360 Degree Leader

My work sent a couple of our Corporate trainers to Atlanta to take the 360 Degree Leadership training course by John C. Maxwell. Several of us were selected to take the course today. One of the Training Directors that I admire a lot taught our class today and it was great. I can't wait to share some of my thoughts with all of you. I need to digest everything that we went through today, so be looking for some insight coming soon...

Follow up...

"Take America back from who? and for the good of all or just the strong, powerful and wealthy? I definitely agree that the weak old man should live in quarters suited to a man who can't contribute to society in a way that fattens his pocketbook. Even if his savings was affected by the drop in housing prices or stock market. The time of fairness is over. I don't know what that means, but it doesn't sound good. Does it mean that we no longer are responsible to be humane to people just for being alive. I guess it means we can finally treat people according to how much money they make, as that is the true measure of human quality.
What is this idea of tolerance. What price has been paid forever? Has your conscience been paying? I don't understand. Are you talking about the welfare program that is put in place to assist people who have been put in hard times by circumstances out of their control? Welfare reform is a constant need, as people do get too comfortable with help and people will learn to exploit the system. Does this situation infuriate you?
Have you been coddling minorities?
I don't understand your email, and I believe the guy who wrote that article just needs one good night with Aunt Jemima to open his eyes.
Yes, the time of kindness is over!! Kick homeless people, enthusiastically look down upon cultures that are different than yours, and lie cheat and steal to make more money in your life because that is what we are alive for - and all this because the majority elected a black president! Hip hip hooray!!" -- JMcD

Take America back from the corrupt Government. Take America back for the reasons and principles on which this country was founded. Take America back for the people, and not the government. Give it back to each according to their contributions and input. Fairness? Affirmative Action...now's not the time to meet quotas. Now is the time to put the best people in place. Something you've obviously missed, is that I will support the Leaders of MY COUNTRY. I will scrutinize policy and appointments in Barack's cabinet as well. Yes we can! That's part of being an American. Being objective and having a back-bone...being able to voice what one feels is right, being able to openly praise AND oppose. Yes we can!

Your re-buttle to the weak old man is weak. Savings? What? What you obviously don't understand is that he absolutely CAN contribute to "society". That is what I'm saying...According to his strengths and skills. If he "CHOOSES" not to, then forget him. I'm not paying him...welfare. Oh man, how skewed your interpretations are. Humane does not mean supporting the lazy. Humane does not mean taxing the one's who create jobs, and using that money to extend un-employment benefits. I volunteer my time, and my money, so please don't judge me with your false assumptions. What's better...giving capable people hand-outs, or giving in-capable people care and blessings? This is the difference that I'm talking about. Just being alive doesn't mean that you get free-bees. You want free-bees then walk up and down the isles at Costco.

Your outlook on life is very negative..."treat people according to how much money they make"? C'mon, that wasn't stated anywhere in my response. What's fair is paying people according to their input. What's fair is rewarding those who do volunteer. What's fair is giving credits to those who create jobs. That's fair. Nowhere did I say that the amount of money is relative to fairness. You mis-understood.
How bleak your views. Tolerance? I should be able to have a conversation about my non-support of gay marriages without being called a biggot. They can flaunt their propaganda all day and it's called Pride. Stand up against it and one is hateful, and insensitive. I should be able to openly discuss that the race card is finally over with, and yes Barack has had a HUGE, if not the biggest, role in that and I applaud him. But, I'm racist and insensitive if I discuss race. "I don't know what it was like to be black in the 60's and earlier." Well neither do most of the people that play the card. Even now, you took what you wanted to take from my email, and turned it into me "hate mongering". I should be able to denounce abortion in public. But no, no, no...That makes me some sort of Pharisee. That shows that I have no compassion, and that I again am insensitive.

