Your Encore Life

Welcome to episode 40 of Your Encore Life. Today we will be expanding on the introduction to strengths that I began in our last episode. We will define what strengths are, talk about the five characteristics of strengths, and talk about an article by Brent O' Bannon about managing your weaknesses.

I am pulling some of this information from the book "Soar With Your Strengths" by the father of the Cliftonstrengths assessment and author of several strengths based books Donald O. Clifton, and Paula Nelson. The book states that the definition of strengths is based on two different levels. "On a rudimentary level, strengths are the things you do well." Things such as goaltending in soccer, marketing, selling, developing others, speaking…you get the idea. A more sophisticated definition is on another level and includes things like "patterns of behavior, thoughts, and feelings that produce high degree of satisfaction and pride; generates both psychic and/or financial reward; and presents measurable progress toward excellence." In other words, physical forms of strength, and the second type that have more to do with "ego, persistence, dedication, courage, pride, perfection, and competition."

The book lists five characteristics of a strength and how best to develop them. Here we go:

1. Listen for Yearnings: What have you seen or heard that makes you think "I want to do that"? What makes your heart flutter or sing? This cannot be confused with what they term as "misyearnings", which can be driven by a desire for power, glamour, and excitement and can derail us from our true strengths path.
2. Watch for Satisfactions: "Satisfactions are those experiences where the emotional and psychic rewards are great". You really enjoy doing them.
3. Watch for Rapid Learning: If you are learning something best by jumping in and you feel like you have always known how to do something. Slow and laborious learning is a sign that this may not be an area of strength.
4. Glimpses of Excellence: Often evident in a finite activity or performance, which isn't necessarily impressive but a trained eye or you sense a moment where you shine brightly.
5. Total Performance of Excellence: Total performance excellence is defined in the book as not being "a glimpse, but the complete extension of an activity. It doesn't happen occasionally, but each time the activity is performed. It is not subject to circumstances but transcends them.

To become exceptional:

1. Pick a strength and pursue it.
2. Claim it out of fantasy and into action.
3. Do more of it
4. Enjoy it

Let's talk briefly about minimizing our weaknesses. I have referenced an article by Gallup Coach Brent O'Bannon titled "To Manage Your Weaknesses, Plug Your Leaks". He states that "a major weakness is when you are not good at an activity, don't feel passion for that activity, though it's important to your career success". A "minor weakness is sometimes called a learned behavior that we are average to good at, while not enjoying or feeling passion for this activity, which is not a major part of our job or career success". This article uses the acronym LEAK to identify your weaknesses and PLUG to minimize the weakness, hence the name of the article "Plug the Leak". Here are the acronym meanings:

L: Loath - What activity do you absolutely hate to do?

E: Escape - What activity do you avoid at all costs?

A: Average - What activity is a weakness that no matter how much you try, you are only average at it?

K: Kink - What activity no matter how much you improve leaves a kink in your stomach when doing it?

P: Plan - consciously use one or more of your strengths to boost your weakness.

L: Leave - Decrease or eliminate if possible the need to perform that activity.

U: Unite - Find someone to perform that activity that is a weakness in your place.

G: Grow - If you have to continue this activity, find a way to improve such as training in the basics, then let it go.

Again I have included links to the articles and book mentioned in this episode as well as a link to access the CliftonStrengths assessment.

We will continue our discussion about strengths and more about the CliftonStrengths assessment on our next episode. In the mean time, remember David writes in Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

You were given your strengths for a reason. Focus on them and be grateful for them. Don't beat you head against a wall focusing on your weaknesses, but rather learn to manage and minimize them.

• Soar With Your Strengths, Donald O. Clifton and Paula Nelson
• To Manage Your Weaknesses, Plug The Leaks, Brent O' Bannon
• Gallup Clifton Strengths Assessment
• Contact Craig

The Animal School: A Fable by George Reavis

Once upon a time, the animals decided they must do something heroic to meet the problems of a "new world" so they organized a school.

