The very notion of considering a calling sounds way too mysterious for some and daunting for others.
We don’t have to be the next Steve Jobs, who was foundational in changing the way we live through technology. We don’t even have to be the next Moses who went face to face with the living God to bring down another type of tablet with the inscription of God’s law.
Why does a calling need to be that grand to be fulfilling?
Both Steve Jobs & Moses didn’t get to see the fullness their calling, they are not to be envied.
Steve died way too early of cancer and missed out on far more than he bargained for.
Moses to didn’t get to experience the promised land and robbed himself of the true calling of life, which is far more profound than changing the world.
White Noise Mania
1. Everything that is pulling you away from who you are in the hope of one day hoping you will be happy with what you’ve achieved
2. The relationships we align with that give us a false sense of identity and security while abandoning relationships that are inherently meaningful
3. Resting mentally in a time or place we believe was the peak of all that we could become. As a result, we repeatedly punish ourselves for our past failure or perceived past failure which cripples us from moving forward.
White Noise is that stuff that fills our head daily, distracting us from completing our mission in life.
Going back to our calling
1. Just being who we are meant to be doesn’t have to be all that difficult if we get some quiet time to listen.
2. Even if everything drops off and we are left with a seed of who we truly are, it’s of more value than all the trappings this world has to offer
3. Your greatness is in being authentic and nothing more
4. To be authentic is one of the rarest commodities known to man kind
Authenticity is often found in the elderly when they have nothing else to prove. Many choose kindness, love, patients, wisdom, relationships as their companions rather than anger, hate, competition, knowledge isolation.
The ancient writings reveal something about the nature of being called and authenticity.
‘What good is it if you gained the whole world but in the process lose your soul’
I think Steve Jobs & Moses would have a lot to say about that.
Your richness starts with you right now, right here, if you dare to look within. You are richer than you could ever imagine if you return to your true calling. (Being authentic)
Have you considered how valuable you are right now?
Perhaps you are looking to develop that authentic life and you feel something is missing. All the popularity and outward success in the world hasn’t filled that void inside of you. I assure you there is an amazing life waiting for you off the grid.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
Who knows what light could come from a chat?
TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
How many would close a business because it’s going too well? Hardly, however there are some things more important than popularity.
For me, it’s the validation of authenticity and no one can answer that but ourselves. Being pigeon holed by others is their prerogative. Pigeon holing ourselves is a travesty no matter how much success we achieve.
We are more than what we do.
There is nothing I hate worse than forever talking about yesterday’s victories, we must be current in our victories if we are to survive and thrive.
Back in December 2016 after seven years of social media, I switched it off, deleted all contacts and vanished off the virtual grid to rebuild, reignite and sharpen my real world experience (Basically getting my creative voice back)
I originally started my social media platform in 2007 to widen my circle of influence. I wanted to make a difference to the next generation. I have always wanted to help them to be creative as they find their voice.
It’s hard to admit but there are seasons in life where our voice can fade and we find ourselves just going through the motions, no matter how large our platform grows and the opportunities presented us. I felt my voice was fading and my effectiveness wasn’t as sharp. While my public life was increasing, my soul was dying, leading up to my two year sabbatical in December 2016, from all things virtual. Being popular doesn’t always equate to making an impact.
I’d gone through a similar experience twenty years earlier as a public speaker travelling extensively around the world doing seminars three weeks out of a month. The continual stage work blurred my reality and it was time to settle for a season to get my voice back.
Over that two year social media sabbatical, I went back to basics rediscovering why I do what I do.
The fact is, I do what I do off the stage or grid and have done so for decades. I live it and breathe it. I am compelled to live a full life and all social media did was allow others a small Porthole into a very real life. In December 2018, I felt to come back to the social media platforms hopefully with fresh creativity, again, focusing on influencing the next generation to help them find their voice and meaning.
Rebuilding the new platform was half the fun as you ask yourself “Do I still have something to say that can influence another person to seek out a better life for themselves?” I think the answer was and is yes.
After the last two years being back on the grid, what I set out to do has worked. Typically, it’s afforded me fresh opportunities to express my ideas and encourage where I could. Unfortunately even when something appears to be working on your behalf, you still have to work out if it’s the best path to get you to where you want to be.
As for me, it seems that my private world opens way more opportunities than social media has ever done, as much as I’ve loved the experience.
Being wise and astute with my time, I am looking forward to disappearing again off the social media grid indefinitely and focus in areas which I feel will be far more affective.
As of March 2021, I have decided to go off all social media platforms indefinitely bar my blogging which is on my website.
I started a new business in September 2020 called Tom Smilovitis LEADERSHIP & Personal Development. My passion is to work with leaders that are looking to grow their leadership & personal development skills to succeed in every area of life. The business is very boutique and is definitely not suited to mass marketing.
If people are interested in what I have to offer, I’m confident they’ll find me and approach me as they have always done.
BEING OFF THE GRID HAS ITS OWN BLISS AND I CAN’T WAIT TO RETURN THERE.
Perhaps you are looking to develop that authentic life and you feel something is missing. All the popularity and outward success in the world hasn’t filled that void inside of you. I assure you there is an amazing life waiting for you off the grid.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
Who knows what light could come from a chat?
TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
Personal Development is not what you think it is
As we come out of the Industrial Age of school classrooms, herd teaching and the promise of prosperity if we have the right education; personal development takes on a new role.
The Industrial Age was a mind boggling era dragging millions out of poverty world wide only to drag them back into a poverty of mind. With a roof over our head and food on the table, human beings are hungry for more. We are now at a point of slavery that is hard to define until we rediscover the curiosity of our childhood mind and heart.
The revolt against industrialism started decades ago as the prophetic artists, musicians and philosophical minds warned us of the prisons we are creating for ourselves.
Every day millions of young people are promised freedom when they get their diploma, degree, award, recognition for their hard study only to land jobs that impoverish their soul.
These days if a construction firm is looking for an engineer with distinction they only have to go to a McDonalds kitchen and they are flipping burgers hoping for a break. If they are lucky enough to get an engineering job, they have thousands lined up to replace them.
The advantages of a Personal Development Mindset
Personal Development is more than topping up your education or refreshing industry knowledge. Personal Development is the martial arts of the mind that keeps you sharp and creative.
A personal development mindset is forever inquisitive and creative. This person has very little interest in achieving another certificate, these individuals are hungry all the time to understand how things work.
I’ve attended way to many training sessions that left me empty rather than feed my curiosity. Most training sessions can be captured in a YouTube video, realistically.
The idea of a Personal Development Mindset is like digging wells within ourselves and tapping into fresh water deep within our own soul.
This is the place where new songs, recipes, ways of building cars, buildings come to the surface. This is the place fresh ideas are created that can salvage a marriage, restore human connection and everything else that has lasting meaning.
When I conduct leadership & personal development workshops, it’s my aim to challenge all the blockages that have built up over our life just to survive. I can see the frustration in the eyes of the class who just want the answer (a curse of industrialism)
There is a special Liberty people begin to experience when the inner well which is in all of us begins to trickle fresh water.
It is my commitment to them not to bend to their weakest denominator of comfort and routine but to help them push through to their inner strength, source of power and creativity.
The answer is in them. As a facilitator, it’s my job to help them breakthrough rather than give up and go back to being a slave of the system.
There’s an ancient saying ‘It is useless waking up early, going to bed late, eating the bread of sorrows, God gives His beloved sleep’
The idea behind this saying – We waste so much time just trying to survive, we hardly ever take time to enjoy the process.
Personal Development would have to be one of the most enjoyable ways to grow in every area of life as well as enjoy our sleep. It’s in our restful sleep allow our subconscious to rejuvenate our soul.
Are you feeling dry, empty and lack motivation? Maybe it’s time to active your creativity and restore your sanity!!
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
Who knows what light could come from a chat?
TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
We live in a day and age where anxiety is at an all time high rather than the ability believe.
Belief & Anxiety are always battling for the same platform.
Belief anticipates possibilities first and then works through the process
Anxiety anticipates all that can go wrong and then is paralysed by all the unrealistic variables
Belief acts – Anxiety freezes
It was Jesus who said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Jesus also dealt with worry, a form of anxiety, clearly encouraging that we stay clear of it because it serves absolutely no purpose.
Jesus implied that belief can dictate circumstances as does worry. We invite into our lives possibilities that lead to amazing outcomes or troubles that lead to nowhere…
How do we generate belief?
Take time to research the laws of the cosmos before time as we understand it began. Like the laws of engineering or aviation which have always existed, we have only tapped into their possibilities over the last century. We are now entering into the laws of technology and tapping into all sorts of possibilities to transform the way we live, yet we are still allowing ourselves to be left behind through anxiety.
Belief transcends what is common and steps into a universe of possibilities. New inventions, new ways of thinking, new ways of living are tapped into because we have discovered what has always been rather than fabricate something out of thin air.
What always was, by believing, we simply bring it into the forefront of our lives.
Some people call it luck, I’d suggest it’s activating what already exists.
As a Christian, my greatest source of strength is my belief in a benevolent God who is working with me to live a wholesome life, filled with all sorts of possibilities. The moment I change that belief to ritual, my belief will automatically transfer to anxiety and I lose focus.
Break free from rituals that occupy time but never inspire possibilities. Stay clear of reactivate and unhealthy choices that take you to places that incarcerate our thinking.
Some people have turned anxiety into a clever substitute, we call wisdom or insight. Unfortunately this is no more that fear masquerading itself as pious faith.
Belief in the untapped laws of the universe will make you as bold as a lion.
Are you trapped in the cycle of anxiety?
Make one choice at a time to feed belief and starve anxiety
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
Who knows what light could come from a chat?
TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
The ability to momentarily reflect on things that matter can save years of agony.
Human beings are terrible at thinking deeply or considering a better way of living. We are victims of our own making and being reactionary at best.
