Perplexing Perspective
I came across what I would call a “perplexing perspective” this weekend. Sometimes I need mindless activities, which may include scrolling through reels, shorts, and other video sources. As the algorithms have learned me, they produce a lot of content filled with thought provocation, emotion, and laughter. Three things I need. In the face of terminal cancer, Coach Jimmy Valvano delivered one the most inspirational messages I have ever heard at the 1993 ESPY Awards.
The Molding of a Leader
The molding of a leader parallels to the process of making pottery. I am far from artistic, but do understand and can appreciate that a piece of pottery doesn’t just end up that way. It starts off in its raw form as a block of clay, placed on a spinning wheel, where it is shaped and molded. In this week’s post, we look at the three correlations between making pottery and the molding of a
The Silent Killer of Organizational Culture
Cultural Monoxide is the silent killer of organizational culture. This is not a scientific phenomenon, just a looming threat to our abilities to build quality culture in the workplace. It will suffocate and interrupt the heartbeat of who we are as an organization. What is Carbon Monoxide? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines its counterpart in the science world as carbon monoxide, “an odorless gas that can kill you.” Pretty straightforward…right? Science isn’t my strong
The Five Elements of Intentionality
Understanding the five elements of intentionality can drastically impact the potential influence that we have on others. Intentionality is an art, one that can easily differentiate between ordinary and extraordinary leaders. It allows leaders to be different, counteracting what the world expects of us. I will share this confession with you, I strongly desire to be an intentional person. In all aspects of my work life, volunteer life, and personal life, I want to be
Counting Down Time
Counting Down Time Counting down time can cause deep reflection in oneself. Countdowns are meaningful because they let us know how much of something we have left. They never increase numerically, they always decrease. Countdowns always end. The Bridge For me, the concept of counting down time came in a moment on a bridge. A moment that drastically changed my perception of time. My family and I enjoy vacationing in St. George Island, Florida. It
Mean and Nasty People
There are mean and nasty people in this world. These individuals are impatient, harsh, rude, and cruel. Their objective is to impart their misery on everyone they come in contact with. The Big Game Let me set the stage for you. It’s late on a Saturday night, a trip to the championship game is on the line. Two undefeated teams clash, vying for one of two spots in the final game. The score remains scoreless
If A Mirror Could Talk
If a mirror could talk, what would it say? Each and every day we roll out of bed and face the reality of what the mirror possesses. It stares right back at us and through us. One of my favorite songs of all time is Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson. The song can generate emotions and stir souls. Its lyrics challenge us to start with us, change our ways, and make the world
Surrounded by Better
Great leaders are surrounded by better. Early in my career I was told by many others, “hire people smarter than me.” Like most advice I received at the time, I heard it…but didn’t always put it into action. As I have grown in my leadership journey, this concept become one of the greatest pieces of advice I have ever received. The college football season just came to an end. The Georgia Bulldogs won their second
Redirect Journeys
There are people and moments in life that redirect journeys. Good, bad, or indifferent the person or the experience meets you at a critical intersection of your life. I call these people and moments Interceders…someone or something that has redirected our journeys. Intersections I operate in the world of government for a career. Roads are a critical piece to the public infrastructure system that gets people from one place to another. There are critical
The Whole Staircase
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said, “Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” As humans, we tend to want to know what awaits us at the end of a long, dark staircase. The unknown of what awaits us creates uncertainty in our worlds’ leading to impatience and impulsivity. Both can lead to a costly stumble and fall. This week, we draw four observations between a staircase and
Fundamentals are Foundational
Fundamentals are foundational to leadership. They are the basis of which big ideas and dreams are built on. Lack of fundamentals can build shallow Foundations where those same big ideas and dreams fail to get traction. I have had the pleasure of coaching youth sports my entire adult life. Football, baseball, basketball, and wrestling. Regardless of the sport, everything starts with the Fundamentals. They do not always shine brightest, but they are the foundation
Earning Our Wings
Earning our wings in leadership has one fundamental requirement, to serve others well. Each of us have had the awesome responsibility of leading people bestowed upon us. We have been entrusted to be the person that gets them where they need to go. My favorite movie of all time is It’s a Wonderful Life. I watch it at the turn of every new year and anytime I need an adjustment in my perspective. If you
Wonder in Awe
With the passage of time, it is easy to lose our wonder in awe. Christmas morning is a great reminder of this. It produces Unexpected Moments, Unforgettable Memories. As a child, we eagerly anticipate the arrival of Christmas morning. I distinctly remember waking up throughout the night, intensely focused on the clock. Trying to will the minutes to pass one by one. When the time came, I would rush out of the bedroom and
Grappling with Time
Grappling with time is a never-ending battle. Time is our most valuable, yet limited resource we have. We never can, nor will know how much of it we have left. This past Sunday, I took my son to compete in his first wrestling tournament. Wrestling is a form of grappling. Oddly enough, his first tournament took place at a school only a few miles away from where I wrestled my final high school match
Grow In Giving
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero Grow in Giving On January 1st when you look back at the holidays, what will you be glad that you prioritized? For our family, the holidays are a time of traditions and family time, but also a wonderful time to prepare our hearts and minds for being grateful and giving back to others. Our children
The Recipe for Community
The recipe for community starts with one key ingredient…its people. Without that ingredient, the recipe just doesn’t work. The end product is bland, lacking in flavor. A community is simply a group of people that exist together. In an ideal community, everyone in a leadership position desires to better others and the world they live in. They want the people in their communities to have a great quality of life and will do what it
Gratitude List
Every Leader should have a gratitude list, comprising of the people and things we are grateful for. One of the key differentiators between ordinary and extraordinary leaders is gratitude. GREAT leaders are GRATEful. In Last week’s post (Giving Away of Oneself) , we talked about the giving part of Thanksgiving. This week we dive into the other portion, gratitude. For me, I desire to be a grateful person. That desire does not always lead to
Giving Away of Oneself
Giving away of oneself is what great leaders do. Leadership is about bettering others and the world we live in. In order to lead well, giving away of oneself is a necessary function. Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. The season makes me think of two things, one is gratitude, the other is giving. Today, we settle into the latter…giving. The Struggle I don’t know about you, but leadership can be extremely rewarding while at the same
Making Regular Deposits
Making regular deposits into relationships is one of the most valuable investments a leader can make. In the world of banking, there are two types of transactions that can be made, a deposit and a withdrawal. The same is true for people transactions in leadership. Financial deposits need to be made on a regular basis in order to pay the bills. For example, your paycheck is deposited on a regular basis. Your home’s mortgage or
Leaders are Losers
Leaders are losers. Odd concept, huh? While it seems contrary to everything that we are taught about leadership, it’s true. Leaders are fully capable of being losers. In fact, it is a requirement of leadership. It is worth noting that this post is being written by one of the most competitive people you will ever meet. I like to win, hate to lose, always have. All my life I have participated in sports as a
Hidden Foundations
All building structures contain hidden foundations. Foundations are the base of anything that is built vertically. They bear the weight of keeping everything on top of it structurally sound while being out of site, out of mind. This past week, we said goodbye to our Chief Building Official at the City of Acworth. Loyd Fasselt retired after twenty-six years of faithful service to our organization. He made a career out of reviewing designs for and
Crunch Time
Sometimes our best work can be accomplished in crunch time. It’s nothing more than a pressure filled opportunity to do something great! Crunch time separates ordinary people from extraordinary ones. Ninety-four weeks ago I wrote the first Leadership and Main post. After years of staring at a vision that was going nowhere, it was time to buckle down and start writing. Since then, every Monday morning at 7:15 a.m., the subscriber email has gone out
You Can Count On Critics
You can count on critics all day, every day. They can be counted on to be consistent and relentless in their efforts. You always know where they stand…on the other side of whatever you do. Critics are simply Haters. Critics can be found everywhere. They can be found on the living room couches during college football season, the bleachers of any youth sports activity, in board rooms, in hallways, the backseats of vehicles, the editorial
That’s My Bad
“That’s my bad” can be commonly said when a person declares to others that they have made a mistake . Being able to willingly admit that we made a mistake is a mark of a great leader. The National Football League and Major League Baseball are all in full swing right now. The guys who play these games are the elite of the elite in their professions. As you tune into the games, watch what
Lowering Your Level
Lowering your level is an effective form of leadership. President Abraham Lincoln once said, “No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.” This is such a powerful statement. I have spent my entire adult life coaching youth sports. Whenever I felt it was necessary to connect with a player from a communication standpoint, I would always physically get down on their level to deliver the message. It was a strategy
Your Final Message
What would your final message be to those you love? This conclusive message is the greatest piece of work that you will ever have the opportunity to produce. It is a culmination of every decision, every experience, and the result of every single moment of your life. Your entire existence on earth, summed up in only thirty minutes. Imagine this scenario for just one moment with me. The stage is set, the big moment has
The 3 Enemies of Empathy
There are three enemies of empathy that lie deep within all of us that can significantly impair our ability to connect with other human beings. If asked, most people could not articulate the difference between the words sympathy and empathy. While they align in some ways, there are a few degrees of separation that drastically change the intended impacts of their use. Sympathy vs Empathy I have always believed that sympathy is when you have
Unforeseen Conditions
Unforeseen conditions are unexpected and unavoidable. They happen without our permission. Every leader WILL experience these conditions at some point in their journeys. I was Nineteen years old, a sophomore in college, working parks maintenance for the city, and venturing into adulthood when the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 happened. It was the most notable of unforeseen conditions in my lifetime. I got up that morning like every other American, got prepared for my
Eight Qualities of Human Leaders
There are eight qualities of human leaders that separate ordinary leaders from extraordinary ones. There are countless books, podcasts, videos, and articles on the subject of leadership. The key component to any leadership style is the human element. The human element may be the easiest to look over, but the most important overall. When I think about those individuals that taught me true, genuine leadership, I first think about the quality human beings they are.
Clarity Above the Fog
There is always clarity above the fog. In the world of meteorology, fog is a collection of dense water particles that accumulates near the ground. The word fog can also be associated with a state of mind, one that leads to confusion and disorientation. Either way you look at it, fog makes it difficult to see and think clearly. Recently, I was headed for my weekend hike at Kennesaw Mountain. As I drove towards the
Unlikeliest of Friendships
We can develop the unlikeliest of friendships in our lives. These are people that intercede our journeys. We connect with them, not because of our similarities, but mostly our differences. A unique arrangement that can develop the strongest of bonds. My friend Shirley passed away almost a year ago today at the age of eight-seven. The memorial service was delayed due to COVD-19. This past Saturday, her family honored her and her husband Red
The Gravitational Pull Towards Ordinary
Every leader faces a constant gravitational pull towards ordinary. The existence of these opposing forces is undeniable and at times unstoppable. These daily forces can actively work against our ability to be extraordinary. The pull towards ordinary disrupts our intentions to do more and be more. Intention vs Direction I’ve heard it said two ways. Andy Stanley said, “Direction, not intention determines your destination” and Kyle Idleman said, “intention doesn’t determine direction.” Both statements draw
The Full Story Helps
Whenever a leader receives information, the full story helps. Receiving a portion of the story, missing an underlying point, or being communicated to vaguely does not help a leader in their decision making. Having the full story helps, always. The Big Game The scene is a highly anticipated first round matchup between the defending Super Bowl Champion Acworth Warriors and the undefeated Hillgrove Hawks. An early season loss had impacted our seeding headed into the
A Willingness to Better Others
Difference makers in local communities display the ability and willingness to better others and the worlds they live in. Everyone has the ABILITY TO, the key differentiator is WILLINGNESS. A select group of the willing are about to take the stage and assume their starring role in making their communities better. Their stage is the classroom. A Front Row Seat While I am not an educator, I have a solid perspective on the work they
Every Jersey Tells A Story
On the sports field, every jersey tells a story. I grew up playing America’s past time, the great sport of baseball. The rules of the game required us to wear jerseys. The jersey usually had to contain the team’s name, the player’s last name, and the player’s number. The contents of a jersey can tell you a lot about the player. The stories are told through each meticulous stitch of fabric that displays their name,
No Rain, No Flowers
Where there is no rain, no flowers grow, pretty simple. Water is a necessary nutrient for any plant to grow. When it comes to certain varieties of plants, their flower sets them apart. My family and I are at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida this week. Sometimes, I will head into writing days with no topic. I either pick one from a list in my Evernote or something comes to me that day. While I
Little Known Heroes
Little known heroes are hidden in the fabric of communities throughout this world. They operate in the smallest places and make the biggest difference. These little known heroes are the backbone of a community’s success…past, present, and future. The world would look a lot different if they didn’t exist. I Planted the Flag on my writing journey on January 6, 2021. Seventy-eight weekly posts and more than 100,000 words later, I can easily find myself
Unexpected Moments, Unforgettable Memories
Unexpected moments, unforgettable memories. All of us work so hard in life to plan for those perfect moments with our favorite people. We spend extensive time and large amounts of money planning vacations, cruises, camping trips, and other memorable experiences just to fall short of unforgettable. The unforgettable memories are created in those experiences which are unplanned and unexpected. Last Tuesday, I decided to text the kids towards the end of my workday and told
Square Peg, Round Hole
Square peg, round hole is one of my go to phrases in moments of frustration. It enters my mind and accelerates to the tip of my tongue in those moments. I am grateful that it tends to stay there…most of the time! There was a toy that most of us played with in our infancy. It was a simple, wooden toy. The toy set included a wooden mallet, three different shaped pegs, and three correlating
Shortcuts Can Bypass
Shortcuts can bypass so many valuable lessons in a leader’s journey. One of my Father’s Day gifts to myself was a little solitude in the form of exercise. I got up early before the rest of the fam did and hiked Kennesaw Mountain. I hadn’t made the climb in a while, but it didn’t take long to see a new feature to the trail. Shortly into the hike I saw a newly installed split rail fence.
Growing Tomatoes and People
The process of growing tomatoes and people have a lot in common. Yes, tomatoes and leadership! A gardener tends to the growth of plant, a leader tends to the growth of people. The intentions of a gardener and a leader are the same, growth of what they care for. There are nine and a half acres in Canton, Georgia that are extremely special to me. It is a piece of property that my Maw Maw
The Dark Seasons of Leadership
No leader is exempt from dark seasons of leadership. There are only two types of leaders, the ones who have walked through a dark season and the ones who are about to. That doesn’t sound very inspirational, does it? No matter how strong of a leader you are, consistently great is not realistic. There will be speed bumps and hurdles that create dark periods in our leadership journey. Darkness can invoke a lot of emotions: fear,
Would I Give My Life for Others?
Would I give my life for others? That is a question I wrestle with internally every Memorial Day. In a weekend that can be dominated by sports tournaments, cookouts, and vacations it can be difficult to find the space and solitude to adequately reflect on the magnitude of this question. If you asked this question to most people regarding their immediate family and dear friends, the answer would be yes. But what if it was
The Great Gift of Grace
We tend to lack the willingness to give the great gift of grace in this world. People are tired, stressed, and burned out. They are leaving the workforce in record numbers. Energy, patience, and resilience are depleted with no time for replenishment. This concept was placed on my heart through a discussion with our leadership team recently. We had just watched an episode of the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast titled Leading Out of a Crisis.
Playing the Long Game
Playing the long game is a good leadership strategy. My entire adult life has been spent coaching youth sports. Over those twenty-two years, I have learned that it’s not about winning early, it’s about winning later. I coach my son Grant’s 12U recreation baseball team. We just wrapped up our spring baseball season this past Saturday by winning the Acworth Baseball League Championship. We made an impressive run in the end of season tournament outscoring
Fear Less
Throughout our lives we are told to be fearless, but isn’t it more attainable to fear less? When I think of fearless, I think of the complete absence of fear. That just doesn’t exist. Regardless of how strong we may think we are, we will never be absent of it. When I think of fear less, I think of minimizing it in our lives. The same eight letters form each of these concepts, but one
Aim or Fire?
Aim or fire? Which one is it? Back in 2010, I served as the President of the Acworth Business Association. As President, you are responsible for the recruitment of board members to serve during your presidency. Networking is a critical piece to the success of any local business association or chamber of commerce. So, during the process of recruitment I reached out to a friend of mine, Parnick Jennings. He is a master networker. Parnick
Our Initial Investors
People who are the initial investors in something new are always positioned for a higher rate of return. Imagine what it would have been like to be an initial investor in Coca-Cola, Amazon, Google, Tesla, or any other company that has done extremely well in the stock market. You would probably be reading this post from your own island somewhere and not preparing to go to work! I think I would be a professional beach
Sustainable, Competitive Advantage
What is your sustainable, competitive advantage? That is a question I have been wrestling with for the last several days. Last Tuesday, we had the privilege of hosting Chick-fil-A Chairman Dan Cathy in Acworth, Georgia. He was gracious enough to come speak to our community as a part of a “Lunch and Learn” to raise funds for our Expanding Horizons Program. Thanks to the efforts of some community leaders in Ira and Kim Blumenthal, our
Playing Catch
Playing catch can tell us more about leadership than one could ever imagine. There really isn’t anything in sports like a good old-fashioned game of catch. I have had the opportunity to experience the process as a player, coach, and now a father. Out of the three, the position of father is by far the best vantage point. Yesterday, our family wrapped up our spring break vacation in St. George Island, Florida. I believe whole
Building Leaders
Building leaders is what I will be doing this week. Lots and lots of them. Leaders of fluorocarbon complete with floats, beads, swivels, and circle hooks. Fishing leaders! My family and I will be visiting our favorite vacation spot, St. George Island, Florida. Direct subscribers to the blog received this post in their inbox at 7:15 a.m. Monday morning. About that time, I will be watching the sun rise over the Gulf of Mexico
The Vantage Points of Mountains
The vantage points of mountains are comparable to those along our leadership journeys. Here in Georgia, we are experiencing the transition from winter to spring. That transition signifies warmer weather and the ability to get outdoors more often I tend to be a creature of habit. The same person, Katianne White, has cut my hair for around fourteen years. I prefer to schedule my haircuts early on Saturday mornings. Floyd’s Barber Shop is conveniently located
What if Leadership
What if leadership leads to endless possibilities. A sentence beginning with these two simple words, “what if,” can change the trajectory of a leader and an organization. There are many great questions that can guide a discussion, but this may be the greatest of all. You do not need me to explain how divided we are in the political world. Watching the news or hanging out on social media for a few minutes can provide
A Seat at the Table
All people desire a seat at the table. When I think about this concept, I cannot help but think about a conference room table and the seats surrounding it. There can be deep meanings behind the seats and characteristics of those that occupy them. First Things First Start with earning a seat, any seat. I firmly believe that if you want a seat at the table, you must position yourself to be essential to the
Burdened By Others
Great leaders are burdened by others. At first glance, that appears negative, but in fact it is positive. When it comes to people, great leaders have a sixth sense for others. They have an innate ability to read people, produce gut feelings, and just plain “get it” when it comes to people. Here is the thing about these gifted leaders, they put the needs of others above their own. They place themselves second. In a
The Currency of Freedom
What is the currency of freedom? Webster’s Dictionary defines currency as, “a medium of exchange.” For freedom to exist, the medium of exchange is courage, sacrifice, and fight. I have always considered myself someone who is incredibly grateful for the freedoms we have in this country. While I do not want to believe that I could possibly take freedom for granted, this week has caused me to reflect and question how deep that gratitude truly
Unproductive Behaviors of a Leader
Unproductive behaviors waste yours and everyone else’s time and energy. So why do we continue to exhibit these poor behaviors? Most of the time, I try to write about the positive and inspiring leadership qualities we should possess. The qualities that produce productive behaviors that help us effectively lead our teams. Today we dive in nine behaviors that impede our ability to move forward in our leadership journeys. Before we dive in though, let’s set
The Visitation Line
The words spoken in a visitation line can sum up a person’s entire life’s work. Every year, every month, every day, every hour, and every single minute of the impact of one’s life reduced to a single conversation. The words used can tell a significant story to a grieving family about the impact that their lost loved one had on others. Andy Stanley says, “the measure of someone’s life is what they gave away.” Great
Great Leaders are Attractive
Great leaders are attractive. No, not attractive as in eye candy! Attractive as in magnetic. Magnetic leaders create attractive organizations that people are drawn to and want to be a part of. Have you ever walked into a room and been drawn to someone? In the magnetic way, not romantic. Focus! Like during a meeting when someone’s presence is just impressive. You know nothing about them, yet there something special. They are magnetic and you
The Great Retention
Leaders can either accept the “Great Resignation” or create the “Great Retention” movement. The Great Resignation is grabbing headlines everywhere you look. Media outlets pounce on the opportunity to increase the weight of the heavy burden already being carried by so many leaders today. I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Tim Elmore of Growing Leaders speak a couple of months ago. He shared a staggering statistic that 10,000 people a day are leaving the
The Walk-On
On college campuses across the nation there are dreamers who desire to be, “the walk-on.” High school athletes who may have failed to draw the necessary attention or flew under the radar. They may have lacked the natural abilities or tools the recruiters desired, but were gifted with the grit and determination to prove people wrong. Their ambitions are buried in a dream of playing for a school they always desired to play for.
