The USS Nimitz

I read about this incident recently. The USS Nimitz (aircraft carrier)  pulled into Guam for a port call. While there, one of the sailors went missing. 

A massive search ensued. They never found the sailor. Days later, the ship set sail. 

 

I can’t begin to imagine the agonizing decision to leave…knowing not everyone was accounted for. 

 

I believe there are a bevy of leadership lessons here. 

 

In particular, as you wrap up another year, I challenge you to reflect on the year. 

 

Leadership is about connecting. 

 

As you look at the gamut of people you have to/ get to connect with, who is one person (s) you have failed to connect with?

 

Don’t let the ship set sail- don’t let the year end without making a concerted effort to go after that one -or more- person you need to connect with. 

 

It’s not easy. Yet, this is what we are called to do as leaders. Lead for all. Not just some. 

 

And, a favorite John Maxwell quote I love- and try to live by: “If you are leading, and no one is following, you are simply out for a walk.”

 

Have a great week. Win the Day. I am always in your corner. 

 

Take care – pja

 

41 Seconds to Read

Your Boat Crew

 One of my favorite podcasts is The Shawn Ryan Show. He has some interesting guests on. 

 

I was listening last week to his episode with Leif Babin. Leif co-authored Extreme Ownership. One of my all-time favorite books and an even better TED Talk.

 

As an officer going through his training to become a Navy Seal, he talked about how he was quite the target since he was a bit older and an officer. 

 

He shared this question that was continually posed to him:

 

“Who is not performing in your boat crew- who is not doing well?” 

 

His response: “I was always like, me.”

 

So many leadership lessons to unpack here. 

 

Similar to the lesson/video segment I showed at last week’s Leadership Team meeting, when you encounter someone not performing to the expectations or to the standard, what is your first response? 

 

To be candid, my response has not always been for me to look internally. 

 

Yet, if you / we are to grow our team, adopting this mindset will work wonders- not only for our team, but for us as leaders. 

 

Next time you notice someone not performing, ask yourself, what role do I play in all of this? 

 

Have a great week. Win the Day. I am always in your corner. 

 

Take care – pja

 

*52 Seconds to Read.

The Gravity of Command

 Shortly before I became a Superintendent, my Navy brother had a long talk with me about the ‘Gravity of Command’. In short, he talked about the rising expectations of being in command…and the weight of leadership.

 

Fast forward- about a week ago, I came across an article where the Commander of the USS Truman, an aircraft carrier, was relieved of his duties while deployed to the Middle East. The carrier had an accident with a merchant ship, resulting in damages to the carrier. 

 

As I read this, I was quickly reminded of my brother’s message: The Gravity of Command. 

 

Captain Dave Snowden, the commander of the Truman, was certainly not the one driving the ship. Yet, as leaders, we are responsible for all that happens under our watch. 

 

This message is certainly not to overwhelm you. Rather, we always need those gentle reminders of the charge we have been given. 

 

You are called to lead where you are. Leadership is not for the faint of heart. We have a tremendous responsibility and opportunity to lead our people as we raise up this next generation. 

 

Lead well. You have what it takes. Always be mindful of all that has been entrusted to you. To us. 

 

I am always in your corner. Win the Day. 

 

Take care – pja

 

54.45 Seconds to Read. 

Who Owns Morale?

 I came across this quote recently…and really appreciated it on many levels. 

 

A long held frustration of mine is when I hear…’morale is really bad.’ Morale is comprised of all of us. 

Yet, as leaders- it is our duty to lead the charge on morale. 

 

How can we? 

 

“Gentlemen, enlisted men may be entitled to morale problems, but officers are not… I expect all officers in this department to take care of their own morale. No one is taking care of my morale.” ~General George C. Marshall

 

What are you doing to lead yourself for remaining positive- and upbeat?

 

Intentionality wins the day. 

 

If you are struggling with ideas to feed your own morale…this idea has resonated with me. 

 

As I have shared before, I am a big Jon Gordon fan. As JG was on his ‘positivity’ journey, he incorporated ten minute ‘Gratitude Walks’ into his daily routine. 

