Be the example…

Be the example.

Always be the example, never the excuse.

Every day you either wake up and decide to be the example or you allow yourself to be the excuse. Better is being the ultimate example, while never settling for the excuse.

In every phase of your life, it all goes the same. With your family, with your friends, with your work, be the example. Do you expect more from your family than you give them? Do you expect the people at work to give more than you give? Do you expect your friends to give more to you than you give to them? How does that even make sense?

Seriously, how great of an effort do you make to call your family in comparison to how much you want them to always be the one to call you and check in? How often do you make the effort to make plans with your friends but then get upset when they never reach out to you? Maybe you get frustrated your co-worker sometimes misses the mark but fail to recognize the example you set by doing the same thing.

No more. Step settling for the excuses around you, we all can think of excuse after excuse to justify our actions. That is not better. That is not different. That is settling for the excuse of average, for the same excuses that everyone else does.

Your title, your position, your rank, none of it matters. You still have the responsibility to be the example. Really, if anything, those who find themselves in a higher position or position of authority and leadership have an even greater responsibility to always be the example.

As we have all heard the saying “with great power comes great responsibility.” This is no different, how can you expect those around you to follow you if you are never setting the example? How can you demand excellence but find every excuse for why you don’t demonstrate excellence yourself? How can you ask for commitment when you always find an excuse when it comes to keeping your own commitments?

What does it mean to be the ultimate example?

• Treat the people the right way regardless of who they are.

• Demonstrate alignment between what you say and what you do.

• Set and meet the standards you expect of others.

• Take responsibility and ownership when you fall short.

• Do more than you ask and require of those around you.

The ultimate example, it doesn’t mean you don’t come up short. It doesn’t mean that you never fail. It simply means your decisions, your actions, and your execution align with what you expect from those around you. Set the example, demonstrate the example, and those around you will follow suit.

No matter where you look, no matter what you do, the choice will present itself. Be the example or fall for being the excuse. Today, and throughout this entire holiday season challenge yourself to be the one that sets the example.

It is a great responsibility to lead by example, it is a responsibility that you are up for. Start right now. Call your family, send that text to a friend, go the extra mile, and set the example.

Always set the example.

#Better #Different