Life Begins at 40

Hit a big marker in my life yesterday.  The BIG 4-0.  But I've never been more excited about a birthday year than I am right now.  And I've actually been looking forward to it for a couple of years.  In the way we look forward to Jan 1...a fresh start, a new lease on life.  

I started realizing a couple of years ago that I've been coasting through most of my life.  I've made a lot of mistakes, and I have a lot of regrets (just like all of us do).  But the most encouraging part of the journey is the realization that I can choose to live differently.  

I can choose to put in the work so that I can have the life that others just dream about.  I can choose to eat diffently, think differently, love differently, work differently, engage differently.  The outside world is out of my control.  What happens to me or the people I care about is out of my control.  But from 40 on, the things that are in my control I'm going to treat differently.  

Every day is a gift...the choice is whether you'll give each day the intentionality it deserves.  Add a bunch of intentional days together and what you have is a culmination of life's great work.   

Life begins at 40 for me...it may be 20, 30, 70, 90, 13 for you.  It's just a decision.  But we all need markers to chart our progress.  Find yours as soon as you can. 

God Bless, 

ABB

Walt Sells Snow White

As leaders, the ability to tell and sell the story of your organization to your team and to your clients is critical to success.  Every week, we’ll take a glimpse at a great leadership story, and learn how to apply it to our own lives.  

We’ll often remember a story more than we will a principle.  My goal is to give you something you can take with you.  Below is an amazing story from one of my all-time heroes: Walt Disney.

The following is taken from PBS’s documentary, “Walt Disney: The Triumph of American Imagination.”

One winter night in 1934, Walt Disney gave a group of his staff 50 cents each and told them to get dinner across the street before returning to meet him at the Disney soundstage.

When they arrived, they found Disney standing alone in the spotlight on a dark stage. For the next several hours, they watched in awe as he acted out the story of "Snow White" — the Grimm brothers' fairy tale that they would, he announced, be turning into a full-length animated feature film. In an effort to show his team exactly what would transpire on the screen, he channeled the voice and emotions of each character, from the wicked queen to the seven dwarves.

Disney and his staff had spent the last few years working on "Silly Symphonies," a series of animated short films that earned him a reputation as the man who turned animation into a fine art. But as the documentary notes, Disney was itching for another adventure — and he managed to persuade his team that they were ready, too.

"We were just carried away," one animator recalled of Disney's solo performance. "I would have climbed a mountain full of wildcats to do everything I could to make 'Snow White.'"

...When Walt gave his personal performance of Snow White for his animators, he showed them his passion for the project.  In those moments, Walt’s staff was able to see through his eyes, and only then did they learn to carry the same drive and initiative toward the project that it would entail.  

No one in animation had attempted such a feat.  It would take grit and determination beyond what the animators had ever done before.  But they were convinced they had to do it that evening when Walt told the story.  

The passion that you tell your story with your team will determine their buy-in.  Give your team something to believe in...something to be a part of...something to belong to.  It makes all the difference in the world.

God Bless,

-AB3

I'm Through With Complaining

Please bear with me for a moment.  I've spent entire too much energy and wasted moments over the last few years complaining about things that are either out of my control or don't matter very much.  

The truth about our complaints....no one really wants to hear them!  No one cares!!  Then why do we do it?  What sick, twisted satisfaction do we get out of telling other people the most mundane and trivial complaints about our every day lives??  "Man, that traffic"..."the weather is ridiculous"..."can't catch a break"...and so on and so on and so on.  And that's the easy stuff we complain about...some of us are walking billboards for the downtrodden. 

While I know all of us have real life problems that are not all sunny and positivity, and I'm not making light of people that really struggle with depression and incredibly challenging situations.  

But, there are so many circumstances that we need to just readjust, and make one little shift in our perspective.  We could do it right now, and we could do it together...ready?  Ok, here it is:

I CHOOSE NOT TO COMPLAIN!

There, that felt good.  That was easy.  Not today...not tomorrow...and then we go from there.

Once we remove complaining from our vocabulary, a shift starts to happen in the direction of gratitude.  And that's when we start to see real growth.  

Life is too short...God is too good.

