Last week, I blogged about the idea that good things can come from bad situations, when those situations force us to do something good we normally wouldn’t do. Often due to laziness or lack of motivation, our intentions are better than our actions. Today, we see millions of Americans getting rid of credit card debt and saving money, because of the failing economy. This is obviously something we should have been doing all along—but were forced to once we have no credit left.

Motivation is a funny thing. It is best when it comes from within—when we find a purpose to fulfill. However, most of us are motivated when there’s a need to meet. I find that often I am most strongly motivated when the pressure of necessity raises its ugly head. I am writing a book right now, and I am discovering once again that “deadlines are lifelines.” When conditions become unbearable or dissatisfying—that’s when leaders step forward and do something. That’s when people discover what’s inside of them.

Charles Darrow was out of work and almost bankrupt during the Great Depression when he and his wife began to dream about what they would do if they had a million dollars. Every night they would discipline themselves to talk about the wealth they would accrue one day. Their regular little conversation turned into a game—with a board, dice, hotels, and cards—a game you likely own today: the game of Monopoly. By the way, Parker Brothers bought the game from him in 1935 for a million dollars.

It was also during the Depression that Kirk Christiansen had some time on his hands, and came up with his own little diversion. He was a carpenter who made ladders, but needed some extra work and cash. One day, he noticed he had lots of little pieces of wood left over once a ladder was built. He loved kids, and started to let kids play with those little pieces of wood to see if there was anything marketable he could discover. It soon became clear they loved to build things with them. Those wood chips became Legos, a Danish hybrid for the words “leg godt” meaning “play well.”

During those same hard times, Alfred Butts was unemployed. Every day he’d read the New York Times looking for work. As he did this, he realized how much he loved words—reading them, writing them and creating them. Since he had all kinds of time on his hands, he began to explore creating a game out of words. He succeeded, and it put him back to work, producing the game called: Scrabble.

Do you see the common thread in the stories of Charles, Kirk and Alfred? It was the very problem they faced that ushered them into success. The challenge became the pathway to resolving their predicament.

I have a question for you. What problem do you face today that may become the very vehicle that enables you to succeed? With the right perspective, a poor economy, unemployment, or boredom with far too much time on your hands could become your best friend. You just have to gain perspective, and take advantage of your situation. Your best leadership gifts may be summoned by hard times. You may just find your sweet spot when you are forced to do so.

I remember hearing a story about a frog who was hopping along a road when he fell into a large hole. He tried and tried to hop out, but was unable. As his friends came by, the frog beckoned them to go get help. Each of them ran for help, but upon their return they saw the frog hopping along the road again. He was obviously free from the confinement of the hole. When they reminded him that he couldn’t get out, he said: “Oh, you are right. I couldn’t get out. But then I heard a huge truck approaching and I realized… I had to.”

Here’s to your best gifts emerging as you face that huge truck coming at you.

Tim

My long-time friend and mentor, Dick Wynn, used to always tell me that good leadership involved three ingredients:

1. Relationships
2. Results
3. Resilience

I understood the first two immediately. I’ve learned over time that successful schools, companies, NPOs, and churches always combine a healthy pursuit of relationships and results. The third word, resilience, was different. I understood it, but didn’t fully comprehend why it’s so important to great leadership. Now I know.

One leader showed me on Superbowl Sunday. His name is Drew Brees.

Drew has one of the best attitudes I have seen in a professional athlete. It is Humbition. He has a rare combination inside of him: he is humble and has ambition. Consider his story.

Challenge One. He was injured while playing for the San Diego Chargers in 2005. His rotator cuff was smashed. Quarterbacks sort of need those to play well. Most of us believed his football career was over. But, Drew has resilience. Humbition. He not only survived the injury, but thanks to surgeon, James Andrews, he is playing better than ever before. He tied a Superbowl record for most complete passes. Not bad.

Challenge Two. The Chargers gave up on him. They released Drew from the squad. Too risky. In fact, the Miami Dolphins felt the same way. It would have been easy to believe that even if his shoulder healed, no NFL team would want him. But Drew has resilience. Humbition. The Saints believed Dr. Andrews and gave him a chance. He now has a Superbowl ring. The Chargers and Dolphins didn’t get one this year.

Challenge Three. The city of New Orleans is still broken. One might think this was a consolation prize for an NFL player – go to this city, still devastated from Hurricane Katrina, and play there. While Drew and his wife, Brittney, drove through the pitiful Lower 9th District, they said it looked like a war torn city. Spirits were low, funds were low. Hope was low. But – Drew has resilience. Humbition. He said he felt he was supposed to move to New Orleans for more than just football. He was there for a reason more divine. He has given almost two million dollars to help rebuild portions of the city, and a Superbowl victory to lift the spirits of the residents.

Here’s what I believe. Succeeding isn’t merely about surviving your challenges. It is about turning them around and using them as a catalyst. The injury, the release from the Chargers, and the move to New Orleans all could’ve been downers. But not for a leader with resilience and “humbition.” Drew used them as a catapult.

Thanks Drew, for leading the way.

