BA - Fort Wayne Bible College
MAR - Trinity Evangelical Divinity
D.Min - Grace Theological Seminary
Birkman Certified Coach
John Maxwell Certified Team Member
Myers/Briggs Certified
FIRO-B Certified
TKI Certified
25 Years Executive Coaching
Garry Brackett – Executive Director – Shepherds Advantage Inc
Recently I read the book by David Brooks, The Second Mountain. During his
explanation of what the Second Mountain. Generally speaking, he says this
mountain is all about RELATIONSHIPS! Early in the book he writes, “… it’s worth remembering that
the concept of altruism was invented only in the eighteenth century. Once
people decided that human nature is essentially egoist and selfish, then it was
necessary to invent a word for when people weren’t driven by selfish desires.
But before that, what we call altruism—living for relationships—was just how
people lived. It wasn’t heroic or special.”
Altruism did not
exist until the 18th century – let that sink for just a minute!
Without the word
before the 18th century people were generous, kind, and selfless.
Let’s role clock
of time backwards and review a time before
Instagram selfies. Before celebrity culture. Before the “hyper-individualistic”
mentality. During our current pattern of “Social Distancing”, let’s put others
first – #AltruisticLife
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps
people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be.
Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key
Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com
Garry Brackett – Executive Director – Shepherds Advantage Inc
One’s Good For Time The Other’s Good For People
This is a distinction that is made in Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
He tells us that we can
be “efficient” with time and tasks but that we need to focus on being
“EFFECTIVE” with people. Covey goes to state, “While you can think in terms of
efficiency in dealing with time, a principle-centered person thinks in terms of
effectiveness in dealing with people.”
It is possible to
be efficient with our relationships and yet be totally ineffective at the same
time. Let’s face the facts, relationships can be messy and yes, they require us
to be “FULLY PRESENT” – body, mind, spirit to make this relationship effective.
Now that we are
experiencing a national quarantine, instead of scrolling our technology, use it
to stay connected in effective ways. For example, my wife and I are using ZOOM
to tele-talk with our children and grand-children.
This is a great
time to establish new relationship habits.
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com
Garry Brackett – Executive Director Shepherds Advantage Inc
During this season of quarantine as a nation – “Scary Times” is a description that I have heard numerous times recently. Because each of you are important and your life counts, I wanted to give you hope in the following 10 action steps to succeed in Scary Times (Dan Sullivan’s insights)
Forget about yourself; focus on others – Quarantines and uncertainty can drive people into themselves causing feelings of isolation and helplessness.
Forget about your commodity; focus on your relationships – Uncertain times can cause people to feel frightened about their jobs. I know our jobs are valuable to us, however, I would suggest that you build your relationships – Family, Friends, Team Members, Suppliers, Clients, and Customers more deeply. You will increase your worth in your job and potential jobs.
Forget about making the sell; focus on creating value – Exist to add value to people who will multiply value to others.
Forget about your losses; focus on your opportunities – Sometimes the things we have disappear when taken for granted. For some they may never get over this fact. Rather than focusing on the losses of life, turn your attention to the rapid changing world of opportunities that becomes available today.
Forget about your difficulties; focus on your progress – New difficulties either defeat and reveal new strengths inside of us we did not know existed. Take advantage of this national quarantine as a time that you will grow more now than ever before.
Forget about the future; focus on today – It has been said if you want to make God smile tell him what you are doing tomorrow! Faith focuses our attention on the future in Christ Jesus. However Today is what really matters. This moment in time is what matters – what are you doing with it.
Forget about who you were; focus on who you can be – Do not get caught up in the game of allowing circumstances to define who you are. When things turn for the worse, depression and anxiety can set in. Operate from inside knowledge of hopes, dreams virtues, values. Take advantage from the external confusion to become more directed, focused and motivated to make a difference.
Forget about current events; focus on your responses – When things are going well we tend to think that we are in charge. It is self-defeating when things turn bad. Successful people know they are not in charge so they work harder at their response to difficult times.
Forget about what is missing; focus on what is available – Deficiencies are part of a crisis. Focus on the things at hand to gain small micro-wins. Connect with Podcasts, online resources, Zoom calls, etc.
Forget about complaints; focus on gratitude – Complaining attracts negative people. Be the bigger person – contact five people this week that have influenced your life and express gratitude for their investment. Go for a walk in the neighborhood – Gratitude Walk – giving THANKS as you walk.
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com
Forge Resiliency and Mental Toughness to Succeed at an Elite Level
Author Mark Divine states that being emotionally resilient and a survivor is crucial to the question, What is your why?” What are you willing to do to bring your why into reality? Along with these two questions add in positive self-esteem, positive attitude, optimistic outlook that I will succeed, and focus on others around you.
What is your answer to the million dollar question in your life, “What am I willing to do to make sure that MY WHY comes to fruition?” Take a few minutes tom write out your response to the following;
This is my WHY ______________________________________________________
Now that you have this in writing add in positive self-esteem, positive attitude, optimistic outlook that I will succeed, and focus on others around you.
