Life Matters http://davidbeavers.posterous.com Most recent posts at Life Matters posterous.com Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:42:00 -0700 Lost In The Woods http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/lost-in-the-woods http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/lost-in-the-woods

It was only a 9-mile run. I was 25 years younger and 20 pounds lighter. Seven of us had been hiking, canoeing and mountain-biking the remote land of lakes in Northern Wisconsin for over two weeks. This run, the final leg on our journey, would return us to where it all began.

After dismounting our bikes, we were given instructions to wind our way through the thick woods by following a trail of tiny red flags. I was excited, maybe a bit overconfident, about finishing strong and outdoing the other six, all in their twenties, who had called me “Pops” from day one.

For me, it was all about winning.

I ran with ease, without a care in the world, decked out in yellow shorts, a flannel shirt, wool socks and water logged tennis shoes. A light snow brushed against my face.

Then, like a fist to my stomach, I realized that I had not seen a red flag in a very long time. I cursed the approaching darkness, then yelled a few expletives at myself for my competitive and grandiose attitude toward the others.  

I slowed my pace and started re-tracing my steps, back and forth, back and forth, hoping and praying to see a familiar spot—the place where I had stopped paying attention, made a wrong turn and left the designated path.

But every tree, every stupid rock looked the same. Panic took over. I ran faster, breathing hard, looking and searching for one of those freakin’ red flags. Nothing.

As the sun disappeared and the snow continued to fall, I figured that my friends were back at base camp, showered, finishing a hot meal and hopefully putting together a rescue team to find “Pops”.

Finally—I’m not sure why—I stopped running. It seemed like an hour, but was probably less than five minutes. I stood completely still and waited until the only sound was my slow, shallow breathing.

There was no “still small voice”, but I picked up something in the night air—a whirring sound—far off in the distance. It would fade and come back. When I moved in its direction, the rustling leaves muffled the sound, so I had to stop again. And wait. And listen. The whirring grew steady and louder until I recognized the sound was that of 18-wheelers barreling down the interstate miles away.  

Four hours later, I was sitting in front of the fire with a full stomach and six grateful friends. My triumphant romp through the woods had turned into a humbling, 16-mile jog on a narrow black top road.

The lesson wasn’t lost:  When I’m in the woods...stay with the team. It’s seldom—if ever—about winning. When lost, confused, discouraged or afraid—stop running. Be still and wait until the silence and the solitude take over and the only sound is my breath. Then, listen.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:19:00 -0700 A Great Gift http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/a-great-gift http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/a-great-gift

 
My master's thesis in graduate school was written to help people create a "biblical” family experience. My whole identity as a human being was built around that premise and purpose. It was my obsession. The counseling ministry I ran was actually called THE WORD ON YOUR FAMILY.
 
Like most of us in the first half of life, I was devoted to and passionate about my life’s “calling”. I had a lot of good answers for my followers and clients, and let them know that while I was far from perfect, something above average (and who wants to be average?) and something beyond the normal human experience (and who wants to be just human?) was possible if we kept up the good fight. Those actual words never fell from my lips, but the strong implication was that a spiritual ideal for the family approaching perfection was possible.
 
How did I miss the fly in the ointment? I was naïve at best, presumptuous at worst—that I could lead sincere and trusting couples into marital nirvana.
 
Like many people I know, I invested most of the years between 25 and 65 working hard to overcome my defects and disappointments. To be successful.
 
In spite of the bumps and bruises along the way, I remained determined to get it right, overcome and heal the shortcomings, wounding and failures of my parents, to pull off the family of my dreams and raise children with far less emotional baggage than their dad.
 
The great irony is that such persistent striving feeds and fuels the very dissatisfaction we want to escape. There’s never enough. It’s never quite right. Acceptance and deep contentment feel as if we’re “settling” for something less than God’s best, not the destination, the safe harbor we were created for.
 
I know better now. I’m on a different path. After becoming disillusioned with many outcomes of life—the prefix dis means to come apart from and it felt like I was falling apart—I started learning to accept the dysfunction I was constantly resisting and slowly came to embrace my incurable flawedness as A Great Gift
 
Our own defectiveness or brokenness is not the enemy—it’s just the way it is. Not something to get around or overcome or ignored or even forgiven, but the very framework in which we are found, deeply loved and accepted by Him. Please think about that for a while.
 

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Mon, 15 Nov 2010 05:24:00 -0800 Who Writes This Stuff? http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/who-writes-this-stuff http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/who-writes-this-stuff

by David Beavers 

Have you read the Bible lately?

Try it. Try something like Philippians or the Gospel of Mark.

Who writes this stuff? Really. Some of it seems so “out there.” Where do people get such ideals? Where do their perspectives come from?

The writers of Scripture were human. They didn’t always live up to the ideals they wrote about. Hardly. They often missed the mark. Fell way short of their own ideals.

That shouldn’t be a surprise. Most of us fall short of our ideals about daily life, raising kids, handling money, and more. But when we see that gap in others—the chasm between what they say and how they live—we’re often quick to judge. We question their integrity. Label them as hypocrites.

One of these writers had the audacity to tell us to love each another as Christ loved us. He’s the same person who helped a group of men to murder Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He actually stood by, holding their coats, while they did the dirty work.

His name was Saul—a.k.a.,The Apostle Paul.

Once, the Apostle Paul got so fed up with a situation he kicked a colleague off his missionary team. Paul was impatient, because John Mark was immature—a real momma’s boy. Some time later, Paul requested by name that John Mark become his assistant. This same John Mark—the momma’s boy—went on to write what we now call The Gospel of Mark.

