What happened to substance in Hip-Hop?

Y'all remember when hip hop was about more than just making money. I do. I can remember hanging out as a small kid new to a small town where everyone was family except my family. Being a former military kid I had grown up with lot of people and wasn't used to the community or the way things were in small town America. The one thing we all had in common I found was the love of this thing called rap and the substance that a lot of it provided. Of course there were some songs that were just party tracks and I got to hear a lot of that via my neighbors. Their father was a Dj in the area and had a show on the radio and hosted parties. I cam up on tracks like this.

I did not realize what an effect Hip -Hop would have on my life at the time. It was just something to break the ice and to help me fit in at the time. For some time I was just in awe of the way the words meshed with the tracks and would spend hours listening to music trying to decode all of the lyrics. I figured since I couldn't dance I could at least know all of the words to the songs while I was hoping for a dance. This however turned to me focusing on poetry and eventually getting on stage as a performer in a rap group, and producing my own music. The substance in the songs I grew up with influenced me to embrace the art. It wasn't about the money ever in those days we did it for free and loved it. This got me thinking what was the point where hip hop lost it's substance, it's soul. When did we trade the ability to impact and inform our communities for dollars, or more like cents on the dollar. Up until recently I could count on at least one or two good albums a year with some kind of value to them. A concept album or an album that had something to say other than pop molly, shoot a nigga, drop something twerk something, and bust it open if ya real. Where did all of this come from? Is it just laziness? This new school is missing the message literally, and I blame the artist of yesterday for the decline. Has everyone lost their minds for a little bit of money? Do we not realize what a force we have and how powerful the voice of an artist is? This is what we have left for our children to help keep the revolutionary spirit alive, and seek out injustice and social inequality.

Let's keep it 100 there are a handful of artist out there still making music with some substance but they are fare and few between mainly because the support for that type of music is sparse at best. This is another reason the blame for our youth emulating what they see lays on the older generation as well as the consumers of such garbage music. I know everyone has a right to express themselves and that is only fair, however the practices of the industry to pander to the cheapest and most useless, and soulless forms of entertainment have only become more popular recently because first, we who know better sit in silence and accept it. Hiding behind the rhetoric that they are just making money; it's a business. Second we don't want to acknowledge the effect that music has, because that makes us accountable for what we put out there. That's the real problem people, artist, consumers no one wants to take any responsibility for the footprint they are leaving, because rather you actively make a choice to do something or you passively let it fly because it's not your concern you have to live with that choice. We are living with the choices of inaction now. So the next time you hear some subpar ish on the radio or on a show remember the good ole days, and make a choice. Me I'm turning nonsense music off.

Leadership Value: Learn from the lessons of false leaders

Leadership Value: Learn from the lessons of false leaders

Over the past few weeks we have had a conversation about what leadership is and what it means to be a leader. Now that we know what it is we should be able to recognize what it is not, right? Unfortunately that is not always a simple thing to do. False leaders are abundant we see them everyday. Some are in office, some at our places of business, and some in positions that we depend on to help provide a safe environment. I have mentioned this before in other Leadership Value posts, but I really want to hone in on it in this one. For many people it is easy to be a leader, especially when there is no sign of trouble, anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm, is a saying from Publilius Syrus, a freed slave from the first century BC. He is also credited with saying that a good reputation is more valuable than money. On both accounts he was correct. As long as things are good and they are never tested, false leaders are able to have a reputation that is more valuable than money. It is not until time of need that they are exposed. We have an obligation to learn the signs and test those that would lead for the betterment of all those they claim to be striving to lead to a better position. There is a measure of personal responsibility that everyone has over his or her own actions, but that is for another post. Beware of those that steer the ship only in calm water because the sea is not naturally smooth sailing. There will be turmoil and challenges. Many may try to sell you their dream, while you supply everything and they supply only the vision. This not a leader, this person is a shame artist that wants to take advantage of your resources all the while standing on your back to move to a hire position. They will often talk of their vision but will seldom have anything of substance to offer you. If we are to improve our own lot in life and pave the way for others that we care about we must study from our past mistakes and the mistakes of others and those lessons should be implemented in a fashion to maximize our growth.

