Posted on Thursday, September 24, 2015

Reality of Leadership Did You Ask to Lead

Where is reality kicking your leadership pants?

Tracy Worley

Tracy Worley is America’s leading grace coach, international key-note speaker, trainer, syndicated radio host, author, and potential seeker, strategist and CEO of three values leadership based organizations. She works with business executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders world-wide to develop potential, tailor employee engagement modules, and turn up the volume on individuals and organizations potential personally and professionally.

Tracy knows firsthand about what it takes to find your potential, Individuals and organizations have individual cultures, stories, and rhythm – Tracy’s innovative style knows how to make it work. With a background in business management, business communication, project management, and life’s drama, Tracy found herself running a multi-million dollar organization at the age of 25.

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

But it’s exactly all these experiences that built character, knowledge, wisdom, and intuitive insight into individual and organizational potential. Tracy is highly intuitive, perceptive, and a world thinker in connecting what you cannot see. These gifts give her the ability to strategize with clarity where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. Tracy’s expertise: training highly successful people to lead with authenticity to the desired success her client’s desire and deserve.

Most of us end up in a leadership role by being promoted or asked to take over projects at an ever growing rapid pace. Common practice is to promote those with seniority, even if the employee is given no management or leadership training.

The numbers are still staggering on how many organizations are behind in training leaders within their organizations. A research article in the Deloitte University Press* states;

“Leadership remains the No. 1 talent issue facing organizations around the world, with 86 percent of respondents in our survey rating it as “urgent” or “important.” Only 13 percent of respondents say they do an excellent job developing leaders at all levels—the largest “readiness gap” in our survey.” Deloitte University Press

If 86% of respondents admit that leadership is “urgent” or “important”, but only 13% of respondents are doing anything about it, then where is this disconnect coming from?

The reality of leadership is that most leaders did not ask to lead, and do not realize everyone is a leader in their organization regardless of whether they asked for it or not. As I work with organizations and entrepreneurs, it is clear that personal and professional development is essential and will always be the “golden key” to raising leaders.

This brings me to a recent observation while refereeing a High School Soccer game. While I was refereeing the sideline for a Junior Varsity game on the parent side, the home team Varsity Soccer team was causing a ruckus. Yes, this is normal behavior and usually the parents are causing the issue. Back to the team, they were yelling profanity, negative jokes about their own team members, and in general not setting a great example of respect for others.

My response was one of delicate but stern warning, “I only want to hear positive comments and cheering from this section.” The shock and awe of surprise that anyone would call them out on their bad behavior was priceless. I heard a few other comments about me throughout the game, but as usual when refereeing the parent side, most of the comments, slander, and disgust for our calls rolls off our backs.

At the end of the game, I pulled the Varsity coach aside and told him of the incident. “Coach you have a great team this year, and we are the sum of who we choose to hang out with. Your team members are leaders on the sideline, and I know you would not expect anything less of them.” The coach was appreciative, and the next week at the Varsity game the team was a little sheepish, but also seemed to understand the reality of being on a Varsity team. They are leaders. Perhaps not by choice, but now they are aware that they are leaders and people will follow.

Here are a few ideas for a Leadership Plan:

Internal training program: Develop a video series or testing series to continually add value and knowledge.
Budget for training/education leadership programs: Reinstitute or create these programs. Many organizations cut these programs in 2008 and did not bring them back.
Mentorship programs: These programs are the most cost effective and added value to your organization. Current leaders are sharing, pouring, and also learning from those who they are mentoring. No longer does the organization have an intellectual property “leak” because knowledge is being shared.
Leadership assessments: Have you interviewed and given all of your team members a leadership assessment? Seniority should not dictate promotion; the most prepared and willing should be your next promotion.
Succession planning: Does your organization have a plan in place for all leadership roles?

I build content and programs for organizations, and the first thing I ask for is an outline of the above. And if there is content for the programs, I ask for that as well. You see, 100% of organizations have blind spots in developing and lifting leaders in their organization. Not by neglect, but by default.