-ABB

Find the Benefit

I may not know much about you, but I’m pretty sure you’re looking for a breakthrough in some part of your life.

It may be in your career / finances / relationships / health...or any combination of these or other factors...but we need some chips to fall into place.

I want to present to you a perspective that I think will help, whether your breakthrough comes or not. That perspective is called benefit. Your circumstances will never happen the way you want them to. Life will always find a way to kick you in the rear. We live in a broken world...what else should we expect. But one key to finding an inner peace that we’re all looking for is to find the benefit. Every situation viewed through the lens of “this is working for my benefit” will change everything!

When things go your way, it’s easy to tell ourselves, “this is working for my benefit.”

But when things don’t go your way (and most of the time, they don’t), we still should be telling ourselves, “this is working for my benefit.” There is a lesson in everything, you just have to be looking for it to understand it.

Just remember, you’ll never be successful if you’re blaming others (this includes God). Find the benefit...find the lesson...and then you’ll discover the truth.

This is why Romans 8:28 is so powerful...Paul tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

All things...

Didn’t say all things were good...but that God works them for our good.

You have a purpose...and He’s working them out toward that purpose if you’ll just trust Him.

Find the benefit. Change your story...change your life!

­ABB

Doing Something for the Sake of Doing Something

Writers have to write…

Creators need to create…

Engineers have to design…

It’s all in our DNA.  It’s all been given to us.  

Whatever it is that you do and you do well...just do that.  And do it consistently and do it forever.  

Why are we so obsessed with retirement, and looking forward to doing nothing?  To me, that sounds awful.  I want to learn and teach for the rest of my life!  

This is our journey...this is our calling.  I love to read about the people that break the mold and start something.  And you know what’s really fascinating about these people?  We read about them because they did something!  You know who we never read about?  The millions of people who never chased their dreams.  

All things considered, I haven’t accomplished much to this point in my life.  But the good news is...I’m still here.  So as long as I have breath in my lungs, God’s not done with me yet.  And he’s not done with you either.  

Whatever it is you do that makes you who you are, start doing that.  And do that every day for the rest of your life.  And the accumulation of the stuff that you do might change the world.  Not doing it will surely leave this place the same way you found it.

Rant is over...thanks for participating.

-ABB

Why XYZ?

I changed my website URL yesterday.  It was time.

But what started out as a convenience decision turned into something significant...and it really began to resonate with me.

You can now visit my site at alexbarrett.xyz ...I thought it sounded cool.  It’s easy to remember.  After all, if Alphapet (Google) moved their site (most clever one of all time: abc.xyz) over, I could too!

I thought I was just changing the address.  I think I was changing the way I wanted to look at my life.

XYZ…

I’m turning another year older today.  The closer I get to 40 the more I start to think about legacy.  Every day is another opportunity to write my story in a way that others might actually be interested in it after I’m gone.

Will I leave this world a better place because I was here?  

I feel like my life story is just beginning.  I’ve just been performing dress rehearsals up to this point.  The next chapter begins, and it’s the XYZ of my life that I want to impact.

XYZ…

I’ve always been pretty good at ideation / starting new projects / the front end / the launch.  And I’ve always been a proponent of leveraging your strengths.  But I want to do better at finishing well, too.

I’m an ABC guy...but I want to start with the mindset of the finish.  I can take the first step...I need to focus on the next step...so that my final step is on the mountain top.

I think you need both.  The faith to start, and the faith to complete.  

XYZ…

Legacy matters.  Tomorrow will eventually be today.  The ABCs are ready to go, and I just want to keep pushing them to the XYZs.  I hope you’ll join me.  I want us to get there together!

God Bless,

-ABB(XYZ)

4 Reasons to Just Start

I've been diving into John Maxwell's book Intentional Living, and so far I can just tell that this might be his greatest and most important book he's ever written.  It really is the kind of book that can change your life if you adhere to the principles.  It's more than leadership advice and practicality...it's a life plan of significance.  

The section I'm reflecting on right now is focused on the start.  So many of us are crippled with the execution of the first step that we never attempt that dream that's in our hearts.  Well, I've been that person for way too long, and I don't want to carry this regret any further.  I want to see God move on our behalf.  I want to be a part of lives changed from death to life.  I want to help leaders grow leaders.  There is a mission in your heart, it's time to start!  Here are some thoughts from Maxwell:

1. Start Where You Are

-We trick ourselves by looking at our current situation in comparison with the dream that's in our heart.  The goal is too big, because look at what we have to work with...but the truth is there is always a small beginning.  I heard a great quote that states we overestimate what we can do in the short term, but greatly underestimate what we can do over a lifetime of faithfulness.  You have to start small...and that's just fine.

2. Start With Your One Thing

-Maxwell states that everyone has one thing that they're just better at than everyone else.  The key is discovering what that one thing is.  Once you find the intersection of that one thing with your passion, you become unstoppable once you start.  If you're having difficulty with purpose and meaning, start with the place where your talent and passion collide.

3. Start Watching Your Words

-I completely agree with this philosophy that our words shape our future.  What you think about yourself, but also speak about your situation has a dramatic impact on your success.  Start speaking words of life and encouragement over not only yourself, but others as well.  A positive outlook in every situation will always serve you well, and making a decision to commit to this shift will put your goals and dreams set in the right direction.

4. Start by Making Small Changes

-What are the small steps you can implement today to make the "start" happen?  You have a long term goal in mind...so what are the several short-term wins that will put you on the trajectory towards that goal?  The key is small improvements every day.  You're not where you want to be...I know, me neither!  But let's focus on being better today than we were yesterday.  Consistent small improvements are vital.  

I really hope you'll make the decision to start working toward your dreams, if you haven't already.  The world is full of people who are harnessing regret in their purposes, often because they were afraid just to start.  Make it easy on yourself...start small...but start today.

God Bless,

-ABB

4 Steps to Developing Your Brand Story

At heart, we are all storytellers.  Some relish in it, while others reluctantly communicate it.  We turn everything into a story, because as a human race, we're drawn to the story.  Sometimes they get in the way...and sometimes we deliver them with an impact.  The truth is, today more than ever...marketing through storytelling has never been more important.

That's why I believe there are 4 key steps to developing your own brand story.  You'll convey your personal or company narrative along the way through each of these stages, but always make sure you're bringing it back to the concept of adding value by telling a compelling story.

1. Build Your Network

     - As a storyteller and a marketer, you have to find an audience to listen, or you will be delivering dead air.  But before you can even find your audience, you must focus on developing a network of like-minded individuals / partnerships that care about the message that you're attempting to deliver.  You have to know the type of tribe you want to build before you actually build it.  Find out who the influencers are in your market.  Add value to other storytellers' spaces, in order to set things in motion.

2. Build Your Audience

     - Now that you have started to build relationships with like-minded storytellers in your niche, it's time to build your own audience.  You want to tell stories that passers-by will stop and take notice.  Attention grabbing at this stage is ok...there is a lot of competition for eyeballs.  But just make sure that once you have their brief attention, you give your audience something worth coming back for.  You may get one chance...make it count!

3. Build Your Community

     - Your compelling story has now built an audience that decided to come back for more.  So what's next?  Now you have to make it personal.  Your brand must interact...it must communicate personal value...it must engage.  Your community must know that they are the heroes of the story, not your brand.  Your brand is simply a tool that allows them to become the hero.  

4. Maintain the Tribe

     - This is probably the easiest step in the process.  For many brands, once you've developed the community, maintenance is often all that is required to keep your tribe.  However, there still has to be consistent value that must be met, so you can't ignore the story or those to whom you're delivering it.  The key in this stage is to keep showing up // keep adding value.  

As a storyteller, you have to put in the work to make a big impact.  You need to demonstrate that you know how the story is developed according to the individuals in your community / tribe.  As a storyteller marketer, be aware to constantly process the things around you in terms of story.  Start doing this practically by making a list of stories in your own life.  It will start the process, and will also serve as a library of stories to revert back to when needed.  

Everyone loves a good story.  Learn how to deliver ones that adds value, and you will always find an audience.  The key is to turn the audience into a tribe.  

You're a storyteller...go tell.