Leadership Value: Leadership is not a position

Leadership Value: Leadership is not a position

Do you remember when you were in grade school and the teacher would make you do a group assignment. If your class was anything like some of mine, there was always that one kid that volunteered for the position of the leader of the group. Most of the time this person wasn’t really interested in the welfare of the group; he or she wanted the position to make them look better. Let’s be honest, we all want to look good, to be appealing to positions of authority, because they are the gatekeepers of success. They have the authority to; in this case pass or fail you, but more so in life these people are the ones that hold your raise or evaluation for that new position at their discretion. Back in grade school we had not learned that the way a leader really looks most attractive is when the whole group succeeds. So here is where being the leader actually comes into play. Leadership is not just a position; it is in fact the ability to take action, to pull the trigger on a decision. This does not only apply to the calm times but when everyone around them is in a panic, the leader must remain calm and focused. Leadership is the ability to act when everyone and everything around you is in chaos, that is what defines a leader. Often times a true leader is the most reluctant to take on the task of being the leader, because they understand what it means, and what a responsibility they have to the people whom have chosen to follow them. A true leader understands that there is more to leadership than the title of a position.

Leadership value: success and failure is perception

Leadership Value: The difference between success and failure is perception

It’s hard for people to believe that their success is not their own. It’s even harder for them to believe that their failures are not someone else’s. Some people think that if they are ever going to be successful it will be at someone else cost, that there is not enough room for them to be successful and someone else. This is a problem with perception. There are two main factors that will determine how successful you are. The first is not viewing the work as a whole but as each individual task. When small tasks are done with a simple discipline of doing each task the best we can we learn to see success for what it really is. The second thing to know is no matter what you are doing; no matter if it is art, or engineering you are not alone. The road to success is not a journey that is taken alone, although everyone will not make it with you to the end of the journey you must give in order to receive. The opportunity to help someone else is an opportunity to elevate you as well. I do not mean for wealth or taking advantage of another person, but by aiding someone else you have not only changed your perspective but theirs as well.  With the right perspective things become less daunting, because when we succeed it is because we are together, and when we fail it is only because we feel we are alone.

There is always a time to party

Many times in the pursuit of our larger goals we forget to celebrate the smaller goals that pave the way to that ultimate level of success we are striving for. None of us is promised anything as far as success goes. There is a lot of hard work and dedication that must be done long before we ever see and hold the fruit of our labors. As leaders we must not forget to celebrate the moments with those that believe in us and work towards the goals with us. In those moments we all taste a small measure of the future success that we will share if we continue to work together as a team and learn from each other. As leaders we must encourage the celebration of these moments, it is not only validation for all that we have worked for until that moment, but it is also fuel to keep the fire burning even brighter than we could have imagined. As leaders we must foster the celebration of our milestones rather it is a party or just a night out with pizza and a firm hand shake we must take the time out to enjoy the fruits of our endeavors before we press on. Let us not get so caught up in the race to the finish that we forget to enjoy each and every moment, every relationship, and every obstacle overcome that inches us closer together as a group, and to the end of a journey; where we will start anew. Life is often seen as a series of obstacles it is only when we take time to celebrate and reflect that we can see the journey for what it really is and apply that perspective to our future.

Leadership value of the day: Addition or Subtraction

Leadership value of the day: Addition or Subtraction

Most people are familiar with the simple math principals of addition and subtraction. However many think that these principals only apply to numbers, money, or anything with a value. While these principals are commonly taught in that frame of reference today I want to offer up a theory. This theory boils everything down to these two things. In life every relationship you have either adds to your life or it takes away from it. Take a moment and really think about this. You have friends that either foster positive change in your life or friends that help you spiral out of control. It is often not that black and white, as our nature is not one that is polarized but a nature that is more that of yen and yang. We must look at our relationships in a reference of time and growth to see if the relationship is one that should be fostered or cut off. However before we can get to this point we must embrace the principal that all relationships either add or subtract. If you are striving to lead and become a great leader this is something you would do well to keep in mind. If you are working to change your life and mentality start by embracing this principal, this will allow you to fully see the scope of a relationship. This does not mean cut off all the people that are not adding to your life, because it may be you who adds to theirs, but understand that if this is the case you should be aware of how your relationship with this person influences you as well.

Leadership Value of the Day: Preparation

Leadership Value of the Day: Preparation

Sometimes we get so excited to do what we have been dreaming about that we get ahead of ourselves. We look to finish the race before we have even begun. This is a mistake that can slow and even finish a project before it has even had the chance to breath. As a leader striving for greatness not only in self but the projects we want to produce, we need to often prepare ourselves and the people we a leading for the tasks at hand. When many people think of preparation they think about the gathering of all the materials they may need and the drawing up of a game plan to help them achieve their measurable goals. This is a great step, however it is not the extent to which one must prepare. In order to truly prepare a leader must now where he or she is leading people, the goals that need to be achieved and must communicate those goals to the people that are making up the team. Sounds easy right? It is not as easy as it sounds because we all are subject to getting caught up in the heat of the moment and forgetting the purpose and our preparation. A great leader should always communicate the goals of the group in the simplest form. This allows all involved to know what is the collective goal. It helps to solidify the unit as a cohesive group, and not just a bunch of people with their own agendas. That leads us to one of the most important factors choosing your people wisely. Many leaders do not like to turn people away from their groups. However sometimes it is necessary for the whole group. It is the leaders job to make sure that the group embraces those that are coming fourth with a pureness of intent, and protect the group from ill will and malice. Sometimes that comes in the form of friends that fain to be champions of your cause. Finally in order to be completely prepared for the task at hand you must be able to delegate the right people for the right jobs. A great leader does not need to run around to every job to make sure it is done. A great leader instills confidence in the people that he or she has chosen. Letting them know that they are trusted and capable to perform the duties at the highest levels for the progression of the group.

Here is a little funny video that drives home the point of preparation.

Leadership Value of the Day: Overcoming an Entitlement mentality

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Leadership Value of the Day: Overcoming an Entitlement mentality

This is the second version of this post that I have written today. I read the first one and realized it was too much for many people to handle. That I had taken people too far to fast, and that if I want to reach people that I have to break the information down into small digestible chunks of information that people can understand before I spill all my opinions out.

            There are many layers to the entitlement mentality. I am only going to deal with the one that most people are aware of. I am doing this for two reasons. The first is simple; in order to change things you must first be made aware that things need to change. The second reason is because I am living it in my life now, but more on that in bit. So let’s just jump into shall we.

            The mentality that someone owes you anything is ridiculous. I see it more and more everyday. People that feel they are owed something in life. While it is true that many of us come from a lot that has not been dealt the best hand, we cannot use this as a reason to not put in the work ourselves to change our lives, and our world for the better. Many people think that just because they show up to work that they are owed a paycheck. Are you one of those people? Do you believe that just showing up is enough? While showing up is half of the battle many times we forget to teach that after you show up you must show up. You have to work to be productive, and not just go through the motions but to actually get results. We are a society that rewards just showing up, and not the results that are supposed to be a product of showing up. There are deeper reasons for this that I will not try to address in this short post, but we must understand that in this life we can only reap what we sow. Many say that phrase but few truly understand the meaning. Many of my friends are graduates of a university or a technical school, and believed that coming out of this most expensive and segregated time of our lives would yield the ability to earn enough to make a living. Many of us are being hit with the harsh reality that this is not necessarily the truth. While we may have learned theories and techniques to help us get in to a door, we have not been taught how to think for ourselves once we walk through it. That is the real problem. If we are unaware of what we really need to know to make it in the society we live in it will breed this mentality of entitlement, because of the promises made. Changing this mentality is simple it only takes two things. First, be productive. Measure your success in the things that yield results and not just showing up or getting something to a finishing point. Second, think. Take time to think out what you really want to achieve. Thinking is an activity many people do not engage in anymore, many have become content with allowing others to think for them, and thus we go round and round.

Leadership Value of the Day: You get what you pay for.

Leadership Value of the Day: You get what you pay for.

In these days we are often looking for the best deal the shortest and most efficient way to get somewhere, or achieve something. If that means cutting our thanksgiving day with family short, or waiting in a long line in the cold we are willing to go through it to get the best deal. We are a culture that has decided that we would rather find the short cut. This might be okay when it comes to your Christmas shopping or finding that perfect gift if you are willing to pay the price. Realize that you are not just paying money; you are sacrificing time. So how does this relate to leadership? Where does that leave us? There is no short cut to success. There is no road map that will guarantee that you will be successful. You have to be willing to pay the price, because you truly only get what you pay for. This does not mean to go out and buy the latest self-help book as soon as it comes out, although increasing your knowledge wont hurt your chances of being successful. The payment that is required for success is different form buying gifts. The price for success seems like it would be different for everyone; however this is not the case. The price for success is the same for everyone. It is having a belief system that allows you not to give up even in the tough times. Having the mettle to withstand the no’s and frustration of those that don’t get you or why you won’t just give up and do something else. The price is not being a quitter, and unfortunately most people are not built to withstand the pressure, they cannot pay the price, because it is too high for them, so they stop. When they stop they live a life that is reflective of the effort they put in. If you have paid the price for something and all you have to do is pick it up are you just going to sit at home and watch them advertise the item and wish you had one? No you are going to hop in the car and go get it. Many people refuse to hope in the car and they spend the rest of their lives paying that price. Your life will only reflect what you put into it and the price you are willing to pay. So for a better life make a choice. Do you want to continue to pay the price you are paying now and get what you have now, or are you willing to step it up? Work harder, knock on more doors, get more no’s and get what you have paid for.

Leadership Value of the Day: Time

Leadership Value of the Day: Time

Time it’s the thing we all complain we don’t have enough of. It seems like in our busy lives we never have enough of it to adequately go around. So we pinch a little from here and a little from there and try our best to make do. What we as leaders need to understand is not only must we manage time, but we must learn make it our friend. In an earlier post I spoke about moving with a since of urgency. Yes, it is true that we all should strive to move without hesitation on a decision that has been made. However that is not the topic here. What we are really learning today is that we need to be hyper aware of the amount of time that is needed to complete our goals and develop our people. This means being aware of the competition and a timeline of what it will take to compete on the same level, and or surpass them. The things we should know about time are basic. One of the first things is to enter early. Do the work ahead of time so that you are not taken by surprise. A later start forces you to allocate more resources to the objective, which really means it is going to cost you more money and time. Try to use simultaneous action to make better use of time. Make decisions in a timely manner because procrastination changes the effectiveness of the decision. No one likes last minute decisions, and people like last minute changes even less. We should stay ahead of the curve, and to do this we must learn to manipulate time and make it a tool that we embrace not fear.

Leadership Value of the Day: Will

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Leadership Value of the Day: Will

