Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The winning ticket

Have you ever played the lottery?  Have you, or have you known someone, that won the lottery?  Not just a small amount, but that life changing, oh my, this is going to be crazy amount of money.  Have you ever thought about what you would do if you won a million dollars?  Well, as I write this there is a current jackpot worth over 450 million dollars to a single winner.  Wow, what could you do with 450 million dollars?

Everyone of us has a list, right.  We would give some away, we would pay down our debt, we would set up our families, we would buy a few nice things, travel and live on the rest.  No worries, life is set and we could live where we want and do what we want, forever. 

The real question is, why are you playing the lottery in the first place?  What is it about your life, the direction you have and your purpose that you can't build upon?  What makes you hunger for so much money that you are willing to give away what you do have for this remote chance of getting more.  We all hear the odds of winning big are worse than being struck by lightening.  How many people do you know that have been struck by lightening?

With the easy questions out of the way, let's get to the meat of the matter.  How many people do you know that are struggling with their purpose?  How many days do you wake up not knowing how you will make it through?  How many of you have or know someone who has cancer?  How many of you have kids, or have employees that work for you, or have siblings that count on you?

See, the real test of our character as a leader is when we stand up and face the real challenges in life.  Leading isn't about position, it is about influence.  How can you help others today?  How can you be an example of how to appreciate what you have and can control, and then build upon that to benefit others?

Start today, first, by not playing the lottery.  Secondly, invest your time in what skills you have, and where you currently are.  Whether it is your family, your co-workers, your family or friends, you have opportunities every day to win big.  The people in your life count on you, you are gifted and prepared for exactly what they need.  Dig deep, find the leader in you, the one that lights the path for others, that keeps the focus on things that matter.  The lottery, it is just a game that you really can't win.  Leading others to heights they couldn't achieve without you, that is the real winning ticket!