3 Ways to Achieve Your Intentions

Everything we do starts with an intent.  An intent is a purpose or a goal that you want to achieve.  Think of even the most mundane action that you take such as brushing your teeth.  There is an intent behind it.  The intent is to have clean teeth which will hopefully lead to less painful visits at the dentist.  Everything that we do whether big or small starts with an intention. 

More often than not, intentions are biased towards good or positive outcomes.  For example, no one intents to fail at an exam or at work.  No one intents to be the worst employee of an organisation.  Intentions are usually aimed at achieving good results, being the best, you can be and living out a life of impact. 

However, intention in itself is not enough.  For example, I intent to be fit and to run 5k.  If I never action on that intent, no number of intentions will help me to achieve the goal of being fit and to be able to run 5k.  Intention needs to be coupled with actions. 

The other way intent is received is how it is perceived.  How does someone else perceive or receive your intentions.  For example, you might intent to give someone positive feedback.  However, the delivery or the how you communicate the feedback is harsh and direct which leaves the person hurt and confused with your intentions.   This is a simple example of how an intention does not line up with the outcome.  I am sure that you have had experienced this before whether you are the person having the good intention but somehow misses the mark with the execution or you have been on the receiving end of a badly delivered but well-intentioned person.

What can we do to help us minimise the gap between intentions and outcomes?

I think that there are 3 ways that can help you minimise the gap and they are:

1.  Start with Clear and Simple Intent.

2.  Prepare how you would action and communicate your intent.

3.  Be alert and watch for response.

Start with Clear and Simple Intent.

This might seem like an obvious first step, however, because it is so obvious, we often miss or skip it.  Be clear with yourself first as to your intent.  Be honest with yourself on your intention.  You can’t fake intention; you might fool some people some of the time but not all people all the time.

Ask yourself:

  • What is my intention?
  • What is the outcome that I am hoping for?
  • Why am I doing this?  Is there any other reason?

Clarity and honesty around your intent is critical because that is what people will perceive.  Don’t forget, we all have a spidey sense that is able to sense danger or when someone is not being honest. 

For example, when you congratulate someone for a job well done, you could use the most encouraging praiseworthy words but if your intention is not sincere, the tone and manner of your delivery will let on your intention.  However, if your intention is sincere, even with the least number of words, you might be able to communicate and achieve the outcome that you had planned.  I am sure that we have all experienced that when someone tells you good job, but you don’t think much of it because either you weren’t sure of their intentions or because of how it was delivered.

Therefore, start with clear and simple intentions.  Be honest about your intention.  State your intentions upfront.

Prepare the action and communication plan.

During more formal settings such as a feedback session, being prepared is critical.  Just having great intentions will not help you get the outcome that you want.  This step is the most critical in ensuring that the gap between your intention and the outcome is at its minimum.

For example, if you are going to have a tough feedback session with an employee because of performance gaps, you will need to be clear on your intention and then prepare a plan to communicate that in the most respectful, clear and supportive manner.  If your intention is to help the employee close the performance gap, then you will need to clearly communicate the gaps while providing guidelines or support framework to help the person develop or build up skills that are required to perform well.  How you communicate the intent is crucial. 

This is usually the area where intention to help is usually received negatively.  The execution or the delivery is where we usually fall short.  Either it’s the words that are used or the tone and manner in the delivery.  However, I think that most of the communication shortfall can be overcome if we have built enough trust in the relationship.  For most of us, we know that no one is perfect and communication gaps exist and therefore we know to automatically compensate accordingly, knowing and trusting the person because people will know your intention if you have been authentic consistently.  For example, if it is someone that you do not trust, no amount of great delivery or right words would give the person 100% confidence that the intent and execution lines up.

Be alert and just listen.

