Xpansion Code Radio

LAW 6 — CHAPTER 6: The Law of Environment

Growth Thrives In Conducive Surroundings

LEARN IT

“You Are Not A Victim”

I. Time For A Change

A. Discuss John’s idea that “If you are always at the head of the class, then you are in the wrong class.”

II. Change Depends On Your Choices

A. What is the relationship between Growth and Change?

B. List some of the things one can and cannot change.

C. What is the real impact circumstances usually have on your ability to change?

A. Choices when it comes to change:

1. Assess your current environment

A list of areas that may nurture you: Evaluate these on how they list you up even if you are not receiving in one or more of the areas: give the participants time to thinkon these things.

Music – What music lifts me up?

Thoughts – What ideas move me?

Experiences – What experiences give me energy?

Friends – Who encourages me?

Recreation – What activities give me energy?

Soul – What spiritual exercises strengthen me?

Hopes – What dreams inspire you?

Home – What family members care for me?

Giftedness – What blessings activate me?

Memories – What memories make me smile?

Books – What have I read that changes me?

LIVE IT

“Being Responsible For Your Change”

B. Change Yourself and Your Environment

1. Change yourself but not your environment – Growth will be slow and difficult

2. Change your environment but not yourself – Growth will be slow and less difficult

3. Change your environment and yourself – Growth will be faster and more successful

4. Understand that most people are NOT interested in actually growing!

5. As you consider your environment, ask these critical questions:

a. What nourishes me?

b. What keeps me alive?

c. What sustains me?

Consider this observation by one of John’s mentors, Elmer Towns: “The way to get a poker hot is to get it next to the flame.”

6. How does this statement work for you? What really gets you going and is the environment you are in doing this?

C. Change The People You Spend Time With

1. Discuss this idea: “We become the combined average of the five people we hang around the most.”

2. Do you have someone in your circle of friends who will hold you accountable for your growth? John recommends finding and accountability partner who will:

a. Love you unconditionally

b. Desire your success

c. Be mature

d. Ask you agreed upon questions

e. Help you when you need help

D. Challenge Yourself In Your New Environment

1. Make your goals public

2. Set a deadline for your goals

When learning from others such as a mentor, explore these questions with this person:

3. What is their strength?

4. What are they learning now?

5. What do I need right now?

6. Who have they met, what have they read, or what have they done that has helped them?

7. What have I not asked that I should have asked? – Ask your mentor this question.

E. Focus On The Moment

1. There is nothing about your past that determines your future

2. Right Now is the most important moment you have in your life.

F. Move Forward Despite Criticism

1. Growth always comes from taking action, and action will always bring some criticism. There is always someone to tell you are wrong.

2. To reach your potential, you must do what others, even yourself, believe you cannot do.

3. When you take charge of your life, you can cease gaining permission from others to grow!

G. A Note For Leaders

1. Leaders will always take responsibility for the growth of their organizations

Discuss the need for leaders to create a culture in their organization where:

• Others are ahead of some

• Each person is individually challenged

• The focus is always forward

• The atmosphere is affirming

• Creating a place designed to keep people out of their comfort zone

• Helping everyone stay excited

• Remembering that failure is not their enemy

• Keep others growing

• A place where change is desired

• Growth is modeled and expected.

LEAD IT

“When you live this law, you will show others the way and they empower

them to learn it and live it too.”

Facilitation Questions Options

OVERCOME GROWING PAINS

(Specific Steps to Amazing Growth)

Assess your current environment when it comes to growth answering true or false to these ten statements:

1. Others are ahead of me

2. I am continually challenged

3. My focus is always forward

4. The atmosphere is affirming

5. I am often out of my comfort zone

6. I wake up excited

7. Failure is not my enemy

8. Others growing

9. People desire change

10. Growth is modeled and expected.

If you answered false to five or more of these, your environment may be lowering your growth. What are you going to do about it?

Assess your personal growth in the three areas in this chapter:

• The right Soil – What nourishes me?

• The Right Air To Breath – What keeps me alive?

• The Right Climate To Live In – What sustains me?

Remember, growth comes best and effectively when your environment is aiding, not hold your back.

I am inviting you to check out my resources page. It is completely FREE and has a ton information and some downloads. You can find it at resources.xpansioncode.com.

I will be releasing new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

If you like this podcast, then check out my newsletter called Xpansion Press. Business content delivered to your inbox. Just click here to sign up.

LAW 5 — CHAPTER 5: The Law of Consistency

Motivation Gets You Going – Discipline Keeps You Going

LEARN IT

“Growth Is Not An Event”

I. How To Grow In Consistency

A. Do you know what you need to improve:

1. The previous chapter on “Reflection” should help clarify this

2. “The successful person has the habit of doing the things that failures don’t like to do. The successful person doesn’t like to do them either, but his dislike is subordinated to the strength of his purpose.”

– E. M. Gray

3. Have the participants reflect for a few moments on their own change needs

B. Do you know how you are supposed to improve?

1. To grow most people need knowledge, experience, and coaching.

2. Match your motivation to your personality

If you are certified to use any of the many personality profiles, this would be the place to begin exploring the use of these.

3. Not everyone has the same personality strengths

4. Start with the Simple Stuff

5. Small disciplines repeated with consistency everyday lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.

6. “Discipline” is really a muscle to be developed.

