Priorities and Leading Ourselves

As we have discussed over the past several months, the first step in being a good leader is to Lead Ourselves well. We must be able to lead ourselves before we can ask others to follow us as Leaders.

Leading Ourselves starts with today and focusing on things that are surrounding what is happening today. People create success in their lives by focusing on today. It may sound trite, but today is the only time you have. It’s too late for yesterday. Yesterday ended last night. You can’t depend on tomorrow—you don’t know what tomorrow holds. That’s why today matters.

The Fact Is…
* We exaggerate yesterday.
* We overestimate tomorrow.
* We underestimate today.

How Does Today Impact Tomorrow’s Success?
The way you choose to invest your time today directly affects your future.
Consider this: you will become what you are becoming right now. If you take a faulty approach to today with a faulty view of success, you won’t capitalize on today’s potential. Let’s examine some common misconceptions regarding success.

Common Misconceptions and Reactions:
1. We believe success is impossible—so we criticize it.
2. We believe success is mystical—so we search for it.
3. We believe success comes from luck—so we hope for it.
4. We believe success comes from productivity—so we work for it.
5. We believe success comes from opportunity—so we wait for it.
6. We believe success comes from power—so we leverage resources.
7. We believe success comes from connections—so we network for it.
8. We believe success comes from recognition—so we strive for it.
9. We believe success is an event—so we schedule it.


What do Successful Leaders do?

1. Effective people make right decisions early, and then manage them daily.
2. Making right choices may go against the trends of popular culture.
3. The secret to your success is determined by your daily agenda.
4. When opportunity arises, it is too late to prepare for it.
5. You never change your life until you change something you do daily.
6. Decisions help us start. Discipline helps us finish.
• Discipline: refers to the training that one gives to one’s self to accomplish a certain task or to adopt a particular pattern of behavior, even though one would rather be doing something else.

Managing My Attitude, Priorities and Health
Our Attitudes: Today’s Attitude Gives Me Possibilities
My attitude today gives me possibilities. Is it possible for a leader to be successful without a good attitude? Yes, it is. However, their attitude will determine how much they will enjoy the success.
a. A Positive Attitude (Leaders believed they can do almost anything.)
b. A Servant Attitude (Leaders generously served others.)
c. A Determined Attitude (Leaders worked persistently and would not quit.)

Here is why your attitude matters to your leadership:

1. Your attitude at the beginning of a task affects its outcome.
2. Your attitude toward others often determines their attitude toward you.
3. Your attitude can give you a winner’s perspective.
4. Your attitude—not your achievements—provides you happiness.
5. Your attitude is contagious.

Our Priorities: Today’s Priorities Give Me Focus
Given the choice, would you rather save time or money? Most people focus on money. However, time may be more valuable than money. You can always get more money when it is lost, but you can never get more time. Consequently, effective leaders focus on establishing priorities in order to get the most out of their time.

“Devoting a little of yourself to everything means committing a great deal of yourself to nothing.” We must learn to focus. The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.

1. Time is our most precious commodity.
2. We cannot change time, only our priorities.
3. Leaders can do most things but not everything.
4. We choose our life by how we spend our time.
5. Priorities help us to choose wisely.

Making the Decision to Choose and Act on Our Top Priorities

1. Ask yourself three questions:

a. What is required of me? (What tasks must I assume in light of my work?)
b. What gives me the greatest return? (What produces the most results?)
c. What gives me the greatest reward? (What is most fulfilling to me?)

2. Remain and work in your areas of strength.
3. Evaluate and follow your priorities daily.
4. Delegate whenever possible.
5. Invest in the right people daily.

Our Health: Today’s Health Gives Me Strength
Leaders often neglect this issue because of their busy schedule. To spend time on our health, whether it is eating right or exercising or resting, seems so selfish.

Why Your Health Should Matter to You

1. Your health impacts you emotionally, intellectually and drives our attitude.
2. Health often determines quality as well as quantity of life.
3. It is easier to maintain health than to regain it.

Making Decisions to Follow Healthy Guidelines

1. Eat healthy foods as often as you can.
2. Have a purpose worth living for—do work you enjoy.
3. Find your pace in life.
4. Get physical exercise regularly.
5. Accept your personal worth.
6. Laugh often.
7. Handle stress effectively—communicate well, delegate well.

Lead On,
Sutton