-ABB

4 Keys of Self-Awareness

As a leader, I need you to pay a considerable amount of time to mindfulness and being self-aware. The reason this is so important is because I want you to take personal inventory of your strengths and weaknesses...then move 100% in the direction of your strengths.  Therefore, because strength recognition is so important in leadership (and life in general), we need to take a quick look at the keys to developing this skill:

1. Commit to Being 100% Accountable

     - Once you make the decision to chase after your strengths, you're going to need to take a little personal inventory.  This can be difficult, but you need to be honest with yourself and really dive deep assessing your strengths and weaknesses.  If you have difficulty evaluating these traits, ask those who know you best to give you real and honest feedback.  They need to be unafraid to hurt your feelings at this point...it's vital that you know the truth.

2. Decide to Bet on Yourself

     - Now that you have a working list of strengths and weaknesses, you need to throw the liabilities out with the trash.  The areas that you struggle no longer get to define you!  It's time to bet on yourself, and that means moving completely in the direction of your strengths!  Life is short, and the struggle for your attention is real...quit giving your shortcomings any more than it deserves.  

3. Passion Overcomes Intent

     - We all have good intentions.  Unfortunately, intentions don't amount to much in life and success.  There is an intersection between our strengths and our passions that is the sweet spot of success.  Becoming self-aware gives us the opportunity to chase after that intersection, but you have to be willing to go after it.  Make the first step today towards action...dreaming without action is debilitating.  

4. Pay the Price

     - Self-awareness as a leader means understanding that sacrifice is not only inevitable but beneficial.  Leaders must go first, because you can't lead someone where you've never been.  But if you're leading in the capacity of your strengths and your passions, it will not always be easy...but it will always be worth it.  If you believe in the purpose, you'll pay the price without hesitation.

There is a reason why meditation is such a common thread among top leaders and successful entrepreneurs.  There must be a decompression mode where we can take personal inventory of who we are and properly align our purpose and passion.  This will probably look different for everyone, and you need to find your own variation of your quiet time, but make it a priority in your life.  

God made you for a specific purpose...He's never made a mistake or an accident.  Your growth in self-awareness and dependence on Him will help you find that intersection of strength and passion that He designed you for.  I pray that you're going to drop that weakness...pick up your strengths...and start walking down that path today.

-ABB

4 Questions I Want You To Ask Yourself

The way you begin each day is critical to your success.  It sets the path in motion for the general attitudes and perceptions that will enable you to tackle what lies ahead.  After all, life is tough, and it comes at you pretty fast.  Wouldn't you want to be prepared for it every time you wake up?  I believe you have a much better chance of doing that if you ask yourself the following 4 questions...everyday.

1. Do I want to a part of the problem or part of the solution?

    - There's really only 2 sides to this coin.  Most of the events / relationships / circumstances in life don't really lend themselves to neutrality.  Making a conscious decision to always try to add value to others and be a part of their solution will put you on a pathway to success and significance.

2. What am I doing consistently in my life that will make today better than yesterday?

     - I am convinced that the key to success in life is perseverance and consistency.  You have to keep showing up,no matter what.  There are no overnight success stories, and life is a marathon (& feel free to enter your own cliche here).  We're also looking for growth here, and you're not going to be a brand new version of you in one day...but you can be a better version of you today than you were yesterday.

3. Will I lead...or will I follow?

     - This one is vital for anyone with influence, because leadership is influence.  How will I lead my family today?  How will I lead my team / colleagues today?  It's also important to know that your leadership is sometimes reflected in how well you follow those who lead you.  Being aware of your need to lead in the spaces where it's required will set your day on a trajectory of success.

4. What am I thankful for?

     - Maybe this one should have been 1st, now that I'm thinking about it.  Even when it seems like everything is falling apart, we must find a way to enter into a posture of gratitude.  Often, it's finding the little things to be thankful for that set into motion our attitude for the day.  The mere fact that you were able to get up and experience a new day is a blessing in itself.  Put things in perspective as you start your day by being grateful...it will make a difference.

That's the 4 For Today...hope this adds value to your day.  Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider subscribing if you haven't already done so.  Start your day strong by asking questions...see you soon.

-ABB