A Non-PC Message Be forewarned – this is not a PC passage. Tonight, I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Crawford Loritts speak from Psalms 1:1-3 on being a Godly man. Crawford is a dear friend and one of my heroes. His book Leadership as an Identity: The Four Traits of Those Who Wield Lasting […]
Archive | Character
My Top 10 List Of Priorities (And God Is Not First)
There is a very good chance that if you are reading this article you are a leader and high-achiever. You are also probably a reader, doer, problem-solver, and have a bias for action. But in the midst of all you are likely accomplishing, there often comes a dark side. Sometimes my and your priorities can […]
7 Leadership Lessons From The “Pleasantly Shocking” Behavior Of Japan’s Fans And World Cup Squad
On Wednesday, November 23rd Japan defeated Germany by a score of 2-1 in the World Cup. What was most extraordinary was not Japan’s performance on the field, but their performance as athletes and fans afterwards. On public display was Japan’s post-game behavior by its fans. Pictured below are their pleasantly shocking actions. A group of […]
The One Quality of Character No One Talks About But Everyone Desperately Needs
When you think of someone who has good character qualities, what comes to your mind? Most people would list the following: Trustworthiness Truth-Telling Loyal Financially Responsible Morally Without Fault Always Has Your Back But in Admiral James Stavridis’s book Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character on pages 41-42 he sheds light […]
8 Leadership Lessons On The Life, Legacy, and Faith of Queen Elizabeth II We Learn From Her Funeral
On Monday, September 19th, an estimated 4.1 billion people, over half of the world’s population, viewed the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II making it the most watched program in television history. Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby’s Eulogy What most stood out to me were the words from Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby’s eulogy which are listed below. […]
The Data Has Spoken. High-Character Leaders Have Happier Employees And More Financially Successful Organizations.
In my book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders, I make the assertion after studying over 180 of the greatest leaders and organizations in the world, that you do not need high-character to get to the top of your profession, but you need high-character to stay there. This article by the Harvard Business Review […]
Why I’m Rarely Surprised When A Leader Has A Moral Or Character Failure
There exists in Minneapolis a landmark eatery called The 5-8 Club. Its specialty is a world-famous hamburger called the Juicy Lucy. For those unfamiliar with the Juicy Lucy (shown above), it is a hamburger with cheese on the inside of the patty rather than on top. This local cuisine has become so popular it has […]
18 Differences Between High-Character and Low-Character Leaders
Researching The Timeless Book The premise of my book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders is identifying the top 10 qualities the best leaders have always done and will always do. As I began my research, I correctly figured some of the qualities which would rise to the top. These included surrounding yourself with a […]
You Can’t Lead Anyone Unless You First Do This
One of the most famous stories about Mahatma Ghandi concerns a mother who approached him with an unusual request. Wanting to address her daughter’s eating habits, she asked, “Would you tell my little girl to stop eating so much candy. She’s consuming far too much sugar.” As a diabetic, I can appreciate her request. If […]
5 Things Caring And Compassionate Leaders Do
On April 25, 2003, 13-year-old Natalie Gilbert walked onto the court prior to the Portland Trail Blazers first-round play-off game with the Dallas Mavericks to sing the National Anthem. She had been selected for the honor as a result of winning a promotional vote by the fans to do so. As the eight-grader began to […]
6 Things All Leaders Must Know About Dealing With Selfish Team Members
Each Monday morning I have the privilege of being part of a Zoom Bible study for baseball scouts and coaches. It is arguable my favorite 45 minutes of the week. Shown above is a picture from a recent gathering. If you are a baseball scout or coach at the high school, college, or professional level […]
3 Things A Leader Cannot Be Successful Or Even Survive Without
There are three things that if a leader does not have them, they will never, EVER, survive or be successful. On Sunday, January 24th, Dr. Crawford Loritts, the incomparable senior pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, GA, preached a message from 2 Timothy 2:14-26 on the issue of perspective. He noted in his opening […]