As an entrepreneur or blogger, a leader or follower, a business owner or non-profit volunteer there is one thing that is in common with all walks of life that rings true.  People will believe you, trust you and follow you if you care. Many might scoff at that and say, of course I care, I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing if I didn’t care.’  … Really? What would happen if you went through the day paying attention to people’s needs rather than your own.  Try the next time you pass the homeless in the street, rather than avoiding them or tossing them some loose change, how about shaking their hand and asking them about their day. Many people start out a dream or journey because they are passionate about it, or because it happens to pay the bills.  Very few actually care about not only what they do but also why they do it and for whom.  Whether you are bagging groceries at the local supermarket, or a barista at the neighborhood coffee shop it is much easier to spend our days caring about what we do. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is your power to do it. – Prov 3:27 Click To Tweet So you happen to sit behind a desk writing code or doing monotonous accounting, who says the job has to be a drag and that you should not care.

Walking down the street I walk down everyday I was taught a lesson by a man who had nothing. I saw him from a distance huddled up against the local CubeSmart storage building where I had seen him many times before.  Today was different, instead of continuing my normal route, I turned in his direction ensuring our paths would cross. It was a sunny day, one we had not had many of as of late.  As I approached him as he basked in the sunlight, he turned his gaze upon me.  His friendly eyes and big smile drew me in closer. I asked him how we was doing? That is all I said, he began to share with me the way he was enjoying the day and the sun upon his head.  Next to him were his tools in a bucket, a squeegee and some rags.  He made his living under the expressway, on the streets washing windows of those that passed by. He began to tell me a story of this little gecko that had come to visit.  It had snuck up to him along the wall and feasted upon three ants nearby.  He said as the gecko left, it stopped and swallowed its prey.  “At least I know he will eat good today”, he said with a grin. He asked me if I had any work that I needed done.  Unfortunately I didn’t, nor was I prepared for the question.  He said okay, I am going to head out now and earn my […]

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We all hear the term “servant leader” being tossed around in both the business world as well as within our local communities.  What exactly is a servant leader ? How do we become one or better yet, why should we want to be one? Leading by serving is a practice that dates back many years before the new lingo came along.  I am sure you can think of a couple of people in history as well as your own lives that lived to serve others.  By serving others they intentionally or not share their influence in their business, community or family effortlessly and without expectation. Let’ take a look at some of the component that I believe to make-up a servant leader LEAD – Goes without saying that a leader must live and lead by example. Respecting others and working just as hard if not harder than those that you lead. INSPIRATION – It does not matter if they work for you, or you for them or maybe they are your peer; everyone deserves to be treated with the same level of respect and courtesy. Give the people around you honest and true respect and generously love them for the blessing they are and they will naturally follow your lead. TEACHING – Share your knowledge and experiences in a benevolent manner that will be remembered. Everyone knows that the student one day will become the teacher so share and share alike. EMPATHY– As leaders it is easy to dismiss or disregard the feelings and heart […]

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