Then there is Peter. The man who called himself “a witness of Christ’s sufferings” was nowhere to be found when Jesus was hanging on the cross. He was hiding—cowering in fear. A complete no-show, in spite of all his bravado and overtures of undying loyalty to Jesus.

Me too

I am a man who went to seminary, served as a pastor, taught the Bible several times a week, counseled people. And then....

Then I made some horrific choices that shredded relationships, undermined my integrity and destroyed my confidence. This period in my life was nothing less than a spiritual wilderness.

Why am I telling you these things?

None of this is meant to demean Paul, or Peter or even me.

My point is that there's hope.

We know what happened to Peter and to Paul. Some of you know the stuff that happened in my life. The fact that I am telling you there was stuff is a miracle.

If nothing else, a transformed life should point to the possibility that God is up to something in our lives—all our lives.

It is not always apparent to people watching, especially the critics, but God never gives up on us. He persists in our lives, not because we are basically good folks. Far from it! He persists because He is good. And He is faithful.

And did I mention that He loves and accepts us
without condition? Well, He does. Even when
we are in the wilderness.

[I recently read a blog by Ken Boa, which shaped some of my thoughts in this essay. Thanks, Ken]

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Fri, 22 Oct 2010 09:00:00 -0700 PMS and Setting Goals http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/pms-and-setting-goals http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/pms-and-setting-goals

by David Beavers 

Because I work with an organization comprised mostly of women, my title for this newsletter could be a little misleading. So, let me explain.

Over the last several years, I have been mentoring and coaching several men and women in the areas of personal development and goal-setting.  Once I was asked point blank, “How are you, David, at setting goals?”

I replied, “When it comes to setting goals, writing down my goals—I’m an animal. I’m really good at it. I truly love setting goals, and know from personal experience the spiritual, emotional and financial benefits of putting on paper my objectives for the coming year.”

But in the past twelve months, I discovered that my approach to goal-setting has been a bit off. In setting goals, I had always began with what I wanted to accomplish. Over the years, I have learned and taught this approach in setting goals:

  • Decide what you want
  • Put it on paper
  • Develop a plan
  • Make it your passion
  • Do it on purpose
Today, I know better.

It's better to begin with who I want to become
not what I want to accomplish.

This insight was a significant breakthrough for me: I’m responsible, not only for what happens—what I pursue—but also for who I become. The kind of person I become grows directly from the choices I make, the books I read, the people I hang with, what I look at on the Internet, and willingness to subject myself to the wisdom of others.

My Very Own PMS

Thus, began my quest to develop and write a one-page Personal Mission Statement—my very own PMS.

With the help of Tommy Newberry and his materials, most notably his best-selling book, Success is NOT an Accident, I plodded forward—writing my first, second and third drafts of a PMS. Today, I have a working, though not perfect, one-page PMS that I read every morning.

Setting goals remains a huge passion. Some of my goals have not changed. Others have become more defined. Less general, much more specific. As Roy Disney once said,  “When your values are clear, decisions are easier.”

Writing a PMS forced me to become crystal clear about my values, personal priorities and the relationships I treasure most. Today, I am more focused. Setting goals, combined with my PMS, makes it easier for me to eliminate from my life what might be considered good things, so that I might concentrate on the best things for my life.

So, the first step in setting goals is not deciding what we want, but  who we want to become. A PMS will help us get there.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Thu, 14 Oct 2010 22:50:00 -0700 If All That Jesus Does... http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/if-all-that-jesus-does http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/if-all-that-jesus-does
If all that Jesus does is tell me to be a better person, his words will lead me to despair if I keep screwing up, or pride if I’m able to do most things well. This is not good news.

The best I can hope for is a culturally defined morality, always shoring up my own sincerity and relative righteousness. Trying to appear “okay” or good enough.

This broken understanding of how life works will always lead to insecurity and pretense. Why? Because this kind of hope is built on the shaky and shifting ground of human approval. It results in a truly barren existence, one that is completely based on my performance and how others think I’m doing.

But if God is the One who forgives and loves me as I am…not as I ought to be…and then starts growing his own disposition, his very life, within me, I can have real hope. I start by humbly accepting his radical acceptance. An acceptance that requires nothing for me to prove, defend or protect. I no longer have to pretend to be someone or some thing I am not.

This should be called good news. But it’s difficult to believe, because it requires that I abandon all hope in myself. That’s the hard part, and that's why so many different beliefs dominate the religious landscape.

We’re usually not aware of it, but we are obsessed with ourselves and addicted to finding ways to prove our worth. We may think of ourselves as religious or spiritual, or we may take pride in not being religious at all. But underneath we’re all the same. Always striving for some kind of validation.

Here’s a clue. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

I love the way Ken Boa paraphrased this well-known Beatitude: “I’m most blessed when I live each moment as though I’m in desperate need of God’s grace, for in that moment I increase my ownership in the kingdom of God.”

The truly blessed are people who have bottomed out on their own goodness. They are completely bankrupt and know it. They have nothing to offer. At least nothing to offer God. The game is over. The pretense is done. The pressure is off.

So, what do we do? Try breathing.

Exhale, releasing any hope of ever doing enough.

Inhale, counting on nothing but the gift of God’s utter and complete acceptance.

Now this is good news.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:54:00 -0700 Intimacy versus Intensity http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/intimacy-versus-intensity http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/intimacy-versus-intensity
What are the most satisfying moments in life? I often find them in the presence of someone who is honest, safe, easy to talk to, and has no other agenda but to be with me.

Pauses with people like this are extraordinary gifts. In my experience, they are easy to miss because they are completely unearned. They show up when least expected. And, this is the big one, they do not require drama or intensity.

The absence of intensity tends to throw me, explaining why I easily miss, or dismiss, these special connections. I’m often in a hurry, on to the next thing or trying to get past stuff that's in my face: email, Facebook, phone calls, and...the list goes on.

It’s only since moving into the second half of life that I have begun to learn: intensity is not the same as intimacy.

Silence is not all that bad. Even between friends. Especially between friends.

At first, silence is a bit unnerving. It usually comes after small talk is spent and the only topics left have to do with other people—which, for most of us, is just another place to hide.

I am richly blessed with a few friends who don’t go down that path. For them, a close relationship trumps the awful compulsion to be right, to look good. They love and listen in a defenseless way. They almost always want to share something from the heart. Like my friend, Peter.


“David, how long has it been since we had coffee? Three weeks? That’s way too long. I’ve missed being with you. I’m hurting. I’m still hurting since losing my brother. It’s been two years. I keep thinking I should be better by now, but I’m not. I keep waiting for him to call me.”

Silence follows. That’s all that is required. There isn't anything for me to fix, to prove or to change. Not even to tell him, “You’ll be okay." I am grateful and honored to be invited into this place in his life.

Another unexpected gift that's
scarce, priceless, free:
quiet intimacy.
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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:44:00 -0700 The Courage to be Imperfect http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/the-courage-to-be-imperfect http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/the-courage-to-be-imperfect

It takes courage to be imperfect.

Yes, you read that right: it takes courage to be imperfect.

Many of us in the Juice Plus+ business have been brought up to believe that we must strive for perfection. Which to the heart often means that we should be like the person who seems to have it all together.

All of us notice people who do it better, faster and prettier than we could ever hope to do ourselves. We take on enormously high standards from the outside and start applying them to ourselves.

Then, when we fall short, we berate ourselves. We become convinced that because we can’t be perfect, we probably don’t fit in. We doubt ourselves.

I’m one of those people always telling myself that I need to get better, stronger:
  • Read more
  • Set Goals
  • Dream Big
  • Build wide
  • Work on personal development
  • Be consistent
  • Lead by example
On the surface that feels like a lot of pressure. And that’s the problem: it’s all on the surface.

We seldom take the time to be quiet, to get alone and to listen. Listen to our heart. Listen to a seasoned, experienced mentor. Listen to God. But when we do, they all tell us the same thing:

We’re not perfect. We’re not complete. And we never will be. In fact, perfection was never the plan.

The plan has always been to go out and live boldly with all of our imperfections.

That’s what makes certain people attractive—not that they have it all together, but that they’re so incredibly comfortable not having it all together. They know that Juice Plus+ is what they do, not who they are.

That’s why I love this business so much. It encourages us to be who we are, stumbling forward, making mistakes, getting up and going after it again.
  • We don’t have to have the last word…to always be right
  • We don’t have to give wellness presentations like Julie Herbst or Kathrine Lee
  • We don’t have to Fast Track in 3 hours or get to NMD in 15 months
  • It takes courage to allow our friends to think of us any way they want to…without our getting all chatty, trying to convince them otherwise, explaining our motives or defending our actions
  • It takes courage to say, “I don’t know the answer to that. Give me a couple of days and I’ll see what I can come up with”
  • It takes a lot of courage for me to say, “David, a lot of people aren’t going to get this. But that’s OK”
It takes courage to be imperfect. But you know what? I think we’re up for it. I think we are ready to go out and blow the roof off of this business, touching and changing thousands of lives—completely happy knowing that we’ll never get it quite right.
**********************

"Sara Rosati, a 9-year-old special olympics athlete, understands that 90 percent of life is about attitude. We could learn a thing or two from her."
~Steve Adubato

Atypical Inspiration, in the NewJersey Monthly: August 20, 2008

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:22:00 -0700 WINNING LEADERS: The Key Ingredient http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/winning-leaders-the-key-ingredient http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/winning-leaders-the-key-ingredient
Charisma...
Communication...
Vision...
Persistence...

All of these are essential ingredients of leadership. But the most important one? Trust.

 
Do people on our teams trust us? Can they count on us to keep our word? Are we leading by example? Do the men and women who look to us feel safe in our presence?
 
Trust. It’s the Key Ingredient. Without it people may give us some of their time, but they will never give us their hearts.
 
How do we earn someone’s trust? The answer could fill pages, but when it comes to our business model, I see two primary answers.
 
First, we earn other people’s trust by “doing it.” By walking the walk.
 
We cannot lead others unless we have done what we are teaching others to do. There is not a Fast Track to leadership. Everyone must pay her own dues, run his own course. Everybody starts the same way.
 
People we would lead are thinking to themselves, “Okay. Tell me how you got started. Show me what you do. How do you follow the system? Go ahead, let me see your stuff.”
 
John Maxwell, best-selling author and leadership guru, puts it like this: “Your walk walks and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.”

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Mon, 19 Jul 2010 07:20:00 -0700 WINNING LEADERS: Leadership is Earned http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/winning-leaders-leadership-is-earned http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/winning-leaders-leadership-is-earned

It is a leader’s privilege to touch and change other people’s lives. Isn’t this always the case? Most of us in positions of leadership are where we are today because someone first touched our lives.

What makes a leader? And how did they achieve the privilege of changing people's lives?

There are a lot of wannabes. People who love titles. Power. The spotlight of the podium. But leaders in Juice Plus+ start from a very different place. They know that leadership cannot be bought. Nor is it somehow bestowed like an honorary doctorate.

Leadership is earned.

The key to becoming an effective leader is not recruiting people to follow.

The secret is to be the kind of person that other people want to imitate, to become the kind of person from whom they want to learn.

The man who marked me the most in in the areas of leadership, mentoring and coaching is Dr. Howard Hendricks, my professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. For more than 60 years, this man has modeled his own definition of a leader:

 

“A leader is a person with a compass in his head and a magnet in his heart.”

 

We want to follow people who know where they are going. We are drawn to individuals who have ideas and values, along with guts and energy, to go for what they believe in. That’s the kind of leader that we want to be.
 
It always comes down to this: A leader is someone who knows where he is going and is able to persuade others to follow him.

 
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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:00:00 -0700 Rekindling the Inner Spirit http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/rekindling-the-inner-spirit http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/rekindling-the-inner-spirit

Albert Schweitzer was one of the 20th Century’s most influential thinkers, honored by the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. Here’s a statement that he made on the subject at hand:

 
“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”
 
That’s our job: rekindling people’s hearts. It is the essence of true leadership. And this is what successful leaders in our business do.
 
I don’t know most of you reading these words, but I do know a lot of personal things about you. That’s because all of us want, and need, the same things. We need personal validation. We yearn to feel connected. We want our lives to count.
 
Most of you know that Juice Plus+ is not a typical multi-level business. There is not a lot of flash and hype. People attracted to Juice Plus+ are not only saying “Show me the money!” They’re asking, “Show me how. Show me how to make a difference. Show me how to make my life count.”  
 
Leaders know this about people. Leaders understand that when a person’s deepest longings are recognized, validated and empowered, that person will follow.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:57:00 -0700 A Living Legacy http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/a-living-legacy http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/a-living-legacy

Maybe leadership was a fit for you from the beginning. That’s just who you are. But most of us never aimed to be a leader. It’s something that just happened.

Whatever your situation, however, I know that at some point in your life, a special person stepped in and put you on a course of personal growth down the path called leadership.

Several years ago singer-songwriter, Dan Fogelberg, composed a tune called, Leader of the Band.  It’s about  his father, and in that tribute Dan sings, I’m just a living legacy to the leader of the band.  His father’s love and example marked him for life. No surprise that a website in Dan's honor is called TheLivingLegacy.net

Not long ago, I met Barbara Burk for the first time. Both of us were at a Juice Plus+ Boot Camp in Naples, Florida.  I soon learned that she had connections in Louisiana. So, I asked her if she knew Bunny Jumonville.  Her face lit up with eyes as big as saucers.

Bunny Jumonville? Of course I know her. She changed my life!” 

If you know Bunny, you know what Barbara’s talking about. She is one of the most infectious people you will ever meet. If you ever run into her, you will never recover!

Every Fall and Spring at Juice Plus+ Leadership Conferences, we watch the newest National Marketing Directors walk across the stage, then step to the podium to share their stories with five or six thousand of their closest friends!

Have you noticed? There is always a common theme: “One day, an incredible person came into my life who chose to walk with me—and that has made all the difference.” 

That's my story too. Twenty-two years ago my life was unraveling. I was coming unglued.

But Jackie Beavers, my sister-in-law, knew something that I didn’t. Before I was willing to even think about this business, much less do this business, she was convinced it was a perfect fit for me. That wasn’t my perspective! But she saw something in her messed up brother-in-law that was impossible for me to see about myself. Somehow Jackie knew that somewhere down the road I would be telling you these things in these very words.

Thank you, Jackie, for believing in me before I had a clue.

*********************


"I think that if I had been allowed to write only one song in my lifetime, it would have been this one"
~Dan Fogelberg 1951—2007

 


 

 

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:00:00 -0700 WINNING LEADERS: Redefining Leadership http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/winning-leaders-redefining-leadership http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/winning-leaders-redefining-leadership

by David Beavers

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word, leadership? A strong charismatic personality? A take-charge kind of individual?

For most people, leaders are always someone else.

Many have said to me, “I’m not interested in being a leader in this business...or any business. I don’t want to do what you do, David. I’m sure you’re really busy. I feel guilty sometimes just calling you. And pursuing NMD—that National Marketing Director thing? That's definitely not for me!”

Recently my wife, Sally, brought a book to my attention. It’s called, Peanut Butter and Jelly Management. The authors encourage us to dump all stereotypes of what we think it takes to become a leader: earning an MBA, working 18 hour days; lives full of stress without any rest. And lots of public speaking.

Here’s the authors’ take:

All you need to succeed as a leader is to be a mother


They claim that everything learned by raising children can be applied in motivating and leading people.

  • Make the rules clear
  • Don’t overreact to mistakes
  • Know when to let go
  • Stay calm when something goes wrong.

Their conclusion: “Who knew that staying up all night with a teething baby was actually preparing you to climb the corporate ladder?”

Or become a National Marketing Director?

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:07:00 -0700 The Essence of Leadership http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/the-essence-of-leadership http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/the-essence-of-leadership

by David Beavers 

What’s the secret to obtaining things we need and want the most?

The answer is a paradox. Our greatest needs are met by building into other people’s lives.

This apparent contradiction is the essence of leadership. And that’s our topic here.

What is leadership?

  • It is a passionate and deliberate pursuit of people that we love, motivating them to make positive changes in their lives.
  • Leadership is an act of faith: it is the choice to put other people first, regarding their needs as more important than our own.
  • And then finding, by surprise, that our most important wants and needs are wonderfully fulfilled.

Yes, leadership’s a mystery. I don’t know why it works, only that it does. By focusing on others I connect with my life’s purpose. It will do the same for you. This will get us out of bed in the morning!

When we practice it, leadership becomes a passion. Sometimes that passion burns bright and strong, but other times it is a fragile flame.

My objective here is for us to mutually ignite, re-ignite, and feed this flame. The fire of leadership must be fed and fanned by each other. We lead others best by putting others first; and the only way to survive and thrive as leaders is when others do the same for us.

Leadership will sometimes feel lonely, but it can never be achieved alone.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Mon, 17 May 2010 09:00:00 -0700 CLUB YOUR WAY TO THE TOP: It's so easy, a caveman can do it! http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/club-your-way-to-the-top-its-so-easy-a-cavema http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/club-your-way-to-the-top-its-so-easy-a-cavema

Success in the Juice Plus+ business depends on our ability to focus. But first we must decide where to focus, where to put our efforts, where to pour out our lives for maximum results.

Focus is not doing important activities for their own sake. Focus is knowing my objectives, committing myself to them, and then... going for it! What levels to I want to achieve? And when?

After 22 years in the business, the focus for me is obvious.

  1. Build a strong—and I mean 40-plus Preferred Customers strong—Qualifying Business
  2. Create that Model Business; and
  3. Teach others to do the same.

Of course I’m going to pay close attention to the structure of my Juice Plus+ business. The dominant theme is always build wide.

That means no less than 5 Strong Teams or legs so that my income remains stable and my family's future secure.

With this focus in place, I’m ready to club my way to the top, and would love to have you join me.

First, I’m going to find teachable people. From them I will invest in at least 3 distributors—with goals. They are the ones I will teach to qualify their businesses and build a Three Club.

The Challenge: Build a 3 Club

Gretchen Comstock photoNMD-100 Club Member Gretchen Comstock inspired all of us at the Phoenix Leadership Conference. In a few short months, she and her team grew from 70 to over 100 Qualifying Businesses. And she did it byclubbing her way to the top.

Rather than focusing on herself, Gretchen reached out to her organization and challenged people: build a 3 Club. Or if already at that level, accelerate your growth: build a 12 Club! And every individual who made a commitment knew—knew—that Gretchen would support and coach them all the way.

Gretchen has shown us the way. Let's follow her lead.

Here is my challenge and attending promise to you, a key leader in my organization:

  • Look at your teams. Study them
  • Identify working distributors, those teachable few
  • Recruit them to build a 3 Club between now and the Fall Conference

Miracles will happen.

When members of your team build that basic nucleus, a Three Club...

  • New 12 Clubs will emerge
  • New NMDs will be walking the stage
  • More 39 and 100 Club Members will be showing up at the annual Elton Awards

It's simple and it's basic: build a Qualifying Business. Then teach 3 people to do the same. And that, my friend, is how you can clubyour way to the top!

Summing it up, let's take our thinking to yet another level:

  • Even better than 3, let’s sponsor and develop a team of 5 great people
  • Teach them to qualify their businesses
  • Then challenge and support them to build their own Three Clubs

Wow. Think about it. Do this, and everything's in place. With 20 qualified businesses and 5 strong legs, we are looking into the eyes of a brand new National Marketing Director. And that person can be...

Now is the time, this is the season: Summer 2010. Who will step up and build a solid Three Club? Who will lay the foundation for becoming one of our future NMDs?

We get to decide. 3 Club. 12 Club. 39 Club. 100 Club. We can all club our way to the top.

It’s so easy, even a caveman can do it.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Fri, 07 May 2010 18:27:00 -0700 This is Tennessee http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/this-is-tennessee http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/this-is-tennessee

 

  THIS IS TENNESSEE

VOLUNTEERS ADD NEW CHAPTER TO STORIED HISTORY

by Brent High

On May 1st and 2nd of 2010 a historic amount of rain, as much as 17 inches, fell on middle Tennessee and the city of Nashville in less than 48 hours. Historians are using terms like “thousand year flood” to describe what took place here. The Cumberland River, Nashville’s main waterway, crested at just over 51 feet, flooding iconic structures including the Grand Ole Opry, LP Field and Bridgestone Arena where the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators play, Country Music Hall of Fame and the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center. The water rose so much, so fast and in places water has never been seen that thousands had to be rescued by boat. Dozens lost their lives. Thousands of homeowners lost everything they had. Thousands more are now trying to salvage what’s left. Most had no flood insurance because before May 1st they didn’t need it where they lived. Early estimates are that the damage will top $1 billion and this storm will go down as the most devastating non-hurricane event in American history.

This is Tennessee.

It’s Monday, May 3rd. The rain has stopped, finally. What happens next shouldn’t come as a surprise. Almost instinctively, after a long night of restlessness, volunteers spring into action. It’s in their blood. They’ve been trained to do so by their parents and grandparents. From Waverly to Cookeville, Winchester to Cross Plains and in the capital city of Nashville the sights and sounds are the same.

Without being asked, fishermen launch their boats into the muddy soup, joining the rescue efforts. Business owners and supervisors tell their employees to take the day off and jump in and help wherever they can. Neighbors, many of whom helped empty entire houses in brigade fashion the night before, transition into cleanup mode. Sump pumps and generators whirr. Drywall, carpet and ruined floors are ripped out. Elderly ladies gather at the church to make lunches for workers. Teenagers distribute bottled water. Pickup trucks, trailers and storage units are loaded with what could be salvaged. Photos and documents are spread out in the sun to dry. Wads of $20 bills are slid into pockets of those affected. Checks are written. Hugs are given. Prayers are said. Tears are shed.

