The Pressure's On!

Today was a very busy day! Three day weekends are always great . . . until Tuesday! This past weekend was no exception. A Difference Maker, however, always looks for the lesson or lessons in the hardships. Two such lessons were found in today's turmoil.

First, leaders always emerge when the pressure is on.

For any manager, scheduling is an issue. No matter how you plan, it seems that the exception seems to become the rule. Short staffing creates a tremendous amount of pressure on any team. Leaders, however, see opportunities to improve a negative circumstance.

Today was no exception. A team member noticed a coverage need, and volunteered to fill that need. Though this should seem like a common sense action, in today's egocentric world very few will jump at the opportunity to vary their schedule for the benefit of the team. Such team members deserve to be publicly complimented and offered further leadership development opportunities.

Second, pressure provides an opportunity for your best to be revealed.

Pressure is revelatory. It always provides a glimpse of what is inside a person. Consider your actions during the most recent pressure packed event. What did it reveal about you? What characteristics were evident to those around you?

A Difference Maker will learn to let the pressure bring out his or her best. I am reminded of the words of Paul the Apostle writing to the Roman church, "We continue to shout our praise even when we are hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary - we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!" (Romans 5:3-5, The Message)

When negative circumstances are seen through the eyes of opportunity, one will allow the pressure to develop positive characteristics that enhance the lives of others and improve the conditions in which they operate.

The pressure's on! What will be your response?

Always make a difference!

Courage vs. Fear

My wife and I just returned from a trip to the Christiansburg, VA area. Since Blacksburg, VA is just a few miles from Christiansburg, we decided to visit Virginia Tech and pay our respects to the 32 innocents that lost their lives at the hands of a deranged young man.

Our visit to the temporary memorial, set up to honor the victims in front of Burrus Hall, was very moving. In spite of the number of people around the memorial, the mood was quiet and respectful; a fitting tribute to those given no respect by their assailant.

Especially moving was the small memorial to Professor Liviu Librescu. As I reflected on the selflessness of this courageous man, I was reminded that courage is not the absence of fear, but the realization that something is more important than the fear.

Professor Librescu was a teacher in the truest sense of the word. His respect for the life of his students cost him his own. Such a lesson must not be lost on our culture.

Rick Warren, in his bestselling A Purpose Driven Life pointedly reminds us that our existence is not about us. Dr. Librescu embodied this axiom. He was indeed a DifferenceMaker. Sadly he lost his life doing so, but let us not lose his lesson.

We honor those who lost their lives at the Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. May we never forget the lessons this horrific event provides.