Tag Archives: #leadership

Spirituality

It All Started With A Mouse

Walt Disney is a name that is recognized all over the world. Disney was born in 1901 and raised in an abusive home. It was so bad that two of Disneys older brothers ran away from home before finishing high school. Walt tried to escape by enlisting in the military to fight in World War I, but was rejected, being only 15 years old at the time.

When he was in his 20’s, Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded Disney Brothers Studio in 1923. His first animated character was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Through a series of underhanded moves by a competitor, Oswald was stolen from Disney. Oswald never made it big but Walt’s next character did. You know him as Mickey Mouse.

Mickey Mouse first appeared in “Steamboat Willie” in 1928. The cartoon was the first to synchronize sound with animation. In 1937, Walt Disney mortgaged his home to produce “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” It was the first full-length animated film and to the surprise of his many critics, it was a blockbuster hit! So much for the self-proclaimed experts.

Walt Disney died shortly after his 65th birthday. By the time of his death he had won 22 Academy Awards, still a record for an individual. It’s fair to say that Walt Disney changed the world of entertainment for children and adults.

One of Disney’s favorite sayings was, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” Walt Disney had an impossible dream, starting with a drawing of a mouse. What’s your dream?

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Spirituality

The Seduction of Wealth

We revere our celebrities, don’t we? People Magazine, Star Weekly, even the National Enquirer found success dishing on the lives of the rich and famous.

You have probably heard it said that money is power. The truth is, money is potential power. Resources such as wealth and notoriety offer the holder great opportunities to do good. If we make a lot of money but only use it for ourselves, that will leave people feeling hollow and empty.

Over the course of my life I have been privileged to know some famous people. They have tremendous resources and access, yet to a person they are just normal people who haven’t forgotten how blessed they are. They are quietly charitable even though their lives are lived in the public eye. This is a testament to their character.

Recently, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez married in Italy. The cost of the wedding was estimated at $50 million. Some critics called out Bezos for the extravagance of it all. The critics failed to acknowledge the billions Bezos has given to worthy causes, including $100 million per year to provide free preschool. And think about what the wedding did for the local economy of Venice, Italy.

Money can seduce you if you aren’t careful. Don’t chase it and don’t worship it. Save your worship for God. He gives us everything good in our lives. It’s up to us to determine how we use it…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

If You Need To Tell…

“Tell me about yourself” is a frequent question I ask people when I’m trying to get to know them. Most people speak humbly about themselves, telling me little about their accomplishments. Only when I probe a little deeper is when I find out what they are most proud of.

Social media has caused some people to do whatever they can to get noticed. The posts range from pictures of food or vacations to outrageous activities. Some are entertaining while others are disgusting. Either way, mission accomplished.

Then there are people who like to remind you they are a leader. These types will rattle off their professional resumes with very little prompting. If you need to tell others how great you are, you probably aren’t. But there are exceptions.

Humility doesn’t mean you go through life with your head down. Humility means you are in touch with who you are more than what you do. You do your work quietly and efficiently.

Work hard. Stay humble. People will notice your accomplishments without you having to say a word…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Condemned

When a building gets condemned it means it is no longer fit for occupancy. This could be due to a variety of conditions such as mold, asbestos, or the structure is no longer sound.

People judge and condemn others on the internet regularly. If your politics or religion don’t align with mine, then you are condemned and cast out. I hear people say, “we just aren’t the same” all the time. You are no longer fit to be my friend. And they say it with a moral superiority you can only find on the internet. Of course their words come from the safety of a keyboard or phone screen.

When tragedy strikes we get to see the good in people. Currently in the Kerrville/Hunt, Texas area you have Democrats, Republicans, Atheists, Jews and Christians working with each other for the common good. It’s sad that it takes a catastrophic event to bring people together. Maybe that’s why they are called acts of God events?

And speaking of God, he’s the only one who never condemns us. Find peace in that…

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Spirituality

The Quiet Good

There are a lot of good people in this world. In today’s “look at me” culture you gotta look hard to find them. But they are there.

