The Focused Mind

Have you ever experienced the intensity of a horserace? It is invigorating to hear the wave of thunderous gallops in pursuit of the victory line. Many spectators will gather around to analyze, critique, cheer, and place bets on their hopeful duo. Experienced investors understand that a fast paced horse whose rider is not healthy and agile will unlikely guarantee a good return. Likewise, an expert rider with a poorly trained horse will succumb to many losses. However, when both rider and horse are aligned, there is no strategy on earth that can stop them from success. In business, many companies understand this and intentionally invest in three main areas as they pursue their own victory lap.

Vision

It has been rightly said, “where there is no vision, the people perish” Proverbs 29:18. Conversely, when a good leader motivates his/her team to embrace and live out the company’s vision, every decision and movement made is contagiously intentional. This creates a machine of believers and the ultimate success of vision is when the product is accepted by consumers. Such is the case of companies like Nike. Consider their vision statement. “Bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world. (*If you have a body, you are an athlete.)”

Preparation

As a leader invests time and energy proclaiming a believable purpose and guiding his/her team, there is one component required for the journey, endurance. After all, what good is a great leader who is unable to be there for the long haul? Today, many CEOs, vice presidents, and managers invest in their own mental and physical health. They exercise, attend leadership conferences, and learn the art of self-motivation (just make sure your motivation relies on the stability and ability of God and not yourself). The fruit of such preparation will include a fine tuned posture, speech, active listening, creative ideas, and empathy towards others. As these characteristics are exampled, staff will respond in kind.

Action

Finally, after speaking forth vision and preparing the organization for success, remember there is no substitute for action. This means you must make decisions you are willing to follow despite innumerable voices of doubt that tend to arise. According to Simon Sinek, “Dream big. Start small. But most of all, start”. In other words, after you have done all you can to prepare, do it!

As you follow these three foundational concepts, you and your team will repel needless distractions and experience the joy of reaching your own victory line!

Biblical Power

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? [So] Run in such a way as to get the prize.  25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever…26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly… 1 Corinthians 9:24-26