Opportunity is ugly.
Opportunity is a door that feels like a wall, an open window that feels shut, or a ceiling that feels too low.
Mud disguises, pain exposes, and fear illuminates opportunity.
Distinguish your leadership:
Great leaders face great challenges and solve great problems. Clear the mud. Solve the pain. Face the fear. Rise up and address issues others run from.
Leaders without obstacles are ships without wind.
Run toward rather than away. The giant you slay expands your influence.
Frustration is opportunity.
Enhanced influence and profound results wait beyond frustrations, complications, and disappointments.
Struggle:
Struggle transforms. Success, on the other hand, makes you more of who you were.
Power to seize opportunities comes from understanding and addressing your greatest struggle.
Greatest struggle:
The greatest battles lie within. On the other hand, inner struggle is leadership’s most profound opportunity. All leaders struggle with inner questions like:
- Do I matter?
- What do I believe?
- What’s important?
- What’s my greatest value?
- How can I connect?
- Can I do this?
- What if I fail?
Greatest opportunity:
Your greatest opportunity is building structures that develop and strengthen your inner person.
You’re crushed from without when there’s nothing within.
Inner strength comes from things like:
- Faith.
- Quiet solitude.
- Listening and self-reflection.
- Deep, honest relationships.
- Exposing struggle rather than ignoring it.
- Honest, often painful, feedback.
- Reading.
- Prayer.
- Humility.
- Mentors. Every person of profound influence stands on the shoulders of others.
Every successful leader eventually understands the battle is within.
Others control you when you don’t.
The issue is you not them.
Changing the world:
Solve great problems by bringing yourself to challenges, obstacles, and frustrations.
Identity determines impact.
Who you are transcends what you do. But, before you bring yourself, you must know and nurture yourself; otherwise you’re an empty cup.
How can leaders strengthen their inner person in ways that enhance leadership?
Join me on March 27 for a free conference call with a leader who helps leaders develop personal leadership models.
Tags: face the fear, Growth, honest relationships, Leadership, Leadership Development, profound opportunity, quiet solitude
March 20, 2013 at 7:32 am |
In my opinion the best way to strengthen one’s leadership is to strengthen relationships with God and His creations. Especially those who are hardest for us to get along with
March 20, 2013 at 7:44 am |
Thank you Greggory.
It seems to me that everything becomes a gift when one believes God works in the world. (Man I find that an awkward idea)
March 20, 2013 at 7:35 am |
Wow! Talk about timely!! I have been struggling with those exact inner questions, including: What do I need to do to seem relevant to my boss?
Mark Cuban once Tweeted something to the effect: We can’t be rockstars ALL of the time. Every now and then we all (are less-than-average performers). It would be nice to *know* my efforts were appreciated to some degree. Not knowing brings those inner questions to my mind more often.
Thank you for the post, Dan. It has energized me to be the best I can possibly be. Today. Everyday.
March 20, 2013 at 7:46 am |
Thank you Leader,
Welcome to the tribe of those engaged in the leadership journey. Best wishes!
March 20, 2013 at 8:17 am |
More wise words Dan – always love reading here.
March 20, 2013 at 8:18 am |
A good word is like sun on a cold day. Thank you
March 20, 2013 at 8:32 am |
Wow, this seems like it was written for me specifically. Having just gone through this the last 6 months it really hit home. I am a living testimate to the power of looking at yourself before others. It really works!!
March 20, 2013 at 9:29 am |
Thank you James.
I think we all share a common human struggle. It’s our most profound connection. Best wishes for the journey
March 20, 2013 at 8:51 am |
This post really hits many people personally. I too feel this way and have been digging deep within and addressing my struggles… This line really was inspriring – “Struggle transforms. Success, on the other hand, makes you more of who you were.”
March 20, 2013 at 9:30 am |
Thank you Mary.
The line you mention helps shift my attitude about struggle. Even though I would never pursue it, I believe struggle fills an important role in life.
Best wishes
March 20, 2013 at 8:51 am |
Two little fish swimming around quite content one day. Then a Big fish swims by, mentions to the little fish, “Wow isn’t this water great today?”.
Little fish being little and all do not know what in the heck the Big Fish is talking about. They are really confused, befuddled, scared yada yada yada. They spend all day trying to figure out what water is.
Thing is what there to figure out, they were in it all day. Just enjoy the gift and do not try so hard to understand it. What if you understand it it works better? Water doesn’t work on the fish any better if they understand it or not. Duh.(again, my opinion that works for me, doesn’t mean it is right in the overall scheme of things or that if yours is different, you are wrong, just means it is mine and works most excellantly for me, just saying this cause I know how personal people take their religion and political beliefs)
Chinese define crisis as hidden opportunity so when the world is trembling something great could be about to spring forth.
Ok that being said:
I MATTER a whole bunch! If I do not have that opinion of me who else is gonna?
I believe the water is great today!
What is important is loving well and being well loved.
My greatest value, my integrity, humbly pecked out!!!!!!!
Connect…..ask questions and listen
I am not always sure I can or not but I am gonna give it my all till that is determined.
Depends on how I define failure. I can’t fail as long as I give my best, learn something and like many others before me has said…..”never never never never never never give up”!
Relentless, bulldogged, persistent, determined pursuit of clearly defined goal.
Have a great one Dan, this might be your best post or the one I like the most or BOTH! Great one today!
Thanks, Scott
March 20, 2013 at 9:32 am |
Thank you Scott.
I always appreciate you sharing your insights. Keep on the journey my friend.
March 20, 2013 at 8:55 am |
“You’re crushed from without when there’s nothing within.” Thanks for the post, Dan, and thanks especially for that statement.
Comes back to that point of looking honestly and fearlessly within ourselves in order to be the best for those that we work with, live with, and love.