I have seen single women work two and three jobs to provide for their family. They aren’t looking for attention. They are just trying to make it. Yet, the example they set for their children is inspiring.

There are 37 documented miracles that Jesus performed, including restoring eyesight to the blind, exorcising demonic spirits from adults and children, and he turned water into wine. Yet, he told the recipient of his supernatural intervention to keep quiet about it. Jesus didn’t do a single miracle that benefited himself, only others.

I encourage you to go about your work quietly, staying under the radar. Help others when you are able. Just be good…

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Spirituality

Attention!

I’m easily distracted. My short attention span keeps me interested in everything going on around me. From a very young age I became observant of my surroundings.

There is an exception to this. When I’m engaged in conversation, my focus is on listening, really listening to my counterpart. When we get laser-focused on who we are with, it makes the other person feel important. After all, everyone wants to be seen, heard and understood.

It’s important to pay attention to what’s happening in the world, too. Geopolitically, the planet is very interesting right now. In geopolitics, motive is key.

The world is constantly paying attention to you and how you act. Let’s be sure we give others something worth their attention…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Come As You Are

I remember seeing restaurants advertise that you were welcome to “come as you are,” a sign that all were invited in to enjoy the food and experience. It was great advertising because it made me feel welcome before I went inside.

The church I go to is this way. Everyone is encouraged to come as they are and experience God’s grace. And true to their word, all are welcome. It’s a non-judgmental, no guilt or shame allowed place.

And there are other churches that are just plain churchy. They have good intentions, but the message gets lost because people are paying more attention to how the congregation is dressed than they are the Word of God.

Church is the one place where everyone should feel comfortable just showing up. It shouldn’t matter whether you are in a big building or meeting under a tree. You are welcome.

Jesus never turned anyone away. He even touched lepers! All could come to him and experience the kindness of God. Only this time he was in human form. What a truly magnificent Creator we serve…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Modeling

Who do you admire? And why do you admire them?

Abraham Lincoln was a great figure from history. Lincoln had perseverance (he ran for office unsuccessfully nine times before winning), wisdom, and he did what was right through the Emancipation Proclamation. It cost Lincoln his life.

The coming of the Messiah had been foretold through Scripture. Yet, when Jesus arrived on the scene many of the religious leaders at the time didn’t recognize him for who he was. Jesus’s teachings were aligned with the law, but many were counter culture to the religion of the Pharisees. They were all about religion while Jesus was teaching us to love God and love others.

Parents are their children’s first role models. Kids watch everything and learn how to act from mom and dad . Being a parent is the role of a lifetime.

Be willing to stand up for what’s right. Don’t go along with the crowd if the crowd is doing something wrong. You might be cast out from the crowd, but there are better people to surround yourself with.

Be a role model for good. Our world needs you…

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Spirituality

The “Experts”

Social media has given a lot of people a voice. Opinions are readily shared, often without facts to support the narrative. Oh some “journalist” may be cited as proof, but these so-called journalists are typically spewing an opinion, too. Emotions run high and arguments ensue. No one wins.

When I was in public school, my grades reflected the first four letters of the alphabet: A’s, B’s, C’s and D’s. I never failed a class, but I got dangerously close several times. In college, my grades went up significantly. You see, college professors teach one subject, typically they have advanced degrees in the subject, and they made it interesting. The teachers in my public school didn’t know how to teach a kid like me. My insatiable curiosity and high energy level ruled the day for me.

Take the time to think. Question everything. Be open minded about learning. The world may not be as you see it. You might be wrong. I might be, too. There really is only one expert who knows everything.

The only truth comes from a higher source, a much higher source. God’s word is true. It isn’t stale or outdated, and it’s a reliable source for life. Everything from our health to our money is covered. Maybe start there instead of Facebook. And there’s an added benefit! Your stress level goes down. Guaranteed…

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