Load up before you leave

I constantly speak to graduating students (both in college and high school levels). It is something I enjoy doing and have not slowed down these many years.

As a matter of fact, I have had people who would come to me and say, “You know Sir Francis, I first heard you when I was in high school (or in college). I could still remember your lessons. You challenged me to become better and I would like to say that I am getting there....And this is why I highly recommended you to our management that you be our main speaker for our company’s conference and learning event.”

There is this joy and a sense of fulfillment within me when I hear statements like these. All those years of speaking pro-bono in schools and challenging the kids to live life with values are paying off. Many of these young people are on their success journey and the privilege of having affected them positively is something I value that cannot be assigned a price tag.

This got me thinking.

I brought my family to a favorite local vacation resort place a few months ago. I took time off away from my regular speaking, coaching, and training gigs and made sure that this is “Trade-Off” time with my family.

The Ilocana loaded up with food and groceries. I made sure the cars were loaded up with gas before our journey. I had my people in my office make sure all the requirements for the resort place were loaded up – the right forms, the vouchers, the requirements, etc. 

And then I realized something I have never thought of before.

In our life’s journey, we need to load up before we leave.

High school kids need to load up with the right values in life and the right study habits before they leave for college, or they will get lost with the influences of new peers and friends.

College kids need to load up with the right work attitude, discipline, knowledge and tenacity before they leave college and start their career and employment journey.

Even public speaking, coaching, and training are like preparing for a journey. I need to make sure that I am loaded up with the values, principles and the lessons I am about to teach and internalize what I am about to say first and foremost. Perhaps my weakness in memory has become an asset. I could not memorize scripts, even short paragraphs, without first understanding, agreeing and believing what it is saying.

This is how I load up before I leave. I need to understand, know, internalize and make sure that I am not just practicing what I am preaching, but I actually am preaching what I am already practicing.

Just because someone is good at memorizing scripts does not make the person an SME, or “Subject Matter Expert.” You and I have heard, seen and experienced speakers and presenters who are brilliant in teaching from scripts. Remove the notes or the script from this person, and like a motorist whose GPS dysfunctions, this person possibly will miss the exits and the entrances and will go in circles, never getting to the desired destination. 

Young people need to load up before they leave their homes to get married. They need to load up with financial capabilities to build a home, and also, with the blessing from the parents. And most importantly, they need to load up their marriage with the love of God, and make it as the center of their relationship. A difficult and tedious journey awaits without all these.

Parents need to load up with good, practical and relevant parenting skills in order to train their kids correctly.

Leaders should load themselves up with good leadership skills as they help their people navigate the changing business landscapes, demographics and the unpredictable behaviors of today’s consumers.

Load up before you leave. This makes me smile as I think about it.

I need to load up before I leave this planet. I need to load myself up with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Savior, and equip myself with His works, words and teachings, so that I arrive at my desired destination.

In fact, I rest joyful and secure in the assurance that all the members of my family are loaded up as well and they too are prepared for their final journey. And this brings us to the place where we all will be together again.

This is why Christmas means a lot to me and I always call it Christmas, never just “Happy Holidays.”

I guess the question I will ask at this moment is… Are you loaded up before you leave?

(Start the new year right with Francis Kong. Sign up to update and upgrade your leadership and life skills with his highly acclaimed “Level Up Leadership” workshop seminar Jan. 13-14 at Makati Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries contact Inspire at 09158055910 or call 632-6310912 or 6310660 for details.)