When did you last ask; how can I serve you?

Our words can mean everything or mean nothing. The receiver determines the weight and validity of what is said. Each interaction is another opportunity to tip the scales for our words to be highly valued.

Cultivating our relationships must have the same attention of our 401K. If wise investments are made, the money can fade, but the relationships remain. Rarely does someone want stacks of cash surrounding the deathbed, but friends, family, and co-workers are highly prized.

Let's not assume we know best, but humbly come and ask; 

What do you need from me and how can I serve you?

Whose cornerstone are you?

This is the one time it is good to be called a rock. The cornerstone is a primary stone at the base of two walls that is essential to building construction and sets the foundation of the building.  

Relationships are a give and take. We cannot be all things to everyone, but we can play a critical role to a few as their cornerstone. We must expect to fulfill this function for those nearest to us in our circle of relations in some capacity.

Does your network look to you as the stoic rock that is not shaken in times of uncertainty, the one that can be counted on to bring a laugh at just the right moment, or the one that can provide a practical blessing at a time of need? 

A building is a structure that serves a purpose, just as our relationships serve a purpose. They won't last 136 years, but they will last for a time. Healthy relationships will acknowledge how each member can be depended upon to bear the weight of the friendship, love, care and dependence. Interlocking stones can build a robust structure to memorialize the relationship and what it accomplished.

Your presence as a cornerstone matters and is vital to the beauty of the construction. Don't discount the impact of one stone.

Going Further: Who are your cornerstones? How have these cornerstones influenced your life? How have they changed over the years? What cornerstone was a surprise? Who is depending on you for too much? What ways can you serve in a greater capacity?

What sparked your passion?

Jump in the way-back machine and tell your passion origin story. Everything has a beginning, middle and end. It is worthwhile to review to see how we have arrived at today. Influences, coincidences, divine appointments or twists of fate brought you to the point of finding this cause where you seek to achieve change to you and the world.

I wanted to bring something unique to the world following a reawakening over the past 18 months. My response is taking the form of curiosity, inquiry and writing. With the constant barrage of talking heads giving all the answers, I thought it was time to ask different questions. These inquiries are intended to prompt discovery and self-awareness for those that choose to engage. Most will not spend the time to answer nor dwell with the question. My journey had taken years before I was willing to look for deeper questions and prepared to respond with something other than memes. I haven't arrived, but this was my spark.

Your turn.

Going Further: Who inspired your passion? What frustrated you about the status quo? What gave you the courage to step forward? Who has come alongside to support you? What does success look like as you invest in your passion? What question was missed?

YouTube Video: What sparked your passion?

What challenges must you overcome?

The only people that don't have challenges are dead. That doesn't apply since you are reading this post. Therefore, the tribe expects you to make the most of your passion for a positive impact. The combination of demons and temptations we face are as diverse as humanity; however, we can all relate. I could struggle with alcoholism and drugs, yours is perfectionism; mine is laziness, yours is a workaholic or some crazy mash-up. In all cases, the damage we can do to ourselves and those around us will leave a scar. Leaving good works left undone and our passion taken to the grave.

We need to push back against our natural tendency to roll back under the covers and say it is too hard to fight today. Give yourself a moment to recognize the internal talk or acknowledge the bodies weariness, then begin to fight back. When those we support are feeling off their game, we rally to their side and encourage them on, reminding them of previous victories. We sit on the edge of our seats with the adrenalin coursing through our veins holding our breath, waiting for just the right moment to yell "Rocky, get up!" Then we go ballistic as Rocky climbs from the bloody mat to eventually pummel his opponent; blow after blow, until it is done.

Trying to change the world is not an easy task, even for a good cause. The entrepreneur lifestyle has recently been glorified due to some notable successes coupled with the Silicon Valley payout of some start-ups. It will always be easier to push the play button on Netflix, but it doesn't mean this is how you must spend your time. We have the ability to reach around the globe, meet like-minded people and find the community that is looking for the same change we are pursuing.

We know the hard days are coming and will require reinforcements to bolster our strength with tactics and encouragement. Knowing opposition will come from the outside, will give the courage to address the other internal or environmental challenges that rise during the pursuit of your vision.