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com
During this Covid-19 national quarantine have you got up a few mornings in a fog of stress, unable to focus because you are pulled in multiple directions? The stress of work, unsolved issues at home, unanswered emails, sickness, tiredness, financial pressure, and so many other things that are happening to us currently. These pressures can leave us feeling emotionally flat and unable to focus in the morning. This stress you are feeling today may seem like it is a modern dilemma, but I want to offer an ancient solution.
Literally for thousands of years, Jewish believers have spoken a prayer the minute they wake up that focuses their attention on God rather than the things of the world. This prayer comes directly from Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 4 “Hear, O Israel: dThe Lord our God, the Lord is one.25 You eshall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And fthese words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 gYou shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 hYou shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 iYou shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Shema is the Hebrew word that means to hear and obey.
When God says Shema, He is giving us an invitation
to listen, respond, appreciate, understand, act.
What do you hear God saying? Leave a comment below and let us encourage one another with the voice of God inside of us during this national quarantine.
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com
Garry Brackett – Executive Director Shepherds Advantage Inc
In the last
article I discussed the Periodic Table of Elements and the Hebrew Language. In
this article I want to further unpack the idea that connections with other
people preserve our sense of virtue and worthiness.
Notice in
Genesis 2:18 that God declared, ”…it is not good for man to be alone.” This
declaration was not just about the prospects of matrimony. It is about how
lonely and miserable it would be if you were in fact the last person on earth.
Living alone (as in zero human interactions) can be quite miserable.
Do not miss the fact God delayed the creation of woman until Adam named the animals of creation. Realizing there are zero mistakes made on God’s part of the creation narrative. Therefore, Adam’s naming of the animals is significant. We are left to conclude that Adam named these animals based upon what he saw and upon what he is not. Humans are created more by what we are rather than what we are not.
Consider Adam’s
naming of Woman – “Esha”. The rough translation is woman or wife. It would
appear as if God asked the question, “Why did you give this name?” in Genesis
2:23. The English translation states, “…because she was taken out of man.” Because
language matters notice the Hebrew word for man in this verse changes from a’dam
previously now to isch. The implication of this word shift on the part of Adam
is he understands his authentic identity to be connected to Esha. This is more
than an acquaintance it is a deep spiritual soul level connection.
KEY TAKE-AWAY: Connecting
with other people by making commitments to serve with other people, establishing
obligations with other people, we are able to discover our true identity. It is
difficult to truly know who we are alone. Our connections, our relationships are
what shapes us!
Leave a comment
below and share what you are doing to stay connected during this quarantine.
Share this post on your social platform to encourage others
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching. Shepherdsadvantage@gmail.com
It has been quite some time since I looked at the Chemistry Periodic Table. It is my understanding there are 92 natural occurring elements and then the balance of the 118 total elements includes radio active elements.
The reason that I would make this distinction is that the study of the Hebrew Old Testament language reveals there are exactly 92 words that describe creation.
Interesting isn’t
it?
According to
Hebrew language and culture, in order to get man out of the world, we must
connect and combine things to reach the fullest expression of our potential.
God gives us a world in which only connections yield practical results. Connect
ions with others help is to preserve our own sense of virtue and worthiness. One
is to small of a number to achieve greatness.
CONNECT with family,
work colleagues, and neighbors TODAY! All of us together are stronger than any
one of us alone.
Tomorrow I will focus on God’s declaration, …”It is not good for man to be alone…” and how authentic identity can be discovered.
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Leave a comment below with ideas on connecting with others during this national quarantine.
You cannot lead people if you need people. John Maxwell
There is a vast difference between conceding that change is inevitable and believing that change is essential. John Maxwell
Here are seven insights on shifting from Pleaser to Leader Change your expectations toward leadership – Learn to separate what is best for you versus what is best for the organization by asking these three questions (1) What’s best for the organization? (2) What’s best for other people within the organization? (3) What’s best for me? The order of these questions are important. If you need people to like you you will probably not be able to lead them.
Value people as much as you value yourself
Work to establish expectations up front – Assumptions are never a good method of operation in the leadership world. It always leads to unfulfilled expectations and disappointment. Think on these five statements:
Up-front appreciation places value on the person and increases the value of our time together.
Up-front expectations increase the value of any meeting.
Up-front questions are the quickest way for people to understand one another and thereby increasing the value of our time together.
Up-front discussion influences the way and direction we lead others.
Up-front decisions increase the value of our time together.
Ask yourself the hard questions before any potential difficult conversation
When a tough conversation is needed, do it right – Here are a few tips…
“Are you aware of………?”
“I need you to help me understand the situation?
“I heard you say………Am I hearing you correctly?”
Try for common ground
Arrive at an agreement on what is best for all parties involved
If you cannot agree on the issue and solution, stay open for at least one more meeting
Maintain a positive attitude
Understand the 25-50-25 Principle – 25% of people will support your efforts. you. 50% of people will be undecided. 25% of people will resist you. Balance Care with Candor – Care without candor creates dysfunctional relationships. Candor without care creates distant relationships. Care balanced with candor creates developing relationships. Care and candor are life the two wings on a plane; you cannot fly with only one wing. They must work together!
