Are you a Leader or a Boss?

How do you exercise your authority?  Do people that work for you have a choice?   If you are military, how tough is it to demonstrate leadership knowing your support has to follow orders? If you run a company, is it your way or the highway?

I recently wrote a blog about volunteering.  In the nonprofit world you better learn to inspire since the people that you are leading are not relying on you for a job!

I am confident that scenarios exists that require people to follow orders or bad things can happen.  I also know there are quite a few folks out there that require a title or else no one would pay any attention to them!

I truly enjoy the inspirational route.  The skills are not easily mastered however knowing that your world exists because of a collective of like-minded folks is truly an interesting scenario!  People are on your team simply because you offer a return on investment that goes beyond financial rewards. 

What is your scenario?  Do you have people that you pay to work for you?  If you did not pay them, would they show up tomorrow?

Consider offering something up to the world that inspires others to give unselfishly!  There are simply platforms out there that need heroes to take care of.  I love to meet new folks that discover the reason they were put on this earth.  People like that are hard to stop and easy to get behind!

 NobleOne

Exercise?

Well, its early morning and once again I need to consider spending an hour or more doing some sort of exercise!  I am driven by guilt and the knowledge that it brings results.   That doesn’t necessarily motivate me to do it though!

I have friends that can’t wait to carve out a free hour to either bike, run, or go to the gym.  I am fortunate that I am an early riser and find that it is really the best time for me to work out.  Motivation is my issue!  I simply don’t get the “high” from exercise, how about you?

Don’t get me wrong, I love the results and strongly believe it is something I need to do however I can find plenty of options that keep me from it!

 

As well as six options to get it done.

Living near the water I can SUP, kayak, surf, bike ride (road or mountain) or run!  Of course weather plays a role along with what I did the day/s before.  You would think I would never go to work with all of these cool things to do! 

Still there are so many days I avoid them all.  I consider it a “task” when I should be thankful that I can still get it done.

I am grateful it is summer and the weather is now conducive to all my options.  I think I will run today since it requires the least amount of setup, takes the least amount of time and delivers good results.

How about you?  Do you exercise at least 4 times a week?  What is your excuse? 

I have never considered myself as athlete.  I was the last picked in school for almost any athletic opportunity.  I have to admit, I was partially damaged goods and it hurt not to be chosen or wanted.  As I grew older I learned to skateboard and surf.  I could do this alone and it did not require permission or participation from others.   Slowly I regained my confidence and enjoyed exercising through cool activities.

Today I combine my exercise with things that give back.  Running and biking on the roads in Back Bay gives me sights and sounds of all kinds of unique and cool critters.  There are many days I stop to give a turtle a safe crossing and “me” a break.    When the weather permits, I paddle, sometimes on a kayak other times on a stand up paddle board.  I launch in Back Bay, the water is calm, flat and beautiful.  Once in a great while there are waves and it’s off to Sandbridge with the longboard or the SUP. 

…or I can keep writing this blog and avoid the sweat and the labor!

NobleOne

Problems or just opportunities?

When I am in the midst of a big problem, I often stop for a moment and ponder whether or not this could be a teachable moment.  It can simply be the time to learn how to deal with this sort of thing.  Remove the drama and look deeper into why this is happening.

If you already knew how to deal with this situation it would never become a problem!   

Many years ago I was a newly licensed Realtor ready to take on the world.   I had drive and enthusiasm however lacking in experience.  As problems arose in my early deals I sat down with my Broker at the time, Larry Sancilio.  He simply stopped me in my tracks and stated “there are no such things as problems only opportunities for progress.”  I can assure you at the time I was convinced they were problems! 

I was told this so many times before I accepted it as a life lesson.  A great one to learn!

I thought about Mr. Sancilio a few years back when I fell through my roof at my farm while replacing a chimney cap.  As I soiled my pants, I realized that my view from the angle I was dangling from was awesome.  I decided to add a small third story loft since I had to sheath the roof anyway.  That’s the spot where I wrote my book, Normal to Noble.   Lemonade from lemons!

My greatest example occurred on May 4^th, 1993 when the Doctor told me to abort the mistake that was occurring in my wife’s womb.  I decided to “let it ride.”  And today I plan on going to the movies with that mistake!

Consider this; a problem occurs like the wake of a boat.  It has already happened, the wake is behind you and you can’t change it.  You can of course change the way to steer the boat and create a new wake. 

The next time you have a problem, take a moment and consider allowing it to be an opportunity for progress.  It may be something that changes your life forever. 

You have a choice to be upset and resentful, and then the opportunity to share that with your family and friends… or NOT!

NobleOne

If you are always striving you are never arriving!

I love to dream and certainly have big goals; however I do my best not to forget to smell the roses!

Perhaps this is an overused quote, I remember the first time I heard it and it stuck like glue!  As I grow older I always take notice of things that make me go hmmmm!  It was time to pay attention once again!

One of my favorite all time life changing books for me was The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.   Its focus is primarily on living in the moment.  There is rich text in paying attention and enjoying the moment without occupying your time thinking about what you a have yet to do!

It’s my opinion life throws you opportunities to grow and learn every waking moment.  They are likes steps on a stairway.  It’s simply hard to skip a step and very painful to fall down on them.   As you climb your view gets better and you are able to see new opportunities to explore and enjoy.

Spend this day enjoying and celebrating Memorial Day and consider staying in the moment.  Keep your eyes open for a daily gift of growth.  Appreciate what is going on right now and make the most out of each minute. 

NobleOne

Art of Allowing, one good life lesson!

What do you allow in your life? 

If you practice, you can choose your subjects of attention. 

What you pay attention to allows you to create your own unique life! 

Years ago I picked up the book Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks (The Teachings of Abraham) and it clearly set me on a better path. 

Consider the lesson and practice applying it in your life.  Almost in every moment you are making a decision and those decisions are influenced by your surroundings.  Choices are abundant! 

Simply put, what you think about is what you attract into your life.  As you pay attention, you then have options to allow what you let in and what you don’t.  I often use the example of walking into my kitchen and noticing that my son had left a mess that he should have cleaned up.  I will catch myself walking by the scene and allowing it to piss me off every time I see it.  I am allowing it to affect me negatively.  Certainly my son at this point in time has no awareness of his impact!  Why do I choose to feel this way?  When I decide to simply clean it up, everything goes away and all is right again with the world. 

Granted this is a simple explanation however I find it is the simple things I learn are what benefit me the most.   

I believe there are true laws in this universe!  Like gravity there is cause and affect about what you believe and what you practice.   Almost anything can be created in your life as long as you continue to desire it.  The world seems to help you along when you are on your path and your path is determined by your thoughts and actions.  Also, what you allow and not allow in your life!

Powerful and simple strategies to live your life more abundantly!

NobleOne

The question that everyone has to ask!

The other night I sat on a panel for board governance and inclusion.  It didn’t take long before someone asked the age old question! 

What is the ratio of giving for your organization?  How much do you spend on expenses?

The moderator responded quickly with 15% - 23% is an acceptable range! 

This always drives me crazy!  I could not sit still and just let this question go away!

I have lost members and gained detractors simply because a great deal of people really don’t understand what we do and most likely can’t read a profit and loss statement.

Nonprofits are often judged by their financials and 990’s (tax returns).  Since your organization utilizes income tax free, some people as well as the government feels as if it is the public’s money you are dealing with!

To this day I have board members that find it difficult to defend our financials. 

Consider this?

There are nonprofits that call you in the evening and ask that you donate to this or that.  Skilled paid solicitors that tug at your heart call after call.  Others spend countless hours and staff time soliciting funds from foundations and personal contacts, always chasing after that elusive charity dollar. 

What do The Noblemen do? 

We derive our income from membership, events and partners. 

Membership – monthly/annual dues – we plug you into community philanthropy, twelve membership meetings a year, opportunities to serve on committees for events and giving.  Membership has its privileges’ and I consider it a privilege to know all of our great members.

Events – Everything from black tie events to pouring beer and parking cars.   More weekends than not, we are busy doing something Noble.

Partners – We invite successful companies and individuals to invest in the community alongside of us.  These are businesses that understand that everyone plays a role in giving back.  In return, we ask that they attend all of our events as our guests to witness our impact in the community.

How are our ratios? 

We are 100% dedicated to utilizing all of our revenue to making it a better place for kids and us in Hampton Roads! 

Our latest annual report talks about “A Big Beautiful Smile”   That smile belongs to Amber, a NobleTeen that we met in 2006.  As a result of meeting us, Amber’s smile was restored through dozens of dental procedures and surgeries over the course of 6 years.  Not a single dollar passed through our books or out of Amber’s pocketbook.  That makes all of us smile as well!

Find that in our P & L! 

NobleOne

N.A.G. an Acronym

How often do you question someone’s motives when they do something for you or someone else?

How wonderful does it make you feel when you witness a selfless act? 

These are my heroes!  Men and women that decide to step up because it is their time to make a difference. 

My definition for NAG is No Agenda Giving!  People randomly talk about the joy of giving!  I’m here to tell you there is indeed joy in giving!

There are so many ways to practice this principal.  So often an opportunity resides within us and it will nag at you until you either medicate to make it go away or you take action.

You may observe someone that could use a part of what you have to offer.  Take some time to find a way to share.  As it is often said, if your cup runneth over, pour a little out in order to allow some new stuff to fill it up.

When my friends decided to help me when I needed them, my life was changed.  Internally I struggled with a response.  There was an action item inside of me and it was nagging at me to do something about it. 

It took two years to take that first step without a plan or a vision.  Both evolved after I had the courage to “leap.”   “Leap, build your wings on your way”  (thanks Terre Ittner)

I now pay attention to those folks that make a decision to give without an agenda.  It takes maturity and a higher vibration to achieve.  Age is not the factor; I recognize it in teens as well as adults. 

The underlying benefit is there is a return on NAG.  You maintain a smile and a full heart.  There simply is not enough money in this world to purchase it…although it is free to all that exercise it.

NobleOne