2 Truths and a Lie

Throughout my life, every time I take a personality test, the outcome is the same: Futuristic; Strategic; Aggressive; and High Attention to Detail. I always register the big 0 on mercy!

Those gifts have served us well! Leading to the highest levels of success in our industries. They also create chaos and pain for others along the way.

Our board hired a coach to allow our team to identify my constraints. Gut punch! They were the same as my gifts.

The transition was on!

Two Truths: My gifts have never changed; I have. I learned how the cadence of those gifts would create different desired results in each culture I was graced to lead. I’ve learned how to run parallel. Making them applicable to the culture I’m influencing. By God’s grace, that has become my greatest gift.

People who meet me today compliment me first on my shepherding people to health. Did my mercy score elevate? Nope!

I learned that shepherding towards health has an infinite view that will affect generations, while also meeting the needs of the moment. In most cases, mercy is a momentary act that might repeat itself some, but isn't necessarily transformative.

The Lie: We live in a world that prejudges us by our bios and algorithms. Leading many to miss out on engaging in a relationship that not only leads them to health, but might be best for them.

In the coming weeks, I’ll share openly about the past health challenges that we endured.

For now, know that while recovering from one of the rarest brain surgeries, dealing with the emotions of not knowing if I would wake up, waking up blind in the ICU, having 7 surgeries in a year, relearning the coordination of my motor skills, leading a family, and large organizations that we couldn't allow any of our emotions to affect how we stepped on to the stage of life. When we stepped onto the stage, people needed confidence, encouragement, and hope. There was no space to make it about us.

Why?

For some, eternity depended on it. For thousands of others, transformative experiences that have led to generational influence.

Please don’t allow any gift to define you into one cadence of leadership. You, and those who need you, will miss out!

Thank you, Janie Mehaffey, for helping me put this into words. You are a trusted friend!