So many people say that they want this and they want that. They want to be the best at their craft, or perform at the highest level in the office. Here is a secret; no one says they want to be second best. No one wakes up in the morning and says I’m just going to do enough to get by, or today they win and I am not going to try so hard. We all want to be, or do, or achieve more than everyone else. The catch is that everyone is not willing to do what it takes. Everyone is not willing to make the sacrifices that it will take to be the absolute best. Most people when they feel a little adversity, a little resistance, they stop. When most people feel the pressure pushing pack against them, keeping them from making any further progress they stop. That moment is the moment of their defeat. My mother and father may have disagreed on a lot of things, but the one thing that they agreed on was that if you want to be successful you have to want it. You have to make the effort to do something. It’s not just showing up, it’s showing up everyday even when you think you don’t have anything left to give. It is willing your body and mind over the have not’s and neigh sayers. I have this memory of watching Rocky IV with my father in the movie theater. It is the only movie I can remember us seeing together, it’s still one of my favorites to this day. That movie is all about will. Having the will to push beyond what anyone says you can, or can’t do. Not to mention a sweet training montage. (LOL) In life you have to decide, are you going to give in at the resistance, or pressure or are you going to will yourself to work harder? Are you going to live in the dirt or are you willing to die for the dream? I’m dying for the dream. I am giving it all I have until I can’t breath, and then I’m coming back for more. If you want to achieve things that have never been done before you have to be willing to lay it all on the line, with one knee in the dirt and find the will to stand, when everyone else thinks you’re finished. The tools you have acquired are only good if you have the will to actually put them to work. Experiences, education, morals, and strategies, only work if you have the will to execute them, and keep executing them even once you succeed.

Okay, so here is a little bit of the movie I mentioned if you have time and need some inspiration to help activate your will.

Leadership Value of the Day: Are you the weakest link?

Leadership Value of the Day: Are you the weakest link?

In order for us to ascend to a level of greatness as leaders and in any craft we pursue there needs to be an assessment of the things we bring to the table.  As a leader it becomes our responsibility to be accountable for the strategy’s we use. In deciding which route to take we must first be fully aware of our strengths and are frailties. There is an idiom about a chain, which most people are familiar with, it speaks about the weakest link. Any organization is only as strong as the leader of that organization. This is because the leader should be the one that knows his or her people and their skills and capabilities. It is part of a leaders job to help his or her followers to be the best that they can be within the confines of the organization. So I wonder, and you should too, am I the weakest link in my organization? Have you done everything you can to fully prepare yourself and your people to succeed? We often find it hard to accept the weight of our own shortcomings, many times we choose instead to heap it on to a pile or spread it around to others. However it is not until we choose to confront our own faults and lack of knowledge that we are truly able to begin to lead others. This is true of any leadership role. Understanding that you are the weakest link will help you to make changes and foster your people and each of their skills in the most useful and practical ways possible. A strong person in a position to lead, who runs from task to task cannot be considered a leader, we must strive to be as the single link in the chain and bridge the bond between others in an effort to strengthen us all as a single unit not individual links.

The leadership value of the day: knowing your craft and tools

As a leader or someone striving for greatness it is important to move with a sense of urgency. However it is more important to be fully prepared before you do so. Moving with a sense of urgency does not mean moving without proper knowledge of your craft or tools. You can only truly move with a sense of urgency if you know your craft and tools. Let me explain why this is true. Moving with a sense of urgency takes into account the goals you have set out to achieve. It takes stock of your resources and your limitations. If you have not done the work it will be impossible for you to be motivated in the right direction with the right directives in mind. Using the right tool for the job and knowing what you are trying to achieve is the only way to move with any sense of urgency.

Leadership Value of the Day: Time Management

Leadership Value of the Day: Time Management

When I say time management most people think of having enough time in the day to accomplish the goals that they have set for themselves for the day. This is an important part of time management but it is not the foundation of it. For you to fully appreciate what time management is, we must first understand energy. The energy you expel is an important part of time management, because you want to move fluidly with a since of urgency to reach your goals. Staggered movement is not effective movement, and while it is true that slow progress is better that no progress we are not striving to be average, we are moving to be exceptional, and thus more is required. Moving with a sense of urgency generates energy that is contagious to others. This will allow you to work with people as excited about the possibilities of growth as you are. That being said do not waste your time with people that will not meet your efforts with an elevation of their own efforts. Greatness is not achieved by mediocre effort. It can only achieved by those willing to give it all and move like they don’t have enough time in the day. Because the truth of the matter is there is not enough time in the day if you want to be great. Something will always be left to do the next day. The trick is to do so much that you no longer measure your time by the hour; you begin to measure your time by the success of the projects you complete on the highest level possible. It is important to realize that time is a construct that you will never be able to get back, so once you waste it on something it is gone. Having the self-discipline to align your goals with your actions is the hard part of being a leader. The people that choose to follow you will emulate you, so you have to lead by example. Be conscious about how you spend your time, how you move when you are on a task, and whom you spend your time with.

