Greetings, Leaders.
Preparation always shows. Most people undergo a season of preparation and testing before they are ready for the new opportunities ahead for them.
I believe this is a providentially ordered approach that helps us grow in wisdom and insight.
We tend to want too much as soon as possible. It takes maturity to understand that new skills and insights require time to develop.
Leadership requires determination, patience, and commitment despite the circumstances at hand.
How should we view our current circumstances when they seem to be working against our goals and vision? See your events in light of your dream.
The power of the imagination sustains us in difficult times.
We are envisioning the accomplishment of the desired goal or vision, and it fuels within us a passion for continuing moving forward during hardships.
We learn more in our valley experiences than we do on our mountain top encounters. During the highs, we tend to relax and become complacent.
Complacency is a dream killer. Adversities stir us to refocus on the disciplines that enable our success. These times of testing reveal hidden character
weaknesses that need correction before further progress is possible.
Great leaders go through testings of their character and emerge stronger. Their experiences and responses prepare them for leadership.
They allow their vision to help transform them as leaders.
When we are honestly assessing our progress, we see disciplines that we once were diligent about practicing becoming less of a priority.
We allow distractions to pull us off our pathway. Drifting is another dream killer.
Again, our adversities and trials serve as lessons in the school of experience and preparation.
Seeing trials with the proper perspective can sometimes become our greatest time of growth and development as a leader.
Someone once said, "Count it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be complete, lacking nothing."
We need to examine ourselves to ensure our motivations are pure.
It is always helpful to have accountability partners. Accountability partners are protection in the life of a leader.
They help you accurately assess your motives, actions, and behaviors.
We will always experience times of testing during our life and career journey.
So, if you are undergoing a season of testing, see it as an opportunity that will build your confidence, trust, and courage.
Keep looking to the future.
Thomas J. Watson, Sr. wisely shared this insight in 1930 in his message called "Have Faith in the Future!"
" You are going out to build a future for yourselves.
Take it seriously; you should feel that this business is the very best place for you to be. Then you can go on and do the things you are
told to do and, in addition, suggest other things for us to do that will improve the business. Then there will be no doubt as to your future success."
It has been wisely said that we reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow.
Keep preparing.
Victory!