Just like any communication, be alert or watchful for responses and then you will have to be flexible and adapt accordingly.  The reality is that you will never know how you actions are being perceived and the only ways are to listen and observe.  Pay full attention and focus on listening to what is being said, do not be distracted by thinking about your response but give it all your focus to listen.  You will be surprised just how difficult “real listening” is.  I remember when I was going through a coaching course, the hardest skill that I had to learn was listening.  To listen with no other intent but to seek to learn and understand.  You will be surprised to what you might learn when you are able to learn without being distracted by your thoughts on how to counter what the person is saying.

You will be able to then gauge whether you are achieving the outcome that you had intended by now taking your time to listen to the person’s response and observe their reaction.  Ask them follow-up questions if you want to seek clarification or to further understand their perspective.  Do not leave a conversation hanging or without seeking their feedback.  You will only truly know if your intentions are communicated accurately through the person’s response and feedback.  So, take the time to listen.

Let’s summarise:

Intentions only are not enough to give you the outcome that you want.  The gap between intention and outcome lies in the execution.  Be clear and simple with your intentions.  What and how you execute on your intention will determine the outcome.  Take your time to prepare how you would execute your intention.  Take time to listen to the response.  Be intentional and you will be able to minimise the gap between intentions and outcomes.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope that you have learned at least one thing that you are able to apply into your everyday life.  Let’s step into the everyday with purpose.  As always, please subscribe, follow and share this blog with your friends.  Take care and step into the everyday with purpose. 

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Value the Journey and NOT the Destination

Value the Journey and NOT the destination

Life is a journey.  That’s the popular phrase and it is absolutely true.  However, in our goal-oriented culture, we have become obsessed with achieving goals whilst ignoring and not appreciating the experiences, lessons, joys, and the impact of the journey as you achieve your goals or reach your destination.

We have for the most part ignored what is the essence of life.  Life is not a measure of what we have achieved in terms of goals or targets or even the destination.  Life is an accumulation of learnings, experiences and relationships and the impact that you have made. 

The starting point of any journey would be where you want to go or the destination.  Yes, a goal is important as that will set the course for the journey.  Once you have set a goal and when you do achieve the goal, you will naturally feel great. And after that, what’s next?  That’s right, the next step is to find or create a new goal.  This will be a non-stop activity.  We will have goals upon goals, and we will achieve some and not others but it never ends.  Setting and achieving goals is part and parcel of our journey that never ends.  However, if you now recognise the importance is not the destination or the goal, but the journey, you will fundamentally shift the way you view your life and the impact that you are able to create along the way.

To enable you to experience the journey, you will need to shift your mindset in 3 ways.  The 3 mindsets shifts are:   

1.  Journey is about consumption, creation and connection.

2.  You don’t need to be a “rocket scientist” to get things done.

3.  Bring people along the journey.

I am Lisa Lam and my goal is to help you discover new ways to develop your skills by challenging perceptions and sharing experiences that you can learn to enhance your everyday. 

Let’s break it down.

Journey is about consumption, creation and connection.

When we have decided on the goal or the destination, we will then go about the journey.  Just like any road trip that you want to take, the first step is to figure out what, where, and how.  You will want to learn about the destination, the things to look out for, the must do and how you would go about doing it or achieving the goal.  This step is consumption.  You are consuming information in order to learn and prepare yourself for the journey ahead.  You can learn either through your own experiences or by reading books from experts or people who have gone through similar experiences or have been to the destination.  You will need to spend time initially to learn so that you can avoid common mistakes or just for you to be aware of things to watch out for and equip yourself with what you need to have in order to do the How when required.

Once you have consumed, you are now on the next part of the journey which is about creation.  Creating your path and what you need to do.  Charting the journey out.  Just like taking a road trip or a holiday, you will create a plan, a timetable, etc.  you will need to create the schedule, content and so on.  This step will enable you to start the journey with a plan and milestones to help you along the way.

As we go along the journey, one of the key enhancers of our experiences will be the impact that we are able to create or make along the way.  That impact is meaningful and worthwhile for most of us is the connection that we build, nurture and grow along the way.  It would not be an impactful or fun journey if there was no connection or relationships that you have along the way.  We love connections and therefore the journey becomes meaningful when there is these connection. 

You don’t need to be a “rocket scientist” to get things done.

Once of the most common barriers that prevents people from living life to the fullest is the fear that they are not good enough or that they can’t do it.  The fear that some how only geniuses or rocket scientists are able to figure out or solve a problem and achieve great goals.

The simple mindset of “You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out 99% of what you want to do” is the starting point of that.  For example, changing a light bulb might seem difficult but in reality, it is really simple so long as you know how and turn off the electricity before you start.  You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to change a light bulb.  You just need to learn how to change a light bulb.  I have used this mindset for most of my life and the result is that I am able to perform most handy work around the house.  Not because I am a genius but because I have this mindset that I don’t need to be rocket scientist and that most things are easy once you learn how to.  This mindset will open a whole new world of possibilities for you.

The journey is not meant to be complicated.  It will be filled with problems and challenges, and you will need to overcome and find solutions to them but with this mindset, you will view challenges as something that you are able to overcome because the solution is either available or is not difficult when you view things in its basic simple form.

The next time you are faced with a problem, change your mindset and you will be surprised with its outcome.

Bring people along the journey.

Arriving at your destination and not having people to meet you or have them come along the journey is rather lonely.  As humans, we need people along the way.  As with the first mindset change that I had talked about, the journey is about the consumption, creation and connection, you will need to bring people along the journey with you.

Building connections is just one part.  The real value and joy of any connection is when you bring those people or connections with you.  The challenges, joys and sadness, the highs and the lows are all better experienced as part of the journey.  It does not reduce or change the problems or situations, but it will certainly make the journey either more enjoyable or bearable.  Do not take for granted the relationships that you have but appreciate and cherish them along the way.  Do not let the busyness of getting to your destination blind the value and impact of the journey.

Let’s summarise.

Value the journey and not just the destination and to do so, there are 3 mindsets shift that need to take place. 

1.  Journey is about consumption, creation and connection.  Consumption is all about the continuous journey of learnings and experiencing new adventures along the way.  Never stop learning because the destination will change, the learning mindset will be key for not just reaching the destination but the growth and maturity that you will gain over the journey.  Once you have learned or consumed, you will be creating along the way, content, plans, routines and so on.  We are designed to create and produce.  We create experiences and learnings all the time.  And the journey is never complete without connections that you create, establish, nurture, build and grow along the way.

2.  You don’t need to be “rocket scientist” to get things done.  Don’t let the myth that you need to be a genius or a rocket scientist to be able to achieve goals.  99% of the things can be figured out if we have the mindset that it is solvable and not to make anything complex and complicated.  Break it down to its simplest form and that’s usually where the answer lies.

3.  Lastly, don’t forget to bring people along the journey with you.  Life is so much better when we have people by our side, ahead of us whom we can learn from and behind us to make sure that we are constantly on the right path.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope that you have learned at least one thing that you are able to apply into your everyday life.   As always, please subscribe, follow and share this blog with your friends.  Take care and step into the everyday with purpose. 

Small Decisions Matter.

The ability to make decisions, like every other ability can be viewed like a muscle.  A muscle must be used for it to grow and to not atrophy.  Just like a muscle, you will have to use it for it to not just be maintained but to also grow and develop.  Decision making is a skill that can be developed and improved upon.  How?  Every decision that you make whether seemingly insignificant or small is a decision that works the “decision-making muscle”.

When we view decision making as a muscle that can be developed and improved, there are 3 keys to not just be better at making decisions but to be able to make the tough decisions when you need to. 

The 3 keys are:

1.  Small decisions matters.

2.  Make A Decision.

3.  Indecision hurts you.

Let’s break them down.