I welcome your questions on where to start or am willing to look at your current plan. Please contact us today, as we are committed to adding value to leaders–which is everyone. Reality kicks our pants! No matter what you do or where you are, people are looking to you for the next step through your actions.

Challenge Question: Where is reality kicking your leadership pants?

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

Deloitte University Press Link

Global Leadership Survey & Data Link

Tracy Worley (2015) Authentic Leadership, Authentic Self

Canwell, Dongrie, Neveras, Stockton (2014), Deloitte University Press

“100 MPH, A Steering Wheel, and Montana Highway Patrol Changed My Mind”
by Tracy Worley, Marc Moss with Tell Us Something

Sorry, listening to the audio on this website requires Flash support in your browser. You can try playing the MP3 file directly by clicking here.

Tell Us Something | Oops I Changed My Mind

Posted on Sunday, June 28, 2015

[Success Secret Sauce] Series 4/8: Discouraged Heart Over The Mountain

Tracy Worley

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

Attitude is the difference in moving forward without quitting.

What tools of discovery will take you to the next level of your secret sauce?

Discouragement for me is that deep sink in my tummy where fight or flight comes to my mind. This is where my awareness turns to the understanding that this is NOT a great time to make decisions. Why? Because within discouragement you may also be experiencing fear of change, problems or failure, and our imagination creates larger obstacles.

My husband and I do a lot of mountain peak hiking, and to our wonder we will see people turn around before they get to the top. With only a short way to go people stop and turn around thinking they have “seen it.” However, when we get to the top there are views of glacial lakes, butterfly fields, and miraculous views of wildlife.

“Ninety percent of those who fail are not actually defeated. They simply quit.” ~ Paul J. Meyer.

It is my desire to walk alongside you to have an encouraged heart to the top!

Most people quit due to wrong expectations, and this gives them a way to just give up instead of GET UP! So find the right perspective in your expectations. No matter how dark life seems, it does get better through your tenacious attitude and secret sauce of success.

This story paints a perfect picture of no matter how things look now, the right perspective encourages heart for you and your team. A man stopped to watch a Little League baseball game. He asked one of the players on the bench what the score was.

“We’re behind eighteen to nothing,” the boy answered.

“Well,” remarked the man, “I have to say you sure don’t look discouraged.”

“Discouraged?” the boy said, puzzled. “Why should we be? We haven’t come up to bat yet.”

What benches are you stuck on discouraged because you cannot see to the next inning? The most successful people overcome the greatest obstacles. Their success did not come from circumstances, but from their attitudes.

Paralysis of perfection will keep you from obtaining and creating your success. Be tenacious and look at life realistically, where you are, where you want to go, and do not despair! Move forward with the mountain-top in mind and rest in the valley of perseverance and tenacious attitude toward serving those you are meant to serve.

It has taken me five years to learn this lesson well and keep moving, even when it looks like everything is against me. Reality usually shows its true colors, and nothing is impossible!

And together we stand at life’s crossroads

And view what we think is the end,

But God has a much bigger vision

And He tells us it’s only a bend.

For the road goes on and is smoother,

And the pause in the song is a rest.

And the pat that’s unsung and unfinished

Is the sweetest and richest and best.

So rest and relax and grow stronger.

Let go and let God share your load,

Your work is not finished or ended,

You’ve just come to a bend in the road.

Success in your personal and professional life is taking an ingredient from all our experiences, wins, fails, bloodied knees, and elation of success. The idea of creating you from a recipe card is a false expectation to be like everyone else. Your journey to the top is a pinch of this, a teaspoon of that, and a cup of tenacious attitude.

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

Are curious! Do you want to find your secret sauce of being a Difference Maker, and create original ideas through your natural gifts? New series starting in June!

