder -
“Greenspan Calls Crisis a ‘Credit Tsunami’’”
Election Day Could Become ‘Nightmare’
“Top cars that are most stolen – click here to see if you should be worried”
Whew! I was running out of things to worry about, how about you? And exactly what does worrying accomplish? My coach and mentor, Steve Chandler says that “Worry is a misuse of the imagination.”
Does the media use fear to create our reality? Just a few weeks ago Nashville ran out of gas because the media announced that there might be a gas shortage due to a hurricane hundreds of miles away. The result: People lined up for hours buying as much gas as they could, even if they did not need it out of the fear that there might not be enough. The funny thing was, that there was plenty of gas just outside of Nashville. Is it possible to not negatively react to news like this?
The solution? Indulge Yourself in a Take 5 Moment!
Pencil yourself into your life today and visit a refreshing website called “Take5Moment.com” which was created to meet the needs of the overworked and over-stressed who are limited on time and resources to get the exercise or mental break they need.! The founders of Take 5 Moment, Sherry Zak Morris and Gayna Scott are corporate drop outs that moved beyond the fear of thinking they needed their secure corporate jobs.
“Today, we have a new mission. After luckily getting laid-off, we are following our passion and dreams. We want corporate America to take a break! It is our desire to have office workers take 5 minutes every day to check-out and take care of their health. We have created a library of five-minute videos and blogs featuring experts offering tips on everything from health and wellness, nutrition and diet, to meditation, motivation, humor and beyond” says Sherry and Gayna, founders of Take5Moment.
Take some time for yourself today, to just breathe and realize that in this moment everything in your life is just fine regardless of what is going on in the world. Perhaps most of our troubles come from believing that there is something wrong with the world and that everything should be different. The great spiritual teacher Byron Katie calls this “Loving What Is” because as she says “When you argue with reality you lose, but only 100% of the time.”
Maybe even take 5 days off from watching the news and focusing on what is really important to you, your loved ones, your health, your sanity and how you can be of service to the world. Maybe even ponder how much of our power and happiness we give to the media?
Is it really possible to claim your own personal peace on Earth? Visit Take5Moment and explore the possibilities http://www.take5moment.com/links/mcghee.html Enjoy!
Filed under: Personal Transformation | Tags: Empowerment, Leadership, personal growth, self help
I teach corporate leadership. Perhaps, I should say corporate leadership teaches me. I realized recently there is one very sad and powerful truth about leadership. It is sad for those that avoid the truth of it and powerful for those who are willing to understand and embrace it. You are the sole owner of your life and what you are creating.
The bad news first! Blaming your life on someone else creates pain, complaints and suffering. The great news! Owning your life creates freedom. I have not yet met one human being exempt from this choice. You choose.
Is the economy really to blame for all the bankruptcies and foreclosures? Is financial freedom really about luck or karma? You choose.
I recently released a video entitled: “Be the President of Your Own Life” that has a wonderful song in the background reminding people that “coming home” is really about voting for your Self. By looking outside of ourselves and blaming people or situations as the cause for our pain we exponentially create our own demise. We are not voting for our selves when we are busy blaming other people. What? I create my own demise? How can that be?
It can be! Just as major companies like Microsoft Corporation were created during recessions. Yep, like the one we are in now. Consider the power of that. You may not end up with the bank roll of Bill Gates, and I promise you will experience an inner wealth beyond compare. Your inner wealth will eventually translate to your bank statement.
Let’s Get Real People…this is a time of challenge for many. And for many this is harvest time. You show me someone that has let the garden grow with weeds…I will show you some choked off crops. You show me someone that has been steadily learning and growing and planting relationship seeds…I will show you a crop ready to harvest.
Filed under: Empowerment | Tags: Leadership, miracle leader, personal growth, politics, self empowerment, stephen mcghee
The MIRACLE LEADER MOVEMENT has Been Unleashed!
I have just released a video and eBook titled “Be the President of Your Own Life!” check out the video below…
How many of you have been thinking a wee bit about politics lately? For me, it has been hard not to think about it. I see it as a good thing. Thinking that is. I know there have been many times in my life…I have neglected my freedom to think. I remember times where it seemed easier to just think what other people were thinking…What do you think about politics? I bring it up as a perspective for leadership and not as a political commentary. I watched most of the Democratic Convention and I am watched most of the Republican Convention. I did this because I wanted to think.
I believe that many times in my life I have only wanted to listen to the side of a debate or point of view that I already knew I agreed on. I did that because I wanted to be right. I realized last year in a passionate dinner table conversation how differently some people close to me think. The family member I debated probably thought the same about me. However, the key is thinking and thought.
Most of us want someone to make our minds up for us. Sometimes I think we want someone to just solve our problems rather than think about them ourselves. What do you think? I have done this. Have you? Well, when I chose to get real this week about the conventions I decided to throw out my old thoughts and listen anew. I wanted to really learn and to think and the only way I know how to do that is to check out both sides of the proverbial coin. .
I think Miracle Leadership does that. Being a miracle leader involves a willingness to think of other points of view. I want to listen as neutrally as possible so I can really learn and think. I think we have forgotten how to think. The fastest way to progress is for us each to really own our life…to listen to other points of view and then make choices. Yes, I believe all of us should vote. To vote firstly for our Selves and then to get so clear about our values that what/whom we vote for is clear as a bell. Ding Ding. Let’s wake up and vote for our Selves to be the President of our own lives. To have our own policy’s that we live by and have deeply integrated as conviction.
The other day I was speaking to a friend. I said “It’s not that I care so much WHAT someone is thinking, I just care that someone is thinking.” I know that the times in my life that I have been thinking are the times that I have been fully living. So perhaps the conventions are a great way to remember what you think? What do you own as a conviction for your life? What matters most to you? And finally who are you going to vote for each and every day to ensure you live a life that you love?
VOTE for your Self! THINK for your Self! EMPOWER your Self! Join the Miracle Leader Movement and get the free eBook “Be the President of Your Own Life” by going to www.MiracleLeader.com
Filed under: Personal Transformation | Tags: miracle leader, sedona talk radio
Sedona Talk Radio Interview
Become a “Miracle Leader” and do the impossible!
Wednesday Sept 10 at 2pm Eastern
Tune into an in depth interview with Stephen McGhee on Sedona Talk Radio with Linda Benvenue, host of My Sacred Self…Embracing the “All that I AM.”
CLICK HERE on Wednesday to listen in.
Stephen McGhee author of “Learning to Believe the Unbelievable,” offers listeners ways in which they can create daily miracles in their lives by simply stepping outside the circle and observe their authenticity and potential unfold. Do you have an enthusiasm for your own life and an inner drive for something greater than yourself? Are you tired and bored of running in place doing the “same ole, same ole?” Maybe it’s time to play the edge and live life with gusto by allowing your comfort zone to be challenged. Join Linda and her guest as they explain how to super charge your life right now.
About Linda Benvenue
For more than twenty-five years, Linda Benvenue, author of The Dawning: Facing God “Head-on,” poet, and motivational speaker, has helped individuals recognize the enormity and beauty of their own creation. Visit Linda’s website at www.thedawningexperience.com.
Filed under: Miracle Leader Hall of Fame | Tags: coaching, miracle leader, Steve Hardison, ultimate coach
STEVE HARDISON
We are honoring Steve Hardison and welcoming him into the Miracle Leader Hall of Fame. Anyone who has been in the presence of the legendary Steve Hardison will know exactly why. Steve has no boundaries as to how far he will go to be of service. To be in Steve’s presence is to experience unconditional love.
Coaching with Steve demolished my comfort zone. Our conversations revealed profound breakthroughs and made me a much better coach. Steve showed me how to create miracles and reminded me that I am a miracle, we are all miracles and we are surrounded by miracles - but only if we are looking for them and slow down enough to see them.
I was recently asked to contribute to the In the Company of Leaders book for the Toastmasters International leadership conference and I wrote about Steve Hardison and the power of his presence and the Herculean impact of who is being. Here is an excerpt from that article…
Steve came to the microphone and stood there soaking up the room. His presence was palpable. It was truly remarkable as his azure blue eyes glistened through his glasses at the audience. He stood silently looking out at all of us. While Steve was not looking directly at me, I could really feel his presence, and something began to shift in my body as if he was my very Soul was opening up my Soul … He was calm and powerful, relaxed and nervous all in the same breath. How can that be? There was raw power there. He wasn’t saying anything - not a word. The room was hushed and got grew increasingly quiet as we all waited for him to speak…a few people began to shift in their seats…. It was apparent that many people were uncomfortable with the silence. What would he say? Would he ever speak at all? The clock ticked…30 seconds. He looked out at us again, this time more fully…he connected more deeply. It was as if he was going deeper into his own heart…his own Spirit and as he went deeper I felt myself go deeper. This was so weird. “Say something”, I thought to myself. “I want you to speak. I want to hear what you have to say.”
His mouth finally opened and the words tried to come out. The first word was broken. He swallowed hard and began again. This time his heart connected with his mouth and his every ounce of being. His eyes filled with emotion and power filled integrity. He said, “My Name is Steve Hardison and I want all of you to know I LOVE YOU.”
The room grew quieter still as if they were in the calm before a hurricane. The hurricane did come immediately following that statement in the form of a thunderous round of applause which erupted as thousands of people gave a standing ovation for the powerful demonstration Steve had given us. He said very little and yet his five minutes spoke volumes to all of us.
