How do you wait for election results?

The phone calls are done. The fundraising push is complete. Yard signs are scrapped. No need to cull the Internet for opposition dirt. TV advertisers turn full force to Christmas, still seven weeks away. Facebook will return to a cat video site. And some climb out of their cave of isolation, after trying to avoid the rancor.

Now, much of the world waits. And yet, a sizeable number are oblivious or don't care.

What if there is not a clear winner? Do we revive discussions about hanging chads? How many recounts will it take?

Networks call the Senate races. State and local questions are decided to nudge the country in different directions, like squeezing a full balloon. The news outlets internally struggle to battle the risk/reward calculus of calling a race. The coffee and energy drinks flow like water to keep everyone alert until a decision is declared.

What is your internal struggle about who wins?

Will the world actually fall off its axis if the opposition wins? Is your candidate really capable of saving the world? We voted for fallible humans, not superheroes.

Is it too early to remember the words we spoke during the runup to the election? If the votes are not looking good, do you start packing tonight in pursuit of the Canadian border?

The neighbor that shared tears and waved the flag when the towers fell has now become the ignorant hater that deserves nothing less than a social media firing squad. This righteous volley is earned because of a different opinion that is protected by the Constitution. Please take the time to listen to their reason before pressing "send." we may all learn something.

Abraham Lincoln knew the path to rebuilding the country was humility. The Confederate soldiers were allowed to return home with their weapons as a means to maintain a shred of honor.

146 million are registered to vote, and the pundits anticipate a result too close to provide a mandate for governance. 70 million is a lot of people to disregard and call misguided losers.

As the numbers tally, and your candidate wears the victor's wreath, look to Lincoln and know the path forward is paved with humility.

Enjoy the celebration tonight, for we have a country to rebuild tomorrow.

What strengths are you using to achieve your ambition?

No matter how sexy you look in a cape and tights, you're not perfect in every way. Every superhero has weaknesses, but her strengths are majestic and the reason the bad guys tremble.

In his upcoming book, Tools of Titans, Tim Ferriss (@timferriss) delivers a parallel truth. "You don't succeed because you have no weaknesses; you succeed because you find your unique strengths and focus on developing habits around them."

Abraham Lincoln didn't enter politics with wealthy and influential supporters lining up to back his candidacy. The strengths he employed to engage the local Illinois voters were common sense, self-deprecating humor, storytelling, and a sharp wit.

In 1832, a 23-year-old Lincoln closed his first political announcement, announcing his candidacy, with a clear description of his ambition. "Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition... I can say for one that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem." While a broad ambition; history would judge Lincoln a success.

It is only fair that since a comic book hero and a real-life hero relied upon their strengths to accomplish their goals, we should follow their lead.

We must apply our strengths to our indwelling ambitions and take action. Strictly pursuing our list of weaknesses will confine us to a mental culdesac strengths languishing, and our best work carried to the grave.

Every individual brings a new combination of background and vision to each endeavor. If you want to be a musician, identify what differentiates you from the others. Your skill, personal style, stage presence, and genre you seek to master, culminate in a unique blend.

No one else brings the same tools and applies them in the same way. Identify and capitalize on this difference; the ambition is waiting.

Going Further: What strengths are you using in the pursuit of your ambition? How are you strategic about this process? How will you leverage your strengths to attain your goal? Are there elements of your strengths that need to beef up to get you across the finish line? What question was missed?

What historical figure exemplifies courage for you?

Each of us can look to the past and identify a pantheon of courageous individuals, but who are those you relate to or most resonate with your story?

I have read much about Abraham Lincoln and have a stack of books awaiting their turn. Lincoln's humility and care for the common man deeply resonate with me. His courage to resist the groundswell of Northern venom against the South and not further humiliate and punish, but push for reconciliation is inspiring.

My Uncle Bruce fought at the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. This battle was fought in November and December in 1951, during the areas worst winter in recorded history. Ice, snow and temperatures as low as 60 degrees (F) below zero made for a brutal U.S. Marine Corps battle.

Bruce returned to the States, built a successful insurance business, was a loving husband, and laid a solid foundation for his two sons to achieve great success. He was proud to be a member of the self-proclaimed remnant of the "Chosin Few," and used the battle earned courage to endure many follow-on challenges with a gracious heart for people.

The Apostle Paul displayed great courage as he took the Gospel to the Gentile world. He challenged the religious and political elites while graciously meeting individuals where they were at, regardless of their background.

These are three of my historical heroes that have displayed great courage. Who are three of yours and why?

Going Further: How did you first learn about your big three? What other elements of their character do you appreciate? What were some of their flaws? How does their example encourage you to be courageous?

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?