Are You The Smartest Person In Your Circle?
Lisa Marie Platske • October 27, 2014
On my last trip into LAX, my best friend picked me up at the airport and drove me to Riverside.
Our conversation covered over a dozen different areas of interest on our 60 mile drive.
And, one of the subjects was why we’re friends.
In my mission statement that is written inside my 1st book, Designing Your Destiny, it reads that I “welcome open and honest communication”.
I don’t want “yes” people in my life.
That doesn’t mean I want “no” people either. (No negative Neddy’s – thank you.)
But, I choose to surround myself with people who challenge me to be an accurate and critical thinker.
And, when I read this excerpt from Napoleon Hill I just had to share….
“Everyone except the accurate thinker has an overabundance of opinions, and usually these are without great value. Many of them can also be dangerous and destructive when used in conjunction with personal initiative because if they are based upon bias, prejudice, intolerance, ignorance, guesswork or hearsay evidence, they may do a great deal of harm.
No opinion can be considered safe unless it is based upon known facts, and no one should express an opinion on any subject without assurance that it is founded on facts, or sound hypotheses of facts. Free advice volunteered by friends and acquaintances usually is not worthy of consideration. The accurate thinker, therefore, never acts upon such advice without giving it the closest scrutiny. Accurate thinkers permit no one to do their thinking for them. They obtain facts, information and counsel from others, but they retain the privilege of accepting or rejecting such advice in whole, or in part.” – PMA Science of Success Course. Educational Edition. The Napoleon Hill Foundation. 1961. Pgs. 299-300.
You have your opinions and so do I.
And, there is nothing wrong with having an opinion or sharing it.
What I hear Napoleon saying loud and clearly is to do your own research – and be mindful of the affect that your words can have on others.
My closest friends challenge the validity of my opinions and I grow and learn from those conversations – and so do they.
Even in my business, I get a push back on various projects from a dear friend who handles my marketing strategy.
She shares what she knows and together we identify what would work best.
This is what great leaders do.
They listen.
They discern.
They research.
They surround themselves with people who challenge them to be the best version of themselves.
They value accurate thinking.
ACTION ITEM: The Upside Challenge this week is to identify whether you welcome open and honest communication. Take a look at who you surround yourself with. Are they “yes” people? Do you get defensive when someone disagrees with you? How do you ensure that you stay in the know and on the grow? Choose one action item to focus on this week.
Remember, if you’re the smartest person in your circle of friends, you need new friends.
Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely. Lead Upside.
By Lisa Marie Platske
•
May 4, 2026
Living moment by moment sounds as if it would be a natural thing to do. Countless books have been written on the topic ... and there are seminars that tout the advantages. Yet as someone who has been in the field of leadership for over three decades, living one moment at a time isn't celebrated. The leaders I've worked with have been well-trained to plan for the future, and time block their life away. Rarely do they listen to what they're being asked to do in this moment. And because of it, they neglect their loved ones ... their spouses, partners, children, pets, and those they say they cherish most. Watching this pains me greatly. Even when I get to invest time working with someone and their family, I watch how easily they can be taken off course by an interruption like a phone call or social media ding on their phone. Living moment by moment isn't a nice thing to do; it's an imperative. It's a blueprint outlined in every religious text that exists. When you live like this, you cast your fears aside and can see what is most important. When you don't live like this, you run around from fire to fire, stressed out and at your wits end. I've watched people I love tell me that this is the only way they know how to live. And I understand. For years, I thought I had to live like that, too, believing leadership was about who got the most done the fastest. Leadership is about who you are being when you are doing what you are doing. You cannot lead others if you cannot effectively lead yourself. And you can't lead yourself anyplace good if your house is not in order. Every. Single. Corner. Internally and externally. That's why the world is in such a shambles. Folks read self-help, motivational books to feel good and tout off happy phrases rather than doing the hard work of looking in the mirror and seeing what may be out of alignment. Leadership is about works, and the roots produce the fruit. The only way to do this is to live One Moment At A Time. One moment lived with intention restores order where chaos once ruled. Choose this moment well, and you choose the life you were always meant to lead. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to own the first ten minutes of your morning. Before you reach for your phone, your inbox, or the noise of the world, pause. Breathe. Notice the space around you. Write down what truly matters today. Start your day by leading this one moment intentionally.