Why is it that the divorce rate hasn’t changed and couples are opting more and more not to get married in the first place?
Why is it senior management or greedy executives have little concern for the devastating outcomes of their short term decision making processes. They fail to reflect and see the effect they have in the livelihoods of innumerable people when profit at all costs is the end game?
Why do we give so much effort to getting ahead when it may cost us so much more in the end?
It’s our innate default system that seems to have an inability to reflect. We get ourselves caught in a corner that we’ve tried to keep clear from. Some decisions unfortunately are irreversible.
What if we could turn this around through the art of reflection?
Reflection in its purest form, unlike any other attribute focuses on the healthiest outcome and not on our circumstances or other peoples problems.
Reflection puts up a mirror that allows us to look into the window of our own soul, questioning our motives.
Reflection can be scary as it reveals in a moment of time aspects of our nature that can be dealt with to stop more corruption and future devastation.
Coming to grips with what we see has a twofold effect.
1. We see how human we are which in turn allows us to see the rest of the human race in their absolute default humaneness, be it healthy or unhealthy.
2. We rethink what we are looking for and hopefully have the courage to let go of unnecessary baggage that got us to where we don’t want to be.
True reflection brings with it a remorse to the point where we desire to start fresh. We give ourselves permission to let go of any ill will that weighs us down. We also give ourselves permission to love our selves and others as we truly want to be loved (unconditionally)
Reflection will begin a series of rebooting, completely upgrading our outlook to life. The renewal we could have only dreamt about will begin in so many areas of our life. We no longer compartmentalise and push down areas we don’t want to address. It’s the beginning of living a wholesome life, free from the past, the what-iff, free from the blame game and other trip hazards.
Are you sick of being a victim?
Now is the perfect opportunity to take the lead in your own life.
Leadership can be a lonely path – Tom Smilovitis LEADERSHIP & Personal Development provides that safe space for you to “Reflect Reboot Renew” Ideal for those aspiring to grow and stay fresh in Leadership & Executive roles, all the way to maintaining balanced lifestyles. In a New World that demands so much of us, it’s my hope that I can equip you with the tools to live a full life in the areas that matter most.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
Who knows what light could come from a chat?
TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
(an ancient method of carrying wine & a 2000 year old parable about staying relevant) “no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins”
Old wineskins and their effect
Ask yourself when you’re around a suspected old wine skin “Do relationships & ideas thrive or die around them?”
Old wine skins say “This is how we’ve always done it” unfortunately they can’t hold the new wine full of life, expanding in all directions?
Old wine skins that haven’t been maintained become brittle, dry & inflexible spilling out the new wine that needs space to mature.
Systems that are outdated, burdening all those that are prepared & ready for greater capacity & efficiency.
Regulations that inhibit innovation, all in the name of playing by the rules of an outdated game.
People that are stuck in their small world, killing the possibilities of new worlds being birthed.
We are living in the greatest of generations & those that are willing to self develop & keep growing don’t have to be victims of old wine skins that no longer serve a purpose.
I find nothing more offensive than individuals in positions of authority or power who in themselves have stopped growing. These individuals become a burden to progress & the greater good; especially knowing that there is a whole young generation waiting to be led into new frontiers.
New Wineskins and their effect
The way of doing business beyond 2020 is so much faster & broader. It is exciting for those who have a new wine mentality, they will capture the new market & influence the next generation without compromising timeless ethics & values.
Stay relevant, keep pushing personal boundaries, up-skill, always look at the bigger picture, be a team player, partner with big thinkers & doers, be shameless about doing right and last but not least….
Keep clear of those that have become complacent & comfortable because they’ll drag you down to their miserable fruitless existence.
Ask yourself when you’re around a suspected old wine skin “Do relationships & ideas thrive or die around them?”
Stay young at heart & watch the old wine skins burst all around you.
TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
Human beings love the idea of escaping the rat race and living a life of harmony.
The over simplified meaning of rat race according to Wikipedia; A rat race is an endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. The phrase equates humans to rats attempting to earn a reward such as cheese, in vain. It may also refer to a competitive struggle to get ahead financially or routinely.
With the rat race mindset, the world continues to spin with billions of people trapped, rather than discovering the freedom of flow
– Racing against the clock ⏰
– Chasing the illusion that more is better
– Rising to higher states of position, authority and power, all aimed at minimising the constant rat race struggle
Those caught in the perpetual rat race teach the next generation to run, run, run and the cycle continues
Parents teaching their children to live like rats through their example, despite their words
Managers enforcing the rat race mindset to their workforce as an endorsement to the path of success
What’s the alternative?
Living in a state of flow is the alternative
Flow breaks away from conventional ways of doing things
Flow is that space that measures everything from a place of external help and natural forces. Flow rejects and fights against internal phobias and teachings that come from senior rats who control the masses through misinformation and fear tactics.
Flow is an energy that unlocks our physical, mental and spiritual capacity
Flow is found everywhere and has a language of its own. If you’ve only known the rat race language, the language of flow will seem like just a fable.
Some experience flow in small doses and limit themselves to those small doses because of their rat race mindset. As an example, they get into fitness and disregard their intelligence or spiritual flow. Some get into intellectual flow and disregard their intimate relationships, or they chase spirituality and starve their financial flow etc…
The aim of flow is to walk a life of wholesomeness, which draws from all aspects of the forces of nature; body, mind and spirit.
This requires a new mindset completely different to the rat race mindset
The ancients taught that human beings are created in the image of God.
Unlike the rat who has a place in creation like every other living thing, human beings have a unique advantage and are able to tap into God’s nature to assist them with flow.
Physically, mentally and spiritually we can take charge if we so wish. (This requires the development of a renewed mindset)
The idea of tapping into flow means that we have all of God’s resources guiding us and energising us along the way.
A clear conscience, a creative mindset, a community outcome and all the resources we need to live in this state of flow.
How?
It starts by recognising where our place is on the planet and discovering what our assignment is?
For starters, let’s not raise our children to think and act like rats by not thinking and acting like rats ourselves.
There comes a time when the very idea of being a complete human is only possible if we humble ourselves to the most generous source of joy, hope and love in the cosmos, GOD.
If you are in a place where you’ve tapped into flow from time to time or you are locked in the rat race and you want to discover flow, maybe this is your time for a complete renewal.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Leadership : The art of motivating a group of people or individuals to achieve an objective.
Why use the term ‘Wholesome’ ~ The following words describe aspects of wholesomeness : Considerate, compassionate, healthy, thoughtful, generous, genuine, selfless
Is it possible to get the absolute best out of people if we have a wholesome approach? 100% it is.
The following three steps to create that winning team without being a bullish or a manipulative leader. Through wholesomeness, the team is influenced to give their very best.
1. Identifying talent in individuals
Wholesome Leaders can identify hidden talent and bring out the best in individuals, unapologetically
They refuse to succumb to politics and nepotism.
The greatest challenge to any team building is getting the right people in the right position, not forcing the wrong people in these positions.
There is a huge difference between a person’s personal capacity and their ability to compliment the team.
Some overly talented individuals can be detrimental to building a team spirit if their ego overrides the overall objective.
Wholesome Leaders have an ability to agitate those not suited to the team culture while encouraging others to work extra hard if they fit in.
2. Developing team synergy
Wether it’s a coach, captain, great player or star player, synergy is paramount to a sustainable winning team
Wholesome Leaders encourage all the virtues of being considerate, compassionate, healthy, thoughtful, generous, genuine, selfless not just as the leader, but every team member must practice wholesomeness, no exceptions.
The leverage that is created through synergy gives the whole team a winning edge
3. Creating the winning team
When individual talent is given over to become greater than itself, synergy births a winning team spirit
This team wins before the game or challenge has even begun
Synergy ~ the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.
A team begins to walk as one force. It protects each player as important as every player.
The winning team that is created through Wholesome Leadership rejuvenates itself and attracts other key players and opportunities beyond any individual player.
As a leader are you unlocking individuals to be part of a team, community and the greater good?
Perhaps it’s time to grow in the arena of Wholesome Leadership
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Human beings have a fascination with the existence of God, the after life and the meaning of life beyond instinct.
In ancient times, even the great Pharaohs, the heads of state and leaders of the people would try to immortalise themselves by burying treasures with them to bring to the afterlife.
In 2020 the battle of faith verses science has not diminished, not by a long shot.
The connection between hardship and faith always triumphs over hardship and science.
Hardship is hard to define when an individual is coasting along in life, completely numb to deeper meaning.
Hardship can be experienced when someone is in abject poverty or when someone has reached their ultimate dream.
Abject poverty has been a great motivator for billions of people to fight for life, family and meaning.
Millions of people experience new life in their darkest physical state as God meets them in their lowest point. There is a humility and sobering moment when individuals defy logic through their faith.
Often the West and affluent countries seek to rescue the poor, not recognising their own state of poverty. I am talking about poverty of soul.
Jesus said ~ ‘God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs’
Simply put, the physically poor recognise their need for more beyond instinct.
The poor are closer to meaning and often encounter with God with minimal effort. They have nowhere else to turn but faith. They often experience riches beyond words.
So is there hope for the wealthy, the scientist, the educated, the privileged?
It often takes reaching our Everest in life before we contemplate there is an even higher meaning.
It’s been my experience that there is hope.
Jesus said, ‘What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
I’ve had the privilege over many years asking that very question to the successful, wealthy, entitled people of the world. Many have responded with an absolute agreement, the moment you lose your soul, nothing can replace its meaning.
So, to the ones that have hit a wall, no amount of money, success or notoriety will fill that void in your life.
It’s at this point that the Love of God pays us a visit. He starts knocking on the door of our heart. We can choose two things
– Continue to deny His existence and suffer in emptiness with all the outward bells and whistles
– We can acknowledge our emptiness and invite God into our life to give it meaning that lasts beyond the material
I’m of the belief, we are spiritual beings that inhabit a temporal physical body. We are not physical beings that try to be religious from time to time.
