Meaningful Mondays - Arrows Out

Creating a Tidal Wave of Change - Let Gratitude be Your Guide

Hello everyone, and welcome to this week's Meaningful Monday with me, Lee Brower. I'm thrilled, as always, to join you at this most wonderful time of the year. It's the perfect time to reflect on the power of gratitude. Its transformative effects permeate our daily lives, often in ways we don't fully appreciate. Whether it's the spirit of renewal from Easter celebrations or the reflections of freedom symbolized by Passover, these occasions are powerful reminders to appreciate and share our gratitude.

Gratitude is often underestimated. A simple 'thank you' has far-reaching effects. The problem lies in our tendency to limit the expression of this powerful emotion, especially in our workplaces despite its potential to nourish our personal and professional relationships, much like a river irrigating our fields. Gratitude fuels productivity, personal growth, and enriches our communities.

A study once showed that by simply expressing gratitude, a group's productivity increased by 50%. This goes to show that gratitude is more than just a courteous gesture - it's a catalyst for growth and self-improvement. Authentic gratitude enhances our virtues such as patience, honesty, self-control, determination, kindness, and compassion.

Leadership and gratitude hold a deep relationship. At the core of authentic gratitude is humility. Effective leadership is contingent upon the ability to express sincere gratitude. Through celebrations like Easter and Passover, we are reminded to appreciate and recognize the strengths of others. It's less about ourselves and more about the collective - less 'me' and more 'we'.

So, I challenge us all to start each day by asking ourselves empowering questions like 'Who can I express gratitude to today?' or 'How can I express gratitude in a unique way today?' Let's create a transformative wave of gratitude and positive change. It's not just about the small ripples we create but the potential of creating a tidal wave of change.

Start your week with the power of gratitude. It is, after all, the willpower of the heart. Let's carry this forward and make a difference in our everyday lives. Join me again next week for another Meaningful Monday. Until then, have a gratifying and transformative week!

Choose to be a Gratitude Truck, Not a Garbage Truck

In this week's installment of Meaningful Monday, Lee Brower explores the difference between being a garbage truck, filled with anger and frustration, versus being a gratitude truck, driving around filled with light and seeds of growth. Brower challenges the listeners to dissect the instinctive reactions they have when confronted with negativity, and urges to strengthen a personal growth-centered perspective, rather than picking up the garbage — disappointments and frustrations — scattered by others. He underscores the omnipresence of 'garbage trucks' in our society, including social media and news agencies, that incessantly spout any forms of negativity.

Brower then shifts the focus onto the idea of being gratitude trucks or garden trucks, laden with seeds, sunlight metaphorically speaking, that are vehicles of enhancing positivity and nurturing growth. Through this discussion, he asserts that gratitude and negativity cannot coexist, emphasizing the power of a single spark of light to pierce the engulfing darkness.

Further, Brower shares some illuminating insights imparted by the legendary Coach John Wooden on pursuing growth. To shed light on these ideas, he cites three principles — focusing on self-improvement, learning from others, and continually striving to be the best version of oneself. He cautions against getting embroiled in what's not within one's control, while accentuating the elements one could nurture and develop.

Seeing life through the lens of gratitude is not only beneficial for ourselves but also has a ripple effect on those around us. Brower challenges his listeners to be gratitude trucks, spreading light and positivity, and not succumbing to the garbage — the negativity and pressures surrounding us.

Becoming the Gardener of Your Own Mind

In this week's episode of Meaningful Monday, we delve into the fascinating world of our brain. Presenter Lee Brower shares mind-blowing facts about this vital organ, such as its weight representing about 2% of your body weight and it using 20% of your total energy and oxygen intake. With 400 miles of blood vessels and 86 billion cells, the brain is an intricate system that stores one apostrophe followed by six and a half miles long of zeros of data bits in a lifetime. While the average person has 50,000 thoughts a day, 95% of our decisions are made in our subconscious brain.

The second brain, the intestines, functions with 100,000 neurons and produces 30 essential neurotransmitters, even producing serotonin, the happy molecule. Nothing ever gets erased from your brain - everything stored in your subconscious lasts a lifetime, even if we can't voluntarily access it.

But how can we best use our subconscious mind? Brower compares it to a flower pot, something that does not decide on what seeds (thoughts) to nourish or hinder. Our conscious mind, however, does have somewhat of a control over what we allow into our subconscious mind. The interesting part? Our subconscious mind can't ignore a question.

This leads us to reconsider how we plant our ‘seeds.’ Turning statements into questions may yield better outcomes. For instance, instead of saying "I need to strengthen the relationship with so-and-so," ask "How can I strengthen the relationship with so-and-so today?"

Brower emphasizes the importance of consciously guarding what we plant in our subconscious. The movies we watch, the language we use, the people we associate with - these all play a crucial part in molding our subconscious, and ultimately, 95% of what we do, say, and think. He encourages us to become the 'gardeners of our minds,' nurturing our conscious thinking and subconscious influences.

The challenge for this week is to consciously think about what we allow to inhabit our subconscious mind. How can we nurture it and make it stronger? Can we be better decision and choice-makers by carefully selecting the seeds we allow in? Brower is keen to hear your thoughts and challenges you to have a meaningful week focusing on the seeds planted in your subconscious mind.

The Profound Power of Preparation

Welcome to this week's episode of Meaningful Monday Message. In today's discussion, I delve into a universal concept that transcends various boundaries - the significant role of preparation. This episode is majorly inspired by the wisdom of the esteemed Coach John Wooden, a man I had the privilege to learn from during the last years of his life. His definition of success revolves around self-assurance and knowing you have done your best to bring out the best version of yourself.

The journey to becoming the best isn't an instant achievement. It is a sum of our continuous past efforts, the work we did yesterday, and the build-up to the present moment. Our past endeavors inform and build our confidence. The essence of this journey isn't just about reaching a destination but also fostering growth and character.

Coach John Wooden never prioritized the victory; instead, he emphasized the journey towards it. According to him, genuine success lies in the peace of mind you gain from being optimally prepared. This ethos of preparation became the underlying theme of a key philosophy Coach Wooden put forth in 1997 - his eight keys for success.

These keys centered around advancing various life aspects like respect, attention to detail, hustle, character, composure, diligence, self-analysis, and hard work. Embracing this preparation mindset implies committing to your journey, not just the destination. It redefines the narrative around the phrase ‘doing your best’, which isn't about the result, but lies in the good position you put yourself in when you show up.

So as we delve further into these principles in the subsequent episodes, remember that good preparation is instrumental in positioning yourself for success. It isn't about accolades or scores, but the satisfaction and self-assurance of knowing you’ve made your best efforts to reach your potential. ‎Remember, preparation is the key to unlocking your best self. Here's to a meaningful week, and see you in the next episode.

Creating a Spontaneous Legacy

Welcome to another edition of Meaningful Monday with your host, Lee Brower. In this refreshing episode, Lee discusses the profound concept of a spontaneous legacy, emphasizing that a legacy is not something we leave behind, but rather something we live every day.

This episode begins with a compelling story about Mr. Big, a high-paced businessman, illustrating the domino effect of negativity and the sometimes unseen impact our actions may have on others. Lee uses this narrative to press the importance of the ripple effects we create daily, both negative and positive.

Focusing on the transformative power of positive actions, Lee shares personal experiences about "paying it forward." From surprising people by paying for their meals anonymously to small acts such as placing a quarter in someone else's parking meter, Lee encourages us to create a spontaneous legacy by appreciating what we have and sharing it with others. He emphasizes these relatively small actions, when done without expectation or need for acknowledgment, can trigger a chain of positivity and appreciation.

With this concept of a spontaneous legacy, Lee urges us to create a ripple effect of positivity and kindness that can change thought patterns and inspire others to pass along the joy. He concludes the episode with an inspiring call to action: to live deliberately, meaningfully, and create spontaneous legacies that will continue to live on. Join Lee Brower next Monday for more insights on how to live a meaningful life!

Stop, Look, and Go - Gratitude as Your Guardian Word

In this week's edition of Meaningful Monday, host Lee Brower shares a moment from his childhood where the word 'stop' played a significant role in his life. He shares an incident when he, a curious explorer, strayed too close to a busy highway and the frantic moment his mother experienced realizing he had ventured into a dangerous area. A 'stop' lesson was learned that day, but its value extended into his later life.

Life, as it mimics the busy highways, often goes by in a rush. Brower encourages us to stop and appreciate the moments, for it is in those pauses that we can truly be present. By pausing, we give ourselves a chance to 'stop' and savor the experience of 'here and now'.

The word 'look' goes beyond mere seeing - it implies observing the wonders around us, the comfort of our homes, the smiles of our loved ones, and the miracles that subtly mark our everyday lives.

'Go' is not just about moving forward but doing so full of gratitude. It embarks upon the appreciation of the moments in our lives which are priceless gifts offered to us each day. Brower emphasizes the importance of gratitude, viewing it as a secret ingredient which transforms everyday moments into meaningful memories, connections into bonds, and life itself into a joy-filled masterpiece.

Brower inspires us to stop amidst life's chaos, look around with eyes brimming with gratitude, and equip ourselves with a renewed purpose of joy. Let gratitude be a constant reminder in our pockets of the endless gifts that life has to offer. Embrace every moment with gratitude; for life has presented them to us as beautiful opportunities.

Join us next week for another episode of Meaningful Monday, filled with lessons, reflections, and reminders to make your week even more special.

What would you do?

Welcome to a new edition of Meaningful Monday's with Lee Brower. In this episode, we delve into some insightful content aimed at sparking reflections about our life and the unique journey we each embark on. Lee shares some thought-provoking questions brought forward by Earl Nightingale in his book "Your Success Starts Here". These enquiries challenge us to reflect on whether we're content with our lives as they are, or if we secretly wish to walk in another's shoes.

Lee recounts a touching and impactful story involving his son, Nick, during his battle with cancer, which ties into a poignant quote by Regina Brett. The experience and Brett's quote combine to probe the human tendency to compare our circumstances with those of others. The underlying message is about developing a deeper appreciation for our own unique path in life and finding a sense of contentment and gratitude amidst our struggles.

