Are there Leaders Among Us?

Are people born to be leaders or are they simply created because it is time for someone to be one?

Certainly some are thrust into leadership because of who they are, who they know or whose son or daughter they are!  Time in the saddle can create a great leader!  

I am a big fan of the leaders that emerge because it was their time designated by circumstances.  It gets down to a decision at that point!  

Perhaps it happens like this…What just happened?...Do I?...Should I?...Hell yes I’m doing it!...and from that point on you are venturing down a whole new path with a different rule-book!

In my opinion there is a tremendous waste of resources going on right here in my hometown.  A place I love, Virginia Beach, Va.  I have lived here all of my life and it is my intention to be planted here when I die. 

There are a whole bunch of "leaders" I would like to inspire!!!!!!

In 2005/2006 I participated in the “Lead” program of Hampton Roads, a division of the Chamber of Commerce.   50 participants are selected every year to spend time together each month learning, visiting, and experiencing our region.  Each class is always diverse and a unique representation of our community.

Over the course of 25 years LEAD has graduated over 1200 folks that truly give a damn about this community.  Why else would you go through this program? 

The assets for me go way beyond the things and places I learned about.  For me it was the people I got to know.  Truly amazing dynamic people that I wanted to get to know better.

Every year each class has a project that hopefully will last into perpetuity.  The class of 2013’s project is LEADers Among US.   Its purpose is to create a living history of our region’s leaders.   A collection of videos capturing the essence of lives well-lived in the service of others.   The project’s goal is to provide inspiration and a road map to success for generations to come. 

I am honored to be the first recipient and can’t wait to share my story as well as my views on leadership. 

On Tuesday, April 22^nd I invite you to join me and a couple hundred local leaders that will come together and see the first video and talk about LEADership. 

The event will be @ MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) 2200 Parks Ave in Va. Beach.  The gathering is free and The Noblemen will provide a cash bar and some good food. 

Festivities will start @ 5:30 PM and will end @ 7:30 PM

The LEAD class of 2013 will host the evening with us and I am confident you will be glad you came.

Join me in a night of discovery and let’s give all this Leadership something to do!  

You can RSVP to me @ al@thenoblemen.org or call Noble HQ @ 757-340-7900

NobleOne

Closed Doors!

At 56 I now see the opportunities that I lost were really obstacles I needed to avoid in order to stay on the path that was right for me.

There is so much wisdom offered in the passage of time.  Choices and decisions that were made decades ago, some painful, some regretful are now seen in a different light.  At the time it was so easy to judge harshly the reality of a painful new lesson.

There have been three instances in my life that at the time I labeled as 1. Hurtful 2. Painful 3. Regretful.

My family was part owner in a cool local business where I had worked growing up in Virginia Beach.  My father and his brother were majority shareholders.  I had always felt that this would be my legacy and could envision my future there until I learned that my father had sold his shares.  I was devastated and upset that his decision did not involve my counsel. 

After working for some time at Ferguson Enterprises I was offered what I perceived was the opportunity of a lifetime.  A successful business man was retiring and called me to discuss taking over his company.   He shared with me just how great of an opportunity it was and how he was looking forward to talking with me about it.  Then silence!  I later found out he hired my brother and offered the business to him.  I felt rejected, betrayed and pissed off!

After attending Ferrum College and graduating successfully I developed an attitude of regret and felt that perhaps the path that I had chosen was not fit for me!  I had enjoyed the experience however did not feel the desire to promote or be thankful for the gift of education that I had received.

Today I am confident all things happen for a reason and help to construct the fabric of your life.  I harbor not one ounce of regret for the outcomes of my decisions and now know I was simply following a path that I was destined to travel.

I recently returned to Ferrum College as an Executive in Residence.  For a day I met with students, professors, and trustees of the institution.  I was offered the opportunity to share my life with the campus as well as live streaming for an expanded audience.  Preparation for the day led me to the wisdom of my third door. 

Ferrum College opened that door for me again and invited me back to finish my education.  It became clear to me that this day was special and I look forward to my next lesson.

I choose to celebrate my life’s path and share my found wisdom with others that are seekers like me.  

Together we will build a future worth teaching about!

Be Noble my friends!

NobleOne

Living after death?

When I was writing my book Normal to Noble in 2012 I constructed a timeline of my life.  I listed all of the things that I felt were significant and placed a date beside it along with the duration of that event.  What a great exercise it was then and now I am using it once again.

This week I have the honor of addressing my alma mater Ferrum College at what’s called the Executive in Residence program.  I have been asked to prepare a 30/45 minute key note address.  The topic of the address is basically my life and how I got to be at this podium.   

While researching for my speech I had remembered my timeline and reviewed it once again with different objectives.  I realized that five significant events help to create the person I am today.

Those events were attending college, meeting Dick Dearing, Dad dying, creating the Men’s Breakfast, and my son Matt’s birth.

At college I faced challenges, made my own decisions, exercised independence and became resourceful.  Clearly a different person from the young man that entered as a freshman. 

I met Dick Dearing during my third career with WaterFurnace International.  I was working a trade show and Dick needed help on a large home he was building in Roanoke, Va.  We spoke for hours and became friends.  He shared with me his philosophy on tithing and how it was working in his life.  My views on giving were forever changed that day. 

My father died in 1984 and rocked my world.  Reviewing my life after 1984, it looks as if I really started living after my father died.  Reflecting on it now, it took my dad to die for me to understand how to live better in this world.  From that point on I solved things internally as opposed to externally. 

Afterwards I discovered my “voice” as I call it.  Listening to my internal compass has led me on some significant adventures, the first was the creation of the Men’s Breakfast at First Presbyterian Church in 1987.   That stint lasted every week for 14 years and significantly impacted my life!  It was simply something that I was "called" to do.  

After my son’s miracle birth in 1993 the “voice” returned and led me to create The Robin Hoods of Virginia Beach and eventually The Noblemen.

When someone close to you dies; it can actually create or destroy your own life.  For me, the death of my Father allowed me to live a fuller and more robust life. 

Saving my son’s life instead of aborting him at 22.5 weeks was the right decision that allowed me the life I enjoy now. 

I encourage those of you that are seekers to review your timeline so you better understand how your life changes as significant instances occur in your life.  

How you respond to the death of loved ones and your actions afterwards are up to you!  

Do your best not to die a little bit but to live a little bit better and honor those that came before us! 

NobleOne

That One Thing!

Who doesn't remember that line by Jack Palance in the movie City Slickers?   

Sometimes "one thing" can prevent you from doing great things.  Facing your "one thing" and doing something about it can really change your life in an awesome way!  

I think for most of it we hope that someone else or something else will fix our "one thing."  

For others that "one thing" might be something that they cannot change!  In that case it really depends on how you allow it to affect your life! 

I am facing my "one thing" right now!  

For most of my adult life I have struggled with this "one thing!"  Consumption...and I am not talking about pulmonary tuberculosis!  

I love to consume almost everything!  

My "one thing" is my lack of ability to match my consumption with depletion. 

This week I have made the decision to take on my "one thing" with a “reboot.”   I will not consume any solid foods for 30 days.  My only consumption will be juiced fruits and vegetables. 

I discovered this two years ago and it simply works.  One pound a day will go away.  Depletion that is healthy and doable for me!

Now if my “one thing” goes away what will be my next "one thing?" 

I don’t think I will mention it in this blog!  

However know this!  When it comes along...

I will be ready!  

How about you? 

NobleOne

Uncharitable!

I just got back from the Outerbanks of NC spending time with my board and a couple more local heroes! 

We dined and shared libations together and told stories of who we are.  One after another people stood up at dinner and talked about their passion for what we do.  There were no other agendas discussed, we simply basked in Nobility!

The next day we talked about how we pay for all of this?  These are tough conversations for a nonprofit.  Our paradigm is changing and we all are adjusting to new realities.

Dan Palotta wrote a book titled Uncharitable and I encourage anyone engaged in any way with the nonprofit sector to listen or read about this man’s observation of how things are and why they need to change.  It opened up my eyes to the way most observe the business of philanthropy and offers fresh perspectives for change. 

My goals are to find common ground using for-profit business standards and applying them to the nonprofit business model. 

Where is our Girl Scout Cookie?  Consider how much of the resources of the Girls Scouts worldwide are dedicated to the selling, marketing, promotion, branding, volunteering, meetings and parental involvement of selling a cookie?  I know this is sacred cow but come on!  Think about it!!!!!!

Tomorrow is a new day for our organization and I plan to think differently about matching our resources to our mission!  Our passion lies in what we do and the impact it has in all of our lives and in those of whom we help. 

We plan to connect our revenue resources to our philanthropy and celebrate it!  We will search out partners that will invest with all of us to change lives in our community!

Our goal is to generate the assets that you don’t find on a balance sheet!

 

All of our great stories (and there are many) seem to have a common element.  They involve a lot of folks focusing on what they know is the right thing to do at that time. 

It is our job as an organization to uncover the opportunities and change them into possibilities utilizing resources that we have all invested in.

I am excited about the future of The Noblemen and I look forward to changing the perspective of our community and the way they consider investing in a local nonprofit, especially ours!

NobleOne

More than just talk!

I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Magee’s story again at a recent conference held in Norfolk hosted by Volunteer Hampton Roads.

Operation Smile was conceived on a business trip to the Philippines whereas a group of plastic surgeons and others attended a conference and performed surgeries on the locals.

At the end of the conference there were still hundreds of folks hoping to have the opportunity to get this life changing facial surgery.  

A young woman approached Dr. Magee with the gift of bananas thanking him for at least making the effort even though she was not one amongst the chosen!

Dr. Magee told the young lady that he would be back and that statement was “more than just talk.”

You see Dr. William Magee changed the world that day by making a decision that he was going to do something about what in his mind was a solvable solution.

  

Operation Smile now performs facial reconstructive surgeries all over the world and daily makes a dent in the universe!

I know Dr. Magee and consider him a friend.  He inspired me many years ago with a simple question? 

“Do you know the difference between you and me?”

The answer…”I dream bigger”

It was one of those moments for me!  What is your moment?  Have you had it yet?  Did you miss it?

I get a chance to meet wonderful people on a daily basis and I often read about others when I can.  I love the stories of normal people recognizing that this is their time and they are going do something about it.  The ones that do… more than just talk!

Great ideas come cheap and are often missed by those that perhaps they were intended for.

So many folks resign themselves to what others might say or won’t take the risk out of fear of failure.

While others see things from a difference perspective and declare that they are in a position to make a change!  It is their time to make a dent in the universe. 

People can’t wait to get behind a great idea.  I can only imagine how Dr. Magee felt when that lady gave him that gift of bananas.  Let’s not forget the power of the lady’s gift!  You see both played a vital role in the creation of a wonderful thing!

Dr. Magee shared his vision with others and proclaimed to the world that for the meager amount of $240 he could change a life forever.  

Imagine living your life in solitude due to a facial deformity, unable to go to school, have a job or even walk the streets.  That can go away for an investment of $240.  Not a bad return!

Pay attention to what people proclaim and support the dreamers and the visionaries!  Also pay attention to life’s opportunities that are presented to all of us on a constant basis. 

It is up to you to do more than just talk!

NobleOne

Assets & Liabilities

What comes to mind when you hear Assets & Liabilities?  

I use this term to explain life lessons and life’s impact on others!

I have had the occasion to talk with a number of teens that from time to time lost their way.  Sometimes self-inflicted; other times, inflicted by others or circumstances.

 

The challenge of growing up and becoming self-sufficient presents huge hurdles for some!

 

Currently and in times past, these teens have lived at my house and became my family.  I wish I could sit every one of them down and implant the lessons I have learned, including my own son.

However it simply is not that easy!  Life often does not give away free lessons, learning them requires that you do them wrong first!  Sometimes over and over!

One of the simple measurements I use on myself as well as those around me is answering the question; are you an asset or a liability?

 

In other words, if you look at all you do in an instant or over a span of time, would you be in the positive or the negative column? 

Are you taking from life or contributing?  It is difficult to give when you’re actively depleting your assets!

So…when a new teen arrives at my house for whatever reason; I ask that they become an asset not a liability.  How simple is that?

Certainly you can expand on this simple concept from everything including your bank account to your life’s work.

 

I would love to be 100% positive all of the time; however, I know this is a lofty goal.  Worthy of pursuing but burdensome if you don’t like to be disappointed from time to time.

If you maintain 51% or better and you can live with it, perhaps it will lead to a happy life!

 

Consider how you impact your life and those around you.  If asked, would they place you in the positive column?

I hope that I remain an asset and others perceive me that way.  

I also hope those around me consider their own balance sheets!

So I say to all of you…

Don’t be an ass be an asset!

NobleOne