7. Be Patient

a. Don’t use the excuse of “failing” for losing discipline.

b. Practicing discipline will grow consistency.

c. Remember, you will miss 100 percent of the goals you never set.

8. Value the Process

a. In our “instant access” world, “process” is the victim.

b. You are exactly where you should be given all that you have done to get here – so the real question is, what habits do you need to change over time to make the difference?

c. Daily goals will pave the path to direction change, which will construct the road to total life change.

C. Do You Know Why You Want To Keep Improving?

1. This is the question of your own motives and life purpose

2. Take “The why Test”

a. Do you constantly procrastinate on important tasks?

b. Do you require coaxing to do small chores?

c. Do you perform duties just to get by?

d. Do you constantly talk negatively about your work?

e. Do efforts of friends to encourage you irritate you instead?

f. Do you start projects and abandon them?

g. Do you avoid self-improvement opportunities?

3. Has “quitting” become a habit?

a. Do you want to play “Chopsticks” or conduct an orchestra in your own life?

4. Even the small “right choices” over time become big victories.

D. Do You Know When You Are supposed To Improve?

1. Look at your watch: When does “someday” strike?

2. Life change must occur daily

3. Ask the participants to reflect for a few moments on two habits they need to change today.

LIVE IT

“Defining Growth As An Amazing Process”

I. Maybe It’s Time To Stop Setting Goals

Discuss the difference between being goal oriented and growth oriented: Your potential is not an event, goal or product. Your potential is a constant journey of discovery, growth, and insight.

III. Constantly Productive

A. John points out that even the greatest composers didn’t wait for inspiration

B. “Waiting” is often merely the excuse we use for not producing. But being consistent is the answer for productivity.

Goal Consciousness Growth Consciousness

Focuses on a destination –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Focuses on the journey

Motivates you and others ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Mature you and others

Seasonal –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Lifelong

Challenges you –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Changes you

Stops with the goal is reached –––––––––––––––––––––––– Keeps growing beyond the goal

Waits for growth to come – –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Takes responsibility to grow

Learns only from mistakes ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Learns before mistakes

Depends on good luck ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Relies on hard work

LEAD IT

“When you live this law, you will show others the way and they empower them to learn it and live it too.”

IV. Applying the Law of Consistency to your Life

Facilitation Questions Options

OVERCOME GROWING PAINS

(Specific Steps to Amazing Growth)

• Align your methods of motivation with your personality. Find one of the excellent methods for personality profiling.

• Remember, consistency is a muscle to be exercised. Do it daily.

• Seek as many “whys” as you can for motivation. Recall immediate benefits and long-term outcomes for your activities.

To Learn more about DISC Profile click the link below.

http://www.personalityservice.com/portal/CTMY/store

I am inviting you to check out my resources page. It is completely FREE and has a ton information and some downloads. You can find it at resources.xpansioncode.com.

I will be releasing new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

If you like this podcast, then check out my newsletter called Xpansion Press. Business content delivered to your inbox. Just click here to sign up.

LAW 4 — CHAPTER 4: The Law of Reflection

Learning to Pause Allows Growth To Catch Up With You.

LEARN IT

“Learning To Say, ‘Time Out’”

I. The Power of Pausing

A. Reflection turns experience into insight

1. Remind the participants that ever experience can be a learning experience

B. Everyone needs a time and place to pause.

1. Pausing will take intentional planned time

2. “If someone is going down the wrong road, they don’t need motivation to speed up. He needs to stop.

3. Reflection allows life’s Marker’s to become Makers

C. Pausing with intention expands and enriches thinking

1. Instead of saying, “Boy, I am glad that’s over”, say, “What can I learn from that?”

2. For leaders, a moment of thought is often worth more than an hour of talk.

D. When you take time to pause, use your I’s

1. Investigation – Pausing is about finding meaning is each experience

2. Incubation – Like Crock-Pot cooking, incubation allows experiences

and thoughts to grow to their own full potential

3. Illumination – The process of placing value on your experiences and performance. “They either applaud you or prod you” – Jim Rohn

4. Illustration – The process of expanding your experiences into

teachable lessons.

E. Good question are at the heart of reflection

1. Asking the “why” questions brings insight to experiences.

2. Practicing asking questions will give you better question asking skills.

LIVE IT

“Asking The Right Questions To Get The Right Answers”

II. Personal Awareness Questions

Explore these questions for a greater sense of your own awareness of who you are

A. What is my biggest asset?

1. Usually a mental trait

B. What is my biggest liability?

1. Usually an attitude or habit

C. What is my highest high?

1. An emotional response to life

D. What is my lowest low?

1. An emotional response to life.

E. What is my most worthwhile emotion?

1. What emotion drives you to the most success?

F. What is my least worthwhile emotion?

1. What emotion limits you the most?

G. What is my best habit?

1. The secret to a person’s success is found in their daily agenda

H. What is your worst habit?

1. What chronic behavior or feeling most limits you?

I. What is most fulfilling to me?

1. What really stokes your fire?

2. What makes you say, “I was made for this?”

J. What is my most prized possession?

1. This could be a personal trait, an achievement, a thing….

K. To experience growth in a specific area of your life, ask specific questions to that area of your life.

1. Review John’s developed questions regarding relationship and his 10 questions regarding personal growth on page 64.

2. Ask the participants to develop their own questions for their own areas of personal growth.

III. The Journey Is Worth The Trouble

A. This kind of introspection is rare, and most people will not engage it. Be sure to affirm the value of such time consuming and seeming tedious questioning.

