Ft. Myers studio closing

After buying my studio here in Ft. Myers two years ago, Kyle Zwarg is closing it this Saturday. He has mis-managed it to the point of failure.

    People are very upset for many reasons. That studio stood for 17 years in one location. Hundreds, if not thousands, passed through the doors there, with many achieving black belt and higher. Almost all the kenpo in SW Florida can be traced to that school, and I influenced the state of the art throughout the state as well from that studio. The place and the people mean a lot to many and Kyle has caused a lot of anguish with his actions.

  He did some pretty unethical things and I rescinded his license to use my name, stopped teaching there, and have ended contact with him other than what was necessary. I do not stand with him in any way.

   I plan to re-open my studio in another location in Ft. Myers. If you're one of those people who trained there you can contact me at lee@leewedlake.com. or thru my website contact page at www.leewedlake.com.

 

How Character Sustains Leaders

This was sent by Steve White.

How Character Sustains Leaders by Dr. John C. Maxwell

A critical mistake that I made as a young leader was that I used to think that charisma was the most important aspect of leadership. In the beginning, I focused on charisma because I know that leadership attracts, and leadership influences people. Therefore I thought, "Well, if I'm going to influence people I've got to develop charisma in my life." I've been around enough boring leaders to say that is a desire that most of us should have!

What I learned is that character is the most important aspect of leadership, not charisma. Charisma attracts, but character sustains. In fact, I think charisma, in the area of leadership, is overrated.

Character embodies who you really are. It's the inner fiber of your being. It is your inner self in action. It reveals what you are truly made of, it's your substance. Character is, as D. L. Moody said,
"What you are in the dark."

If you have charisma without character, it's only a matter of time before people find you out. Without character you cannot sustain meaningful relationships, and without relationships your ability to lead and influence others is anemic.

So what is it about character that really makes a difference?

1. Character sets you apart.
 There was a time when people who lacked integrity stood out from the crowd. Now the opposite is true--charisma can make people stand out for a moment, but character can set them apart for a lifetime.

2. Character creates trust.
 Leadership functions only on the basis of trust. If you pull out trust, then you will lose your leadership foundation.  

3. Character promotes excellence.
 If you lead people, good character sets a standard for everyone who is following you. People will eventually become like their leader. If leaders compromise on their standards, cheat the company, or take shortcuts, so will their followers.  

4. Character gives staying power.
 During the tough times that all leaders face, character has the ability to carry you through, which is something that charisma can never do. When you are weary and inclined to quit, the self-discipline of character keeps you going.

5. Character extends influence.
 Charisma, by its nature, doesn't last long or extend very far. It's like a flash of gunpowder. It produces a quick, blinding light, but then it's gone. The only thing left is smoke. Character, on the other hand, is more like a bonfire. Its effects are long-lasting. It produces warmth and light, and as it continues to burn it gets hotter, giving fuel that burns brighter.

If you're currently leading people, you probably have some measure of both charisma and character. The question is which one are you relying on to lead? The answer can be found in your response to this great question, "As time goes by, does it get easier or harder to lead?"

Without character, leadership becomes harder to sustain. You constantly have to perform to get people to notice you; but with character, as time goes by, leadership strengthens, builds, and continues to attract the people. And best of all, the ones who do come to enjoy your fire stay with you a lot longer than the ones who only want to see a show.

-- John Maxwell

 

Recent losses

Two of my friends and students recently suddenly lost their wives. To them, and in the memory of Laura and Joyce, I offer this.

 

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

 

I am in a thousand winds that blow,

I am the softly falling snow.

I am the gentle showers of rain,

I am the fields of ripening grain.

 

I am in the morning hush,

I am in the graceful rush

of beautiful birds in circling flight.

I am the shining stars at night.

 

I am in the flowers that bloom,

I am in a quiet room,

I am the birds that sing,

I am in each lovely thing.

 

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there.  I do not die.

 

Mary Frye,  Baltimore  Maryland,  1932

Follow-up to Teach Your Children Well

This link is a news story about the guy who kidnapped the young boy I wrote about recently. Story forwarded by Tony Velada. Murder suspect 'very sorry'

School's Out!

I graduated from the US Air Force Squadron Officer School today. This is the course that captains and majors take prior to being selected for a squadron command. It's a little unusual being a civilian but my membership in the Civil Air Patrol enabled me to take the course. I've spent the last six months studying and taking exams. I found the sections on Professionalism, Leadership, Communications and Management to be particularly useful. I learned a tremendous amount and am working on integrating this new knowledge into my classes and seminars. Much of the military and international studies were interesting but not something I have a use for right now.
I managed to shave 12 months off the alloted time of 18 months by spending an hour each morning reading and watching the online sessions. It's a load off my schedule and now I'm into the next project.

Teach Your Children Well

A news story was broadcast about a 4-year-old boy who was found alone in a rest stop along a highway, no jacket, no shoes, and people all around. One woman, a teacher, made contact with him by waving and got to talking to him. He told her that a man had broken in his home with a gun and killed his mother. The man took him and later dropped him in the rest stop. The boy was able to tell the woman and the police his name, address, phone number, and names of relatives. This information led the police to the boy's home in Ohio, where they found his mother's body. The fact that he knew all the necessary and was cool is a key point. The police said "some taught this boy well". (That the custodian saw him there and didn't do anything is another story.)

     When I was teaching children's classes I would ask kids in the 4-5 year-old class their address and number, etc. I was amazed at how many did not know where they lived. I admonished the parents to insure their children know these things. This little boy's experience bears out how important this is.

    A secondary item is that the father of the by had his car stolen about a week before and it is thought the thieves found contact info in the car and that is what brought them to the house. It's probably not a good idea to keep your ID in your car. That, along with the registration and insurance info, allows someone to find your home easily.  If you have a garage door opener in there it gives them easy access, too.
   Please make sure the kids know these things. If you're an instructor, quiz them. Institute a Kid Smart  type program to make sure. Work with the parents. This is important. 

A new American

One of my black belts here in Ft. Myers will take the oath and become a naturalized citizen of the United States this coming week. Carlos Weil is originally from Argentina and has waited 13 years for citizenship. He joins others from my school here who, over the years, have patiently worked to achieve this. They came from Canada, Britain, and Thailand, to name a few, and have a deep appreciation, love and affection for this place that we were born into, a country we may sometimes take for granted.

   My congratulations to Carlos and his family.