“When you look up to people, they begin to look up to their dreams.”

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2013-02-15) from his book, Be A People Person: Effective Leadership Through Effective Relationships (p. 166). David C. Cook. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

But it is so easy for us to look down on people isn’t it?

John gives a great illustration of this principle. He says, “The business manager at our church placed his house on the market. One Saturday he and his wife posted signs all over the neighborhood announcing an open house. As they prepared for the day, Ken told his wife, Mary Lynn, ‘We’re going to have all kinds of people come in and out of the house today, most with absolutely no resources or intention of buying. But we’re going to treat them all the same— as if they were our guests.’ Sure enough, they had dozens of people come through just to look. One young couple in their early twenties asked to see the house. They announced that they were newly married, she had no job, and he was just starting a new job. After the tour they extended their thanks and left. Ken and Mary Lynn announced to each other, ‘Well, we’ll never see them again.’ But in just thirty minutes they saw a very expensive car drive up and park in front of the house. The same young couple returned— this time with mom and dad. The father shook Ken’s hand and said, ‘The kids sure liked your home. This will be a cash sale; how short can we make the escrow?’”

John then shares, “I’m certain that Ken and Mary Lynn’s high level of anticipation filtered through to each person who crossed the threshold of their home. They had no idea what benefits that positive attitude would bring.”

John said at the beginning of this section, “If we have a high expectation level and believe in people, we will encourage them. Again, it is the principle of seeing people not as they are but as they can be.”

So let’s quit looking down on people and start looking up to them. It will make a difference for them and also to us.

So are you willing to start today?

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