Lee Ellis's Blog, page 42

Giving Back ��� The Air Warrior Courage Foundation

If you���re considering your final year-end donations for 2023, please check out one of Leading with Honor���s favorite nonprofit organizations, The Air Warrior Courage Foundation.

It was formed by military aviators to ���care for our own,��� their mission and focus is on active duty, guard, reserve, and retired military personnel and their families needing financial assistance for medical, educational, and other extraordinary expenses not covered by other military, veterans���, or charitable institutions.

Please learn more about their fantastic work.

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#MerryChristmas to You and Yours

Merry Christmas from Lee and Mary Ellis

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A Special Christmas Excerpt from ���Captured by Love���

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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Article – Elevating Accountability Through Debriefs

I talk a lot about courageous accountability in my books, coaching, and training; but I���m also grateful for others like my friend and colleague Robert “Cujo” Teschner, talking about accountability from their unique perspective through the exercise of a debrief.

Please check out his blog and video on his website.

 

#courage #leadership #accountability #employeeengagement #teamdevelopment

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Fill-in-the-Blank – Team Appreciation

Fill-in-the-Blank ��� ���As a leader, I���m showing my appreciation for my team by _______________.���

Please post and share your answer below.

 

 

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Interview with Kevin McNulty ��� Grow Yourself Podcast

Podcaster Kevin McNulty hosted Lee Ellis on the Grow Yourself podcast – In this episode, you���ll hear about Lee���s incredible resilience in the face of adversity, his experiences as a POW in Vietnam, and his transition to a becoming a world class speaker and leadership coach.

This is not just a podcast episode, it���s a journey of courage, resilience, and immense dedication. Don���t miss out on this opportunity to learn from a true hero. WATCH NOW!

 

 

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Leadership History Lesson for December 17th

This compelling Biography.com clip features Auschwitz survivor Irving Roth recounts the beginnings of anti-Jewish laws in Czechoslovakia and his holocaust experience as a child. Leadership includes the virtues of vulnerability and transparency that Irving gives in this clip. Never forget the horrors of this period in history.

#jewishlife #holocaustsurvivor #leadership

 

 

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Captured by Love Wisdom for Today, December 15, 2023

���People who are deeply in love remain devoted to each other, to their marriage vows, and they communicate their devotion on a regular basis through their gestures, gifts, activities, letters, and conversations.��� – Jim & Dora Bell

 

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

 

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How Free are You as a Leader? Here���s the Checklist

Over 30 ways to lead with more freedom! Leadership freedom is about knowing yourself and being authentic���shedding away layers of protection that keep you from growing. The free checklist infographic below has been downloaded by thousands of people wanting to assess where they are in being an honorable leader.�� See where you stand���

Check out the Leadership Freedom Checklist

 

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4 Straightforward Steps to Believing in Yourself as a Leader

���4 Straightforward Steps to Believing in Yourself as a Leader��� from Lee Ellis:

 

Slow down and meditate. Reflect on your past and honestly take ownership of both your unique talents and your false self that you have promoted.

��

Be grateful for the gift of being yourself. At the same time, accept your shortcomings and commit to work to grow more in ways that honor God, yourself, and others.

��

Believe in yourself; find ways to use your talents. Keep your commitments and look for doors to open that will fit your unique design and interests.

��

Help others believe in themselves. Recognize and call out their unique talents and contributions and let them know you care about them and believe in them.

 

It���s a busy season for all of us but let���s commit to setting aside time every day to pause, reflect, and meditate and receive the gift of God���s love and the gift of being ourselves. This is a wonderful gift that keeps on giving.��

Read and watch the entire article on this topic – “The Most Overlooked Gift Idea for Leaders”

 

SAVE 30% on the POW Romance Combo Package!

Purchase these award-winning books from Lee Ellis and FreedomStar Media in one package. Leading with Honor is the 2012 release outlining the 14 leadership lessons learned in the POW camps of Vietnam. Captured by Love is the 2023 release that shares the inspiring stories of 20 Top Gun POWs and how their romantic relationships survived and thrived during such an ordeal.

(Includes 1 ��� Leading with Honor Softcover book, 1 ��� Captured by Love Softcover book)

Purchase your package in the Leading with Honor Online Store
Purchase your package on Amazon.com

 

 

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

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