By Lisa Marie Platske
•
April 27, 2026
In September 1985 I started my junior year in high school. While I didn't hang out with the most popular bunch, I wasn't considered an outcast either. Perhaps that's one of the places where I learned how to build bridges. Because of it, when I ran for Student Council, much to my own disbelief, I was elected to something. This led to my first official initiation into formal leadership training. While I had taken on roles in school running organizations or organizing projects, this felt like I was officially sanctioned as a leader. I was "doing" leadership. Only leadership isn't something you do, it's something you have to be. You either are a leader or you're not. Lots of folks with titles walk around believing they are a leader or have a lot of knowledge about the topic. Leadership requires wisdom, and wisdom comes from experience. Experience doesn't come from books or even doing. It comes from an inner aptitude when you connect with a purpose that's greater than you. It took me years to understand this ... and many more to be able to share how to get there. That’s the thread that runs through everything I do, including the work we explore in the F Cadre. It’s the work of being the kind of leader who moves life itself. The world will always have opinions about who you should be and what you should chase. And the work that matters asks only that you tune in and follow the pull of what truly matters. Leadership shows up in the person who feels it all, and keeps moving forward. That is where everything worth leading and living begins. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to make space for what truly matters—literally. Declutter one small space today (desk, inbox, calendar) and use that as a literal reflection of making room for what truly matters Let that small act remind you: real leadership, real purpose, and real growth always start in the space you choose to make.
By Lisa Marie Platske
•
April 20, 2026
I've had the tendency to idolize my mentors. I would look past their imperfections, wanting only to see goodness in them. Don't make the same mistake I did. Mentors are just imperfect beings on the same journey you're on, and they've gleaned some wisdom from their missteps that can help you advance faster on your journey. That's the benefit of private coaching. And why I offer so little of it. I used to think I wanted to help everyone ... and that everyone had a problem that I could help them solve. That was a bit unrealistic—and dare I say, arrogant. Today I've got clarity around who I will work with—and who I won't. And it has less to do with their personal aptitude and more about their personal attitude towards God and a willingness to understand Divine Right Timing. You can't outgive God. I'm a living proof of that. What I have today did not come from striving harder or positioning myself in the spotlight. It came from obedience layered over time. ~ From saying yes when it was inconvenient. ~ From giving when the numbers did not justify it. ~ From trusting God with my pace, my work, and my future. I own several hundred acres of land across three states—and grew up in a household where money did not flow freely. My first year working in Federal law enforcement I made less than $25,000 a year. There was no visible pathway from there to here. And every time I’ve tried to outwork Him, outmaneuver Him, or rush what wasn’t ripe, I’ve paid for it in exhaustion and misalignment. Yet, every time I’ve trusted Him, honored timing, and given from obedience rather than fear, the return has exceeded anything I could have engineered. Yes, some things don't make sense, yet when you map out a God plan, you don't try to do all of the heavy lifting yourself. And that takes a different kind of Leader. Someone who doesn't need to be on center stage 24x7. That’s the framework I lead from. That’s the lens I coach through. Because the world needs you and your brilliance. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to give God room to lead. Look at one area of your work or leadership where you’ve been forcing results. Stop trying to control it. Step back and ask God to guide your next move. Take one real action: delegate, pause before deciding, or simply wait on His direction. Watch how alignment show up when you stop doing all the heavy lifting yourself. Lastly, share what you discover with me, your mentor, or someone close to you. Speaking it aloud helps you see your next move clearly and step into it with confidence.
