Today we’re learning why character counts, and why it gets discounted so quickly. 

In modern culture, character is one of the last virtues to get noticed, even though it's responsible for the rise (and fall) of many. 

From preachers to politicians to parents and business CEOs, character matters.

Without character you won’t last, but that’s not to say that it’s the easier path. Far from it. The road to character is an upward climb; it’s the narrower path, the one less traveled. 

And yet, it’s the surest way to longevity and, quite frankly, sanity in a world gone mad.

Character is like the DNA coding of your unique soul. Your mind, will, and emotions are all responsible for contributing to and creating the components of your character.

Around here, we like to say that character is who you are when no one else is looking. 

And while that’s true, it also bleeds into everything else that you say and do, regardless of who’s around. Whether you know that someone’s watching you or not, your character is hard at work.

Character is who you are - the real you - deep down to your core. It’s arguably the most important asset in your life. It’s a treasure to be guarded and a garden to be cultivated.

Your character determines how you are likely to speak, act, and behave …

And those words, attitudes, and actions ultimately determine the results you get out of life. 
Character largely determines and becomes part of your destiny. 

So, let’s dive into why character counts, why it gets discounted, and what you can do about it!
I hope you enjoy this episode!

Grace and peace,
Chris

487 | Why Character Counts (and why it gets discounted)

Should I stay or should I go? That can be a loaded question when it comes to employment.

It’s no secret, transitions are stressful, especially when looking to change jobs. And, knowing how to leave a dead-end job, the right way and at the right time, can be a real challenge.

Statistically, this is one of the most pressing questions in today’s workplace. However, with so many jobs available, how do you know when to make a change or even if you should?

Where I live, in Middle Tennessee, there are wanted signs everywhere I look. And, I don't mean a search for on-the-run criminals, haha! I’m talking about employers ready to hire workers!

On the podcast today, I want to walk you through a process of assessment of yourself, as well as your situation, in order to accurately discern if you’re ready for this kind of transition.

You don’t have to stay stuck in a role or at a company where you don’t fit, and now may be the perfect time to prepare yourself for what’s coming up next in life. Let’s get to work!

Enjoy today’s episode, 
Chris

488 | Leaving Your Job: The Right Way, The Right Time

You were created to grow, thrive, and flourish. 

You weren’t created to barely get by, wander aimlessly through life, or just maintain the status quo. In fact, that’s contrary to your very design!

In fact, when we’re not doing what we’re created to do, fulfilling our God-given purpose and growing into what He created us to be, then we’ll have a hard time enjoying life to its fullest.

Viktor Frankl said, When a person can't find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves with pleasure. But, that pleasure is often temporary, and serves only to distract us from purpose.

But things like joy, fulfillment, and growth are not necessarily easy to find. In fact, obtaining a deep sense of purpose takes time: it takes deliberate effort and developmental growth.

Today, we want to dig into the soil of one of your core needs: to grow, thrive, and flourish as God created you to. And the story of our growth as human beings began in a garden, long ago.

In that garden, God gave Adam and Eve work to do, things to enjoy, as well as things to avoid. Gardens are messy and take time to cultivate, but there are rich rewards for those who do it!

John Maxwell says, Growth is the only guarantee that tomorrow is going to get better. We can probably say this too: if we choose not to grow, then we’re guaranteed nothing will get better!

So, join me in doing the hard work of developing your personal growth mindset!

Enjoy today’s episode,
Chris

489 | Developing Your Personal Growth Plan

How do you know if your coping skills are actually helping you in life or holding you back?

There are different kinds of coping skills or strategies. For example, some focus on emotions, some on problems, some help us to disconnect from stressful circumstances, and others are basically social or religious support systems. 

And these things aren’t bad, I mean, they might actually help you to get you through a crisis or two… but are they a good long-term strategy? Well, not if they don’t address the problem! 

While they might help us to feel better in the short run, masking our real feelings and emotions does little to empower us to understand what’s happening (and why) in the long run.

Think about it. Counting to ten, taking a walk in a park, stopping a moment to pray, and even cleaning or organizing a messy room may help us avoid lashing out in anger or breaking down in tears. But if that’s all we’re doing, then we’re not actually dealing with the underlying cause.

On today’s episode, I sit down with Brian as he asks the question, “Why can’t I just cope?” An honest question, especially when so many people are feeling triggered and traumatized.

Coping is like wearing designer eyeglasses, instead of getting the corrective surgery you need. 

It may feel cool or attract some attention, but if it doesn’t actually fix the problem, then it’ll keep manifesting and get worse over time, leading you to use other coping skills or even vices. 

Hope you enjoy this important episode!

Grace and peace,
Chris

490 | Why Can’t I Just Cope?

How would you rate yourself as a communicator on a scale of 1 to 10?

Most of the time, leaders and their teams think they’re doing just fine. However, most are seriously mistaken!

After a careful assessment of team dynamics and interpersonal communication among leaders and team members, we discover time after time that quality communication is missing.

High levels of quality communication can be your team’s greatest asset, while the lack of this kind of communication - at high levels - can absolutely be your greatest liability. 

There’s just no way around it. 

The number #1 issue that we see holding leaders and teams back from greater unity and greater growth is a LACK of high quantities of high quality communication. 

There are several reasons that leaders tend to get held back in this area: things like fear, anxiety, stress, poor processes and time management being among the top contenders. 

Communication, we discover, is also a risky business. 

There are so many things that can go wrong, including losing face as a leader or followers getting offended. So, how do we manage the Risks and Rewards of communication?

On today’s show, we’re going to take a deeper look at communication, and try to solve this dilemma for leaders and team members alike. It’s worth the effort, I promise you.

Greater unity, growth, and job satisfaction are just some of the rewards waiting for you!

I hope you enjoy this episode!

Grace and peace,
Chris

491 | Risks & Rewards: Communication

Chris shares vital information to help you grow your leadership, your business, and your life. Each weekly episode is packed with tools that cause you to look at leadership and life in a different way and focus on what really matters: people. Chris teaches practical, easy insights that will help you improve your leadership...your team...your business...you.
Chris teaches practical, easy insights that will help you improve your leadership...your team...your business...you. 

To dive into what I do, visit https://www.ChrisLoCurto.com

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