Not sure about your relation of tolerance to welfare/welfare reform. Welfare reform is in need, we do agree. Barack wants to extend the basic un-employment plan to an additional 3 months. That breeds laziness. Sometimes people come into hard times, I agree with you here too. My response to this is that sometimes during tough times we have to take jobs that we don't want to take. Sometimes, we have to clean the grease traps at McDonalds, and deliver papers. It might not be what we dreamed of, but it is work, and there's no shame in that. I don't know how to say this any more clearly...I do feel that we need to be selective with those that we give welfare to. If one is capable, and just doesn't want to take a job that is "below" them, then that's their problem. People being selective with the job/industry that they want to work in, is their problem. My father is a Psychologist, and he worked as a pizza maker and delivery guy while getting his PHD. He also, held two other part-time jobs during this time. He would've rather spent time with his 3 young babies, but that wasn't an option. Neither was government hand-outs. I know companies right now that are begging for employees. There is work out there and it might not be glamorous, but it's work. It's putting money back into the economy, and it's doing what is our duty as Americans, paying income tax, which stimulates the economy. So, yes it does infuriate me. Part of me wants the whole system suspended in-definitely, but then America would have no heart. It's absurd how much money is abused in our current welfare system and it's disgusting. So, yes.

"Yes, the time of kindness is over!! Kick homeless people, enthusiastically look down upon cultures that are different than yours, and lie cheat and steal to make more money in your life because that is what we are alive for - and all this because the majority elected a black president! Hip hip hooray!!" This ending is just completely weak and unfounded. You might have been the only one who read my response through those glasses. "...all because we elected a black president"? I never said anything about that.

Missional living is a life-style that we should all embrace. This life-style is centered around kindness and mercy. Centered around the giving of time and resources to those who need it most. I will apologize for not clarifying my definition of "weak". Weak is not working, when you can. Weak is capable people using the American people to get by. Weak is people who complain about the hand that they've been dealt, and yet do nothing to change it. Weak is saying that we should be more humane and giving, and yet they've never given time or resources. Weak does not mean the people who literally can't take care of themselves. They need to be taken care of...it's part of missional living. In Dallas my wife and I began to volunteer at battered women's shelters and a Church-based State-funded foster program. So, before I get called a hypocrite I wanted you to know that. I don't want any kudos, I do it because that's what's right. And that is another one of my duties as an American!

Enough with the Race Card!

This is a response that I had for an aquaintance. He felt like the African-American culture is still hand-cuffed by the "white" culture.

I think it's incredibly accurate and founded. I too will not tolerate tolerance anymore. The price has been paid forward for ever. The Jews don't still get retributions, and there might have been one or two more murdered than blacks during the so-called "slave" era...which that in and of itself is a mis-information of American History books and lessons. Technically "liberals" and "democrats" were actually the majority of slave owners. The "Southerners" or "Slave Owners" as the un-educated black and liberals call them, were actually only attacked because they wanted to succeed from the North. One of the reasons they wanted to succeed was because of the importation of African Slaves. So, that being said...Blackey - Whitey, doesn't matter to me. If they can't get out the ghetto, then that's their problem. If Whitey can't get out the Trailer Park, then screw that lazy, Obama Economic Policy abusing fool too! Oh, and by the way how is slavery different from Obama's economic policy/Socialism? Skills, education, and experience do not matter. You all get the same cotts to sleep on and the same pourage to eat. "Oh you're stronger? Well do more work, and enjoy the same benefits as that poor, weak old man over there. You're smarter? Well then I expect you to do it more efficiently then the rest of them for the same amount of money." The time of coddling minorities, retributions, politically correctness, affirmative action, and "fairness" is over. It's time for accountability and separation of the weak from the strong...the leaders from the followers. It's time to take America back for the greater good of all!

Reflections in Leadership #1

The ability to lead effectively determines the success of those you lead. “…How they perform is simply a reflection of the one for whom they work.” (President of Hyatt Hotels) The traits of a leader CAN be acquired. I also feel that they can be inspired! Leadership needs to be trained, developed, and nurtured. It doesn’t just show up. Inspiring your team to always do better and always do more is a major success of a leader. People want to be lead. Influence! “the ability to obtain followers.” Every member of a team is a leader to someone. The constant influencing of others makes this point true.