B. Remember, seeking to know one’s self is the key to reaching your own potential.

C. Remind the participants that they have come this far, it’s not time to slow down in their own growth.

LEAD IT

“When you live this law, you will show others the way and they empower them to learn it and live it too.”

IV. Applying the Law of Reflection to your Life

Facilitation Questions Options

OVERCOME GROWING PAINS

(Specific Steps to Amazing Growth)

• Make it a top priority to find a place and time for personal reflection and question asking.

• Schedule time – don’t hope you find the time – to pause and reflect.

• Ask the participants to take time to ask themselves the questions contained in this chapter.

• Remind everyone that “We all walk with the limp we got” and that personal growth and change starts with personal awareness that is found in personal reflection and pausing.

I am inviting you to check out my resources page. It is completely FREE and has a ton information and some downloads. You can find it at resources.xpansioncode.com.

I will be releasing new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

If you like this podcast, then check out my newsletter called Xpansion Press. Business content delivered to your inbox. Just click here to sign up.

LAW 3 — CHAPTER 3: The Law of The Mirror

You Must See Value In Yourself And Add Value To Yourself

LEARN IT

“Developing Self”

1. Review the definition of “Potential”
2. Potential – latent or hidden qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness.

A. List some of the known barriers to one’s potential.

II. A Look In The Mirror – The Power Of Positive Self Esteem

1. Self-Image and Self Esteem
2. Self-Image - the idea one has of one's abilities, appearance, and personality.
3. Self Esteem - confidence in one's own worth or abilities.

2. Self-esteem is the single most significant key to a person’s behavior

3. Low self-esteem puts a ceiling on our potential

4. Discuss the idea that people are never able to outperform the self-image

A. The value we place on ourselves is usually the value others place on us.

5. Discuss the difference between understanding other’s views on us and placing too much weight in their view.

A. “If you place a small value on yourself, rest assured the world will not raise the price.”

LIVE IT

“Making The Turn Toward Positive Change”

III. Steps to Build Your Self-Image

A. Guard your self-talk.

B. What we “Say” about ourselves, we tend to believe. What we believe, we tend to act. What we act, we tend to become.

C. No World record was ever set by someone who said, “I cannot do this”

IV. Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

A. Making comparisons is an amazingly powerful attraction that is really just an unneeded distraction to your own potential.

V. Move Beyond Your Own Self-limiting Beliefs

A. Discuss this quote: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you are right.”

B. Charles Schwab said, “When a man puts a limit on what he will do, he places a limit on what he can do.”

C. Discuss these steps to transforming limiting beliefs into empowering beliefs:

1. Identify a limiting belief that you want to change

2. Determine how that belief limits you.

3. Decide how you want to act, feel, or think

4. Create a “turn around” statement that affirms or gives you the permission to act, feel or think differently.

D. Have the participants write down some powerful “I Am” “I Can” and “I Am Able” statements.

VI. Add Value to Others

A. Discuss the downward spiral of “low self-esteem” to “low value of others.”

B. Now discuss this quote: “It’s hard to feel bad about yourself when you are doing something good for someone else.”

VII. Do The Right Thing Even If It’s The Hard Thing

A. It sounds way too simple, but doing the wrong things does harm your self-image and doing the right things does raise your self-image.

B. If you can’t be true to yourself, to whom will you be true?

VIII. Practice A Small Discipline Daily In A Specific Are Of Your Life

A. Discipline is one of the most powerful morale builders

B. Ask the participants to think of just one small area of their life for which they could practice a clear and changing discipline.

IX. Celebrate Small Victories

A. Once you practice a specific discipline, then celebrate that as a victory!

B. Even small changes ARE change

C. Ask this, “Are you trying to change? Do you change even a little?” Then

YOU HAVE ALREADY SUCCEEDED!

X. Embrace A Positive Vision For Your Life Based On What You Value

A. “Take all your values, place them in a basket, and pour them out for the future”

B. Your values must drive your decisions for your future.

XI. Practice the One Word Strategy

A. If you could pick just one word to describe yourself, what would it be?

B. If the word you chose is not positive, then drop the word, and pick another!

XII. Take Responsibility for Your Life

A. You can maintain a positive self-image…but ONLY you can maintain a positive self-image.

B. If you look in the mirror and do not see a capable, worthy, and fully valuable person, you need to change either the reflection, or get a new mirror.

LEAD IT

“When you live this law, you will show others the way and they empower them to learn it and live it too.”

XIII. Applying the Law of the Mirror to your Life

OVERCOME GROWING PAINS

(Specific Steps to Amazing Growth)

• Make a list of your best personal qualities.

• Review this list daily and add more as your awareness of yourself rises.

• It is known that “self-Talk” has a powerful effect on those who practice it: Negative self-talk to the negative and positive self-talk to the positive.

• Write down some positive self-talk narratives that you can review each day.

• Find a place to display positive statements about yourself that you can read each day. Track how often you practice positive self-talk

• Make specific scheduled time each day to focus on others. Write down other people’s positive qualities and find a way to mention these things to them.

• Find specific activities that by their nature focus on other people.

I am inviting you to check out my resources page. It is completely FREE and has a ton information and some downloads. You can find it at resources.xpansioncode.com.

I will be releasing new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

If you like this podcast, then check out my newsletter called Xpansion Press. Business content delivered to your inbox. Just click here to sign up.

LAW 2 — CHAPTER 2: The Law of Awareness

You Must Know Yourself To Grow Yourself

LEARN IT

“Who Are You?”

I. Do You Have A Sense Of Direction? (You have to know who you are)

A. Recount the story of Henry M.

1. While this is an extreme story, is it possible that many live their lives as if what they just experienced didn’t really matter?

B. To grow yourself, you must know the following:

1. Your Strengths

2. Your Weaknesses

3. Your Interests

4. Your Opportunities

C. Knowing these four critical areas of your life tells you “Where you are”

D. To reach your full potential, you MUST know where you are, and where you want to be.

II. There are three kinds of people when it comes to finding direction:

A. People who don’t know what they would like to do

1. They are confused

B. People who know what they want to do, but don’t do it.

1. They are frustrated

C. People who know what they want to do, and do it.

1. These people are fulfilled.

LIVE IT

“Becoming Aware Of Your Own Identity”

III. How To Find Your Passion and Purpose

A. Discuss the need for personal “awareness”

1. What does it mean to be personally aware?

Explore these following questions regarding finding your passion and purpose.

B. Do you like what you are doing now?

1. If you are not enjoying what you do for a living, you need to take some time to explore why?

2. Consider this example: If a person sets out to run a mile, and three quarters of a mile ahead there is a cliff, should that person try to finish running the mile just because he started out to do so?

a. What is what we are doing right now is simply the wrong direction?

3. Changing what you are doing is a risk, but what if you don’t change? Which risk would you rather live with?

C. What would you like to do?

1. This is the question of direct passion.

2. There is a definite connection between finding your passion and reaching your potential.

a. Discuss the reasons passion helps one reach their potential

1. You can’t go where you hate going

2. Passion gives you an advantage over those who have none.

3. Passion gives you energy

3. Finding your passion requires listening to your heart. Feelings matter!

D. Can you do what you would like to do?

1. Dreams are necessary for success. But not every dream is possible due to natural limits.

a. Do you know the difference between what you want and what you are good at?

b. Do you know what drives you and gives you satisfaction?

c. Do you know what your values and priorities are, and what are your organization’s values and priorities are?

d. What happens when your values and priorities differ with the organization of which you are a part? Are you willing to change yours?

2. Discuss this quote by Samuel Johnson: “Almost every man wastes part of his life in attempts to display qualities which he does not possess.”

a. What are your unique talents and gifts?

E. Do you know why you want to do what you would like to do?

This is the Motives question.

1. Even good things done with the wrong motive can become a disaster.

F. Do you know what to do so you can do what you want to do?

This is the “What now?” question

1. Awareness – Becoming very conscious of every choice you make.

2. Action – The major difference between those who do it and those who don’t do it, is those who do it, do it.

3. Accountability – This can be shared accountability with a friend or coach, or personal accountability

G. Do you know people who do what you’d like to do?

This is the question of mentors and coaches – do you have one or more?

Discuss these “BE” Principles:

1. Get Committed – if you have to, pay people for their time and advise

2. Be consistent – Meet regularly with someone who can help you.

3. Be creative – Learn from people even if you can’t meet them.

4. Be purposeful – Prepare for every interaction: don’t wing it!

5. Be reflective – Reflect on each encounter and discover what you are learning

6. Be grateful – ALWAYS show appreciation for what you are learning from others.

H. Should you do what you would like to do with them?

If you find a mentor, you have some responsibilities to this relationship:

1. Possess a teachable spirit

2. Always be prepared

3. Ask questions

4. Demonstrate learning from them

5. Be accountable

If you are a mentor, you should focus your teaching on the following areas:

1. Strengths

2. Temperament

3. Track Record

4. Passion

5. Choices

6. Advice

7. Support and resources

8. Feedback

9. Encouragement

In the mentoring relationship, it is important for the mentee to explore his/her own learning by observing this process:

Here is what I asked you…

Here is what I heard you share with me…

Here is what I did

Now, can I ask your more questions?

The goal is to find a mentoring relationship that is mutually beneficial.

I. Will you pay the price to do what you want to do?

1. Explore this notion: “What will it cost to change? It will cost everything.”

2. Read the poetic quote on page 30-31 – Remember, most people are not willing to pay the price for change.

J. When can you start doing what you’d like to do?

1. Talk about the idea of starting scared and unprepared.

2. Ask your group this question: When will you start doing what you want to do? Look at your watch and tell me when it strikes “Someday”?

K. What will it be like when you get to do what you want to do?

This is the question of defining success

1. What does success look like?

2. Explore this statement: “The two greatest days in your life are when you are born and the day you discover why.”

LEAD IT

“When you live this law, you will show others the way and they empower them to learn it and live it too.”

IV. Applying the Law of Awareness to your Life

Facilitation Questions Options

OVERCOME GROWING PAINS

(Specific Steps to Amazing Growth)

• Spend some significant amount of time and answer these questions for your own life:

• What would you like to do?

