Aaron, who leads sales and marketing, began his portion by describing his journey to ADDO. He first entertained the idea of joining the team because he deeply respected his good friend, Elizabeth, who had been with ADDO since its early days. As Aaron recounted the pitch to him, one piece struck me: Elizabeth shared that Garrett and I, the co-founders of ADDO, saw the world as malleable. In other words, we were just crazy enough to believe we could actually change the world. Most people view life as something that just happens to them. They believe they can control their responses, but they don’t believe they have any real control over their circumstances. However, there are people who view life differently. There are those who believe they have agency to make things happen.

Businessman and software engineer Marc Andreessen explained it this way: "The world is a very malleable place. If you know what you want, and you go for it with maximum energy and drive and passion, the world will often reconfigure itself around you much more quickly and easily than you would think."

Marc Andreessen explained it this way: "The world is a very malleable place."

Too many believe they are incapable of achieving great things, so when they have an idea, they put it up against their laundry list of “what if’s” and settle for something less. What if someone beats me to the finish line?

What if I can’t raise enough money?

What if I can’t motivate my team?

What if I fail?

‍Tim Ferris has some helpful thoughts on this phenomenon. He says, “Ninety-nine percent of the world is convinced they are incapable of achieving great things, so they aim for the mediocre middle-ground.

The level of competition is thus fiercest for ‘realistic’ goals, paradoxically making them the most time and energy-consuming.

It is often easier to raise $10,000,000 than it is $1,000,000. . .Unreasonable and unrealistic goals are easier to achieve.” Here’s my question: Do you have a desire to change the world around you in a big way?

Stop believing the lie that you can’t.

You have agency. You have ability. And I believe you have a responsibility. The world needs you to do something. Your family, your work, your community, and yes, the larger world needs you to act. So take a chance. Go for it. As the Romans would say: “Fortes fortuna adiuvat!”Fortune favors the bold.

All of these organizations have unique stories and cultures. Most operate in different fields of work and are looking for different kinds of talent. In a one week period, I will have spent time with an elementary school staff, leaders from a billion dollar business, a local church staff, and a Board of Directors. While the groups are different, they all share a similar problem: They don’t have enough great people on their team. Or they wish some of their people were higher caliber.

So they ask, “How do I attract more people?” or “How do I attract better people?”

My answer might not be the most encouraging one, but it’s the truth:

We reproduce what we have, not what we want.

This advice is not glamorous. It’s not an exciting approach or an easy strategy, but it is the most effective one if you choose to accept it. If you are going to attract a higher caliber of talent, you must develop the people you already have. Make the people on your team the kind of individuals who will inspire the new talent you want. The solution isn’t easy, but it is simple and straightforward. Here are three steps to grow the people on your team in order to attract new talent:

1) Invest in the talent you have. Encourage individuals in their strengths. Provide them tools and opportunities to pursue professional development. And most importantly, connect your people to the purpose. It’s your job to help each individual understand how their role is vital to your organization fulfilling its mission.

2) Level up your leaders. Seventy percent of an employee’s experience is based on a relationship with their immediate manager. It might be worth reading that last line again.

If you want a better frontline team, you must elevate the frontline leaders. Teach them how to communicate effectively, how to handle conflict, and how to establish trust.

3) Become a place where people can contribute.

Don’t mistake compliance for contribution.

If you are going to attract and retain talented people, create a space where their unique gifts can be exercised. Every great person wants to add value, so encourage creativity and resourcefulness and celebrate when people use their gifts to contribute to the larger work of your team.

If you’re struggling to get better people in the door, start with who you’ve already got. Focus on their strengths, invest in intentional leadership training, and give them an opportunity to contribute. When you do those three things, you take the first step to becoming the type of organization that the people you’re looking for are looking for.

