“…malice needs nothing to live on. It can feed on itself.” – A.W. Tozer

Yes, it’s a dark image. I even toned it down a bit!

But…maybe we need to be reminded of just how ugly the spirit of malice can be once in a while.

In doing so, we put ourselves in a better position to take it seriously and face it head-on.

You and I need our calendars to help keep it all straight.

But as the proverbial saying goes – Calendars are great servants; terrible masters…

Do you control your calendar? Or...does your calendar control you?

It's a mixed bag, isn't it?

Many of us NEED our calendars to help streamline and organize our efforts.

They keep us in line and on time. That's a good thing, no?

You and I need our calendars to help keep it all straight.

But as the proverbial saying goes – Calendars are great servants; terrible masters…

I recently discovered “The YouTube.”

And that’s not necessarily a good thing.

But…that’s not the point of today’s stretch.

The point is that in my discovery of YouTube’s value, particularly during this intense season in American politics, I have been robbed of something of exponentially greater value…

Why are we so obsessed with the pursuit of "comfort"?

Care is needed in this conversation because, as humans, we suffer. And in that suffering, we are absolutely blessed when we are comforted.

Please know that is NOT what I'm talking about here.

I am referring to the apparent incessant search for a life of ease that makes no demands on us…

Have you heard of "kedging"?

Yeah, neither had I.

(Until I read about it in a book...but that's another article for another day. 😉 )

I had always wondered about the pure sailing MO - you know…before motors and propellers were a thing.

What if I need to go over there, straight into a strong headwind?

Or worse. What if there is no wind at all?

Some ships may be able to go to oars, I guess. But those really big tall ships? What did they do?!?

It is truly not that hard to stand out in the crowd of drab "sameness" - to have an impact on personal and professional relationships that is both heard and felt.

I received a letter recently that exemplifies the simplicity of it all...

It was a well-written thank you note.

That's it. And that was more than enough.

Gravity. It is a SERIOUS force to contend with. It is constant. It is persistent. It is resistant.

And yet, all of life as we understand it both depends on it and works within its precepts.

It may SEEM like life would be easier without it. We could move with such ease. In fact, we could fly!

Like a farmer planting seeds that produce 100-fold returns that in turn feed the community, and ultimately the world, you and I have the honor, privilege, opportunity, and responsibility of providing a healthy, maturing workforce to that same world…

Never before have I been more convinced of our need as leaders to be in a constant state of intentional development.

Personally, I believe it is critical to my survival – as a leader, as an executive coach, as a facilitator, as a business owner, as a pastor, as a husband…

…as an increasing ‘value add’ to the world around me.

There are a vast number of process flows available to us in the strategy-laden world of leaders.

Today I want to analyze two very basic three-step processes that are based on the same foundational equation:

Input + Production = Desired Outcome