They had adopted an activity curriculum consisting of running, climbing, swimming and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all the subjects.The duck was excellent in swimming. In fact, better than his instructor. But he made only passing grades in flying and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to stay after school and also drop swimming in order to practice running. This was kept up until his webbed feet were badly worn and he was only average in swimming. But average was acceptable in school so nobody worried about that, except the duck. The rabbit started at the top of the class in running but had a nervous breakdown because of so much makeup work in swimming. The squirrel was excellent in climbing until he developed frustration in the flying class where his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of the treetop down. He also developed a "Charlie horse" from overexertion and then got a C in climbing and D in running. The eagle was a problem child and was disciplined severely. In the climbing class, he beat all the others to the top of the tree but insisted on using his own way to get there. At the end of the year, an abnormal eel that could swim exceedingly well and also run, climb and fly a little had the highest average and was valedictorian. The prairie dogs stayed out of school and fought the tax levy because the administration would not add digging and burrowing to the curriculum. They apprenticed their children to a badger and later joined the groundhogs and gophers to start a successful private school.

Welcome to episode 39 of Your Encore Life.

Does this fable have a moral?

What is the lesson you take from the fable?

Let the ducks swim. Let the rabbits run. Let the eagles fly. We don't want a school of average ducks.

Testing students…Spend a great deal of time remediating weaknesses. Students get frustrated working most on what they struggle the most with, and after 9 months of that, we send them to summer school to focus primarily on their weakness. I saw the same thing as a leader of an organization, where we had many individuals with tremendous talents that would shine when they were utilizing those talents or strengths, but during evaluations we would point out areas of improvement often relating to area that could be considered weaknesses and had them focus on that.

Play to your strengths. If you don't use your talents, eventually, you lose your talents.

I am not suggesting that we don't teach important curriculum in schools to students who don't have that area of curriculum as a strength. I am suggesting that we don't put so much emphasis on those areas and allow that to impact talent from becoming a student's or employees strength. If you build on your strengths enough, your weaknesses become irrelevant.

There is a great temptation to fix ourselves or others by investing time to improve on our areas of opportunities or weaknesses. Instead, focus on how your strengths can get you to where you need to go.

One of the single most powerful ways for individuals and organizations to maximize performance, satisfaction, and to reach significance is to focus on talents of individuals and refine them into strengths.

Ephesians 2:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Psalm 139:14 English Standard Version (ESV)

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a] Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

• The Animal School: A Fable by George Reavis
• Gallup Clifton Strengths Assessment
• Contact Craig

Welcome to episode 38 of Your Encore Life. As promised in our last episode, I am going to review my life plan last updated in January of 2020. I am going to be brutally honest about what I have and haven't moved on. If you need to find out more about creating a life plan, listen to episodes 10, 11, and 12 where i explain the steps and include links to resources in the show notes.

This is not about me. I want to communicate that we all come up with plans that may or may not be realized and that is OK. Situations and seasons change. I'm quite sure many of our listeners had made plans back in January or set new years resolutions that weren't realized, much of which may be a result of being blindsided by a pandemic that put the world back on it's heals and continues to impact almost everything. What is important is that we never, ever stop dreaming, stop looking forward, stop learning, stop planning, stop having goals to strive for. In reviewing my life plan after 6 months, I'll set new timeframes for those things I won't be able to meet in the timeframe I had said. I'll likely put a couple things I said I would do on hold, and I may have some new ideas that I want to strive for…so let's get started.

In reviewing my life plan and trying to figure out where I need to do better, it boils down to using my time wisely. I have asked my coach Mark Ross to assist me with this. I know I need to set aside time for each thing that i hope to accomplish. One of the hardest things about leaving the structure of a day to day job and beginning to live your encore life is creating a new time structure. I don't mean that I need to be rigid and designate required office time, That is not what I want my encore life to look like. What I do want is to eliminate wasted time doing things that have no value to myself, my family, or don't add value to others.

I have included a link to Bible Reasons and 25 scriptures that deal with time management. This resource states: We should pray for God to remove procrastination and idleness from our lives. We should seek to do God's will daily. Continually meditate on Scripture and allow the Lord to direct your life. A couple of the scriptures from this resource are:

Ephesians 5:15-17 So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, making the best use of your time because the times are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Colossians 4:5 Behave wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of your time.