 

Perhaps you have other ideas on how you lead yourself in generating positive – infectious morale. If so, I would love to hear them. 

 

If you are struggling with any ideas…start with the Gratitude Walk. (And while you are at it…begin to chart/ measure your progress. 😊 ) 

 

I am always in your corner. Win the Day. I am here if you need anything. Take care – pja

 

*46.34 Seconds to Read.

Bringing it back...

 As you may recall, I had a practice of putting out my Monday Morning Minute of Motivation. It went into hibernation. I am waking it up…albeit it’s not Monday Morning. 

 

You will get this the first Monday of the month. It will take less than a minute to read. And, for those who prefer books on tape, call me- I will read it to you. 😊

 

One of the most important things I do (I believe) is to uplift and encourage you. This would be part and parcel of those efforts…

 

Prior to the new year…I had encouraged/challenged you all to come up with one word to be your focus/guide/ encouragement/ north star as you step into 2025. 

 

For me, I wrestled with selecting one. (I had already used ‘Focus’ 6 out of the past 10 years…figured I couldn’t use it again😊 ). 

 

The word ‘Intentional’ kept coming to mind. But I still had not decided definitively…

 

January 1 came and went. I woke up January 2^nd- my watch gives me a daily briefing. It always ends with some type of encouragement or motivation. 

 

On the 2^nd, it read, Make Today Count. As I sat down for my morning quiet time, my verse of the day centered on being intentional with our time. 

 

It was settled. I had received enough confirmation for my word. Intentional. 

 

3 take aways…

1. You still have time to decide on your 1 Word. 
2. Look for those opportunities in your life for affirmation for what may be on your heart. 
3. Decide. Share with others for accountability. Then get after it. 

 

I hope you have a great week ahead. I am always in your corner. 

 

Win the Day – pja

 

(59.3 Seconds to Read)

The First 2 Rows

 I was listening to a podcast the other day. The guest proposed this challenge:

Imagine you are at your funeral. You see the first 2 rows. The first 2 rows are typically reserved for family and those closest to the deceased. 

Now, examine your life as it stands now. Are you giving more attention and effort to those seated beyond the two rows...or is your focus on the most important people in your life. 

For me, it really struck a chord. So often, when I get home, I am distracted. Tired. Spent. I give my family fumes...when they should be getting so much more from me. 

Take an audit of your life. What can you do differently to be more intentional? How can your family get the 'best' of you versus the leftovers? What will you commit to today? 

How do you invest in the 'first two rows'?

Have a great week of getting after it. Have a great week of being present with those around you. I'm always in your corner- Win the Day- pja

“Time isn’t precious at all, because it is an illusion. What you perceive as precious is not time but the one point that is out of time: the Now. That is precious indeed. The more you are focused on time—past and future—the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.”
― Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

43 seconds to read. 

Leaders are Readers

 25% of the year is complete…how are you feeling? What is going well? What is not? I always find these check points to be beneficial…if you take the time to reflect- game plan- and take action. 

 I was having a conversation with one of our Leadership Team Members recently.  We were discussing the reading of Atomic Habits. The comment was made…that when I put out the email for our reading schedule, I should say, “You will read this because I said to read it.”

 

We had a subsequent conversation about my leadership philosophy. A challenge I have always posed to myself: Strip the title/ chain of command away- would people still listen and follow you? 

 

Plain and simple, Leadership is influence. Regardless of title or rank. As you take account of your own leadership prowess and journey, are you being an influencer?

 

One of my all-time favorite leadership quotes. “If you think you’re leading, but no one is following, then you’re only taking a walk.” (John Maxwell)

 

And, to follow up on the ‘command’ to read…I want our team to be so hungry to learn and grow…a direct order is not needed. Never forget, not all readers are leaders. Yet, all leaders are readers. 

 

Be a reader. 😊

 

Have a great week of getting after it. I am in your corner. Win the Day – pja

 

*44.14 Seconds to Read