In my last article, I encouraged you to believe in yourself, to believe that you are worthy of tremendous blessings in life.  I know first hand that this is not always as easy as it sounds.  There are a thousand reasons why you may not feel worthy….guilt, shame, inadequacy and embarrassment are just a few.

But, consider this: the average life expectancy in 2008 was 68.9 for the entire world, in the US it was 78.4.  So, let’s say that you get lucky and live to be 80 years old.  When you’re 80 years old and facing the autumn of your life, what do you want to look back on as your accomplishments?  What legacy do you want to leave?  What do you want your children, your children’s children and their children to find when they search for you?

I want my family to find a great woman.  A woman who changed lives and lived to love.

I was taught by a great man that, “empty plates don’t feed people”.  This concept helped me to understand that I need to be the best me, in order to help others.  I need to raise the bar for those I love, rather than watch them struggle.  Not everyone is ready, and that’s okay.  However, I’ve found that most people, will do what you ask them to do if they love and respect you.  Most people will rise to the occasion when challenged.  The time will come, when the people around you realize that they want MORE.  More from life and more from themselves.

The unfortunate truth is that we are rarely challenged.  We live day to day, seemingly satisfied because we hold a false understanding of security.  We are happy because we are not pained with growth.  But, change and growth are part of life, and it’s true….it can be painful at times.  It may be painful because the ones you love don’t seek success, have no ambition or dreams of their own.  They become the crabs in the pot, pulling you down.

I believe that we are the most dynamic generation to date.  We are certainly the most informed, the most in touch and the most spoiled.  At times it is a curse rather than a blessing to be living now, with so many luxuries – technology, communication and commerce.  Sadly, this enables too many of the 25-35 year olds in this country to choose not to step into roles of leadership, of relationship development or even want to look beyond their 9-5 job to a real and growing marketplace.  The marketplace is ours to own!

During the Summer Surge Tour, Doug Wead pointed out that the air we breathe here in this country, at this time, is rare.  If you take even a brief look at world history, you will find that having the economic freedom and political liberty that we are so very blessed with today in the United States is seldom found.  And, when it is discovered it lasts only a short while before being snubbed out.

I cherish the final words which the great President Ronal Reagan left us with during his farewell address:

The past few days when I’ve been at that window upstairs, I’ve thought a bit of the “shining city upon a hill.” The phrase comes from John Winthrop, who wrote it to describe the America he imagined. What he imagined was important because he was an early Pilgrim, an early freedom man. He journeyed here on what today we’d call a little wooden boat; and like the other Pilgrims, he was looking for a home that would be free.

I’ve spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don’t know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That’s how I saw it and see it still.

I urge you, if you are reading this to consider your legacy.  I believe that our most valuable asset is who we are and what we have to offer the world.  Once you understand that concept, develop a passion, have a dream and a plan, you can break through any challenge.  Rise to the occasion and enjoy the view from the top!  If you are a REAL leader and you have a TRUE heart for others, you can show them the way too!!  What a legacy you will leave.

Do you believe in the tooth fairy?  How about the Easter Bunny?  Santa Claus?

How about this one……do you believe in yourself?

For many of us, self belief is a foreign idea.  Something which we struggle with daily.  This isn’t surprising when you consider that only 3 in 100 people were raised in a home which encouraged positive personal development.  So, what does this mean?

Let me ask you another question.  What do you want from life?  It’s a silly question and you may think that what you want from life differs vastly from the next person.  Or, equally saddening, you may not even KNOW what you want from life.  However, if you really think about it, don’t we all want the same things?  Don’t we all WANT to be happy, successful, healthy and loved?  We’re all not so different after all.

The difference is what are YOU DOING to get these things?  And, wouldn’t you agree that in order to be happy, successful, healthy and loved YOU must DO something?  I think so.

Let’s go back a step though.  In order to ACT upon your desires, would you agree that you have to believe in yourself?  Believe that you are worth being happy, successful, healthy and loved?

In 1 Peter 3:3-4 it is written,

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I love that very last part….. “of great worth in God’s sight”.  I believe that God wants all of these things for us.  Who am I to argue with Him?!  So, my last question to you is this: Why wouldn’t you believe that you are worthy of these gifts?  YOU ARE!

Now you are only left to find the vehicle to drive yourself to accomplish these things!  It brings to mind a favorite inspirational poem of mine.  When I hunger for extra drive, I read this poem, Invictus by William Ernest Henley.

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

“Dig Deep”.

I love this term.  You hear it over and over again in sports, it is meant to motivate one to find their inner strength and use it to push themselves to success!  Recently, I travelled to Las Vegas for the XanGo Thrive Convention.  Without much free time at these events, it is tough to squeeze in a workout (which is often my only way to personally release stress and angst).  Luckily, my co-worker Whitney, brought a workout DVD from the Insanity series.  We plugged it into a laptop and did it right there in the hotel room……WOW!!  What a workout it was!  This was 40 minutes of pure sweat dripping, heart pounding cardio training.  The fitness guru leading the charge on this DVD is Shaun T, and the phrase you hear him using the most is “dig deep”.

This got me thinking.  What makes me dig deep when it comes to life, when it comes to driving myself towards success?  This is a term which I internally repeat, when I’m having a rough day or when I’m feeling overwhelmed.  This internal motivation is what I feel will ultimately push me to success when many people with the same choices or in the same circumstances may throw in the towel.

How would you define leadership?  What qualities would you identify in a leader of your choosing?

Before you go on…..quickly think of and write down at least 10 qualities which you look for in a leader.  Whether it be a political candidate, military leader, church leader, a CEO, etc.  Don’t spend more than 45 seconds on this exercise….write down what comes to mind first.

Here are the 10 that I came up with:

1. Driven
2. Honest
3. Positive Attitude
4. Communicates Clearly
5. Caring
6. Focused
7. Leads by Example
8. Work Ethic
9. Intelligent
10. Discernment

Now, take your list and determine which of the following three categories, each of the 10 qualities fall into: Skill, Attitude or Knowledge Based.

1. Driven – Attitude
2. Honest – Attitude
3. Positive Attitude – Attitude
4. Communicates Clearly – Skill
5. Caring – Attitude
6. Focused – Attitude
7. Leads by Example – Attitude
8. Work Ethic – Attitude
9. Intelligent – Knowledge
10. Discernment – Knowledge

So, here’s my point….of the 10 leadership qualities which I came up with 7 of 10 were determined by the individual’s attitude.  DIG DEEP, RIGHT?!  Why do we spend so much time learning a trade and perfecting the skills of that trade?  Yet, we so rarely spend time on our own attitude, developing ourselves and seeking personal growth?

My challenge to each one of you, is to pick up a new book this week.  Pick a book that will help shape you as a leader and DIG DEEP!