Push yourself to win. If today is the last sales day of the year, push yourself to win. Don't give up. Get that one extra sale. Make it happen. Or maybe if you are not in sales, take today to finish your January 2013 New Year's resolution. It's not too late. Tomorrow will be, but not today. So just go do it. It's the right thing to do and it models the way for others.
If you have an issue or a problem with something, say something. You may need to ask some questions to clarify what you are thinking or what you believe to be true. Unless you fully understand the situation, what you are thinking or perceive a situation to be may not be the case because God gave us each the ability to think and analyze any given situation and respond to it. You may look at a situation in a way that was not previously viewed. Stand up, use your critical thinking skills and ask clarifying questions. You'll be glad you did and it models the way for the younger generations to think and ask questions and ultimately decrease assumptions and improve communications. "I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them and not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16 As you read this...think about becoming the leader God would you be be, at work, at home, and even about your faith. Inspire others to become better by becoming better yourself. It's the right thing to do and it models the way for those around you. Remarks by Senator John McCain at the Tailhook Symposium honoring the Centenial of Naval Aviation in Reno, Nevada September 10, 2011 "Today, we hear a lot about ‘management’ and not enough about leadership. That worries me. One thing of which I am certain – there is a great difference between managers and leaders. Good managers are plentiful – in fact, our nation graduates over 150,000 MBAs ever year. But true leaders are rare. And believe me, there is a difference --Leaders inspire people; managers, well, they “manage” people and assets. --Leaders think about protecting and promoting their people; managers think about protecting their own careers. --Leaders take charge and accept responsibility; managers often pass the buck to higher authority for fear of making a wrong decision. --Leaders take risks when necessary; managers are taught to avoid risks whenever possible. “Ronald Reagan was a leader – Jimmy Carter was a manager. Halsey, Nimitz, and Spruance were leaders. Henderson, McClusky, and Waldron were leaders. If any one of them had opted for caution rather than courage when their moment of testing came, the outcome at Midway would have been radically different. “My father – who was not an aviator but knew something about leadership – used to say that technical experts are a ‘dime a dozen’. You can always find a man who can tell you how many foot-pounds of force are in a piston, or what the aerodynamic effects on a plane will be at a certain airspeed and altitude. But, he said, ‘The business of leadership is another matter entirely. It’s one of the most difficult subjects there is – to inspire in people subordinate to you, the desire to do a better job.’ That is where true leadership trumps management – in the art of inspiring others to perform far beyond their self-imposed limits. “In recent years, I have often wondered if we have forgotten some of the more salient lessons of history, particularly as they apply to the development and selection of our military leaders. Have we allowed ourselves to be knocked off course to the point that we strive now to produce the ‘ideal manager’ rather than the next generation of true leaders? Have we focused too much on the strategy and tactics of the battle – and not enough on the leadership skills of those who really decided the outcome, not just at Midway, but at countless other critical battles throughout the past century?" “I am at heart, and always will be, a Naval Aviator. It was my first profession and will always be my favorite. And just in case there is someone here tonight who does not understand why I place so much emphasis on leadership over management, let me be clear. The very nature of our profession demands it. No manager, however competent, will ever be able to inspire people to endure the hardships and make the sacrifices that we all know must come with Naval Aviation. Enduring those hardships and making those sacrifices is the price we pay for the privilege of defending our great nation. “So as we celebrate the centennial of Naval Aviation and begin to contemplate the next 100 years, I encourage all of you to look back on those who led us through our first century. I urge you to study their lives and their leadership styles. Then strive to be like them. Learn to inspire the men and women who work for you. Learn to lift them up, to give them meaningful responsibility, to allow them room to grow, and yes, even to make mistakes. Be slow to judge, and remember that many of our most gifted leaders would never have survived in a ‘one strike’ or ‘zero defect’ environment. If instead, your style is to be quick to criticize, slow to praise, and you are unwilling to forgive, I urge you to seek a different profession. And if you have not yet learned the power of redemption, I encourage you to read the biographies of Nimitz, Halsey, Boyington, Henderson, McClusky, and Waldron – just to name a few. “Now as I look around the audience – at some of the younger faces – I see another reason why I love Naval Aviation. I can imagine myself, 50 years ago, sitting in this audience, with a wide grin on my face, because I knew I was very lucky to be in this position. I envy you, with your ability to do the same things I did, only better. I can’t turn back the clock, but I can live a little vicariously through you. Make us proud. Make us better. Our future belongs to you now. Make the next 100 years of Naval Aviation something old ‘Slew’ and John Waldron and Wade McClusky would be proud of. “Thank you and God Bless.”
Taking a break or vacation time at scheduled times throughout the year can really make an impact. It can help you realize what's really important, plus it can reduce your stress level significantly. People may comment about being able to notice your newfound stress relieved voice or posture while on vacation or just after taking break. Even when you didn't realize you sounded or looked stressed just before your planned time off. I personally started scheduling my entire next year's vacation and break time before the year starts several years ago. I allow a week for sick time or unforeseen time off, but then map out the paid company holidays along with planned breaks and vacations at certain times throughout the year to manage my stress level. It has made a huge difference in managing my stress because I now have set times throughout the year to look forward to with either a vacation or just a break with my family or friends. I have found that this is a good thing to do in my life to control any stress that may creep in and give me scheduled times off to be excited about. It's a better way to live and a great way to model the way for those around you. With Christmas Day past, what can you give away? Maybe something you don't need or something you don't use anymore. Why not just give it to someone who can use it more than you and who would cherish it like maybe you did when you first received it. It's the right thing to do and it models the way for others. The real Christmas story... Luke 2:1-20New International Version (NIV) The Birth of Jesus1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. I've made it a tradition to read this story to my family every Christmas Day and just to my children on Christmas Eve as I put them to bed. For me and my house, it's the real meaning of Christmas and it models the way what's important in our home. Happy Birthday Jesus and Merry Christmas to you and yours. On Christmas Eve, I want to take a moment to thank each of you reading this blog. Just a little background on me...I was a print journalism and advertising double major in college. When I started selling advertising and designing the ads on an Apple MacIntosh computer years ago, I stopped writing for my college paper. And I basically haven't written much since then, until I decided to put my thoughts on paper (or my iPhone) again this year. Thank you for reading my blog and going on this year's journey with me. I hope each of you have a blessed Christmas filled with love, laughter and surrounded by those you love and hold dearest. Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus! If you live your life with constant fear and distrust, you will never experience joy and peace. Don't look for people to cheat you or cheat on you, but instead believe and have faith in others, specifically your spouse or mate. Otherwise you will continually look out for and find ways to never become close to the one person in this earth that God would have you be closest to. It's a way of putting up walls and keeping your love at a distance, which may feel safe, but you will never experience the fullness and joy a marriage should be. I believe you live with either fear and distrust OR with joy and peace in your soul. Which would you rather have and which replicates Jesus? Choose the path and decide now so you can live life to the fullest and model the way for others. A day late, but well worth it. To be in a place where a cell phone signal is not available forces you to unplug, disconnect from technology, and connect with those you love. There's something to be said about that. Even though this blog is a day late, it was time well spent, away from it all. Disconnect so you can connect. It's the right thing to model the way for others and show those you love just how much you love them. |
"Modeling the Way" BlogMark A. Watkins is a Region Sales Manager in the Midwest with Rollins, Inc. and strives to Model the Way as a Sales Leader, Teacher, Visionary, Innovator, Problem Solver, Coach and Mentor. Archives
August 2018
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