Category Archives: Character

My “Christmas Vacation” Tree Good Intentions…

13 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by in Character, Christmas, Expectations, Intentions, Know Your Why, Leader, Leadership

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In keeping with the theme of Christmas for December’s blogs, let’s think of the topic of good intentions with a story from my Christmas past.

Have you ever started out thinking something would be a really great idea? Yep, me too. Stay with me, there is leadership in this…

The first year of our marriage, Heather and I did the Christmas Vacation thing. On the first weekend of December, we loaded up in my truck and went to get a real Christmas tree, even singing Christmas carols (“Deck the Halls” in my best Clark Griswold impression) on the way there. We went to a Christmas tree farm out in the country somewhere and actually cut a tree down. We walked up and down row after row until we said, “There it is, the ‘Norton family’ Christmas tree.”  The tree farm even gave us a saw, so I did not have to pull the tree out by the roots. We were proud of our accomplishment.  We were going to do our first Christmas right, real tree and all the trimmings.  It was going to be the “Hap, happiest Christmas of all.”

Remember how we started this story? Good intentions…

When we got back home (one-bedroom apartment), we lugged our tree upstairs. Now… this is the part where the good intentions come in. Someone had told Heather that if you put sugar-water in the tree stand, it would make your tree stay green and fresh longer. So, we did. What we did not know is that with full sun, sugar-water will begin to ferment. And guess what, we had our tree placed in front of the double full-length french doors that provided full sun most of the day. Needless to say, after a few days, we would begin to ask, “You smell something?”

About two weeks before Christmas, I was putting a present under the tree and actually got a whiff of what was going on down there in the bowls of the tree-stand. What I found was what cousin Eddie told Clark, “Just a real nice surprise.” The sugar-water had fermented and almost turned to a solid. The smell was so bad, I nearly knocked myself out trying to get up from under the tree. If fumes had color, our tree would have been emitting something green like the disposable waste of cousin Eddie’s RV in the sewer or the Grinch’s bad breath.

That same weekend, we undecorated our tree, threw it out over the balcony to haul it off later. The tree’s “bad breath” had even contaminated the wrapping paper of the presents. We had to unwrap and rewrap all the gifts (I needed a HazMat suit), and spray a massive amount of air freshener. Fortunately, we did not have to file an insurance claim to fumigate.

Good intentions are what they are, good intentions. As leaders, we should show up and provide good intentions every day. However, we must make sure that they are on the right side and can make a positive impact on the greater good. Intentions should be based on the test of time and values.

As leaders, we also need to be conscious of our intent. With every intent, there is always a motive. We just wanted a tree that would stay fresh and green longer. In the end, our “why” was on the good side. The “why” of intentions will always show a leader’s true character.

As I look back, we really had good intentions for our first Christmas tree. Now, we just laugh and ask, “Remember when?” However, it just did not work out. What I learned, though, is never to have a live tree again. By the way, we did not get another tree that first year.

Hoping each and every one of you and your families has a great Christmas season…

 

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

©2019 J Clay Norton

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The value of your standards…

15 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by in Character, Leader, Leadership, Standard

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Inspect what you expect, but do not expect what you do not model.

We could probably just end today’s blog right here…

Little things… a small scrap of paper or candy wrapper on the floor, but you walk right past it. However, you say to others, keep your area clean. Little things, ignore them and they become big things.

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Your standards?

As leaders, we have many standards; spoken aloud, written on paper, advertised…

Your standards…

Ultimately, your standard is who you are. What others see is what we actually do. We say, “do this,” but we do not do it ourselves. How many times have you seen a leader tell everyone, “This is what the ‘rule’ is, and this is what we are going to do.” Only after a little while that same leader is not doing anything with regards to what they said, yet expects you to keep the “standard” that they put in place.

Our standards should be the mindset of wanting an identity – what we want others to believe about us, not think about us. Time is the accurate measure of what you say your standards are. Typically we all start out strong; committed to the cause, then time happens, and we become lackadaisical? Time measures the standard, creates the culture, which, in turn, determines the identity.

We all want high standards until it is time to meet them. Then… we want the standards to be lowered, for we do not want to be seen as not meeting them. Standards are always good for others, but when they become personal, the marker is moved.

Keeping the standard where it needs to be…

Why would you lower them? Well, it happens.

We lower standards when everyone is not held accountable for the exact same concept. When we let one “get away with something” and not another… others begin to notice. Two things usually happen here… 1) others start doing the same thing, 2) others call the leader on it, and the leader gets defensive. Nothing good comes from either point.

We lower standards when the expectations of others become the norm, and we decide this is where we need to be now and hereafter. Why should people care where the standard is and more than that, maintain the standard., if you are not?

But… what you accept will become the standard and the fact that others are willing to accept your standards determines it’s value and sometimes your value as well.

Be the standard-bearer of your standards. Time will have its say.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

©2019 J Clay Norton

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In Closing, A Reflection and A To Do…

17 Friday May 2019

Posted by in Actions, Authentic, Character, Essence, Facade, Leader, Leadership, Reflection, Servant

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Well, here we are… at the end of another school year and the last weekly blog until we start up next August.  There will be one blog each for June and July.

First, let me say thank you to everyone who reads this blog weekly.  Each week, I intend for each of us to “look within” ourselves and know where we are with our leadership.  If we cannot identify where we are, be sure that others can.  I have said it before; “Others see you better than you see yourself.” (Quote by my mom, Judy Norton)

As I was thinking about what to write on for this week, I reviewed all the previous blogs for this past school year.  As I read and reflected, this is what I came up with…

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I believe one of the best concepts of leadership is the ability to reflect and allow your reflection to shape your future decisions.  As you reflect on the past, cherish the good, and learn from the bad.  Never compromise by separating who you are with what you say you believe in.  Most of all, be for others.

Success as a leader is always at an expense, but what is the cost?  Just because people follow you does not make you a leader.  A “leader” is so much more than directing where others should go and what they should do.  Leadership is sometimes hard to define but very easily recognized.  However, just because we acknowledge leadership does not always mean it is good leadership.  The hardest question to answer is the one we have to ask ourselves, “Am I a good leader?”  We can lie to ourselves, but those who follow us will be able to know the difference.  Can we be a leader that puts off the “self” and puts on the “others” mentality?

In closing, try to do these things this summer…

Tell someone “thank you” in writing. Writing a “thank you” note is a lost art – yes, the handwritten one in an envelope with a stamp.  It takes time and effort.

Always remember where you came from and how much you have learned.  Both of these are easy to forget.  You have to remember it.  If you do not, someone else will remind you.

Most of all, make sure you take some time in your summer break to spend with your family.  Remember, they are your biggest fans.

And.. if all else fails and you cannot find anything to do, then by all means… find a book to read.

Thanks again for reading.  Also, thank you for the comments you have made regarding the blogs; they are very much appreciated.

©2019 J Clay Norton

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Warning… A Disaster Waiting To Happen!

29 Friday Mar 2019

Posted by in Actions, Change, Character, Decisions, Humility, Power, Sacrifice, Servant, Teachers

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We have all heard this saying, “That is a disaster waiting to happen.”

 

A disastrous situation usually depends on what the situation is and who is involved; more or less – relative. Now let’s look at it from our dealings with those in leadership positions. What determines disastrous leadership? Do you believe a leader can be disastrous? Are they disastrous by nature or only with their actions and decisions? Better yet, let’s just say that some leaders can be disastrous causing.

Every day we are around leaders. We work with them, see them on TV, hear them on the radio, etc… What is it about them that misses the mark on being extraordinary as opposed to disastrous? Here are a few random thoughts that have been on my mind lately…

Disastrous leaders do these too often…

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Create turmoil…
Talk about stirring the pot; they are only happy when they are happy.

Easily frustrated…
At the drop of a handkerchief, I would say.

Unable to make mistakes…
It is not because they cannot or do not make mistakes, but because they are always right.

Do not want to see beyond the now…
They only change when they are forced to or if a change makes them look good.

The higher they climb, the more arrogant they become…
It is almost as if they have an “air” about them; however, they are only breathing in the smell of themselves.

For our leadership to be effective, we must be able to identify what is and what causes disastrous leadership. Knowing these characteristics and avoiding them enables you, your leadership, and others around you the opportunity to be the leader others need.

Yes, some things are a disaster waiting to happen. Yes, there is bad leadership out there, and often we feel the effects of it in our lives. However, we cannot live in a bubble. It is up to each of us, to find a way that enables and empowers others not to be a part of or create a disastrous environment.

©2019 J Clay Norton

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Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP!