{"id":2169,"date":"2012-08-07T03:03:58","date_gmt":"2012-08-07T08:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paulbatz.com\/?p=2169"},"modified":"2012-08-07T03:03:58","modified_gmt":"2012-08-07T08:03:58","slug":"what-does-it-mean-to-be-successful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goodleadership.com\/what-does-it-mean-to-be-successful\/","title":{"rendered":"What does it mean to be successful?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Ben and Dad, on a clear day, proudly atop Mt Aeneas, Montana.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of my favorite songs begins with the lyrics: “On a clear day, rise and look around you, and you’ll see who you are.”<\/em> Alan Jay Lerner wrote the lyrics Barbara Streisand sang. Today, I feel like I know what that song really means.<\/p>\n

Last week was historic in my family.\u00a0 While my father is literally clinging to his own life, I’m searching for what it means to be successful.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Ben (yellow hat) prepared me to free fall on the Giant Swing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“The tension in this rope is your friend,”<\/em> said the strong voice. I listened with intent because I was perched in the air, strapped into a High-Ropes harness ready to free fall.\u00a0 The instructor was my son.<\/p>\n

The giant swing ride was the penultimate reward of a thrilling, introspective weekend.\u00a0 Melinda, Katie and I flew to Montana to join our son Ben at family weekend at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp. The western border of Glacier National Park is truly God’s country. We placed our trust in Ben to stretch us, and he did!\u00a0 In one day, we climbed a mountain, scaled a high-ropes course and swam in a freezing mountain lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
We dutifully followed Ben up Mt. Aeneas. Seldom pausing to measure our progress.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hiking a mountain is curiously adventurous —\u00a0 treacherous footing makes it difficult to look around.\u00a0 Mother nature makes you pause on the path to really appreciate her glory — and to measure your progress.<\/p>\n

With each step I followed, I couldn’t help thinking: “When did the equation shift: from him following us, to us following him?” <\/em><\/p>\n

As parents, we instinctively take the lead —\u00a0 embracing our responsibility to guide our children on a good path forward.\u00a0 It’s both thrilling and taxing. And if we are successful, we get the opportunity to follow.<\/p>\n

Ok, it wasn’t Kilimanjaro…but Mom and Katie hadn’t even climbed a mole hill.\u00a0 Somewhere along the way, Ben had grown up and earned the trust to lead us up a mountain.\u00a0 And he leveraged that confidence into getting Mom up on a high-ropes course.\u00a0 That’s something.<\/p>\n

\"Katie
Katie and Melinda: proof that we all made it to the top of the Mountain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So, what does it mean to be successful? My own father is facing his legacy, so I’m accounting as well.<\/p>\n

“Hey Dad, this weekend is a Seven Fs clean sweep!”<\/em> Ben shouted from the peak.\u00a0 I could easily understand six Fs: with camp counselor Eric Bay by our side we covered ‘faith, family, fitness, friends, fun and future.’ But finances?\u00a0 Ben smiled: “I get paid to do this…that’s finances, right?”<\/em> Bingo, a Seven Fs clean sweep.\u00a0 Faith, family, finances, fitness, friends, fun and future. If I fell off the mountain to my own glory, I would rest knowing we’ve been successful.<\/p>\n

Good leaders make a habit of placing their trust in others, opening themselves up to life-stretching experiences.\u00a0 And they pause during the climb to absorb the glory.<\/p>\n

Will you please drop me a note and share with our tribe: how are you feeling successful? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of my favorite songs begins with the lyrics: “On a clear day, rise and look around you, and you’ll see who you are.” Alan Jay Lerner wrote the lyrics Barbara Streisand sang. Today, I feel like I know what that song really means. 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