Thursday; March 14 ...

          Folks, I like Tim Tebow – I am not ashamed to admit that.  I realize that he was not be most polished football player and may not be the most talented baseball player, but as a person he has a lot going for him.  Tim has had to endure a lot of teasing because of his “good guy” image, but through it all he has managed to come out on top. 
          The other day I read an interesting leadership quote by him, “When you try to be a role model, not everybody can relate to some of your highs - awards, championships. But everybody can relate to the lows. Everybody's gotten fired from a job or gotten cut. People learn more about you in those lows than they do in the highs.”.  For those of us who have watched Tebow’s life we tend to see his blessings, but in all honesty, the thing that makes him intriguing is how he has dealt with failures.  Whether it was public ridicule, an awkward passing style, being publicly fired from his jobs or striking out on a regular basis, he seems to be able to maintain his composure and spirit.  His more impressive lessons may not come from the accolades he has received, rather the obstacles he has overcome – and the grace he displays in the process.
          As leaders and role models, which side of us do we tend to put on display?  Leaders must have transparency to have an impact.  Sure, it is wonderful to be able to inspire others through our successes, but we may have more of an impact when people see how we deal with our failures.  When we keep trying, when we stay positive, when we forgive ourselves, when we re-tool and start over again – those are the lessons that might be the most inspiring.
           Think About It!

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