Don't Take it From Me...Take it From Chuck Norris

Obama, Now That You Work for Me (A Letter to the President-Elect)
by Chuck Norris
11/11/2008

Dear President-elect Obama: First, congratulations on your victory. The historical magnitude of your presidential win is nothing short of stupendous and a colossal fulfillment of the American dream (an achievement embedded long ago in the equality clauses of the Declaration of Independence). It's likely no big surprise that I don't see eye to eye with you politically. Actually, I stand in stark opposition to most of your politics. Still, I realize that we must learn to work together if we are to see our country get back on track. After Election Day, I asked myself, "How can I work for our new president to help better America?" Then a thought occurred to me. The first question that should be answered is: How will you work for me? After all, "We the People" of the United States employ you, correct?

So here are a few ways you might begin to gain the respect of those who oppose you and to show that your campaign pledges to bridge the divides were not empty promises to get you into office. And these requests I make are based upon the inaugural oath you will make Jan. 20, "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." No doubt these won't be my only requests through the years, but they serve as a good beginning:

-- Use and cite the Constitution. If that constitutional oath ("preserve, protect and defend") is the central duty of your job description, then I assume we will be hearing often from you about exactly how you are doing just that. There is no replacement for strict adherence, application and defense of the Constitution. And it's high time that presidents quit reciting the presidential oath tritely and then abandoning its tenets when they enter the Oval Office. You should be quoting from the Constitution publicly as often as a preacher quotes the Bible to his congregation -- at least weekly. If you take this oath and challenge seriously, you will limit the powers of federal government, reduce taxes (for everyone), encourage the freedom of religion and expression (even in the public square), and stand up for such things as our right to bear arms. The American public and the government have lost their grip on the content and role of the Constitution, but if you daily choose, you can help to re-educate and model its usage for them.

-- Protect American life. Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1809, "The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government." Those are powerful and enlightening words. Of course, such a role was created and secured in the very fabric of our nation -- in the Declaration of Independence. The commitment to protect life should serve as the basis for all you do, even as a foundation for your national defense strategy. I'm sure the first of your secret briefings this past week on our global security threats have opened your eyes to the extensive onslaught of our enemies. Don't allow your pride, partisanship, personal bias or political abilities to jeopardize the safety of Americans lives. As commander in chief, you are called to preserve American life. Quite frankly, that is why I'm surprised that a man such as you, who professes to fight for minorities, would not recognize the clear value of a human life in a womb. Federal law should not decree the sacrifice of one human life for the preference of another. Both lives should be protected. Otherwise, what do Jefferson's 1809 words mean? As president, you are called to protect (not destroy) human life; it is the "first and only legitimate object of good government."

-- Lead more from the center. It's been pointed out by countless pundits, and your track record is clear: You have one of the most liberal records in the Senate. You've had the liberty of voting and fighting for an agenda "from the left" as you've tried to persuade state and federal lawmakers to do the same. But if you continue to lead our country down a more liberal road, you will follow the peril of Bill Clinton, who stepped into office and initially tried to lift the ban on gays in the military and extend abortion rights, only to prompt the creation of a more balanced and strong Republican Congress in the 1990s. Don't underestimate the resurrecting power of the conservative voice. You observed in last week's election how three states across this union voted to protect marriage in their constitutions (the 28th, 29th and 30th states to do so -- California, Arizona and Florida).

We will be watching who you choose to be in your Cabinet. We will discern how you lead Pelosi and Reid. We will be observing those you select as candidates for Supreme Court justices. The election is over. No more promises. No more words. You might work well in a team, but this time, you don't have congressional members to hide behind. You're on your own -- leading the pack -- and the whole country is watching. I, especially, am watching. So make sure you lead more from the center.

One of your 300 million bosses,

Chuck Norris