The Good Old Days

Bible Character: Solomon

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. Ecclesiastes 7:10 NIV

It’s sometimes tempting to think our best days are behind us. How do leaders embrace a brighter future?

Half Glass Full

A leader’s perspective on circumstances influences the overall organization. We often hear the question…is your glass half full or half empty. Some symptoms of viewing the glass half empty are…continual negativity, weak convictions, a resistance to change, and an overall unpleasant attitude.

The opposite is the optimistic individual. Optimism is having a more favorable view or approach to the conditions that surround you, and expecting positive outcomes.

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties. – Harry Truman

Vision

Seeing opportunities that lay in the future and setting the course falls on leadership. The optimistic leader can apply a positive prospective to a forward looking vision.   That positive perspective enables them to inspire others towards the vision more easily.

Founding Fathers

Our country was founded by individuals who believed in a different, better way of governing people. Their vision for a free society and determination for something better resulted in the United States of America. They studied all the history of world governments up to that point and came up with something greater than anybody had ever conceived. They sacrificed their personal safety and wealth to create this country for us. We are lucky they were not the type to buy into the notion that the best days were behind us.