Good stuff here – thank you.
March 20, 2013 at 9:34 am |
Thank you KB.
Looking within is so easy to say…but it’s so hard to do. I also find that others help me look within because my view is often an incomplete view. It takes courage.
March 20, 2013 at 9:29 am |
I’m totally blown away by your post. Suddenly, my frustration in handling a difficult subordinate has turned into a great opportunity for my leadership and test my ability to influence. Thanks for the change in perspective!
March 20, 2013 at 9:35 am |
Thank you Albert.
You have my best for dealing with a challenge. We see ourselves best when facing a challenge. Best wishes
March 20, 2013 at 9:35 am |
Great post. I’ve realized in my own life that I learned the most from the most difficult struggles I faced. It wasn’t fun at the time, but looking back I’m grateful for those challenges.
March 20, 2013 at 9:45 am |
Thanks Kathy.
Sometimes life makes the most sense looking back.
March 20, 2013 at 9:57 am |
In a variation on maintaining that dual vision perspective: having an ebb and flow balance looking inward at wants/needs/what fulfills/nourishes/unlocks passion and still looking outward at the event horizon for what could be, what should be can strengthen resolve and refine focus.
Churchill once said, “success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts” Yoda’s version was a bit briefer…
March 20, 2013 at 10:09 am |
Whats up Doc?
LOVED your last contribution about Churchill and Yoda!
Made me laugh unexpectedly out LOUD!!!!!!!
What a great gift you gave me today!
Thanks,
Scott
March 20, 2013 at 10:54 am |
Thank you Doc.
Powerful! I think looking at the horizon is one of the habits that builds inner structures that strengthen us.
Thanks for dropping in.
March 20, 2013 at 10:03 am |
Reblogged this on The Other Side of Risk and commented:
I advocate looking beyond risks to find the opportunities on your projects. Even though I write about it, I’m not always getting there.
This post will help me keep at it. Reposting it today for my readers. Thanks, Dan.
March 20, 2013 at 11:53 am |
Todays post Dan reminds me of what I call the ‘Oh my gosh effect’. Many times in my Christian life, I’ve been confronted with a Sermon that felt like it was directed rite at me. I remember eighteen years ago like it was yesterday. I then was a young Christian approached by members of my congregation who shared with me thier desire to nominate me for a position on our Deacon Board. Honestly, I did not feel I was raedy, or, qualified. That did not deter these folks from convincing me that I was infact worthy. Subsequently I was appointed to the position of Deacon, which served as the catylist to profound growth in my Christian faith. “Everytime I see these individuals I thank them from the bottom of my heart for seeing in me something I could not see myself. Anyone who faces the challenge of ‘the unknown’, yet does not feel fear, needs to check thier pulse to be sure they are still alive. FEAR IS NATURAL. To those who see great potential in others, you need to come along side of those who need our encouragement and support. Few are born with the natural tendency to be great, “they learn to be great because of the examples of those who are great”. But ‘only’ when we choose give those a brothers and sisters a ‘hand-up’ helping them navigate past thier challenges & self doubt to become what they aspire to be. “Nothing is quite as satisfying”…
March 20, 2013 at 11:54 am |
comprehensive,informative and influential content.greatly appreciated
March 20, 2013 at 11:55 am |
I believe leaders can enhance their leadership skills by striving to be happy with themselves. I’m a big believer in if you’re happy, it will rub off on others if you do so strategically. No one likes that person who walks around “trying” to be happy and just flaunting a fake smile. No, when you are genuinely happy and loving life, it will draw people. That is the kind of magnetizing aura a great leader needs.
March 20, 2013 at 1:07 pm |
Excelente!!!!! One of the best blogs Dan
March 20, 2013 at 9:21 pm |
Love the thought that success makes us more of who we were. When I was in high school, I had a HUGE head. Unfortunately, my addiction to self was fed by repeated successes. With no impetus to change, I simply continued to be who I was, assuming it was a successful mindset. As we all know, it only got me so far and led to a bigger fall from grace!
March 21, 2013 at 1:30 am |
Hi Dan,
I believe you wrote this one to give me strength to handle what I have to handle today and that kept me awake the whole night. Rushing off to work soon (only morning here) and feeling a little bit stronger. Thanks a lot!
March 21, 2013 at 6:49 am |
From my point of view, everything that you have to do is just being yourself, never give up and struggle every day. Being a leader in every single kind of work, sport, or in live, involves a lot of problems, that you must solve struggling all day. Thank you for your post!! Amazing words!
March 21, 2013 at 1:06 pm |
That which spoke to me the most were the ten things that you listed from which one gain inner strength. Great post. I really enjoyed. Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
March 21, 2013 at 10:41 pm |
What a powerful message Dan,
The greatest strength comes from within.
For having been in the fire of my own experience, I can attest.
What a wonderful journey.
Thank you for being there.
Johann
March 22, 2013 at 12:48 pm |
Dan,
I hesitated to comment on this post. It hits so straight and true in my personal experience that it sometimes seems unreal when think about it these many years later.
I so, so agree with your 10 sources of inner strength. During a time over 20 years ago when all was crumbling around me (finances, future plans, employment, business failure), I was exposed to all 10. And because of these 10 (plus one really BIG important 11th one . . . support of family), I was able to see and use that experience — even as I was sunk in the depths of it — as an opportunity to be become a better person all-around, rather than as an excuse to wallow in shame and self pity, and do nothing.
Thank you
March 23, 2013 at 6:55 pm |
I come from a poor home and not recognized in the society, I want to b a leader. How wud I start
March 23, 2013 at 8:50 pm |
Thanks for stopping in. All leadership begins by believing you matter. After that, solve a small problem. Gather friends and accomplish something together.
Bring yourself to a challenge or opportunity.
Find mentors.
Best wishes.