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WITandWISDOM(tm) - September 11, 2007 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: “In point of character we are only as strong as our weakest point.” – Author Unknown Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) January 8, 1885, Pacific Press, http://www.signstimes.com ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: As a child, when I misbehaved, I was sure to receive “The Look” from my father. I have vivid memories of the furrowed eyebrows and pursed lips of The Look. It makes me shudder just to remember it. The Look could cut right through my body and penetrate into my soul. There was nothing comforting about The Look, and, invariably, it signaled impending disciplinary measures. The Look was to be respected, The Look was to be feared, and, above all, The Look was to be avoided. However, just as I can recall The Look, I also remember the tenderness of my father’s care after he disciplined me. I remember the whispered assurances of his love for me. I remember the warmth of his embrace as he held me in his arms. I remember his tenderness as he gently explained why I had been disciplined and how I could learn from the experience. His was not mean-spirited or severe in his discipline; rather, his loving correction was intended to develop me into a man of character. Leaders, like my father, must balance toughness and tenderness. My friend, Tim Elmore, describes these leaders as Velvet-Covered Bricks. They are firm and strong on the inside, but soft and pleasant on the outside. In this edition of Leadership Wired, I would like to discuss the qualities of that make a leader into a Velvet-Covered Brick. I am indebted to Tim Elmore for many of the thoughts in this lesson. Some leaders are so tough they could chew nails, but their insensitivity prevents them from connecting with their employees. Ignorant of the emotions around them, they rely on authority and scare tactics to earn the allegiance of their team. Other leaders go the extra mile to earn the admiration of those they lead. They love to be seen as the “good guy,” and they go soft on their team. To protect their popularity, they sacrifice healthy confrontation or neglect holding employees accountable. A Velvet-Covered Brick leader makes difficult decisions, but at the same time, they act as emotional caretakers to the people their choices affect. They instill discipline, but they also provide encouragement and inspiration. By Dr. John C. Maxwell Read the rest of this excellent article at: http://tinyurl.com/22rd8q Source: Maximum Impact, http://www.maximumimpact.com ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Work Tool Definitions Hammer - In ancient times a hammer was used to inflict pain on ones enemies. Modern hammers are used to inflict pain on oneself. Screwdriver – The tool you use to cause $500 in damage while trying to change out a light socket. Pliers - A device used to extend your reach the necessary few inches when you drop a one-of-a-kind screw down behind the new wall it took you two weeks to install. Halogen Light - A work light that lights up your backyard with the incandescence of a football stadium, causing you to cast a heavy shadow over the area you're working on so that you need to use a flashlight anyway. Cordless Drill - A device that lessens your chance of electrocution 90% over a standard plug-in tool. Cordless Telephone - The handyman's 911. Chain saw - Allows you to cut your way out of the shed that you accidentally built completely around yourself. Vise Grips - A pair of helping hands that doesn't critique the job you're doing or offer advice. Source: Laughter for a Saturday mailto:ed548@yahoo.com?subject=Subscribe_to_Laughter_for_a_Saturday ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: Sam Bronfman, the late CEO of a large company, entered a crowded conference room. Anxious to get on with the meeting, he sat in the nearest chair. One of his young assistants immediately said, "No, Mr. Bronfman, you're supposed to sit at the head of the table." "Young man," replied Mr. Bronfman, "wherever I sit is the head of the table." Source: Preaching Now, http://www.preaching.com/newsletter/preachingnow/ ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Clergy are the happiest in their work among the 198 vocations surveyed in a recent study by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. The report was featured in the April 17 Chicago Tribune. Ministers ranked tops in both job satisfaction and general happiness, while "physical therapists and firefighters were second- and third-ranked in job satisfaction. Other occupations in which more than 60 percent said they were very satisfied included teachers, painters and sculptors, psychologists and authors." The Tribune reports that the worker satisfaction study is based on data collected since 1988 on more than 27,500 randomly selected people. The survey indicates that 87 percent of clergy said they were "very satisfied" with their work, compared with an average 47 percent for all workers. Among clergy, 67 percent reported being "very happy," compared with an average 33 percent for all workers. Source: Preaching Now, http://www.preaching.com/newsletter/preachingnow/