CLICK HERE to visit the Miracle Leader Hall of Fame to read the interview with Steve and experience the life changing power of a conversation with this truly extraordinary coach and human being.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I remember my first real job. I was sitting in the new employee orientation program. I was wearing my new uncomfortable shoes. Man, they were shiny. Hurt like hell…but shiny new…a moment in time…dreams of being extraordinary. The President of the Bank came in to talk with us. His shoes were even shinier than mine. He inspired me…and I thought one day I want to impact people like that. I want to shine…I too wanted to be extraordinary. However, how does one become extraordinary? How does one make a shiny difference in life and business?
On that day I knew I had much to learn. I still do…after 25 years of experience, mistakes, and willingness to be ordinary. What you say? Being ordinary…is the key to the extraordinary. I have seen myself and others go for extraordinary results on many occasions. Sometimes those results are attained and sometimes they are not. However, for most of my coaching clients and world class teams the Extra-Ordinary results have come from a consistent focus on the ordinary things that make business and life exceptional. I ask you to consider the freedom in the ordinary. I used to find that focus boring or less than adventuresome…and man oh man was I ever off course. I must say that even on the Wilderness trips that I have led the most amazing experiences came from a team of us devoted to the discipline of putting one foot in front of the other to summit our extraordinary peaks.
So if someone were to say to you. Are you an extraordinary person? You may swallow hard…and chirp out a vibrant YES….I too am special. Some part of us knows the beauty and power of Living as a Miracle Leader comes from the simple ordinary result of applying ourselves in a fearless fashion each and every day. Sure I think there are brief shining moments of glory as an Olympic athlete wins his 4th gold medal. That my friends is amazing…and it came from early morning swim meets…training day in and day out and ordinary thoughts .The question I pose is this: Are you willing to do ordinary things to have an exceptional result?
I find most people want the result without the effort or the focus. Don’t be a dummy…get real and consider the courage in the next step…the next swim and the simplicity of shiny old shoes. Today is a day of celebration. This is a day to celebrate the leadership of consistency. All of us can do that. One step, one thought, one integral moment of Grace at a time. I invite you to join me in creating something miraculous on this day from the very essence of your simplicity.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I was speaking on the East Coast this past week and out of the blue, I began to question what the difference is between positive thinking and intelligence? It’s not like I am the resident expert on either subject. However there was something magical as I talked about what the two meant to me. First, I think positive thinking has been a good thing for many people. Let’s just say the endeavor to be “positive” will likely be more serving for most people than the endeavor to be cynical. However, I have known some people (yes, even me in my not so distant past) that have been more positive than intelligent…so let’s explore that.
I remember once having a really bad head cold. You know the kind, including red eyes, runny nose, fever, and a plastic smile. People would say: How are you feeling? I’d instinctively reply something along the lines of “I feel great. I feel better all the time. Don’t worry about me”…. “I am fine”. That’s almost as yuck as the cold itself. Everyone knew I felt like crap. I looked like crap. It was just not real. I don’t really know where that began for me. Maybe it was the Peter Lowe seminar I did in the mid 1990’s. Somewhere along the lines I got good at saying I was great…fine…wonderful…without really being present with the truth. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has had this conversation.
Now having said that, let’s introduce intelligent thinking into the mix. It might have been more intelligent (meaning to have some degree of wisdom) to cop to the fact that I had something funky running out my nose, my body ached and I needed to sleep. In fact, I submit it would have been in the realm of intelligent thinking to admit that “I don’t feel great” and “I am doing some things to take care of myself. I am taking vitamin C…I am getting more rest….I am clearing this head cold by tomorrow morning”. The idea is one of presence and real about what is happening as an intelligent way of being. I believe the “I’m fine” answer has become our collective “auto-response” to the question. My challenge to you is to speak the truth and move on, rather than speaking for the sake of having words to say.
I think movements like “The Secret” and many other good news programs can really support us in our journey to live beautiful lives. However, it’s important that we not lose touch with the reality of what we are really dealing with. I am not encouraging us to get stuck in “stinking thinking” but rather to embrace the situation as we choose a new direction for a solution.
Obviously the runny nose example is plebian…and you can relate to the same scenario with your work projects, fitness programs, finances etc. It makes no sense to not be real and authentic. In fact, I believe once you can really “own” your runny nose, you can move yourself to healing more quickly than if you were to deny it. Because you cannot leave a place that you have never been – getting real with where you are empowers you to clearly see the next steps to move towards what you want to create.
Being authentic is the grease on the slide of life. You can move more freely and most people will feel closer to you…than if you play it “cool” all the time. Two of the greatest business coaches I know, Steve Hardison and Steve Chandler use life tribulations to inspire others on to greatness. I invite you to do the same from moment to moment to moment. Be real, be authentic, and seek the solutions that catapult you into a powerful way of living.