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

So what about you? Do or did you have dreams, goals, plans that you have given up on or just put aside. Your action plan is to go back to your written goals, life plans, vision boards, or whatever you used and revive the plans that are important, re-evaluate those that may not be valid or important any longer because of a new season you are in. If you don't have any written life plan, goals, or vision-purpose-mission statement I encourage you to begin that process. There are many resources available to help you with the process including previous episodes of this podcast.

We all need to have a purpose we are looking to serve and dreams we want to fulfill. During difficult and unprecedented times like these, we need to focus on moving forward, for this season will close, and just like the farmer who must plant seeds to look forward to the harvest, we need to be ready. I will be moving forward by adjusting my life plan to be more relevant to where I am now, and working on time management to make the most of the precious time I do have.

• Bible Reasons: Scriptures on Time Management
• Core 52: Mark Moore
• Contact Craig

Believe in people

Value people

Unconditionally love people

"We all have a choice what we put before us and what we put behind us". Put behind you devaluing people. Focus on valuing people. The core issue to the situation we are in now is that we don't value people. We lack respect, honor, appreciation for others. We are all God's creation. God has a plan and purpose for all of His creation….God also gives us the choice to seek and find that purpose or to disregard it and Him.

Treat others as you would like to be treated. This rule is in every culture and every religion.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere": ML King

Put behind you selfish values that help you and not others, put before you good solid values.

Put behind us blaming, put before us listening

If we were to sit and listen to one another, we would find that despite our differences, we have more in common than we realize.

The difference between leadership during hard times in the past and today that leaders would ultimately put the people before the party and cross the aisle for the good of the country and the people. Today I feel most leaders are looking more after their own selfish interests rather than the interest of the people. The selfish interests of some has resulted in celebrating others failures, even if it is at the expense of what is best for the country and the people.

Put behind us our reactions and put before us our refections. There are lessons for all of us and we can all get better from these hard things if we take time to reflect and always put valuing others at the core of our reflection.

I am coming up on my one year anniversary for retirement. My wife just surpassed the one year mark since her retirement. As we talked about the importance of reflection previously I have also been reflecting about what this year has been like. The good, the hard, the unexpected, and my response. This also provided the opportunity to see where I have grown, and what I need to focus on more to be where I want to be, or more importantly, where God wants me to be.

One of the most helpful pieces of advise I got about this retirement life, or encore life was from my coach Mark Ross. He told me from experience that I need to be able to give myself some time to figure out how to spend my time, and that is still a work in progress.

I will be discussing how this is reflected in my life plan and what adjustments I need to make as I review the plan in our next episode.

• The John Maxwell Leadership Podcast: "Adding Value to Others"
• Contact Craig

Welcome to episode 36 of Your Encore Life. This has been such a great series so far as our guest host Mark Ross has discussed "What's Next? It's a Process".

1. Reflecting on Early Interests: Episode 33

2. Finding Your Direction: Episode 34

3. Experimenting with Possibilities: Last weeks episode 35

Today Mark will be concluding this series as he discusses Making Adjustments and Looking Ahead.

I want to thank Mark Ross for allowing us to hear him share his experiences and expertise, and clearly defining for us what this podcast is all about. I have included links to learn more about Mark and his coaching business, "Next Thing Group".

Mark A. Ross, RLA, MBA, CPLC, ACC

Mark Ross is owner of Next Thing Group, which helps midlife professionals transition into a new season of life and work. He specializes in serving those who want to explore, launch or advance their Encore Career so they can enjoy the time freedom to pursue what matters most in their second half. Prior to this, Mark served in progressive leadership roles during his 30 year career with the City of Houston, culminating as the Assistant Parks and Recreation Director. During his tenure he influenced and helped orchestrate the expansion and improvement of the developmental and operational systems to deliver services for the City of Houston's park system. In his earlier career as an entrepreneur, Mark established a niche business to serve the architectural design market by providing custom design and fabrication of interior and exterior furnishings. He is a native Houstonian, holds an MBA from Texas Woman's University, a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Texas A&M University and is a registered Landscape Architect in Texas. He is also a certified Professional Life and Leadership Coach from the Professional Christian Coaching Institute and credentialed with the International Coaching Federation.

Mark has enjoyed being married for over 34 years to Jeannie from Jackson Mississippi and is the proud father of two grown daughters. He is active in his local church, is a native Houstonian, an artist, an avid walker, follows professional surfing, and loves pretty much anything that is process oriented.

Resources:

• Mark Ross - Next Thing Group
• Mark's Linkedin Profile
• Mark's Facebook Page
• Dan Miller - 48 days.com
• Don't Retire, REWIRE - Jeri Sedlar, Rick Miners
• Contact Craig

Welcome to episode 35 of Your Encore Life. What fantastic value Mark Ross has provided as guest host during episode 33 and 34, and I couldn't be more excited about this episode of the series where the theme has been "What's Next? It's a Process".

1. Reflecting on Early Interests: Episode 33

2. Finding Your Direction: Last weeks episode 34

3. Experimenting with Possibilities: This weeks episode 35

Make sure you join us again next week as Mark conclude this series talking about Making Adjustments and Looking Ahead.

Mark A. Ross, RLA, MBA, CPLC, ACC

Mark Ross is owner of Next Thing Group, which helps midlife professionals transition into a new season of life and work. He specializes in serving those who want to explore, launch or advance their Encore Career so they can enjoy the time freedom to pursue what matters most in their second half. Prior to this, Mark served in progressive leadership roles during his 30 year career with the City of Houston, culminating as the Assistant Parks and Recreation Director. During his tenure he influenced and helped orchestrate the expansion and improvement of the developmental and operational systems to deliver services for the City of Houston's park system. In his earlier career as an entrepreneur, Mark established a niche business to serve the architectural design market by providing custom design and fabrication of interior and exterior furnishings. He is a native Houstonian, holds an MBA from Texas Woman's University, a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Texas A&M University and is a registered Landscape Architect in Texas. He is also a certified Professional Life and Leadership Coach from the Professional Christian Coaching Institute and credentialed with the International Coaching Federation.

Mark has enjoyed being married for over 34 years to Jeannie from Jackson Mississippi and is the proud father of two grown daughters. He is active in his local church, is a native Houstonian, an artist, an avid walker, follows professional surfing, and loves pretty much anything that is process oriented.

Resources:

• Mark Ross - Next Thing Group
• Mark's Linkedin Profile
• Mark's Facebook Page
• Dan Miller - 48 days.com
• Don't Retire, REWIRE - Jeri Sedlar, Rick Miners
• Contact Craig

Welcome to episode 34 of Your Encore Life. After last week's great episode with guest host Mark Ross, we look forward to the continuation of this series. Today he will be talking about finding your direction. The theme of these episodes are "What's Next? It's a Process".

1. Reflecting on Early Interests: Last weeks episode 33

2. Finding Your Direction: This weeks episode 34

Following episodes will discuss:

3. Experimenting with Possibilities

4. Making Adjustments and Looking Ahead.

Mark A. Ross, RLA, MBA, CPLC, ACC

Mark Ross is owner of Next Thing Group, which helps midlife professionals transition into a new season of life and work. He specializes in serving those who want to explore, launch or advance their Encore Career so they can enjoy the time freedom to pursue what matters most in their second half. Prior to this, Mark served in progressive leadership roles during his 30 year career with the City of Houston, culminating as the Assistant Parks and Recreation Director. During his tenure he influenced and helped orchestrate the expansion and improvement of the developmental and operational systems to deliver services for the City of Houston's park system. In his earlier career as an entrepreneur, Mark established a niche business to serve the architectural design market by providing custom design and fabrication of interior and exterior furnishings. He is a native Houstonian, holds an MBA from Texas Woman's University, a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Texas A&M University and is a registered Landscape Architect in Texas. He is also a certified Professional Life and Leadership Coach from the Professional Christian Coaching Institute and credentialed with the International Coaching Federation.

Mark has enjoyed being married for over 34 years to Jeannie from Jackson Mississippi and is the proud father of two grown daughters. He is active in his local church, is a native Houstonian, an artist, an avid walker, follows professional surfing, and loves pretty much anything that is process oriented.

