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“Life expands or shrinks in proportion to our courage.”

A thought by John C. Maxwell from his book, Leadershift (p. 15). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the

Have you found that true?

John says, “When leaders fail to make a necessary leadershift because of fear or uncertainty, it only increases their fear, which results in frustration. The greater the inaction of the leaders, the more opportunities they lose because opportunities are always surrounded by uncertainty. All good things include uncertainty, and overcoming uncertainty requires courage.”

He goes on, “I like what Brad Lomenick said about courage in his book The Catalyst Leader. He quoted my friend Andy Stanley, a wonderful leader who founded North Point Church. Andy was speaking to Catalyst leaders, but his words also described leaders who leadershift:

“Many, many great things have begun with a single act of courage, throughout history and today. A person steps out and makes one courageous decision and that one domino starts many other dominoes falling. We have to step out and take that first step, and we may never know the ripple effect of that one courageous decision. Catalyst leaders—your decision to do something courageous may result in something greater than you ever imagined. Step out. . .

“Fear in leadership usually is connected to the uncertainty about the future. But uncertainty about the future is never going to go away. I tell leaders all the time—uncertainty is why there are leaders. Uncertainty gives you job security. Wherever there is uncertainty, there will always be a need for leaders, which means always stepping out into the unknown, always requiring courage.”

John then says, “Betty Bender, former president of the Library Administration and Management Association, said, ‘Anything I’ve ever done that ultimately was worthwhile initially scared me to death.’ When faced with uncertainty, as leaders we need to move forward courageously.”

And that is the truth, isn’t it? 

Yes, yes!

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