Are you at the end of your road, you’ve achieved much but nothing fills the emptiness deep within?
Perhaps God is finally getting your attention.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
Who knows what light could come from a chat?
TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
In a world that is bent on self destruction through violence, control and supremacy, there is still an art to winning over your enemy without a battle.
A quote from Sun Tzu, The Art of War ~ ‘Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting’
In order to do this, every leader must have good intel, a capacity to interpret and a strategy to win.
The role of the Armour Bearer
In ancient times, great kings, warriors, noble men had an armour beater assigned to them. Their duty was simple, protect at all costs those in their care, especially in the heat of battle.
Kings and warriors alike were clear to lead while the armour bearer, likened to a bodyguard or confidant were privy to all the goings on without the responsibilities of fully leading.
An armour bearer would be prepared for battle and have a different advantage to the leader.
– They’d see weaknesses and vulnerabilities in those they protected and would fill in those gaps
– They’d be of humble means with the soul purpose of serving their leaders
– They’d be at the complete disposal of the leader and have minimal recognition
A perfect synergy between leader and armour bearer is what songs legends were birthed out of. Proverbs, like ~ ‘One will chase a thousand and two will bring down ten thousand’
The role of the armour bearer is to create avenues for a leader’s survival, victory and honour.
Other examples of this unique relationship in ancient times was the role of a king and a prophet. As the king would lead, they would often rely on the council of a prophet, who was primarily the moral voice to the king.
If a king sidestepped the moral voice of the prophet, the king would often end up in a self destructive mode and the nation would suffer.
Like the armour bearer, the prophet’s role was to compliment and protect the king. The prophet was of humble means and completely dependent on the good will of the king to function in their role. They were equally fearless and speak to the king truth even at the expense of their own comfort and life itself.
In the same principle, both king and armour bearer come from a Devine Calling. They are only complimentary and a powerful force if they function within their calling.
Wether you have been called to be a king or queen, an armour bearer, prophet or prophetess, never overstep your gifting.
I’ve been called to be an armour bearer to leaders, to speak wisdom into their lives especially in the heat of battle. My strength has been forged over decades to speak truth and hope into a leader’s life even if it is painful.
Some leaders have struggled with my motives because they think like kings and not like an armour bearer. These leaders have missed the opportunity to win battles you can only win with an armour bearer by their side.
Perhaps you’ve struggled to grow to your full potential as a leader and you need that armour bearer by your side. Someone not afraid to love you unconditionally and will share truth with you no matter what.
Are you stuck in the heat of battle?
Do you need someone to talk to that can help you grow in your leadership calling?
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
Who knows what light could come from a chat?
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The world is changing rapidly when it comes to the value of labour.
From the Industrial Age that created the fastest labour force in history, individuals have had a $ dollar value placed on their lives like a science.
Governments implement minimum wage and benefits policies, businesses implement wages based on outcomes.
Coming into a new world of artificial intelligence, traditional trades and skills vanishing and a new order of $ dollar value is being realised.
The fact remains!
Pay your workers their worth!!
Worth is always based on productivity rather than on passing time.
What sort of productivity?
1. How many bricks can a bricklayer lay?
2. How many patients can a doctor assist?
3. How many goals can a soccer player contribute to the game?
4. How many people can a singer entertain?
and the list goes on
Determining value
In ancient times they used an ox tied by a yoke with a stone wheal behind it. The ox would labour by walking around while corn was being crushed beneath by the wait of the stone rolling on it.
The point of the exercise was to make the corn so finely grounded that it became palatable for human consumption.
The wages of the ox would be to eat from the corn that it trod. The ox was not limited on how much it ate unless the owner became greedy and only feed the ox the bare minimum.
This ancient principle must be applied in every generation when it comes to paying workers well.
If someone has a unique skill that is rare to duplicate, that person’s skill has a higher value and ought to be paid accordingly.
The greedy owner of an ox that muzzles the ox recognises that the strength of the ox makes the owners work light and therefore in good conscience ought to doubly take care of the beast.
How much are you worth?
Can your skill be duplicated easily or do you have a rare skill?
If you would like to increase your worth or learn to take the muzzle of your neck, a new mindset has to be engaged.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
Team: A group of players forming one side in a competitive game or sport, is the simplest definition.
Wether it’s in sport, the corporate world or the not for profit sector, teams are imperative.
Any coach worth their salt looks for talent in individuals that will compliment the team, it’s that simple.
1. Recognising Individual Talent
The challenge with sourcing individual talent is not to get caught up in forcing talent but sourcing talent.
Forcing talent comes from a cookie cutter mentality, a one size fits all talent.
While it’s important to create well rounded disciplines within a team, the coach is looking for that unique talent of an individual that adds an edge to the team.
2. Creating a whole team
Taking an individual’s talent and adding them to a team to create talent greater than any individual is the objective
Team Spirit is birthed when individuals are able to surrender their unique talent and adapt it to the need of the team.
There is an ancient military saying ‘One will chase a thousand, two will chase ten thousand’
The idea behind the saying is self explanatory. Combined talent creates a huge advantage over individual talent.
3. Team Spirit has one objective, winning
Working together towards a common goal produces far greater outcomes than any individual playing hard in the game.
To adopt this methodology within the workplace will increase
– Team player participation (A win)
– Greater sense of mental well-being (A win)
– The bottom line becomes far more profitable (A win)
Non team players are easily identified and they can go through further training or find a different game that doesn’t require a Team Spirit.
How are you going developing that Team Spirit?
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Kindness : The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
Kindness is not being astute, calculating and intentional in order to win or have an advantage; kindness wins by having a largeness of heart.
In a hostile world that is very territorial, the very idea of kindness can appear weak and debilitating.
It takes a courageous person to embark on the journey of kindness in order to create wholesome outcomes in society.
Kindness starts in the home, extends to its neighbours and makes its way to town hall.
Through kindness, Jesus started a revolution that struck at the heart of religious piousness and the ruling government.
The masses were drawn to him through a simple message of hope, forgiveness and renewal. Jesus talked about a kingdom of kindness that resides in each of our hearts if we choose to activate it.
Kindness makes the ruling class nervous, why?
More often than not, the ruling class control the masses through fear and policy. Enforcing mental and emotional conditions to keep the masses under control.
Kindness on the other hand is friendly, generous and considerate.
Jesus gives the ultimate advise on how to deal with our adversary; love them, do good to them. By doing this, it will feel like hot coals burning in your adversaries mind. How So?
Be it a family member, neighbour, town hall, they have to reconcile with their God given conscience, what is the right thing to do.
I know, when someone shows me undeserving sincere kindness, my heart melts as I consider my ways and behaviours.
Are you struggling with receiving or giving kindness?
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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The simplest term in the Ancient Greek used in the Lord’s Prayer.
Part of the prayer goes ‘Forgive us our debts as we forgive them indebted to us’
We all know that feeling of carrying the burden of our own failures and misgivings. Who doesn’t want to experience salvation (wholeness), that feeling of being complete. A sense that our internal debt has been wiped clean.
Jesus taught a prayer and included the act of forgiveness. When we ask God to let go of our mistakes we in turn must let go of those who have made mistakes around us.
If we are to move forward, we must feel the release of our debts as we release people around us.
The very idea that we can move on and not free others from moving on reveals our lack in understanding forgiveness.
We hold ourselves prisoner many times because we hold others prisoners
LET GO MEANS LET GO, no turning back, no reminders, a clean start.
Without experiencing God’s forgiveness first we go back into default and hold others captive to their mistakes.
Forgiveness is an ongoing Journey of failing forward. We don’t carry our past with us but it’s likely we will make mistakes and others will hurt us in the future.
Forgiveness is a lifestyle not just one momentous act.
I’d suggest, that’s why Jesus taught his followers, when you pray, pray like this… and forgiveness was part of that regular practice.
Are you struggling to let go?
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Many of us have come across this quote “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”
The very idea of good intentions, being hard working and trying our best is enough is a sure sign of risking perpetual seasons high anxiety.
Every journey we take in life is different and must have a unique sense of direction, otherwise we unsuspectingly go around in circles.
This is most difficult for those who succeed early in life, they struggle when they hit their first wall. In the music world, they have been coined one hit wonders
Some have found a path they are good at and haven’t left that path in decades. These individuals have developed a specialist skill which they won’t deviate from nor do they feel the desire to do so.
Becoming a serial entrepreneur or succeeding in an array of areas is a skill set few dare to travel. This path creates too much stress and anxiety. Unless we develop new strategies every time a problem arises rather than trying harder, this path becomes too hostile.
Very few choose change as their first option, most are thrust into it.
1. Radically changing careers
2. Starting businesses you know very little about
3. Moving countries or locations completely different to what you are accustomed to
4. Having a completely new set of colleagues to work with
5. No one is hiring you for your specialist skill after you’ve become redundant
What do you do not only to survive, but to thrive in this new environment?
Don’t just throw yourself into the project doing what you’ve always done.
It’s a fresh opportunity to reset our mind, develop new skills and approach the opportunity with fresh eyes
Reset the mind: Go back to the fundamentals. What are the most basic tools needed in this new journey and dump the extra baggage.
1. It’s an opportunity to establish respect and carry yourself differently
2. A chance to explore ideas from a different approach, like an explorer seeing the lay of the land before any new approach is taken
3. We have the advantage being new to the field rather than just repeating old processes that landed us in a corner
Sometimes we just need a trusted person we can bounce new ideas without judgment or humiliation to define new strategies.
We are not meant to know everything and when we suppose we do know everything, anxiety increases.
Are you going around in circles?
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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I’ve had the privilege of working with many different individuals holding leadership roles.