• What talents, skills and opportunities do you possess that support your desire to do it?

• What are your motives for wanting to do it?

• What steps must you take (beginning today) to start doing what you want to do?

• Awareness

• Action

• Accountability

• What advice can you get along the way?

• What price are you willing to pay?

• What will it cost in time?

• Resources?

• Sacrifices?

• Where do you most need to grow?

Start with strengths and the future more than weaknesses and the past.

I am inviting you to check out my resources page. It is completely FREE and has a ton information and some downloads. You can find it at resources.xpansioncode.com.

I will be releasing new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

If you like this podcast, then check out my newsletter called Xpansion Press. Business content delivered to your inbox. Just click here to sign up.

LAW 1 — CHAPTER 1: The Law of Intentionality

Growth Doesn’t Just Happen…

LEARN IT

“Do you have a plan to grow?”

II. Personal Growth is not a natural process in most people’s lives.

A. Ask this question: “How do you think this building we are in right now was built?”

B. In what order were the parts of the building put in place?

C. What do you think John meant when he said, “If you focus on goals, you may hit the goals, but that doesn’t guarantee growth? If you focus on growth, you will grow and always hit growth.”

1. What is the difference between “goals” and “growing”?

III. Growth Gap Traps

1. The Assumption Gap – “I assume that I will automatically grow.”

A. If one assumes he/she will automatically grow, what is the likely outcome?

B. How can one know if they are growing or not?

2. The Knowledge Gap – “I don’t know how to grow”

A. Not knowing how to grow can be a powerful reason to simply not try to grow.

B. If one does not know how to grow, then one needs to ask those who do. This study is a great start.

3. The Timing Gap – “It’s not the right time to begin.”

A. Discuss “The Law Of Diminishing Intent”

B. What happens the longer we wait to begin our journey?

C. List some of the reasons (excuses) one might offer for the timing of personal growth not being right.

D. Ask the group, “What do you think about the idea of starting your journey even though you are scared and unprepared?

4. The Mistake Gap – “I am afraid of making mistakes”

A. Remember, growing is not always a clean and neat pursuit.

B. Discuss the question asked by Robert Schuller, “What would you attempt if you knew you would not fail?”

C. Talk about this idea: “Once we decide to grow, we must expect mistakes and welcome them as a sign that we are moving in the right direction.”

5. The Perfection Gap – “I have to find the best way before I start”

A. Where the Mistake Gap says, “I can’t move out of fear of making a mistake”; the Perfection Gap says, “I will move only when I have the perfect plan.

B. Both of the above Gaps are simply excuses for not starting at all!

C. The best plans for growing happen as we grow, not before we grow

6. The Inspiration Gap – “I don’t feel like doing it.”

A. Out of all the Gaps, this is the one that requires a simple decision: “Will I do it or not?”

B. Discuss this truth: “The major difference between those who do it, and those who don’t do it, is those who do it, do it.”

C. Feelings are unreliable – Action will make the difference.

D. Discuss this truth: “You are more likely to act yourself into a feeling than feel yourself into an action.”

E. How many pages could one fill with excuses to not start growing?

7. The Comparison Gap – “Others are better than I am”

A. Two truths about others:

1. There is always someone better

2. Rejoice for the better ones, for you will learn from those out in front of you!

B. Someone may be looking to YOU as the better – who them the way!

8. The Expectation Gap – “I thought it would be easier than this.”

A. Lay out this paradigm (What is “lucky” is usually not) Preparation (growth) + Attitude + Opportunity + Action (doing something about it) = Luck

B. If Rome was not built in a day, how long are you willing to give yourself to grow?

C. Growing starts with Preparation – this study is part of your preparation

LIVE IT

“Start Making Your Plan…NOW”

IV. MAKING THE TRANSITION TO INTENTIONAL GROWTH

A. Ask the Big Questions Now

1. Where do you want to go in life?

2. What direction do you want to go?

3. What’s the farthest you can imagine going?

4. How long will this take?

Not having all the answers to these questions immediately is normal. But ASK them and keep exploring them daily!

B. Do It Now

1. Look at your watch right now and tell me when “Some Day” strikes?

2. Cite this saying, “Now is the best time to start anything.”

C. Face The Fear Factor

1. Fear of failure

2. Fear of trading security for the unknown

A. Discuss this reality: “Security is a myth”

3. Fear of being overextended on resources; time, money, energy

4. Fear of what others think

5. Fear that success will push others away.

Now ask yourself: “Which emotion is stronger; the desire to change and grow, or one of these fears.

I am inviting you to check out my resources page. It is completely FREE and has a ton information and some downloads. You can find it at resources.xpansioncode.com.

I will be releasing new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

If you like this podcast, then check out my newsletter called Xpansion Press. Business content delivered to your inbox. Just click here to sign up.

Chapter 10: THE EXPANSION OF LEADERSHIP: PERSONAL GROWTH

What do you spend the most time thinking about – Yesterday, Today or Tomorrow? Why is that?

How do the people surrounding you affect your focus?

How has your capacity to grow affected your capacity to lead?

GROWTH MATTERS

1. Growth is the Only Guarantee That Tomorrow Will Get Better.

What do you need to learn, unlearn, and relearn to make tomorrow better than today?

When did you see doors open up due to you growing personally?

How can this create momentum in your life/business?

• A growth habit strengthens hope.
• Growth sustained over times realizes hope.

When have you seen the greatest change in your life?

What were the contributing factors to this?

2. Growth Means Change

“Every level of growth calls for a new level of change.” - Gerald Brooks

Where have you had to face a new challenge with a new level of growth?

“The illiterate of the future are not those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.” - Herbert Gerjuoy

Can you describe a time when you practiced the learn, unlearn, and relearn in your personal growth?

3. Growth is the Great Separator Between Those Who Succeed and Those Who Don’t

As you read the piece on being “Average,” how does it alter your thinking about your goals for personal growth?

Discuss whether you agree or disagree with this statement: Growth’s highest reward is not what we get from it, but what we become because of it.

Describe the difference between these two lists:

4. For Growth to Be Maximized, It Must Be Strategic

Big Picture: Where do You Need to Focus Your Growth?

• What constitutes your big picture?
• Where do you want to go?
• What are the strengths you can develop?
• What choices can you make in foundational areas that will improve you?
• What core values do you need to include in your growth process?

Measurement: How Can You Measure and Affect Your Growth?

Who has stretched you?

What has stretched you?

Consistency: How Can You Grow Daily?

What is your Rule of 5 for your personal growth?

Application: Can You Act on it?

5. Growth is Joy

Growth will not come to you. You must pursue it. Effective leadership doesn’t happen on its own. You must go after it.

How can there be joy in growing when everything is uphill?

What do you want to go after?

Where could your growth journey take you?

• Remember
• Take the road wherever it leads you.
• Make the best choices at every juncture.
• Remain teachable

How could this strategy help you advance greatly in your leadership?

APPLICATION: Developing the Learner Within You

Adopt a Learner’s Mind-Set

• What is your mind-set about growth?
• What must you change in your attitude to become a better learner?

Develop a Specific Growth Strategy

• Big Picture: Where do I need to focus my growth?
• Measurement: How can I measure and affect my growth?
• Consistency: How can I grow daily?
• Application: Can I act on it?

I am inviting you to check out my resources page. It is completely FREE and has a ton information and some downloads. You can find it at resources.xpansioncode.com.

I will be releasing new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

If you like this podcast, then check out my newsletter called Xpansion Press. Business content delivered to your inbox. Just click here to sign up.

Chapter 9: THE PRICE TAG OF LEADERSHIP: SELF-DISCIPLINE

Definition of self-control: (in Greek is egkráteia / enkrateia)(eng-krat'-i-ah) which means “to get a grip on oneself.”

What area of your life are you losing your grip?

Why do you believe this is happening to you?

What have you done to overcome this challenge of self-discipline?

What is the hardest thing you have done to improve yourself or your circumstances?

SELF-DISCIPLINE MAKES

LEADERSHIP’S UPHILL CLIMB POSSIBLE

Everything worthwhile is uphill.

• Everything is inclusive.

• Worthwhile is desirable, good for you, attractive, beneficial

• Uphill describes challenging, grueling, exhausting, difficult

Explain to the group an experience that reflects that statement?

What do you find the hardest to give up?

What hill should you climb to get to the next level of success?

HOW TO GET TO THE TOP

1. Self-Discipline Enables You to Go Uphill.

Do you want to improve your life?

How do you make it happen?

How can the shift from “I’m going through” to “What am I going to” assist you in self-discipline?

2. Self-Discipline Makes the Difference Between Temporary Success and Sustained Success.

“Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.” – Thomas Huxley

How does the Pain Paradox relate to you right now?

John C. Maxwell’s Daily Dozen for Self-Discipline

Just for today . . . I will choose and display the right attitudes. 

Just for today . . . I will embrace and practice good values. 

Just for today . . . I will communicate with and care for my family. 

Just for today . . . I will know and follow healthy guidelines. 

Just for today . . . I will determine and act upon important priorities. 

Just for today . . . I will accept and show responsibility. 

Just for today . . . I will make and keep proper commitments.

Just for today . . . I will initiate and invest in solid relationships. 

Just for today . . . I will earn and properly manage finances. 

Just for today . . . I will deepen and live out my faith. 

Just for today . . . I will desire and experience self-improvement. 

Just for today . . . I will plan for and model generosity. 

Just for today . . . I will act on these decisions and practice these disciplines. 

Then one day . . . I will see the compounding results of a day lived well.

3. Self-Discipline Makes Habit Your Servant Instead of Your Master.

What are your downhill habits?

A Leaders challenge:

• How can I turn my downhill habits into uphill habits?

• How can I help the people I lead to change their downhill habits into uphill habits?

Changing your thinking changes your habits.

• If my thinking is negative – I develop procrastination and excuses.
• If my thinking is positive – I take responsibility and action.

Which attitude do you default to?

Review the chart below and identify which side you spend most of your time. What can you do to improve?

4. Self-Discipline is Developed – Not Given

The first step to developing self-discipline is awareness.

• Self-disciplined people avoid temptation.

People who develop self-discipline and positive habits don’t put themselves in the line of fire.

Self-disciplined people know when to expend their energy.

“Make sure every day you . . . know what matters most.” – Gary Keller

When do you need to be at your best?

• Self-disciplined people understand and practice the principle of pay now, play later.

Where do you practice this with good success?

5. Self-Discipline is Most Easily Developed in Areas of Strength and Passion

What you love and what you’re good at usually point you to your right thing.

Maybe it’s time to...

• Quit something you don’t do well to do something you do well.

• Quit something you’re not passionate about to do something that fills you with passion.

• Quit something that doesn’t make a difference to do something that does.

• Quit something that’s not your dream to do something that is.

6. Self-Discipline and Respect Are Connected

“Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the high road to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction.” – Brian Tracy

Assess yourself and your teammates using the above chart

7. Self-Discipline Makes Consistency Possible and Consistency Compounds

Where is one area in your leadership that would benefit from increased consistency?

In today’s culture, people are more captivated by charisma, genius, excitement, creativity, and innovation.

Why is it difficult to model consistency with this worldview?

• Consistency establishes your reputation

• Consistency is a prerequisite to excellence

• Consistency provides security to others

• Consistency reinforces your vision and values

• Consistency compounds

Where could greater consistency enable you to develop gradually?

How does John model consistency compounds?

APPLICATION: Developing the Self-Disciplined Person Within You

What areas of your life do you have good self-discipline?

What areas of your life do you really struggle with self-discipline?

What habit or habits do you have right now that changing them or giving them up would give you a better future?

Start Somewhere – Pick an area where you struggle and follow the steps:

• Avoid Temptation

• Pay Now, Play Later

• Get Back on the Wagon

Develop Discipline in Your Strengths

• What do you do well?

• What are your talents?

• What are you passionate about?

• How can you leverage these things for your life and your leadership?

I am inviting you to check out my resources page. It is completely FREE and has a ton information and some downloads. You can find it at resources.xpansioncode.com.

I will be releasing new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

If you like this podcast, then check out my newsletter called Xpansion Press. Business content delivered to your inbox. Just click here to sign up.

Chapter 8: THE INDISPENSABLE QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP: VISION

“Vision gives significance to the otherwise meaningless details of our lives… Vision brings your world into focus. Vision brings order to chaos. A clear vision enables you to see everything differently.” Andy Stanley

Do you see the world the same way you did 10 years ago? 20 years ago?

What changed for you over the years in how you see the world? What stayed the same?

How has your vision given you a roadmap for your leadership development?

VISION STATEMENTS

“If the leader doesn’t see the vision, the people never will.”

When have you seen this occur in your experience?

1. What You Can See Determines What You Can Be

• People who never see it—they are wanderers.
• People who see it but never pursue it on their own—they are followers.
• People who see it and pursue it—they are achievers.
• People who see it, pursue it, and help others see and pursue it—they are leaders.

Which category would you put yourself?

How can you get to the next category?

2. You See Only What You Are Prepared to See Contrast the perspectives of Bishop Wright and Orville and Wilbur.

How are you preparing to possess your vision?

3. What You See Is What You Get

Leaders understand that they have to believe it to see it, while most

people go through life saying, “I have to see it to believe it.”

Discuss how the Coca-Cola and Walt Disney illustrations described the importance of vision.

What do you believe the future holds for you? The people around you?

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR “MORE AND BEFORE”

“Cherish your visions and dreams as they are the children of your soul: the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.” – Napoleon Hill

What steps can you take to increase your capacity for your vision?

1. Know There is More “More and Before” Out There

How are other people determining your vision?

2. Develop a Process for Finding More “More and Before”

• Test: Get out of your comfort zone by sharing your vision. Where can you share it that you haven’t before?
• Fail: Failure allows you to find out what doesn’t work. You won’t eliminate what doesn’t work until you know it doesn’t. Why don’t we do that more?
• Learn: A teachable spirit plus humility fosters the learning experience that is essential for expanding your vision.
• Improve: As a leader, you need to continually ask yourself, “Am I getting better?”
• Reenter: None of these matters unless you get back into the game.

3. Spend Time With People Who Inspire You to See “More and Before” Who could you share your dream with, where you and your vision could be enlarge? 

4. Ask Questions That Will Help You Increase Your “More and Before”

• Questions allow us to get to know people when we meet them and whether we should take that trip together.

• Questions also open the door for the exchange of great ideas, which will help to shape and inform your vision. How does asking questions eliminate preconceived assumptions?

5. Intentionally Grow Every Day to Increase Your Capacity for “More and Before” Don’t ask: How long with this take? Start asking: How far can I go?

“If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs

How is your vision pulling you into the future?

PERSONAL OWNERSHIP OF THE VISION

Review the two lists on page 175 and determine whether you are living your dream or someone else’s.

• Look Within You: What Do You Feel?

“Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself. Before you can move their tears, your own must flow. To convince them, you must yourself believe.” – Winston Churchill

Why is it so important for your vision to originate within?

• Look Behind You: What Have You Learned?

What experiences from your past inform your vision?

• Look Around You: What is Happening to Others?

What do you look for to know if your people are with you? Good leaders watch the people to know how and when to present the vision. They listen to the people, learn from the people, and then discern how to lead the people.

How could this process enable you to lead others?

• Look Above You: What Does God Expect of You?

John’s definition of success:

• Knowing God and His desires for me.
• Growing to my maximum potential.
• Sowing seeds that benefit others.
• Look Ahead of You: What is the Big Picture?

