It Takes Courage

My brother Dave wrote a book. It is a book that most people won’t read. He was fully aware of that as he was writing it and he was also very comfortable with that. He was writing it so his grandchildren and their children and grandchildren would have an understanding of him and the world he saw through his eyes. Our maternal Grandfather did the same thing and to now be able go back and learn about a family member’s life that went from 1886 to 1971 is such a gift.

I reported to my brother that my adult children and their cousins have been reading his book and are delighted to find out so many things about our family that they didn’t know. I told him that they were learning about cousins that they didn’t know. He said, “I am so glad you said that because I felt guilty that I really didn’t know you or Heather.” My mom and Dad had three children and then when they were 17, 15, and 13 I was born followed three years later by my younger sister.

If you went to a movie theater with one of your parents and the two of you watched a story of their life there is a good chance that even though you were one of the characters in the movie you wouldn’t recognize a lot of things or you might have a totally different memory of a moment that is being depicted.

My brother would tell me a story and then I would tell him my story. They were often very different stories. He talked about living in England hearing the news that my Dad had a heart attack. I told the same story but from the perspective of a 12 year old who was in the same room when it happened. Both stories were valid. Both were real to the person who told them and both probably had some inaccuracies in them due to how many years ago it happened.

Dave shared with me that he had a local writer that he hired to edit the book for him. The editor shared with him that it was harder than he thought it was going to be because as he put it “You are really not a very good writer.”

That stung my brother. I said “If you took up golf a month ago and you played with a PGA Touring Pro and he said you were really not a very good golfer, would that be shocking to you?” He said, “No.” It wouldn’t be an insult; it would be a fact.

My brother asked the editor “If 5,000 people said they were going to write a book with a similar intent to mine, how many do you think would actually do it?” He said, “Maybe five!”

“So, you can focus on my lack of skill or the courage it takes to decide, and then do all of the work to make it happen.” “Where should we put our focus?”

We should focus on the courage!

Three and Jackie Carpenter are dear friends of ours. They are well known in our industry.

I have been in a Mastermind Group with Three for more than 15 years. Shelley and I were blessed that Jackie served as the Director of Extraordinary in our Extraordinary Leader Program for over five years. I was honored to speak at their wedding. Having them come into my life has been incredible on so many levels.

About five years ago they decided to write a book. They are passionate about people. They are passionate about teams. They have had years to develop a philosophy and a number of clubs where they could work at employing it, refining it and bring it to life. The deciding takes courage.

Beyond the courage to decide is the courage, the hardship, the resistance, the conflicting commitments, and the writer’s block it takes to make it happen.

This month we are celebrating their courage, their perseverance, and the build up to the release of the book in early October.

Shelley and I have had the chance to read it and we know that anyone who is a service leader would benefit from reading this book.

We are interviewing them on our Extraordinary Leader “Conversation with the Masters” call this month and we are so hopeful that all their efforts lead to Extraordinary Success!

When we see people from our program doing the Extraordinary it is the greatest gift. The book is called People First! The 5 Steps to Pure Human Connection and a Thriving Organization.

It Takes Courage!

It takes courage to write a book, but it takes courage to do many things.

It takes courage to make big life decisions. It takes courage to advance in your career. It takes courage to have that difficult conversation that you just don’t want to have. It takes courage to admit you are wrong. It takes courage to be vulnerable and show your weakness. It takes courage to go up and stand on that stage. It takes courage to make a decision that you know will be unpopular. It takes courage to do the right thing. It takes courage to be uniquely who you are and not who you think others think you should be. It takes courage to step out of your comfort zone. It takes courage to not allow others to make you feel bad about you. It takes courage to ask for help. It takes courage to take something on without knowing exactly how you are going to do it.

As coaches for CMAA we get to work with the courageous.

We work with people who are passionate about improvement. We work with people who know they have not arrived. We work with people who want to be their best in all parts of their lives. We work with people who don’t want fear keeping them small. We work with people who rise to the top. We work with Extraordinary People!

What will you decide today, this week or this month that will call upon your courage?

Kevin MacDonald and Shelley MacDougall are the coaches for CMAA. Coaching is a benefit of membership in CMAA. To arrange a coaching session call 1-866-822-3481 toll free.