What is in Your Life’s Blueprint
What is in your life’s blueprint? One of the greatest orators to ever walk this earth, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., asked this critically important question to a group of junior high students from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in October of 1967, a few months before his life would be taken way too soon. I can’t help but think about what it would have been like to be a teenager sitting in the room that day. To
Winning the Pregame
Winning the pregame is a necessary step in positioning a team to win the actual game. Pregames are won through routines. Behind every great coach, there is a pregame routine. The same goes for our leadership world. “Straight line, look straight ahead, helmets in your right hand, not a word.” That was how our pregame routine started when I coached football. That is when the switch flipped from unstructured to structured, from a regular day
Plant the Flag On Your Dream
Have a dream, plant the flag, go! Planting the flag is a necessary step in making a dream a reality. Too often we have dreams, but never get traction. We spin our wheels in a mud pit of excuses. Then we get stuck, and go nowhere. My writing time is on Sunday evenings. When I positioned myself at the laptop, fully prepared to go in a completely different direction, it hit me. Exactly one year
The Tale of Two Mornings
Christmas can create the tale of two mornings for us. I heard it said that there are four phases of our lives. One, we believe in Santa. Two, we stop believing. Three, we become Santa. Four, we start to look like Santa! Growing up, every Christmas Eve we would visit my grandparents’ house. As a child, I vividly remember the ride home. My brother and I would gaze out the window looking into the sky
If I Disappeared Tomorrow
If I disappeared tomorrow, would anyone notice? Pretty deep question, right? This is the most important question you can ask yourself to measure your essentialness as a leader. Actually, probably as a human being. It may seem like oversimplification, but it is such a critically important one. This is a question that should burden us and stir our emotions daily. I first heard this in the context of how it applies to a civic club.
Commitment Towards Growth
Every leader must make a commitment towards growth. There’s no middle ground in leadership. You are either growing or not. Living or dying. Plain and simple. When a leader feels as though they have reached the point that they do not need to grow, that is called complacency. Complacency is coasting. Rick Warren says, “the problem with coasting is that you’re headed downhill.” The only direction complacent leaders can go. On December 17, 2019, I
Even A Superhero’s Cape Gets Tattered
You may have to look closely, but even a superhero’s cape gets tattered. A quick Google search of the word tattered produces the result, “old and torn; in poor condition.” Synonyms include worn, ragged, run down, and frayed. In the movies, a cape can be an identifying mark of a superhero. It can represent one of many superpowers such as the ability to fly. Some of the most legendary superheroes of all time wore capes.
The Ungratefulness of Leadership
A blog post title of Ungratefulness of Leadership could be misleading to the reader. When you first read it, your mind will go one of two ways. It may go in the direction of ungratefulness you feel from the people you lead or the ungratefulness from those we follow. Neither of these apply to the direction we are going to go. A few years back, we were studying a book with our leadership team. I
The Power of Stories
We can easily underestimate the power of stories in leadership. We all have a story, they just read differently. Our stories are written in different fonts, sentence structures, and lengths. Some are written in blogs, told in front of audiences, or shared over a campfire. Our stories are one of the most powerful tools we have in connecting with another human being. My first job was at Media Play. Media Play was a retail store
Stewardship of the Seat
Leaders are responsible for the stewardship of the seat they sit in. Every leader currently occupies a seat in their leadership journey in the form of a position. Stewardship in leadership is taking good care of the people and the organization while you are serving in that seat. Do not confuse it for ownership. Ownership is more permanent and possessive. We do not own the seat, we are simply stewards of it. My first seat
What Champions Are Made Of
Ever wanted to know what champions are made of? Look no further than the 2021 Atlanta Braves who just won the Major League Baseball World Series. If you are a fan of one of the twenty-nine other teams who did not win it, just bear with me. There are plenty of lessons packed into the Braves championship run that will benefit you in your season of leadership. Being a Georgia native, I have been a
What Is Serendipity?
