Motivation – Page 13 – Mark S. Brown

How to Embrace Generosity

Are you generous? That is a tough question because there is no standard formula for generosity. What standard do you compare yourself with? We are probably not as generous as Mother Teresa. But maybe we can consider ourselves more generous than many of the corporate and business leaders that we know.

I would like to be more generous. I would imagine that you would also. How can we embrace being more generous? When we look at all the demands and responsibilities in our lives, is it possible to give more? I think so. Especially if I expand my thinking about generosity.

Earn more to give more. In the last few years I have learned that the more I give, the more I am rewarded with new opportunities. I had to stop telling myself that I would give more when I earned more. Instead I had to give more, which gave me the proper attitude about earning more.
Value my time more than money. Generosity is not just about money. It is about giving your time to people that need it. My time is more valuable than money, so I began to use it for the value it represented. Two small changes made a difference for me. First, never dismiss someone’s request for help because I felt like I did not have time. It used to be too easy just to say no without thinking, because I am always busy. Two, every day find a way to do something for someone else. No matter how big or small, this effort will make a difference.
Value my relationships more than money. I expanded my concept of giving beyond just donations to my church, the United Way, and other organizations. I began to see how I can do a better job of supporting others in ways that build relationships, changes lives, and brightens the future. When you see, feel, and participate, it is more than a donation. I want to make sure my generosity is about people and relationships.
Think long term. Nothing I do today will have a dramatic immediate impact. However, doing something everyday for someone over the next ten, twenty, or thirty years will help make a better future.

Being generous not only helps other people, it makes me better. These changes in my life have affected my daily attitude. Each day I get up knowing that I am doing my best to be generous. How do you want to embrace generosity in your life?

Find Your Success Within

It is no secret that real leadership starts within the leader. John C. Maxwell has said, “to do more, you have to be more”. He is referring to our character, our values, our thoughts, and our actions.

How often do you reflect on your own character? How strong are your values? Take five minutes and challenge yourself to put in writing your beliefs, values, and strengths. Make a list, and capture a description of your inner self.

The list is your pathway to success. It defines behaviors that you need to live every day to be successful. It should not describe the person you desire to be, the person you are. It should clarify in your mind the areas that require more of your focus, and areas that you need to be more intentional with.

How do you become more? You need to grow yourself in the areas that you value, and the areas of your strengths.

The list should also reveal your passions. Passion allows you to see opportunities. Passion is the fuel that triggers your action.

When I did this exercise, I learned that even though I am driven to help others succeed, I can sometimes be stuck routines that limit my effectiveness. I am excited about the ideas I generated on how I can help others in new ways, and hopefully more effective ways.

If you didn’t already stop to make your list, take the chance to do it right now. It will lead you to new ideas. Ideas that will let you become more, and do more.

Reaching a Milestone: Another Opportunity for Reflection

Four years ago, I started writing articles and mailing a newsletter. This article is the 200th article I have written and posted. It is a milestone. A step in a journey, but not the goal. I did not set a target of writing 200 articles. I began this process only to convey ideas that I thought would help others. But along the way, I learned that it helped me also.

Those of you that read my articles regularly know my purpose and passion is to help people expand their awareness, grow belief in themselves, and discover new opportunities for success. It is what I do as a coach and trainer at New Roads Leadership. When I help my clients, I want them to examine themselves, and really learn about their values, their passions, and their habits.

Most people would tell you that they know what they value. They could describe their values with words like honesty, loyalty, and openness. But to truly know your values, they must be challenged. How do you react to adverse situations? The clearer you can visualize your potential actions, the more effective you can be at living your values.

For me, writing these articles provides a forum for my own analysis. I am able to take an idea, and explore it. I can recall situations that were affected by my values, and reflect on lessons learned. I think and challenge myself. I can seek alternatives that would have served me better, and actions that would create better results. I search for excellence, improvement, and success.

I plan to keep writing. My hope is that my words can continue to challenge your thoughts. I am looking forward to my next 200 articles.

Understanding the Gap of Intention: Know Yourself

We have dreams. We want to achieve our goals. At times we actively pursue them, and at other times, they remain as only ideas.

Most of us face a gap between our intent and our actions. We struggle to complete what we intend to achieve on a daily, a weekly, and a yearly basis. Why?

We are influenced by our optimism, and we are influenced by our internal desire for success. We set stretch goals and have big dreams. But why does it require so much focus and hard work to follow through on our intent? We know what we want to achieve.

If we examine the gap between our intent and our actions, we may discover our results to be based on several other potential gaps. Here are four to consider:

1. The gap between how we see ourselves, and how we really are. This is an extension of the gap between intent and actions. We judge ourselves based on our intent, not on our actions. So this gap can perpetuate the original gap.

2. The gap between what we think we know, and what we really know. We assume we know enough to achieve our dream, but each step requires learning. We sometimes underestimate the time to learn and take action. We sometimes forget to factor in the required failures that give us the knowledge and experience required.

3. The gap between how much time we think we will spend, and the time we really spend. Only a small number of people, who are actively working on their goals, finish their daily action plan. We push ourselves to achieve more, and yet we underestimate the interruptions, and the other activities that demand our attention.

4. The gap between the amount of effort we believe it will take, and the level of effort it really takes. We have to be persistent in our efforts to succeed. When things get tough, we need to keep going. To understand this gap just think about all the people that start their exercise and diet plans in January and then give up before the end of the month. These people underestimate the effort required to achieve their goal.

How do we close the gap between our intentions and our actions? I am not convinced it can ever be closed. We are always striving for more. But we can increase our success by knowing ourselves, increasing our awareness, and investing in our personal growth.

How are you closing the gap you have between your intentions and your actions?