Over the decades that I have lead management, leadership and now coaching discussions, I have found that, author and leadership guru, Ken Blanchard is always right to the point about the leadership and life models he presents to individuals.
Here is yet another example of “right on” wisdom, in his new co-authored book, “Refire! Don’t Retire… Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life” by Ken Blanchard and Morton Shaevitz. These co-authors show us how to make every minute of your life joyful, exciting, and energizing, no matter your age. They say, “growth is a lifetime adventure!” They talk about “not retiring, but refiring!”
To “Refire is to approach life with gusto; see each day as an opportunity for adventure and learning! It’s to infuse passion and zest into every area of your life – emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual.”
During the next few weeks I’ll share with you their simple and effective set of reflective questions to ponder and help push you into new and exciting thoughts and actions.
Below is one of “The Four Keys” to consider as you make changes in your life and questions to reflect on:
The First Key: Refiring Emotionally
Love is Key: You probably know the love passage from the Bible; it comes from I Corinthians 13; (Love is patient, love is kind … — you’ve heard it at many weddings) whether you are religious or not, it includes a wonderful list of positive feelings and the resulting love – based behaviors. Look it up!
Here are some …
Questions to “Pause, Reflex, Take Action”
- What new people can you reach out to and make part of your life?
- What is your plan for making the world a better place?
- Tell a person you care about that you appreciate them.
Building Relationships: Being open to do fun out of the ordinary things (like skipping dinnerand just having a large bowl of popcorn); or inviting friends to meet you for dinner impromptu; call these friends the Last – Minute Gang ( being spontaneous as a way to build relationships and stronger friendships).
Here are some…
Questions to “Pause, Reflex, Take Action”
- When was the last time you ventured out of your comfort zone, and what did you do?
- If you are going to start a Last-Minute Gang, who will you invite? When will you begin?
- Choose one other person / couple to help you start a Last -Minute Gang and contact them
Nothing Ordinary: A commitment to uniqueness; getting out of the box requires some imagination; here are some tips:
Refiring Code of Conduct – Refiring Emotionally
- Be Playful … Laugh and kid
- Be Friendly … Smile and be happy
- Be Joyful… Embrace the moment
- Be Loving… Approach and welcome others
- Be Spontaneous … Getting out of your comfort zone
- Be Enthusiastic… Give it your all
Here are some…
Questions to “Pause, Reflex, Take Action”
- Take a car ride, no more than 30 minutes, to somewhere you’ve never been
- Whenever you go out to buy something new, make sure it’s special – Nothing Ordinary.
Next week I will go into how to refire intellectually.