Let me say this on the front end: I am not a fan of opera. Music, that is. I actually like Opera the browser, but that's not the point. This story is about Luciano Pavarotti. Pavarotti is known as one of the best tenors of the modern era. Opera lovers (and guys like me) would readily acknowledge he had a clean, pure voice. At a pivotal point in his life, Pavarotti was trying to decide between pursuing a singing career or taking the safe route and becoming a teacher. He approached his father for advice. His father, a baker and amateur tenor himself, understood the young man's tension. He told Pavarotti he was trying to sit in two chairs -- the chair of singing and the chair of teaching. Then he said something that stuck with Pavarotti for the rest of his life: "Luciano, if you try to sit on…
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I used the following quote in a recent sermon: "Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny." While the original source is not known (several possibilities exist according to Wikipedia), the point is clear: a person reaps what they sow (see Galatians 6). Here is how it works ... You have a thought. You have a choice about whether or not to entertain that thought. If you entertain the thought, you will eventually act on it. If you continue to act on the same thought, you will form a habit. The sum of your habits will shape your character. Your character will determine many of life's outcomes. Destinies are not built overnight. They are the accumulation of thoughts that turn into actions, which turn into habits, which turn into your character. If wish to alter…
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Unless you're a flipper, most Synergistic Investments take time to make money. You invest and wait. And wait. Rather than pull your money when the market weakens, you wait. And wait. Good leaders know that maturity takes time. Today's World Series MVP once had a little league coach who had to help the kid tie his shoes. Teachers spend countless hours helping a child learn the basics of math. They may never see the CPA after that child's name. Sunday School teachers plant seeds that only mature with the passing of time. But knowing that not all investments mature over night does not stop a good leader. They continue to invest, spending time and energy with a person whose maturity will likely benefit someone else. Why does a good leader do this? The answer is simple: They themselves have benefited from someone else's investment. A coach, teacher, or people developer…
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"A man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them." - Mark Twain, American writer Ouch. But true. In some respects, I could probably trace the outline of the last twenty years by the books I was reading at the time. Different books for different seasons. Learning new skills, fine-tuning others. Trying to expand my mental reach beyond just material necessary for my job. I believe a hunger for reading is one of the distinguishing marks of successful people. Moms read about how to be better moms. Coaches study how to motivate and inspire. Teachers look for new ways of teaching old material. It's been said many times before: Leaders are readers. Growing people take advantage of the opportunities to learn from others. A good book allows you to sit in the classroom of a Harvard professor or to get inside the…
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In his book, Invisible God, author Phillip Yancey uses an illustration from practicing piano to illustrate why it's important to pay attention to fundamentals: "I do not play the scales for their own sake, but in order to play the grander pieces I must build on the daily mastery of the ordinary." The daily mastery of the ordinary. This is important lesson across many facets of life. Athletes know that to compete at a high level they must operate from a strong foundation of basic habits. Though an accountant may use Excel and pivot tables, many decisions often return to a basic understanding of addition and subtraction. When it comes to maintaining momentum in your spiritual life, it requires building on a daily mastery of the ordinary. The most gifted athletes practice. The most skilled musicians practice. People who mature in their faith have learned to practice the fundamentals of their faith.…
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