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April 15, 2009
On Tea Parties and Sleeping Giants
April 15 is often euphemistically called “Tax Day”. As most all of us know, this is the filing deadline for income taxes. And the day would not be complete without the requisite news coverage of people in drive-thru lines at the Post Office, making sure their returns are postmarked as being on-time.
But today’s events were different than most such days in recent years. Across the USA, in big cities and small towns, there were parties. Not just ordinary parties, but organized “Tea Parties”. Each Tea Party was conducted as a way for people to protest their concerns. Specifically, that the federal government has grown too large and is exerting control over matters that should be governed by individual states or left to the private sector. Some Tea Parties were attended by dozens of people, some numbered in excess of 15,000. Much of the ensuing discussion has centered around the question of whether this is largely a one-time phenomenon, or that the “sleeping giant” of mainstream conservatism has been awakened and will not grow in influence. For now, who knows?
I’d like to focus briefly on the idea of the Sleeping Giant. The image really speaks to me about human achievement and unrealized potential. How many of us (and I VERY MUCH include myself in this group) have talents and abilities that reside unutilized, under the surface, in our daily lives? The number in this group, and the collective potential, is staggering. It is composed of abilities that if harnessed could change lives for the better, and ultimately change the world.
If we accept that there are enormous abilities that remain idle, the first question would appear to be (wait for it…): why? Why do any of us in this group hold back from seeking to realize our full God-given potential? I’m not sure there is an answer at all, much less an easy one. There are any number of factors: physical limitations, laziness, competing commitments, lack of strong motivators, comfortable current-state, inability to make decisions…. The why may never be known. What is more interesting, more compelling, is the what. What do we do to tap into this reservoir of talent? Here are a few check-points you and I can use:
· Accountability: have a small number of people you utilize on a regular basis to help keep you on track. I’ve seen it referred to as your “personal Board of Directors”, and that makes a lot of sense to me. · Clarity: be certain you know what you want in different areas of your life. Have a Burning Desire. Keep these in the forefront of your mind and your daily life. · Decisiveness: weigh the factors, then Go! And don’t look back.
The whole point here is to use a little structure to keep yourself from being in the position of living a life of regret. And if anything ever happens in our lives that does awaken that Sleeping Giant, something that crystallizes our focus and stiffens our resolve, then by all means THAT is the time to bring our personal resources together and go for it!
Party on….
onward,
alan
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Alan Stout
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(281) 658-5615 alan@801Concepts.com al
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I’m a note-taker. Whether it be in client meetings, staff meetings, classes, or training calls lead by other leaders: I want a history of it. It’s a great way to capture the knowledge accumulated by others, then you can access it later as the need arises.
This archive can meet the same need. For me, it’s a journal of where I’ve been, and hence, where I’m going. You can use it to grab what you’ve missed, or simply to get more of a flavor of where I’m coming from.
Happy hunting. |
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