Accountable Citizens Updates

The Best Books On Leadership Along With Some Bonus Suggestions

Introducing our hall of fame list of the best books on leadership along with some included in the "hall of very good!"

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How To Ask Better Questions Is A Life-Enhancing Skill

Small adjustments can provide huge benefits. Learning how to ask better questions will make a big difference in your life and those you meet.

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Identifying The Important Over The Urgent

Dwight Eisenhower famously stated, "The things that are urgent are seldom important and the things that are important are seldom urgent." This simple, yet ever so insightful comment could be a guiding beacon for everyone striving to wring all they can out of life.

Finding our purpose, recognizing our calling in life is important. Important things take time. They aren't finished in quick order. They require personal growth, patience, and an ability to overcome setbacks. As you peruse the pages within our directory, found in the right margin of every page, you'll recognize that we write from the perspective of important rather than urgent.

A deep look into Ike's quote does show some obvious overlaps. If the kitchen stove is on fire it's urgent that you put it out and it's also very important. If you see a child struggling in the water, it's urgent that you act to save him. At that moment nothing is more important.

In terms of reaching full potential as accountable citizens of America, it's vital to know what seems urgent and what is really important. In our quest to find purpose and act on that direction we must have laser focus on the important goals that will get us there.

We wrote a page about the power of habit. In that post we stated that breaking bad habits was really a waste of time and effort. Time is better spent replacing those failed repetitions with new, empowering habits that will help you with the important pathway to your purpose in life.

Some things like the two examples we shared are absolutely urgent. But most of the things we assign an "urgent" moniker are really just distractions from the important tasks and plans. Do the things that are absolutely urgent then get back on to the important stuff.

The urgent is seldom important. Your heartfelt goals, your burning aspirations, your drive to fully utilize your immense talents, those things are important. Those things are worthy of your time, your effort, and your emotion.

The world is waiting for you to share all of that.

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5 Stages Of Grief Through My Own Experiences

I'm sharing my personal story of going through the 5 stages of grief to help you when you face the same journey.

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"Moving The Goalposts"

No one remained seated. The anticipatory silence was uniquely deafening. The home team had driven the length of the field in the last two minutes of this clash of football titans. The combatants on both sides "gave as well as they got" in the vernacular of warriors, both military and sporting.

Now it all came down to one final play, a field goal attempt, well within range for this accomplished kicker. All that remained was for the home team to complete their assignments, just once more today. An accurate snap, a successful hold, some clean blocks, and a true kick would unleash jubilation among the ever-faithful fans.

It seemed like a foregone conclusion that the boys would win today. Their kicker had made this kick dozens of times, never faltering. And indeed, there was flawless execution of every assignment allowing the football to soar on it's way, straight and true.

But suddenly everything changed. The two officials perched on either side of the goalposts as was their position, suddenly moved the goalposts to the left. The perfect kick would sail wide right of the moving target, allowing victory to be snatched away.

You've been taken on this metaphorical bunny trail to illustrate the universal unfairness of moving the goalposts or in more general terms, changing the established rules for personal gain.

We see the goalposts being moved every day and the reason is consistent. The rules are changed to hinder a fair and equitable outcome for every participant. Most of the time there is another force in play. Power and greed drive the act of moving the goalposts.

To gain power which adds wealth, requirements are changed in midstream. For some segments of society the requirements are lessened because it has been decided that they are not capable of meeting the bar set for the rest of the population. Nothing could be more condescending or debilitating than such blatant evaluations.

Long established rules of conduct are revised downward to allow unfettered violence and destruction. We'll move the goalposts. We won't prosecute certain thieves because they have been deemed as unable to adhere to established standards of civilized society. In actuality, nothing could cause more harm than lowering acceptable standards of conduct and productivity. Such revisions trap repeated cycles within the confinement of lost opportunity.

If our story of the moving goalposts in a football game ever happened, there would be a firestorm of complaint, congressional subcommittees would issue reams of subpoenas, and the world would pause in disbelief of such a travesty. This author would be right there with them.

It seems plausible that we should apply the same firestorm to this actual, intentional moving of the goalposts. In all things in life, if we leave the goalposts in place, talented people will get better and kick the objectives right through the middle of the uprights.

Equal opportunity, equal expectations, equal accomplishments. We just need a consistent target and a fair means to hit it.

Written by T.O. Illustratio

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Servant Leadership Through The Lens of A Life Learning and Using It

After being immersed in the concept of servant leadership, one of our editors shares a guide to developing this vital, empowering skill.

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The Power Of Habit Is The Most Reliable Tool for Empowering Success

Sometimes we make things more difficult when we don't use the proper tools. Use the power of habit to overcome many of life's challenges.

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Not Everything Is Relative

Many of our pages center around certain baseline truths. We've written about a consistent moral compass and about being responsible for doing what is right because it is right. In this spot yesterday we wrote about the evolution of law abiding citizens. You can find it in the link just below. Today we're sharing some wisdom from Zig Ziglar on this subject. You'll find it below the link.

Law Abiding Citizen

"In our society today we hear clichés and repeat them, whether they make sense or not. For example, Shakespeare said, 'Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.' A moment's reflection will convince you that thinking has nothing to do with whether rape or murder is good or bad. Those acts are bad.

Many people today say, 'Well, everything is relative,' which is also absurd. We must have some absolutes in life; otherwise, obeying laws is 'relative.' There are several thousand laws on the books, so let's go down the list and choose the ones that are relative to us and, consequently, obey only them. Chaos would be the obvious result.

For the eighty-five-year-old, driving 40 miles per hour might seem far too fast, while 90 miles per hour for the seventeen-year-old might not seem fast at all. A 'bump' by a 300-pound NFL offensive lineman on a 290-pound defensive end would be relatively insignificant. The same force applied against a frail senior citizen could result in serious consequences.

As you ponder things of this nature, I believe you will come to the conclusion that the more things we make relative, the more chaos we're going to have in our society. It's safe to say that virtually every husband and wife in America does not want their mate to be 'relatively' faithful. Most of us have taken vows that being relative has nothing to do with. We're going to love, cherish, honor, and be faithful to our spouse. Add relativity and good or bad to that vow, and very few marriages would survive.

The list is endless, but I encourage you to eliminate much of this 'relativity stuff,' and this idea that 'nothing is either good or bad but thinking makes it so' approach to life. Follow the moral absolutes that have stood civilization in good stead for several thousand years."

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The Law Abiding Citizen Evolving Through History In Fable Form

Follow along as we take you through a journey leading to the evolution of a law abiding citizen from solitary existence to national honor and integrity.

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"The Crossroad"

Our personal lives are windows to our future contributions. The way we live each day, even in the smallest, least consequential moments, are the direct results of our choices. Guest author T.O. Illustratio gave us a good look into choices in the column just below this one in the blog lineup.

Those choices are accumulations of our past beliefs and fears. We all have them. Some of us go through the bad parts and take the hits, getting over them and getting better. Everybody has hard parts in life and everyone carries some scars to prove it.

Some of us remain locked in fear, unwilling to get hurt again, settling for a life of mediocrity and dreams of "what if?" Some of those metaphorical windows from paragraph one of this page show images of a depressed, beaten person. A scarred, traumatized individual unable or unwilling to get back into the fight that is life.

Some others show the same scars of traumatized individuals. But the viewer of those images has to look deeper to notice the evidence of past hurts. They are there, because every person gets knocked down and faces "The Crossroad." Do they submit to their history of pain and failed choices, forever locked in a confined cubicle of sadness and missed opportunities?

Or do they shake off the pain, the doubt and the fear? Do they try again because if someone else overcame their past, they can too! That window allowing access to personal victories and setbacks will tell us if we will grow into leaders who will become accountable citizens.

As we hear on every airline before every flight, "In the unlikely event of loss of cabin pressure, an oxygen mask will drop down in front of you. Secure your own mask before attempting to help others." Everyone fears failure. Some wilt away from it, while others rise above it. Both have scars but we don't notice them as easily on those who overcome adversity.

We see the example of someone who secured his or her own mask first and then helped others. Just seeing this image in the window of leaders emboldens us to do the same. This is the pathway to new leaders showing the way.

This is your way if you recognize that failure is not fatal. It's just the pathway to "The Crossroad." You get to pick the path. You are capable of leading people to greatness because you have greatness within you!

Choose the path. We are right there with you!

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What If You Knew You Couldn't Fail?

I've been doing this for a long time. I've seen everything, I have the t-shirts to prove it. I witness varying degrees of thoughts and considerations for the three choices I present. So often they take the easy reward without giving consideration to the ancillary factors that tag along with their hasty decisions.

Sometimes, albeit it much more unlikely now in these cynical times, the human will appear to analyze all three options laid at their collective feet. But in the end they settle for an easier option. I long for the permission to point to the best of the three choices.

Legend has it that genies like myself offer three wishes, but my chapter offers three choices, of which only one will be granted. It is therefore incumbent upon the grantee to choice wisely.

The spectacle begins in the same manner as they rub my lamp and I enter with the expected bluster and smoke. I offer those reported three choices promising to grant one. I tell them to think carefully, to really ponder the possibilities. My superiors would not allow me to lead them any farther toward the best choice. They also won't allow me to invert the order, which in my experience might help the humans see what they call "the big picture."

Every time it is the same as I offer three choices:

1.) $1,000,000

2.) International fame

3.) A guarantee that whatever they attempt, they will not fail

Most of these humans who stumble upon my lamp opt for the money. They feel as though the rapid cash infusion will solve all their problems. They soon discover that this bonanza offers some short term happiness, but their previous habits, prejudices, and fears are still with them. In short order, the windfall is spent.

Some choose international fame as the door-opener to eternal joy and contentment. They soon make a disheartening discovery. There are legions of famous people who lead lonely, miserable existences, absent of any genuine peace and satisfaction.

Oh, how I wish I could merely point to number three. Fear and lack of purpose in life is the cause of much of the turmoil and strife among the humans. If they just believed in their personal skills, if they broke free of the burden of worrying about what other people think, they could have either or both of the other two choices.

If they knew they couldn't fail, these humans could solve many of their worldly problems. If I could merely ask, "What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?"

Perhaps this genie is Pollyanna stricken, but I am certain beyond doubt that most humans would strive to do things to help other people. In the process, all the fame and personal wealth they could ever need would find it's way to them.

Three choices. If I could only ask them what they would do if they knew they couldn't fail?

Written by T.O. Illustratio

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Time To Renew

"Welcome to today! A time to renew, restart, and release.

If you're ready to make a lasting change, you must realize that in order for it to last, it must be a complete change. You can't just renew yourself in your mind and with your words. Your actions must also reflect the new you.

It won't work.

If you truly want to renew, allow yourself to renew all aspects. It's the only way to create lasting change. Keep this in mind; if the vision you have for yourself in the future is greatly different than your life now, the actions that you take must also be greatly different. You cannot do the same thing and get something different.

Renew all.

Like many of you, I'm on my computer a lot. You know when you're on and the computer has some sort of update it wants to download? Or you open a program and it says it needs to run an update before you proceed? If you notice, when it's done updating, it says, 'You must restart your computer' for everything to function properly, to function effectively. When you restart the computer, it has been renewed and is functioning in a manner that reflects the new updates and is no longer attached to the old way of doing things.

I understand we are not computers, but there is something we can take from that. When you're sitting at home and you realize that you're done with the old way of doing things and you're aware that you need an update in your life, you must renew-restart.

Don't you ever feel like you need to renew?

Maybe you're done dealing with this person, you're done dealing with that person, you're done being miserable at home, you're done being a smoker, you're done being a drinker, you're sick of living paycheck to paycheck. Whatever it is you're done with, whatever it is you want to update in your life, you also have to restart in order for it to work effectively. It's the beautiful art of renewing yourself.

Please understand that renewing is also releasing.

Are you ready for a new you? With your rebirth there must first be a funeral for your past. Let go! I often speak about letting go because it's so important. Releasing the attachment to yesterday is the best way to renew and embrace the power and blessings of today.

There's no way you can fight today's battles with yesterday's thoughts.

Muhammed Ali once said, 'If you think the same at 50 as you did at 30, you just threw away 20 years of your life', and it's so true.

You have to release...

Renew, release, let go. Yesterday's gone. There's nothing you can do to bring it back. You can't 'should've' done something. You can only DO something.

Release yourself. Release that attachment.

Today is a new day!"

Written by Steve Maraboli

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"What Is The Author's Purpose?"

In every column of length that is published, I request the following paragraph be included at the beginning.

"About the author: T.O. Illustratio is a free lance writer and observer of the interaction of personalities in everyday life. The author seeks to inspire readers to look within themselves to see how much good they can do in this world when a definitive purpose in life is clear."

My reasoning for such a request is that I try to see myself in the position of potential readers of my work. Recognizing my own nature, if I don't receive the message of what I'm reading early on in any written format, I might wonder, "What is the author's purpose?"

Having a "glass-half-full" mindset that could be described as either fortuitous or cursed, depending on particular viewpoints of those supplying said descriptions, I tend to see the good in most people.

That mindset leads me to write in ways that intend to inspire personal belief, invite deeper thoughts and illuminate lessons from history. At times my method of choice in writing style is fictional in nature, but always leading back to those chronicles of historical events.

"What is the author's purpose?" In succinct terms, my words are presented as an avenue to give back positive inspiration in gratitude for past inspiration granted to me. Further, my purpose is to encourage focused thought and direct questions about matters that affect our national interests, and will certainly impact future generations. Those who come after us will either reap the benefits of our wise choices or be faced with cleaning up the mess from our selfish, or worse, arrogant indifference to those matters.

This author has seen the impact of small things done with great purpose. This author has seen how a singular seed of an idea can grow into a movement for positive change. This author has seen how a focused group, organized with a plan to achieve a clear cut goal can create incredible success.

All because of knowing the purpose.

Written by T.O. Illustratio

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"Your History-Your Destiny"

"So many of us get caught up in the past: past issues, past relationships, past mistakes, etc... We tend to give away our thoughts and energy of today to days and events that no longer exist. An unfortunate reality of this type of thinking is that we tend to lose sight of our true power and purpose. And we lose sight of the truth that we are free to change-to refine, improve, or enhance ourselves at any moment.

The value of a moment is immeasurable. The power of just ONE moment can propel you to success and happiness or chain you to failure and misery.

What if you could break free from the shackles of self blame, criticism, and disempowered limiting thought?

We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.

Today, many will awaken with a fresh sense of inspiration and leave the ghost of yesterday behind, why not you?

Today greets you with no rules or conditions. The only requirement to see all it has to offer is to live it full out. Each day brings immeasurable blessings and opportunities for happiness and success. Like a gift, beautifully wrapped at the foot of your bed each morning, today asks that you open it and enjoy everything inside. Exhaust yourself with all it has to offer! Laugh, cry, say 'I love you', say 'I'm sorry', truly LIVE the day...When was the last time you did this? Squeeze all the juices the day has to offer, then, at the end of the day, go to sleep knowing that tomorrow morning another gift will be waiting.

It's when we continue to look into the box of yesterday or last year or ten years ago that we feel depressed, trapped, and defeated. But the good news is that if you just open your eyes and look, you would see today's box, today's gift is waiting. Let go of yesterday, forget it. It has already forgotten you. Embrace the only day in which you have any power. Today!

Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past. Instead, shake things up today! Live through today. Don't just exist through it-Live through it! Have a plan for success and make sure your actions reflect your plan.

Your dream is a reality that is waiting for you to materialize.

Today is a new day! Don't let your history interfere with your destiny! Learn from your past so that it can empower your present and propel you to greatness."

Written by Steve Maraboli

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Why Do We Learn History? Because It Always Determines Our Future!

Why do we learn history? Because the past always offers an accurate prediction of our future as described in the words of guest author T.O. Illustratio.

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