With daily changes happening, how do you as a leader juggle looking ahead and seeking to accommodate the unknown?

PAINT A PICTURE OF THE VISION FOR THEM

Nothing will happen unless you are willing and able to paint a clear picture of your vision for people and mobilize them to join you. How clearly can you paint your vision for your people?

APPLICATION: Develop the Visionary Within You

Identify Your Vision

What is your answer to these five questions?

Look Within You: What Do You Feel?

Look Behind You: What Have You Learned?

Look Around You: What Is Happening to Others?

Look Above You: What Does God Expect of You?

Look Ahead of You: What Is the Big Picture?

Increase Your Vision

Do you see more and before the people you lead?

Do you have a handle on the big picture and see problems before others do? Or are you often blindsided?

Do you have to be told by your people about the problems and challenges ahead?

Which of the three areas do you need to focus on this week?

I am inviting you to check out my resources page. It is completely FREE and has a ton information and some downloads. You can find it at resources.xpansioncode.com.

I will be releasing new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

If you like this podcast, then check out my newsletter called Xpansion Press. Business content delivered to your inbox. Just click here to sign up.

Chapter 7: THE HEART OF LEADERSHIP: SERVING PEOPLE

“If you help people get what they want, they will help you get what you want.” - Zig Ziglar

Do you have any examples of this quote in your life/business?

CHANGE OF HEART

“The true leader serves. Serves people. Serves their best interests, and in so doing will not always be popular, may not impress. But because true leaders are motivated by loving concern rather than a desire for personal glory, they are willing to pay the price.” - Eugene Habecker’s The Other Side of Leadership.

After reading this book, John made two decisions: First, I would place the concerns of others above my own. Will

Second, I would love people unconditionally. Attitude

How are you challenged by these two decisions?

How to Be a Better Servant Leader

Review these five guidelines and answer the questions.

1. Don’t Rely on Your Position or Title:

How must you change how you lead to meet people on common ground instead of relying on position?

2. Believe in People and Their Potential: How can you encourage the success of people around you, even those you don’t like?

3. See Things from the Perspective of Others: How can you connect with someone who rubs you the wrong way or leaves you cold to learn his or her perspective?

4. Create an Environment of Encouragement: What positive things can you say every day to the people on your team to motivate and inspire them?

5. Measure Your Success by How Much Value You Add to Others: What must you change so that you measure the success of your day by how others succeed?

THE POWER OF SERVING OTHERS

“Servant leaders should listen without judgment, be authentic, build community, share power, and develop people.” - Cooper & Trammel

What are you doing right now to develop the people around you?

Of the five things listed above, what do you need to develop to serve others better?

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU SERVE PEOPLE BETTER

1. The Adding Value Question: “What Can I Do for People to Help Them Succeed?”

Where do you add the most value?

2. The Everyday Question: “What Do People Need From Me Daily That They May Not Want to Ask For?”

How does this question change your attitude towards your team?

3. The Improvement Question: “What Can I Work on That Will Help Me Serve People Better?”

“A servant leader’s value rests in why he does what he does and how well he does it, not in what he does or how often he does it. This allows him to find value in who he is.” - Mark Cole

What are you going to start doing today to bring out the best in you?

4. The Evaluation Question: “How Will I Know That I Am Serving People Well?”

How do you know if you are serving your people well?

5. The Blind Spot Question: “What is it Like For the People Who Work With Me?”

What is it like to be on the other side of the table?

Are you working to serve the people around you or for your personal gain?

6. The Respect Question: “How Can I Gain Value While Adding Value to Others by Serving?”

How does serving purify your motives?

7. The Giftedness Question: “What Do I Do Best that Allows Me to Serve People Best?”

• What are my strengths? How can I use them to serve others?
• What is my background? How can I use it to serve others?
• What are my experiences? How can I use them to serve others?
• What are my opportunities? How can I use them to serve others?
• What do I love? How can I use it to serve others?
• Where am I growing? How can I use that to serve others?

What are your three main gifts to offer others?

8. The Example Question: “How Can I Serve People in a Way that Will Inspire Them to Serve Others?”

How can serving outside your organization develop you and your team as servant leaders?

APPLICATION: Develop the Servant Within You

Develop the Heart of a Servant

• Do you genuinely care about people and want to help them be their best?
• Do you want others to succeed at least as much as you want to succeed yourself?
• Where would you identify yourself in this process?
• What area do you need to focus on to increase your servant heart?

1. Don’t Rely on Your Position or Title: How must you change how you lead to meet people on common ground instead of relying on position?

2. Believe in People and Their Potential: How can you encourage the success of people around you, even those you don’t like?

3. See Things from the Perspective of Others: How can you connect with someone who rubs you the wrong way or leaves you cold to learn his or her perspective?

4. Create an Environment of Encouragement: What positive things can you say every day to the people on your team to motivate and inspire them?

5. Measure Your Success by How Much Value You Add to Others: What must you change so that you measure the success of your day by how others succeed?

I am inviting you to check out my resources page. It is completely FREE and has a ton information and some downloads. You can find it at resources.xpansioncode.com.

I will be releasing new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

If you like this podcast, then check out my newsletter called Xpansion Press. Business content delivered to your inbox. Just click here to sign up.