Category: Change

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Be Better Than Yesterday /2016 Will Never Last by David Guerra

To paraphrase the band that has not stopped embracing change since the band formed in 1978: Duran Duran.

“2015 is another country. 2016 will never last. 2017 is still tomorrow.”

That’s right; there is absolutely NOTHING we can do about 2015, 2017 is still a dream, and the clock is ticking on 2016.

What will you do in 2016?

Typically, it is the first few days of the new year that people get hung up on making those resolutions about how much weight they will lose or how many books they will read or how much more time they will spend with family, and so on ad nauseam.

That’s all fine and dandy and in some cases, people will consider the resolution epic or bordering on heroic. However, no one ever get anywhere by just saying something they will do something. The recognition, honors, accolades, and applause come from actually getting up, off your backside, and DOING IT!

MAKING SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!

I said this before…I know I have…yet there are still so many people that wallow in their lack of moving forward and REFUSE TO BLAME THEMSELVES for being in the place, position, and situation they find themselves on this day in 2016. No, those people will continue to blame others. As sure as the rain falls or the sky is blue, they will do the only thing they know how to do: REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES.

I should know I have been here. However, when I stopped letting the wrong people in things changed. When I started accepting myself for who I am. Once I started accepting that fact, it was then that I realized change was solely all up to me. Not so long ago, I made the decision that enough was enough, especially when I was giving my power to those that were only in it for themselves. Giving power to those that believed some old and antiquated belief system rooted in a hierarchy system that rewards those that reach a certain age or position yet completely passes over those with common sense and wisdom (see, if you are old but lack wisdom or common sense then you have led a safe/sheltered life and what’s the point in that?). It was totally and completely up to me to make my life better. It was up to me to stop giving power to those that sucked the life and happiness out of my life.

IT WAS UP TO ME TO BE BETTER THAN YESTERDAY.

It was not about making things better than last week, last month, or last year. I had the power to change today. To make today better. “Better than what?” I asked myself. Dr. Stephen Covey taught us that it takes 21 days to create a habit. There was the answer: 21 days.

21 days in a row. One day at a time without wavering. One day. Today. That was it. All I had to do was be better today than yesterday. Do one more push up than I did yesterday. Run 1/10th of a mile more than I did yesterday. Eventually, the pushups and miles add up. Really they do.

After 21 days, I can do 21 more pushups to the 50 I could already do for a total of 71 pushups. Those 21 additional 1/10th of a mile come out to 2.1 miles more to the already two-mile run you are doing.

I hope you can see where I am going with this. All it takes is doing something better one day at a time. Not every day can be a better day than yesterday.

Of course, it can. That’s the beauty of being better than yesterday. I never say I have to be a better runner than yesterday or a better reader or better writer than yesterday. By being specific, it locks you in and in turn makes it easier to quit being better when you do not lose those 5 pounds by the 31st of January or not running that 10K race in February. Just pick and choose the one thing to work on to be better and you got it.

You are a whole person, full of many things that make you who you are. You want to run a 10K, while running more and often is critical so is drinking more water, eating better, studying how others run, train, prepare and so on. That whole 360° approach is where it’s at.

By looking all around, you have the great opportunity to pick and choose, on a daily basis, what you will work on to improve today then you are honestly working at being better than yesterday.

Being Better Than Yesterday does not have to be a struggle. Actually, it is a lot of fun because you control what that one thing is.

Sure, there are ups and downs but so long as you do something, anything, the positives will add up and outweigh the negatives. It might not seem like it today (early 2016) but if you try you will see the results this time next year (early 2017).

Beside what do you have to lose by being better than yesterday?

Thanks for your time,
-David

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blog Change Followership Leadership Walking Leader

20 Observations About Being A Real Leader by David Guerra

We are coming to the end of 2015 and things are as wacky as they have always been. Now comes 2016 and I promise you things will be wackier, zanier, and close to insane. However, one thing that will NOT change is, heck it will NEVER change, the demand for REAL LEADERS to step up and lead.

This applies to all sectors of our lives; public, private, work, home, schools, local, county, state, federal and global levels.

There is always a need for leaders and an even greater need for followers. One has to lead and one has to follow. One has to follow in order to be a leader. However, a leader does not get to pick his/her followers. Followers pick their leaders.

There are many ways followers pick their leaders. Lately, it seems that they pick their leaders much like Baskin-Robbins picks the flavor of the month, what looks good and has mass appeal whether it is good for them or not. However, in most cases this “flavor of the month” is NOT good for the masses. Sadly, people find this bit of bad news out a little too late, when that “leader” is fully entrenched into a position of leadership.

