Lee Ellis's Blog, page 18

Giving Back – Gary Sinise Foundation

Leading with Honor donates a portion of our profits to the Gary Sinise Foundation. They serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. They do this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.

Please learn more about this fantastic nonprofit organization as part of your giving plans ��� thank you

 

 

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Merry Christmas from Lee Ellis and Leading with Honor!

Merry Christmas from Lee Ellis and Leading with Honor!

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A Special Christmas Excerpt

A Special Christmas Excerpt from the book ���Captured by Love��� from the story ���God is Our Pilot��� by Ralph & Bobbi Gaither ���

���A few days after my first Christmas in captivity I was taken in for interrogation. I had been in handcuffs for several days, and they told me that my handcuffs would be removed if I would give them a biography. I refused, and they kept me in handcuffs. They were always seeking information from us that they could use as propaganda, and we always resisted. I agonized over the decision to tell them the least little thing about myself. I felt I would be betraying my country, my God, my honor, and my fellow prisoners.

���But then I recalled that some of the guys had told them all kinds of wild things, such as that aircraft carriers have wheels so they can drive on dry land, and the North Vietnamese had believed the story. The lower-level soldiers running the prison camps were pretty naive, so I figured a fabricated story would be pretty easy to sell to them.

���So finally, I decided to give them my biography. My father, I said, was a Big Foot Indian who belonged to the Foot-Washing Baptist Church of America. My grandfather was Chief Crock-a-gator who lived in the Happy Hunting Grounds and hunted alligators and mudfish for a living. My wingman, I continued, was Dave Brubeck; my briefing officer was Walter Winchell. The interrogator obviously was pleased with himself. During my three previous months as a prisoner, I had given only the stock regulation answers. Now here I was ���spilling my guts.��� They still weren���t exactly nice to me, but they sure were proud of making progress.

���My captors removed the handcuffs, and I was especially grateful for many little things that everyone takes for granted. I could go to the bathroom in a normal manner. I could scratch when I itched. I could sleep on my back with my shoulders straight.

���It being the Christmas season I began missing having a Christmas tree. The camp, what little we could see of it, was overgrown with vegetation, but we were not allowed to go anywhere near the growth; we were not allowed to bring a stick even the size of a match into our cells. Outside, we were not even allowed to make a bending motion as though we might pick up something from the ground. Nothing was allowed into our cells, and frequent searches guaranteed the barrenness.

“I prayed. Then one afternoon after washing my dishes, I turned to take the one step back into my cell. I looked down, and on the threshold of my door was a tiny leaf blown by the wind. I picked it up with my toes and carried it inside. The door slammed behind me. I carefully took the leaf from between my toes and looked at it for a long time. I held it to my nose. The perfume of freedom raced up my nostrils and infused my mind with its power.

���I fondled the leaf. It was real. I held it in my hand. God had not forgotten me! I set the leaf on the little ledge by the window. Its greenness stood out in stark contrast to the dull, gray bars. Tears rolled down my cheeks. God had given me a Christmas tree.���

 

You can read their entire story in the book ��� go to POWromance.com to purchase your copy, explore more about them as a couple, and more.

 

**This story was originally told in Ralph Gaither’s book, “With God in a P.O.W. Camp”

 

#Romance #Lovestory #Military #marriagegoals #Resilience #POW50th #VietnamPOW #Courage #Passion #CapturedbyLove #LoveLessons

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Captured by Love Wisdom for Today, December 20, 2024

������The secret for keeping love alive? We agree: ���Be respectful, giving and forgiving, loving, and attentive. Be unique individuals yet joyfully interdependent.������ ��� Bill & Suzy Bailey, former Vietnam POW couple

POWromance.com #Romance #Lovestory #Military #marriagegoals #Resilience #VietnamPOW #Courage #Passion #CapturedbyLove #LoveLessons

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Special Story: 51-Year Meeting

Last week, I was in Louisville KY at the McConnell Center at the Univ. of Louisville Museum speaking to Northwestern Mutual financial planners, students and ROTC leaders. When I finished my presentation, Mary Alice came up and told me she had worn my POW Bracelet.

