The Change of a Lens Changes Everything

Everyone has a worldview.

There’s no use denying it.  You can’t say you don’t believe in anything.  No matter what, everyone has a way they see the world.

About six months ago, I attended a leadership convention where New York Times bestselling author, Orrin Woodward, gave a talk about the change of a lens.  Worldviews can be likened to lenses.  They change the way you see the world.  When you change your lens, you see the world differently.

I learned from that talk that in the journey to success and leadership, there are four different lenses to pick from.  Whatever lens you choose to wear is YOUR choice and no one else’s.

Here are your choices (and note I use the pronoun “he” a bit, but both genders can be applied):

Lens #1 – The Victim Lens

“Woe is me!  I can’t do it.  Everyone is against me!”

When one wears the victim lens, there’s no way he can win.  He’s constantly wallowing in self-pity, convinced that even if he tried he would fail.  Some choose to spend their whole lives wearing the victim lens because it’s easier than changing it.  Sometimes, they even think it’s impossible to change their lens.  However, change is necessary for success, so anyone wearing this lens MUST be open to changing it if they ever want to succeed.

Lens #2 – The Follower Lens

“What’s my leader up to?  They haven’t been helping me much…”

Wearing the follower lens is a little better than the victim lens.  At least he’s allowing himself to be led!  He’s open to success, but only if someone else does most of the work.  He is consistently checking up on his leaders and critiquing them – because he obviously could do a better job (if he ever decided it was worth his time to try).  If they would only do more work, he would be at the top by now.  Eventually, those who wear the follower lens will either give up and start wearing the victim lens, or they will get tired of relying on others for their success and move on to Lens #3.

Lens #3 – The Performer Lens

“I will walk my talk!  I will do what is necessary.”

Although this lens may seem like a leadership perspective, it isn’t.  This lens is better than the previous two BY FAR.  This person is active.  He sees his success and he’s going for it.  He’ll do the work to achieve his goals.  This person is somewhat reliant to find information from leaders to act upon; however, if you could choose somewhere to start your journey, I would have you start here.

Lens #4 – The Leader Lens

“I see the vision, let me show you so we can win as a team!”

The leader lens is by far the greatest.  The leader not only acts, he leads others to action as well.  He leads by EXAMPLE.  There is a big difference between a leader and a manager.  Managment is telling others what to do.  Leadership is being willing to perform even if others don’t reciprocate.  It’s taking the blame when things go wrong and giving the credit away when things are going well.  I say that Lens #3 is the best place to start because putting on the Leader Lens takes continual effort, and YOU MUST wear the Performer Lens before you can wear the Leader Lens.

 

The lens you choose to wear is your choice.  Only you can choose to be a victim, follower, performer, or leader.

NO ONE can make that choice for you, and this is NOT a choice to be taken lightly.  Your future is on the line, as well as your family’s future.  No one ever said changing your lens would be easy.  If it was easy, everyone would do it.  That’s why so few people achieve their dreams.

The choice is yours – which one will you choose?

 

Until next time,

Hope Frances