Actually, it could turn out to be the biggest mistakes of their lives and all because it sounded good at the time.

All is not lost. Here are twenty things to remember about what real leaders are versus what others believe they think they are. I would highly recommend you look at this list before finding a leader to follow or before becoming one worthy of following.

  1. A Real Leader will be the FIRST one on the battlefield.
  2. A Real Leader will RESPECT everyone, especially those he/she does not agree with.
  3. A Real Leader will SEE all sides.
  4. A Real Leader will never take a SIDE.
  5. A Real Leader will take a STAND.
  6. A Real Leader is entitled to his or her own opinion.
  7. A Real Leader will keep those opinions to himself/herself.
  8. A Real Leader will never thrust his or her OPINION on others.
  9. A Real Leader will NOT incite others to do his/her bidding.
  10. A Real Leader will do what he/she can to make others GREAT.
  11. A Rea Leader will do what it takes to make EVERYONE great.
  12. A Real Leader will NEVER single anyone out.
  13. A Real Leader will never blame others.
  14. A Real Leader will take the BLAME first.
  15. A Real Leader will TEACH.
  16. A Real Leader will NEVER teach hate.
  17. A Real Leader will ASK questions
  18. A Real Leader will NEVER know all the answers.
  19. A Real Leader will be HUMBLE, always.
  20. A Real Leader will be the LAST one off the battlefield.

Now ask yourself, are you that kind of a Real Leader? Are the leaders you follow the kind of leaders that fit into any of  the 20 observations mentioned? Probably not. I may be wrong but I doubt it.

See most of the everyday, “run of the mill” leaders will give you one or two of the 20 and call it good. Those average leaders will do the bare minimum just to appease those that follow him or her.  Of course, you let yourself be taken in (fooled) by the bare minimum. Most of us have at one point or another in our lives have fallen into that trap. So long as that mediocre leader flashes us a smile once in a while and promises the world then we are happy little campers.

People like the fact that the leader is “trying” until it comes time to really put up or shut up. Then those same people find out that the so-called leader hasn’t the backbone to do what it takes to do the job that comes with being a Leader.  The truth is revealed, the individual they counted on as a leader turns out to be ALL SHOW and NO GO!

What kind of a leader is that? Exactly, no kind of a leader.

Folks, it is time to find yourself a Real Leader. A Leader you would be proud to say you would follow blindly into battle or do what has to be done, no questions asked.

Is that too much to ask for?

-David Guerra

Categories
blog Change Leadership Motivation Walking Leader

Small, Big & Great People by David Guerra

They say you can tell the size of the person by the size of his/her problems. This may be hard for some to swallow but the reality is that most people fit in the first category and then number of people in the last two dramatically falls off. Well, no wonder we are in the state that we are in.

Small-Big-Great

It’s like this:

A small person has problems that are very self-directed, very self-focused. Their belief is that all problems are based on others taking something away from them, personally. The belief is that everyone but themselves is the cause of the problem. For example, they will complain the credit card bill is too high because the interest rate is so high, yet they have absolutely no problem carrying the maximum balance on the card.

They complain about being overweight yet truly believe they are doing themselves good by eating a small salad while at the “All You Can Eat” buffet, you know the one with the buttery yeast biscuits. And so on and so on.

They internalize and justify their behavior but when someone calls them on it (i.e., the credit card bill arrives or the liver panel results come in) then everyone else is at fault.

Meanwhile, a big person has problems that are outward, very focused on others. They are focused on the family, employees, friends, and so on. They are prepared to do what they can to make life better for them. A Big Person will worry about the things that matter most to others. While not losing focus on satisfying their own needs and wants. Usually, their needs and wants are rooted in the needs and wants of others. (Think Parents)

Great people have great concerns (i.e., whole country, the planet, the human race). Great people impact the world at large and very seldom impact one or a few individuals. However, when Great people impact a few people they do so in a way that will motivate others to greatness by acting and doing something that will change the world.

Great people are also humble in that they would deflect any accolades towards others rather than accept the well-deserved honors. Yes, they are like that.

No One Is Perfect

EVERYONE has a little small, big and great inside. It is our choice to decide just how much power/strength we give to each of the three.

Sadly, there are way too many people that give way too much power and attention to the SMALL.

and

NOT ENOUGH people that give any power to being BIG or being GREAT.

Being Big or Great can be done with a lot of hard work while being small is the easiest one to be. Heck, being small involves almost no work at all. Unfortunately, that is why being small is so popular.

Which one are you?

Thanks for reading,
David Guerra