I love leadership. I’m going to share what all leaders have in common.
All leaders see more than others see and before others see.
If you’re in a room and others see it before you see it, you’re not a leader of the pack.
Conference theme: Fast Forward. It’s never been faster than it is now. Forward is shorter than it’s ever been. When I started leading, it was 2/5/10 year plans. Now 2 years is like an eternity.
In the 1980s, you didn’t find leadership books. You found management books.
When I started off, seeing is more was enough. But today, seeing before is more important.
When we think of speed, let’s think of getting started first.
Having dinner with Gail Devers. I told her that if we were in a 100 yard race, I think I could win. She looked at her husband. She looked at my body. I think I could win, if you gave me a 80 yard head start.
It’s not speed, I was talking about. It was getting started first.
How do I increase my more and before? How do we get more more and more before?
1. Know that there is more “more and before” out there.
Think of abundance. Think of creativity and flexibility. Creativity says that there is always an answer. That gets you in the before dimension. There is something out there that you can find.
Flexibility says that there is usually more than one answer.
As I’ve gotten older, I have less certainty. When I was young, I was really good with answers. Before we had kids, I was really good at raising children. And then we had children.
The things I’m certain about today, I’m more certain than ever.
There is more more and more before in front of us.
2. Develop a process for finding more “more and more before.”
Action process: Test, Fail, Learn, Improve, Re-Enter. The cycle never stops.
All those steps are essential, especially testing.
We all ought to do an autopsy on success. There is a bigger, better way. Some people test, fail, re-enter. That’s not a good plan. If you’re constantly getting knocked down, stay down until you figure it out. That’s why it’s test, fail, learn, improve.
Attitude process (Advance Attraction): Once I know what I’m really looking for, advance attraction kicks in. When you know where you’re going, your mind will start thinking what you need. Your emotions will get in line.
3. Put yourself in places and with people who will inspire you to see more “more and before.”
I’m greatly indebted to the Leadership Summit. I’ve received so much from this incredible event.
Went to my 50th High School Reunion. I don’t recommend it. We got to the auditorium and all the people were old. I looked at my wife and I said, “Look at the old people.” She laughed and said, “Go join them.” They were all pharmacists because all they talked about all night was medicine.
We’ve all been around people who just drag us down.
Get around people who can lift your sights.
4. Intentionally grow everyday so you will have capacity for more “more and before.”
It’s the growth that increases our capacity.
The only guarantee that we’re going to get better is the growth in capacity.
I revised my book after 25 years. I had to rewrite 89% of it.
If you’re still excited about what you did 5 years ago, you’re not growing.
Earl Nightingale – if you spent one hour every day on one subject for five years, you’d become an expert on it.
How far can I go? At 71, I’m still asking, “How far can I go?” Nike is right. There is no finish line.
My dad, 96, recently said, “The greatest possibilities are still in front of me.” My dad is going to live until he dies and not get the two confused.
5. Always have a vision gap that requires you to need more “more and before.”
Chris Hodges taught this to me.
Vision gap – space between what you are doing and what you could be doing.
Jesus saw the disciples not as they are but what they could be. He saw fishermen and said come and I will make you fishers of men.
How do you fill the vision gap? Ask God to send you the right people.
Ask God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself.
Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)
This is what I call God room. When I am at the ceiling of my potential, I’m at the floor of God room.
Do something so big that people who know you will say that is beyond his abilities and only God could do that.