Does this deer look like he is in trouble?  A friend of mine sent me this picture taken from his sailboat on Lake Michigan.  This crazy deer is 3 miles off shore swimming hard in the wrong direction - all alone. Apparently it is more than 80 miles to the next shore.  My friend tried to turn him around back to safety - but he refused to yield.

Unfortunately I have met talented, charismatic leaders who do the same thing. 

They swim in the wrong direction - away from the safety of trusted advisors and key relationships.  There working hard to stay afloat but their drifting farther and farther out into deep water - towards disaster.  As an ancient proverb says:

"Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgement." Pr. 18:1

Why you ask?  Why would intelligent people isolate themselves? Isolation begins in a person's heart when they believe that they "know best".  They really think they know better than most people on what should be done in most situations.  You might say they're a bit egotistical.  They're pretty high on their own opinion and seem to be experts in most things.  The amazing thing is they don't really check into the things and they have an opinion about everything. They don't check with those who "really know" and get the facts. They just give their opinion wanting us to believe that somehow they - "know what's best". 

If you would like more information on the fascinating subject of egotism I recommend you check out chapter 3 and 8 in my book The Enemies of Excellence.  There is also an Ego Evaluation online at coachgreg.com under "Tools" that can help you determine your level of egotism.

In an honest moment all of us would agree: "we need each-other".  We are safer and have our greatest moments of success and contribution when we collaborate with others. We were not created to exist in a vacuum.  There's no oxygen in a vacuum and life does not survive there.

Don't swim away when people are trying to help you.

Instead of swimming away in the wrong direction - here are a few tips to avoid isolation and ensure your integrated in key relationships.

ELIMINATE ISOLATION

• Check you heart. Proverbs warns us to: "guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it". Invest a few reflective moments in your day to check your heart. Confront arrogance and anger. Pray for humility, compassion, kindness and forgiveness. You will be amazed at how positive people will respond to you and how much you will connect in critical relationships.

• Listen. Are you really hearing what people are saying or have you formed an opinion before they finish speaking? Can you finish this phrase: "so what I'm hearing you say...". If you cannot repeat back to a person what they have just said to you - your not listening.  Your missing allot of valuable information - locked in your own thoughts. Unlock a whole new world of understanding and connection to the trusted advisors and key relationships in your life. You will grow substantially and reach levels of success you have not experienced. 

• Learn. Go to your family, advisors, colleagues and team members - to learn from them. We don't know it all - in fact we really don't know that much compared to what there is to know. I have found in my life that I can learn something from everyone.  

If your isolated - swim back to shore. Let those around you, help you. Receive the sound advise in this article and build rich rewarding relationships.

To your excellence,

Coach Greg

into dangerous water. - many never return.