5 Steps to Create The Future You Want

Top4 Is Your Core: Build Your Solid Foundation

John C. Maxwell (2006). The Difference Maker

Tracy Worley (2015) Authentic Leadership, Authentic Self

Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio

Are you a difference maker or a mood breaker? We all know someone who walks into the room and the mood changes from “life” to “silent hiding”. Why? Because no one wants to talk to this person because they are the life sucker who not only takes but also puts you down and keeps you there.

What is your secret sauce to being a difference maker in your life?

I write, speak, and teach attitude often as this is the one thing you have control over and can make the decision how you are going to enter and leave the room. How you are entering and leaving conversations, and most importantly how do you make people feel. Everyone remembers how you made them feel over all other things you give them.

“Your attitude colors very aspect of your life. It is like the mind’s paintbrush, you see the world as you are!”

Personality – Who You Are
Environment – Who and What is Around You
Self-Image – How You See Yourself
Beliefs – Judgement
Choices – Action

Challenge Question: Where are you a Difference Maker in your community?

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

Create Your Secret Sauce

Are curious! Do you want to find your secret sauce of being a Difference Maker, and create original ideas through your natural gifts? New series startingn in June!

Event: 5 Steps to Create The Future You Want

John C. Maxwell (2006). The Difference Maker
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio

Date:	June 8, 2015
Time:	8:30 a.m MST
Appearance:	GRACEbreak Radio \| Are you a difference maker? Series 1 of 8
Outlet:	GRACEbreak Radio
Location:	Montana
Format:	Radio

To grow as a leader, you need to be mentored, either formally or informally. One of the best ways to take advantage of the opportunities is right here with our Potential Builders community.

Honored to be one of Sunrise Rotary’s 2015 speakers.

Presentation Title: Potential² Stop Giving Up Before the End of the Trail

Potential² Manifesto Find Yur Infinite Potential has you as your WHY. Who are you and why are you here? Before answering this question, I will tell you who I am and why I am here. Through decades of learning from the best mentors and my mistakes, I know my why. I wish this for you, too. It is my purpose to give you hope and courage to discover your potential, purpose and heart’s desire in and from life.

Most people use only a small fraction of their ability and rarely strive to reach their potential. A few years ago, my world came crashing down around me without my permission. Within a short period, I found myself divorced and downsized. I had hard choices: To live or die, or as my friend and mentor, Kary Oberbrunner, teaches, “be a victim or a victor.” I ask you, when life deals you “lemons’” are you choosing to live or die, to be a victim or a victor? From my life experiences, I found my Potential² and that is to gracefully inspire and empower others to achieve their infinite potential.

Definition: Infinite Potential (Potential²) is growing, learning, and adding value to self and others until we are no longer able to take another breath on this earth.
Outline:

Part One: Power of Potential
Without limitation, do you know who you are?
Part Two: What is Potential
Why finding your Potential² is important.
Part Three: Where to Start
Finding value in you.
Part Four: Potential²
Ten steps to your Potential².

Program Excerpts:

Potential² is growing, learning, and adding value to self and others until you no longer are able to take another breath on this earth. Potential² is living out the gifts and talents we are given and refining them to live the fullest life possible. Fullest life? Your potential carries a life and energy force of its own. When living within your gifts, your potential for joy and success comes naturally and without struggle. This equals your fullest life.

The first step to finding your gifts, talents, purpose, and potential is to devote time and energy to what you love doing. When you spend time in your strengths and gifts, you are creating the genius of your individual self; Potential². “Visioning our plan, gifts, and desires leads us to reach our Potential² and the courage to push out of our comfort zone.”

Date:	May 13, 2015
Time:	7:30 a.m.
Event:	Sunrise Rotary \| Missoula
Topic:	Potential² Stop Giving Up Before the End of the Trail
Venue:	Blue Canyon
Location:	Missoula, Montana
Public:	Public

Posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2015

5 Ways to Authentic Leadership

Tracy Worley

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

Authentic leadership is moving past the paralysis of perfection; keep moving forward with intentional belief success is yours. When I coach executives and teams on projects, 99% of the time what is holding them back to gleaning extraordinary success is the mindset of perfection. I call this the paralysis of perfection; you remain the same and glean the same results because you are unable to move forward.

Waiting for perfection often leaves you at the starting gate in the paralysis of EVERYTHING and EVERYONE must be perfect before you start. My advice to you, start even if it is ugly!

Life is not a straight line from start to finish; you have stop signs, obstacles, distractions, and tall buildings to climb toward your finish line to success. When living your authentic-self doors of opportunity you did not see before will appear. . . now which one will you choose? Below are guidelines to moving forward without perfection and finding the door(s) of opportunity you seek.

5 Ways to Authentic Leadership (Self)

Potential: Keep compounding interest (knowledge) on your strengths through coaching, educational opportunities, and mentoring others.
1. Gifts and Strengths; when you compound knowledge you become the ‘wisdom’ expert in your field.
2. Weakness; address weakness, be aware of them but do not dwell in weakness. Know what you’re potential and delegate area’s you do not excel in.
What You Want: Knowing what you want and understanding the belief “I can’t” simple does not exist if you are moving in and toward your potential. Everything is obtainable within your gifts, talents, and strengths. Yes, everything is obtainable within your gifts, talents, and strengths with the right attitude!
Character of Achievement: Character is your solid-foundation in supporting sustainable success. Authentic leadership (self) is your self-image and belief you can move toward your goals and finish with celebrated success.
Perfection: Your beliefs, dreams, passions, and growth to your desired goal. Perfection is who you are right now; this is the celebrated success of your perfection!
Celebration: If you love what you are doing, you are NOT willing to lose it.
1. Celebrate Wins: if you have a goal of closing 20 clients and 3 have signed. This is a time to celebrate the 3! These clients deserve your best in attitude and achievement of 3! And 3 is better than 0.
2. Celebrate Losses: taking time to learn and glean from losses creates bigger wins for tomorrow.

Authentic leadership is staying in love with what you love and allowing it ignites others; remember when you are living and celebrating your unique self; everyone wants what you are having.

“It doesn’t matter where you have been in the past or where you find yourself today. Growth comes from a positive attitude and the willingness to challenge your self-belief. Courage is the gift of becoming the person you are meant to be. The seeds of courage fuel your heart for change and the aspiration to possess the perfection of your dreams.” ~ Tracy Worley

Law of Character is the solid foundation to your life and life stance. Core of your character is your values, beliefs, experiences, and set points. Your dominate thoughts is what you will attract or detract from your success. Be firm with yourself by creating a solid-foundation of belief!

Law of the Lid is the limitation of achieving higher than you can today. A lid inhibits your ability to be more tomorrow than you are today. What self-limiting belief are you stating to be true? See yourself where you want to be and delete the truths you no longer need or want to hold true.

Law of Perfection is your beliefs, dreams, passion, and growth. Through humble learning you can find ‘perfection’ in your purpose, desires, passions, dreams, and value. Perfection is the truth you hold true and set new truths toward your success. Do not wait for ‘perfection’ as the world sees it, step forward without knowing the next step because life is messy and to achieve Authentic Leadership you must model perfection of not knowing ‘everything’ before moving forward. Step out of the paralysis of perceived perfection and move into your perfection of belief!

Law of Celebration is unfolding a more meaningful and greater expression of your leadership purpose. Success is staying in love with what you love and allowing it to ignite others to their authentic leadership style. Remember, when you are living and celebrating your authentic self; “they want what you are having.” If you love it, you are not willing to lose it.

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

Tracy Worley (2015) Authentic Leadership, Authentic Self

Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio

Posted on Thursday, May 7, 2015

Failure is a Highly Valued Commodity

Tracy Worley

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

Gratitude is the grounding wire for success and your core values. Too often I work with clients where employee engagement and culture in the tank (toilet tank that is). Usually, the number one reason is non-gratitude of wins, failures, which create a culture of entitlement.

One of my favorite books I picked up in 2006 written by John C. Maxwell, The Difference Maker. I have notes, marker, post-its, and dog-eared pages in this book. Last year at one of our yearly meetings I brought this old tattered book and asked John to sign it. This is truly one of my treasured lesson books for my personal and professional life stance.

Attitude is gratitude, embracing failure and wins on equal measure, and having the awareness to truly make a difference in everything you do! “Failure doesn’t mean you’ll never succeed. It just means it will take longer.” ~ John C. Maxwell

In conversation with corporate recruiters one of the top questions they are asking candidates; “Is there a project you worked on that was a total fail? If so, what did you learn.”

You see failure costs but only if you did not learn from it! Fortune 100-500 companies want to hire “learned failure” because the company you are coming from already paid the price. You are now a highly valued commodity if you show what your learned, how you applied new principles, built the strength to last, tenacity to keep moving forward, you gained the experience and wisdom to lead through imperfection without entitlement.

As leaders and everyone is a leader of one (self) find time in your agenda to write down what you are grateful for. Even if it is as simple as the glorious Grande Skinny Cinnamon Dolce from your favorite barista, find at least one thing to be grateful for. This compounds interest toward future success because you are not filtering awareness in entitlement but in the gratitude of imperfection and creating valuable momentum toward success.

Entitlement is the root cause of low employee engagement and creates cultures of non-performance and no accountability toward success. Modeling the behavior of gratitude and taking imperfection lessons into wins is what brings your organization from average to the top!

Here are a few areas to find and show gratitude:

Apologize to your children, spouse, coworkers, customers, and generally other people you may have failed.
Seek understanding of the situation and people to learn the truth.
Be aware of being defensive and take note is this worth keeping.
Serve your people, under, over, and near. Serving others without asking for anything in return will pay success forward at a faster pace!
Nothing is beneath you, if you find a task or position “beneath” you. Go spend a few hours or day doing this task as this will bring appreciation and empathy. You will lead better from the experience than the entitlement seat.
Seat of entitlement, you cannot lead from here. If you do this for long you will be over thrown, and perhaps not in a violent way but you will be overthrown with low employee engagement and morale.
Imperfection and failure should be modeled as a learning experience. Remember it took Thomas Edison 10, 000 tries to get the light-bulb right. “I just learned one more way of not how to make the light-bulb.” ~ Thomas Edison

Challenge: Take a few notes of areas you are “entitled” and where can you take this to embrace, learn, and serve your people this week!

Look UP & OUT,

Tracy Worley

Failure is a Highly Valued Commodity

RESOURCES

Tracy A. Worley (2015)
John C. Maxwell (2006) The Difference Maker
Dr. Henry Cloud (2004) 9 Things You Simply Must Do

Posted on Friday, April 24, 2015

Are You Curious Enough To Grow Your Business?

Tracy Worley

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

“Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

Curiosity is the desire to know with interest leading to intellectual curiosity. Be honest, we are all “that” kid who peeks!

DO YOU ASK WHY? I have a confession, I am that person in the board room who asks, WHY? I do not ask to hold up development but asking why creates discovery in other possibilities.

Have you noticed when people ask you why, it forces you to dig deeper in intellectual reasoning and sometimes your WHY is not big enough.

Curiosity is a developed thirst for knowledge, interest in life, people, ideas, experiences, events, and living in a state of wanting to learn more.

The more you know compounds interest in knowledge, wisdom, and awareness to the next steps of success.

The greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions. ~ Peter Drucker

Be curious – ask questions
Have a beginners mindset
Make WHY your favorite boardroom word
Spend time with other WHY people
Learn something new daily
Embrace failure

Experience is not the best teacher; evaluated experience (failure/wins) is.

