WISE, INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP IN LIFE
Mike Prom - Director
November, 2008 – Vol. 1, Num. 7
Simulcast 2009 – Friday, May 8
In the 1800’s when people were heading west for a new life and opportunities, two wagon trains left at the same time from the same departure point and were headed to the Oregon territory. As we know, wagon trains took a long time and had to go through difficult circumstances to get to their destinations. With these two particular wagon trains, the one group decided to never stop, just keep moving everyday out on the trail. The other train made the decision to each week, stop for one day of rest.
Well over time both trains arrived in
That seems odd that a group that stopped systematically beat a group that kept going. Obviously the group that stopped were more productive the days they were working. People (and animals) were not made to always be going, never having a break. We are wired that way. Our bodies need rest, rejuvenation in order to function. Over time productivity will be hindered when we do not slow down sometime, somehow. Statistically we humans are involved in more accidents when we are tired than when we are firing on all cylinders.
Slowing down does not seem to be the American way. In order to get ahead, we got to keep going. It may be also that we are afraid of slowing down. What will we do? Or someone will get ahead of us! For those of us who have children soon realize that our children are not impressed that we are always working (whatever that work may be). They want us. It is just like I have often seen where a child will take the face of the parent and with their little hands on each side of the parent’s cheeks, turn mom/dad’s face to look right at them because they want our attention.
Technology has done us a disservice in that we have become basically one hundred percent available to vitually everyone. That makes it very difficult to slow down to focus on your family and yourself for at least one day a week. Last month many questions were posed about having significance in your life. I can not tell you how important it is to ask yourself some of those questions and ponder what the answers may be.
Life is short, our time with our families is shorter and figuring out who you really are affects eternity. Honestly, life is basically all about relationships. If we do not slow down, life may become much shorter than what you want (death) and/or we lose out on what life is truly all about. Very few people on their death bed have lamented that they did not work enough or should have put in longer hours at work. Rather so often, the laments are about relationships that were lost or not reconciled.
If we do not intentionally place time in our lives to slow down even once a week, we place in jeopardy potentially our health, our joys and our relationships. Yes, there are periods of time when things come up that we burn the candle at both ends, but that is not healthy for long periods of time. If we desire to be leaders, then we must impact people through relationships, not our resumes. Which wagon train would you have wanted to be a part of?
ILLUSTRATION
When you see geese flying along in a “V” formation, you might be interested in knowing that science has discovered why they fly that way. Research has revealed that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately behind it. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly fells the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone. It quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the “V” and another goose flies the point.
The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep their speed. Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunfire and falls out, two other geese fall out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with the goose until it is either able to fly again or dead, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group.
QUOTES ON CHOICES
“There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make makes you.” John Wooden, legendary college Basketball Coach
“The secret of a person’s successes is discovered in their daily agendas.” John Maxwell
“Be aware that the natural tendency is to mentally set an almost unreachable standard for success while simultaneously creating a definition that is easy to obtain.” Tommy Newberry