This is Tennessee.

Almost 200 years ago Tennessee first earned the nickname “Volunteer State.” In 1812 More than 2,000 Tennesseans volunteered to fight for Andrew Jackson and were the main part of Jackson’s army that destroyed the British three years later in the Battle of New Orleans. A generation later the U. S. Secretary of War asked Tennessee for 2,800 soldiers to fight a war against Mexico. 30,000 volunteered.

This is a state where faith comes first. We don’t ask why. We know there is a reason and look forward to it being revealed. We are guided by scriptures such as Philippians 2:3-5 which says:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus.”

Family is a focus, not an afterthought. Don’t bother trying to do business with us the week of Christmas or July 4th. We’ll be with family. When our kids have a school play we will be there. We throw big birthday parties. We teach our kids right from wrong and aren’t afraid to give them a whippin’ when they need it.

Here we say “Yes ma’am” and “No ma’am.” We try to leave a place better than we found it. We put our hand over our heart when the national anthem is played. We pull over on the side of the road when funeral processions pass on the other side.

We are savvy business people. We are farmers. We are teachers.

We drink Coke here. We like gravy with our biscuits and potatoes.

We are serious about our sports. We keep score in little league and we still have all-star teams and MVP trophies.

We are givers.

You won’t hear us wailing about where the federal government and insurance companies were in all of this. We’ll get by just fine without them.

Right now we have a lot to deal with here in our backyard. We will handle it with dignity and class. We will sacrifice for each other in ways that are unfathomable to most. We will stand together. We will stand tall. We will come out of this stronger than we were before it.

One day in the not too distant future a hurricane, tornado, fire, flood or other unspeakable disaster will strike your community. As you struggle to put the pieces back together we will be there.

We will volunteer.

We are Tennesseans.

This is Tennessee.

Brent High, 36, is a lifelong Tennessean from Nashville. He serves as Assistant Director of Athletics for External Affairs at Lipscomb University.

 
 
 
   

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:36:00 -0700 Live from Phoenix: The Juice Plus+ Conference is a Game-Changer http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/click-here-to-set-a-post-title-59 http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/click-here-to-set-a-post-title-59

40_yrs_of_nsa

This year's Juice Plus+ Spring Leadership Conference is a game-changer. 

The shift is huge—for me and thousands with me here in Phoenix, Arizona:

  • It is a new day
  • We have turned a corner
  • The energy is incredible 

Juice Plus+ has always been, and remains, steady. Strong. Stable. But something has changed:

We are better. We have deeper resolve. We embrace a clearer vision. We feel that quiet confidence about touching more lives and building wider and deeper teams. We know the future is ours.

Phoenix has given us:

  • Sixteen—16—new National Marketing Directors.
  • $1.5 million paid to distributors at every level in Team Building Bonuses over the last year
  • Ten—10—new Gold Standard studies to be published over the next 2 years. (15 amazing studies came our way over our first 17 years with Juice Plus+)
  • The Juice Plus+ Effect is a game-changer in the way we will take care of our Preferred Customers and attract more raving fans into the business  
  • The new DVD, Prime Time Health, with Dr. William Sears is a gigantic game-changer in the way we reach more of the 80 million Baby Boomers and people of all ages

Even more, these three short days in Phoenix have given us...

  • Fresh gratitude
  • The passion to inspire others
  • The courage to set bigger goals
  • The consistency to pursue the 5-1 every month
  • The commitment to finish strong
  • That much-needed laser focus
  • The willingness to do whatever it takes to lead our teams to the next level

Now we begin The Road to Nashville: 180 game-changing days that will build our teams and transform our lives.

I appreciate all of you so much. 

David

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:54:00 -0700 Personal Growth: Is it worth it? http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/personal-growth-is-it-worth-it http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/personal-growth-is-it-worth-it

The Juice Plus+ Virtual Franchise is a course in personal development, cleverly disguised as a business. 

Some thoughts for the Leadership: 

The process of personal development, growth and change is something we experience with mixed feelings. The best word is ambivalence.

Here’s the deal:

We want to grow, we want to get better, but we know on some deeper level that we are going to face the unfamiliar, the unknown, something new and challenging, to experience a little, maybe a lot less confidence and certainty, at times to feel inadequate, incompetent or foolish.

We may not know it, but it’s at those times we’re asking ourselves this question:

Is it worth it?

We know that real personal growth means giving up the known, which means letting go of security, feeling safe, while risking the unknown, which is uncomfortable at best, threatening at worst.

Is it worth it?

Here is the basic choice we face when it comes to personal growth, to change, and in our discussion here, when we are asked to build a growing, successful Juice Plus+ business.

We are left with opposing feelings about these changes. And the more significant the changes facing us, the more intense will be our ambivalence, that wavering between doubt and confidence, fear and safety, feeling in control and spinning, it seems, completely out of control.

The loss of control always feels like suffering. It’s different for everyone, but to the extent we feel out of control, we are uncomfortable, some times confused. We don't like suffering.

Real change, real growth can be pretty painful. Not life-threatening, but painful.

For most of us, known misery is more comfortable than unknown joy.

This is true if you have no experience in our business. It’s true if you are a dealer just getting started, looking to find your first 5 customers or take a stab at your first Wellness Presentation, or talk to a friend about your new business.

Or you might be an experienced NMD, who’s feeling the need to sponsor some fresh people, build new legs, to stretch those muscles that had become so comfortable with the status quo, with going through the motions, doing the bare bones, getting a so-so check, and now, there’s a fresh stirring of new possibilities, an excitement and a panic at the same time, that maybe I can become more, that maybe I have settled for too little, that I can build a 24 Club, a 39 Club, that I can engage more, become more proactive, become a more effective communicator, leader, teacher, coach.