Keep looking for the right answer
Get over yourself – do not care what other people “think” because they are asking the same question but not daredevil enough to
Jump out of your box (step into other peoples worlds)

There ain’t no rules around here! We’re trying to accomplish something! ~ Thomas Edison

Schedule in your daily calendar to ENJOY LIFE! Curiosity will increase your knowledge and business bottom line by believing in your vision, team, and WHY.

A great way to start to ask why, experience new success outside of yourself today is to do something you have never done before. Ask different questions, take a gardening class, learn how to golf (or something you have always wanted to try).

Being outside of yourself and daily agenda brings healthy curiosity to grow your business. ~ Tracy Worley

Look UP and OUT,

Tracy Worley

Want to learn more? Click Below:

John C. Maxwell (2012). 15 Invaluable Laws of Curiosity, Chap12.
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio

Posted on Thursday, April 23, 2015

You Don’t Always Get What You Want, You Always Get What You Choose

Tracy Worley

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

Success is a succession of trade offs, you have to give up to go up. The most successful people apply this concept by reviewing their activity often – what they can delegate, what no longer serves a purpose, and the hardest part of this rule is who to give up people to go up. I am not stating to dump your colleagues, family, and friends but to evaluate trading to sustain a higher level of success as you move up. Moving up is all about your potential and what potential means to the quality and quantity of your life.

Think about when you were a toddler riding a tricycle it is easy because there is safety of balance. The next step is a two-wheeler with safety wheels and at some point you decide it is time to trade-up and choose to feel the independence and speed of two wheels. The excitement, fear, and doubt were intoxicating – you knew you would fall but the choice to get what you want over-powers fear and doubt to your success of two wheels.

Your life is all about trade-offs and choice. I love this statement, the hardest part about stealing second base is taking your foot off of first base. I dare you take a stand and give up to go up to be the best you can be every day. No one embraces change or wakes up every morning and states “what can I change today.” I guarantee when you give up – opportunities you did not see before will appear! Eric Hoffer states, “People will cling to an unsatisfactory way of life rather than change in order to get something better for fear of getting something worse.”

Steps and Benefits to Choosing Trade-Offs:

Trade-Offs Are Opportunities
- What are the pros-cons | Will you go through this change, or grow through this change
Next Level To Your Potential
- What are you willing to give up to go up? What or who will you have to give up?
- Note: not willing to give up something is a key reason most people do not reach their potential
Trade-Offs Force You to make Personal Changes
- When you want something you have never had, you have to do something you have never done before.
- Change is always possible
  - Change is Personal: to change your life, you need to change
  - Change is Possible: You will be rewarded when you change
Loss of Trading Is usually Felt Before Opportunity
- This is the main reason people fear change, it might hurt a bit (Go back to your two-wheeler)
- Transition between change and the fruit of the change is a powerful time of renewed self

Each success only buys an admission ticket to a more difficult problem. ~ Henry Kissinger

Trade-Offs Can Be Made At Any Time
- Better health, habits, education, etc. . . – It is rarely “too late” to make a change
A Few Trade-Offs Come Only Once
- Go back to pro-cons, timing etc. . .
The Higher Your Success (Climb), The Tougher The Trade-Offs
- Many people stop growing because they have reached a height for which they are no longer willing to work to get higher
- The skills you have today are not the skills to get you to the next level
- Consider your potential – what will it feel like to trade-off to get to your next level of success?
Trade-Offs Never Leave Us The Same
- Fear of change is you will be different on the other side – yes, you will. Is where you are today where you want to remain tomorrow?
Trade-Offs Not Worth the Price
- Trade-offs that will damage, harm or even ruin an entire life
- Delayed gratification through the above analysis ensures damage is avoided
- Value question for all of us. . . is it worth the price?