Resources:

• Mark Ross - Next Thing Group
• Mark's Linkedin Profile
• Mark's Facebook Page
• Dan Miller - 48 days.com
• Don't Retire, REWIRE - Jeri Sedlar, Rick Miners
• Contact Craig

Welcome to episode 33 of Your Encore Life. We have a very special treat for you in this episode and the next few. Mark Ross, my coach, peer, and friend will be your guest host. As you may remember from and interview I did with Mark in episodes 5, 6, and 7, he is what I consider one of the top resources for planning and living your encore life. The theme of these episodes are "What's Next? It's a Process", with today and the weeks ahead covering the topics:

Reflecting on Early Interests: Today's episode

Following episodes will discuss:

2. Finding Your Direction

3. Experimenting with Possibilities

4. Making Adjustments and Looking Ahead.

Mark A. Ross, RLA, MBA, CPLC, ACC

Mark Ross is owner of Next Thing Group, which helps midlife professionals transition into a new season of life and work. He specializes in serving those who want to explore, launch or advance their Encore Career so they can enjoy the time freedom to pursue what matters most in their second half. Prior to this, Mark served in progressive leadership roles during his 30 year career with the City of Houston, culminating as the Assistant Parks and Recreation Director. During his tenure he influenced and helped orchestrate the expansion and improvement of the developmental and operational systems to deliver services for the City of Houston's park system. In his earlier career as an entrepreneur, Mark established a niche business to serve the architectural design market by providing custom design and fabrication of interior and exterior furnishings. He is a native Houstonian, holds an MBA from Texas Woman's University, a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Texas A&M University and is a registered Landscape Architect in Texas. He is also a certified Professional Life and Leadership Coach from the Professional Christian Coaching Institute and credentialed with the International Coaching Federation.

Mark has enjoyed being married for over 34 years to Jeannie from Jackson Mississippi and is the proud father of two grown daughters. He is active in his local church, is a native Houstonian, an artist, an avid walker, follows professional surfing, and loves pretty much anything that is process oriented.

I have included Mark's bio and how he can be contacted as well as resources he spoke about in the show notes.

And now, here's Mark Ross:

Resources:

• Mark Ross - Next Thing Group
• Mark's Linkedin Profile
• Mark's Facebook Page
• Dan Miller - 48 days.com
• Don't Retire, REWIRE - Jeri Sedlar, Rick Miners
• Contact Craig

Pastor Al Squitieri's life journey had many twists and turns as he began his law enforcement career that spanned 25 years until the point of becoming the lead pastor. In episode 30 we heard about the beginning of his career with a sheriff's department up until the point at which he retired from that career. He spoke of the highs and lows, and some of the fear and excitement that came once he had decided it was time to retire.

In episode 31 last week we heard about his journey from the point of his retirement from law enforcement to his volunteer time as a full time men's pastor for a large church and ultimately to his current position as a lead pastor of a healthy growing church. You heard his struggles and his passions as he continued his discussion about his encore life.

This week in the final episode of this series, Pastor Al talks about the vision of what his church and his life might look like, and how the Covid19 pandemic has impacted that vision. Pastor Al's Bio includes:

25 year retired Deputy

SWAT, Narcotics, Field training and street crimes.

Raised in New York, one of ten children

Married 35 years, married high school sweetheart, three grown children

Lead pastor, NLCC

Recovery Pastor, Men's Pastor and then Lead Pastor

Camp pastor and camp Director

Resources:

New Life Christian Church Website

New Life Christian Church on FaceBook

Bible Gateway

Contact Craig

Pastor Al Squitieri's life journey had many twists and turns as he began his law enforcement career that spanned 25 years until the point of becoming the lead pastor. Last week we heard about the beginning of his career with a sheriff's department up until the point at which he retired from that career. He spoke of the highs and lows, and some of the fear and excitement that came once he had decided it was time to retire.

In this episode we will continue the journey as we hear Pastor Al talk about the point of his retirement from law enforcement to his volunteer time as a full time men's pastor for a large church and ultimately to his current position as a lead pastor of a healthy growing church. You will hear his struggles and his passions as he continues his discussion about his encore life.

25 year retired Deputy

SWAT, Narcotics, Field training and street crimes.

Raised in New York, one of ten children

Married 35 years, married high school sweetheart, three grown children

Lead pastor, NLCC

Recovery Pastor, Men's Pastor and then Lead Pastor

Camp pastor and camp Director

Resources:

New Life Christian Church Website

New Life Christian Church on FaceBook

Bible Gateway

Contact Craig