We all strive to teach children about sharing. Looking at the character trait of Generosity requires taking a hard look at ourselves to see how we struggle with sharing. Is it money, possessions, energy, talents, passion, time? Often the trait of generosity first brings to mind giving and...
The enemy of generosity can be greed, but there is another enemy of generosity, and that is good intentions. Good intentions not carried out have the same end result as not sharing for a more selfish reason. As I had this thought it spoke volumes to me, knowing how often I have good intentions...
Generosity encompasses how we manage all of our resources, to include time, talents, and other possessions, but this introduction is about the very first thing most of us think about when the word generosity comes up, money. We’ve all seen the commercials – “Two tickets to the ballgame, $28; two...
Wisdom is one of those character traits, like many, where the value is easy to see, but how to gain the trait, how to do it better, or even really excel at it, is much more difficult. It is easy to just say “be wise” or “be compassionate” or even simply “be kind,” but how to live it, how to do...
Proverbs 17:28 says, “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.” Following that as a guideline, I will try and keep this short. Wisdom is the trait of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. What we learn intentionally or through our...
We generally think of generosity when we hear of someone giving millions for a new college stadium or of a billionaire donating a wing to a hospital. Those are fine examples of generosity and their impact is significant. But maybe that makes the rest of us think generosity isn’t an important...
Strata Leadership defines Wisdom as making practical application of what is learned. After trying to explain wisdom to my two young grandkids, age 7 and 10, I defined wisdom as taking what you know and using it to make your choices. Life presents us with many learning opportunities, but what we...
When I was deciding what character trait I wanted to write about, one word stood out to me: Dependability. The word Dependability brings back a few vivid memories. As a child, I was taught that the one thing in this world that you have full control over is your word. My late grandfather used to...
I was recently reading an article on kindness and the simple ways we could show kindness toward others throughout the day. The article did not identify anything new and groundbreaking, but it did include some great reminders. Afterward I started thinking about kindness in relation to...
This month’s character trait of dependability, fulfilling commitments even in the face of difficulty, lines up well with 2020. In a year filled with unknowns and controversy, it is good to stop and reflect on how our daily lives are affected by the dependability of others. During a time when...
You may be familiar with the popular leadership book Good to Great by Jim Collins. As we reflect on the character trait of Resilience, I would like to share a story from Good to Great (2001) about Admiral Jim Stockdale and the Stockdale Paradox. Admiral Jim Stockdale was the highest-ranking...
Punctuality is commonly understood as being on time. However, there are many facets to this trait, if used consistently that can make a vast difference in how you spend your daily 24 hours. Keep track of time. It’s easy to get caught up in an activity and lose track of time. Set limits for...
