Monthly Archives: June 2016

Of Course Character Matters

The Issue…

Whenever election time rolls around, the age-old debate about the importance that character plays in the presidency comes front and center. Does character matter in the president, or do we just need someone who can get the job of governing done? My answer is that our form of government requires good character, and the responsibilities of the person occupying the Oval Office are so vital, that they demand it.

What our founders thought…

When our nation’s founders embarked upon the great “American Experiment” they understood its delicate nature. How could citizens rule themselves, and provide for the collective interest of the people, despite an acknowledged pre-disposition of self-interest inherent in the human condition? Part of the answer was to build a form of government with separate branches that provide balance of powers. The other part requires a belief that despite the flaws in humanity, man’s virtues are equally powerful—and they would be essential.

The founder’s wrote in the Federalist Papers, that the government under consideration would not work, unless its leaders and citizens were a virtuous people. They understood that the difference between a Republic (representative self-government) and a Monarchy (authoritarian rule) was that the leaders of a Republic were servants of the people. Those leaders were to be bound by a noble conscience, rather than their self-interest.

What is character anyway?

What exactly is character? Character is the sum quality of who a person really is—the combined total of their moral and civic virtues—good or bad. One’s character is the result of life choices and the conduct of living. Charles Stanley, an Atlanta pastor, says that character development is ultimately what God is trying to do in our lives. God is all about character development, not personality change.

In my view, good character is the most significant ingredient to effective leadership. It can be seen on the outside in one’s public image, but it is developed on the inside. But as we know, what you see is not always what you get. It is forged through intentional pursuit and fortified through adversity and perseverance. Everyone has heard the saying “Character reveals itself when no one is looking.” I would also say that character reveals itself when everyone is looking.

High character is a reflection of the civic and moral virtues that appeal to our highest spirit. It is so important, that the need for great character in our society is reflected in the honor codes and oaths adopted by the military, universities and other great institutions.

The role of character in the presidency…

Civic and moral virtues are the qualities of being that inspire confidence and trust, vital components of every relationship- including that between leaders and followers. It’s necessary for the President to have the confidence and trust of the people to be effective. Don’t you think this is especially true for the United States where the President is not only the Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief, but also the symbolic leader and conscience of the nation?

A democracy‘s role is to represent the interest of the majority, but not violate the rights of the minority. When the President fashions his or her vision through public policy, this is where character matters. It’s easy to stand on the side of the majority because it is easier to drift with the currents of popular opinion—even when the rights of the minority are infringed. It takes character to stand and make an argument for the rights of the minority. The President must be careful not to interpret the merits of public policy through the lens of his or her self-interest. Public policy must be viewed with the obligation to represent the majority and protect the rights of the minority, even if contrary to one’s own interest. And this requires character.

As long as a President is demonstrated to be a person of high character, moral authority is at his or her side, and with it comes the fortune of respect, trust and confidence of the people. Our country demands and deserves nothing less.

Be Your Best!

“It is our character that supports the promise of our future – far more than particular government programs or policies.”
— William Bennett, Former Secretary of Education

Don’t Prioritize your Schedule, Schedule your Priorities

Managing Priorities is the Key

As a productivity junkie for the longest time, I was always trying to figure out how to get more done in less time. I figured that if I could only get up earlier, stay up later, fit this in here, or multi-task there, I could get more done. I thought that by doing more, I could come closer to achieving my goals and dreams. As it turns out, I was chasing the wrong thing. It’s not about managing your time, but managing your priorities.

Stephen Covey (1932-2012) explains this concept well in his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” with the Life Quadrants diagram. As the diagram indicates, the things we spend time on have an urgency and importance.

Urgency vs. Importance

Those things that are more urgent beg to be done now. The more urgent they are, the less control we have. Those things that are more important contribute most to our relationships, goals and well being. The more important an activity is, the more focus and perspective it brings to our life.

The more time we can spend doing the least urgent, but most important things, (Quadrant II) the more we can live according to our values, mission, priorities and dreams. Admittedly, quadrant II is the hardest area of focus (but the most important), because it doesn’t scream for our attention and demands intentionality. We don’t typically “drift” into Quadrant II.

Quadrant I — You need to deal with stuff here.

The quadrant of “Deadlines and Fire Drills.” In Quadrant I are the urgent and important things of life. Bad things happen if they aren’t dealt with. These may include:

Paying bills
Changing the baby’s diaper
Changing a flat tire
Homework assignments
Keeping appointments

Quadrant II — Set your sights here.

The quadrant of “Growth and Quality of Life.” In Quadrant II are the least urgent, but most important things of life. These are the easiest activities to avoid, because there’s not a looming deadline. It’s potentially the most lucrative area to spend your time because this where we move life’s needle. Examples include:

Exercise, fitness, and health
Goal setting and planning
Date nights
Reading and Writing
Hobbies and other passions you want to master
Creating following a budget
Volunteer service
Spending family time
Prayer and meditation
A business venture
Professional development

Quadrant III — Avoid.

The quadrant of “Deception and interruption.” Quadrant III is that place where unimportant things rob your time. They tend to be urgent, but unimportant. Typically, this is where others demand things of you that don’t contribute to your goals or relationships. It’s easy to stay in this quadrant because it feels like we’re doing important things. They can include activities like:

Answering emails and phone calls
Interruptions from colleagues
Meetings
Texts

Quadrant IV — Stay Away at All Costs.

The quadrant of “Excess and Waste.” These activities are time wasters, and we instinctually know it. They suck out the ability for you to live productively and meaningfully. They are neither urgent, or important. Don’t feel too bad, however; if some of these things contribute to a meaningful area of life (such as genuine rest and relaxation, intellectual stimulation, contribution to goals, quality time with others, etc.) then they can be safely categorized as Quadrant II. The key factor may be how often and long you find yourself doing them.

Social media
TV binge watching
Video games
Web surfing
Shopping

I encourage you to soak-in the above diagram and evaluate your activities against your priorities. For even more clarity on this, read Stephen Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” Ask yourself, what activities dominate most of your time? You can be assured that Quadrant II activities will get you closer to being the person you want to become. It’s really about priority management, so much more than time management.

Be Your Best!

How to Make This a Better World

When I was much younger and before I went out on my own, the world seemed boundless, as did my opportunities. I wanted to do great things in big ways — to make a better world. I didn’t know what those achievements would be, but I knew my purpose was to impact the world in a wonderful and big way. I would do God’s will for my life and it wouldn’t be anything puny. Start a charitable foundation. Establish a homeless shelter. Lead a movement. Something along those lines. I never was in a position to make any of those big things possible. I eventually realized that my expectations were beyond the limits of God’s will for me.

This became evident when I was stationed as a commander at a military assignment in the northwest. I led an organization where I really wanted to do a killer job. I went into the job like most young officers — with an ambitious agenda and great aspirations on how I could make the organization the best of the best, with a tremendous reputation. Instead, I found myself constantly reacting to the turmoil of each day, putting out “fires”, and just keeping my head above water. What I did accomplish however, was to cultivate many relationships. I mentored those my junior and impact the lives of those I lead by my daily example, our one-on-one discussions, and practicing my values. And I know I did have an impact because they told me so.

Through this experience, I grew to understand that most of the good in this world is accomplished when each person is able to make a unique and individual positive impact on another. A kind and selfless act that usually costs us nothing and make’s someone else’s day better, makes this a better world. It also makes us feel better and its contagious. It makes us feel better because it is giving at its purest, without expecting anything in return. It’s contagious, because it causes the recipient to appreciate it, then live up to the gesture. You can be a ray of sunshine in someone’s otherwise dreary day. Consider how a sincere gesture can touch someone’s day:

•The casual compliment to your work colleague on always having such a great attitude
•A word of encouragement to the store clerk just rudely treated by the previous customer
•Letting the guy change lanes in front of you
•Making the young mother on the plane feel at ease when her baby is crying
•Offering to stand on public transportation, so someone else can sit
•and what about the whole Starbucks Pay-It-Forward phenomena?

Do you remember a couple of years ago when during the Christmas holidays, Starbucks customers were paying the tab for the person behind them, to the tune of over a 1000 customer streak? That sensation was repeated across the nation not only because it was unusual, but because it was a feel-good and inspiring story that captured the spirit of the season. People like the feeling that selflessness brings.

And what better icon of selflessness than Mother Teresa? Mother Teresa made a better world not because she ran a facility for the homeless, sick and indigent, but because of her caring touch and love she offered each individual.

“Do not wait for leaders. Do it alone, person to person. If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”
— Mother Teresa

My challenge for you is to find an opportunity in each day to make someone else’s day just a bit better. I will too. It will make a better world, and I’m certain it will make our days even better too.

Be Your Best!