Failure: Is Failing Really Failure?

Failure: Is Failing Really Failure?

Do you ever fail?  Have you ever tried something different that you've never done before and it caused you to fail?  Or are you one to stay away from the "edge" in your comfort zone? I shared a few weeks ago that True Leaders Embrace Challenges, but I didn't share with you the amount of times that I failed in those challenges.  After reading an article this week, I thought about whether failing makes me a failure.  I reflected on the times I've failed, like when I lost my job the first time and then a second time.  I remember the multiple times I've screwed up in leading my wife and kids when I've gotten angry too quickly or said words that I didn't mean to say.  In all these situations, I did fail. But I didn't allow that to label me intrinsically as a failure.

Leading With Attributes That You Can't See

Leading With Attributes That You Can't See

Sometimes it amazes me who inspires another person to live, to lead, or to win.  What is amazing is that it doesn't have to be someone who has incredible attributes of physical strength.  It doesn't have to be someone that has the ability to even use all their physical body parts.  My experience has been, in almost all circumstances, that what inspires people are actually attributes that you did not initially see.

Live 10 Seconds At A Time

Live 10 Seconds At A Time

Stop trying to plan and just live 10 seconds at a time.  

Wow!  Did I just say that?  For those of you that know me personally, you know that I am a HUGE planner and I never thought I would EVER say those words. A close friend of mine, Mike, who I respect very highly left me with those words a couple of weeks ago when I saw him in Dallas and I have been reflecting on them ever since.

Looking Deeper Into Reflection

Looking Deeper Into Reflection

A jack-of-all-trades, Benjamin Franklin was famous for his scheme to achieve "moral perfection," a goal that often eluded him due to his busy schedule. But every evening, before retiring at midnight, he would reflect on his day and ask himself: "What good have I done today?"

This has been an amazing year of growth for me.  I mistakenly thought to myself the other day, "Paul, you are forty-four years old. I think you are done growing!"  I would have to say that I'm not even close to being done growing. And I won't be done until my heart stops beating and mind stops processing.  This is what it means to be a lifelong learner.  Yep, that's me.

Feedback: Something, Anything... But Do Something

Feedback: Something, Anything... But Do Something

When my son was younger, he would follow my feedback to the "T"...most of the time. As my son has grown older, he has begun to make his own decisions.  I found it really interesting as we bouldered at the Pinnacles, just north of Big Bear Lake, CA, he began to really determine his own paths, even when I would tell him, "I think this way is easier," or "This way is faster." He had begun to find his own way.

Feedback: Overcome The Fear & Grow

Feedback: Overcome The Fear & Grow

There was once a junior supply officer in the USMC who was on a field operation in the humid and hot North Carolina spring air.  It was a stormy night and as the officer woke from a few hours of sleep, he knew that the supplies that he was supposed to get out didn't make it due to the inclement weather. He had tried his best but had come up short. Now he had to face his commanding officer and the logistics officer to communicate that the job didn't get done.

Vulnerability: What Are We So Afraid Of?

Vulnerability: What Are We So Afraid Of?

This week has really been a challenging one for me as a leader of people at work, of my kids and my wife at home, of fellow youth leaders at church, of my extended family and my close friends. After a long season of battling many different illnesses, a long-time close friend, mentor and advisor died: my father-in-law. He was the most determined and optimistic person I have ever known and I am going to miss him immensely.

The Power of Belief

The Power of Belief

Last week I talked about embracing challenge and using the past experiences of overcoming challenges to inspire you to action.  This week I want to talk about that a bit deeper.  Why did I jump off that tree branch?  For the reward?  Yes, after I did it the first time, but before that I didn't know what the reward was., but my brother did.  He inspired me to action because he made me BELIEVE.  Wow, that is a powerful word.  Believe.

True Leaders Embrace Challenge

True Leaders Embrace Challenge

I read a book about 15 years ago that talked about the importance of having a life motto and putting it in your office where you can see it everyday.  I thought that would be a neat idea and so I began to think about it every day for 2 weeks or so and finally came up with the phrase that embraces my life up till that time, but also has continued to inspire me as I uncover each day.  My life motto is...

Trust: Set in Stone From Common Values and Cemented Through Challenges

Trust: Set in Stone From Common Values and Cemented Through Challenges

I recently watched Fury, a movie about a WWII tank crew that stuck together as they laid down their lives for one another.  It reminded me of my time in the Marine Corps where I was inducted into a band of brothers who all believed in one thing:  that we could do anything if we looked out for each other.  This didn’t happen overnight; it happened through many challenges that were not fun at the time, but when we were done, we had accomplished the task at hand and we did it together.

Trust: Give and You Shall Receive

Trust: Give and You Shall Receive

Last Fall, my son and I went to Joshua Tree National Park. We were so motivated and driven to reach the top of this rock formation. We had tried one way up and had to decide to stop after making it two-thirds of the way up because the we decided together that the risk was too great. We found a new way up, but had one 5 foot jump up to an uneven area of rock above us and over a 50 foot ravine. 

Trust: Leadership Comes at a Cost

Trust: Leadership Comes at a Cost

Intent or motive is a huge part of trust. The motive that inspires the greatest trust is genuine love. If you truly love someone, you will sacrifice whatever it takes to help make them to be successful. A leader that takes time to help their people succeed is a real loving leader. A sign of a true leader is when a leader could have been doing something to further their success and instead spent the time and energy to help make you successful. 

What Level of Leader Are You?

What Level of Leader Are You?

There we were, my son and I, bouldering (rock climbing without ropes or equipment) in the Pinnacles near Big Bear Lake, California. This was an adventurous leader’s playground. I took this as an opportunity to be both an example for Luke by leading the climbs up rock faces, and also to allow him to begin to lead: to physically experience risk (death from falling) and reward (the breath taking views from the top). 

 
Logo Med White LL with Circle.png
 

Learning Leader, LLC | Paul M. Perrin