Could I double my business?

But there’s always that other question.

Is it worth it?

Is it worth the effort, the discomfort, the tightened schedule, the sorting through priorities, recovering my personal vision, hassling with people who don’t care, pushing through the seasons of discouragement and self-doubt?

Is it worth it?

The bigger question, however, is this: 

"Am I worth it? Am I worth the growth and validation and abundance that will come my way?" 

We already know the answer. 

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:53:00 -0800 Now is the Time to Start Setting Goals for 2010 http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/now-is-the-time-to-start-setting-goals-for-20-0 http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/now-is-the-time-to-start-setting-goals-for-20-0
A Timeless Message from Jim Rohn

As we enter into this New Year we all tend to have a heightened sense of the opportunities and possibilities that 2010 can bring. The need for goal-setting becomes more obvious and clear. And the great thing about goal-setting is you can keep it as simple or get as elaborate as you would like. 

I've often said the major reason for setting a goal is for what it makes of you to accomplish it. What it makes of you will always be the far greater value than what you get. That is why goals are so powerful - they are part of the fabric that makes up our lives. And goal-setting is where we create our goals.

Goal-setting is powerful, partly because it provides focus. It shapes our dreams. It gives us the ability to hone in on the exact actions we need to perform to achieve everything we desire in life. Goals are GREAT because they cause us to stretch and grow in ways that we never have before. In order to reach our goals we must become better.  We must change and grow.

Also, goals provide long-term vision in our lives. We all need lots of powerful, long-range goals to help us get past short-term obstacles. Life is designed in such a way that we look long-term and live short-term. We dream for the future and live in the present. Unfortunately, the present can produce many difficult obstacles. But fortunately, the more powerful our goals (because they are inspiring and believable) the more we will be able to act on them in the short-term and guarantee that they will actually come to pass!

 So, let's take a closer look at the topic of goal-setting and see how we can make it forceful as well as practical. What are the key aspects to learn and remember when studying and writing our goals?

1. Evaluation and Reflection. The only way we can reasonably decide what we want in the future and how we will get there is to first know where we are right now and what our level of satisfaction is for where we are in life. So first take some time and think through and write down your current situation, then ask this question on each key point - is that okay?

The purpose of evaluation is twofold. First, it gives you an objective way to look at your accomplishments and your pursuit of the vision you have for your life. Secondly, it is to show you where you are so you can determine where you need to go. In other words, it gives you a baseline from which to work.

I would strongly encourage you to take a couple of hours this week to evaluate and reflect. At the beginning of this month we encourage you to see where you are and write it down so that as the months progress and you continue a regular time of evaluation and reflection, you will see just how much ground you will be gaining - and that will be exciting!

2. What are Your Dreams and Goals? These are the dreams and goals that are born out of your own heart and mind. These are the goals that are unique to you and come from who you were created to be and gifted to become. So second, make a list of all the things you desire for the future.

One of the amazing things we have been given as humans is the unquenchable desire to have dreams of a better life, and the ability to establish goals to live out those dreams. Think of it: We can look deep within our hearts and dream of a better situation for ourselves and our families; dream of better financial lives and better emotional or physical lives; certainly dream of better spiritual lives. But what makes this even more powerful is that we have also been given the ability to not only dream but to pursue those dreams and not just pursue them, but the cognitive ability to actually lay out a plan and strategies (setting goals) to achieve those dreams. Powerful!

What are your dreams and goals? This isn't what you already have or what you have done, but what you want. Have you ever really sat down and thought through your life values and decided what you really want? Have you ever taken the time to truly reflect, to listen quietly to your heart, to see what dreams live within you? Your dreams are there. Everyone has them. They may live right on the surface, or they may be buried deep from years of others telling you they were foolish, but they are there.

So how do we know what our dreams are? This is an interesting process and it relates primarily to the art of listening. This is not listening to others; it is listening to yourself. If we listen to others, we hear their plans and dreams (and many will try to put their plans and dreams on us). If we listen to others, we can never be fulfilled. We will only chase elusive dreams that are not rooted deep within us. No, we must listen to our own hearts.

Here are some practical steps/thoughts on hearing from our hearts on what our dreams are:

Take time to be quiet. This is something that we don't do enough in this busy world of ours. We rush, rush, rush, and we are constantly listening to noise all around us. The human heart was meant for times of quiet, to peer deep within. It is when we do this that our hearts are set free to soar and take flight on the wings of our own dreams! Schedule some quiet "dream time" this week. No other people. No cell phone. No computer. Just you, a pad, a pen, and your thoughts.

Think about what really thrills you. When you are quiet, think about those things that really get your blood moving. What would you LOVE to do, either for fun or for a living? What would you love to accomplish? What would you try if you were guaranteed to succeed? What big thoughts move your heart into a state of excitement and joy? When you answer these questions you will feel GREAT and you will be in the "dream zone." It is only when we get to this point that we experience what OUR dreams are!

Write down all of your dreams as you have them. Don't think of any as too outlandish or foolish - remember, you're dreaming! Let the thoughts fly and take careful record.

Now, prioritize those dreams. Which are most important? Which are most feasible? Which would you love to do the most? Put them in the order in which you will actually try to attain them. Remember, we are always moving toward action, not just dreaming.

