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The bravest are suely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet go out to meet it.”

–Thucydides

[su_dropcap style=”flat”]I[/su_dropcap] HAD THE MOST inspiring discussion yesterday with a depth-ful and thought-provoking man. His mission in life is to empower others, to help them become a vital part of their community. He shared many stories with me, and as I listened, I thought, “What a remarkable leader!”

He lives in a community where people are outcast from society because they are physically crippled. These individuals believe that they have no value, and have bought into a belief that they are a worthless nothing in their community. This man, however, tells them they have plenty to offer. Not obuilding-relationshipsnly is this “untouchable” touchable to this man, he truly reaches into their innermost self, dispelling such a belief. He touches not only those he reaches out to but, like myself, who hear his stories, we are lifted up and moved deeply.

I compared the work I do to his work. While he works with those that are crippled physically, I work with those that are crippled by their limiting beliefs, crippled by their blind spots, crippled by fear of failure or not being successful enough, and the list goes on. In summary, as a leadership coach, I work with those that are emotionally crippled.

The more I engaged with this man, I experienced how his devotion and passion fueled more passion for his work. I wondered at his drive and the told me he works through lunch so that he can make a 25-hour day out of a 24-hour day. So driven by his desire to lift people up, he told me sleep is secondary. I began to understand the nature of this man and realized that this man is free from those issues that cripple us emotionally.

Living his deeper truth that all of us are valuable, he has transcended the limiting constraints put upon us through culture, belief systems, and the worst crippler of them all, doubt. In his own words, doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.

I inquired about his thought process and he summed it up this way:

I care so I share

You care so you share

They care so they share

Questions naturally arose from this poetic three-line verse. Questions each leader could contemplate regarding their role as leader, mentor, and being the bridge between the different levels of their organization could be:

How do you care?

Why do you care?

What do you care about?

Who do you care about and why?

When do you show you care?

Every person is a participant in other people’s welfare whether we are conscious of it or not. These same questions can be asked replacing the word care with share. How do you share? You get the point.

There are a plethora of leadership articles about becoming more employee-centered and valuing the people that make up the organization. Exploring these questions are a way to help us all become exemplary and inspiring leaders. Being focused more on the other person than on our-self is a way, perhaps, to tear out the root of the issues that cripple us emotionally. When we are emotionally crippled and haunted by doubt, the questions to ask could also be phrased this way:

Why don’t I care?
How come I don’t share?

Asking these questions could be a way to flush out those issues that limit us or keep us blind. The challenges we often face may be more about our emotional cripplers than we realize.

Note: I want to thank Jonathan Solomon for sharing his vision and passion. His leadership qualities of empowering individuals, sets the bar at one of the highest levels I have experienced.

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Melinda Fouts, Ph.D.
Melinda Fouts, Ph.D.http://www.successstartswithyou.net/
Melinda Fouts, Ph. D., International Executive Coach, Psychotherapist is a select Columnist & Featured Contributor for BIZCATALYST 360° and a Member of the Forbes Coaches Council (comprised of Top coaches offering insights on leadership development & careers), and founder of Success Starts with You. She was recently chosen to receive the Empowered Woman of the Year Award for 2021 given by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP). She also received the honor as the top international coach of the year in 2020 by the IAOTP. She provides visionary leadership in her field and her many credentials prove she has the ability to empower women worldwide. Her exemplary role as a female professional in a male-dominated industry displays her influence, capability, and proficiency. Inclusion with the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an honor in itself, only a few women are chosen for this distinction based on their years of experience, professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, and contributions to their communities. With innovation and compassion, these women empower others to reach their goals, while creating change for future generations. With over 2 decades of professional experience as a business coach and psychotherapist, Dr. Fouts has proven herself as an accomplished professional and expert in the field. As a dynamic, results-driven leader, Dr. Fouts has demonstrated success not only as an Executive Business Coach, but in every role she has held. Prior to executive coaching and leadership development, Melinda has been in private practice as a psychotherapist for over 20 years. She leverages her strengths and insights from her psychology background to help leaders and managers in transition through increased self-awareness. Owner and founder of Success Starts with You, is based upon the premise that you are already successful. Increasing self-awareness to increase emotional intelligence and unlocking blind spots are paramount to continued success. Dr. Fouts leverages her strengths and insights from her psychology background to help leaders and managers in transition through increased self-awareness and discovering their blind spots. It can be lonely at the top and as a thought partner, she makes sure you are not alone. Dr. Fouts’ unique approach from other business coaches is that she helps get rid of thinking and behavioral patterns that tend to keep executives stuck. Her key areas of expertise include but are not limited to: small business consulting, enhancing emotional intelligence, self-awareness, unlocking fullest potential, brainstorming, identifying limitations, challenges, obstacles and optimizing performance. In addition, her successful career as a Psychotherapist and International Executive Business Coach, Dr. Fouts is a sought-after speaker whose key-note address to Women’s Leadership Conferences is Channeling Feminine Power in the Face of Adversity. Her newly released book, Cognitive Enlightenment, was to be presented at the London Book Fair, March 2020, the NY Book Fair, May 2020, and the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2020 until COVID hit. Melinda received her Ph.D. in Jungian Psychology from Saybrook University and her Masters in Psychology from Pacifica University. Melinda has worked as a consultant with executives and businesses for over 20 years. As a result of her experience and studies, she has developed a unique craft to fine-tune leadership development for peak performance. She lives in Colorado with her big, beautiful dog, Stryder. For more information on Dr. Fouts please visit: www.successstartswithyou.net

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CONVERSATIONS

  1. Melinda, Thank you. I sincerely appreciate your kind words – it means a lot to me. Sharing the gift of encouragement and with that, the resulting responsibility is what is required by all of us. I was inspired by Mother Teresa who explained it so beautifully, “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”

    I wish you many blessings as you minister to those who are “emotionally challenged” and who need your guidance and encouragement.

    “Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.” Brian Tracy

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