Grow and Go!

Albert Einstein said that “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” I’m what I call a serendipitous learner. That is, I learn things I never intended to learn from people and events I didn’t intend to learn from. Learning truly is one of my most favorite pastimes.

 

I enjoy reading. In fact, I read, on average, about fifty books per year. And I read about all sorts of subjects. As I mentor followers on the topics of character and leadership, I try to connect what I learn to those subjects. I sometimes make interesting connections between things that may seem unconnected.   

 

I know you’ve heard that the brain is like any muscle, if you don’t exercise it, it will atrophy. I watch videos while I ride a stationary bicycle three times a week. I’ve learned some very cool things from those videos. Did you know that the Egyptians (and my people, the Toltecs) believe that a person will live eternally as long as someone continues to say their name? Please say my name after I’m gone.

 

I live up in the mountains, at about 7500 feet. Huge pine and aspen trees surround my home that I call Caribou. I had a river installed in the backyard as my 40th wedding anniversary gift to Deb a few years ago. It was HER idea, really it was. It’s actually a waterfall, but it’s about 16 feet long and takes up half the back yard so it might as well be a river. I enjoy sitting by it, just listening to the soothing sound the running water and rocks make. Tranquility and serenity are good for me. They calm me down and redirect my purpose. They enhance my spiritual growth. 

 

One of the blessings we all should enjoy but, often take for granted, is the people we work and live with. I have five granddaughters and a grandson to learn from, whether I like it or not! You know what I mean if you have little ones. They’re amazing and they know so much. I constantly wonder where they pick up their thoughts because they’re often profound. I remember asking my first granddaughter, Nieves, who was about five at the time, why she did a particular thing. I’ll never forget the almost puzzled look on her face as she replied, “Because YOU do, Opa!” I pondered that answer for a long time. I’m still intentional about what I do around all my grandkids.

 

The purpose of growing intellectually and spiritually isn’t to collect as much as you can, to have more knowledge than anyone else. Imagine being the smartest guy in the world, but no one knows it. And no one gaining from your expertise or experience.

 

The Effective PowerPact Leader’s purpose in increasing his or her mental capacity is to grow and go. You’ve, surely, heard the adage that knowledge is power. That’s stupid. Knowledge itself doesn’t care. It can’t. SHARED knowledge, APPLIED knowledge is power. When you help someone empower themselves to be better, that’s real power! And you can’t wait for someone to come to you to share what you have. You have to go find them! Daily!

 

I suspect that we all have a favorite teacher whom we’ll remember forever. Maybe we’ll even say their name now and then. I had two. One was the consummate teacher. He invited me to see something new in everything, often, in things that seemed mundane, and learn something from it. He was the catalyst for my serendipitous learning. The other taught me how to work hard for what I want. I’m still doing it. And I’m successful ninety-nine percent of the time.

 

Learn continuously. It will make you a better leader. And share it! The more you give, the more you’ll get! Grow and go!

 

Until next time, Be GREAT! 

 

You ARE!

 

¡HEIRPOWER!

bob vásquez!

Encourage to INcourage

As I was Googling a subject, I was directed to the term “en.” I didn’t really know that it was a word or term. Evidently, it is.  It means “giving someone support or confidence.” Did you know that? I didn’t! Knowing that now, I got to thinking about the word “encourage.”

 

Here’s an excerpt from my book, The Power of SUPERvision:

 

My friend, Chief Master Sergeant (now deceased) Gene Gardner, once told me, “We, as leaders, can do only one of two things…we can do something TO our people, or we can do something FOR our people.” Doing something TO your             people is adversarial and produces little, if any, power. It may create negative power. Doing something FOR your people can empower them to be their best selves and give you more than you can imagine. The best way to do something FOR people is to do it WITH them. The end result of this process is having done something IN them. 

 

So, here’s where my thoughts are taking me. Maybe if we ENcourage someone enough, if we support them and help them develop confidence in themselves, the outcome is INcouraging them. We help them realize that they have the courage withIN themselves. I think that’s a very powerful impact a leader can make.

 

ENcouraging someone to have courage is important. It’s one of the things an Effective Leader does. Encouraging yourself, however, is critical. You see, we may believe that we “teach” others to be leaders, but the truth is that we SHOW them. That’s how they learn. It’s how WE learned. You’ve, surely, read a quote attributed to General George S Patton, that “We’re always on parade.” Our followers, and even our leaders and peers, are watching us. Constantly. If you don’t believe me, do something wrong!

 

If you’re going to encourage someone, you, yourself, have to do what you’re encouraging them to do. One of the virtues we seem to be lacking more and more in our culture is courage. In particular, the courage to do what’s right. It’s called integrity. You have to BE courageous to encourage.

 

Here’s a story from a book I’m currently writing. Dr Stephen Covey shared it with me many years ago. It touches on being the example. . . encouraging to INcourage.

 

            A woman approaches Gandhi with her son in tow. She asks Gandhi to convince her son to stop eating too much sugar. Gandhi agrees, “But come back and see me next week, please,” Gandhi tells her. A little confused, the woman agrees. The next week, the woman returns with her son and, once again, asks Gandhi to convince her son not to eat too much sugar. Gandhi agrees, takes the son aside, and convinces him to stop eating too much sugar. The woman thanks Gandhi and, as she’s about to leave, asks him why he couldn’t have done that the previous week. Gandhi replies, “Last week, madame, I, too, ate too much sugar.”!

 

I know I’m stretching the American language a bit, but that’s one of the great things about being an American and an artist. It’s called artistic license. It, often, takes courage to practice it. We need more courage in our society. Practice it yourself. Be encouraging to those you lead so that you can INcourage them to, also, be courageous!

 

Until next time, 

Be GREAT! You ARE!

 

¡HEIRPOWER!

 

bob vásquez!

Leading is SO monotonous!

In case you aren’t familiar with the word, monotonous, particularly in the realm of leading, here’s what it means: “dull, tedious, and repetitious.”

It’s SO monotonous having to lead ALL OF THE TIME. Well, you don’t have to if you don’t want to, but that also means that you won’t be seen as the leader. You see, when you’re the Leader, you’re expected to lead all the time. It’s not fair, and it really doesn’t work that way, if you’re an Effective Leader. But everyone expects that, just be aware and willing to deal with that.

 

It's SO tedious having to greet your followers every time you see them. In a positive way…. Now, look! We all have bad days. We’re human. Surely, your followers will give you a break every once in a while, say, Monday mornings. NOT! You’re the Leader, remember? You HAVE TO inspire your followers 24/7. They expect that.

 

Talk about repetitious! Your Followers, and Peers, expect you to make a decision every time they don’t want to or can’t. Every. Time! The good thing is that you get good at it after doing it for a while. The bad thing is that you do it all the time. It’s comfortable to decide. It’s efficient. But is it, effective? Although you’re expected to decide, there’s very little learning in you doing it all the time. But, again, it’s comfortable and efficient for you and your Followers. 

 

It becomes dull when you KNOW what that person is going to say. You’ve heard it over and over again. But WAIT! What if the person’s life just changed. They’re usual complaints or griping has taken a turn because their lives have. You even learned how to turn the person’s monologue off as soon as they come into your office. But, today, it’s different! Man, it’s tough having to listen with a fresh set of ears and heart EVERY TIME that person approaches you. 

 

Like everything in life, it’s a choice. You don’t have to live up to, or do, what I just mentioned. But don’t expect to be considered the Leader if you don’t. It CAN get monotonous at times, but it’s important that you’re consistent and it’s worth it. a

 

Until next time,

 

Be GREAT!

 

You ARE!

 

¡HEIRPOWER!

 

bob vásquez!

Letting Go is Letting Grow

If you pay close attention to them, children will teach you all sorts of things about life and leading. Here’s an example.

