What Makes Your Swing

At a meeting recently, I was reminded of a leadership conference where we were handed a sheet of paper with many versions of what a swing looked like.  Of course, the various swings was made to conform with the working background of the dad who was going to build this joyful creation for his son.  One word created eight different styles of a swing; everything from one of the all around favorites, a big tire on a rope hanging from a strong tree limb, or a secured cable, wood, and metal-type trapeze swing.  One word, an idea and a lot of different interpretations.  Everyday, we have the opportunity to make the swing with other people.  What would your project look like?

Proverbs 3:5 states, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding."

If we believe that we each have a deliberate purpose in life, then it stands to reason that God is a partner in the development of that purpose.  But how many times do we try to "build the swing" without any communication with our partner?  How many times have we read in the media of one business or marriage failing because one of the partners didn't communicate valuable information to the other partner(s)?

Each of us has been born with wonderful skills and talents that we improve upon over time. With encouragement from others, we learn to accentuate the postive and deflect the negative--at least most of the time.  We have learned to ask questions, experiment, and transfer some of those skills into other venues.  Then there are those without motivation, no incentive to do better, to try--because there is no mentor to give them a push.

Think back over your life, who was the person or people who have influenced you to try something different? Who has prompted you or challenged you to think differently?  If you're like me, it wasn't anybody in my family that made the positive difference, it was school teachers and mentors in my early professional career.

I remember one man, he was a CPA and my desk was right next to his.  I was so curious about what he did and how he got to be a CPA.  I wasn't really sure at that point what one was, I was young and very inexperienced.  My job was working with the purchase manager for a large store; a job that was really fun and exciting.  But there was something about the CPA's job that had my attention.  He answered my questions but didn't push.  He was aware of my curiosity but allowed me to grasp information in my time and ability.  What was the outcome?

Over a year's time, I went back to school in accounting.  Over the next few years I had two opportunities from business people who would pay my way into grad school, all expenses paid--if I would be come a CPA, and one group added jurist doctorate to the plan.  "We know you have the insight and skills to do this" they all said. 

I did, and I didn't want what they wanted so I turned them all down.  People thought I was crazy.  It just wasn't my "swing".  My project would have elements of what others thought were right for me, but we had no communication prior to their input for my life.  So their choice for me was based on what they knew about me and their background and skills.

 My idea of a swing was going to involve creating people's ideas, not counting their money.  My focus was on helping them make money and letting somebody else work on the investments side of the plans.  So my swing wasn't just a board with some rope, it was going to be decorated, fly high, and use other logic than my power to move it.

The swing of my dreams was also going to need excellent communication skills that could translate into different cultures, life experiences, and visions.  Not just my thoughts on what they should do, but take into account who they are and what their dream or vision is--that's what we call mentoring, or personal engineer (smile).

And least but not unimportant is the fact that we can all be in the same ocean, wanting to do similar things, but not everybody is going to want to join your team.  Even though we know that we have the "best" thing going. We have researched, developed, and perhaps even did a pilot project--something on a smaller scale before investing a lot of time and money into a larger effort. Still we can't get people on board with it.  Does that make the swing ineffective?  Not really.  If you believe and have checked with the God, then the swing will eventually be embraced by others.

And in the meantime, you can build it and have fun without crowds.  Be different, be a blessing, be courageous in the face of what might look like defeat.  Don't be afraid to modify the original plan.  Make adjustments as you find imperfections that would greatly benefit the overall project.  I didn't become a CPA or attorney.  I do, however, continue to thrive on education and learning opportunities. My career path took me into project and business management, loving the experiences of mentoring and watching people grow into their own project and ministries designed just for them.  When somebody says "no".  Its not personal.  But when they say "yes", let them try your swing and get some ideas of their own.

This week's challenge:  Evaluate your swing.  Let me hear your stories and if I can be of any help, please email me or place in the discussions section of  our Differences Encouraged Group.

You make a difference!  Let it shine