In this case one picture is worth more than a thousand words!
Have a Great Masonic Day!
Archive for attitude
I was looking for reference material on building a vision to use in a presentation and ran across a copy of The Grand Lodge of Indiana’s mission statement. I thought it captured the essence of Masonry and in such a short statement outlines the mission we all should adopt. Here it is:
Mission Statement of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Indiana
adopted May 17, 2005
“The Mission of the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, was, is and shall be, to teach the art of Freemasonry to all Men of Good Character thus inspiring them to practice the art of Freemasonry in their homes, communities and daily lives. This Association of like minded men improves and strengthens the character of each Brother, reflecting Freemasonry and thereby perpetuating the values through the Fraternity.”
The Grand Lodge also further defines Masonry in their Declaration of Principles. Click here to read it.
We would all do well if we accepted these statements and lived them.
Have a Great Masonic Day!
Categories Leadership Blog, Leadership Lessons
I ran across this video a couple of years ago and thought it was a good way to say Merry Christmas to all. Santa has some great suggestions for leaders who have been good all year. Enjoy!
Have a Great Masonic Day!
Categories Leadership Blog, Leadership Lessons
There has been building for some time in a great number of organizations a momentous catastrophe that if not acknowledged and acted upon will have devastating results.
This event, a Leadership Cliff, will occur in these organizations because effective leaders are not being created throughout their entire organization. Ultimately, over time, this will cause a decline in purposeful intent and productive action that eventually will lead to organizational apathy.
This will occur because these organizations have failed to:
Properly select individuals with the proper qualifications to lead
Properly created a process of continuous leadership education
Recognize the importance of creating leaders not followers
Maintain an atmosphere where creative and innovative leaders can thrive
Realize the importance of a shared, inspiring vision
Create effective teams
Understand a sense of urgency exists
Remember what they believe
Practice what they believe
Believe
All of these failures can be fixed. Good leaders understand how. Go find some people and make them leaders.
Have a Great Masonic Day!
Categories Leadership Blog, Leadership Lessons
Have a Great Masonic Day!
Categories Leadership Blog, Leadership Lessons
Checklist for a Successful Day by Mark Sanborn
Our lives are the sum total of the choices we make and the things we do each day. That’s why I’ve developed my checklist for a successful day. I’ll share it with you in the hope, that this will become a check list that you will use for making every day, extraordinary.
- Did I tell or show someone that I loved them?
- Did I compliment or praise someone I live or work with today?
- Did I read a book or listen to a tape that stimulated my thinking?
- Did I increase my skill in my profession?
- Did I do something for good health?
- Am I closer to my goals than when I woke up this morning?
- Did I do anything tough or challenging to build discipline?
- Did I do something just for the pure joy of it?
- Have I taken time to reflect on the lessons of the day?
- Have I planned for another successful day tomorrow?
If you can answer yes to most of these questions, you have created a day of uncommon success.
Have a Great & Successful Masonic Day!
Categories Leadership Blog, Leadership Lessons
Read this quote.
“A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.” L.P. Jacks
Now insert the word Mason after the word master.
Have a Great Masonic Day!
Categories Leadership Blog, Leadership Lessons
Many times we overlook some simple things we can do to increase our Brothers’ participation in lodge meetings; here are five.
- Greet everyone when they arrive – Have the lodge officers come early, line up and make those attending feel genuinely welcome.
- Have a brother with an interesting profession or story present a program – We sometimes forget that there is a wealth of knowledge among our brethren.
- Talk to each other – Plan for time so that the brethren can just sit around and get to know one another.
- Pay particular attention to new brothers – Make sure they are introduced, include them in casual conversations and find out why they became Masons and what they hope to accomplish.
- Find the “Bright Spots” – If you have challenges as a lodge approach them in a positive manner and emphasize what’s right and work together to fix what’s wrong.
If you want some more ideas for lodge programming here is a link to some on The Grand Lodge of Michigan’ site.
Have a Great Masonic Day!
Categories Leadership Blog, Leadership Lessons
I found this and thought I would post it for all the time-challenged out there.
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Have a Great Masonic Day!
Categories Leadership Blog, Leadership Lessons
“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” John Lennon
If we all take the advice of John Lennon’s mom we will have a great start at being a happy person. She obviously understood that your life’s direction should begin with a healthy, positive attitude that starts with being happy.
Think about it. If you approach life with drudgery, despair and think only of your problems you will more than likely approach Masonry with the same attitude. So despite the how well you know HOW you should act as a Mason, you will not because your general attitude about life is one of unhappiness.
Start and live your day with happiness. Here are some suggestions:
- Do something that inspires you – read an inspirational quote, take a walk, or watch the sunrise.
- Think about everything you have you are thankful for – your friends, your family, your health or whatever it may be.
- Smile at everyone you encounter – Say hello and ask how they are.
- Call an old friend you haven’t talked to in a while – reminisce about the “good ole days.”
- Tell those most important to you that you love them.
Make happiness a habit and you will be a happy Mason.
Have a Great Masonic Day!
Categories Leadership Blog, Leadership Lessons