Tim

From time-to-time, people ask me how I read a book. I often get this question after I send out my favorite book-reading list each January (to see this blog post, click here). It happened again this year.

In 1987, while I was finishing my master’s degree, a faculty member shared with me how he reads a book and saves time. I so appreciated his ideas that I began using them and later formed my own steps. Below is a list of tips I share with people about how I read a non-fiction book.

1. I begin with the author’s bio.

I always read the inside flap or I Google to find out the background of the author. This will inform me about their perspective, their heart and their intent on writing the book. Each book flows from the author’s character, and since you’ll be spending some time with him or her—it’s good to know them.

2. I read the Table of Contents.

Before I launch into the book’s content, I preview the entire book and its direction by reviewing the table of contents. Here, I can see what the author plans to cover, and what he or she intends to accomplish before the journey is over. This provides me with a map for the trip we will take.

3. I read the Preface and the Introduction.

Next, I read thoroughly through the preface and the introduction. I know this seems strange, because so many actually avoid this part and jump right into chapter one. But because I plan to read the book a little differently than most read, I want to learn from the author and capture the big picture first.

4. I read the first two pages and the last two pages of each chapter.

I have found I can basically glean where the author is going in each chapter by reading its beginning and end. So, in the first two pages, an author usually lays out where he or she is going, and in the last two pages, he or she summarizes what has been said. In this way, I can see if I want to read more of that chapter.

5. I highlight important sections.

It is difficult for me to read a non-fiction book without highlighting and marking the stuff I like, and the content I learn. I sometimes use four or five colors to indicate different pull-outs I will want to use later. Yellow means it’s important; orange is for an illustration; green a quote; etc. I also enjoy writing in the margins.

6. I write notes in the front cover.

As I glean good stuff from the pages, I write them in the front and back inside covers of the book. For instance, I will write: “Story of Zappos CEO working for Happiness, page 73.” This way, I can easily find great quotes, points or stories later as I need them. It saves me hours of search time.

7. I use note-taking symbols.

I have made up a set of note-taking symbols I can use to save space and time when I write down my own thoughts in the margins. I will use stars, triangles, dots, question marks, or even a ballot box if the content requires a decision or action.

8. I review the book and transfer information or “to do” items to my agenda.

I have found great books are full of ways for me to change the way I live, lead and communicate. So, I will transfer the great stuff (action items) to my “to do” list or to a piece I am writing. If I use it for a lesson or talk, this makes it easy to attribute the author for his or her content.

9. I share the content or message of the book with two other people.

This allows me to retain the message. It’s ironic—sharing the message helps me keep it. I find a colleague, a family member, a person I meet on the road, or in a mentoring relationship and summarize the book’s message.

10. I don’t feel I need to finish the book.

This was the most liberating revelation I came across over twenty years ago. Up to that point, I labored under the notion I was a “quitter” if I didn’t finish every book I read. Not true. Sometimes I will buy a book just for one chapter. Sometimes, I will read until I feel I “caught” the message. That’s enough for me. I move on.

Of course, if you intend to read any of the books I have written… some of this list above is irrelevant. You will want to absorb every single page and take notes. )

Tim

This coming Sunday, two very good NFL football teams will square off in the 2010 Superbowl: the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints.

Because I was born in a little town outside of Indianapolis, I usually find myself rooting for Peyton Manning and the Colts. And I still love Tony Dungy.

However, this Sunday, my heart has been turned toward the Saints. Head coach, Sean Payton, quarterback, Drew Brees and runningback, Reggie Bush have all demonstrated what life is about. Namely, life is about leveraging the platform of our career to contribute to the community in which we live. To use a cliché, it’s to make the world a better place. Each of these guys have given large sums of money back to their city. Even over the last two years, they have given money in response to the horrendous damage of Hurricane Katrina. We are talking hundreds of thousands of dollars. In fact, several of the Saints’ team members had volunteered hours, and worked in the worst sections of New Orleans in an attempt to foster hope and good will among the city’s population. It has made an incredible impression on the people there.

When Drew Brees was being courted by the Saints, after leaving beautiful San Diego, he said he felt perhaps God was leading him to New Orleans for more reasons than just building a good football team. The city needed help and hope. And he’s certainly offered it to New Orleans. It’s no wonder the city has rallied behind their team. They are more than just good players. They have shown they are good men.

May I remind you—the name of the team is: the Saints. Call me cheesy, but I love how they are living up to their name. It was a reminder to me that every one of us has an opportunity to live up to our namesake. Whether it’s a team we play for, a company we work for, a family name we adopt, names are important to our identity. Often, people change their names when they want a fresh start. Most names carry meaning. My name, Timothy, means: gift from God. My family name: Elmore, means: more of God. Hmmm. Am I living up to this name? Do I display the grace and love of the Creator in my actions? Do people want to know Him when they see me in action? Do they even suspect that I may be a “gift from heaven”? (Wow. That might just be over-speak.)

As much as I admire the Colts, this Sunday, I will be pulling for the Saints. I love the way they are living up to their name, on and off the field.

What’s your name? Are you living up to it?

Tim