1 Life Your Choice

The Law of Empowerment - (Click title for notes)

The Law of The Inner Circle - (Click for Notes)

Lesson 10 - The Law of Connection



Leaders Touch a Heart Before They Ask for a Hand

The ability to "connect" with people is essential to strong leadership.



All great communicators have one thing in common... they ____________ with people.
Connecting with people is the ____________ responsibility.

How to Connect with People:

(1) Connect with ________________________.

(2) Share with ________________________ and ________________________.

(3) Live your ________________________.

(4) Know your ________________________.

(5) Communicate on ________________________ level.

(6) Give ________________________ totally to the people and the message.

(7) ________________________ totally in the people and the message.

(8) Share how the message has touched ________________________.

(9) Offer ________________________ and ________________________.

"Thanks Herb,
 For remembering every one of our names.
For supporting the Ronald McDonald House.
For helping load baggage on Thanksgiving.
For giving everyone a kiss (and we mean everyone).
For listening.
For running the only profitable major airline.
For singing at our holiday party.
For singing only once a year.
For letting us wear shorts and sneakers to work.
For golfing at the LUV Classic with only one club.
For out-talking Sam Donaldson.
For riding your Harley Davidson into Southwest Headquarters.
For being a friend, not just a boss.
Happy Boss's Day from Each One of Your 16,000 Employees."


Questions:

How well do I connect with others in the following areas?
     A. Speaking
     B. Conversation
     C. Small Group Meeting
     D. Board Meetings

Lesson 9 - The Law of Magnetism



Who You Are Is Who You Attract

Write down the top 3 qualities in people that you would like to attract to your organization.

(1)

(2)

(3)

"A Team should be the extension of the coach's personality. My teams were arrogant and obnoxious." - Al McGuire
Key Areas of Attraction:

(1) ________________________

(2) ________________________

(3) ________________________

(4) ________________________

(5) ________________________

(6) ________________________


Questions:

(1) Does our Mission Statement reflect who we are or who we want to be?

(2) Are there changes I need to make to attract qualities that I do not possess?

Lesson 8 - The Law of Intuition



Leaders Evaluate Everything with a Leadership Bias

"Who you are determines what you see."

Leaders are _________________... They Read and Respond

They Read and Sense...

(1) ______________________________
(2) ______________________________
(3) ______________________________
(4) ______________________________
(5) ______________________________
(6) ______________________________
(7) ______________________________
(8) ______________________________

* A ____________ knows an opportunity when its __________
  A ____________ knows an opportunity when its __________


Questions:

(1) Do I continue to get "Blindsided" by people and events around me?
(2) Do others think ahead better than I do?
(3) If so, who are they?
(4) Do I rely on others to help me with their intuitiveness?

Lesson 7 - The Law of Respect:

Lesson 6 - The Law of Solid Ground:

Lesson 5 - The Law of E.F. Hutton:

Lesson 4 - The Law of Navigation:

Lesson 3 - The Law of Process:

Lesson 2 - The Law of Influence:

Lesson 1 - The Law of the Lid: (Click Title for Notes)

"Who are you?" Have you ever been asked this question? Maybe you have even asked this question as you stared into the mirror.  In either circumstance, for most people, this is one question that brings fear, stammering, and a confusing life story / testimony / difference between what I do and who I am definition.  I have witnessed very few times where this question was met with a clear, concise, quick answer... even during those "mirror conversations".  I recently watch a video that touched on this topic from a business point of view; however, instead of asking the question "Who are you?", the speaker simply asked "Why do you do what you do?".  As I watched I definitely saw the need for a company to know why they do what they do, simply because it rallies people around an idea - it causes their heart to resonate with a resounding "That's exactly how I feel".  It instills passion, invokes emotion and gets to who we truly are as people.  Yet as I watched the video, my mind turned from business to myself.  Why do I do the things I do?  If I understood the reason "Why" I do things, would this help me understand and be able to clarify exactly who I am? And, if I were to truly be honest about why I do what I do, would I like the result of who it said I was? I am in the midst of wrestling with this question and it has brought a new light to my daily activities; "Why do I do the things I do?" has revealed some inconsistencies in who I say that I am.  This has bothered me to say the least. 

I have realized that, as a Christian, no experience should justify a change in my answer to who I am.  Dr. Martin Luther King (whom the video also speaks of) never defined himself by what he did, how he had been treated, or the attributes he had been born with. All of these things helped to guide him in some way but they never defined him.  He chose to define himself by who Christ said that he was; and because of this, the reason he did the things that he did, his "Why", never changed.  When I let someone's actions determine my kindness level to them; when I allow my feelings to dictate my obedience; when I let the past determine the future; I have gotten off track.

