Lessons Learned

As I enter my 8th decade of life, these lessons learned are burnished in my experience. Some I learned from wise mentors, others by trial and fire; all have shaped me and made me into who I am to serve, lead, and encourage.

1. Live a personal mission through personal values. Be a serving leader.
   Be a servant leader in business, faith-based, and family spheres of influence, known as an authentic seeker (upward relationship), a passionate builder (world view), and an encourager (inner circle impact).
2. An expert or wise person rarely claims to be so.
   The wise don’t brag of their wisdom, heroes won’t brag of their exploits, and the rich shouldn’t brag of their riches. Instead, brag about this: 1) Gaining understanding, knowledge 2) Being awed 3) Delighting in fairness and justice. (Words of Wisdom from Proverbs)
3. Recognition supports, appreciation strengthens, but understanding sustains.
   A Maslow-type hierarchy for leaders – understanding is the food, shelter, and security of relationships, appreciation is essential for social relationships and self-esteem, and recognition provides self-actualization.
4. Never underestimate the impact on others of what you do or say.
   Quiet, passionate, and authentic leadership produces more results than an intense focus on results and goals.
5. Accomplish things through others or by yourself – never by others.
   Be certain to give credit where it belongs. Political maneuvering may pay-off in the short-term, but it catches-up with you in the long-run.
6. The job seeks the person.
   This was my father-in-law’s favorite advice. In combination with my wife’s wise counsel and a decision to set aside the importance of title, position, and salary, it serves me well. You’ll never be disappointed when you look back on your career if you live by this principle.
7. When building a team, follow this principle: Competency is vital, Character trumps Competency, Commitment cannot be coerced, and Chemistry is essential.
8. You can go from ‘Who’s Who’ to ‘Who’s He’ in a nanosecond.
   Placing our identity in what we do or what we’ve accomplished is devastating. The only thing worse than dying in a rocking chair, is walking around looking for meaning and praise.
9. Success is a scorecard of ‘what we do’ . . .
   Significance is a legacy of ‘who we are.’
   As we grow in relationship with Christ, what we do will simply reflect who we really are. (p. 150, The Shack, Young).
10. Build a set of Team Principles that work for you and your team.

Be . . . authentic, a learner, a team player, respectful, a communicator, an encourager, and a doer.