What is serendipity? I would venture to bet that most people cannot rattle off the definition of this word without looking it up or using the Google. My vocabulary may not be the most expansive, but I have known this definition by heart since the age of sixteen. In the rare circumstance the word comes up in conversation, I end up seeming smarter than I really am for knowing it! I started playing football and
Unconditional Service
Unconditional service is the mark of a great leader. According to Webster’s Dictionary the word unconditional is defined as, “not conditional or limited.” Therefore, the concept of unconditional service comes with no strings attached. Nothing is expected in return. Serving others who can do nothing at all for you in return is the ultimate form of unconditional service. A few weeks ago, I got to attend one of my favorite events of the year, the
Landscaping and Leadership
Landscaping and leadership both require growth. I had the opportunity to connect over Coffee with Reagan Hines last week. Reagan owns Lakewood Landscape Management in the community and has followed Leadership and Main since the beginning. We share a mutual interest in landscaping. His business is landscaping. My career started in that world with the maintenance of parks and sports fields. That experience gave me a decent understanding of what goes into landscaping. It grew
How Great Coaches Win
Want to know how great coaches win? Styles vary, but they all have several things in common. Key factors that separate good coaches and great ones. One thing has been consistent in my thirty-nine years of existence on planet earth, sports. Either as a player or a coach, sports has always been a part of my life. As a player and coach, our teams played against great teams which were led by great coaches.
Driving While Influencing
Great leaders could get busted driving while influencing every day. I caught my grandfather doing this in one of the most influential car rides in my life. The moment took place as a nine-year-old in the back of his extended cab Ford Ranger. I don’t mean the spacious crew cabs of today, but where the seats faced each other and shoulder room was limited! Paw Paw and his friend Billy were having a conversation in
Leaders Should Vacation Well
Leaders should vacation well. I regularly write about a group I am in with some leaders in our local community. In one of our discussions over lunch, we talked about this concept that leaders should vacation well. We work hard to perform well in our career, but do we apply the same effort to vacation well? Our work worlds move fast. We run ourselves in the ground to a point where we desire and look
Breakfast, Lunch, and Coffee
Great leaders invest in breakfast, lunch, and coffee with others. These three meeting opportunities are a minimal financial investment with a high potential for rate of return. What if I told you that for $20 you could spend one hour with someone who has walked through the season of struggle you are currently in and came out on the other side? Would you pay $15 to be able to learn all the secrets of
Where Were You When
Where were you when? Depending on your generation, we all have an answer or answers to this question. Moments that intersected history that stopped the world in its tracks. Maybe it was a shuttle explosion, an assassination, the death of a prominent figure. Most of these moments are grounded in tragedy. For me and my generation, it was September 11, 2001. My friend since Middle School, Steven Oser and I were driving North on
Extemporaneous Creates Memorable Experiences
Extemporaneous creates memorable experiences. My preference is to be planned and prepared in life. While these qualities have served me well in leadership, it can also restrict opportunities for adventure. When you Google the word extemporaneous it defines it as, “done without preparation.” That goes against my natural inclination. My buddy Todd Lollis shot me a text last Saturday to see if I wanted to go to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl Classic featuring the number
Emergency Hugs
Emergency hugs can change the world. I remember it like it was just yesterday. It was a brisk, fall evening in 2019 when the concept of emergency hugs came into existence. We were wrapping up football practice with conditioning as we usually did. As a result of their inability to follow instructions set forth by the coaching staff that fateful evening, the boys made the decision to participate in additional conditioning! Typically additional conditioning under
Don’t Walk Past Trash
Leaders do not walk past trash in their worlds. There are two people in my world that have set this example for me. Through their actions, not their words, they inspired me to emulate their behavior. I watched my pastor Mike Linch and good friend Andy Duncan do this. Whether they knew I was watching or not. From their vehicle to the front door of the office, they collect trash on the way. This week
Calling Plays
The art of calling plays in football can translate to leadership. High school football kicked off this past Friday in Georgia. That means college football is not far behind! Up until this year, it meant coaching youth football for me. For twenty-one years I coached at the youth level. Nineteen of these were as a head coach. When I served as the head coach, I was the offensive coordinator and called the plays. There is
Choices Are Everything
Choices are everything in life. Do you desire to be more successful? Yes? Then, let’s share a not very well-kept secret: successful people generally make better choices than not so successful people. Duh … But now for some hopeful insight. I contend that there are only four choices in life: I choose my attitude. I choose between short-term gratification and longer-term development. I choose whether or not to take a risk. I choose my associates.