We are making plans and our calendars are filling up with what we hope to do. However, the only thing that is certain about this year is that some things will not go as planned. In our individual lives, challenges will inevitably arise, and obstacles will fall in our path.On the macro level, we could face broader challenges. It might be a new health scare, a new war, another surprising uptick in inflation, elevated political tension . . . more bad news.I’m not trying to start your year on a down note, so here’s the good news: [highlight]for leaders, uncertainty presents a unique opportunity for you to exercise your gifts, talents, and strengths.[/highlight] Think about it: It’s in challenging times that the world most needs bold, courageous leaders. Consider two heroes from history with me. During World War II, Winston Churchill used his ability to communicate to embolden and guide Britain through some of its darkest days. Without his presence, conviction, and ability to rally his people, their country may not have had the courage to do what needed to be done to win the war.Martin Luther King Jr. is considered by many to be the most consequential leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Not only did he use his gift of communication to stir the hearts of people to fight for a day when men and women “will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” But he also organized some of the most significant marches and protests of the movement.Leaders emerge most prominently when things are confusing and chaotic. [ctt template="2" link="5_8n1" via="no" ]Leaders emerge most prominently when things are confusing and chaotic. @KevinPaulScott[/ctt]This principle applies beyond leaders of countries and movements. It’s true in businesses, schools, and communities. In every group of people in the world, we need leaders to help us in challenging times. As you prepare for 2024, anticipate potential obstacles and prepare to lead when things are hard. Here are three actions of a strong leader in crisis:1. Stand up when others are sitting down. Strong leaders do not follow the crowd or base their actions solely on the approval of others. They allow their personal convictions and values to have the final say in their decisions.2. Develop a gritty mentality. Strong leaders have the mental grit necessary to push through difficult obstacles and make it out on the other side. They are like the Little Engine that Could. They keep climbing the hill saying “I think I can” until they reach the crest and cruise down the other side.3. Surround yourself with people who complement your weaknesses. This means that you put people around you who are strong in the areas where you are weak. None of us can lead well in isolation. We need a team of committed people to help us reach our goals.I hope 2024 is a great year for you. And I trust that when challenges arise and chaos ensues, that you’ll use your gifts to be a positive force. Don’t forget: the world is looking for leaders. And they might just be looking for you.

Anyone who has ever traveled with me knows this (and maybe hates it). And to add insult to injury, I sometimes pack too much in the bag I am planning to check.Have you ever done this? You put your bag on the scale, only to have the attendant tell you your bag needs to drop a few pounds, or you’re paying a lot more. The ensuing process will drive you crazy. Running late. Not wanting to pay extra money. Not to mention how embarrassing it is to open your bag in front of everyone (including strangers), to show what’s inside, so you can sort through your personal property. Your anxiety builds as you don’t want to miss your flight, but you also don’t want to leave without the things you need. As I reflect on this process of unpacking and repacking, it causes me to consider what I am taking with me into this new year. No, I’m not just talking about literal items, but what baggage am I bringing with me into 2024?When we go on a trip, we need to have the right stuff with us, but it is possible to overpack. [highlight]There is even a degree of overpacking that can prevent you from getting to your destination.[/highlight] Over the next few days, you will likely receive an onslaught of messages pushing you to set your new year’s resolutions, but I want to encourage you to do something else first. Even though it can feel frustrating and embarrassing, spend some time thinking about the baggage that you need to let go of to lighten your load in 2024.Let go of your resentment from the relationship that went wrong this year.Let go of the family argument that happened over Christmas dinner.Let go of the frustration you have toward that coworker who drives you crazy.Let go of your regret from the business decision that didn’t work out this year.Leave the baggage of 2023 behind, and let go of everything that might prevent you from reaching your goals this year.Next year stands waiting, with all of its promise and potential. Decide today to lighten your load as you enter 2024.[ctt template="2" link="rdUdO" via="no" ]Decide today to lighten your load as you enter 2024. @KevinPaulScott[/ctt]I look forward to connecting with you, in person or virtually, in the coming year.