LINKS
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher –SUBSCRIBE
Q&A – Contact me at ShepherdsAdvantage@gmail.com Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!
Isn’t it interesting that as a challenge escalates the need for
team-work escalates. The true measure of successful leadership is not getting
people to work. The true measure of a successful leader is not getting people
to work harder. The true measure of a successful leader is getting people to
work hard together!
Team leaders know they do not have all of the answers, so they do
not insist on providing them. They do believe however, they cannot succeed
without the combined contributions of all members on the team. EGO is not a
prominent concern during a crisis.
Leaders Give Hope Do you realize that out of every crisis is an opportunity to be reborn? Understand that hope is the foundation of change. As a leader your first and last task is to keep hope alive. Author Jonathon Sachs states, “One of the most important distinctions I have learned in the source of reflection on Jewish history is the difference between optimism and hope Optimism is the belief that things will get better. Hope is the faith that together we can make things better. Optimism is a passive virtue; hope is an active one. It takes no courage to an optimist, but it takes a great deal of courage to have hope.”
Leaders Make It
Happen
You can always evaluate leaders by the size of the problem they are
willing to tackle. If you as a leader can’t make it happen for yourself most
likely you are not going to make it happens for others. Staying in your comfort
zone allows you to do what you know you can do. Move into your challenge zone
and you will attempt to do something that you have never tried. Understand that
making things happen will require risk.
Charles Parnell wrote; “Too many people are having what we might call ‘near-life experiences.’ They go through life bunting, so afraid of failure that they never try to win the big prizes, never knowing the thrill of hitting a home run or even taking a swing at one.”
Leaders Watch Their
Attitude
Attitude is a choice. We cannot always choose what happens to us, but we can chose, what happens within us. Attitude is not everything, but it is the main thing that determines how we handle problems. During tough times attitude is a separator. Understand that your accepted bar of excellence is no longer good enough!
During Tough Times
Successful Leaders Trust God
“All I have seen
teaches me to trust the Creator or all I have not seen” – Emerson
”God is too good to be unkind, and He is too wise to be confused. If I cannot trace his hand, I can always trust His heart” C. H. Spurgeon One of my professors in College, Dr Jerry Bridges wrote in his book Trusting God, states, “God never explains to us what He is doing and why. There is no indication that God ever explained to Job the reasons for all of his terrible sufferings. As leaders, we are taken behind the scenes to observe the spiritual warfare between God and Satan, but as far as we can tell from Scripture, God never told Job about that…we must conclude that God had a much higher purpose in allowing Satan’s onslaughts against Job than merely using Job as a pawn in a “wager” between himself and Satan…the story concludes with a conversation between God and Job in which Job acknowledges that through his trails he is come into a new and deeper relationship with God…We may conclude that this deeper relationship was one of the results God had in mind all along”
LINKS
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher –SUBSCRIBE
Here is an interesting definition of a crisis; “When you can’t say, ‘Let’s forget the whole thing.’” John Maxwell. It has been said the leaders first responsibility is to define reality. Peter Drucker stated, “A time of turbulence is a dangerous time, but its greatest danger is a temptation to deny reality.” Hanging on and hoping is not a strategy in tough times. Here are six rules for successful leadership in pre and post tough times.
See The Big Picture
Leaders see more than others see. Leaders see before others see.
Leadership is the business of seeing for others. Note these comparisons…
Followers see what is – Leaders see what could be
Followers think first of themselves – Leaders think of others
Followers see the penalties – Leaders see the rewards of success
Vision is the world’s most desperate need. There are no hopeless situations, only people who think hopelessly – Winfred Newman
Leaders Make Good
Choices
There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in
mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you – John Maxwell
There are some decisions that you need to make before a crisis
occurs – Crisis are going to occur beyond the current national crisis that we
all feel.
Choices to make prior to a crisis…
1.VALUES – who am I
2.MISSION – what I do
3.RESPONSIBILITY –
what I must do
4.POTENTIAL PROBLEMS –
what I should do
Choices to make during a crisis… 1. COURAGEOUS decisions – What must be done 2. PRIORITY decisions – What must be done first “First things first, last things not at all” – Peter Drucker 3. CHANGE decisions – What must be done differently. Once you understand that transition begins with letting go of something, you have taken the first step in the task of transition management. “If someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn’t need motivation to speed him up. What he needs is education to turn him around” – Jim Rohn
Leaders Develop A
Plan
It has been said that a crisis must never be experienced for the second time. That said I want to share with you the acronym PLAN AHEAD which part of the JMT DNA. Feel free to share with as many of the leaders in your social network.
P – Pre-determine
your course of action
L – Lay out your
goals
A – Adjust your
priorities
N – Notify key people
in your organization
A – Allow time for
acceptance
H – Head into action
E – Expect problems –
motion causes friction
A – Always point to
your successes
D – Daily review your progress
Leaders Learn From
Bad Experiences
Here are some things that we can learn… •How to be more flexible •How to be thankful •How to be humble •How to stay calm •How to be more aware of forgiveness •How to network •How to have a right perspective
LINKS
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher –SUBSCRIBE
Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!
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