Leadership Value of the Day: Controlling your Emotions

Leadership Value of the Day: Controlling your Emotions

The one thing that we all have in common is that we are human. We come in all shapes, sizes and colors. We use all of those things to separate and group us into categories that help us to cope, and try to give order to something that we cannot comprehend on this plane of existence. We do all of this subconsciously, and we accept it as the norm. However with all that said, no matter how much we would like to separate ourselves, we are all the same. One of the many things that tie us together is our ability to feel. Our emotions help us to act and react to situations, and circumstances. However if we allow these emotions to dictate our reactions we can end up in situations with no way out. In order to lead others you do not have to be perfect. You do however need to attempt to lead from a place of clarity. Free from the knee jerk reaction to the initial emotion of a situation. There will be times when you feel frustrated at circumstances, and the ability to control that frustration and channel it towards a positive progression is the only way to not allow the emotion to control the outcome. You should strive to think about what you are feeling prior to action. Without this clarity of mind, free from the fog of emotion we all have the capacity to make a decision we would not have other wise made. Learning to focus your emotions toward change will help keep you ahead of the fray. If necessary embrace the feelings to learn from the situation that has evoked the feeling, sometimes this is the true gift of emotion. The bottom line is to control the emotion and use it, not letting the emotion control your actions.

The Leadership Value of the Day: Becoming Unselfish

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The Leadership Value of the Day: Becoming unselfish

In order to reach greatness a leader has to be able to do something many people cannot. It is putting the needs of many before the few. A leaders thought process has to be selfless and unselfish. In order for a person to rise above the fray and distinguish his or her group from others the leader must be able to separate his or her own needs for the greater good. This must first be practiced in the everyday life before it can be implemented or instituted within an organization. This goes back to leading by example. This does not mean to boast about all the charity work you do, it means put yourself in situations to help others with needs. Be open to the idea of building virtue in others. It is only through unselfish work that we begin to develop a legacy. Our true legacy is in the people we influence and help shape. If we fail to put others first we not only fail others, we fail to grow as leaders, and thus our organizations will die on the vine. The only way to become great is through service to others.

Discomfort is my friend

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Leadership Value of the Day: Discomfort is your friend

Who doesn’t like feeling comfortable? We love it, why? It’s not because being comfortable adds anything to help us progress. We love it because it is easy. It is easy to get comfortable and just go with the flow. We all want to be accepted in the in crowd and be popular. So I will apologize for shattering your comfortable façade in advance. If you want to achieve greatness you have to learn to love being uncomfortable. I am not just speaking of the physical comfort you get from skipping the work out you know you should go to, or the sick day you take even when you’re not sick, we see you by the way we know you’re not really sick eating ice cream and hanging out with friends who had the day off. I am speaking to the way people no longer thing for themselves. It is hard for people to go against the grain. The average train of thought that most people just jump on at the caboose and hope that the person driving the train knows where this is going. If you truly want to achieve greatness you have to learn to be uncomfortable and try thinking for yourself, and get out there and do things that may be uncomfortable to get where you want to go. If you do what everyone else is doing you will achieve the same results, you cannot realistically do what everyone else is doing and think that you are going to be the one to achieve a different result. Are you better than everyone else? Are you special and the laws of physics do not apply to you? Maybe it’s just that you see where everyone else was wrong and you are going to get it right this time. In all honesty you are special however you are not acting as such. Everyone is special, so why cheapen your gifts by doing what everyone else is doing. Blazing your own trail by thinking for yourself is the only way to achieve any real measure of success. Take a moment and think about how many decisions you actually made that were well thought out by you, and not just a reflection of a decision that someone else you know made. Hey if it worked for them it should work for you too right? Success is only achieved through thinking for yourself, not following the masses.

