Leadership is About Influence

When you aren’t willing to fully examine… ~ what you believe, ~ the size of your comfort zone, ~ and the operational effectiveness of your processes and systems... … you stay stuck. There is a hard cost to choosing to stay stuck. ~ Physically ~ Emotionally ~ Intellectually ~ Spiritually ~ Financially ~ Relationally ~ And to the health of your career or business. Moving forward requires change. And, change is uncomfortable for most people, especially when it requires letting go of what was. It's not usually external waves that cause your boat to sink... ... rather it's the SMALL HOLE INSIDE your BOAT that YOU'VE BEEN IGNORING. A little reflection goes a long way, along with conversations with someone you trust. ~ What have you been ignoring or putting off? ~ What haven't you been willing to look at? Ignoring or delaying doesn't typically help because that small hole may be getting bigger... The longer you delay looking at things, the sense of overwhelm grows too-- much like the feeling that the boat is filling up with water. Pretty soon you may be swimming inside your proverbial boat. What is the process for getting unstuck? It starts with a commitment to make a clear-eyed assessment of where you are. This requires both courage and vulnerability. The costs to stay stuck are high. Be willing to see where you might be off course without judgment. Remember, judgment and discernment are different. One is constructive, the other is destructive. Next focus on what you want . What's your desired outcome? Use your imagination to build the bridge in the gap between where you are and also from the goal ("end"). ~ What do you need to do? ~ Who do you need to be? If you can create it in your mind, you can create it in the world. While it may look different as you build and take each step... you'll be moving forward... Find the courage to take the first step. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to LOOK at where you are stuck and have been ignoring or delaying. Examine the situation with a neutral eye from multiple angles. What is your desired and designed outcome? CHOOSE the first step ... which might just be reaching out to someone for coaching. Have the courage to take that ACTION step. If you need support or resources... reach out . The world needs you and your brilliance. 

When you move into 2025 without properly closing out 2024, it’s like trying to hit a bullseye on a dartboard with a blindfold on. You might hit your target, yet your chances are slim that you’ll pull off a real win. Why? Because without a close-out process, you unconsciously bring things that didn’t serve you in the past into the future . Most people want more out of life than they currently have: More health More happiness More success More meaning Yet they fool themselves into thinking they’re winning by setting their sights on the bullseye. However, they never realize they’ve still got the blindfold on. They rely on sheer effort, throwing enough darts in the air or working extra hours, believing that’s how they’ll get ahead. So they keep hustling and muscling through. Or they stack up a few random wins and foolishly build their foundation like a house of cards resting on unsteady ground, destined to crumble. I’ve seen it happen over and over again… Watching top performers in their industry rack up lucky wins—only to lose it all: Burning out Getting sick Bankrupting their life physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and financially No one thinks it will happen to them. There are four questions that can help you take the blindfold off and begin mapping out a real plan rather than relying on lucky shots. With these questions, you’ll: Get what you want with ease See clearly what you’re building and why Have the confidence to work smarter, not harder We dive into these four questions at the Upside Summit — and on our bonus call before you even set foot in the room. Sign up now at www.UpsideSummit.com While it’s still early in the year, take the time to ensure you aren’t caught with a blindfold on in 2025. ACTION: The Upside Challenge of the Week is to take time to close out 2024. ~ What do you want to leave behind? ~ What do you want to carry forward? ~ What do you want to create in 2025? If you want to take a deeper dive and learn about the 4 powerful questions that will help you map out a solid foundation, sign up for my last Upside Summit at www.UpsideSummit.com . Invest wisely by investing in yourself. The world needs you and your brilliance.

"I’m scared..." ~ “I’m scared to take the leap of faith.” ~ “I’m scared to dream big.” ~ “I’m scared to do what I get is mine to do.” ~ "I'm scared of what people will think." ~ “I’m scared to pick up the phone.” ~ “I’m scared my kids will hate me.” And the list goes on and on. I've heard the phrase "I'm scared" thousands of times in coaching sessions. In other words, “I’m scared I’ll get it wrong or worse, I’m scared to FAIL.” When it comes to doing what YOU'RE CALLED TO DO, ... what you're MEANT to do, ... everyone gets the jitters. Yes, even the BEST in their class get nervous. Several years ago, I was asked to facilitate the annual conference for a community of global influencers where I was a board member. After selecting a team, we created an agenda and mapped out the speaker line-up choosing experts that were seasoned stage veterans. One speaker built -- and sold -- a 10-figure business. One speaker had millions of views for her TedX talk and was in the middle of writing a book that became a NY Times Best Seller. Another speaker had presented at countless Fortune 100 companies. At the event, EVERY SINGLE speaker got offstage and asked me or someone on my team for feedback on how they did – and if their presentation was "alright", fearing they got it wrong. I was shocked. And yet, it's not all that surprising. I've done the same thing, questioning my gifts and abilities. When you are COMMITTED to your calling, you understand you’ll FEEL THE FEAR and do it anyway. If fear has been holding you back ~ from a promotion, or ~ crippling you in your business, and/or ~ keeping you from making your mark on the world, it just may be time to make a change. One big thing to understand is that excitement and nervousness register very similarly in the body, and sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the two. Successful leaders recognize their commitments are more important to listen to than the voices or sensations of fear. They get that nerves are part of the calling. Rising leaders can re-label fear to be excitement. Allow yourself to envision with excitement and anticipation the possibilities that are waiting to unfold on the other side of an action. Practice being fear-less by being pulled by possibility. COMMIT to what's yours to do, your Divine mission and purpose. ...because the world needs you. It needs what you have to say and what you -- and only you -- are called to accomplish. Take the leap of faith. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to pick ONE action per day this week that stretches your growth edges. Decide that fear is no longer an option ... because the world needs you and your brilliance, now more than ever. See Upside. Be Upside. Lead Upside.