relationships – Page 4

Leadership

Personal vs Professional

For many years I drove 40 minutes to see my dentist, Dr. Mary Cloin, in Arlington, Texas. There were many other dentists much closer to where I lived. So, why did I drive that distance? I felt a personal connection with him and his staff. They knew me. Over the years, this question always comes […]

Personal Development

A List of My Current Mentors

In the last blog post, I discussed seven principles to apply when establishing a relationship with a mentor. To bring this to a practical dimension, I want to share with you in this article who my current mentors are. I will not mention specific names to respect their privacy, but I will let you know […]

Leadership

Preemptive Leadership

As a leader, you can either invest your time in preemptive leadership by training your people from the beginning and pulling them together all along, or reactive leadership where you find yourself on the back-end of every issue, always solving problems and putting out fires. Preemptive leadership will always give you the advantage. Which style […]

Leadership

Don?t Let Your Hurt Poison Your Heart

Absorb your pain and transform it; don’t transmit it. Don’t let your hurt poison your heart.? I recently posted this statement on our?Aspire Facebook page, and one person commented, ?How do you do that?? Good question. Most people in prison come from broken homes with pasts full of misery. We see this often. The abused […]

Leadership

Love and Boundaries

Love. Caring about a person?s well-being irrespective of what they can give back to you and regardless of what they may do to you. When practiced, love is powerful. But it is not practical unless it is guided by boundaries. Love and boundaries need to be independently alive and healthy. Love without boundaries leads to […]

Leadership

How Well Do You Know Your People?

Effectual leaders know their people. They are intentional about getting to know them on a deep level?beyond professional formalities and more toward a personal, authentic relationship. They not only get to know their people, they also allow their people to get to know them. While some leaders do not even attempt to get to know […]

Leadership

Four Secrets To Resilient Relationships

If I could offer only one piece of leadership advice it would be: Create the strongest relationships possible. Here are four foundational principles that underpin resilient relationships. Truly Care for Them As I write this, I can?t help but notice how ordinary this advice seems. In a way, I feel like I am saying something […]

Leadership, Personal Development

A Leadership Challenge to High School Students

Last Friday I was honored to speak to high school students at the Nazarene Christian Academy (NCA) in Crowley, Texas at their career and college day. The NCA is a well-led organization (church and K-12 school) that is a shining light in our community.?As I reflect on my interaction with the students, I wanted to […]

Leadership, Personal Development

A Leadership Challenge to Married Men

If your family is in disarray with poor vision, values, direction, and relationships, Married Man, you are responsible. Before you protest and pass the blame on to women, society, your upbringing, or your job, let’s?consider the leadership role of a married man. Let me share with you a few thoughts that I hope will give […]

Leadership

People Will Hurt You ? Keep Them Close Anyway

Sometimes you invest in people for a long time ? you love them, nurture them, give them opportunities – the best way you know how.? Then they leave you, hurt you, or don?t rise up to your expectations ? they simply fail you, or even betray you. Getting close to people when you are in […]