By Lisa Marie Platske
•
April 13, 2026
Are you thinking of how your choices today are affecting future generations? As someone who doesn't have kids, this used to rarely be on my radar. Yet your choice to bring to life the work that you're called to do will impact the future of your lineage—and folks you've never met. What story will you create based on the choices you make today? See, you create your legacy with the choices that you make right now. The long-lasting impact of your actions can leave behind creations that are innovative and impactful. Take for example the 13-year-old kid who decided to leave a happy note in every bag at the grocery store, just to create a little more cheer in the world. That's legacy. Or what about the kid who practiced free throws every night after school for 3 hours—and then went on to lead his team to the championship in his senior year in college. That's legacy. I remember a few years ago, I hired someone to organize the SOPs and processes for my company. At the time, it felt like a lot of extra work and I wondered if it was worth it. Years later, that choice made everything flow smoother, less rushed, and allowed me and my team to focus on the work we were truly called to do. That’s legacy. Leadership is, as much about what you do in the here and now as it is about legacy for future generations to come. Every one of these moments, big or small, ripples far beyond what you can see today. Each day, each decision plants seeds for generations we may never meet. Tend them with care, with intention, and with faith, trusting that what you do today becomes the foundation for what is possible tomorrow. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to build for someone you will never meet. Choose one action this week that will not benefit you immediately. It could be documenting a process so someone else can lead more easily. Or speaking encouragement that strengthens someone’s confidence long after the moment passes. Or making a decision that protects the future even when the present would prefer convenience. As you do it, hold this prayer quietly, “May this serve beyond me.” Release the outcome. This is leadership that thinks generationally.
By Lisa Marie Platske
•
May 4, 2026
Living moment by moment sounds as if it would be a natural thing to do. Countless books have been written on the topic ... and there are seminars that tout the advantages. Yet as someone who has been in the field of leadership for over three decades, living one moment at a time isn't celebrated. The leaders I've worked with have been well-trained to plan for the future, and time block their life away. Rarely do they listen to what they're being asked to do in this moment. And because of it, they neglect their loved ones ... their spouses, partners, children, pets, and those they say they cherish most. Watching this pains me greatly. Even when I get to invest time working with someone and their family, I watch how easily they can be taken off course by an interruption like a phone call or social media ding on their phone. Living moment by moment isn't a nice thing to do; it's an imperative. It's a blueprint outlined in every religious text that exists. When you live like this, you cast your fears aside and can see what is most important. When you don't live like this, you run around from fire to fire, stressed out and at your wits end. I've watched people I love tell me that this is the only way they know how to live. And I understand. For years, I thought I had to live like that, too, believing leadership was about who got the most done the fastest. Leadership is about who you are being when you are doing what you are doing. You cannot lead others if you cannot effectively lead yourself. And you can't lead yourself anyplace good if your house is not in order. Every. Single. Corner. Internally and externally. That's why the world is in such a shambles. Folks read self-help, motivational books to feel good and tout off happy phrases rather than doing the hard work of looking in the mirror and seeing what may be out of alignment. Leadership is about works, and the roots produce the fruit. The only way to do this is to live One Moment At A Time. One moment lived with intention restores order where chaos once ruled. Choose this moment well, and you choose the life you were always meant to lead. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to own the first ten minutes of your morning. Before you reach for your phone, your inbox, or the noise of the world, pause. Breathe. Notice the space around you. Write down what truly matters today. Start your day by leading this one moment intentionally.
By Lisa Marie Platske
•
April 27, 2026
In September 1985 I started my junior year in high school. While I didn't hang out with the most popular bunch, I wasn't considered an outcast either. Perhaps that's one of the places where I learned how to build bridges. Because of it, when I ran for Student Council, much to my own disbelief, I was elected to something. This led to my first official initiation into formal leadership training. While I had taken on roles in school running organizations or organizing projects, this felt like I was officially sanctioned as a leader. I was "doing" leadership. Only leadership isn't something you do, it's something you have to be. You either are a leader or you're not. Lots of folks with titles walk around believing they are a leader or have a lot of knowledge about the topic. Leadership requires wisdom, and wisdom comes from experience. Experience doesn't come from books or even doing. It comes from an inner aptitude when you connect with a purpose that's greater than you. It took me years to understand this ... and many more to be able to share how to get there. That’s the thread that runs through everything I do, including the work we explore in the F Cadre. It’s the work of being the kind of leader who moves life itself. The world will always have opinions about who you should be and what you should chase. And the work that matters asks only that you tune in and follow the pull of what truly matters. Leadership shows up in the person who feels it all, and keeps moving forward. That is where everything worth leading and living begins. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to make space for what truly matters—literally. Declutter one small space today (desk, inbox, calendar) and use that as a literal reflection of making room for what truly matters Let that small act remind you: real leadership, real purpose, and real growth always start in the space you choose to make.