Teachers Are Rock Stars
Teachers are rock stars, plain and simple. As students head back to school, we want to take an opportunity to celebrate one of our favorite community leaders, teachers. Their summers are winding down, classrooms are getting prepared, sneak-a-peeks are taking place, and the first day of school is staring down at them. Teachers hold a special place in my heart for two reasons. One, my amazing wife is a second grade teacher. She is a
How We Wait Matters
How we wait matters. Waiting is inevitable in our worlds. It may be for your future spouse, your first child, a position, test results, or anything in between. One of the most problematic things for us as human beings is that we are not wired to wait. One thing that Shannon and I strive to do for our kids is to create experiences. A couple of weeks ago, we took the kids to Universal Studios
It Takes a Village To Raise a Leader
It takes a village to raise a leader. You have likely heard a similar and more common version of this phrase, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Well, it applies to leadership too. In my world specifically. My story is unique. I was born, raised, educated, built a career, and am currently raising a family in my hometown of Acworth, Georgia. It is a rarity these days. Not too many people get this
Shane
I will never forget where I was sitting when Mike Linch — the long-time Senior Pastor at NorthStar Church — called me with an invitation to come and serve on his staff. A long-time friend, I was humbled he would even consider me for such a role! After months of prayerfully considering his offer, my wife and I agreed that there was no question, God was guiding us to NorthStar. Even before we officially arrived,
Making Turns Is Required
Making turns is required to get to your destination. Very rarely are our journeys a straight shot. Life is a series of intersections with decisions to make on which way to turn. Last Monday started off just like every other workday for me. I am a creature of habit. My routine consists of getting up, taking a shower, getting dressed, taking my vitamins, reading my Bible, grabbing a cup of coffee and heading out
How Gardens and Leaders Grow
Gardens and Leaders Grow. My grandfather, affectionately known as Paw Paw, lost his battle with cancer a little over ten years ago. He was one of my heroes. He taught me about gardening and life. In 1996, he and my grandmother (Maw Maw) purchased nine and a half acres in Canton, Georgia. The property was simply referred to as “The Land.” His prized possession at The Land was a garden. I used to spend my
Fatherhood Is An Awesome Responsibility
Fatherhood is an awesome responsibility. I became a father in August of 2007 with the birth of my daughter, Ashtyn Ann. She was born at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia. Before we got cleared to leave the hospital, we were required to watch a video. It is intended to give you a crash course on how to care for this new human being you are now responsible for. Once you leave, there are no
Fire is Dangerous, Home is Safe
Fire is dangerous, home is safe. I had made the drive down McPhail Drive thousands of times in my life. I rode the school bus home from Acworth Elementary this way, rode home with my dad from ball games this way, rushed home to make curfew as a teenager this way, and drove with anticipation of telling my parents they were going to be grandparents this way. One fateful Thursday morning, the drive down the
Ike
General Dwight David Eisenhower, or also known as “Ike,” is one of the most underrated leaders the free world has ever seen. Two weekends ago, our country celebrated Memorial Day. Tucked in behind Memorial Day, unfortunately a lesser celebrated event, is the anniversary of D-Day. On June 6, 1944 allied forces under the leadership of General Eisenhower executed one of the largest coordinated military operations in world history, code named Operation Overlord. My grandfather, known
Some Gave All
“All gave some, some gave all.” Most would know country music artist Billy Ray Cyrus for his hit song Achy Breaky Heart or as the father of Miley Cyrus. He was lesser known for a song that rings so true on Memorial Day, Some Gave All. Summed up, the song is about a valuable lesson a character named Sandy Cane, a Veteran, shared with the singer of the song. Memorial Day honors those individuals who
Upward Feedback Is Critical
Upward feedback is critical to a leader’s growth trajectory. It is an angle of feedback that is rare. This form of evaluation comes from an important vantage point. The most valuable resource you have. The people you lead. In my professional world here in Acworth, Georgia; I have the opportunity to serve as our community’s Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Resources. We have incredible Organizational Depth as an organization and have intentionally recruited and
Glue Holds Things Together
Glue holds things together. There is craft glue, wood glue, spray glue, hot glue, super glue, and may other types. We were introduced to glue in Kindergarten with the simple instruction not to eat it! Later in life we learn to use it in arts and crafts projects, to build things, and fix things. I have even used super glue to keep the sole of my shoe on to get through a round of golf.
Ann
For over 30 years my mother, Ann Linch, sat in a bank chair right off the Main Street in Fayetteville, Georgia. If you lived in that growing community in the late 1970’s through the early 2000’s, there is a pretty good chance that you knew my mom. She may have opened your first checking account, gotten you set up with your financials to buy your first home, or helped you set up a plan to
Haters Are Abundant
Haters are abundant. Webster’s Dictionary defines a hater as, “a person who actively and aggressively criticizes and disparages something or someone.” In the Leadership and Main thesaurus, some synonyms of hater include critic, Debbie Downer, and discourager. I so wanted to call this post, “Haterade: the official sports drink of critics,” but I did not. In a quick Google search it appears there are already beverages out there with the name and some heightened
Community Carpenters
Carpenters are known for building things. They generally build things out of wood. One of the processes they play an integral role in is the construction of a house. They are responsible for the framing (walls, floors, trusses) and finish work (trim, cabinets, doors, molding). Good carpenters are worth their weight in gold. Community leaders build things too. They prefer to build programs and projects using people as the material of choice. They are community
Building Depth In An Organization
Building depth in an organizations critical to its growth. One of the keys to being successful in team sports is to have depth in your organization. Whether you lead school, police department, local government, small business, non-profit, church, or any type of organization, this is no different for you. Spring has sprung and that means baseball is back. Therefore, we are going to settle into the world of baseball for our time together. The lessons
Leaders Get Stuck
Leaders get stuck. All communities have a signature intersection. These intersections are typically located in the heart of that community. They are in Historic Downtowns, on Main Streets, and in Town Centers. Intersections are points of decisions for the driver. Most intersections give you a few options. You can turn left, you can turn right, or you can keep on going through the intersection and stay on the same road. The vision for Leadership and
Gone Fishing
I am gone fishing this week! In Blog 005, The Bridge I wrote about an experience last summer as my family and I were leaving our favorite vacation spot, Saint George Island, Florida. Well…we are back here this week! I spent some time revisiting that post on Friday as we prepared for vacation. It was a good reminder of the emotions I felt as we left the island last summer. My hopes are that it
Will & Testament
Last Will and Testament. Power of Attorney for Business. Power of Attorney for Medical. Cremation or Burial? To keep fighting to live or to concede to the inevitable? Who gets what? Who gets how much? This was our week. Shannon and I had our preliminary meeting with the attorney to start the process of drafting these important documents. We have discussed it for years, but have always ended up stuck at the red light of
Paw Paw
Spring officially arrived on Saturday here in Georgia. This time of year reminds me of two things, gardening and my grandfather. We called him Paw Paw. April will have been ten years since he passed. It does not seem like it though. He played a big role in my life, so this post is dedicated to the lessons he left me with that helped shape me into the person, the husband, the father, the coach,
Cultural Monoxide Kills Culture
Cultural monoxide kills culture. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Carbon Monoxide (CO) is “an odorless gas that can kill you.” Pretty straightforward, right? Science was not always my strongest subject, but I do know that CO is a dangerous fume created when gas is burned. If the fumes are not ventilated properly, the results can be deadly. The same is true for organizations. If the toxic fumes within an organization’s culture are
Interceders
One of the more tedious and strenuous parts in the development of this blog was to pick a name. A name that would let the mission, vision, and beliefs of the project build off of it. I went through several concepts. I struggled to find something that stuck. I spent a lot of time consulting friends who are creative, making a list of possible titles, revising that list, and narrowing down that list. Then you
Fundamentals
I have had the pleasure of coaching youth sports for twenty-one years, essentially my entire adult life. I Have coached everything from football to baseball to basketball to wrestling. Regardless of the sport, everything starts with the fundamentals. Fundamentals do not always stand out, but they are the foundation of success in whatever world you live in. Good fundamentals are not just required in sports. They are required to be a good public servant, an
Nineteen
Confession time. I typically try to use one or two word titles. I really struggled with the title of this post. I feared that if I called it what it was, people would pass it right on by and never give it a second look. I would have completely understood too. We are all tired of talking about the topic, hearing about the topic, and just tired of the topic in general. You guessed it,
Shannon
The Leadership and Main project is inspired by the incredible leaders in the community of Acworth, Georgia. The objective is to celebrate the people who have poured into my life as a young leader and share those lessons to inspire a generation of community leaders to make the turn off an ordinary road to an extraordinary way. Today we celebrate and study the most special community leader in my life. To this point in our
Angels
A few weeks ago, we dissected the song Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson and what we can learn from it as community leaders. I feel confident that regardless of your preferred genre of music, you have heard it. Today we dissect another great song that may not be as widely known. In 1993, the legendary country music band Alabama released the song Angels Among Us. If you do not like country music, just
The Bridge
One of our favorite family vacation spots is St. George Island, Florida. It is an incredible place to visit located on the Florida panhandle. There is a scenic, 4.1 mile bridge that connects the mainland to the island. As the vacation begins, the bridge symbolizes an exciting sense of arrival and anticipation of the week to come. As the vacation ends, it symbolizes the return trip home. We usually travel at night on long trips.
Have a Voice
As a community leader you have a voice. You can talk with it, you can sing with it (maybe), and you can influence with it. Whether you are a public servant, elected official, entrepreneur, pastor, educator, coach, civic leader, volunteer, or whatever role you plan in the community, you have been given a voice. Your voice belongs to you and only you. It can define you and determine the level of influence you have. A
Martin
Today, across this nation, we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The definition we use for community leadership at Leadership and Main is “the ability and the willingness to use your influence to better others and the world you live in.” Dr. King was able and he was certainly willing to utilize his influence to better others and the world he lived in. He exemplified it. He lived it. In reflecting on
The Mirror
Community leadership starts in the mirror. It is the ability and willingness to use YOUR influence to better others and the world you live in. A song that has always spoken to me is Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.” As many of us do, I have my go to playlist that is packed full of my all-time favorite songs. I personally like to let the playlist shuffle so the songs are played in random