My Philosophy
My Philosophy on Personal Excellence
I am convinced that personal excellence is the culmination of the pursuit of intentional personal growth. It is at the core of living lives of sustainable impact and influence. As a result of my Christian background, my paradigm is one that sees every human being as having been created by God with a clear and specific purpose for their lives. When each of us finds that sweet spot for which we were created, life takes on true significance and our impact is destined to outlive us. This sweet spot is found when divine will and personal choice intersect at the highway of humility, submission and trust.
Faith, for me is active and not just an intellectual exercise. It is about doing, not simply believing. It is about planning for your future strategically and purposefully, while remaining conscious that life is a gift and that every day that we wake up is an act of divine grace.
Yet, notwithstanding the central role of divine guidance, we humans are not robots but have been given free will and the power to choose. Our daily choices ultimately shape our character and our character determines how far we will go in accomplishing our fullest potential. This is where personal growth comes in. I must discipline myself and intentionally pursue personal improvement, maturity and development. No one else can do that for me. Whether or not I make progress in this life is my personal responsibility. Stephen Covey put it best: “Self-growth is tender. It’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.”
My Philosophy on Leadership
Few things impact this world in the way that leadership does. From the first time I heard John Maxwell say that everything rises and falls on leadership, I was an immediate convert. I contemplated the worlds of politics, sports, religion, business and family life, for instance, and said to myself that Maxwell was spot on. Throughout history until modern times, we have seen how foundational the concept of leadership is to the success or failure of individuals, organizations, families, teams and nations.
People are always looking for inspiration and they often do so by fixing their eyes on individuals who have accomplished what they themselves wish to achieve. Sometimes our imitation of others is deliberate and other times, it’s subconscious, but, whatever the motivation, we are drawn to leaders. It happens in entertainment, politics, family, religion, careers, sports and philanthropy. We model ourselves after those whose teaching, philosophy and most importantly, example, resonate with us and call us higher.
Leadership matters. If this is your gift, use it to build others up. If leadership does not come naturally to you, but you desire it, be bold and courageous in your journey. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. As author Cal Newport insightfully noted when recalling a TED talk from entrepreneur Derek Sivers: “A leader needs the guts to stand alone and look ridiculous.”
Stand up. Stand firm. If necessary at the beginning, stand alone. Yet, stay the course, learn from others and see your life become a gift to those you are privileged to influence.
Unshakeable Pillars
Timeless principles are amazing. It does not matter the epoch in which you lived or the society in which you were raised. These principles stand the test of time. MARCUS 2229 is founded on pillars of prudent decision-making, the practical wisdom that allows us to make the best choices from day to day. I have chosen to define wisdom as the application of knowledge to daily living. By implementing principles of prudence to our personal and professional lives, we will see an inspiring inner transformation that we did not think was possible.
The name of my website is actually taken from ancient Hebrew wisdom literature as codified in the well-loved biblical book of Proverbs. Proverbs is one of those books whose brilliant content transcends cultural, social and religious differences because of its practical relevance. I have adopted the principle espoused in Proverbs 22:29 as the theme for this website. It says: “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.”
The idea being presented here is that the person who excels in what they do will enjoy the privilege of impacting the lives of influential people. That prospect excites me. I will have the unique opportunity to connect with leaders, innovators and other persons of influence if I refine my skills and get really good at what I do. MARCUS 2229 is here to help you along that inspiring growth pathway.