I am a child of the King, a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I do the things I do to bring honor and glory to His name. I love others so that others can know His love; "love the Lord your God with all your heart".  I worship Him in gratitude for who He is and all He has done; "love the Lord your God with all your soul". I live with integrity and keep my mind pure so that I do not tarnish the name of Christ; "love the Lord your God with all your mind". I workout and practice healthy habits to honor the temporary temple He has blessed me with; "love the Lord your God with all your strength".  Why do I do these things?  Because of who I am.  When these two become incongruent, either I have become someone else or I am practicing behaviors that do not represent my true self.

So, who are you?  Would your "why" confirm that answer or would it cause people to think "Maybe he needs to spend a little more time in front of the mirror."  My prayer is that you will experience the joy that comes when your "who" and "why" line up!

John 3:30,
Jonathan
To watch the video by Simon Sinek that got me thinking, just click below.  Believe me, it will be a well invested 18 minutes.

Like any cash-strapped family, we will work within a budget to invest in what we need and sacrifice what we don't. And if I have to enforce this discipline by veto, I will. (Applause.)

My thought, as I'm sure is the thought of many others, is - shouldn't this be our mentality all the time?  Whether in times of blessing or in times of crisis, shouldn't we be acting within the confines of a budget?  Now before you think this post is getting ready to go political, let me make clear where I am headed.  Much like our government (all parties included), most people act differently in times of blessing than they do in times of crisis.  I believe it is one of those areas of our life we have to relearn as we are being renewed (Rom. 12:1).

Because as I look through scripture, I don't see a God that bases His actions on the state of the economy or other factors that seem to play into our own, sometimes confused, decision making.  Rather, as it says in 1 Cor. 14:33 - "...for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace."  And if we are called to be like him, shouldn't there be some consistency, some peace, in our own lives even during times of crisis?  You see this principle throughout scripture, yet one of my favorites is found in Genesis 41:29-32.  Here we see Joseph interpreting a dream for the Pharaoh of Egypt, telling him to store up grain (stick to a budget) during the coming 7 years of abundance.  Why?  Because there were 7 years of famine that were to follow.

So what does all of this mean?  What does the President's speech, or Pharaoh’s dream, have to do with my life today?  The answer is simple.  What is the State of the Union in your life?  Or maybe to put it in another way, what is the State of Your Family / Relationship with God / Career / Physical health?  To answer this, we need to know where we have been, where we are, and have a clear plan of where we are going.  And this always requires us to "budget".  We all get 24 hours each day... are you investing them with intention?  Or are you carelessly squandering them away because you just happen to be in some years of abundance (nothing bad is happening in your life).  Know that crisis will come, it always does.  And the one who will be able to walk through it peacefully will be the one who has taken the time to "invest" - giving God their Heart / Soul / Mind / Strength. 

Praying for you as you prepare your "State of the Union Address",

Jonathan Absher

"1963, atop the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. stood before 200,000 supporters to call for racial equality, in what would become the defining moment of the African-American civil rights movement -- and a turning point in human history."  In memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., take a moment to watch this historic speech.  Take a moment to dream once again!

I ran across an article yesterday by Gina Serpe and I have to admit the picture is what caught my attention.  Surely Gatorade wouldn't have made a "Haterade" refreshment line, so what is the deal? Well, as I read the article, this was actually a stunt pulled by an individual. "Kay told KUSA that with the help of an artist pal—one who had the good sense to remain anonymous—he planted 1,000 of the bottles across the state for the simple purpose of creating conversation." I think he accomplished his goal... along with mounting legal concerns and pending lawsuits with the FDA and Gatorade.

Let's talk about our HEART (Relationships) today.  Looking at the news story above, you have to ask yourself, did he really accomplish his goal and if so, at what cost? Have you ever heard of a husband or wife starting an argument with their spouse all for the goal of "starting conversation"?  I have all too often and frankly I still can't figure out that reasoning.  I mean I understand that some spouses, especially when it comes to men (sorry guys!), can have trouble communicating - but starting an argument just to get them to talk...wow.  I have also seen, and in all honesty been guilty of, those making a sarcastic comment to prove a point or to again open the "door of discussion" about a particular problem.  What has happened in both scenarios?  Someone has not thought through the ramifications of "creating conversation" at all costs.

When these types of methods are used, not only do we have to deal with the problem we were hoping to discuss - whatever has been frustrating us; but we also have created a whole new problem that we are either going to have to deal with or sweep under the rug of unresolved issues.  By not thinking it through, we have turned 1 problem into 2 (or 3...5).  So the question is, if we have an issue that we really want to discuss, how do we start a conversation that isn't going to lead us down a path we don't want to go?

Here is a simple list of questions, that can be a helpful filter, to process the conversation you are about to bring up:
1. Would there be a better time to say what I am about to say?
2. What other issues could this conversation bring up?
3. Am I ready to deal with those issues should they come up?
4. Am I at a point emotionally where this will not be construed as starting a fight but rather beginning a discussion?
5. Do I have an outcome I would like to see about this particular issue?
6. If so, what is it specifically?

What would you add to the filter? Comment and let's begin a conversation!


(To read the full article by Gina Sherpe, Click Here)