My business partner, Wendy, and I believe that reflection is an essential practice for all individuals. It enables a person to stay connected to their core values and what is most important. Reflection and its by-product, clarity, allow all of us to see more clearly those areas and actions that move us closer to our pursuits, as well as, those that do not serve us well.
Reflection is certainly a pillar that leaders can use to position themselves for both personal and professional growth. We recently came across a positive message from one of our favorite authors, Jon Gordon, titled “50 Years, 50 Lessons”. In the message, Jon reflects on his life in celebration of his 50th birthday.
In today’s blog, I wanted to highlight Jon’s 50 lessons. I hope you derive meaningful takeaways that help you reflect on your own life, determine the areas you wish to enhance or change, and empower you to build and live a strong legacy!
You don't choose when you were born but you can make a lot of choices that determine how you live.
The greatest gifts you can give your children is to love and believe in them. My parents did that for me.
If you want something you will have to work for it.
A teacher or coach who believes in you can change the course or your life.
Be nice to everyone in high school. My high school friend Mark Rathjen is the reason why I got on the Today Show years ago that helped launch my career as a writer.
Grit is not something you develop. It's something we are all born with. The key is to remember you've always had it.
Don't worry about your greatness in the future. Just be great today.
Do your best and let God do the rest. I used to worry so much. When I stopped worrying and started trusting things worked out.
It's more important to have vision than plans. You'll often have to change plans to realize your vision.
Talkers talk and doers do. Be a doer.
Your belief will determine what you create.
Don't listen to the naysayers. Listen to your heart that knows you were born to do this.
The career your parents would choose for you may not be the one meant for you. My mom wanted me to be an attorney.
Keep dreaming even when your circumstances tell you it's not going to happen.
When you serve others and help them grow, you grow.
Don't chase success. Decide to make a difference and success will find you.
Being positive doesn't just make you better. It makes everyone around you better.
Make your family a priority. They will be the ones crying at your funeral and miss you long after you're gone.
Failure is your partner in growth. It doesn't define you. It refines you.
Make daily exercise a part of your life. I walk or run almost every day and still shoot hoops in my front yard.
Food is medicine. What you eat has a huge influence on your gut health, brain health and immune system.
The more I love my wife, the more I love my life.
Happiness is an inside job. Don't expect other people or things to make you happy.
You have to love what you do. If you don't love it, you'll never work to be great at it.
Sometimes you have to lose a goal to find your destiny. I lost a race for the city council of Atlanta when I was 26 and it led me ultimately to do this work.
Garth Brooks was right. Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.
Don't be bitter. Get better.
Forgiveness is the ultimate weight loss.
Don't hold grudges. When people wronged me, I didn't sue or fight. I learned from it and moved on. I focused on my future instead of fighting about the past and prospered as a result.
If you don't have your health nothing else matters.
Laughter is good for the heart and soul.
So often the worst event of your life prepares you for the greatest assignment of your life.
People connect to you the most when you are being authentic and vulnerable.
Relationships are everything.
Don't seek happiness. Decide to work with passion and purpose and happiness will find you.
Never stop learning and growing. If you stay humble and hungry great things will continue to happen.
Commitments are greater than goals. It is your commitments that lead you to your goals.
Being a great parent and leader requires service, sacrifice and humility.
When you appreciate, you elevate your mood and the people around you.
Love is more powerful than fear.
When I'm speaking the genius is not on stage. It's in the audience. My job is to unleash their genius.
Abundance flows into your life when gratitude flows out of your heart.
There are a lot of great people in the world. Be an encourager and you’ll find them and they will find you.
Being positive doesn’t mean you ignore reality. It means you maintain optimism and belief to create a better reality.
No one creates success alone. We all need a team to be successful.
God's plan is greater than our plan.
The more you give the more it comes back to you. It's not why you do it but it's what happens.
Just as stars shine the brightest in the darkness, positive people shine the most through adversity.
My faith in God doesn’t make life easier. It makes me stronger.
The best is still yet to come.
There is immense wisdom in Jon’s words. I hope these lessons have given you inspiration and encourage you to reflect on your life in order to position yourself for a strong, bright future.
Wendy and I have built our companies, our team, and our offerings with the core concepts of reflection and application in mind, to help people grow, build, and live a strong legacy - personally and professionally.
We encourage you to take time soon to find a quiet moment and reflect on your own journey, where you have been, what knowledge and insight you have gained, and how you would like to enjoy and pursue life in the coming months and years.
Wishing you reflective enlightenment,
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