Invest in your community, be generous, be authentic and find those that will be in your corner to help you in the fight that looms ahead. If your passion, vision and desire are strong enough, then make it happen. The world is always changing, muscle your way in to paint it in your colors.

What are your passions?

Family, the environment or merely world domination, the passions we pursue are what define our lives. Those with a life long vision can focus their attention on making the vision a reality over the long run. Others shift priorities and passions on a regular basis to experience the broad spectrum of what life offers. The remaining dare not to define their  passions or they have lost hope.

Abraham Lincoln met with extreme adversity and multiple defeats before achieving the U.S. Presidency. As providence would have it, he was just the right man to see us through the Civil War and end slavery. Those top our list of inspiring people all have many qualities and passion must be one of them. 

The key is the ability to identify your current passions clearly and recognize when they have changed. The world around us says, either follow you passion at all cost or choose the popular passions that are acceptable, but not too radical. Regardless of the category of your passion, own it, love it and pursue it. The world needs leaders that have a diversity of interests and are willing to invest their lives to ensure the future is even better than today.

Going Further: What is your 30-second elevator pitch about your passion? What inspired your passion? Are you giving your all to your passions and do any changes need to be made?

YouTube Link: What are your passions?

Don't interfere with the struggle

Don't interfere with the struggle

The truth bomb exploded, sending fragments ricocheting through my brain. Pressure creates a diamond. Persistent irritation develops a pearl. The straining and healing process cause muscle growth. Growth comes at a cost. This succinct statement captures an important point for us supporting those going through the painful growth of becoming something greater.

A co-worker, Michelle Rivera, launched this truth out of nowhere as she tried to get others motivated to move. My mind flooded with memories of the many times I have tried to fix things that I had no business fixing. Life lessons and the scars of life develop us into people of strength and wisdom.

Encouragement and support as the runner prepares and races for the tape is appropriate. Coddling the athlete through training will leave them weak and unprepared.

Make sure you know the difference and provide care accordingly.

YouTube Link: Don't interfere with the struggle.

How is generosity expressed across cultures?

Two friends, one from Puerto Rico and the other from Portugal helped with anecdotal research on this inquiry. My entering assumption for the most common response to the inquiry was going to be food. David, from Puerto Rico, confirmed my assumption that an abundance of food was integral to his cultural. Food would be a major part of any celebration with a focus on the quantity available. No one goes home hungry.

During dinner, my friend from Portugal, Jose, agreed that food was a primary way to be generous in the country of his birth. The conversation turned to the second most common way the Portuguese are generous. He explained that his countrymen are quick to go out of the way to serve and offer assistance where it is needed. If you need a ride or some service, the default answer is to provide services until the job is done; getting you to your destination or completing a repair. For Jose, seeing someone down on their luck and in need of help will inspire offering something out of his grocery bag without thinking twice.

These conversations allowed excellent discussions and insight into these cultures from an angle I had not considered before and refreshed my appreciation for those lands beyond my immediate State borders. Asking this question allows the individual from another area to expound on the details of their heritage on a positive topic. In some cases, cultures are known for only one element of their history. Just as you and I have many different facets, cultures are not one one-dimensional nor one historical event. Get out there and engage with those around you; it's a brave new world, experience it!

Going Further: What has been your experience with generosity from other parts of the world? How has this shaped your view of the people? How have you encountered cultural generosity in unexpected ways? What culture are you interested in experiencing?

YouTube Link: How is generosity expressed across cultures?

Who taught you to be generous?

I would often be the last one waiting for a ride home from Granite Mountain Junior High. Eventually, the Ford truck with the burgundy stripe would pull up and my dad, grinning from ear-to-ear would apologize for running behind and then explain why he was running late. More often than not, it would involve helping someone in some capacity. Helping a customer with a flat tire, negotiating a driver to pick up another little old lady at the airport or bringing a smile to someone's face. The list was endless, frustrating and difficult to justify feelings of bitterness.

