5 Things Great Leaders Do

1. They Recognize Individual Contribution

Recognizing and meeting the needs of those around you is one of the most critical areas that separate good from great leaders. The people around you at work or on your team do not exist to make you great. If that were true we would see others as stepping stones to our success. No, we, as leaders exist to make them great valuing people over program. Awareness is the pathway to making this happen.

Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words. 1 John 3:18 GWT

Sometimes words are not enough. Give a gift or a hand written note. Something that requires intentional thought and preparation. Something that says, “I was thinking about you earlier in the week.” They are a forethought, not an afterthought.

 

2. They Incite Those Around Them

Incite requires inspiration, it’s that simple. Motivating

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Video Games And Violence - Is There A Connection?

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There are a few questions I frequently get from city to city when doing parenting conferences. Here are a few of them.

“How old should my child be before I give them a cell phone?”
“How much time should my kids spend online?”
“What should I do when my child tells me no?”
“Does every teenage girl roll their eyes at their mother?”
“What is your opinion on violent video games?”

When parents ask about video games, especially certain games like Halo, Call of Duty, GTA (Grand Theft Auto) I do have an an opinion and a few thoughts about these games.

There has been a lot of research done on the topic of video games and their link yo criminal and aggressive behavior in children and teens. Before you read further let me say that the research may surprise you.

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3 Things You Should Never Give Your Kids

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3 Things You Should Never Give Your Kids

One of my greatest memories growing up was a certain Christmas where I got the perfect trifecta of gifts! When I was seven I got an erector set, a wood burning kit and lawn darts! Can you imagine an ADD kid with lawn darts?

Now, especially during this season, we think more about giving gifts than not giving gifts but I would like to suggest three things that we should not give our kids this season. 5 gifts if you include lawn darts and a wood burning kit.

 

1. Never Give Up

Parenting is tough. It isn’t an easy road and it’s a never ending journey. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an amazing journey and a joyful road

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How to Find Family PEACE In A Season of Hurry

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Here are five ideas that will help all of us find Family PEACE this season.


P - Plan Ahead

Easy to say and hard to do, I understand. I don’t plan ahead well however, my wife does and there are times I ask her for help. I like what Proverbs 21:5 says from The Message, “Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.” Use your calendar and communicate to everyone. Planning ahead will bring peace today and worry away.

 

E - Expect Less

Someone recently asked me at a parenting conference, “What;s the secret to a happy family?” The response I blurted out, “Low Expectations.” Lol. As I

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3 Ideas To Help Your Family Live A Balanced Life

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Here is one very important question that will determine, to a large extent, the health of your family. Are you ready for it? Here it is...

"Is your family living at capacity or over it?"

How you answer that question will impact not only your present but future as well. If you are over capacity now don't expect to be at or under it in the future unless you take action now. Here are three ideas to help your family live a balanced life.


1. Set Boundaries Right Now

“A person without self-control is like a city with broken down walls” (Prov. 25:28). A person or a family that can’t control their ability to do or to filter out what would cause them to go over capacity is in a

3 Things You Can Read To Become A Better Leader

What if I told you there are three things you can read and instantly become a better leader? Would you take a look? Would you put them on your “need to read” list? I would too! The simple fact is this, if you learn to read the following three things you will become a better leader immediately.

The three things I am talking about aren’t books, magazines or blogs. They have no covers and no authors, they can be a short story or an epic novel and they are written and read in every language on earth.

 

Three Things You Can Read To Become A Better Leader

 

1. Read The Room

Reading the room is the ability to understand your

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3 Steps When You Feel Stuck

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Have you ever felt stuck?

  • Mentally Stuck?
  • Emotionally Stuck?
  • Physically Stuck?
  • Socially Stuck?

No movement, no progress in your job, in your parenting, in life? Me too. It’s frustrating to be perfectly honest. I am currently stuck right now. Set 15F from Orange County to Chicago! Buckled down, packed in, no movement...stuck.

Sometimes I feel stuck as a husband, as a father, as a leader, as a communicator and as a writer (ever heard of writers block?)  I prefer not to be stuck, in any