Welcome to the April 2016 edition of A New Leaf!  The upsets and exciting conclusion to March Madness reinforces for all leaders that limited certainty exists in what we are trying to manage. A key aspect of our leadership role is put in place the structure, strategy and goals that maximize the likelihood of positive outcomes for your team and organization.

Fulfilling this role requires every leader to be intentional about each of their actions. This month’s book review focuses on John Maxwell’s recent release “Intentional
Living”.  While somewhat autobiographical, the book sets forth a step by step structure for leaders to follow in creating a life that matters.  Your seeking to “model the way” by being intentional towards every action will serve both you and your organization well.

Best of luck as you drive towards being a positive influence and a making a difference in the lives of everyone you touch.  

Mike

Book Review: “Intentional Living-Choosing a Life that Matters”

John Maxwell continues to be annually recognized as the #1 leadership authority. His books have sold over twenty five million copies in over fifty languages. His viewpoints and influence are unmatched in the leadership arena. In “Intentional Living” (Intentional), Maxwell sets forth a plan for everyone to follow to “lead a life that matters”. 

Intentional begins with Maxwell sharing his personal vision:

“I Want to Make a Difference
Doing Something that Makes a Difference
With People that Make a Difference
At a Time that Makes a Difference”

Maxwell then proceeds to address how we can make great progress towards achieving each of the four aspects of the vision above. If you share any aspect of Maxwell’s vision, this book provides the structure and inspiration for bringing true “significance” to your life and those of others.

Maxwell offers that “To be significant, all you have to do is to make a difference with others wherever you are, with whatever you have, day by day”.  As to how to make this happen, he suggests to “intentionally use your everyday life to bring about positive change in the lives of others, as you begin to live a life that matters”.

Having defined Maxwell’s vision and the concept of significance, Intentional sends an encouraging message to each of us…”that our life can be a great story”. Maxwell challenges every individual to: (1) assess your own story so far (2) start outlining a new chapter (3) step personally, as a hero, into your future story.” Becoming intentional is the “action that converts human dreams into significance”.

Maxwell reflects on his own journey, acknowledging that “it began with good intentions more than intentional living”.  He proceeds to dedicate an entire chapter to “Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough”.  In this chapter, he clarifies the concept of intentional living as “a life that brings you daily satisfaction and continued rewards for merely working to make a difference-small or large-in the lives of others”.  The reader is provided with the opportunity to assess whether they are living in a “land of good intentions” or “intentional living” by reviewing the following list of key, relevant phrases:

The review of the above list is intended to help you clarify that “good intentions” will never alone get you to a life of significance.  Maxwell goes on to share with the reader his own epiphany when he realized that… if he wanted to make a difference:

Wishing for things to change wouldn’t make them change
Hoping for improvements wouldn’t bring them
Dreaming wouldn’t provide all the answers he needed
Vision wouldn’t be enough to bring transformation to me or others
Only by managing my thinking and shifting my thoughts from desire to deeds would I be able to bring about positive change.
 I needed to go from wanting to doing.

In his attempt to convince the reader of the value of Intentional Living, Maxwell sets forth the following seven benefits. Intentional Living:

• Prompts us to ask “What is significant in my life?”
• Motivates us to take immediate action in areas of significance
• Challenges us to find creative ways to achieve significance
• Energizes us to give our best effort to do significant acts
• Unleashes the power of significance within us
• Inspires us to make every day count
• Encourages us to finish well

Intentional then dedicates individual chapters to each of the four aspects of Maxwell’s vision. The initial chapter provides overall direction to “I Want to make a Difference”, specifically addressing the need to “Start Small but Believe Big” and “Search Until you Find Your Why”.

If the Seven Benefits of Intentional Living appeal to you, begin reading Intentional Living  today.  Maxwell has also provided a “30 Day Journey” supplementary video series addressing the key aspects of being intentional which, along with the book, may be purchased at intentionalliving.johnmaxwell.com.

Best of luck in your future journey of becoming more INTENTIONAL as you work towards a life of greater significance.