It is harder to actually follow through.

I try to prioritize my life in the following way:

• God first
• Others second
• I'm third

This sounds really honorable, doesn't it?  I first heard about it years ago.  There was a story about a man who died, and his wife found this written on a note in his wallet.  I thought it would be a great way to live.

However, I frequently find myself putting my needs above others, and sometimes I try to live my life as I want to vs. how God wants me to live.

As much as I try, I still stumble.  As a leadership trainer, I spend every day trying to walk my talk.  Then I get discouraged, and it is very hard to be a leadership trainer and be a hypocrite at the same time. 

A few weeks ago, University of Florida head football coach Urban Meyer had the same issue.

Coach Meyer, by his own admission, believes in faith, family and football - in that order.  Due to his health issues, he put family and faith first and resigned as the head coach at Florida.

But then, 24 hours later, he changed his mind, and said he would take time off to fix his health and then return to football (if possible) in the Fall of 2010.

I don't fault Urban Meyer for changing his mind.  His reasons are his and his alone, and I can't imagine the mental struggles he has had to deal with recently.

Remember, this is the man who sat in the mama's and daddy's living rooms and told them that he would take care of their sons, make sure they got an education and mold them into young men.  I am sure that is a promise he wants to fulfill. 

So did he reverse his mission and put football before family.  It depends on who you ask.  Coach Meyer might say that his football team is family.

So what's my point?

The point is that as a leader, you can try as hard as you want to follow your core values and your personal mission statement, but it will not be as easy as it looks.  You need to try every day to walk your talk while still knowing you may mess up every now and then.

Messing up is OK - especially when you admit it.

Don't judge Urban Meyer and Pete Blank because we are not perfect. 

We are just trying to improve...as all good leaders should.