As strife ravaged the country, Longfellow himself suffered a great personal loss. In 1861, he lost his beloved wife in a tragic accidental fire, and at the start of 1863, his son snuck away and joined the Union army against his wishes—risking another life Longfellow couldn’t bear to lose.With a heavy heart, he wrote this poem in response to the bells he heard chiming that Christmas Day in 1863.I heard the bells on Christmas DayTheir old, familiar carols play,And wild and sweetThe words repeatOf peace on earth, good-will to men! The Christmas bells chimed just like they had every year before, and they sang of “peace on earth, good-will to men.” However, between the war and Longfellow’s deep personal sorrow, this message of peace and good-will felt out of place. It felt like a wasted celebration in such a tumultuous time. It felt like a lie. So Longfellow’s response is not surprising.And in despair I bowed my head;“There is no peace on earth,” I said:“For hate is strong,And mocks the songOf peace on earth, good-will to men!” Longfellow couldn’t reconcile what was happening in the world with a seemingly surface-level Christmas celebration. For Longfellow, there was no peace. There was just hate, and there was nothing left to do but despair. [highlight]I wonder if any of you are currently feeling the way that Longfellow felt that Christmas season?[/highlight]Maybe you’ve put up the tree, you hear Christmas music on the radio, but something still seems off. All of the lights, the wrapping, the cards, and the songs might feel a little like we’re trying to put lipstick on a pig. This world is broken. It’s divided. A war erupted in Israel this fall, while the conflict between Ukraine and Russia is still boiling. Inflation is still making our budgets feel stretched to the limit. Everyone seems on edge. And if you look around, there seems like there is a lot more despair than peace or good-will. But Longfellow doesn’t end his poem in despair. He goes on and ends with hope for himself and for us.Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!The Wrong shall fail,The Right prevail,With peace on earth, good-will to men!”Like all of us, Longfellow needed to remind himself of something—the hope of Christmas does not hinge on the state of our present circumstances. The hope of Christmas does not change whether it’s 1863 or 2023.[ctt template="2" link="8RNUO" via="no" ]The hope of Christmas does not hinge on the state of our present circumstances. @KevinPaulScott[/ctt]Even when it doesn’t seem like it, we all need the reminder that the wrong shall fail and the right prevail. Why? Precisely because of what we celebrate at Christmas. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:‘Glory to God in the highest,And on earth peace, goodwill toward men’” (Luke 2:11–14).My hope for all of us is that we can rest in the hope of the true meaning of Christmas this year.

It’s hard to feel inspired by the politician who uses the latest polling data to make their decisions. It’s difficult to follow the business leader whose mission and vision seems to change every year. It’s frustrating to hear about the celebrity pastor who changes his beliefs on every hot topic in order to stay relevant to the culture. No one wants to follow a leader who is tossed around by every new fad.

Yet, I often find myself making decisions based on what other people think. It’s certainly not wrong to care about other people. It’s a good quality to be aware of their needs, desires, and preferences. And when you can make the right decision and it pleases people, that’s a win-win.

However, it’s detrimental to make the opinions of others the sole basis of your decisions.

Margaret Thatcher once said, “If you just set out to be liked, you will be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and will achieve nothing.”

If you’re like me and care deeply about what others are saying, I want to give you three tools I use to combat my people-pleasing tendencies:

1) Ask yourself what you believe is true about this situation. Push past your feelings and focus on the facts. Don’t automatically take someone else’s word for it. You have your own worldview, mission, and vision for the future. If you’re operating within your calling and convictions, you should keep moving forward.

2) Consider the real implications of your decisions. What’s going to really happen when you act against another person’s opinion? Most of the time, it’s not going to matter nearly as much as you think it will. If this person means a lot to you and cares about you, it’s likely they will forgive you even if they disagree with your decision. If this person is always critical of your leadership, what does one more frustration subtract from your relationship? Even if you please them in this situation, it’s unlikely they’ll move into your camp. Keep a realistic perspective of your relationships.

3) Turn down the noise. Stay focused on your end goal. What are you working toward? If your critics are coming from social media or from your inbox, take a break. Put your phone away. Find some time alone. And remind yourself of why you do what you do.

I believe that each of us have a calling on our lives. We have been put on this earth for a purpose.

If you are constantly worried about what everyone thinks, you could miss out on accomplishing the purpose for which you were created.

The world needs you, and your work is important. Today, I want to challenge you to focus on the task at hand and make thoughtful decisions based on what you are put here to accomplish . . . not the approval of others.

The more I accelerated, the louder the noise, inviting everyone within earshot to look and see me in the driver’s seat. I still remember what it felt like to have the heat rise to my face as I pulled into the school parking lot each morning. I wondered who was going to see me and felt humiliated.

As a 30-something dad of three, I’m not as easily embarrassed as I was when I was younger. With a little more life experience and a depreciating desire to be cool (let’s be real; that ship sailed a long time ago!), I don’t sweat most of the small things that used to bother me. But that doesn’t mean I’m immune to humiliation. Now (I’m ironically embarrassed to admit), I feel embarrassed when my children don’t behave the way I think they should. In these moments, I am not thinking about how to correct them to help them grow, I am thinking about how I can get them to do what I want them to do so it will reflect well on me.

I know that’s prideful, and I need to work on it. Yet, this struggle perfectly illustrates what this blog is about:

In life, you can either have humility or humiliation.

In other words, the degree to which you are humble has a direct correlation to how easily you are humiliated. As you reflect, you’ll find the areas you have the most pride are the same areas you are most set up for humiliation.

In high school and now, I am prideful about the way I am perceived. I want people to think I’m great, so I am humiliated by things in my life that could negatively affect someone’s view of me.

What humiliates you?

The difference between humility and humiliation is that one is initiated by you and the other is initiated for you.

‍Humiliation is something life initiates for you.

‍You’re humiliated by your Walmart wardrobe while your colleagues wear designer brands.

You’re humiliated by your ignorance of a topic everyone at the water cooler is discussing.

You’re humiliated because your idea for a new product was rejected by your supervisor.

You’re humiliated because your budget for Christmas this year is smaller than your friends’. And what you’re humiliated by reveals areas where you need to grow in humility. The good news is we can grow. Humility can be initiated by you. Here are three practical steps toward humility:

1. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

You are human. You are going to make mistakes, and you need to learn to laugh at yourself. Life is too short to be overly-concerned about the way you’re perceived.

2. Think about other people.

Like C.S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of yourself less.” Actively redirect your tendency to be focused on yourself to be focused on the good of others.

3. Understand what you can control.

Humiliation often comes from the pride of believing we have more autonomy and control over our lives than we do. Understanding where you can affect change and where you can’t can help you grow in humility.

We all need to grow in humility. Understanding this connection between humility and humiliation can help us pinpoint where we need to grow right now and take intentional steps toward humility. I’m challenging you (and myself) to take the first step toward humility today.

“I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age I always did it for half an hour a day. Why sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” – Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-GlassMy three-year-old daughter is bursting with imagination.One Sunday morning this fall, I could hear her talking before I opened the door to her room to get her up. She gave me a big smile and said that she was already having church with her Elsa doll. This same afternoon she played with her toy kitchen and brought us a dozen different food items she “made” for us to enjoy. I remember marveling at how easily she played, falling into different characters and activities, with whatever and whoever was there to play.I love this stage of childhood. Imaginations run wild, and children aren’t afraid to dive headfirst into them and experience the joy of being or doing something new. Isn’t it sad how these imaginations grow more dim with each passing year? I think it’s because the older we get, the more we realize that we can’t imagine our way out of reality. Life is hard, and sometimes, it feels more safe to only acknowledge what is right in front of us rather than what could be.[highlight]Yet, we would all benefit from some more imagination.[/highlight]Boston Consulting Group’s Martin Reeves and Jack Fuller explained it this way: “Imagination gives us the ability to explore the realm of what is not but could be, enabling us to conceive and create new things and to shape what is.”Imagination doesn’t just help us temporarily escape reality. Often, it helps us create real solutions to make our reality better. By imagining what is not but could be, we lay the groundwork for innovation and begin to seek new ways to grow. This is especially important for businesses. If you want your company to flourish, imagination is essential.[ctt template="2" link="dmy1I" via="no" ]Imagination doesn’t just help us temporarily escape reality. Often, it helps us create real solutions to make our reality better. @KevinPaulScott[/ctt]Here are four benefits of fostering imagination in your organization:1. Imagination leads to more outside exposure and influence. Imaginative individuals will be naturally curious about other people and the way they do business. Encouraging your team members to learn more about other organizations (even if you don’t agree with everything they do) can help you stay nimble and grow in places you didn’t know needed help.2. Imagination fosters cognitive diversity. An organization of people who are only encouraged to think one way will leave little room for new ideas, creativity, and innovation. Imagination encourages many different lines of thinking to join the conversation and make the work better.3. Imagination breaks the tyranny of metrics. It’s easy for businesses to emphasize measurable results, and they should! But if these metrics become the only measure of success, growth, or value, it will be difficult for an organization to mature to its full potential.4. Imagination gives autonomy to team members. Most organizations hire individuals for a specific role and purpose, but imagination allows these individuals to speak into and help contribute to the work in a holistic way. Instead of saying “that’s not my job,” imagination empowers individuals to help solve problems across departments and work together toward a common goal.Imagination isn’t just for children. It’s for you, for me, and for our organizations. Let’s work hard to celebrate it and to foster it in order to make our work and our world the best it can be.

It’s kind of like the word “branding.” Everyone has a different definition about what it means, so when we discuss it in our organizations, it’s hard to justify devoting valuable time and resources to cultivating it.

I understand why many businesses struggle to clarify and prioritize culture work when they are creating a budget and managing pressing issues. Will culture improve the bottom line? Yes. But you might not see those results immediately.

You can't always quantify culture.

You can't measure it.

Even if you pay for some fancy survey, you might not fully know what the return is.

Culture is an investment that ultimately improves employee engagement, makes it easier to attract talent, and ensures that customers feel cared for by your people. This happens over time, and we can’t always quantify it. Yet, this doesn’t make culture any less valuable.

Albert Einstein famously said, “Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted.”

Sadly, many organizations don’t realize how much they need to invest in their culture until the culture has gone wrong. A bad culture reeks to talented team members. It makes it nearly impossible to recruit and even more difficult to retain, affecting your customer experience and ultimately, your bottom line. There’s an approach to reframe the way you think about culture– I know it’s helped me. Think about culture the same way you think about friendship.

C.S. Lewis said,

“[Friendship] like art has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”

You don’t need friendship to survive. But surviving without friends is lonely. Friendships are life-giving.

In the same way, culture might not immediately improve the operations of your business. However, culture makes the work—the profitability, the growth in operations, the overcoming obstacles, the reaching goals—worth it!

Like friendship or art, culture isn’t necessary to the survival of your organization, but it gives value to employee experience, which in turn pays huge dividends.

Here’s my challenge to you today: invest in the culture of your organization.

Schedule the team lunches.

Plan the overnight retreat.

Check in on your team members individually to see how they are doing.

Celebrate wins—big and small!

Extend care to people when they are hurting.

Encourage your team members to go out to lunch and find ways to connect outside of their weekly huddle.

Income alone is not enough to attract and retain talented individuals. Inspiration is crucial to fostering the kind of culture that your team members want to be a part of for the long haul.

So, what are you waiting for? Go for it. Invest, encourage, inspire. Prioritize culture in your organization and see how it makes the work worth doing.