Lee sets a challenge for listeners to ponder about their burdens and to find within themselves the strength to say, "I would take mine back," in relation to their problems, signifying acceptance and gratitude. Can we live life with constant gratitude regardless of our situation? Hard as it may sound, Lee believes it might indeed prove to be a force that propels faster growth and greater influence on others.

To aid in this journey, Lee shares a personal tradition of starting each day with a moment of gratitude and inspires listeners to do the same. Embrace the challenge. Live life deliberately. Get ready for a meaningful week as you tune into this week's episode of Meaningful Monday.

What if the very thing we most try to avoid is the key to our greatest growth?

Welcome to this week's episode of Meaningful Monday with Lee Brower where we discuss the idea of how stepping out of our comfort zones can lead to great personal growth. This episode challenges the traditional idea we hold about pain and discomfort - far from being solely negative experiences, they can be powerful catalysts for our personal, relational, and societal development.

In our fitness journeys or while competing in sports, we often encounter pain and discomfort along the way. However, we push through it due to the vision of the gain we hope to achieve. We use examples of enduring the pain of going to the dentist or running a marathon to illustrate this idea. Through these examples, we invite listeners to view moments of discomfort as opportunities for growth rather than signals to retreat.

We share an inspiring story about a man who overcame his physical exhaustion to keep pace with an older hiker, motivated by his strong vision of the future. This is a perfect example of how our perspective on pain can transform our experiences and outcomes. The episode urges us to choose our pain wisely because if the vision is strong enough, it can trigger a mindset shift that can bear rewarding fruits in the long run.

Finally, the episode ends with a meaningful question for our listeners - "What discomfort are you willing to endure today for a better tomorrow?" This question invites our listeners to reflect on their current situations and consider where they might avoid discomfort that could lead to personal growth. Embark on this journey with us as we use our shared experiences and wisdom to make our weeks more meaningful.

Enjoy this week's edition of Meaningful Monday with Lee Brower, and do not forget to tune in for our next episode. Wish you all an impactful and meaningful week!

Things I learned from my dinner with Warren Buffett

Join Lee Brower in this week's Meaningful Monday as he shares incredibly valuable insights he gained from a one-on-one interaction with world-renowned billionaire investor, Warren Buffett. Brower reflects on an inspiring lifetime experience where he had the opportunity to sit with Buffett and ferret out the secrets behind his enormous success.

In a fascinating conversation with the Oracle of Omaha, Brower learned about Buffett's unique ability to see opportunities where none apparently exist and his strategy of strongly saying 'no' to anything that doesn't align with his main objectives. Here he discusses how Buffett's secrets are less about financial acumen and more about possessing the right mindset.

Brower shares that Buffett attributes much of his success to building and cherishing his cheerleaders; the leaders within his 62 companies. Brower further reflects on an incidental expression of profound gratitude from Buffett who claimed that one of the reasons behind his astounding success is being born in America.

The discussion takes a deeper dive as Brower shares three practical lessons extracted from the life of Warren Buffett: going to bed smarter every day, associating with people who are better, and investing in oneself. Brower masterfully elaborates on these three tenets, explaining how they can lead a more meaningful life, full of learning, growth, and continuous improvement.

Brower ends the episode with an motivating challenge for listeners: to make the upcoming week a time of intense learning and growth. He encourages the audience to live deliberately and to make life more than just meaningful - to make it truly exceptional. Join us in unleashing your potential and becoming the best version of yourself.

"I don't look to jump over seven-foot bars; I look around for one-foot bars that I can step over."
- Warren Buffett

"You've gotta keep control of your time, and you can't unless you say no. You can't let people set your agenda in life."
- Warren Buffett

"The most important investment you can make is in yourself."
- Warren Buffett

Who Owns Your Past?

In this episode of Meaningful Monday, Lee Brower dives deep into the concept of reflecting upon our past and the experiences that have shaped and defined us. The first essential question he opens with is "Who owns your past?", indicating that oftentimes we consider our pasts as an inherent part of our individual identities. However, the more weighted question he brings up is whether we approach our past as an asset or a liability. The key lies in how we utilize our past experiences and reframing it can transform our past into an impactful asset.

Lee shares an inspiring story about Larry, a hardworking friend who grew from poverty to prosperity. Despite his family's previous financial instability, Larry worked relentlessly to support them, which eventually led to him owning a successful chain of retail stores. Yet, Larry's children were unaware of their father's journey and struggles, thus, they only perceived him as being a workaholic. Upon Lee’s advice, Larry shares his life journey with his children, turning the “under the porch” experience into a valuable narrative, a bridge of understanding between him and his children. This story sheds light on how the past can be transformed into an asset when it is shared and becomes a component of the legacy we leave behind.

Therefore, the podcast concludes with a thought-provoking challenge: Is it more valuable to leave a monetary estate or the capability to make wise decisions based on lived experiences? The Cardinal message is the potency of capturing and capitalizing life experiences and employing them to positively impact the future generations by sharing profound life lessons. This is how one turns the past experiences into an invaluable asset.