Leadership and Life Lessons from Peyton Manning

"It’s really not about whose fault it is. It’s about how you handle it.” –Peyton Manning

In this NFL interview Peyton Manning, quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts and four-time NFL MVP, answers questions about his team’s recent win and their uncharacteristic three-game losing streak.

Manning’s leadership style and philosophies, evident in this interview, are undoubtedly among the assets which make him one of the greatest NFL players.

Here are key points he makes during the interview:

Taking Responsibility
Minute 1:50: Deion Sanders states, “I like that you are a stand up guy.” Why? At recent press conferences Manning took responsibility for his team’s losses. “It doesn’t do any good to blame anybody. It’s really not about whose fault it is. It’s about how you handle it and how you fix it,” replied Manning. “I believe in accountability.”

Focusing on What’s Right
Minute 2:50: After three consecutive losses, Manning says he was asked if he was in a slump. His reply, “I guess maybe I was, but I’ve been on an eight-and-a-half year hidden streak,” referring to his winning NFL record. When faced with challenges our tendency is to focus on what’s not working and on what went wrong instead of focusing on what’s working and what we are capable of.

Being in the Now
Minute 4:48: Manning is asked his thoughts on two previous games in which he threw a total of eight interceptions. His response indicates he is focused on the present moment and on moving forward.

Learning from Adversity
Manning concluded the interview by saying the three consecutive losses were a test of faith and working through adversity. “How you handle it is the key,” he said. This is the stuff of which champions are made. It’s not about what happens to you, it’s about how you respond to it.

Whether or not you are a football fan you will appreciate Manning’s perspectives. To watch the entire NFL interview, click here.

What are some of your principles and philosophies for working through challenges?

Unleash your brilliance without boundaries,
Christine Ferguson

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Gratitude During Difficult Times

"Gratitude is one of the most neglected emotions and one of the most underestimated of the virtues."
-Dr. Robert Emmons

At some point in life, we all face challenges. It may seem odd to be grateful during moments of adversity; however, gratitude is not reserved only for the good times.

According to Mike Robbins, author of Focus on the Good Stuff, "It seems counterintuitive to be grateful for challenges. However, most of us have had really difficult things happen to us, and looking back on some of the most painful challenges, many people (myself included) honestly say that they’re grateful to have had those difficult experiences."

So why be grateful during tough times? When you look back at those moments quite often you will see the positive results of those experiences. For example, they may have allowed you to grow as a person, strengthened your character, increased your knowledge, or led you to new, greater opportunities.

In the book The Power of the Platform: Speakers on Life, I briefly describe how I faced personal financial difficulties. In retrospect, I realized how that experience led me to new and rewarding opportunities including the opportunity to inspire others to live their best life.

Moreover, the philosophy I developed was this: I cannot expect to receive more (opportunities, abundance, rewards...) if I was not already grateful for what I had.

As you express your appreciation this Thanksgiving, take what may seem like a counterintuitive approach and give thanks for your life’s challenges. Reflect on how those moments have or will positively impact your life.

Unleash your brilliance without boundaries,
Christine

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Get off the Ledge of Despair, Please

"Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice."
-Wayne Dyer

While walking in the neighborhood one Sunday afternoon, I overheard a backyard conversation taking place by phone. “Look at the bright side,” the man said to whoever was on the other end of the line. Clearly this man was doing his best to shed optimism on someone’s situation.

When you are faced with a tough situation it may be easy to slip into despair. It may be equally difficult to “look at the bright side.” For some, being in a state of despair is short-lived because they rely on their inner strength and/or the help of others to come through a difficult time.

For others, getting past despair is perceived as nearly impossible. They live their lives by false truths believing they are destined for a life of misery and hopelessness. They climb onto the ledge of despair and any attempt to talk them down is met with verbal assault and negativity.

If you or someone you know behaves this way, it is important to understand that the more you think there is no hope for you, the more negative thoughts and outcomes you will attract into your life. (Also see Be Careful What You DON’T Wish For). Success is due in great part to the way you think. Begin to see things in a different way and believe there is as much opportunity for you as there is for anyone else.

Instead of obstacles, see opportunities; see how something may work for you instead of how it will not work. Take the time to investigate solutions before shooting them down. This approach allows you to make informed decisions rather than decisions based on speculation.

When those who care about you share positive thoughts, words of encouragement, and suggestions for moving your life forward, thank them and get off the ledge of despair. In life you have choices: you can choose to believe yours is a life of misery and hopelessness or you can change the way you think and seize the opportunities life has to offer. Choose the latter, please.

Unleash your brilliance without boundaries,
Christine

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Your Mind and Body are Faithful Servants

The image on my television screen was of a man who was waist deep in an ice-cold river. His bare upper body exposed to the elements while he carefully carried his clothes on his shoulder to keep them dry as he crossed the river.

I was watching a reenactment of a man who had survived a deadly avalanche and, with a shattered pelvis; he was now lost and alone in the wintry, inhospitable mountains of Transylvania. The television program was I Shouldn’t Be Alive.

If you’ve read the book The Power of the Platform: Speakers on Life, then you’ve heard me talk about this television program and the incredible stories of human survival it portrays. The man is Ken Jones a former soldier. After a few days of crawling and hobbling through the vast, snowy wilderness, Jones finds help and is rescued. Two-and-a-half years after the accident, he was finally able to walk again. “The body will do what it has to do to survive. It is just an incredibly reliant and efficient machine,” says Jones.

As the body is an incredibly reliant and efficient machine so, too, is the mind. Even when you don’t believe you can make it through a tough situation, somewhere deep inside of you, there is a warrior. It may not be until you are faced with an extremely challenging time or an ordeal that you realize the strength and power of your character and how exceptionally well your mind and body serve you.

Jones brilliantly and beautifully explains it this way:

“I realized what an honest faithful, servant your body is. I felt really proud of myself. I knew I had a strong heart and character and I could get through things. So few people get the opportunity to learn about themselves so intimately and I feel privileged to have faced such struggles to get where I am now.”

Stories of survival and the human spirit inspire you with their truth about your highest capabilities and about what is possible. They are proof your mind and body will humbly and faithfully serve you through all your experiences. Always remember your priceless gifts of mind and body and use them wisely.

How will you unwrap and use your gifts?

Unleash your brilliance without boundaries,
Christine Ferguson


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