About this ebook
In "The Drive-Thru is Not Always Faster," Mike Lyles shares 30 separate short stories which provide inspiration, insight, and a new way of thinking to consider. Whether you are young or old, a student in school, in the middle of your career, or retired, this book will leave you with great advice to ponder and the motivation to change the way you think and live.
Related to The Drive-Thru is Not Always Faster
Related ebooks
Spark: 24 Concepts to Ignite, Unstick or Supercharge Your Work Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRead to Lead: The Simple Habit That Expands Your Influence and Boosts Your Career Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Making of Greatness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Simple Road Toward Financial Freedom: A Guide to Building Wealth and Independence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPeak Perspective: Develop Your Personal Board of Directors and Become the Leader You Were Meant to Be Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGrowing Mentor Intelligence™: A Field Guide To Mentoring Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsToo Old to Hire, Too Young to Retire: A Comprehensive Guide for Body, Mind & Soul Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDeveloping Leaders: Why Traditional Leadership Training Misses the Mark Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Unlock Your Inner Drive: Highly Effective Strategies to Transform Any Aspect of Your Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGet It Together: A Winning Formula for Success from the Boss You Need Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLet's Be Curious: Ask the Right Questions, Get Better Answers, Create the Results You Want Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIt's Go Time: Build the Business and Life You Really Want Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Leaders Workbook Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPick Up the Gum Wrapper: How to Create a Workplace That Increases Performance While Improving Lives Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBe More: Find your truth, tell your story, and get what you want out of life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhy Not You?: Ten Powerful Beliefs to Inspire You to Fulfill Your Dreams Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings7 V.I.R.T.U.E.S. of Exceptional Leaders Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Guided Author: A leader's practical guide to go from idea to a published book in a few months Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGreat Leaders Always Follow: The Paradox of Great Leadership Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Midlist Indie Author Mindset: Connect With Readers and Cultivate Success Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMirrors & Windows Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBring Your Unique Purpose to Life: 5 Practical Steps to Finding Clarity & Direction Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lovable Leader: Build Great Teams with Trust, Respect, and Kindness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGrad to Grown-Up: 68 Tips to Excel in Your Personal and Professional Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJust Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should: <Br><Br><Br><Br><Br><Br>Keys to a Successful Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsInnerWill: Developing Better People, Braver Leaders, and a Wiser World through the Practice of Values Based Leadership Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLoving Leadership Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSimple Truth Small Book, Big Impact. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMy Macguffin: Business as a Spiritual Practice Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Self-Improvement For You
The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations from the author of the bestselling The 48 Laws of Power Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Year of Magical Thinking Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Principles: Life and Work Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: The Infographics Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Big Magic: How to Live a Creative Life, and Let Go of Your Fear Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Discipline Is Destiny: A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I May Be Wrong: The Sunday Times Bestseller Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Shape of Ideas: An Illustrated Exploration of Creativity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Win Friends and Influence People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Super Learning: Advanced Strategies for Quicker Comprehension, Greater Retention, and Systematic Expertise Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bullet Journal Method: Track Your Past, Order Your Present, Plan Your Future Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Manual of The Warrior of Light Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Matter of Death and Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Collaborating with the Enemy: How to Work with People You Don't Agree with or Like or Trust Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Highly Sensitive Person Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Concise Art of Seduction Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ego is the Enemy: The Fight to Master Our Greatest Opponent Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5With the End in Mind: Dying, Death and Wisdom in an Age of Denial Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Stillness is the Key: An Ancient Strategy for Modern Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Happiness Trap: Stop Struggling, Start Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Drive-Thru is Not Always Faster
1 rating0 reviews
Book preview
The Drive-Thru is Not Always Faster - Mike Lyles
Copyright © 2019 by Mike W. Lyles
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.
First Printing: 2019
ISBN 978-0-57821-980-6 (Paperback)
ISBN 978-1-54398-702-7 (E-Book)
Mike Lyles Consulting, LLC
125 Foxglove Drive
Statesville, NC 28625
www.MikeWLyles.com
Ordering Information:
Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, educators, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the above listed address.
US trade bookstores and wholesalers: Please contact:
Mike Lyles Consulting, LLC
Telephone: (336) 468-7336 or email info@mikewlyles.com
The Drive-Thru is the easy choice made by many. Few are brave enough to make the best choice, to go in, place the order, and leave more efficiently. Mike takes on this topic and motivates the reader to explore new and different ways of looking at life experiences.
—Tom Ziglar, CEO of Zig Ziglar Corporation, Speaker, and Author
Mike translates his life and public-speaking experiences into common sense life lessons.
—Jeffrey J. Fox, best-selling author of How to Become a Rainmaker and twelve other international best sellers
Success isn’t a one size fits all, but with Mike’s leadership, reaching new heights is possible for everyone. This book shares smart, short stories, each with a key takeaway to improve our everyday lives.
—Shannon Kaiser, best-selling author of The Self-Love Experiment and Joy Seeker
Mike shares his experiences in such a way that we are able to relate to his lessons and walk away with the inspiration to focus on those opportunities that are most important to us.
—Peggy Libbey, CEO of Redwood Collaborative Media and Software Test Professionals Conference
Mike shares his passion to help each of us learn new ways to accomplish our mission and goals in life by showing us creative approaches and alternatives to reaching success
—John Miles, Partner, Virgo Investment Group and Founder of Ovesto Capital
Through incredible, true life experiences, Mike inspires his readers to grow both personally and professionally.
—Amberly Lago, best-selling author of True Grit and Grace
Mike has creatively assembled over 20 years of experience, coaching, and leadership into a motivating and inspiring masterpiece. This book will help readers reclaim their Best Self on the journey of life!
—Dr. Chasity K. Adams, Licensed Psychologist, Author of Reclaiming Your Best Self, Speaker & Life Coach
Love this book! In a world where the fast eat the slow, the convenience of the drive-thru doesn’t always meet one’s needs. This book helps us think differently, using great stories to drive the points home.
—Jason Jennings, NY Times, WSJ and USA TODAY bestselling author of eight books including, The Reinventors.
This book is dedicated to my mom, Jenny Lyles. Thanks, Mom, for being the first motivational speaker
to ever impact my life.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1: Just Start It!
Chapter 2: One Day
Chapter 3: Make a Mountain Out of an Ant Hill
Chapter 4: DWYSYWD
Chapter 5: Hey Joe!
Chapter 6: My Mom and Steve Jobs
Chapter 7: Take Only the Good Pictures
Chapter 8: Who Will Win the Super Bowl?
Chapter 9: Rudolph Was Not a Brown-Noser
Chapter 10: 10 Things Your Body Is Telling You
Chapter 11: Stand Out in the Crowd
Chapter 12: Change Is Good
Chapter 13: Five Reasons You Should Stop Pursuing Your Dreams
Chapter 14: The Drive-Thru Is Not Always Faster
Chapter 15: Work-Life Balance Is a Fantasy
Chapter 16: Time Does Not Equal Money
Chapter 17: Be There
Chapter 18: What Would You Do if You Were Not Afraid?
Chapter 19: Hope Is Not a Strategy
Chapter 20: Don’t Die before You’re Dead
Chapter 21: What Other People Think of You Is None of Your Business
Chapter 22: Are You Comparing or Competing?
Chapter 23: Who Needs a Leader?
Chapter 24: You Can Learn as Much from Bad Leaders as Good Leaders
Chapter 25: Slower Traffic Keep Right
Chapter 26: The Fastest Car Doesn’t Always Win the Race
Chapter 27: Are You a Factory Worker?
Chapter 28: Keep a Diary
Chapter 29: It’s Your Two-Minute Warning
Chapter 30: Leave a Legacy
About the Author
Notes
References
Acknowledgments
My life has prepared me for the things I have shared in this book. I have been blessed to meet so many great people who have influenced the decisions I made and the stories I will tell you in the pages that follow.