Our almost-11-year-old granddaughter, Button, has been staying with us for a few weeks during her Summer Break. The other day, our neighbors asked her to water their plants while they went off for a few days. She agreed, especially when they offered to pay her to do so. I’m trying to teach her the value of work, so it seemed a good way to teach her that there’s more value when you work for something than when it’s just given to you. The neighbor “trained” her up as to what Button needed to do and all was good to go.

The first evening Button had to go over to water the plants I went with her, of course. Opa isn’t gonna let his baby go anywhere alone. We went over and she started her process. It was good, but man some moments were difficult. Here’s where supervision and leading come into play. I know you’ve been there.

As I watched her do her job, I noticed ways that she could do it more efficiently. Look, I’ve been there and done that. I know you’ve said that, too. It would have been so easy to take over and do it for her. This is my baby! She shouldn’t have to work so hard. And I can have it done in at least half the time, that way she can go play Barbies. You know what I mean, right?! Well, being the leader/teacher that I am, and admonish others to be, I, instead, asked her specific questions about how she might be more efficient. She had the right answers every time, which made me proud. And she did take the hints I offered. She learned a lot and got the job done. The next time we went over, she remembered how she’d improved her process and followed suit. Again, proud Opa right here! But the letting go, was tough.

Here’s the point: letting go is letting grow, whether it’s with our kids or our followers. Again, I know you’ve been there. We’re no different except that I got there a long time before you did. I’ve taken over a task or ten from one of my followers just to get it done. I have a lot more experience and knowledge, by God! But that doesn’t help the follower who is trying to learn, trying to grow. And learning to learn is very powerful. If we always give them the answers, they won’t even discover the questions. We have to let them think things out in their time so that they can own the learning and the growing processes.

The neighbors were very happy with the work Button did for them. They insinuated that I’d helped. Nope, I told them. I just watched and learned…to let her learn and grow on her own. As you might imagine, I’m very proud of my baby, and I’m even proud of myself for learning to let her grow on her own. We’re both better for it. Letting go is letting grow.

Until next time, Be GREAT! You ARE!

¡HEIRPOWER!

bob vásquez!

What You See is What You'll Be

 It really is all about you! How do you see yourself? 

I recently read a quote about seeing yourself in the mirror. The idea, I guess, is that the mirror will show you who you really are. WAIT! The image in the mirror that I look into is backward! 

You ever read something or watch something on the news that really ticks you off? Are you unlike me, and can shrug it off quickly, or does it affect you, maybe even influence you for a while? I, too often, let things bother me for longer than I should, and I probably, okay, for sure I do, take it out on those I live with. So, TURN IT OFF! Don’t read crap! Don’t listen to the news! Get off of social media! There are a lot of good books and websites you can read that will lift you up to become your best self. I’m trying to practice what I preach by listening to some great sounds produced by truly creative people, usually called musicians. I’m trying to create positive energy by listening to and reading positive stuff as opposed to all the negative stuff that I’m bombarded with daily. I know that garbage in, garbage out! Or worse, garbage in, garbage stays! What you see daily is what you’ll eventually become.

Seek the good in the world. There’s a lot of it. I promise! Smell the roses! It’s empowering. Hang out with great people and, in turn, help others become greater than you are! 

Back to that mirror. I’m convinced that mine magnifies the truth. I’m really much thinner than it reflects. No, really! The mirror doesn’t really show you who you are; your actions do. And those actions are the product of your mind and heart working together to produce the real you. How do you see yourself? If you see yourself as a dirtbag, you will become one because you will manifest those traits in your behavior. If you see yourself as a Shining Star with the potential to accomplish whatever you undertake, you will do so, or come a lot closer than the former. Here’s the truth…the Creator set you on this earth to accomplish the things only you can achieve. You can choose to not be your best, I suppose, but what a waste! 

This is the day that you can accomplish more than you ever thought. But you have to envision yourself doing it. Don’t look in the mirror, look into your heart. What one thing can you do today that will fulfill your life’s purpose? DO IT!    

Until next time, Be GREAT! You ARE!

            ¡HEIRPOWER!

                         bob vásquez!