Small Decisions Matters

Yes, small decisions do matter.  Why?  A series of small decisions when made over a period of time has significance and impact.  For example, no one decides to be unhealthy.  No one aims to have high cholesterol or to be insulin resistant.  However, the outcome of a series of seemingly small decisions will lead to that outcome such as eating that extra donut or a bag of chips while watching a Korean drama on tv or forgoing that walk in the park.  If those seemingly small decisions that you made once but when you make them again the next day and the next, over time you will end up being less fit, maybe putting on the pounds that you didn’t want to and after a longer period leading you down a path of an unhealthy lifestyle.  Therefore, yes, those seemingly harmless or small decisions will matter when it is made consistently over a period of time.  Small decisions accumulated will lead to a path whether you intended for it or not. 

Small decisions enable you to make bigger tougher decisions.  If you can make good small decisions and choices, you are building your decision-making muscle.  Over time, as the decision-making muscle grows, and when you are faced with the need to make a big decision you would have built up the capabilities to do so.  Making big decision is no different from making a small decision. Both requires that you make a choice.  The difference is the impact and outcome of the decision. 

For example, a big decision such as who you will marry, creates an impact and outcome over the course of your life.  To make that decision, it is an accumulation of information and experiences and then making the best choice that you can.  In essence no difference than deciding to eat 1 or 2 donuts.  However, the difference is in its outcome and impact.  So, as you can imagine, if you are able to make good choices or good decisions with the small ones, then you are building your abilities to make the right decisions when the need arises.

Small decisions are your practice and training ground that prepares you to make the bigger ones.  Rest assured; everyone will be faced with making the big decisions at all points of life.

Just Make a Decision.

Making decisions can be hard and scary especially if it affects more than just you.  It is therefore tempting not to decide.  The ability to decide whether it turns out right or wrong is better than not making any decision.  One can argue that not deciding is making a decision.

For example, if you have to decide between exercising or not,  when you decide to exercise, you are making a choice based on a desire or a goal to achieve.  The desire could be, to be fit and healthy or the goal could be to finish a race that you have entered.  Now let’s imagine that it is now 5pm and you must decide whether you want to exercise or not.  If you are purposeful and have a goal in mind, you will decide to get your exercise in and just do it.  However, if now you are presented with a third option that is to exercise, to not exercise and to go out for drinks with your friends, you will most probably have a temporary battle of will.  In the midst of the decision battle, it is now 6pm and the sky is dark and gloomy, the decision has been made for you or the decision has been taken away from you.  Drinks it is. 

You have basically allowed the indecision to make a decision for you through the changing circumstances.  In other words, you have taken away your decision-making opportunity based on your indecision and let external situations make the decision for you.

Making a decision is just as important because intent and action must be aligned.  Just intending to make a decision is not acting on the intent.  That’s not decision making.  It is avoidance.  However, we have all avoided making decisions.  Sometimes it’s because it’s too hard, or we just don’t want to take the responsibility of the consequences of making a decision.  However, not deciding is a decision.  Which outcome would you prefer, the one where you made the decision or the one where the decision was made for you? 

For most of us and for most of the time, we would prefer not to make any decision because if we did, we would have to take on the responsibilities that comes with it.  However, if you don’t make the decision and let someone else decide for you then you have forfeited your right to complain or grumble about the consequences because you have decided to let go of your rights in that decision making process.

Therefore, making a decision is better than not and we all learn and be better when we are able to learn from the decision whether its right or not.  Learning from our mistakes is one way that we all learn and grow as adults.

Indecisions Hurts You

Being indecisive is just as bad as not deciding.  In fact, indecision is an issue that needs to be addressed.  Indecision is different from not deciding.  Indecision comes from a place of place confusion.  Let’s think about this.

When you are presented with options, lots of options with outcomes that are not necessarily bad but more of “which is the best option” to decide on, you might find it hard to decide because there are too many options and none are bad, just not sure which is the best.  Therefore, the challenge that you are faced is out of confusion.  The confusion of which is the best option to decide on.  Not necessarily a bad place to be in because when there is no clear choice to make, the best choice is the one that you do make.  Pretty much like “the best vaccine for you to take is the one that is available” type scenario. 

