Metabolism is not my friend.

When I was young I could eat or drink anything I wanted. As a matter of fact I tried to gain weight for most of my young adult life. My twenty-year-old son can eat anything and everything, and he often does, without any consequences at all.

Recently my wife and I decided to change our diet… for a while. I went two weeks without eating bread, potatoes, pasta, and desserts. I ate lots of fruits, lots of vegetables, you know, boring food. I lost a few pounds and a few social opportunities. All in all it was fine.

But then a friend of mine who is somewhat of a nutrition nut started talking to me about my new lifestyle I was embracing.

No, no, no, hold on just a minute.

Lifestyle? I don’t think so.

I’m too much of a meatatarian for this to become a lifestyle.

But her point was right. If I am to be embrace optimal health, it isn’t going to do much good to take the proper actions for a short period of time. It needs to become the normal part of what I do. My behavioral patterns need to become a routine for how I live my life.

The same is true for the proper actions we take in living out the mission of our organization. It’s not OK to do the right thing once in a while. It needs to become a lifestyle.

Right now, grab a sheet of paper and jot down three behaviors that you think your organization needs to make part of its new lifestyle.

1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________

I’d love to hear what you think is most important in the accomplishment of your mission.