Here’s one of my recent memory verses:
“Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.” ~ Proverb 18:15-The Message.
As I begin 2024, I want to continue to be a life-long learner who is always listening for fresh insights–not doing what I’ve always done, the way I’ve always done it. Not thinking the way I’ve always thought about things. This doesn’t mean I don’t have any firm convictions about certain things, but there are lots of areas where fresh thinking would be of immense help.
Dan Rockwell shares three things he continues to learn as he evaluates himself. Simple, easy to understand and good for all leaders to heed!
Guest Post by Dan Rockwell
You see who you are by reflecting on who you were. One way to practice self-reflection is to give advice to your younger self. I’ve done this a few times over the years. I do it to comfort myself by feeling smart. My self-counsel retains a consistent theme even though time passes.
#1. Knowing
I’d give advice to my younger self, but it would be futile. He didn’t listen to anyone because he knew everything. And the things he didn’t know didn’t matter. But if I felt foolhardy, I’d say to my thick-headed younger self, “You don’t need to be the smartest most talented person on the field. In fact, you aren’t.” Confidence with openness surfaces when you get over yourself.
Openness lifts you higher than over-confident knowing.
#2. Winning
My first time at bat was a disaster. I hit a line-drive home run. After that, I always batted in the top of the hitting lineup. Usually I hit fourth, clean up. I was lucky my first time at bat in Little League. I didn’t learn how to hit until I became a Little League coach.
Don’t swing for a home run every time. The need to excel at everything is a leech. The honest way to say you need to be the best at everything is to say you need to be better than everyone.
You carry the indelicate smell of skunk when you must win everything you play.
#3. 10x living
Everything isn’t a competition, but if you must compete live a 10X life.
- Express gratitude 10x when you receive it 1x.
- Show honor 10x when you receive 1x.
- Give love 10X when you receive 1x.
What have you learned with the turning of the calendar?
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