Skip to main content

“In life, you are either going to see people as your adversaries or as your assets.”

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2013-02-15) From his book, Be A People Person: Effective Leadership Through Effective (p. 29). David C. Cook. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Too many times in life we see people as obstacles, even roadblocks to us getting where we want to go to get what we want out of life.  In other words, we see people as adversaries.  Why don’t they come to see me?  Why don’t they do what I say?  Why don’t they appreciate all I’ve done for them? Why are you bothering me? Or whatever self-centered phrase we use.

John says, “If they are adversaries, you will be continually sparring with them, trying to defend your position.”  

He then says, “If you see people as assets, you will help them see their potential, and you will become allies in making the most of each other.”

He goes on, “The happiest day of your life will be the day when you realize ‘we’ really is the most important word in the English language.”

Have you found out yet that lasting happiness doesn’t come from living just for you? 

John in the next chapter shares, “Someone once asked Perle Mesta, the greatest Washington hostess since Dolley Madison, the secret of her success in getting so many rich and famous people to attend her parties. ‘It’s all in the greetings and good-byes,’ she claimed. As each guest arrived she met him or her with, ‘At last you’re here!’ As each left she expressed her regrets with, ‘I’m sorry you have to leave so soon!’”

John continued, “At any gathering you will find two types of people— those who arrive with an attitude of ‘Here I am!’ and those who possess an attitude of ‘There you are!’ It doesn’t take long to notice that people flock to the ‘There you are!’ people.”

John also shared what one of his staff members, Dan Reiland said, ‘Be more concerned about making others feel good about themselves than you are in making them feel good about you. In other words, don’t try to sell other people on you, try to sell them on themselves.”  


So how do you view other people?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

“Hurry and love are incompatible.”

A thought by John Mark Comer from his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (p. 23). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Wow, pretty strong thought isn’t it? John says, “All my worst moments as a father, a husband, and a pastor, even as a human being, are when I’m in a hurry—late for an appointment, behind on my unrealistic to-do list, trying to cram too much into my day. I ooze anger, tension, a critical nagging—the antitheses of love. If you don’t believe me, next time you’re trying to get your type B wife and three young, easily distracted children out of the house and you’re running late (a subject on which I have a wealth of experience), just pay attention to how you relate to them. Does it look and feel like love? Or is it far more in the vein of agitation, anger, a biting comment, a rough glare? Hurry and love are oil and water: they simply do not mix.” He goes on, “Hence, in the apostle P...

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us. And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening." But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will." He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: 'I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body mor...

“The gospel is good news, not good advice.”

A thought by Timothy Keller (2016-10-25) from his book, Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ (p. 21). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I’m glad you stopped to catch a glimpse of what this thought really means. Tim says, “Advice is counsel about what you must do. News is a report about what has already been done. Advice urges you to make something happen. News urges you to recognize something that has already happened and to respond to it. Advice says it is all up to you to act. News says someone else has acted.” He then gives an illustration, “Let’s say there is an invading army coming toward a town. What that town needs is military advisers; it needs advice. Someone should explain that the earthworks and trenches should go over there, the marksmen go up there, and the tanks must go down there.”   That’s advice He goes on, “However, if a great king has intercepted and ...