It’s fascinating how only a few of these leaders seem to glue their projects together with minimal effort, I call them Lateral Leaders
My observations of these few and how they differ
1. The Lateral Leader has an overall vision of what the project looks like
Like the thousand piece puzzle we buy in the shops, the end picture is on the front of the box.
When the box is open, all we have is a thousand random pieces and an eye for detail
The Lateral Leader intuitively picks random pieces that fit
2. The Lateral leader knows the answer and right person is within their reach
Just like the puzzle, all the pieces are right in front of them and they don’t keep making excuses why the project can’t be finished
They seem to create new opportunities to speed the process up in the midst of what seems chaos
3. The lateral leader isn’t frustrated with all the gaps and they delight themselves with progress
Unlike many leaders who always see the problem and waste too much resources or have the wrong people look at the solution. Lateral leaders cut through the endless reports and conventional problem solving, giving themselves permission to lead where no-one else sees
4. Lateral leaders are often dismissed because their progress seems piecemeal
Lateral leaders approach problems from a completely different paradigm. They are often sidelined because they can’t explain how they will solve the problem until it is solved
It takes great courage to work with Lateral Leaders because convention over resolve takes priority. Too many people end up leaving puzzles incomplete out of frustration as the conjure up excuses. Lateral Leaders are results driven, not process driven.
If you find yourself procrastinating, leaving projects half complete or wasting endless resources or you’re not getting very far, perhaps it’s time to think differently.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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When we talk about thinking outside the box; rarely is the concept adopted because we have to risk what we think we already know.
There is nothing more comforting than knowing
Knowing feels like an accomplishment
Knowing how to add up numbers, write a sentence, putting a recipe together… the simple delight in just knowing
When we talk about thinking outside the box, we have to risk aspects of what we know to step into something new
3 reasons it’s difficult to think outside the box
1. We have to suspend not knowing the outcomes and that takes most people way out of their comfort zones
2. We have to risk our reputation if we fail miserably
3. We have to acknowledge that everything we think we know may be completely redundant if we discover a new way
The benefits of thinking outside the box outweigh all 3 reasons why many hesitate
1. Breaking free from our comfort zone is the gateway to growth
2. Failure is inevitable if we are to achieve a greater understanding of ourselves and our reputation becomes even more authentic
3. Letting go of everything we thought was sacred in light of a new knowing will be like shedding dead branches to reach the sky
Thinking outside the box may cause discomfort for a season but once we experience this new path, we never go back in the box
An ancient wisdom describes thinking outside the box this way “Don’t be conformed or shaped by the world around you be transformed by the renewing of your mind”
What’s stopping you from thinking outside the box?
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The idea that a CEO, MD or Head of a department encouraging open conversation sounds noble, to see it played out is rare, why?
Unless the Leader exemplifies open conversation to create that safe space, having any open door policy is futile
An example of false open door communication that I experienced in my late teens
I was supermarket storeman in my late teens and always connected well with the store manager that hired me
I did my job well and the manager assisted me whenever I had problems with intimidating truck drivers trying to break store policy rules
If the store manager had any concerns with my work, he approached me anytime and we worked it out together
A perfect open door policy, he was approachable and I was teachable
When a new store manager took over, the rules of engagement changed
The new store manager was much younger and highly ambitious, his name was Mr Cross. Like name, like character
1. He always walked around fast paced with a sense of urgency
2. He never stopped to have a chat
3. Everything was official, appointments were mandatory
4. He was impersonal and intimidating
He summons me to his office to reprimand me about the way I worked. He had other department heads sit with him while he tried to humiliate me about my work ethic.
Instantly I became defensive about my work ethic and completely disrespected him and the other managers for not coming to my defence.
This was my first experience of corporate bullying in the name of open door policy. Needless to say I didn’t last much longer in that job.
Thirty years later I got into a conversation about Mr Cross with a former colleague of his. Apparently this store manager rose to one of the top positions in the company doing exactly what he did to me all the way to the top.
Corporate Social Responsibility has to be more than a written policy that masquerades as transparency within large corporations
Leaders in high positions have no idea the effect they have by their lack of true open door policy or maybe they do.
It depends on what they are looking for, subordinates that don’t think or stewards that contribute
Mr Cross was just looking for subordinates to fulfil his ambition at the cost of good people
What about you, are you an open door policy leader?
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The world has never been more equiped to build stronger networks but human nature keeps breaking them down
When we build gangs rather than create networks, the opportunities start to dwindle
A gang: A group of identical or related items, is the simplest definition
We start to look like each other, talk like each other, have a secret code, have an initiation
There is an obvious good, but the seductiveness of the gang starts to eat it self
The obvious good
It’s easy to induct, unify and propagate
Job applications, streamline entry level workers, basic requirements, repetitious processes
From the military, underworld criminals (not condoning, but they use the gang mentality to grow) , Union movements, political parties, McDonald’s, faith movements… it’s how we speed up growth
Create law and order that make people feel welcome and safe
The obvious bad
We don’t know when we are losing our identity
Everything becomes so predictable, our creativity fades
We begin the uncanny habit of lying for the sake of keeping the gang together
We start to fear that members are not up to par or we start to judge one another falsely
What’s the alternative?
Create a movement, an undeniable healthy eco system that attracts others that are stuck in gangs
I escaped three gangs, family, fellowship, firm
1. The Greek/Macedonian family
We talked, walked and looked the same and I reached a point where I had to move on and it came at a cost
I haven’t rejected my heritage, but I’m more than a Greek/ Macedonian
2. The fellowship
I was a part of a Pentecostal organisation for twenty one years that went from a movement to a gang. It served me well for many years until it started morphing. Like my Greek/ Macedonian upbringing, I had to move on
I haven’t rejected my faith since I moved on, my faith has been enhanced
3. The firm
I did ten years in a corporate setting in the commercial property sector
I found myself stuck in a corner where life was all about the deal at the cost of my identity
Equally, like the family and fellowship, I had to move on and rediscover what I’m passionate about
I haven’t rejected commerce, I’ve put reigns on it, it must serve me and not me it
Whatever you do in life, growing your network is more than growing the gang, because the gang will let you down or you will let the gang down
Be part of an eco system
Grow where you are currently planted until you outgrow it
Always be welcoming of new people and opportunities, just be mindful you only have so much to give
Thread strong relationships from all walks of life and don’t be defined by those stuck in a gang mindset
Your core beliefs will be your guide and others will seek you out according to their needs
It takes a courageous person to love all sorts and it starts by loving who you are inwardly, not how other people see you outwardly
Are you trapped in a gang mindset?
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Imagine someone calling you the light of the world, honouring you with such a heavy burden, what would you do?
Many of us struggle to accept that we carry much light at all let alone be the light of the world.
1. It’s easy not to accept such an honourable calling
– It allows us to hide in the shadows and not be responsible for those around us
– It allows us to observe others without being observed ourselves
– It turns us into part of the problem not the solution
The world can do with one less critic
2. Hiding in the shadows stops us from growing as others around us stumble
It was Jesus who said to his disciples, who were just humble people, that they could impact their world if they would just shine
~ “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
3. Our light must be strategically placed to benefit all
Our light isn’t a spot light used as an interrogation tool
Our light isn’t a stage light to make ourselves shine above everyone else
Our humble light could be as small as a candle strategically placed to help others not stumble
Whatever truth, hope and joy we have, it’s to benefit others if we allow it to shine
Let me ask you the question again, imagine being called the light of the world, what would you do?
Let me help you shine
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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It’s true that we ought to remember where we’ve come from to help us understand where we are going. Unfortunately for many, our past becomes a holding pen where we keep going around in circles.
Three reasons how our past holds us back
1. The past becomes our identity
We either dwell in moments of our past where life was incredibly amazing or tragic, either way they entrap us and we allow it to coin us
Perhaps we acted like a gangster as a teenager which is part of developing our identity.
Perhaps we were successful in business or terrible in relationships
We do ourselves a disservice if we don’t evolve from that place
2. Our past comes with misunderstandings
It’s not only our own insecurities that try to pigeon hole us… everyone we know subconsciously pigeon holes us
Our teachers, relatives, friends
People think they know you from a point in time and rarely give you the privilege of moving on
3. Between our own opinion of ourselves and the opinions of those around us, we spend too much energy trying to move forward
Many will try and move away from their past by moving location, or educating themselves, or moving in different circles
The challenge will always be escaping ourselves which is impossible
Moving forward is accepting that the past is part of our makeup, it’s not what we are today
What we can be today and tomorrow is open for the grabbing
The only person that can give you permission to move on is you
The happiest people I know defy the odds, keep others guessing, keep evolving
They play with their past and only bring out components that benefit the present to help them achieve their dreams
The past is no longer, the future is yet to be, we only have today
Is the past holding you back?
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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If we are to make impact in uncharted territory, we need to have the right team
It’s the leaders role to know the destination, not necessarily the whole process of getting there
Most leaders that seem to have all the answers stay in safe waters and rarely experience new opportunities
In the industrial era we created a strange phenomenon of the overseer up in the factory office overlooking the workforce on the factory floor
We see this similar phenomenon in the corporate world. Partners and Directors take up the corner offices overlooking the city skyline while the rest of the workforce resemble chickens in their cubicles
Leaders that replace themselves always outgrow the concept of overseeing the team, they are too busy leading the charge at a grassroots level
Unlike overseers and taskmasters, these replaceable leaders train others as they go.
What are some of the characteristics that replaceable leaders look for?
1. They look for trustworthy individuals over talent
2. They prefer to work with those who display appetite for adventure, willing to adapt and learn new skills
3. They look for the quickest opportunity to handover responsibility with minimal oversight the moment responsibility is given
4. They rely on transparency to keep everyone on task
5. They always add new people to the team and encourage team members to share and handover tasks as they train others
Replaceable Leaders are always creating opportunities for others to step into and encourage the team to do likewise
Two things happen as a result
1. The right people for the wild journey present themselves and prove themselves
2. Those who are seeking comfort and stability rather than an adventure drop off leaving room for a new team player to take their place
Replaceable Leaders always produce replaceable leaders as they create organic growth that has no limits
What type of leader do you want to be?
