Skip to main content

“There is a vast difference between conceding that change is inevitable and believing change is essential.”

A thought by John C. Maxwell from his book, Leadershift (p. 91). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

So, what is your attitude toward change?

John says, “The person who concedes that change is inevitable becomes resigned to it and is reactive, thinking, Change is going to happen, so what can I do? The individual who believes change is essential is proactive and thinks, I will make change happen so that our team can improve. If growth is expected, then change is essential. We cannot grow without changing. The very fact that I do something better today means that I learned and improved something yesterday.

“There are a lot of things I freely give to everyone in my organizations: vision, belief, resources, support, and leadership. One thing that must always be earned is my time. That is the most limited of my personal resources, so it must be earned before I give it. How does someone do that? By being a productive member on the team. In this, I practice the 80-20 principle. I give 80 percent of my time to the 20 percent of the team that produces 80 percent of the results.

“Earlier in my career, I spent a lot of time with unproductive people, thinking I could change them. I was so naïve… At first, I just wanted to win everyone over. Later, I started to think about people’s potential, and I would ask: Will they do it? Can they do it? Is it worth the effort to ask them?

“Today I’m very pragmatic, and I don’t ask those questions, because they are too subjective and rely too much on speculation. Now I ask myself just one question: Are they productive?

John goes on, “I place this same standard on myself. Just because I enjoy a friendship with someone doesn’t mean I get a pass on productivity. For example, for several years Tom and Todd Mullins included me on the teaching team of Christ Fellowship Church. Tom is founding pastor and Todd, his son, is the lead pastor. Both are good friends, and I have loved every minute of my time teaching. However, every year I ask them this question: ‘Do you want me on the team again this year, or do you want to make a change?’ They know I am always ready to step down for the sake of the team. If I can’t be productive for them, it’s time for me to go.

John says, “If you work for someone, value that person’s time and be aware that you need to earn it. If others work for you, give your own time only to those who are productive and who are willing to learn, grow, and keep earning it.”

And we now see don’t we, that a big part of our value is how we view change and our desire to be productive and grow?

Yes, yes!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“There’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People ( p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)   Have you ever built a sand castle or maybe a Lego castle?   Have you? Bob says, “We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we’ve purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we’ve built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren’t supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.” Bob goes on, “You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who ha...
Post a Comment
Read more

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life.   It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed.   Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life.   Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you.   You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good.   Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because G...
Post a Comment
Read more

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident.   In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose.   In other words you are not an accident.   I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth.   In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man.   And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ”   Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like?   Like that characteristic is a curse or something.   Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God.   Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Je...
Post a Comment
Read more