By Lisa Marie Platske
•
April 20, 2026
I've had the tendency to idolize my mentors. I would look past their imperfections, wanting only to see goodness in them. Don't make the same mistake I did. Mentors are just imperfect beings on the same journey you're on, and they've gleaned some wisdom from their missteps that can help you advance faster on your journey. That's the benefit of private coaching. And why I offer so little of it. I used to think I wanted to help everyone ... and that everyone had a problem that I could help them solve. That was a bit unrealistic—and dare I say, arrogant. Today I've got clarity around who I will work with—and who I won't. And it has less to do with their personal aptitude and more about their personal attitude towards God and a willingness to understand Divine Right Timing. You can't outgive God. I'm a living proof of that. What I have today did not come from striving harder or positioning myself in the spotlight. It came from obedience layered over time. ~ From saying yes when it was inconvenient. ~ From giving when the numbers did not justify it. ~ From trusting God with my pace, my work, and my future. I own several hundred acres of land across three states—and grew up in a household where money did not flow freely. My first year working in Federal law enforcement I made less than $25,000 a year. There was no visible pathway from there to here. And every time I’ve tried to outwork Him, outmaneuver Him, or rush what wasn’t ripe, I’ve paid for it in exhaustion and misalignment. Yet, every time I’ve trusted Him, honored timing, and given from obedience rather than fear, the return has exceeded anything I could have engineered. Yes, some things don't make sense, yet when you map out a God plan, you don't try to do all of the heavy lifting yourself. And that takes a different kind of Leader. Someone who doesn't need to be on center stage 24x7. That’s the framework I lead from. That’s the lens I coach through. Because the world needs you and your brilliance. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to give God room to lead. Look at one area of your work or leadership where you’ve been forcing results. Stop trying to control it. Step back and ask God to guide your next move. Take one real action: delegate, pause before deciding, or simply wait on His direction. Watch how alignment show up when you stop doing all the heavy lifting yourself. Lastly, share what you discover with me, your mentor, or someone close to you. Speaking it aloud helps you see your next move clearly and step into it with confidence.
By Lisa Marie Platske
•
April 13, 2026
Are you thinking of how your choices today are affecting future generations? As someone who doesn't have kids, this used to rarely be on my radar. Yet your choice to bring to life the work that you're called to do will impact the future of your lineage—and folks you've never met. What story will you create based on the choices you make today? See, you create your legacy with the choices that you make right now. The long-lasting impact of your actions can leave behind creations that are innovative and impactful. Take for example the 13-year-old kid who decided to leave a happy note in every bag at the grocery store, just to create a little more cheer in the world. That's legacy. Or what about the kid who practiced free throws every night after school for 3 hours—and then went on to lead his team to the championship in his senior year in college. That's legacy. I remember a few years ago, I hired someone to organize the SOPs and processes for my company. At the time, it felt like a lot of extra work and I wondered if it was worth it. Years later, that choice made everything flow smoother, less rushed, and allowed me and my team to focus on the work we were truly called to do. That’s legacy. Leadership is, as much about what you do in the here and now as it is about legacy for future generations to come. Every one of these moments, big or small, ripples far beyond what you can see today. Each day, each decision plants seeds for generations we may never meet. Tend them with care, with intention, and with faith, trusting that what you do today becomes the foundation for what is possible tomorrow. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to build for someone you will never meet. Choose one action this week that will not benefit you immediately. It could be documenting a process so someone else can lead more easily. Or speaking encouragement that strengthens someone’s confidence long after the moment passes. Or making a decision that protects the future even when the present would prefer convenience. As you do it, hold this prayer quietly, “May this serve beyond me.” Release the outcome. This is leadership that thinks generationally.