One of my favourite saying from an elderly entrepreneur in his nineties “There is no security only opportunity”… what he’s referring to is simple, in leadership, there is very little room for the faint hearted.
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Nature teaches us so much if we are open to it.
When we look at a natural forrest, it develops an eco system where all sorts of living creatures survive as a result.
Human beings are brilliant at taking elements of nature and creating controlled eco systems which produces quality fruit, we call this harvesting.
When we consider how far humans have come from hunter gatherer to agriculture and our ability to reproduce food or fruit, this approach doesn’t work when it comes to leadership.
In the modern times of mass education, schools that resemble farms, seeking to harvest future leaders, we still can’t crack the leadership code.
We are turning people into a commodity, an economical product rather than the imprint the creator intended
What are we harvesting to achieve in society
1. Get an education
2. Get a job
3. Find a life partner
4. Reproduce
5. Repeat the process
Nature does something similar with less rules, lines and controls, just like the Amazon Basin
1. A tree is birthed
2. It matures and provides shade, food and protection to all sorts of unrelated creatures
3. When it is fully matured, seed falls to the ground as well as carried by the winds to the four corners of the earth to birth new trees
True leadership is about helping individuals grow to the point of self sufficiency, reproduction and beyond
1. A self governing manager is born
2. Others benefit from them as they provide, food, shelter and protection to all sorts of people, often unrelated to them
3. They continue to produce fruit and ultimately let go of many within their sphere of influence to the four corners of the earth to become what they will become
Leadership is always about empowering others to reach their potential without controlling every decision for them
Parents have to do this
Bosses have to do this
Societies have to do this
If we are to return back to the way the creator intended us to be, unique in every way, to create beautiful cultures that have lasted for thousands of years. We must let go and let people be, especially the ones that we’ve invested in the most
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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It’s interesting how the ancient word Evangelist has been adopted by technology companies with a simple definition of what a Technology Evangelist does
‘A technology evangelist is a person who builds a critical mass of support for a given technology, and then establishes it as a technical standard in a market that is subject to network effects’ ~ Wikipedia
How to create a critical mass for your business idea?
1. You have to believe 110% in what you are doing
An ancient Evangelist was noted for their Enthusiasm. Even the word Enthusiasm from its original meaning creates an interesting picture.
When someone was really enthusiastic, they were filled with God. They were filled with creativity, they saw things others didn’t see. They shared their beliefs and visions, wanting the whole world to have the same hope and joy they had.
It’s hard to promote something you don’t believe in 110%, because you will be tested.
If you are going to be a business evangelist, find something you are passionate about.
2. Getting the message to the masses to create a critical mass starts by creating small cell groups of evangelists, who equally belief in a new way of doing
It’s not enough just to sprout your product expecting everyone to buy into it
The evangelist would convincingly gather small groups and seek to influence them with their message. The intention of the evangelist was to teach individuals to see the world in a new light as they simultaneously create community
If your service or product is second to none, creating small communities won’t be difficult. Half the challenge is believing what we are doing and that cannot be manufactured. Most people see through a salesperson that’s not authentic.
A business evangelist isn’t a salesperson, they are passionate about creating a better world.
3. At the right moment the message starts to go viral and it’s backed up by the community of users
It’s hard to go viral when so few have bought into the product or service
It’s critical that the business evangelist builds rapport with the community in order to sustain growth
Steve Jobs was the ultimate Business Evangelist
The way he built his vision, team and following
When a new product was launched, it was done with religious fervour
– His team bought into it and they’d have small launches with Steve preaching and unveiling the new product
– The crowds bought into it often sleeping overnight to buy the new product
– He created works of art that were not peddled to the lowest price
– He created loyal customers that would defend Apple like they defend a faith
What are you passionate about, who believes in what you are doing and how are you reaching the world with you product or service?
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Even the beggar will get a return on their time invested on the streets, asking for a handout, why wouldn’t you succeed if you have a solution for someone.
I’ve marvelled at the consistency of beggars as they systematically ask individuals for money. To them it’s a numbers game and they do it because it works. It’s not rocket science.
If we have a unique product or service and we are not consistent in delivering our message, we will not get the response and engagement we are looking for.
Not everyone needs a mechanic, panel beater, doctor, trainer, architect, lawyer, mentor…. today but when they do, are we on their radar?
Business and Brand Development is always about sending out that beam like a lighthouse.
1. Be faithful and ready
2. Always improve your product and service even if no one is buying
3. Be the best in your field and let the word go out from your referrals and any way possible of your passion to meet needs and solve problems
If you want to be the lead in your game, be consistent. Most drop out and leave the kings ransom to those that stayed at it.
If you lack motivation, clarity from time to time, that’s just part of the resilience game.
I’ve picked up clients in property and other services years after I’ve first initiated a connection.
I remember one response from one client “I’ve wanted to engage you years earlier but I was under obligation to a partner and now that the obligation is over, I’d like to engage your services” and the agency I worked for never lost that client.
Back yourself and stay in the game
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Humans are brilliantly resilient, but when we no longer believe, the death cycle starts.
Believe in what?
Believe that people can change, including us
Believe in unexpected opportunities
Believe we can reinvent ourselves again and again
Believe that life’s mysteries are beyond comprehension and we are part of a greater purpose
Believe in unconditional love that renews us from great heartache and disappointment
Believe in unity, family, community and the list continues
Unbelief isn’t passive, it’s a deliberate choice to cut off the possibilities of something being experienced
1. Unbelief doesn’t just kill the possibilities, it starts to kill our soul
2. Unbelief chokes the law of attraction from penetrating our lives
3. Unbelief makes us the creator of all that is and is not, shrinking the world just to our limited experience
The cure to unbelief is simple, take away the obstruction
Take on life again with the innocence of a child with a simple twist, no matter how hard life has hit you
Jesus shared the most profound thought when it comes to believing again in a world filled with wolves, encouraging us to ‘Be as wise as serpents but as harmless as doves’
Let our experience navigate us in dangerous territories with the wisdom of a snake, let us be open to experience new things with the innocence and freedom of a dove
Unbelief kills the soul, belief resurrects it
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I attended a women’s lunch recently held in a vineyard, surrounded by tall trees, grass and grapevines.
The ladies were dressed beautifully with soft music playing in the background by a couple of young ladies.
The three female speakers of the day shared personal aspects of their life very openly
Each speaker started and ended their stories with deep emotions. The women in the audience, approx one hundred ladies connected instantly with full expressions of laughter and tears.
This event wasn’t therapy, it was simply the difference between the way men and women communicate
Men are dying too early in life and they leave this world without connecting and communicating as they should
1. Men rarely open up just for the sake of opening up. Perhaps they see this as a waste of time or unnecessary conversation
2. Men avoid emotions until it’s too late. How many men didn’t see the divorce coming
3. Men somehow don’t give themselves permission to admit they just aren’t coping seasonly. Maybe men have been taught from a very early age to hold on to their emotions. Unhealthy men teaching their boys unhealthy practices
I’ve had the unfortunate experience of seeing men begin to open up very late in life if at all
1. Some of these men are exhausted from all the coverup and lies of masculinity
2. Some men aren’t connecting their ill health to their closed heart
3. Some men just prefer to stay hard and die early
Tears, like laughter, anger, joy and every other human emotion have their place in keeping us healthy
To simply block a vital emotion out and replace with bitterness and resentment because it’s all too much doesn’t help
I’ve had the privilege of seeing some of the toughest men you could meet, shed tears as they release the ugly toxins of disappointment and self loathing
Men having an ability to talk heart to heart with their partner or another man can save them great heartache when it matters most. It may even save their life
It’s not too late to unlock the full expression of being human, tears and all. Strong bonds are built by threading our lives together, being completely human.
There’s an ancient expression ‘Those that sow in tears will reap in joy’. As men, we give permission for other men to bond with their loved ones and with their own inadequacies by simply crying from time to time.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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We are not meant to know and do everything
A great sign of leadership maturity and humility is knowing our own limitations
Creating that magic team starts by reaching out for others to help
How do we get the help needed
1. Leaders create a worthwhile vision that draws curiosity
If people are to get involved, they need to see something worth contributing to
In many ways, when we create a big enough vision, people will help us because it helps their own sense of purpose
2. Leaders articulate different opportunities that need a solution
When we ask for help, don’t be vague
Be clear about the problem
Be open to all sorts of solutions
Don’t be condescending when people don’t agree with you
Continue to reevaluate, continue to restate the problem, continue to ask for help
3. Leaders recognise that the problem is always an opportunity to build teams
Leaders are as focused on building people as they are on resolving problems
Once leaders have the right team, they go out and look for bigger problems
Asking for help isn’t a weakness, it’s a calling card to draw those that want to make a difference collectively
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Over 2.45 Billion users log onto Facebook monthly, to travel the digital highway.
With all that activity, very few go outside their tribe.
Wether it’s Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter, Snapchat, the average connections are between 90 and 240
These figures don’t vary much to the average weekly or monthly attendance of a church, mosque or temple, social club… world wide
They are also the average figures of attendance to funerals
Many years ago before the digital highway even existed, I heard a sermon that we will impact up to 200 people in our lifetime. Funeral homes know this and rarely will you ever see a funeral with more than 200 in attendance.
With all the technology, travel capability and the so called freedoms we have through the digital highways, we still have small tribes of less than 200
For those that truly believe they have broken this tribal rule, these individuals are simply living in virtual fantasy land.
I tested this rule some years ago by deleting myself completely of the digital plain for two years. When I went back on the digital highway, I tried to find a new digital tribe, picked new potential connections and found myself connected back to my people who speak my language.
Human beings can’t help themselves, we are tribal by nature and that’s ok
Diversity of colour, culture and language is what creates a beautiful world.
I believe LOVE can be the unifying force between many tribes rather than trying to create one massive group think and we call it, humanity. (This is nothing more than homogeneous brainwashing)
Next time someone thinks they are a demigod just because they have more than 200 connections on social media. Or maybe they lead a club, faith group or political party that exceeds that 200 average figure. We will all fade into dust and hopefully some people will remember how we made them feel while we were alive. Most will forget us altogether and only a handful will carry our legacy.
Enjoy your tribe, every single one of them, here and now, be it your faith group, club, extended family.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Possessive, insecure, fearful, resentful, angry, an overwhelming sense of potential loss of relationship or possession
Jealousy reveals itself in the most unusual settings and it doesn’t discriminate against kin or foe
Jealousy can attack the closest of friends just as much and perhaps more so than an associate or neighbour
1. Jealousy starts with a suspicious whisper that we entertain in our heart before we spread the unfounded rumour
2. Jealousy is inflamed by our lack inner peace
3. Jealousy begins to justify every action we take as it eats us up from the inside
Nothing good comes from jealousy, like the Green Eyed Monster as described by Shakespeare, it haunts us as it hurts innocent people
Some have the ability to be Professionally Jealous (We hide our insecurities most of the time) but jealousy always has to have an outlet. Unfortunately when the Monster is out, good people are victimised.
Dealing with green eyed monster starts with personal development and restraints
1. Stop being suspicious of every word and action of others, we are not the centre of the universe
2. Be content to lose everything but our sense of self, when we hold on too tight to people, we will lose them anyway
3. There is no fulfilment getting our way all the time, jealousy has no room in community, friendships, family
This monster is at its worst in the workspace, whispering around the water cooler, who’s worthy and who’s not.
All humans ought to be aloud to discover for themselves who they are without the curse of another persons will being imposed on them
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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The words we speak or don’t speak are not static, they carry life or death
With our words we can disarm a volatile situation or inflame it
1. Practice speaking life in every situation, why?
Our words and our tone reveal what’s going on in our heart
They reveal our confidence, fears, prejudice, likes, dislikes and more importantly our ability wether we can influence wholesome change
By practicing speaking life into existence to the best of our ability, expect to be challenged
2. Converting rhetoric to wholesome change
Just because someone shouts from the rooftop how to bring life into the world, doesn’t mean they produce life around them locally
In order to create life around us, our words must be tested by fire which burns off all the rhetoric
No one likes to be preached at but they have very little issues when sincere dialogue is expressed
It may start with rhetoric but it must end in heart to heart otherwise our words will fall to the ground
3. Self reflection is at the heart of choosing wisely how we speak
When we recognise the power of the tongue, only those with the humility to bridle their mouth will speak hope, healing, opportunity, restoration in every situation
If the objective is to win an argument at the cost of killing a relationship, we are still yet to understand the hope we carry through our words
Allowing room for another conversation to gain clarity is always at the heart of breathing life into a situation
Practice speaking what you want into existence and life will afford us the opportunity to live up to our own words first before we influence others
Are you speaking life or death?
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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When the teachers thought you were the least likely to succeed
When you were overlooked for that promotion or job opportunity
When you’ve failed at numerous attempts to start a lucrative business
No one has ever heard of you
All the above would be considered as having the underdog status moving forward
1. Being a no body is an underdog’s advantage
You get to practice new strategies and disciplines not yet adopted in the market place and you surprise the world when your day comes
– a new type of dance, technology, food, service, music, fitness, art…
– you don’t have to follow conventional rules because no one cares about you
– you don’t appear to be a threat
In the ancient classic story of David and Goliath, David was the obvious underdog and that was his advantage
2. The underdog is dismissed as a non threat
– IBM wouldn’t have been threatened by Bill Gates playing around with computer parts in the garage
– Bill Gates wouldn’t have been threatens by Steve Jobs when he played around with calligraphy with the desire to turn computers into art forms
As Goliath mocked David that only had a stone and sling, Goliath approaches the battle unprepared for a different type of fight
3. The underdog is all heart
A true underdog fights with everything they’ve got, it’s all or nothing at that crucial moment
In 1976, the movie ROCKY stormed the cinemas with the theme David and Goliath. The Rocky films entertained us repeatedly with the theme of the underdogs which we all relate to.
– Underdogs see the odds yet remain loyal to the course
– Underdogs take an extra beating to make up for their lack of skill in some areas
– Underdogs inspire others to wake up their own dreams and aspirations
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Luck’s simplest definition : success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one’s own actions.
Wether we want to call it luck, favour or blessing, the very idea that we can invoke an outcome not directly connected to a specific scientific act of cause and effect is exciting.
Most of humanity believes in some sort of luck, we just package it differently.
How do we attract luck, favour or blessing?
1. Play the cards that life deals us
Learn to develop a poker face rather than waiting forever for the perfect hand
Many win life’s game through sheer grit as others fold even when they have the better hand
2. Be courageous, Fortune favours the bold (a Latin proverb)
Courage invokes luck, favour, blessing
Wether it’s entertaining something beyond our current capacity or going into a different field of opportunity, courage is often the door opener.
It seems courageous people often share the luckiest, most favourable and blessed stories
3. Think that you can and tap into the law of faith
Faith believes things that don’t exist as though they already do
Unlike gamblers, unnecessary risk takers and the greedy who manipulate and play with fate, faith unlocks laws of the creator to experience true luck, favour and blessing
It was an ancient wise king who said “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but time and chance can happen to us all”
King Solomon invites us to be open to laws beyond the human eye, laws of faith that enhance the human experience
The luckiest person in the world is the one at peace with their soul and humanity. To work in fields that give us pleasure and enjoy our community with harmony.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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It’s difficult to find the person who coined this phrase, ‘Lead, follow or get out of the way’. I’ll guarantee they were decisive and not double minded.
Lead
If we ever take the lead position, be prepared for the following
– People will challenge us and rightly so. Everyone has different expectations of leaders. We must lead with a sense of purpose and have the ability answer for ourselves
– Help bring the best out of those we lead. Leading is about empowering others to succeed
– Leaders know when to step aside. They recognise that they are longer leading in a particular role. This is probably the most difficult admission of a leader but it’s necessary to acknowledge (holding on too tight may cost more than our leadership)
Follow
– People that don’t know how to follow make terrible leaders in the future
– Following is an act of humility that adds credibility to the mission
– The best followers that have found their place of purpose, always adding value to the mission
– The worst followers criticise leaders without providing a credible alternative
– Followers that are just seat warmers have no alternative but to get out of the way
Get out of the way
– When the time comes to let others fill a vital role, there is dignity to getting out of the way
– Making the move to get out of the way may be the perfect launching pad to lead in another arena
– Getting out of the way allows a new generation the opportunity to prosper
– Parents, bosses, mentors, pastors, gurus… will all have to grapple when it’s the right time to get out of the way
There’s a time to lead with passion, follow with respect and leave with dignity
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Discipline is definitely a key to progress, until our disciplines lock us up
We all know those people who won’t break routine. Their routine has become their good luck charm and with that comes mental superstition.
– It was a particular routine that helped us in the past and we fear to let it go
– Our routine is so comfortable now, it hardly takes discipline
– We fail to see that we are going backwards, sticking to the same routine
The only conclusion is to work harder, rather than change the routine altogether. Our routine has now locked us up.
Change is as good as a holiday, why?
– It forces us to develop new disciplines
– It forces us to see things differently
– Our creativity kicks in and we become stimulated again
Wether it’s in the workplace, marriage, friendships or just our personal growth, nothing stays the same indefinitely
Our ability to be disciplined in a new arena may just keep us young, save our marriage or create a new income stream
Keep people guessing about your life, stay fresh and learn some new rituals to take you to the next leg of your life journey
What new routines will help you get your cutting edge back and more importantly, make you smile again?
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Anger is one of those emotions that needs to be preserved and used with absolute discretion
1. No one loses the temper, they simply direct it
When someone tells you they lost their temper and couldn’t help lashing out, be weary of that person, don’t be sympathetic
Like most emotions, anger is one that can be harnessed and dealt with
It’s amazing to see people change their manner when different people are present
I grew up in a family where there was plenty of shouting, emotional fuses blowing up all the time from my mum and dad. It was their way of dealing with the frustration of scarcity and trying to figure out building a life together in a new country
When visitors dropped in, they seemed to muster up and hide their anger very well
2. Anger shouldn’t be used as a tool for control
I picked up some bad habits from my dad
He had an uncanny ability to say nothing but controlled everything
For many years, I mimicked his manner and my anger would bleed through my smile. I couldn’t hide my rage and always tried to cover it up through various methods
– I would work harder than everyone else
– I would try to buy gifts for my wife or joke about how terrible I acted rather than deal with my anger
– I would suppress my anger and it would reveal itself in other areas unrelated to what I was angry about
3. Anger leaves you in a lonely state
– Always winning the argument and always being in control makes other people less likely to open up to us
– We only get to hear what we think we want to hear, rarely will we hear the truth
There is nothing uglier than being around an angry time bomb
It was Paul known as the Apostle over 2000 years ago who shares an amazing revelation about anger ‘Be angry but do not sin, don’t let the sun go down on your anger’
Paul recognised that there is a time and place for anger. It should be dealt with there and then. When the sun goes down, let anger go. Don’t allow it to be part of your makeup.
– Ask for forgiveness if you’ve carried a grudge and keep moving forward rather than be a victim of anger
Angry people are the prisoners not the victors
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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How do we influence society to do the best they can without enforcing too many rules
1. The devil is not in the detail, the devil is in the lack of vision
The day we create a vision far larger than anyone’s personal interest, is the day of an awakening
As far as the detail is concerned, that will take care of itself
People that are filled with a global outlook rather than self interest will contribute to the solutions
Each person according to their gift and capacity will have the space to bridge society together
2. When the pie is so large, people will stop eating one another
A global vision in our family, neighbourhood, city or nation, brings prosperity to all
The opposite is true as well, where there is no vision, scarcity brings fear to all
Unless individuals wake up to purpose, they will begin to behave by base instinct and survival
Purpose threads society together as each person compliments one another through diversity
3. Grassroots Leadership becomes the constant catalyst that keeps the community on track
Once a larger than life vision is realised, watch the weeds of self interest plant themselves in places of influence to pull it apart and steal opportunities for themselves
Grassroots Leaders stay on track as they continue to evangelise the vision and oversee progress; never heeding to the voice of distraction
– Their role is to keep simplifying where we are going and how it can be achieved
– There role is to protect the vulnerable from being corrupted by those given to self interest
– There role is to show the way and walk the way
The moment these Grassroots Leaders get caught up in self interest, theirs, or another’s, watch the whole thing go back to scarcity and base survival
Community in its truest form has room for everyone
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Doubtful, miserable, fearful, anxious, uneasy, misgivings, apprehensive, troubled may be some of the ways we can describe worry
With certainty, worry is a thief
1. Worry steals time
It’s amazing to see how much unproductive time goes by when our mind races around in circles filled with worry
An ancient teacher said to his students over 2000 years ago “Can anyone by worrying add a single hour to their life?” The answer is absolutely not… in fact worrying steals time
2. Worry steals our health
Wether it’s physical anxiety or chronic mental fatigue, worry steals our energy, wellbeing and joy
Worry is a master at fabricating false scenarios in our mind that play over and over until exhaustion
3. Worry steals opportunity
A person who is perpetually in a state of worry chokes creativity, limiting the law of attraction from doing it’s thing
We attract what we think about most
The way to stop all the theft of time, health and opportunity is to be deliberate about guarding our mind.
Renewing the way we think more than what we think.
Understanding time, our health and opportunity is all in the power of our mind, we begin to feed our mind with everything we truly desire until it is realised.
Like any thief, don’t let worry in
Optimism is one of the greatest combatants against worry. It’s the art of positive self talk that nurtures hope and confidence for a brighter and more fulfilling future.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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I remember decades ago, hearing a great message on the art of leadership. The key comment that stood out to me as a young man ‘Stick around long enough and watch those around you fall by the wayside’
1. Leaders stick around long enough
It’s amazing to see people rise because they have staying power
– Staying power is a willingness to commit even at the first sign of trouble
– Staying power is an ability to glean through all the neglected issues to look for solutions
– Staying power is an understanding, it takes time to bring the necessary changes
– Staying power is characteristic of those who see the long game
Sticking around long enough without a clear objective isn’t leadership, it’s entitlement without fruit
2. Leaders seek fruit at the right time
– Healthy fruit can only grow in a well nurtured garden
– Leaders understand it takes planning, effort and deliberate focus to realise a particular fruit (outcome)
– Leaders aren’t seat warmers or consultants. They do what they have to do to make things happen
– Leaders rally others around them and constantly train them rather than instruct them
Leaders enjoy the fruit of their labour along the way. They continue the process of chopping away dead wood that doesn’t produce
Most of the hard work of leadership is done behind closed doors rather than grandstanding
Stick around long enough will often get you that position you seek
A position alone has its own troubles
Producing fruit will give you the satisfaction your soul yearns
Fruit: Inspiring others, making wholesome change, bringing sustainable growth, creating harmony, encouraging creativity, opening doors for the next generation
Why are you leading?
What fruit are you looking for?
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Restoring order, harmony, peace, mental wellbeing in a person or society is greatly connected to nature.
Wether you are a practicing Christian like me or any other faith or even an atheist, we all have connection to the redeeming qualities of creation
Recently I did a bush walk with a friend of mine who talked about Indigenous Australians and their connection to the earth.
He referred to the earth as Mother “The way we treat Mother will always reap positive or negative results”
Mother cannot be controlled by government, corporations or individuals.
Mother can only be tended to, for her to give humanity what it needs to survive.
Mother is calling out to humanity to protect her or she won’t produce
From my Christian perspective, I just need to go back to the origins of our beliefs, EDEN
EDEN, simply the perfect garden of the Creator, where humanity is placed in perfect bliss.
GENESIS, The most beautiful picture of creation and the role humanity played which was to keep creation going as originally intended.
The older we get the easier it is to see the original plan
1. I meet many elderly people that abused Mother Nature and now go back to her to find peace
2. Society gets so caught up with more, they end up with less
3. Most religions and those who claim no faith have deep respect for Mother Nature
Perhaps if society would slow down just a bit, we may hear the groaning and tears of what we have done to Mother Nature.
As a Christian, it seems in my later years I’ve come to appreciate God’s creation more. The time I spend in living creation brings peace to my soul. Wether it’s watching a small plant grow, as it is loved and tended to, or in the midst of a thousand year forrest, Mother Nature is always speaking. It is a way back to hearing, seeing and sensing God’s voice in the stillness of the earth breathing.
Why are we so bent on killing Mother Earth in search of another Surrogate Mother in space to sustain us.
Jesus was the ultimate GREENY
1. He taught in the fields, beachside, people’s homes
2. His parables were injected with truth about nature, the spirit, life, relationships
3. In teaching others to pray, he taught his students to restore earth as it is in heaven. A place of order, harmony and peace
3. He died on a cross promising eternal restoration
Mother Earth is like a voice crying in the wilderness, “Change the way we think and return back to the original plan”
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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Leadership Development is an unseen process.
We’ve heard the phrase ‘Fake it till you make it’ which is another way of admitting, not everything you see is authentic.
1. Who wants to admit that they don’t know what they are doing
2. Who wants to admit that they don’t have the motivation to keep going while they still go through the motions
3. The constant pressure to perform can get overwhelming
No doubt, every leader worth their weight will go through seasons of loneliness, why?
1. It’s in that separated state that we determine what we truly believe, the good, bad and the ugly
2. It’s in that place of isolation, we test our true capacity and often realise we fall short of our own expectations
3. When we take stock of our life, we can make clear decisions on the direction forward
Many leaders fail to stop for any reasonable season for fear of what they may find and continue to the point of burnout
Taking time out for self discovery is often what fills us up to go the long haul
I took over two years off social media at the end of 2016 and deleted everything virtual to regain all the following.
1. We gain a fresh perspective
2. We gain creativity
3. We don’t take ourselves too seriously
I used that period to research Smart Cities around the world and the latest trends in Leadership & Personal Development. What was a hobby for about two years is now the new foundation of my latest business launched in 2020
When I went back online in early 2019, I didn’t lose any skills but gained momentum in a fresh direction.
When was the last time you stepped out to rethink what you want?
Rather than ‘faking it till we make it’, regaining perspective allows us to ‘faith it till we make it’.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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There is a huge difference between training others and using them
A Position Hog?
They use their position to get their way and leave little room for others to grow
1. No one is ever good enough to do their job
2. They always come to the rescue and put out the fires (they discretely started)
3. Their frail ego is larger than the opportunity to help and equip others to succeed
How do we identify the Position Hog?
1. They tell you how to do your job and they micromanage the process
2. They leave you feeling dependent on them
3. They don’t know how to empower others to grow
The world is dramatically changing and Position Hogs will be left out to dry. The new era of a Lateral Leadership rather than Hierarchical Leadership is gaining strength
Lateral Leaders look for gifts in everyone on the table. They multiply opportunities in every direction. These Leaders are constantly looking for ways to raise others to take their place.
If you ever want to know the difference between a Position Hog & Lateral Leader, just ask the question.
Give me the name or names of individuals that you are training to take your place?
If they don’t know what you are talking about, they have already answered the question.
Lateral Leadership isn’t for everyone in the developing years of leadership. It is an acquired taste to see others truly flourish.
I assure you, if you don’t catch Lateral Leadership by the time you are fifty years of age, you will be miserable. More things and higher positions just don’t cut it.
In nature, the proof of health is reproduction not replication.
An ancient teacher quoted “You will know them by their fruit”
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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I grew up in family businesses, from a bakery, fast foods and restaurants.
They all revolved around repetitive processes. Each person was appointed to their own unique pole position to make the most out of human and product resources.
I started at 12 years of age working in my uncles fish & chip shop answering the phone to take the orders.
1. I was assigned one job and it had to be done near on perfect
– Dress code, white clean T-shirt was essential, showing pride in cleanliness
– Answer the phone clearly, politely and make sure I got the order right every time
– When my cousins, uncle or auntie wanted clarity with the orders, there was very little room for mistakes
– I wasn’t allowed to move any further than one metre from the phone during peak times
It was all about efficiency and synergy. Even at 12 years of age, I was given an integral role in the operations an extremely busy fish and chips outlet
Over 45 years later, people still remember that business for its speed and quality of food.
It felt like an art form throughout the evenings as we all danced around and did our part.
Wether it’s an F1, GP MOTTO, The Construction Industry, Sports Clubs or any other sector that requires team effort and repetition, turn it into an art form form.
I was able to apply the same skills throughout my life in various settings, leveraging systems of efficiency rather than becoming constantly busy.
There was nothing better than that feeling at the end of a shift. We cleaned the whole fish and chip shop with bleach, I got my pay and free dinner as part of the deal and went home exhausted.
When we rush, we make mistakes, accidents happen. When we are efficient, speed becomes that joyous harmony where moments of satisfaction are experienced.
Have you become too busy and have lost the joy of being efficiency or maybe you’ve never experienced this art form?
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
We attract who we are, not who we claim we are
It doesn’t take long to recognise the motives in people once the acid is applied
The origin of the ACID TEST that has become a phrase to test people’s capacities
Gold prospectors and dealers need to be able to distinguish gold from base metal. The original acid test was developed in the late 18th century and relied on nitric acid’s ability to dissolve other metals more readily than gold.
The acid test is the pressure applied by life, other people expectations or of ourselves, if we are truly going to commit.
It’s easy to rest on our laurels of past success and sprout meaningless words. The Acid Test authenticates our currency, wether we are still in the game or we have opted out.
Why shout from the rooftop what we believe, especially if you intend building a business or community?
1. The world is so polluted with fools gold that has not gone through the Acid Test
People are settling for rubbish products and services
2. People are not mind readers
State the obvious of what it is you want, where is the benefit for all parties and ask for the business, order or contribution. Stop beating about the Bush.
Over two thousand years ago this principle was taught ‘Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open’
3. Clarify what you want to give your time to
Shouting from the rooftop converts us first. If we don’t believe our message no one else will.
It defines our message in its simplest form
It will separate time wasters from other authentic people interested in your message, product or service
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
A futurist in the simplest way, sees the future based on conditions applied. Some conditions may be intervened, some may have to be accepted.
A futurist lives in the thousand shades of grey. They make those who live in the past and those who love the present very nervous.
Futurists are mocked for speaking about possibilities that seem absurd. This is a common human trait, to bring down anyone that unsettles the proverbial Apple Cart.
Nothing has changed over the centuries; anyone that speaks outside of the accepted dominant norm of black & white must be removed.
It’s hard to believe; Between 1500 and 1782 at least 25,000 Germans, mostly women but also some men and children, were executed for witchcraft.
These are extreme cases but the principle remains the same. Human beings have a terrible inability to handle free thinkers.
The Futurist is one of the freest thinkers that bring change to the world.
1. They see man flying like birds…
2. They see cures for diseases…
3. They see the healing of the planet…
4. They see the end of poverty…
In every society, the futurist isn’t appreciated until their future becomes the new norm, the accepted way of life.
There is a futurist in every single one of us when we allow ourselves the freedom to imagine. It’s in the imagination that we unlock our own potential to be a change agent in our environment.
1. Don’t expect those close to you to be excited about your new outlook unless they to live in life’s possibilities
2. Don’t expect everything you see possible to come easy
3. It’s hard to go back to black and white once you realise the thousand shades of grey, even some colours seeping through
Take note how they treated history’s greatest futurist who challenged the government, religion and status quo of his day. They called him Beelzebub, Lord of the flies, for healing people and giving them hope.
At that point, after falsely charging him, they crucified him in order to bring things back to the way they were. NOT A CHANCE.
Dare to imagine and see what the creator brings your way that makes the world a better place.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
It’s the most painful experiences that enlighten the most beautiful hearts
When we are living the high life, it’s often difficult to recognise authentic relationships, opportunities and our capacity
How could anything positive come out of hitting rock bottom?
1. We truly find out who our loved ones are
When the honey moon is over the real marriage begins
When we are under fire in the workplace or we lose our public office, the real friends and connections continue
When I was thirty eight years of age, I got fired from a world wide religious organisation for standing my ground on ethical grounds. After twenty one years of service with no marks against my name, I lost everything in a moment.
All that remained was my marriage, family and a handful of friends.
THEY WERE MORE THAN ENOUGH to rebuild a life and from the handful of authentic relationships, an abundance of new relationships birthed
2. We truly find out that there is more to life than what we have become accustomed to
Many migrants have experienced this. They have to leave the comfort of language, country and kin to seek better opportunities
The need to survive, we stumble on unseen opportunities. Academics start cleaning businesses to survive and end up building an empire. Peasant Farmers end up owning fishing fleets. Factory workers end up building property portfolio.
ROCK BOTTOM FORCED THEM TO SEEK NEW OPPORTUNITIES
3. We get that sweet taste of finally being ourselves
We often hear the new age term ‘being the best version of yourself’. It’s often very difficult to explore the idea of ‘who am I’ when we are busy existing.
Hitting rock bottom, losing almost everything clears the deck to finally ask deeper questions about life.
Jesus shared one of the deepest truths about hitting rock bottom that is filled with optimism. He said “Unless seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. But when it dies, it comes back to life and increases a hundred times.
The true beauty of losing almost everything, we get a chance to build life long friendships that have sustained the fire.
We get to experience opportunities that we never thought possible
We get to be whoever we want to be
Best of all, we laugh harder than we’ve ever laughed.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
We don’t use the term Be Merciful much in everyday life, yet the healing that comes with acts of mercy is undeniable.
We can get so preoccupied with Justice, Revenge and the day of Reckoning, we miss the connection that we are becoming sicker as a society.
Being Merciful is not for the weak. Only courageous individuals with a great capacity to be truly human towards the unlovable can administer acts of Mercy.
1. Mercy cures us of self righteousness
When we live a life never needing Mercy, we can over-inflate our own sense of importance. Self importance is a recipe for self destruction as we trample on the human race with judgment.
There is nothing uglier than being in the presence of a smug self righteous person who is hiding their own need for mercy.
2. Mercy restores broken relationships
The ugliest wars are civil wars, brother against brother.
The ugliest divorces, when two who once claimed love, destroy property, unity and legacy.
Business partners, work colleagues, not for profits are all voids for harsh judgement where an act of mercy can bring restoration.
How do we find the Mercy that can bring healing to ourselves and society?
Start with an act of mercy to yourself.
Recognise areas of your life that are broken and give yourself a fresh start.
It can be exhausting trying to justify every action of our past.
Being merciful to ourselves first is a foundation stone to being merciful to others.
We no longer have to hide behind perfectionism. We no longer have to look at the bottomless debt we feel we owe ourselves and society.
Being merciful to ourselves releases us from other people’s expectations and frees us to serve with no strings attached.
The fruit of justice is fair compensation which leaves a bad taste in the mouth of society. Being fair and reasonable is about as good as it gets, someone always feels taken advantage of.
The fruit of mercy is compassion, undeserved compassion. It’s an opportunity to grow in the purist form of humanity and reach a spiritual plateau where all parties are humbled and healed.
As true as the ancient text says ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy’
Exercising Mercy produces a quality in any leader that is wanting to influence others without the need to micromanage. Acts of mercy will also go a long way towards good mental health.
Are you wanting to grow in mercy and wholesome influence.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
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TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
Life begins at fifty
1. With the benefit of hindsight, we realise how foolish we were to worry about so many things that didn’t matter
Navigating through all the empty words, broken promises and unrealistic expectations, we become less obsessed the older we get (I acknowledge some are late bloomers and may experience this in their 60s or 70s)
I often marvel how elderly people seem more content the older they get
They have less to prove
2. We tend to focus on things we love most the older we get
It’s amazing how age starts to bring clarity of what we don’t want out of life, resulting in a refocus to a handful of things that matter most
3. We return back to a childhood state and enjoy the simple things again
Life has a way of taking away our youthful optimism, joy and enthusiasm
Ageing has a peculiar way of reverting our life back to things we miss about being young
Some may see this as a crisis, others experience this as a breakthrough
I tend to think it’s a crisis when our decisions unnecessarily hurt those we claim to love
I tend to think it’s a breakthrough when we discover our passion and follow our dreams
There is nothing more refreshing than being around older people that have a sense of self
These are the ones that naturally go and mentor the next generation, helping them navigate through the turbulence of youth
One liberating thing that I did when I experienced a breakthrough, I tore up every award, certificate of accomplishment and started fresh. The idea of resting on my past success is not an option, it feels like I have noose around my neck
Relying on past success is a type of vanity that leaves me hopeless especially when life has so much more to offer
In my fifties, I’ve rediscovered the joy of personal growth that keeps us fresh, not past successes.
P.S I wouldn’t recommend you burn all your awards, it’s just something I felt I had to do. We are all different.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
Who knows what light could come from a chat?
TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
No matter how much we try to mind our own business, there will always be someone that will meddle with our business, why?
I can’t even begin to tell you how many people advise me on how to do my job.
Most of them wouldn’t even know what it’s like walking in my footsteps yet they feel qualified to tell me how and where to walk.
In my forty plus years of work history, I’ve had the privilege of being surrounded by highly qualified mentors in their fields.
From hospitality, not for profits, real estate, construction. I accelerated in all these fields because the mentor student relationships were fluid and natural.
It is easy to identify where I struggled throughout my career. It was my colleagues that did not have my permission to be my advisers or mentors.
1. It’s that number one sales person who gets promoted to sales manager that throws everyone under a bus to preserve their reputation at the expense of yours.
2. It’s that lazy work colleague who doesn’t pull their weight but always puts their opinion in on how to achieve an objective.
3. It’s the bazar nepotism in a family business that always puts blood first at the expense of more qualified and integral colleagues
4. It’s the notion that tenure overrides any possible promotion of a more favourable person to add value to the enterprise
All the above and more create the perfect setting for colleagues to throw others under the bus (metaphorically) to keep their place.
3 ways to prevent being thrown under a bus
1. Mind your own business and be better at it than anyone else
2. Stay vigilant, guarding your heart (attitude) from allowing the ignorance of others to morph you into throwing your colleagues under a bus
3. Always outgrow your current habitat in Leadership & Personal Development, allowing the world to open doors for you rather than shrink in confidence
Keep your colleagues guessing is one of the surest ways of gaining their respect while they try to figure you out.
If you are interested in a chat, message me on WhatsApp with the button to the right hand bottom corner of this page or email me direct on contact@tomsmilovitis.com and we can arrange to meet if you’re in Perth, Western Australia or zoom chat anywhere in the world.
Who knows what light could come from a chat?
TOM SMILOVITIS blogs are simple thoughts to encourage those looking to grow in their sphere of influence. PLEASE SHARE
The term ‘thou shalt not covet’ was carved in stone thousands of years ago for a reason.
It was never meant to be replaced by another law. It was not open for discussion or interpretation.
Anyone’s opinion to justify is null and void.