The first place I learned to be generous was at home. Cash was not plentiful, but generosity through service, work and positive encouragement was in abundance. This early example set the tone for my default when I think of being generous. Fixing a toilet, moving a household and coordinating party logistics were my recent opportunities to give.

How you apply the abundance in your life to care for those around you are just as diverse as our fingerprints. Your biography includes a history of spending your time, talents and resources to make the world a better place. How did your early examples influence your current perspective? No doubt, there are particular people and acts of giving that flood your mind, and you can see the roots of these examples sprouting in your life today. What are some of those stories? 

We may never live up to some of these early examples and may fall woefully short at other times. A missed opportunity I will always remember, was during an evening walk in Lisbon Portugal in 2000. A severely disfigured man shook his donation cup for some coins, and I never slowed my stride as I passed. Today, I would like to think; I would respond differently to the gentleman.

The good news is that you are being watched and are busy teaching the next generation how to exemplify generosity. The young child watches his father, and the aggressive intern that wants to run the company is watching how the CEO displays her generosity. Giving is a skill worth honing to make the world a better place and even if you're not concerned about the world out there; you never know what the future holds and you may need to be on the receiving end.

Going Further: What is that distinct memory of generosity that came to mind earlier in the posting? How did this event shape you? Have you ever shared the impact of this experience with the person who exemplified generosity for you? Who do you know is watching your example of generosity?

How do you inspire others?

Humans are social creatures and we have an opportunity every day to build others up or tear them down. I struggle with sadness due to all of the killing that has been happening and my heart breaks for the friends and families directly affected. The acidic political fighting that fills the airwaves does not reflect a country of hope, but one of fear and further division. The Cold War and AIDS were the specters looming over my shoulder growing up. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were the shadow for my kids and it looks like terror attacks will be what unsettles the next generation. Is this really the best we can do in the new millennium? 

The Summer Olympics in Rio will no doubt bring great athletic feats for us to marvel. Grace and power revealing what talent, hard work and perseverance can deliver. This will be exciting to see, but it is still presented through a glowing screen. You, you have an opportunity to engage the world around you and deliver some inspiration. Sing, write, give hugs, buy someone a cup of coffee, visit the prison, wash the widows car, paint, sincerely ask "how are you" and wait for the answer, take the kid on the corner out for some ice cream, make yet another cat video for YouTube, teach a class, start a prayer group, learn a new language to speak to the immigrant neighbor, visit a mosque, dance!

It doesn't require a trip around the world to find someone in need; I am confident, that within 200 yards of you, there is someone that could benefit from interacting with you, today, even right now. Give the gift of attention, it is a precious commodity, and rarity in our current day. It will take courage and vulnerability, and you have that deep inside, give it a chance to erupt through kindness. The world is looking for a glimmer of goodness and a reason to smile; you can be just the person to deliver.

Going Further: Who inspires you? Who can you inspire?

What is your superpower?

Just as all superheroes have a power, your gifting and abilities can be used for the good of others. Help can be offered in many ways and you must know your power when the space aliens are mounting their attack. Most of us humans experience very few actual alien attacks over our lifetimes, however, we do have many opportunities for a bit more mundane emergencies. These include an empathetic heart to walk the last moments with a family member in hospice care, a ladder and paintbrush to take care of a new coat of paint on the house trim, an encouraging word, a poem, or tutoring the neighbor kid through the tough math homework. This kind of superhero work is needed far more than fending off the alien attacks. 

I have met many superheroes in my lifetime and they have taken on many forms. A few examples included those that helped get the stalled car running, gave financial help during a hardship and helped move my entire household prior to a record snowfall. My superpowers are in the mechanical realm and includes changing a tire or cleaning hair out of a shower drain. These superhero acts are never in the local paper, but when on the receiving end, I certainly feel like calling the local news to highlight the generous help and grateful for the local superhero.

Since American Idol is no longer in production, maybe it's time to rethink what idols we worship and consider the superhero that brought in the chicken soup.

Going Further: When did you first use your superpower for good? How many powers do you have? How have you developed your expertise over the years? How do you feel after saving the world for that one person? Are there any powers that have not been used in a while and it is time to bring them out of retirement? Who needs your superpowers now?