The only job security we have is our individual commitment to personal development. ~ Kevin Turner

Trade-Offs Worth Making
- Financial security for potential tomorrow
- Giving up immediate gratification for personal growth
- Willing to give up the fast life for the good life
  - Delegate to others | Do what you do best and drop the rest
  - Control your calendar or someone else will
  - Do what you love because it will give you energy | Work and play with people you like so your energy is not depleted
- Give up some security for significance
  - You will not achieve your potential while remaining in a safe place (get off your tricycle)
  - Significance means taking chances on others too by helping them find their potential
- Be willing to give up addition for multiplication
  - Lead others who will lead
  - Seek collaboration partners for just about everything | Share, not hoard, resources and knowledge with others
  - Share credit for achievement | Be a conduit for blessings, not a reservoir of assets – the more we give the more we receive

I challenge you to reflect on the above and ask yourself: Am I on a tricycle of safety or am I continually giving up to go up feeling the freedom of a two wheeler!

Start with one area you have identified to trade-off and once you have done the first one the rest of the area’s will be easier to keep steady and balanced toward the success you desire and deserve!

Want to learn more? Click Below:

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

John C. Maxwell (2012). 15 Invaluable Laws of Trade-Offs, Chap11.
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio

Posted on Monday, April 20, 2015

Are You Applying Tension To Where You Are Today And Where You Could Be Tomorrow

Tracy Worley

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

Tension to success is not hearing, “not tonight dear I have a headache”. Tension to success is consistent applied pressure to your growth and stretching into something and someone bigger and better tomorrow.

My tension started in 2001 when I moved hundred of miles away from my hometown to take on a new job, city, friends, and to top it off the population was only several thousand. This move and new job was a huge stretch and paid off in learning and gleaning so much over-time. Eventually, I had to find new ways to stretch my growth. Truly, with a small population to continue my growth I had to seek opportunity outside of the community. This meant online training, masterminding across the miles, and reading books from authors I admired and without knowing this stretching one of those author mentors would become a friend, mentor, and business partner; John C. Maxwell.

In 2011 when I had an opportunity to “jump” the opportunity to partner with John C. Maxwell opened and I was prepared to walk-through.

On stage with world leaders, co-collaborators, and John C. Maxwell.

Tension is thinking of a rubber-band how you pull there is tension, release, and then do it over and over; after a time the rubber-band cannot go back to it’s original shape. This is what happens when you keep applied pressure/tension to your growth you are never the same again. By applying consistent pressure you will quickly and easily become the top in your field. Why? Because few people want to be uncomfortable, learn, and stretch outside of their comfort zone.

Benefits Of Applying Tension:

Few People Want to Stretch: 42% of college graduates never read a book after college, too many people are willing to sett for average.
Settling for the Status Quo Ultimately Leads to Dissatisfaction: Familiar patterns are easy, take an inventory of where you are taking it easy and apply pressure.
Stretching Always Starts from the Inside Out: our choices start our movement and movement creates significance. James Allen states, you cannot travel within and stand will without.”
Stretching Requires Change: most people do not like change but to claim the reward of success you must be willing to do something different today to be and do different tomorrow.
Stretching Sets You Apart from Others: ask yourself if “good enough is good enough”, if it is then no worries. If you are not satisfied then it is never to late to improve yourself. When you do excellence always shines through and when you get better so will others.
Stretching Becomes a Lifestyle: As I shared at the beginning I kept stretching and as I did other opportunities became available and I was ready for them. As a lifestyle stretching creates an energy of attraction where people do want what you are having.
Stretching Gives You a Shot at Significance: you can continually add significance to self, others, community, and the world but it takes consistent applied tension to keep it.

Keep stretching to the end, I love Mahatma Ghandi’s statement, “the difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”

I truly believe everyone can have a life of significance it just takes a bit of applied pressure to stretch into something more!

If you won’t be better tomorrow than you were today, when what do you need tomorrow for? ~ Rabbi Nachman

Apply tension to your Keep It Simple Silly Strategic plan and think about what significant action you could take if only you become what you could be. Dream big, and set this as your lifetime goal! ! Not sure where to start , please feel free to contact me!

Want to learn more? Click Below:

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

John C. Maxwell (2012). 15 Invaluable Laws of Rubber Band, Chap10.
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio