I was listening to a program last week on the John Maxwell site and he introduced a man by the name of Miles McPherson. He had just published a book titled: The Third Option. I had never heard of the man nor had I heard of the book before that day. As I listened I thought to myself “what a poignant time for him to have published a book like this.”

Although Miles McPherson had several key points to share about his book, I most connected to and resonated with the meaning behind the third option. His way of defining the third option was “Instead of winning an argument, win a heart.”

There are always two options to a discussion, to agree or disagree about an issue…democrat or republican, black or white, dog lover or cat lover, vegetarian or meat lover, east side or west side, Christian or Muslim…the list goes on and on. It’s difficult to change someone’s belief stance, particularly if that is your only motive in the discussion. But we can end at a better place if we reach out and ask questions, listen to the “other” side which leads to a better understanding. You may enter a conversation that is uncomfortable but the hope is that you have won a heart in the process of listening and experiencing greater comfort in the end.

Consider the third option as we navigate through this time of unrest and unpredictability. Instead of standing your ground and white knuckling your place on an issue, reach out, pay attention and invite yourself to understand another perspective.

Sometimes the words change and transition are used interchangeably to mean the same thing. Pivot, on the other hand, is a trending term that has a very similar attachment to change and transition. Knowing the differences among these terms will help in identifying where you are in the spectrum of movement.

Change is event or situationally driven. During the pandemic there is likely much change that has occurred; change in job, change in location and even change in lifestyle.
Transition, on the other hand is how you are psychologically coping with that change. Situational change can often be immediate whereas transition is a process. Letting go of the old or what was, developing the next phase and adjusting, and then creating the new beginning.

Pivoting is making a quick turn when change has happened by surprise or without you planning for it. Pivoting allows for a different view; adjusting your direction and continuing your momentum toward your goal or mission.

The word” stop” or giving up has no place in the process of change, transition or pivot. Embrace the change as it often launches growth and the transition will follow as you pivot your direction toward your desire.

Do you need a Faith Lift? Not a “face lift: but rather a lift in your Faith? Faith is a quiet strength and conviction of things that are unseen and unknown. During this COVID pandemic, your faith in a higher power or in anything/anyone may be in question because the unpredictability of your future is that much greater.

I put my faith IN God; all knowing, powerful and love of everyone. But I also have to have faith in myself; not to go to the dark side and have a mindset of doom and gloom. I also have to have faith in our influencers and country that our culture will get better and be better.

Many of you are protesting and demonstrating – there is power in a shared voice that wants change for the better. You are identifying the pain points that have existed for a very long time. It is needed and worthy of your voices to be heard. Faith is stepping out and making your voices heard, not knowing where it will go and how it will end up. If your intention is for good and your voice is not of harm, it will get better, it always does.

Let’s hope that our civil actions and words will honor people with great respect and love for ALL people. Keep your faith alive and give it a lift today!

As a former professor of Outdoor and Environmental Education, I lead many outdoor adventure trips that focused on the value of leadership, decision making and communication. At the end of each day but especially as a culminating debrief of the entire trip, I would ask students a variety of thought-provoking questions to draw out of them aspects of the trip that perhaps they did not consider on their own. Those reflective discussions were where the real revelations and judgments were unearthed.

I had a student once that said “I don’t know how to reflect”. My question to you is, do you know how to reflect? Reflection IS the process of making sense of an event that just happened, an experience you just had or even an encounter you had with someone. What went well; what didn’t go well; what would you differently the next time, what was gained from the overall experience? Often times there will not be someone else to draw out those reflective questions but with practice, you will gain the insight to identify those areas that need attention and those that you already have to take with you to the next situation.

The power of reflection is using what you learned and gained from the previous experience and apply it to future events. Growth occurs when you use what you gained and make the appropriate adjustments to get better and be better in the next round.

Have you ever awakened on the “wrong” side of the bed in the past? This cliché refers to your day not starting off well and it seems to increase the problem as the day unfolds.

Have you thought about how you are starting your day? What are some things that you do to improve the odds that your day will unfold in a smooth and more calculated manner? Consider the word “promise.” Have you ever promised a friend, your child, spouse or partner something and just by saying “I promise” sends the message of following through with greater importance? It even puts the word goal on a different level as a promise gives more strength to the outcome.

What are some promises or non-negotiable things that you do or will do to begin your day on the right foot. For me, it is getting up early in the morning, having quiet time to read or write, and ensuring I exercise in the morning. For others it may be making your bed, or having coffee, or thinking about your to do list, or meditation or a yoga time. This time is for you ONLY; time that you are unwilling to give up in order to get your day going in the right direction for you.

Let’s begin tomorrow with your non-negotiable promises. The consistency you deliver day after day, the more importance you give to your promises. Track your progress as you discover how you respond to others and how productive you will be at the end of the day.

So many entrepreneurs and leaders talk about vision, the importance of it, the value of it and how you work toward it. I couldn’t agree more. Imagination is what you create that actually ignites your vision.

Isn’t a vision something you can actually see and move toward? But, what if you can’t see your vision right now? What if the vision you “had” is no longer prevalent or achievable? As in a cloudy day, the sun is always there and just beyond the clouds but you can’t quite view it.

Not to worry. Don’t thwart your vision. The vision you had before COVID-19 is still there. If you did not have one then, now is the time to create one. I recognize the challenge of forming your vision when you have little idea of what life or your business will be like beyond this time. Can you prepare? Can you have a plan? Yes, to some degree with what you know TODAY. But, be prepared to PIVOT as the days unfold, your vision becomes more clear and you are on the move.

Consider my Itty Bitty book, Achieving your potential: 15 empowering steps to reach each summit. This book will help you identify your goal, vision, dream or “summit” and move you to the next level. Make your life count; go for what you want!