I would like to thank so many people who contributed to making this book a reality.
My mom, Jenny Lyles, was my first teacher. She taught me humility. She taught me that you can care for others even when they treat you wrongly or don’t respect you back. I watched her bravely stand in front of crowds, large and small, and inspire them with her words. The most amazing thing I want each of you to take away from this is that she didn’t even realize the impact she was making. You never know who is watching your life. You never know when something you are doing could change someone’s life forever. For my first book, I want to give a special thanks to my mom, the first person who had faith in me throughout all of my life.
I would also like to thank each and every person that never failed to ask, When is your book coming out?
You will never know how much it inspired, motivated, and helped me to keep pressing forward.
A special thanks to Greg Collins for creating my book cover and my book website. Thanks to my book coach and bestselling author, Shannon Kaiser, and to my editor, Brianne Bardusch, for supporting my final manuscript. Thanks to bestselling author and friend, Jeffrey Fox, for the valuable input and edits.
To those who gave support on the material, the content, and the wording in this book, I owe a great debt of gratitude. You know exactly who you are and how you impacted this book.
Foreword
A great book is a pleasure to read and offers a lesson that you can wrap your mind around. Experience is the best teacher if you learn from the lessons that come with your success and failures.
Mike has superior observation skills and is a good listener that examines challenges and opportunities from many angles, so his opinions are sound and well thought out. This book is no exception.
What you will find, in the chapters that follow, are many of life’s lessons that, frankly, we can all learn something from and apply at different points in our lives.
Pay it forward, read the book, and then pass on the lessons when appropriate to friends and colleagues that could benefit from your personal coaching and Mike’s writings.
A book like this can serve as a ready reference again and again.
Ron Blahnik
CIO & SVP
Strategy & Innovation, Supply Chain Logistics and Retail Analytics
Hibbett Sports
Introduction
In July 2002, I set down and started a diary of notes, leadership quotes, things I was learning, and suggestions for an upcoming book. Little did I know that it would be over a decade before I would sit down and pull it all together.
My first leadership mentor and I began working together in January 2002. By February 2002, I was making a list of everything I needed to accomplish and marking them off weekly.
A few months later, I purchased a book that would completely change my life. This book was How to Become CEO by Jeffrey J. Fox.
I began officially leading others in 1998. The feeling of accomplishment in helping people to reach their goals and achieve team and company goals was more than I imagined. I knew, even back then, that being a leader, mentor, and coach for others would be one of my core values.
In 2003, I became a manager, and the accomplishment of responsibility, ownership, and authority over expanding teams was amazing. I began reading books by great speakers and writers: Stephen Covey, Jeffrey Fox, John C. Maxwell, and Brian Tracy to name a few. I began to expand my leadership skills by taking pieces of information from these great speakers and others.
For years, I have compiled notes, experiences (good and bad), which I knew I would someday put into my first book. From the very start, I planned to call the book "Today is the first day of the success of your life. For years this was the title I planned to use. However, one day I was examining the old phrase
Today is the best day of the rest of your life. And I realized this phrase was correct; every day is the beginning of the rest of your life. However, when I thought about
the success" of my life, I realized that many of the successful events in my life happened in the past. Throughout our life, if we give everything we have, we may have many opportunities to have those success moments. Keep your eyes open wide, look for those magical moments where you can gain even the smallest of successes along the way, and you will experience success over and over throughout your life.
Since the early years of following those initial speakers, I have been so blessed and honored to travel to five continents spanning multiple countries, meeting so many new people, speaking in front of thousands, and learning something new with every adventure. When I realized I was closing in on the final updates to my book, I set out to build a marketing program to sell my book, and to engage, interact, and connect with many people who speak, write, and follow motivational work. If I gave my list of those who have influenced and changed my ways of thinking,