Kevin W. McCarthy

The Professor of On-Purpose

Career & Work

“To Lead is to Serve” by Shar McBee

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I just posted this review on Amazon.com about To Lead is to Serve by Shar McBee.   I figured, Why not share Shar here? So here goes.  It follows the link below to go to amazon.   It is a free Kindle download today.


Over the decades, I've been the board chair or a board member for
numerous Not-For-Profit (NFP)organizations. To Lead is to Serve nails
the realities of servant leadership by heightening awareness for those
easy-to-miss courtesies every person, let alone leader, needs to live.

One
doesn't need to be a leader by title to gain from this book. We're
surrounded by "volunteers" at home, at work, and in NFPs. Civility,
graciousness, and authentic caring never go out of style, yet, for most
of us, they are learned manners. Who is your mentor?

Shar McBee, a
mentor and the author, begins chapters with a story from her extensive
background and experience. This format plus her writing style makes for
a swift and enjoyable read plus memorable impact. Key takeaways are
distilled for the reader along with practical "Gems" and "Exercises" to
meaningfully solidify the everyday application and adoption of this
serving orientation.

Another element that makes this message
remarkable is its do-ability factor today. She's asking us, the
reader/leader, to make a shift in perspective and posture from running
something to serving someone. Then again, that's what servant-leadership
is all about – the people. Rarely, however, have I seen the concept
and principles brought to life in such actionable terms for anyone for
any given moment starting where ever you are.

To Lead is to
Serve is a leadership book that invites a high touch approach to doing
life. Some "leaders" may be tempted to use this content as a means to
manipulate volunteers to do their bidding. If that's you, then please
read the book and discover a healthier and happier way for all of us to
interact with you. Serving is a lifestyle before it is a leadership
style but it begins with you deciding to lead is to serve (to borrow a
phrase).

Thank you Shar McBee for this powerful, easy to read, and precious message of leading by serving.

Kevin W. McCarthy
Author, The On-Purpose Person

PS: Here is Shar's website: http://www.JoyofLeadership.com


 

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Great Quotes From Great Leaders

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I’ve always been a fan of great quotes. They are a thing of beauty in both prose and provocation to reflect on the matter at hand. Enjoy this brief movie from my friends at Simple Truths:

Are You A Leader?

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Yes, you are a leader! There is no question that you are a leader and that you are called to be improving as a leader. Over the years, however, truly talented people hold themselves back simply because of their attitude toward leaders and being a leader. Take a look at the headlines below in yellow. Ask yourself, “Which am I?” Then read the appropriate section for you.

“I am not a leader.”

If so, now is the time to change that misperception! That, by the way, is exactly what it is—a mistaken identity or view of yourself.  

This classic On-Purpose Minute addresses the fallacy of “I’m not a leader.” It is just that: a lie and label which you neither need to carry nor wear any longer. Remarkably, you have leadership skills and qualities that are dormant and underdeveloped waiting to be brought forward. You two-word purpose statement begins the process of being on-purpose.

“I am a leader.”

Leaders are learners and readers. Not only do you step up to the responsibilities of being a leader, you welcome the chance to learn and improve. It may have taken you years to get to this place in your life, but you found you’re making progress.

The On-Purpose Leader Experience will accelerate your leadership development and growth unlike any leadership program or course you’ve ever attended. By starting at the heart of your heart—your purpose—you will have a solid core and confidence to know who you are.  

Who is bringing out the leader in you? 

May I? Today, we’re starting another 6-week cycle of The On-Purpose Leader Experience. There’s a money back guarantee so all you have to invest is your time. We’ve never had an unsatisfied participant in 20 years of offering this content in a classroom or online.

Please visit The On-Purpose Leader Experience website and learn more about becoming a stronger personal leader of your life. Do this and you will more readily develop and improve in every area of life. 

The On-Purpose Leader Experience: $197 per person / $297 per couple

Be my guest to preview webcast 1 on Oct. 30 at 3:05 P.M. Eastern USA.

Click here to be taken to the 45-minute Preview Webcast

The On-Purpose Leader Experience

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Starts October 30 — December 11. Learn more at: www.onpurposeleading.com or click the logo below:

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Raise the Trajectory of Your Life in Six Power-Packed Weeks

 

What Are Core Values?

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Purpose and values are strongly related. Purpose precedes values. Purpose is by definition good. Values without purpose being inherently good can be easily abused. Values, you'll discover, will often be in conflict.

How does one resolve a values conflict? Your purpose provides the swing vote or trump card if needed.
For example, most people would say that a value such as "Family first" makes a lot of sense. Now consider that if that family is the mob and you as a family member happen to cross the family. Another value kicks in—you cross the family, you die. Murder, even an "honor killing" is still murder.

The values came in conflict! A purpose statement that is by definition "good"—a rather biblical concept from Genesis or "of God"—has a higher probability of engaging our deeper spirit or consciousness that murder is absolutely wrong regardless of the circumstances.


I'm sharing with you this brief Simple Truths movie about core values. It offers a solid "core" reasoning for investing in knowing your values and better knowing yourself.

Are you ready to clarify and write your purpose and values plus vision and mission? Enroll today in The On-Purpose Leader Experience. The next six-week cycle begins October 23. Watch a free one-hour preview and enroll at this same site—discount prices currently show in the shopping cart, too, so you can save $50 or $70 on your enrollment for one or two persons.

What is the Upside to a Down Economy?

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Financial challenges rip at a misplaced sense of security. These can be very challenging and humbling times. My business has been hurting this year because I allowed myself to be in a position where a client could stiff me for a large sum of money. The ripple effects touch every aspect of my life and business. 

Because we're working as a team and as a family, good is coming out of the hardship. How about you? Please share your comments or story of the upside of a down economy. Your thoughts may inspire, comfort, or encourage someone in a similar situation to see things in a more positive and productive light. Hope need never be lost.

Subscribe to The On-Purpose® Minute.

What Kind Of Business Owner Are You?

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Business owners are anyone with a job to do. 

In The On-Purpose Business Person I write about the Think Inc! mindset and the importance of taking on responsibility. Blame is the easily spread dung of cowards. They avoid consequences, but will revel in results.

To assume responsibility for leading one’s life and work is a heroic effort. To put oneself on the line along with the ensuing consequences (good or bad) takes guts. If you’ll simply get started with assuming responsibilities, you’ll be amazed at how it feeds your confidence and fuels your growth. Rarely will you blow it. Always will you learn from it. The more you attempt, improve, and succeed, then the more opportunity and increasing responsibility will come your way.

Hopefully, you have an executive coach or mentor who helps you sort and think through your responses and lessons when you miss. Also, the person can give you perspective when you hit the mark and help you raise the bar of the possible next.

One of the most important roles of a business owner is to set and create a culture or an environment. How well are you doing with those around you? We can be slack about it or intentional. We can encourage the taking of responsibility or we can crush it. The same holds true at home. It reflects an approach to life, marriage, rearing children, or volunteering for a committee at a not-for-profit.

As a result of this On-Purpose Business Minute, please challenge yourself to truly reflect on this important aspect of leading by taking responsibility for yourself, your actions, and your choices.

Just what kind of business owner are you?

 



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The present problems you face may be the face you present.

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The CEO of a company in Houston, TX engaged me to do an On-Purpose program at her headquarters. Fifteen executives gathered around the conference room table.

The COO was a woman named Barb. Early in the program she caught my eye. She had this look! My interpretation of “the look” was a mix of anger and confusion. What had I done to deserve this wrath? It was disturbing my concentration.

As a presenter I tend to home in on certain people as barometers of the group to see if I’m connecting. Barb had grabbed my attention. Could I win her over in the early minutes of a program that was scheduled to go all morning?

After 30 minutes of “the look” from her… I couldn’t take it any longer. I gingerly confronted Barb. I asked, “Have I said something that offended you?” 

“No, I’m loving this on-purpose stuff!”

“Oh!” I was perplexed. “The way you were looking at me I thought you were upset with me.”

She laughed and her beauty truly showed. “This” and she pointed to her face while giving me the look “is my thinking face.”

A gasp erupted in the room from 14 other people and me. In that moment, we had all gleaned the same insight. The only problem was Barb had been working there for three years with these people. They all thought she was upset with them, too, but for years.

Barb now explains to people she meets that she has a “thinking face.” You can only imagine what a difference this has made in Barb’s life.

The present problems you face may be the face you present. Do you or someone you know have a “thinking face” that may be keeping you from being on-purpose?