Category Archives: Leadership

Passion and the Why – Is it good or bad?

15 Friday Jan 2021

Posted by in Actions, Agenda, Attitude, Authentic, Character, Choice, Deciding, Decisions, Emotion, Know Your Why, Leader, Leadership, Motivation, Passion, Perception, Value

≈ Leave a comment

In last week’s blog, I wrote on “Decision Making – Emotional or Factual?” One of the three areas where I believe decisions are made is with passion. A few people commented on it enough that I thought I would just use “passion” for our topic this week.

Going along with the title, is your “passion” for what you believe in good or bad? How you answer this, I know, is based on one’s perception and relativeness. However, I also know that putting perception and relativeness aside, your passion is defined by your values and even more by your core values. One of my great mentors at Mississippi College stated, “Values are what you believe in, core values are where you draw the line in the sand.”

A few friends emailed or stopped by to discuss “passion” as they see it regarding making decisions. Here are a few specific comments…

“To take positions we have to take for our clients, I must not only believe in the “rightness” of that position, but I need to have some passion for advancing that position… There are sometimes I do not believe in the “rightness” of what they wanted me to advance. The facts didn’t ‘geehaw’ with my core beliefs.”

“My experience is that some measure of passion for your positions on issues and core beliefs is necessary; otherwise, you come across as passive and lack genuineness.”

“It’s when passion is inappropriately expressed does it become detrimental. However, when you can exhibit passion properly (non-inflammatory), can passion help your cause.”

These are “spot on” with my belief as well on passion. Our passion has to be for the right thing. The “right thing” is where it gets fuzzy… I would say that the “right thing” depends on your “why”… the outcome you want (tangibles and intangibles), goals, motivation, attitude, etc… Is it for good or bad? Do you want revenge or to promote unity? Is your passion for selfish reasons, or is it being for others? Mostly, what is your agenda? I believe these are underlying thoughts as to what “fuels” our passion.

Upon a little digging… “The root of the word “passion” is found in the Latin word “passio.” From the late 1500’s “passio” began to take on the meaning of emotion and, in some cases, controlled emotion. And now we know why passion can help or hurt… it all depends on the “why” and if it is controlled.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2021 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts?  Follow me on…

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

Decision Making – Emotional or Factual?

08 Friday Jan 2021

Posted by in Decisions, Emotion, Leadership

≈ 6 Comments

This past Sunday, on our way home from church, Breana, our daughter (age 20), went on a positive, constructive rant, per se. Please note, we have a good many of those…

Much of what she said centered around her generation’s idea of making decisions based on emotions rather than factual information. As the conversation continued, I told Breana that I felt that she was way beyond her years in thinking, and to understand, that while she might see emotional decision making among her age group, that it also happens in all age groups and at all levels of leadership.

I have seen many leaders make decisions based on emotion. I acknowledge that there are those “gut decision” moments; however, when it comes to what truly affects the long term and creates a paradigm shift for the worse, emotional decisions hurt the future.

This idea goes beyond the “What was I thinking?” Usually, when I ask myself that, I wasn’t. Our emotions help define who we are, and emotions are not destructive. But… they can get in the way of how we respond and how we decide.

So… I thought I might start off the 2021 year with what I think hinders quality decision making when decisions are made by emotions…

Passion
Yes, I can get excited. Much about nothing and extremely much more about the things I am passionate about. Unbeknown to me (yeah, right), this affects my ability to make logical, factual decisions. The risk and the reward of what is at stake… Passion often leads you to make quick decisions. If you are not passionate about something, then most likely, you don’t care about the decision. This can lead to apathy, and we find ourselves not making a decision. Your passion does not change the facts.

Nerves
We all get nervous… some more than others. Often, you will find that whatever decision you are “worried” about does not affect the outcome. Being nervous about one area can overflow into other areas. Being nervous creates a mindset of indecisiveness. That’s even worse. Your nerves do not change the facts.

Anger
Ever been mad and made a decision? Me too… Usually, they are rash and without much judgment and more times than not… regrettable. Unlike passion and nerves, anger is like that boiling pot of hot water. It just continues to get hotter and hotter until that steam has to go somewhere. Remember this adage… Anger is one letter away from Danger. Your anger does not change the facts.

As 2021 is now here, we do not want to live in the past, especially last year, 2020. Moving forward, we need leaders who can make decisions that can set their emotions aside and base their decisions on what the facts are. Emotional decisions create feelings, and those feelings are either good or bad. When our feelings start making decisions… well, it does not matter what the truth is.

As Joe Friday of Dragnet said, “Nothing but the facts.”