Indecision is the flip side of not making a decision.  It might seem the same, but it is fundamentally different in its perspective and the core of the decision-making process.  The truth is that all decisions have an element of fear.   After all, no one wants to make the wrong decision or suffer the consequences of the decision.  However, not deciding and/or indecision will produce consequences that you will not want.  It is like in an exam, it is better to answer every question whether you know the answer or not vs. leaving it blank which you know is definitely the wrong answer.

Let me summarise.  The ability to make decision is like a muscle.  The more you use it and use it wisely, the better your decision muscle will be.  The more decisions that you make correctly will help you to make better decisions in the future.  The better decisions that you are able to make, you will  develop your ability to make the tough and often not popular decision because you have built up a certain level of ability and resilience to see out your decision and its outcome. 

Therefore, No. 1 Small decisions matter.  View them as building blocks for your decision muscle and when you do need to flex the decision muscle in tough situation, you are able to do. 

Secondly, making a decision is a right that you possess.  Use it.  When you fail to decide, you are not taking up your privilege and responsibility but in fact, giving up your right to decide.  In that process you are failing to develop your decision-making muscle.

Lastly, Indecision hurts you.  The difference between not able to make a decision and indecision lies in its perspective and heart of fear.  Fear of the consequences or outcome of the decision.  The truth is there is no perfect decision in any situation.  It is the best decision that you made in that situation based on the information and your best judgement at that point in time.  Indecision hurts because it takes your options away as time and changing nature of the situation will eventually reduce the options that you have and expands the consequences of those options.

Build your decision muscle by realising that small decision matters, making a decision is exercising your decision-making muscles and indecision hurts you because it will reduce your options and magnify the consequences over time.

Thank you for taking the time to read my article.  I hope that you have learned at least one thing that you are able to apply into your everyday life.  Let’s step into the everyday with purpose.  As always, please subscribe, follow and share this blog with your friends.  Take care and step into the everyday with purpose. 

There is No Suddenly Getting Lost

Have you ever gotten lost?  Most of the time we only get lost when we don’t follow instructions or directions.  For example, you are trying to go to a new destination.  You will most probably put the address in to your GPS or Google Maps and it will magically give you a path to take with step-by-step directions.  If we can follow it correctly, there is a 99.99% chance that you will get to the destination without much of a problem.  However, if you fail to correctly follow by missing a turn or ignoring its direction, your chances of getting to the destination is either reduced or you will hear the dreaded “rerouting or calculating”. 

Life is pretty much like that.  You will not suddenly get lost unless something happened along the way.  For example, you will not suddenly gain weight overnight and wonder how did you put on 10kgs?  Somewhere along the way, you would have indulged more than necessary, have very little to do with exercise and more being a couch potato, and maybe given yourself reasons as to why you should be rewarding yourself with that chocolate cake.  No one gets to a certain point in their life suddenly.  For most of us, it happens slowly and sometimes subtly that we don’t even notice when we are off the path and on to a different destination.

No one suddenly gets lost.  Bad decisions made over time will be like the GPS situation which causes reroutes and redirections, not to your desired destination but to a destination that you had not planned for.

“The principle of the path” by Andy Stanley is a great book to read about how the direction of your life will determine the destination that you will end up in.

What distracts us which cause us to get off the path and toward a different direction?

There are 3 common reasons:

1.  Distractions.

2.  You know better.

3.  Short cuts.

Let’s break it down.

Distractions.

This is the most common reason.  We get distracted along the way.  Just like following the directions from Google Maps when it tells you to turn right, but because you were distracted you had failed to hear the instructions and by the time you noticed it, you have missed the turn.  So what do you do?  Most probably you will either have to make a u-turn or follow a new set of instructions to get you back on track.

