Meaningful Mondays

"Do you want to be articulate and dangerous or vague and useless? - Jordan Petersen The ESSENTIAL tool for Th'rive in '25 is the VOCA Framework or mindset. Make it a daily practice! VUCA = Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous vs. VOCA = Visionary, Ownership, Creates, Action Articulation is no longer optional -- it is essential! It is the bridge from VUCA to VOCA. Articulation bridges a leader's intent with their audience's understanding.

The Christmas Day soccer game in No Man's Land. The Spirit of Christmas triumphed over conflict and fear, reminding us that light, hope, and love can unite even the most divided. "Christmas reminds us to think of one another. We appreciate our families more. We renew contacts with old friends. We rise above the barriers that separate us at other times of the year. Strangers exchange greetings without embarrassment. Kindliness and consideration make a comeback. The spirit of Christmas brings out the best in us." - Dallin H. Oaks

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goeth “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill “The past is behind; learn from it. The future is ahead; prepare for it. The present is here; live in it." – Thomas S. Monson

"Character is the quiet discipline to stay true to the worthwhile commitments we've made long after the initial emotion fades." - Lee Brower An inspired purpose gives us the resolve to make decisions once and stick to them. Challenge: This week, take one commitment you've made and bring it to life with small, consistent choices. Let your character define you, and watch the ripples of your actions inspire others. "Character doesn't need emotion to thrive; it needs an inspiring purpose. An inspiring purpose will get you through most anything." - Lee Brower

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself: Does how I spend my time restrict or enlarge my capacity to live, learn, love, and serve in meaningful ways? Adversity? It’s either just left, it’s here, or it’s coming. Warren Buffet reminds us that those who make it happen in life focus on three simple habits: Go to bed smarter each day. Surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you. Invest in yourself—because YOU are your greatest asset.

"When you create a tradition rooted in gratitude, you’re not just celebrating the present—you’re choosing to invest in the future." - Lee Brower "By choosing gratitude and making it part of your family’s story, you create ripples of love and connection that will endure for years to come." - Lee Brower "What you don't change, you choose." - Unknown

"Choices determine destiny." — Lee Brower "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." — J.K. Rowling "Life is the sum of all your choices. So what are you doing today?" — Albert Camus My "I CHOOSE STATEMENT: "I choose to live with purpose, not by chance; to be inspired, not influenced; to serve others, not be served; to create ripples of change, not excuses; to thrive through milestones, not just to compete. I choose self-respect, not self-pity. I choose to honor my true self, guided by enduring principles, not the fleeting opinions of others. I choose to be an Arrows Out™ beacon of Positive Generational Impact." — Lee Brower

The viral effect of one pilot’s behavior illustrates how a single person’s actions can set the tone for everyone else. This experience reminded me that true leaders stay transparent, express genuine gratitude, and model calm under pressure. In doing so, they create a ripple effect of grace and positivity, even in the most challenging circumstances. "Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge." – Simon Sinek "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." – Winston Churchill

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” — Martin Luther King Jr. In the context of agency, this reminds us of the responsibility we carry to act with courage, to speak and do good in the face of challenges, and to show untiring love. “We are not isolated beings. The power of one choice can ripple outward, touching countless lives.” — Viktor Frankl “Your beliefs don’t make you a better person; your behavior does.” — Lee Brower

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“The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others.” – St. John Chrysostom “No creature, not even bees, was made by God as unselfish as a human, yet bees teach us about giving more than we receive.” - Unknown “Like bees pollinating flowers, our small acts of kindness can spread life, gratitude, and growth.” - Lee Brower

“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” — Abraham Lincoln “Discipline is the riverbank that channels our focus and energy, allowing us to flow toward Enduring Impact. Without it, distractions flood our path and dilute our purpose.” — Lee Brower “We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” — Jim Rohn “True freedom is impossible without a mind made free by discipline.” — Mortimer J. Adler

The next generation is willing to learn and eager to make a positive impact. What is one thing you can do this week to be more interestED rather than interestING - especially with younger people? "The future is bright because those who are interested in others, instead of just themselves, are the ones who create the lasting change." “Being curious is better than being interesting. When you are interested, people feel it—and they’ll remember you for it.”

"What we do repeatedly defines who we are. Small actions, taken consistently, create great impact."  - Lee Brower

Life isn't just about recognition of whether we win or lose in the traditional sense. It's about how much we learn from our experiences that we can use. If we aren't learning, our experiences are empty. "Turn your wounds in wisdom." - Oprah Winfrey "Always make your learning greater than your experience." - Dan Sullivan "Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see." - Corrie ten Boom

We're building the kind of Enduring Wealth™ that strengthens relationships, deepens trust, and makes people feel seen. That’s the kind of wealth that lasts far beyond likes on social media. "The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness." - Dalai Lama "We often overlook the immense power of a small Arrows Out™ gesture—a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, or a heartfelt compliment. These simple acts of care and gratitude can potentially transform lives."

Having a vision is not enough! "Vision without motion is perpetual frustration. The first lift of the anchor may not set you free, but it sets you in motion. And once you’re in motion, the horizon is yours.”

In today's environment, where negative news often dominates, it’s important to remind ourselves that while we can’t always control what happens in the world, we can control how we choose to see it. As a leader, here's a way to inspire yourself and others to take control and "turn the spoon around". When you feel overwhelmed by negative news, pause and "turn the spoon around." Find one thing, however small, that you can be grateful for or take positive action on. Note how this shift affects your mindset and actions throughout the week.

"The true power of a question lies not in the answer it seeks, but in the connection it creates." — Lee Brower "In the right moment, a single question can be more powerful than a thousand answers." — Lee Brower "Great questions make great answers." — Oscar Wilde "Questions can be like a lever you use to pry open the stuck lid on a paint can." — Fran Peavey

"...We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us! It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness."