Are You Marked?

What does Mission: Impossible have to do with effective leadership?

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I grew up watching “Mission: Impossible” in my youth.  The original Mission: Impossible, with Barbara Bane, Martin Landau, Greg Morris, Peter Lupus, and of course, Peter Graves. Just like in the movie remake, instructions were delivered in very inconspicuous places.  It was always an impossible mission, with the promise of being disavowed if the team failed.

Each episode included a “Mark.”  The “Mark” was a specific individual, or group of individuals, the IMF Team was targeting or pursuing.  It was the focus of their attention. There was something unique about that person that set them apart in some way.  In the context of “Mission: Impossible,” the “Mark” was a threat to society in some way.

Sometimes it was a dictator oppressing a group of people.  Other times, it was a criminal mastermind plotting the crime of the century. At other times, it was a rogue scientist who was creating a weapon of mass destruction. Still, at other times, it was a power-hungry executive who was using his power and authority for nefarious means.

I think you get the picture.  They were usually bad, cruel people with evil intent.  They had to be stopped, at all costs.  But sometimes, the “Mark” was the person to be rescued or saved.

Against incredible odds, the IMF Team successfully pulled off impossible mission after mission that made the world a safer place to live. Evil plots thwarted and innocent hostages freed. And they did it every single week for seven consecutive seasons.

When I was in high school, I became the very first Boy Scout Law Enforcement Explorer in my city. I was later joined by several young men who also wanted to pursue learning more about law enforcement. It was an intriguing program where we were introduced the world of law enforcement and the various people and departments who served and protected our community.

I got to sit with the dispatcher and learned how to manage traffic, assign officers to various calls, and monitor their progress.  I spent time riding in patrol cars with officers to experience what they did while patrolling the city.  I had the opportunity to ride alongside plain-clothed detectives as they investigated various crimes in our city.

When dispatch would issue a call with the description of an individual or an automobile that had been involved in the commission of a crime, that became the “Mark” we were searching for.  It’s a world I grew to appreciate, as most people aren’t aware of all the things the law enforcement community does to keep our streets safe

In college, I became licensed as a private investigator for a season.  While there wasn’t much need for a PI in the small, sleepy community I lived in, the training I received on discretely monitoring, tracking, and documenting the activities of an individual was intriguing.  And, this was during the time of the TV series, “Magnum PI”, so it was kind of cool to be associated with this flamboyant TV star who drove a red Ferrari, always solved the case, and (almost) always got the girl.  

But enough reminiscing.  Let’s get to today’s lesson.

Are you Marked?

A “Mark” is a designation based on birth, position, or accomplishment. It can also extend to a specific characteristic of an individual that makes it easier to identify them.

The first definition is of particular importance to today’s lesson.  a “Mark” is essentially what a person is known for.

My friend, Jeff Henderson, wrote an amazing book a few years back, “Know What You’re FOR?”  In the book, he poses two simple questions.  The first question you get to answer.  The second question other people get to answer.

What do you want to be known for?

What are you known for?

The first question is your vision for the future. It’s the Black Belt Leader in Life you are striving to become. The second question is the “Mark” question – what you’re known for.

The gap between the two is your opportunity for growth.  (Great concept, thanks, Jeff.)

For the next few moments, I’d like to lean into the first question and go deeper.

If given the choice, how would you like to be “Marked”? 

We are ALL “Marked” for something, but leaders consciously choose HOW they want to be marked and are intentional about doing the work required to get there.

So, if you want to be “Marked” as a Black Belt Leader in Life, what does that look like?

What position, accomplishment, characteristics, or qualities define you in such as a way that THIS is what you are known for? 

I believe there are seven distinct “Marks” that should define you as a Black Belt Leader.

First, you should be “Marked to Excel.”  Excellence, according to the Oxford Languages Dictionary, is “the quality of being outstanding or extremely good.”  It is a hallmark of leadership because what is worth doing is worth doing well. 

Excellence is greatness at its best. 

Secondly, you should be “Marked to Overcome.”  To overcome is to be successful in dealing with a problem or difficulty.  Black Belt Leaders are problem solvers. They take on difficult challenges no one else wants to, overcoming adversity in order to succeed.

Black Belt Leaders in Life see adversity and challenges are opportunities to learn and grow. They understand at the end of the struggle, they will come out better on the other side.

Next, you should be “Marked to Lead.”  This one, to a Black Belt Leader, should be a given. Everyone is leading someone, somewhere, even if the only person they are leading is themselves. Black Belt Leaders understand they have been called to lead, to be a trailblazer, and to help others who want to get to the same place successfully navigate the journey.

One of the Oxford definitions of lead is to “be a route or means of access to a particular place or in a particular direction.”  What a great definition of a leader as a trailblazer – one who goes before others, clears the pathway before them, and shows them the way.

The fourth is being “Marked for Success.”  To succeed is to accomplish an aim, purpose, goal, or objective. That’s what Black Belt Leaders do.  They understand how to get people from where they are to where they want to be, and the work that will be demanded of everyone involved to safely and successfully, get to the other side.

Black Belt Leaders also understand how to learn from failure so they understand what doesn’t work so they can keep trying until they discover what does.  They will persist until they succeed. They will keep climbing the mountain until they reach the peak.  They will not quit, because that is not in their DNA.

The fifth quality is being “Marked to Expand.”  Black Belt Leaders are always expanding, always taking new territory, and always climbing to new heights of success.  They understand what got them to where they are today is insufficient to get them to where they need to be tomorrow.  This is why personal growth is SO vital to the long-term success of a Black Belt Leader.  This is how you remain open to new thoughts, new ideas, and new innovative ways of doing what’s working so you’re constantly improving.

The sixth quality is being “Marked for Influence.”  Returning to the Oxford Languages Dictionary, we learn that influence is “the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone.”  That’s a powerful quality that comes with tremendous responsibility.

My mentor, Dr. John Maxwell, defines leadership succinctly.  Seven simple but powerful words that culminate all that leadership is and should be:

“Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.”

The seventh and final quality is being “Marked for Significance.”  Significance is the quality of being worthy of attention, or living a life that is meaningful or important. Black Belt Leaders understand their most important role is to raise up, equip, and train the leaders who will one day take their place. This is a significant task and a significant responsibility.

Black Belt Leaders are focused on developing the people around them, adding value to others at every opportunity, and using their talents and gifts to make a difference right where they are.  They understand they are in the People Business, and when they do that well, they live meaningful, influential lives that bring out the best in others.

And they make the world around them a better place, one person at a time.

So, how do we make sure these seven “Marks” are present and active in our lives.

It’s as easy as PIE.

Daily, we PREPARE ourselves through a personal growth plan.  Leaders are lifetime learners. We then IMPLEMENT what we are learning because Leaders are doers.  They are people of action. Thirdly, we EXAMINE the results and tweak the process as needed.

One last word on preparation as we wrap up.

If preparation is the foundation upon which your “Mark” will be established, what does your preparation say about you? What are you preparing for?

This is where you can close the gap between what you want to be known for and what you are truly known for.

I asked the question earlier: Are You Marked? 

Short answer, YES.  Remember, we are ALL known and marked for something.   

What are you known and marked for?

More importantly, how does that align with what you want to be known and marked for?