She showed me the photo and letter I sent to her on April 30, 1973 thanking her for her thoughts and prayers while I was a POW. This was so meaningful that we both had tears in celebrating our meeting after 51 years. #Grateful

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Apply These Quick 4A���s to Show Value to Others

As a leadership speaker, trainer, and coach, you can always learn something new about how to help leaders lead better. The reality is that a lack of engagement at the top of an organization usually cascades down to the folks below.

You can apply the Four A���s mentioned that I use in coaching and training to believe in others ���

 

Acknowledge their presence. Do this by being Available, Accessible, and Approachable���and smile. Accept them for who they are. Look at them with a positive perspective and focus on what they bring to the table���and smile. Affirm them with something specific about their performance ���and smile. Appreciate them���show them you value them. Let them know you believe in them and that they are bringing value to your team���and smile.

 

These are gifts that keep on giving. More importantly, I like to say that they���re also rays of love ��� God���s love that has more value than we realize. Test this idea and let me know how it works for you.��

You can also read the entire coaching on this topic – “2 Important Ways to Boost Your Leadership Confidence”

 

Amazon Bestseller! Holiday Gifts for Your Favorite Readers

Captured by Love��shares the real love stories of 20 Vietnam War POWs. Some had wives who started a movement that changed American foreign policy. Others came home and had to start over, while five single men met the loves of their lives.

Former POW Lee Ellis and love expert Greg Godek take you on a dramatic journey of faithfulness, passion, excitement, resilience, and practical love lessons from these couples.

New Amazon Bestseller in the Military Families and Survival Biographies & Memoirs

Order Your Softcover, eBook, or Audiobook on Amazon.comRead some sample stories

 

#courage #leadership #accountability #employeeengagement #leadershipbehavior #teamdevelopment #buildingculture #keynotespeaker

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Highlands College Appearance

Last month, I was honored to be a part of the Veterans Day Celebration at Highlands College in Birmingham, Alabama. They take the honor and service of veterans seriously, and I���m so grateful for their exuberant leadership in this regard.

Special thank you to Founder Mark Hodges, President Chris Pettus, and the entire Highlands College team and volunteers for a wonderful celebration.

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Leadership History Lesson for December 15th

On this day in leadership history in 1791, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, went into effect following ratification by the state of Virginia.

What���s the leadership lesson? Honorable leaders know that it���s important that their team or organization must be bound by a common set of values to work with excellence.

Bill of Rights – Wikipedia

 

#courage #leadership #accountability #employeeengagement #leadershipbehavior #teamdevelopment #buildingculture #keynotespeaker

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Captured by Love Wisdom for Today, December 13, 2024

Captured by Love Quote ��� ���Humor is a relationship lubricant. This doesn���t mean laughing all the time, but humor bonds us in the good times and helps us weather the tough times.��� ��� Mo & Honey Baker

Purchase your copy at POWromance.com

 

#Romance #Lovestory #Military #marriagegoals #Resilience #VietnamPOW #Courage #Passion #CapturedbyLove #LoveLessons

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Coaching Clip – How to Coach Your Team to Believe in Themselves

In this month���s coaching clip, Lee shares the coaching and training advice that he uses with clients to increase engagement and get better results with their teams. And, it���s designed to be genuine and authentic which produces the best long-term results.

You can also read the entire coaching blog on this topic – “Two Important Ways to Boost Your Leadership Confidence”

 

Amazon Bestseller! Holiday Gifts for Your Favorite Readers

Captured by Love��shares the real love stories of 20 Vietnam War POWs. Some had wives who started a movement that changed American foreign policy. Others came home and had to start over, while five single men met the loves of their lives.

Former POW Lee Ellis and love expert Greg Godek take you on a dramatic journey of faithfulness, passion, excitement, resilience, and practical love lessons from these couples.

New Amazon Bestseller in the Military Families and Survival Biographies & Memoirs

Order Your Softcover, eBook, or Audiobook on Amazon.comRead some sample stories

 

The post Coaching Clip – How to Coach Your Team to Believe in Themselves appeared first on Leading With Honor��.