Too easy to be too comfortable

For some reason, and don't ask me what it is because I still haven't figured it out yet myself, but for some personal reason I am working to get my TCLEOSE license (TX Police) back. I let it lapse when I left law enforcement many - many years ago but now have this inner desire to get it back. Maybe for no other reason than "I can." Now, I have no desire to leave what I'm doing and return to law enforcement, for one reason "I'm too old! That's a young man's gig. But I still want it back.

In this process I've had to take some TCLEOSE classes to refresh my law enforcement knowledge and skills. I'm taking some classes in person and others online through TCLEOSE. Now this is where my ranting comes into play. The in-person classes have been fairly current on their content and overall well done (it's unfair for me as an educator to evaluate cops as teachers, but I can't help it). But the online classes (through TCLEOSE mind you) are another story. The content is completely outdated and just, well, wrong! So, as a good educator and former cop I called TCLEOSE (no, I can't let it go). Their response? Oh, we just hired someone to do those classes [sometime in the past] and haven't really looked at them since. I explained that the classes have incomplete sentences and words and the content is dated and wrong. They've assured me they'll review the courses, both online and in-person and make changes as necessary.

We'll see, but what this really illustrates is how easy it is to become too comfortable with what we have. The classes have worked for all this time so why should we look to see if they're still valid? We're comfortable and we haven't received any complaints so why bother? They've become too comfortable with what they have. Why bother? Because the classes are wrong! But, it's easier to leave them wrong in our comfort than it is to review and update because that stirs the pot.

Is there anything in your life (personal, work, spiritual) that you may be too comfortable with but it's too easy to leave things that way? Sometimes we have to change things just because it is the right thing to do, comfortable or not. In my role as an instructional dean I encourage my faculty to continuously review their curriculum and programs. It's not comfortable but comfort is not the agenda. Producing quality programs is. I want the same to hold true for my personal and spiritual life too. I don't wan to become too comfortable with Rochelle in our marriage, I want it to increasingly become stronger and deeper and more than it could be if we never worked on it. I never want my relationship with God to become too comfortable or easy. I want it to grow and become deeper, and yes, uncomfortable at times.

What about you? Has it become too easy to become too comfortable? Something to think about.

Lead Strong,

Shawn

Heading Home...

Monday, June 20, 2011. You'd think this would be a day I would be looking forward to, and in many regards I am. However, it's also a day that has been plaguing me for several months now. You see, on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 10:05 AM Rochelle, Emily, Jack, and I take off from Amarillo, TX flying to Flint, MI for a week of vacation. Flint is home. It's where I grew up, but it's also where I left the summer of 1982 to head off to college and with the exception of a few visits have not been back to.

I still have family and friends in Flint. My oldest brother Terry is coming in from PA with some of his family and my other brother Larry and his family is playing host. Over the years we've gathered for other such occasions, but always at "neutral" sites; Nashville; Branson. This is going to be a great trip and Rochelle is really looking forward to it because other than Terry, she has not met any of my family. So why the consternation over going?

I actually have no clue and no logical reason for my mixed emotions. It'll be great to see family that we don't see near enough. Maybe I feel guilty that we don't see each other enough? Maybe I feel guilty that I haven't done a better job at keeping up with childhood friends? Hmmm, no clue? I only know that this vacation comes with unexplained mixed emotions. Rochelle keeps reassuring me that it is going to be great, and I know she is right. We're touring Comerica Park (Tiger Stadium) and Detroit. We're taking a day to visit family in Muskegon and Ludington. We're eating one night at my favorite restaurant from childhood, Angelo's Coney Island. And hey, how many other people take vacation to the city (Flint) with the highest crime rate in America and then add in the #2 city (Detroit) just for kicks?

Okay, I'm convincing myself, it's going to be a great trip. Flint was home, it's where I grew up. It's different now and so am I. But I am sure going home will bring back nostalgic memories and maybe even make me appreciate it more. Hmm, highest crime rate? I wonder if Larry has a gun I can carry? Just kidding, it was probably always slightly dangerous but when you grow up there you just don't realize it as much.

Flint, MI... here we come. 6 days and counting. There has to be some leadership lessons in this somewhere? I'll keep you posted.

Lead Strong,

Shawn

Do or don't do, there is no try...

We get a daily report card from Jack's school detailing the events of his day, including his behavior. Yesterday when I asked Rochelle how Jack's day was she said, "not so good, look at his report card." In looking at Jack's daily report card and in listening to Rochelle describe his day I read that Jack's teacher had written that "Jack was trying to be mean to the other children." He was evidently pushing the other children, taking things from them, pulling hair, you know, toddler stuff. After I kind of snickered about it I told Rochelle that it appears to me that Jack wasn't trying to be mean, he WAS being mean, there is a difference.

I was reminded of Yoda's statement to Luke Skywalker (Star Wars) in the mossy swamp as Luke was trying to lift his X-Wing Fighter out of the swamp using only his mind. Luke was struggling and told Yoda that "he was trying." Yoda responded emphatically, "do or don't do, there is no try."

Jack wasn't trying to be mean, he was doing what he set out to do, whether he knew it was mean or not. A lot of people spend a lot of time "trying" to do something but never really accomplishing anything. That is their is excuse for not getting something done: "I'm trying." These people generally always have an excuse why they can't accomplish the task at hand. It's too hard (or heavy in Luke's case), I don't have the right resources, it's someone else's fault I can't get it done. We've all heard the excuses and probably used some ourselves.

"Do or don't do, there is no try." Many times our "trying" is just an excuse for not doing. As leaders we need to empower people to "Do." If they fail, at least they did something. It's when nothing gets done, and people use the excuse of "I'm trying" that we have failed as leaders and they have failed too.

Do or don't do today, but either way, stop using the excuse of "I'm trying." And, stop excepting the excuse of "I'm trying."

Just think about it, I think Yoda was on to something. Jack, while I don't approve of you being mean, at least you weren't trying, you were DOING little boy. Now, mom and dad just need to teach you what is and is not appropriate to do.

Lead strong,

Shawn

Change is Inevitable

Marcus Aurelius said that from the moment we are conceived we are changing. With every breath we take we are changing. And, when we die we continue to change while we lie in the ground. Heraclitus said that the only constant is change. Really, to fight change is futile, and exhausting. Granted, change can be daunting, and even painful at times. But change is a reality and an opportunity for new things to take place in our lives. Change is constant, it challenges our routine, and makes us better (or can leave us behind when we fail to embrace it).

I can't believe that I no longer really need Maw Bell to provide phone service for me, my cell phone does everything I need. I find it hard to fathom that a computer can fit in the palm of my hand and no longer fills an entire room. And what would I do without my iPad? I love that thing!! Change. Think about it, do you really want to drive a Model T everyday?

I don't know about your world; your family, your professional life, but mine is in a constant state of change. It's exciting, a little frightening, a little uncertain, challenging, threatening, but exhilarating all at the same time. Stop fighting it, it is going to happen with or without you. Embrace it.Change ushers in a whole new world of opportunities for you. Remember, if you're breathing you're changing. The world around you is changing. Confront the change, own the change, grow with the change.

Just something to think about this Tuesday,

Lead Strong,

Shawn

New Perspectives

The other night while taking our dogs for their evening walk Rochelle decided to reverse our normal route. While this is no big deal, to someone like me who struggles with a touch of OCD it caused a little discomfort. However, Emily happened to be with us and made a pretty profound statement, "It's amazing what you see when you change directions."

I've been thinking about what Emily so nonchalantly said ever since. As leaders (anyone for that matter) we can get so focused on where we're going that we miss things along the way that can make the journey all the more enjoyable, or even doable. Emily was absolutely right, because we had become so accustomed to taking the same route day after day we missed things along the way. But when we changed our direction we all of a sudden noticed things that were there all the time but that we missed because we were so focused on our chosen direction. The funny thing is as Emily pointed out, we still arrived at our chosen destination, but with a new perspective. Maybe it's just me, but that statement holds a lot of truth, leave it to a 17 year old with senioritis.

As I've been thinking about Emily's comments I've started to apply them to some tasks I'm working on. Have I been so focused on my destination and the route I've chosen to get there that I've missed things a long the way? Is there another route that can lead me to my preferred destination while giving me new perspectives? Have I made the journey more arduous then it should be by being locked into my route? Have I missed some incredible things along the way by not changing my route soon enough? Wow Emily, you've really made me think. Out of the mouth of babes as Scripture says.

I encourage you to think about this as well. By the way, last night Rochelle completely changed our route... enough is enough Rochelle. My OCD can only handle so much at once.

Lead Strong,

Shawn

Be careful you don't lose focus

I love busyness! I love work and the stress caused from work (I know, a little weird, huh?). But I also was reminded over the past couple weeks how easily it is to lose focus in the midst of doing the very things you enjoy. Remember the old cliche', "you can't see the forest for the trees."

Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in what we're doing that we can lose focus of why we're actually doing it. For me in my profession it's all about students and their success. As we approach another graduation season I'm reminded of the struggles students face to finish their educations, search for jobs, switch careers, balance family, work, and school, and for some just make it through.

Rochelle also shares my profession and her compassion this past week reminded me again of our focus. Not to embarrass her but she reached out this past week to help a student who was doing the very best she could to improve her life. But life outside the classroom was interfering with life inside the classroom. Rather than write her off Rochelle got involved on a personal level and rallied support form others and helped this young lady in a way that no one had ever done for her before (you'll have to ask Rochelle for the rest of the details, but it is amazing what God can do when people are obedient and include Him in their professional lives).

Have you taken a good look at the forest lately or are you so focused on a single tree that you've forgotten how amazing the forest is? Take a step back, breath in deep, thank God for allowing you to be where you are and to do what you are doing. Then, move forward with a renewed sense of direction, passion, and focus.

Just a thought,

Lead Strong!!

Shawn

How you word things can make all the difference...

It occurs to me that when times get lean and we are forced to make tough decisions, both personally and professionally, we revert to old cliches, such as "we simply have to do more with less." I have to tell you, that is not very encouraging for any of us. Most people would respond that we've been doing more with less! As a leader I don't believe using that phrase inspires those we lead to step up and do more. I know my initial response is to ask what others are doing?

As a leader we really need to be more cognizant of how we phrase things. I need to use language that relays to others that I am more interested in doing the right things with what we've got. Rather than tell your co-workers (or family for that matter in tough times) that we have to do more with less doesn't it make more sense to relay the message of doing the right things? If as a communicators it's all in the delivery, how about we rephrase this as "we need to start prioritizing what we're doing with the resources we have." You might say that I just said the same thing. Did I? Doing more with less conveys the message that we'll continue to do what we've been doing and add to that list without any additional support. Prioritizing what we're doing with reference to what we've got conveys that we may stop doing some things that are unproductive and focus on only doing those things that are producing the results we want and that are inline with our mission.

Communication is one of a leaders greatest assets or weakest links. Don't convey the message of business as usual, only more of it due to tightened budgets. Convey a proactive message of prioritizing what your doing, keeping your activities inline with your mission, so that you can accomplish great things even in times of reduced funding opportunities.

It really is all in the message! Just something to think about today. Next time you start to revert to an old cliche, stop and ask yourself how you can reword the message and inspires others.

Lead Strong...

Shawn