Leadership Value Of the Day: Leading By Example

Leadership Value Of the Day: Leading By Example

There are many people who are in a leadership positions that think they know what this means already. However it is not always as simple as you may think. Leading by example is not just knowing your job, or even knowing the jobs of the people that you are leading. Leading by example means taking the time to foster the people around you. Helping them to cultivate the skills that will help them to grow. This sets the environment for growth as well as positive energy. The energy you give off is a great start to leading by example. You cannot expect those around you to be positive and motivated if you are sucking all of the energy out of them as soon as they come around you. We know how important the Golden Rule is when we deal with people on a daily basis, however we should also treat all people well; even if we do not have interactions with them on a daily basis. We must take a page from the life of a man that was a symbol for a country and lead his people by example. Nelson Mandela lived to the ripe age of 95, and though a great portion of his life was spent behind concrete walls he did not allow that to turn his heart nor his mind towards bitterness, and revenge. Setting an example is not often easy. Many times it tests the mettle of a person and exposes what really resides within. If you aspire to be great and to leave a legacy beyond that of your own brief existence on this planet, than you must learn to lead by example. We all fall short of expectations in life but that does not mean we should not strive for better. None of us are perfect but we must still run towards it. Remember that your organizations attitude reflects the leadership it is under. Maintaining a positive attitude, admitting when you need help, and acknowledging your own faults are great starting blocks for building a leader that can lead by example.

 

Leadership Value of the Day

Leadership Value of the Day: Embracing Chaos, and Ignorance

Now that I have your attention with such riveting values, let me explain what this really means. It is popular today for people to walk around stating they are realist. I know this because I was once a person saying the same thing. It is easy to allow your expertise to allow you to shoot down possibilities and limit the dreams of others. We get caught up trying to enjoy what we have that we forget how to really grow. Embracing ignorance does not mean to walk around happy that you have little knowledge of anything; it is indeed the opposite. It 's knowing that you have a skill set that may have caged your thinking. This will limit your ability to look at the entire possibilities in any given situation. It takes some training to be able to go into a situation and see the good in it, but that is exactly what you must do. Study other people in your craft, and instead of focusing on the negative look for the things they do exceptionally well. Greatness is not just having the ability to see the possibilities; it is having the skill to execute a dream and grow it to a reality. Embracing chaos can only do this. We only grow through strife. It is that friction or conflict that allows us to elevate our thinking so that we may push the boundaries on what we thought was possible to begin with. This does not mean to invite physical violence, it simply mean that during times of stress and turmoil when you may begin to see things in a negative light embrace the circumstances. There is very little if anything that can be done with a negative outlook. Remain calm and embrace the situation start pulling all of the positives to the forefront of your thought process, it seems like very little will come from this but the shift in your attitude will spur a positive change, growth, and open you to possibilities you would not have other wise known.

Don't Underestimate the power of Why

Leadership Value of the Day: Don't Underestimate the power of Why

I know many people with children, or people who have contact with small children have seen or heard a child catch an adult in the why loop. You know that is where after every question you answer they ask why. It can indeed try our patience as adults, but it is the raw form of a positive practice that anyone trying to achieve any measure of greatness should practice. That small word holds a lot of power if we use it correctly. It can help to align us with our goals, help us to refine our strategic thinking and provide an answer to questions that are so Obvious that we might have other wise missed it. It is not just the act of saying the word but the critical thinking that comes along with it that helps to focus our actions. Why can help to remove the cloud from actions and motives if thought through with any measure of separation from the problem. This is the spark for planning, and developing points for strategic advances. If you want to be successful in life you must start with why. Why are you choosing the profession you have chosen? Why do you think it is a fit for you? Why is it important for you? Vetting all of the whys will help you design a plan to achieve your goals and line you up with your end game. Without the knowing real motives, it is impossible to come to a goal, or a solution with any certainty. Without knowing why everything else is just a shot in the dark, or a best guess.