3. S.M.A.R.T. Goals.  S.M.A.R.T. means Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-sensitive.

I really like this acronym S.M.A.R.T., because we want to be smart when we set our goals. We want to intelligently decide what our goals will be so that we can actually accomplish them. We want to set the goals that our heart conceives, our minds believe and that our bodies will carry out. Let's take a closer look at each of the components of S.M.A.R.T. goals:

Specific: Goals are no place to waffle. They are no place to be vague. Ambiguous goals produce ambiguous results. Incomplete goals produce incomplete futures.

Measurable: Always set goals that are measurable. I would say "specifically measurable" to take into account our principle of being specific as well.

Attainable: One of the detrimental things that many people do - and they do it with good intentions - is to set goals that are so high they are unattainable.

Realistic: The root word of realistic is "real." A goal has to be something that we can reasonably make "real" or a "reality" in our lives. There are some goals that simply are not realistic. You have to be able to say, even if it is a tremendously stretching goal, that yes, indeed, it is entirely realistic -- that you could make it. You may even have to say that it will take x, y, and z to do it, but if those happen, then it can be done. This is in no way to say it shouldn't be a big goal, but it must be realistic.

Time: Every goal should have a timeframe attached to it. I think that life itself is much more productive if there is a timeframe connected to it. Could you imagine how much procrastination there would be on earth if people never died? We would never get "around to it." We could always put it off. One of the powerful aspects of a great goal is that it has an end, a time in which you are shooting to accomplish it. You start working on it because you know there is an end. As time goes by you work on it because you don't want to get behind. As it approaches, you work diligently because you want to meet the deadline. You may even have to break down a big goal into different parts of measurement and time frames. That is okay. Set smaller goals and work them out in their own time. A S.M.A.R.T. goal has a timeline.

4. Accountability (A contract with yourself or someone else). When someone knows what your goals are, they hold you accountable by asking you to "give an account" of where you are in the process of achieving that goal. Accountability puts some teeth into the process. If a goal is set and only one person knows it, does it really have any power? Many times, no. At the very least, it isn't as powerful as if you have one or more other people who can hold you accountable to your goal.

So: Evaluate/Reflect; Decide What You Want; Be S.M.A.R.T.; Have Accountability. When you put these 4 key pieces together, you are putting yourself in a position of power that will catapult you toward achieving your goals.




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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:15:50 -0800 Work Hard On Your Skills http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/work-hard-on-your-skills http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/work-hard-on-your-skills

Torino2008-rl.wmv Watch on Posterous

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers
Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:36:15 -0700 QUARTERBACKS AND WINNING TEAMS http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/quarterbacks-and-winning-teams http://davidbeavers.posterous.com/quarterbacks-and-winning-teams
Peytonmanning

I overdosed on college football last weekend. I make all kinds of promises about limiting how much I actually watch on a Saturday. But I am totally addicted. If a college game is on TV, I'm watching it. I absolutely love it. 

One of my favorite college football teams is the University of Tennessee. The Big Orange. 

I graduated from Vanderbilt, which has never been much in football. So, I followed Alabama closely for years. But, when I met and married Sally, who was a cheerleader at Tennessee, I got religion at Rocky Top, and now I bleed bright orange. 

For ten years, disgruntled Tennessee fans have been waiting for the Second Coming of Peyton Manning. But that ain't happening. 

UT's dominance and strong showing in the Top 10 have vanished. They now have a great defense, the leading rusher in the SEC, but their quarterback has been terrible. 

Until last weekend. 

John Crompton is the quarterback for Tennessee. Since the season began, he's been just awful to watch. But, because of his performance last Saturday, he may be selected as the Offensive Player of the Week. He finally showed up as the Quarterback. As the team's real leader. He was, as they say, in the zone. He was incredible. The team responded, and Tennessee crushed their rival, the University of Georgia. 

Just watch the teams that are winning...or losing. When Colt McCoy at Texas is on his game, they win. When Oklahoma's Heisman quarterback went down with a shoulder injury, their hopes for a National Title clearly came to an end. Tim Tebow has raised the bar for all quarterbacks. Frankly, he's raised the bar for every kind of leader. 

All championship teams, the so-called dynasties, are best-remembered because of their amazing quarterbacks. 

This comment will date me as a disheartened (and old) Dallas Cowboy fan, but I'm still waiting for the Second Coming of Roger Staubach. That, I'm afraid, ain't gonna happen either. 

Here's the deal. Here's what we need to know. 

Having a great quarterback is no guarantee for a winning team. Most good quarterbacks know that their success is based upon the supporting cast of people around them. They can't do it alone. 

But without a winning quarterback, without an effective leader, no team will ever achieve greatness.

That is the nature of leadership. It's true in every segment of our lives and our society. 

In the home. In the church. In the political arena. 

We are watching the quarterback. It always comes down to the leader on the field. 

What play will he call? How will he handle himself under pressure---when the team is losing and it's late in the game?Will he or she bring to the table what it takes for the team to achieve greatness?

Leaders build teams. As leaders, we recruit individuals. We're always looking for that handful of good players, players with whom we can connect deeply and often. Then, we train, coach, mentor and invest in them in way that builds them into a winning team. 

We must also remember that not all great leaders have a winning team. Life happens. We don't control everything. 

Sometimes a quarterback's greatness, or a leader's effectiveness, remains undetected until he recruits the right people. 

Sometimes, leaders must start over. 

Whenever we see a growing, effective and winning team---a team with chemistry, a team with heart and passion and commitment---it's because there is a leader among them showing the way. 

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/526347/beavers_mug_shot_mod1b_-_Posterous.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4bhpamPrULq9 David Beavers DAVID BEAVERS David Beavers