Steve Alessi: Author of Alessi’s Angle, Pastor of Metro Life Church in Miami, Husband of World Renown Worship Leader Mary Alessi and Father of Four. 
Early on
I realized that no matter my position, I would constantly be in the classroom
learning and developing because I was always being introduced to new
environments that were placing a demand on my leadership abilities. As one of
my old buddy's used to say, “New levels, new devils,” and sure enough with every advancement I was faced with
who I wasn't. So, a life-long journey has ensued because I know there's still
more to be accomplished and experienced in life.
What
about you? Have you ever wrestled with yourself? Are there leadership hurdles
you're encountering that are causing you to question yourself and your own
abilities? I'd like to borrow a lesson from Success Coach Lolly Daskal (www.lollydaskal.com) who I follow on Twitter @lollydaskal.
What Are
Your Limits? What's Holding You Back From Success?
Think
about your personal limits for a moment. Think about the things that are
standing between you and success. Write them down. List the barriers that will
prevent you from achieving your personal purpose. Then, take that note and fold
in half. Set it aside for a few moments.
Nothing
you wrote down is a barrier to success. None of those notes are a reason for
you to fail. They are not real limits. They are something else. They're
excuses. They are BS. Belief Systems that are keeping you playing and being
small.
You see,
the only real limits are internal. The only thing that can stop you from living
your passion and feeling a remarkable sense of achievement, wholeness and
success are self-imposed limits. You have the ability to make all of those
"reasons" you can't succeed disappear. Instantly. It's all a matter
of perspective and a willingness to recognize your infinite potential. You can
be the person you want to be. You have the power to make that decision. Your
limits are of your own making. Start removing them now. Take your list. Rip it into
shreds. It's time to move past excuses. It's time to say goodbye to limits and
hello to moving forward with your life.
Will
there be challenges? Of course. There will be setbacks and minor failures.
There will be changes and adjustments. There will be times when you have your
doubts. But there will never be a hurdle you can't clear and there will never
be a limit you can't break if you trust in yourself and your purpose.
Isn't
that good? When I first ripped my "list" of perceived limitations in shreds
the word RIP hit me hard. May all those excuses Rest In Peace. No longer will
they hold me back from being the leader God's created me to be.
If you
live in South Florida, another inspiring leader will be sharing her life and
secrets to successful leadership this weekend at Metro Life Church (www.metrolifechurch.com). Ret General Becky Halstead (www.beckyhalstead.com) was the first female graduate of West Point to be
promoted to General Officer, and served and commanded in combat as the first
female Commanding General at the strategic level of leadership in Iraq-leading
20,000 Soldiers and 5,000 civilians from 2005 to 2006 - a first for our Army
and our Nation. Check out the website for details of the program.
So what hurdles or personal limits are standing between you and success?
Great comments as always Pastor Steve.
As I believe you've stated before, the greatest enemy of my success is "in -a me." It's been a lifelong battle to overcome the internal pressure to conform and play it safe, rather than take the leaps of faith and be all that God has intended me to be. Every time I have stepped forward in faith and left former belief systems behind, God has been there to meet me with His confirmation and the resources to keep moving.
As I was reading your blog a image came to mind. Thinking within limits is like a fire in a pit, while thinking beyond limits is like a wildfire. The fire in a pit will be useful and controllable, but eventually burns out and never spreads its influence. A wildfire, as we all have seen, can be unpredictable, but spreads a huge influence on the surrounding areas. May our Godly influence spread like wildfire where it can ignite other people looking for the spark of God's inspiration.
Great words of Wisdom...Using some of this for my chapel service on Friday...Thanks Pastor.
Reminds me also as a leader that my people will rise
Great words, Pastor Steve! I love reading your blogs. Alex and I just finished reading a book about parenting & leadership; and I realized being a parent also means being a leader to your little ones.
Everyone wants to be a leader, whether at work, the household, or even a leader to your friends and family. However, it is very hard to fill in the shoes of a successful leader. In most cases, a leader is a role model. A leader is loved and respected, learns from their mistakes and have faith to make wise choices. We especially want to be the best leader as a parent.
I am guilty of "playing it safe". What holds me back? Not knowing how far I am willing to go to protect my children and whether or not to give them too much information that they are not ready for at their current age.
What gives me peace is knowing that we have faith to make the right choices and go up the right path. If we do not follow God's path, how are we to expect our children to follow our example. My husband and I make our oldest pray out loud with us and ask for guidance. He sometimes leads our dinner prayer to the end. Our second child watches carefully. Our oldest is being a leader to his little sister, just as he will be for his little brother one day. We rather our kids trust in God instead of trusting the sick world out there.
Jesus was a leader in his time on earth and he is still a leader in our hearts. What better path than that!
Sorry, I may have gone a little too far with this one...LOL.