We’re 4 weeks into the Q&A video series and want to thank you for letting us know you’re loving it. The purpose of this blog is to help you to grow yourself, your leadership, and your business!
Today’s question comes from one of our top commenters here, Mark Sieverkropp. He asks:
 A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. – Winston Churchill
Achievement is a powerful thing! For so many, achievement can become all consuming. Over and over again, I coach leaders and entrepreneurs in my LifePlan and Strategic Planning events through this very lesson. You would be amazed at how many times I redirect people from being consumed by a controlling sense of achievement, to actually…wait for it…achieving!
That’s the power of having a strong coach on your side.
I am not a leader of a team at work, but I am the leader at home.
The most frustrating times have definitely been when I was holding them with a tight closed grip, instead of an open palm, supporting and lifting them up, and allowing them freedom.
In this situation though, I’m not sure I’m going to tell my daughter “If you find another family that you love better…” 🙂
The hardest lesson I AM STILL LEARNING is to lead by allowing them to contribute their passion and ideas, and that I am not always right, and my way is not the only way.
More Intern Brock! Need a blooper reel for him!
As a former leader at work, and a current one at home, I couldn’t agree more, Erik.
Leading with an open hand is the surest way to create a loyal team. The more trusting and loving you are, whether at work or at home, the more likely your team will follow passionately, rather than begrudgingly.
As I type this, my 5 year old gave my 3 year old commission for helping him clean up his toys, and he is showing him how to put his coins in the “give”, “save”, and “spend” banks.
It’s nice to see that leadership blossom into a team of loyal followers!
What’s happening, Skottydog?? Tribe reunion today! WOOHOOO! Great to see you here!
Thanks. Feels good to be back. Been on the sidelines long enough. How are you doing?
Just peachy! We’ve missed you!!!!!
5 year olds and 3 year olds and commission? You must be doing something right.
Ehem…. you’ve been part of the tribe long enough. You ARE a leader at work ;0)
He’s a leader online, too!
Amen to that!
I agree. More Intern Brock! 🙂
WE WANT BROCK! WE WANT BROCK!
That’s the toughest thing for a leader. It starts the way you’re doing it. With caring more about their outcome than being right. Great stuff Erik!
You are a leader for our productive lives, Erik, keep it up!!
Great stuff Chris! It stinks seeing people doing something they hate, but not having the courage to seek out something else. Leaders who allow that situation to fester live to regret it!
The hardest part of my professional life was when I realized that after being in sales for over 15 years that maybe it wasn’t the right path for me. I had to take a leap of faith and swallow my pride to go in a new direction. I haven’t been happier since though!
I think that’s the toughest part! Swallowing pride to say we’re not doing the right thing. Only to find out, we’re not doing the right thing, and we’re happier when we are. 🙂
Hi everyone! Long time no comment. Sorry for lurking.
I love what you said about having an open hand as you leave. So true. My Dad was a pastor for many years, and he always had his hands open with the congregation.
He poured into them, built relationship with them, but never tried to keep them. He always approached it like this: the people in this church are not mine. I am entrusted only with serving and loving them – God can and will move them whenever and however He desires. We are HIS people.
I think of my team in the same way today. I don’t own any of them.
Great video!
Excuse me, do I know you? HAAA!!! Just kidding! Good to see you here Aaron!!
AARON!!! the lost has been found!! Where’s a calf?? Time to BBQ!!
Aaron,
Nice to see you back again.
Sincerely,
~a fellow lurker!
Preach it!!
The hardest part of my professional life so far thankfully lasted just one year. I was completely naive and unprepared to lead a team and a huge project and I crashed and burned. I had a crazy boss and I hated mostly every minute of it. My passion and career choice was right, my role in the project was not. It got to the point where I was terrified about taking on a new leadership role… 12 years later! I feel blessed to have found Chris and the tribe. Today I am a much stronger and humble leader. I don’t know many things and that I don’t have all the answers.
No matter how early I get up, Josh, Lily and Erik Fisher beat me to the comments. How do I deal with that?
Mike, I think it’s an appropriate time to cry just a little 😉
I didn’t even include you. You beat us all by BEING THE QUESTION. 🙂
Become part of the 4 AM club :0) This is the first stop after I brush my teeth in the morning
*virtual group hug*….
The great thing is you’re always learning Lily!! You’re awesome at that!
I think I am in the hardest part of my professional life right now. Trying to make a move from my full-time job has been exhausting and frustrating at time because my side business is not yet ready (or maybe my wife isn’t ready) to make the jump.
I tell my kids that complaining is bad, and not only do I hate it, but God does, too. [enter confessional] I’m getting mad at myself, though, because I’m starting to complain. Instead of complaining and dwelling on the negative, I need to refocus on the positive and the direction I’m headed. I have to remind me of what Thumper was told: “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say nothing at all.”
Man, I hear you on the exhausting part!! I’m there too!!
I’m hoping its like the tension web you stretch a rubber band, it gets most difficult right before launch 🙂
Awesome analogy!
I’m with you. It’s vitally important to remember that you are doing this to have a better life. If it becomes a complete drain in the process, you’ll eventually hate it.
…so make millions before you get drained… Haha.
Seriously though, you’re totally right CLo!
Great video Chris. Much like you said, I think it is hard to turn off the business view of things, especially when you are starting up. You don’t want to be viewing everything as a transaction 24/7, everyone you meet, every business you go to. Could they be a prospect? Could they be a client?
I am working on eliminating that, because frankly it was driving me crazy.
Without boundaries in your work life, thinks could get a little inhuman. And if you’re not a good human being, people won’t want to do business with you.
Very true! And you feel it when it starts getting that way.
This is amazing Chris. All too often we wait for permission to go do what we want to do. Thanks for your support, encouragement and wisdom.
So true Jim, and so far in my life, no ones given me permission…so I ought to quit waiting eh?
I give you permission to go rock it Mark 🙂 I totally agree though. I think a lot of this is how we are raised/educated in society—we wait on permission that we don’t have to wait for.
You’re right Jim! We just gotta give ourselves permission! (But I appreciate you giving me permission!!! Haha)
Absolutely Jim!!
Man brother, thanks for answering my question and pouring into not only your team, but our entire tribe!
Hardest part of my professional life? Getting over and overcoming myself. Fighting the thoughts of not being good enough, old enough, smart enough, etc.
It’s something I still struggle with, but it’s getting better with the encouragement of many people in my life!
My pleasure! And as for the thoughts of not being good enough, I’m always showing people in LifePlan where that comes from. When you overcome that, you change the rest of your life!!
…and I get a free LifePlan for asking the question? Aww that’s too kind! Hahaha
I’ve struggled with the same stuff for a long time. Chris is exactly right. Life is now changing.
Great question, Mark! Funny how our fears and self-talk are so similar. Other than the thought of not being “old enough”, that is!
My voice tells me I’m “too old”.
When exactly is “just right?”
I think “now” is as close as it gets! There is no “just right”. I’m trying to reprogram myself to understand that every single day.
Wow – what a breath of fresh air to hear your approach to your team. Incredible.
The hardest part in my professional life is dealing with all the low level details, routine, and mundane tasks while trying and needing to work at a much higher strategic level – “doing more with less.”
Great question Chris! Hardest part of my professional life has been having the courage to transition out of an affluent career that I don’t love into something that I do love. It’s a scary thing switching ladders, but you never want to end up at the top of the wrong wall.