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?

How do you seek out bad news?

Our teams want us to be the leaders we read about in the books on our nightstand. Courageous enough to challenge the bureaucracy, willing to lead at the pointy end of the spear, and prove that we are all in this together. A leadership maxim is to share bad news early since it never ages well. This is a great statement for the employee manual, but are you sincere?

It is tough to hear the barrage of what is wrong. We either seek it out from those closest to us or wait for it to show up in the news. How you spend your time reveals your priorities. How much time do you spend asking the hard questions to expose the bad news?

Does your team believe bad news is welcomed, and something will be done, or is it easier to just smile and wave? The silent majority of team members will keep their opinions close to the chest for fear of reprisal unless we are intentional to draw them out. How many "whys" are needed before you surface legitimate concerns during your daily walkabouts with the team?

Today, we choose what kind of team to lead. One that is characterized by charging forward with gracious transparency or hunkering down in a protective defense of the status quo. Each day, this unique team is investing their precious lives to achieve a common mission, and the opportunity is missed if their observations and insights are ignored. Feedback is a gift, and if improperly handled, it is squandered. The team deserves better from us, and we must deliver.

Going Further: How are you building a culture that is free to share bad news early? What bad news surprised you? How has this freedom influenced the team and helped the end customer? What is your process for collecting candid feedback? What action have you taken as a result? What culture needs to change? What can you do today to start required changes?

How dangerous are you?

You are exceedingly dangerous when you have nothing to hide and nothing to lose. We have nailed a few areas of life, but we have all failed to reach perfection in every domain. The quicker we recognize this reality, the quicker we will have the freedom to embrace who we really are. When we accept our failings and shortcomings and abandon the pursuit of measuring up, we are dangerous. Today, a sermon reminded me of this truth. My temptation is to try to hide from my shortcomings and failures, living life on the defense. Businessman and hustler, Gary Vaynerchuk, said; "the moment I accept all my shortcoming is the second my life goes on the offense." The ability to stand up and say, these are the areas I am weak and need support, negates the power from any accuser. Since we know our own little secrets, we can inform the accuser that it is actually worse than they know.

The pursuit of excellence is assumed, however, to believe mastery of all things is folly. This understanding thrusts freedom to be ourselves firmly in our grasp. I will never be a great mathematician or an electrical engineer, however twisting words into a story is something I can do. As a self-aware being, you can step forward boldly and challenge the status quo, knowing you have nothing to hide. This pursuit has radically changed the man I have become over the past 18 months. I have not completed this journey, but I am far different than I was. Trying to master all things and be everything to everyone has been exhausting and stunted development of my best work.

Owning your shortcomings makes you dangerous; you can speak-up at the weekly meeting, pitch you idea to the marketing executive, raise your hand in class to ask or answer a question, share your faith with your neighbor, start an online business, step into leadership in the local government or even start a blog asking questions. You won't be bulletproof, but when the trolls provide comments, you can smile and say "if you only knew". Embrace your shortcomings dangerous one.

What are your strengths? What are your shortcomings? How have you shrunk back from the limelight due to shortcomings? How would you be different if you didn't fear your shortcomings being exposed? Where do you want to make a difference? How will you be dangerous? What did I miss?

How do you combat gossip?

The corrosive nature of gossip will quickly cripple any community. The cancerous tendrils quickly divide friends, family and co-workers. This division scars and shuts down the creativity and prevents the interaction of everyone delivering their best.

Bad enough, is when leadership is silent or looks the other way and the cancerous cells multiply. Worse yet is when leadership actively engages in the practice. The task to kill the cancerous effects, will be nothing short of a herculean effort.

Those supporting an organization decided that it was worthwhile to dedicate their precious lives to the common cause. They only have one life and they chose you. You decided to bring them on as the best candidate and gossiping will only prevent them bringing the best they have to offer; aim carefully as you shoot yourself in the foot.

Each one of us must take the opportunity to combat the cancer. Out of the heart speaks and your words are your choice. Choose wisely.

Going Further: Where have you given into the temptation to gossip? What harm have you seen as a result? How have you felt when you have been gossiped about? Where do you need to grow in this area?

What question scares you?

Note: This is an uncomfortable post, brace yourself. And yet, another question I have been afraid to post. I hate being afraid. I don't watch horror movies as I have no desire to invest time in something designed to spike cortisol levels or engage fight or flight. If I want to be horrified, I can find plenty of real-world examples that don't require a $15 trip to the movies. I live in an isolated little bubble that doesn't require me to face the things that scare me. I live near I-95 and I am certain that tonight human traffickers are transporting terrified people up and down the east coast to be delivered for terrible purposes to the lowest bidder. What am I doing to stop it? The question scares me because I hate the answer, and I like to think I am better than the honest answer.

Inquiries were not designed to be easy, but to bring about an understanding of one's self and any necessary change. These questions get to the operating system level of who we really are, not the photo-shopped images we post in our profile. Many questions involve those around us both family and co-workers. What employee needs the constructive feedback to improve? What discussion needs to be had with your partner or child? What tough-love needs to be given to that friend who is abusive? What steps do you need to take to face your own fears? What help do we need to change to stop the self-destructive spiral in our own lives?

We have to be intellectually honest with ourselves; if we answer the fun inquiries, the difficult inquiries also get their time in the sun. During a Tim Ferriss podcast discussion with Shay Carl, of YouTube fame, they discussed having a discussion with our 10-year-older self. For example, if you were ten-years-older, what would you say to your current self? This hit me hard. I always have spectacular advice, I would humbly submit, for someone else, but what would my future-self require of my present self and what action is non-negotiable? Yeah, this takes a second to grasp. If we are going to care for our future selves, then fears need to be confronted now, so our future isn't burdened by the same weight as we bear today.

You know the questions, and in most cases, the answers. The question is designed to offer hope that things can be different. Now is the time to answer the question and implement the plan, your future-self anticipates the action.