Billy Cox Blog

In countless studies of successful individuals, one quality stands out: They all have tremendous vision. Total Leadership author Stewart Friedman describes Leadership Vision as “a compelling image of an achievable future.” That is a powerful description, but it could also apply to a goal, a dream, or even an idea.

So how is Leadership Vision different?

Goals tend to be more narrowly focused, while vision is broader and more encompassing. Goals, in fact, are the stepping stones to achieving a vision. Your goal may be to help make the company profitable this quarter, while your vision is to build a world-class organization that is a leader in your industry.

Dreams are typically more personal than visions and are often solo endeavors. Dreams may involve a few other friends or family. True Leadership Vision involves a team of people and is meant to be shared with others.

The difference between an idea and vision is like night and day. An idea is just that – an idea. Vision requires action! It’s great to have a lot of ideas – that shows creativity. In fact, vision starts with an idea – perhaps an idea to solve a problem, make life better, create opportunity or bring about necessary change. But an idea doesn’t become a vision until it grows and becomes a burning desire that you act upon.

You may think that you lack the capabilities to be a leader because you’re not “the boss” or because you don’t have a leadership title. This notion is “old school,” from the old game and the old rules. This myth will hold you back and keep you from obtaining the success and significance you desire. John Maxwell says, “A manager says ‘go’, a leader says ‘Let’s Go.’”

In reality, a person’s position in an organization or on a team has very little to do with leading others. Some people think, “When I get to the top, then I’ll lead” or “When I get promoted, then I’ll act like a leader.” These people overestimate the importance of a leadership title. It’s not the title that makes a leader; it’s the ability to keep people focused and moving forward through challenges, adversities, and setbacks, as well as through good times and victories.

Can you lead? You bet you can. Titles may be granted. However, it’s the decisions you make and the actions you take that determine your ability to lead. And that’s your choice.

 Let’s Go!

Have you already broken every New Year’s Resolution you set for 2013? That’s OK ─ so has everyone else I know.  Don’t let that stop you from Going for Your Dream in 2013.

Let this be the year you turn old setbacks into new comebacks.  We all have doubts and fears which create comfort zones and complacency.

SOLUTION:

Let go of the old to bring in the new. Focus clearly on the future.  Feed your faith and starve your doubts.  Go out and face your fears daily and fear will disappear. Suddenly, new worlds will start to emerge and you will become more powerful than you ever dreamed possible. Then and only then will you wake up and realize you are living your Dreams … in 2013.

One year from now, I expect to be in a better place than I am today. I will be a better husband, a better father, and a better leader. I will have more wisdom and make better decisions. I will be more successful and I will live a happier, healthier, and wealthier life. You, too, should expect the same.

So, how do you do it? Here are three simple steps:

1. List Your Dreams. Get a pen and paper and write down everything you want to be, do, or have in the future. Let your imagination run wild and be sure to write down all of your dreams — big and small.
2. Post Your Dreams. Make copies of your dream list and post them in places you will see them daily — on your bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator, by your bed, and on the dashboard in your car. This action will keep your dreams front and center.
3. Read Them Daily. It’s proven that we become what we think about most of the time. The more you look at your dreams and goals the more you think about them.

If you’ll write down your dreams, get them in front of you, and start reading them every day, you will be re-inspired and re-motivated, and you’ll start getting results. You will take the right actions, meet the right people, and your dreams will start to materialize.

I know it takes a little time but aren’t your dreams worth it? Of course they are! Don’t let anything hold you back. Your dreams today can be your reality tomorrow. Believe it…expect it…live it!!

A dream is something that captures your heart. It ignites your passion and fills you with hope. Our dreams are often about and achieving great things. They are pictures we have of our lives in the future that will be greater than the past.

Too many people have lost their dreams. They drift through life and never expect anything to get better. They start thinking that this is all I’m ever going to have; I’ve gone as far as I can go. It’s so easy to get caught up in this way of thinking.

Never get stuck in a rut where you go through the same old routine day after day and year after year. We’re not designed to stay in the same place, at the same level, doing the same thing over and over again. We’ve got to step out of complacency, explore new frontiers, and climb higher mountains.

It takes courage to dream. Anytime you dream there are risks involved. What if people laugh? What if it cost too much? What if I fail? I can tell you with great confidence that your best days are in front of you. You’ve just got to enlarge your vision, dream bigger dreams, and step outside of today’s box.

I recently sent out a Tweet where I said:

“There are 7 F’s that I am thankful for:

1) Faith; 2) Family; 3) Friends; 4) Fun; 5) Food;

6) Fellowship; and 7) Freedom”

Then I said, “What ‘F’ are you thankful for?” I was amazed at the number of responses I received. Here are a few …

“Friday Night Football; Fruit Cocktail; Foreigner; Fuddruckers; Funnel Cake; Fairs; Free Enterprise; Final Four; Flex Fuel & Fruit Loops.”

Someone else said, “Add Fantastic in front of all the F’s.”.

One reply said, “French Fries.” Then someone responded, “French Fries are Fattening Food.” Someone else said, “Let’s not forget God’s creatures with Fins, Feathers and Fur,” which I thought was neat and also true.