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2021 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts?  Follow me on…

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

Why I enjoy “Christmas Vacation”…

04 Friday Dec 2020

Posted by in Christmas, Expectations, Leadership, Memories, Reflection, Relationships, Thankful

≈ 1 Comment

Like many of you, I’m sure you have your favorite Christmas shows/movies you watch as a family. The other night our family had a discussion on what made a movie a Christmas movie or not. My thoughts… Christmas movies have a Christmas theme for the entire movie. Anyway… there was a agree to disagree moment…

My top three shows are A Charlie Brown’s Christmas, Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story. Why these three? I am not sure, but I do find myself drawn to these three for different reasons. One thing is for sure, we all have a way of resonating with a show or movie for some reason or another. Most of the time, it is because there is a “tug of the heart,” or the show is just plain funny.

For me, Christmas Vacation does both. Also, it is great for the “relatableness” of life during the Christmas season. And… it has some of the best quotes that can last all year long. So this past Thanksgiving week, we do what we always do… watch Christmas Vacation.

A few thoughts on the “relatableness”…
The neighbors (Are they not going to decorate?)
The family relatives coming to stay (Where is everyone going to sleep?)
The family relatives we are not sure about (Does everyone have a Cousin Eddie?)
The Christmas meal (What’s wrong with turkey left in the oven too long?)
Outside decorations (Making sure all the lights work – did we check all the bulbs?)

And here is a quick list of my favorites quotes…
“I hope nobody I know drives by and sees me standing in the yard staring at the house in my pajamas.” — Audrey

“You better take a rain check on that, Art—he’s got a lip fungus they ain’t identified yet.” — Cousin Eddie

“Oh, he’s just yakkin’ on a bone.” — Cousin Eddie

“Whoa, geez! Look at the time. I gotta get to bed—and brush my teeth, feed the hog, do the laundry, wash the car, still got some homework to do.” — Rusty Griswold

“The BLESSSSSING.” — Uncle Lewis

“If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn’t be more surprised.” — Clark

“Is your house on fire, Clark?” – Aunt Bethany

“You serious, Clark?” — Cousin Eddie

“Clark, that’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole year.” — Cousin Eddie

“It’s people that make the difference – little people like you.” — Frank Shirley

“If it isn’t too much I’d like to get somethin’ for you Clark, somethin’… real nice.” – Cousin Eddie

“Oh, no, that there is an RV.” – Cousin Eddie

“Catherine, if this turkey tastes half as good as it looks, we’re all in for a real treat!” – Clark

Yes, there is leadership in the movie as well…
We see awful leadership in Clark’s boss, Mr. Shirley.
We see Clark wanting what is best and having great intentions.
We also see Clark having expectations that sometimes cannot be met.
However, in the end, Clark’s heart is in the right place.

Tis the season to be jolly? Yes, for it is Christmas. Friends and family or, as Clark said, “The most enduring traditions of the season are best enjoyed in the warm embrace of kith and kin.”

I am very fortunate to say that I love getting together with our families during the holidays. The fun we have should be bottled up and sold. We remember and make memorable moments, and our aggravation is at its finest. The older I get, the more I cherish getting together with our family. For me, that makes all the difference.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2020 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts?  Follow me on…

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

Friendship Thankfulness…

13 Friday Nov 2020

Posted by in Encouragement, Engagement, Friendship, Honest, Leadership, Relationships, Thankful, Thanksgiving, Transparent, Trust, Understanding, Value

≈ 7 Comments

In keeping with the theme of Thanksgiving…

This past Sunday, our pastor, in his sermon, alluded to the idea of what true friendship really is and is not. As I listened and thought about that idea this week, as always… “it got me to thinking.”

We all have friendships in our lives. They come and go, change, etc. As I look back, it is funny to see our “friendship map” and where it has taken us.

Friendship is tough to define. Often, our definition of friendship is what we make it in order to meet our needs at a specific time in our lives…

Anyway, as I have been thinking about friendships this week, I am very thankful for the friends I have. Those who accept and take me for who and what I am, and most importantly – my well-being. I think there lies the true measure of friendship.

I’m a HUGE Charlie Brown fan…

So… friendship…

First, I believe friendship only happens with people you actually spend time with. It is hard to develop a friendship if you are never around a person. And no, friendship is not the number of “friends” you have on social media.

Second, friendship needs to enjoy one another’s company. We are around a lot of people daily. Friends, sure… but is the measure of that only surface, or does it cut deep?

Third, it is hard to have friendships without common interests. I have said it time and time again, “There is something to be said about having like-minded, kindred-spirited people” in your lives. There are only so many conversations one can have on family and the weather.

Fourth, this is where it will get interesting. We have to have friends that will “get into your business.” If you cannot have honest, heartfelt conversations, then the friend status might need to be “un”checked.

Lastly, friendship must not only offer encouragement, but it must also be willing to help in a time of need. I am not talking about times where “I need a favor.” I’m talking about no matter who, what, when, why, or where… that friend will be there, no questions asked.

I hope you have friends who have the characteristics above. I do, and for that, I am whatever is beyond thankful. If you get a chance, you might want to tell them that.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2020 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts?  Follow me on…

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…