Why do we get distracted?  Usually its because we have far too many things running around in our minds.  The best and easiest way to solve this problem is to capture or to write down everything that you are thinking about.  There is a great power in writing down and a great relief for your brain that it is no longer a list-keeper.  Remember, your brain is not meant to be a list-keeper.  When you have a long list running in your mind, you are distracted because it is consuming your brain power without it doing anything about it.  Your mind is meant to be processing information and making decisions, solving problems and innovating.  It is not designed to keep information without an end or a conclusion. 

One of the reasons, people worry endlessly is because they are not able to put the “worry” down or in other words, process the worry into actionable items.  For example, you are worried about forgetting to pay a bill.   So long as you do not capture that action item, your mind will constantly be wasting precious cycles just trying to remember it, all the while giving you a sinking feeling that you will forget, which perpetuates the cycle of worry.  However, if you write it down and schedule the time for you to pay the bill, you have essentially taken down the worry and given it a time and place to act on it.  You will no doubt not be thinking about that task, but when the reminder appears you will just get that task of paying your bill done.

The simplest step that you can take to eliminate distraction is to capture it and schedule time to act on it.

You Know Better.

Yes, that’s right, you think that you know better than the GPS and you might know best if you know where you are going.  But, if you are in an unfamiliar territory, do you really know best?  For example, if you are travelling in a new country or going to a new place for the very first time, do you really know better than Google maps?  One of the reasons, men get lost more often than women and this is not based on my assumptions, but proven research is because of pride.  Men somehow think that they know the way and then when they are lost, they will not ask for directions or help.  All the while getting further off the destination or getting more lost.

Yes, pride is our biggest enemy when it comes to the decisions that we make along the way to our destination.  I think that its also a safe bet to say that we have all gotten “lost” because of our pride.  When we look back on some of the decisions that we have made, we can laugh about it, as for the most part it wasn’t disastrous because we had probably course corrected earlier, rather than later.  However, if you course corrected too late, the consequences could be bad.

For example, an addiction does not happen overnight.  It takes a series of bad decisions that leads someone down that path.  The best remedy for this is to engage in a healthy feedback environment.  Your friends, family, work colleagues who are able to provide you with feedback will help you to keep your pride in check.  Feedback is one of the most important tools that you have to ensure that you do not fall into the “you know better” syndrome.

Short Cuts.

We certainly don’t like long road trips.  We want to get to our destination as quickly as possible and if there is short cut, all the better.  However, I am sure that you know that usually short cuts don’t happen often and, in most cases, short cuts are actually harder than the “normal” paths.

We all need patience.  Some of you might know that I think the wisest creature is Yoda from Star Wars who said, “Patience you must have, my young padawan.” Isn’t it true?  We want everything now and if we can get it with as little effort, even better.  Short cuts might seem to work in the short term, but in the long run, you will realise that you have lost a lot more along the way.

Try to avoid the short cuts, the instant rewards or gratification.  The path may seem shorter and quicker but the destination may not be what you had anticipated or wanted.

The best remedy against short cut is patience with purpose.  You will need to be clear on what and where your destination is.  For example, the end goal of financial success is not having a target number in the bank account, because after all, we will all die and can’t take it with us.  The end goal of financial success is how much impact you have made with your generosity of giving and serving others. 

No one gets lost suddenly.  No one wants to get lost.  You only get lost when you are distracted, think that you know better and when you take short cuts.  Don’t stumble into a destination that you had not intended.  The good news is if you have taken a few wrong turns, it is not the end of the world.  You can still make the necessary corrections.  Do it sooner than later.    Listen to your GPS!

Thank you for taking the time to read my article.  I hope that you have learned at least one thing that you are able to apply into your everyday life.   As always, please subscribe, follow and share this podcast with your friends.  Take care and step into the everyday with purpose. 

3 values that we are truly working to achieve.

There are many things that we want and that we work extremely hard for.  You can work hard to acquire things or to achieve success.  That’s just how life is.  Going from one thing to another, taking on one challenge at a time, and all the while wanting to achieve more. 

We can achieve much when we put our hearts and minds to it, however, there are only a few things that truly matter.  The 3 things that are easier to achieve than to recover from are trust, respect and integrity.  The things that truly matter to each of us.  The intrinsic values of these 3 areas are worth so much more than any success because the truth is success does not help you achieve trust, respect and integrity but it is because of trust, respect, and integrity that you are able to achieve success and walk the everyday with your head held high.

Let’s break it down.

Trust.

Trust is fundamental to everything that we do and it is a reflection of how dependable, reliable, and committed we are to what we say and do.  Trust is built over time and through various situations.  There are various types of trust such as rules-based trust. For example, you experience rules-based trust when you are driving a car.  You trust that the other drivers are going to follow the rules.  For example, you trust that when the traffic lights turn red, the drivers will stop.  You trust that the double lines on the road will ensure that drivers on the other side of the road does not come into your lane. 

The trust that comes from relationships is different.  Trust that exist between people are different. The way people relate, share and work together is not based on rules to follow but it is earned or achieved based on how you behave.  It is based on how you live your life, doing what you say you will do, being consistent in what you do, how you make decisions and how you respond in various situations and circumstances.  This type of trust takes times for you to build and achieve. 

Trust is a fundamental value that must exist in your workplace and personal life.  No relationship can be built without trust.  Be careful how you protect and nurture your trustworthiness with those around you. Trust is earned through time and through shared experiences. However, it can be lost or broken in an instance.

Now imagine a situation when that trust is broken.  It might start with a little white lie and that grows to a bigger and ultimately into a significant lie, the trust that was established over years will come crumbling down in an instance.  In some situations, it is lost forever, and trust can never be recovered.

Respect

We all want respect and to a certain extend we are all granted a basic level of respect for just being a person.  However, the respect that we all work for, is from others based on our reputation, effort and achievements.  Respect is also given based on position or title but to keep that respect is to align the perception of the position or title with your actions and behaviours.

For example, you could be the leader of a team.  The base level respect that would be afforded to you would be one of a leader and the authority that comes with that position.  If your performance as a leader equates and reflects the position, then you are able to maintain the level of respect.  If you exceed the expectations, then the respect that you gained will exceed the initial level.  We all know that as a leader, everyone is watching you and depending on how you walk the talk, that level of respect will either grow or decline accordingly.

The moment you have the respect of others, a few other values are afforded to you and one of them is as the above, trust.  It is harder to regain or recover your reputation after a fall.  There are many public figures who have fallen from grace, the first two values to go out with them are respect and trust.

You can lose the respect of the people around you with your words and actions. Just like trust, once you have lost the respect of people, it will take a lot more effort to regain it than to earn it in the first place.

Integrity

Integrity is not just about being honest.  It is about a consistent life both in private and in public.  These 2 aspects of your life must be aligned.  You are authentic and genuine with not just what you say, think, feel but act.  It is not about doing the right thing only in front for people to see.  It is about living according to your values no matter the circumstances and potential cost to you.  Integrity consists of the two values that we have covered, trust and respect. 

Just like trust and respect, it is extremely hard to gain integrity and once it is lost, it is very hard to recover it back.  I am sure that you have heard the saying, “hard work and talent can get you to the top, but integrity helps you to stay at the top.”

I am sure that you have encountered various people in your life or read about the public figures and their lack of integrity and what that does not only to the person but to those around them. 

The truth is that what you work for your whole life for  is not about achieving goals or gaining financial success, it is about building your reputation which is based on trust, respect and integrity.  You might work your whole life to build trust, respect and integrity and if you are not careful, it can be lost in an instance.  The saddest part of these three values is that when it is lost or broken, for you to recover them is way harder that achieving them in the first place.

Thank you for taking the time to read to my article.  I hope that you have learned at least one thing that you are able to apply into your everyday life.   As always, please subscribe, follow and share this podcast with your friends.  Take care and step into the everyday with purpose.