Out of all the “F” words, my favorite was Forgiveness. An article I read recently said that people could reduce up to 70 percent of all stress if they could just learn to forgive. My late and dear friend Charlie “Tremendous” Jones once stated, “The only way to Find Freedom is through Forgiveness.”

By sending out this tweet with 7 ‘F’s’ that I am thankful for, the “Law of Reciprocity” kicked in. You see, as my all-time mentor and friend Zig Ziglar, who recently passed away,  would consistently say, “Giving actually starts the receiving process.”

Within two days, three different people told me why they were thankful for something I had done to help or influence them in their life.

I had a birthday this same week. My Family and I went out to dinner to celebrate and before we ate, my wife Susan said, “We all have something that we want to tell you.” Then each Family member shared one reason they were thankful that I was their Father (or husband). Needless to say, it was a very magical moment I will always remember.

And Finally, a few days later, I received a delayed tweet that said, “I am thankful for the Future.” I tweeted back,  “Me, too!”

Yes, today is the First day of Forever. We can’t change the past — all that really matters is what we do now, today and for the Future.

Legendary college football coach Lou Holtz says “happiness is nothing more than having a short memory.” Frankly,  we’ve all done things that we regret. But, as  Tony Soprano always said, “Fuggedaboutit.”

Now let’s all have a Fantastic Finish and a Fresh start to a Fabulous New Year!

My wife Susan posted the following on her blog about the shooting in CT. I felt I should share it with you:

My 10-year-old daughter Destany and I have a ritual we do every day when I drop her off for school…

She gives me a kiss and a hug and says “I love you”….. I say “I love you too have great day”!!!! As she’s walking up the sidewalk towards the school It’s…… “See you later alligator…. After while crocodile….. Bye-bye butterfly….I love you”!!!!!

Today I couldn’t fight back the tears as I remember the children that aren’t going to school today or coming home….. And their parents

I have felt the LOSS the parents are experiencing right now and my heart hurts…. I know all too well of the sleepless nights, the anger, the sadness the loss of trust, hope & faith that is to come with this type of grief!

You see, when the shock wears off, the TVs leave and everyone goes back to their lives ……

The hardest thing to do everyday is to get out of bed and LIVE…. Your life is Never Ever Ever the same and you have to learn how to live again with teeny tiny steps every day.!!!!

We need not walk alone. We are The Compassionate Friends.

We reach out to each other with love, with understanding , and with hope.

Our children have died at all ages and from many different causes, but our love for our children UNITES us.

Your pain becomes my pain just as your hope becomes my hope.

Peace & Love to all my compassionate friends….May God help ease the pain!

“Be so good they can’t ignore you” is a quote by Steve Martin that I have on my desk and read daily.

This quote is profound, inspiring and drives me to want to do better.

To make this quote work you have to ask yourself three questions:

1. What is the clear end result I want to achieve?
2. What areas, if improved, can have the greatest impact on my performance?
3. What specific steps can I take to start becoming better in these areas?

Of course Massive, Focused, Daily Action, including preparation and practice, is imperative.

My father taught me a saying earlier in life: “Good better best,  never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best.”

Here’s the irony:  When you get to best, you realize that best ….  is now only good!

In challenging times, it’s hard to see better days ahead. However, you need to realize that positive or negative events do happen in a person’s life for a reason and the key is to know and understand that after every downturn comes an up time.

If you will hold on to your faith, set some new goals, craft a plan of action, and take steps to implement your plan, you will emerge stronger and you will be on course to achieve your dreams.

One of the keys to your success is for you to establish short and long-term goals and write them down. You can develop goals for a day, week, month, year, and lifetime.

It is vital that you review your goals regularly to make sure you stay on track. Moreover, you need to know and understand that focus and discipline are the driving forces behind every significant and successful life. Making your dreams a reality takes hard work!

Clarifying your goals for the New Year will give you hope. It will enhance your desire and start moving you in a new direction.

Always remember, “If you waste your time, you waste your life. Make every moment count!

To make 2013 your best year so far, it’s imperative that you have clear goals and a plan of action to achieve them. College Football Hall of Fame Coach Lou Holtz, says, “To succeed, you’ve got to have a vision and a plan.”

Did you know that most people spend more time planning their family vacation than planning their life? How about you? Have you ever outlined all the goals and achievements you would like to accomplish in the next year or five years? Are you crystal clear on the one target you would like to hit in your lifetime? Have you ever taken the time to set your goals and create a plan to make them a reality?

Look, I don’t know what you’re dreaming or where you’re headed. What I do know is if you’re not learning, growing, reaching, stretching, and sharing, your life will have no purpose or meaning. However, if you’re on “FIRE” and you’re working on accomplishing your goals with a clear purpose and true passion, life takes on an entirely new dimension.

I’m here to tell you that “your greatest days are ahead, and your biggest accomplishments are in the future.” This is why you must take the time to set clear goals for every area of your life. You should set professional, personal, financial, mental, spiritual and physical goals.

Setting clear goals and developing a plan of action will keep you focused on the future and help you live a more vibrant life.