You Really CAN Make a Difference!

I read this story years ago. I think about it when I am having one of those days where I wonder if what I do really makes a difference.

(Modified from the original story, "The Star Thrower,"
by Loren Eisley)

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied, “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”  “Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?

You can’t possibly make a difference!” 

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. As it met the water, he said,
"I made a difference to that one!”

You may be a student, a stay at home mom, a cashier, an electrician or a salesman. You may think your influence is insignificant. You may feel like what you do really doesn't matter.

Well it does...or it could.

You may not be the next Sam Walton, Sarah Palin, Emmit Smith or Reinhard Bonnke. But you could be their mom, their classmate, their boss, their neighbor or the person who leads them to Christ.

We can get so busy and caught up with our own "stuff."  Each day, we can pass people by and not even notice them. Or we could stop and take time to make a difference in just one person's life.

The next time you are tempted to think, "what difference does it make?" -- remember the boy and the starfish. You CAN make a difference in someone's life. Do it on purpose. Do it today.

Everyone Needs A Paul, A Barnabas & A Timothy

They say it's lonely at the top. But it shouldn't be. The strongest leaders are never alone. They know it takes solid relationships and connections to others for us to truly grow.

Ask yourself the following three questions.

Who is your Paul? Paul is that mentor with wisdom and experience. He knows where you're going, because he's already been there. He helps you avoid the pitfalls and shares his secrets of success. He sees the potential in you and challenges you to stretch beyond where you think you can. His investment in you is invaluable as it causes exponential growth.

Who is your Barnabas? Barnabas is that "iron sharpening iron" person you call friend.  He is someone you can be yourself with because he knows the real you. He holds you accountable and tells you the truth.  He encourages and believes in you. With Barnabas, you can laugh, cry or even vent. You can have fun or just relax.  How sad it is that so many leaders have no one who they call friend. Oh how  they are missing out.

Who is your Timothy? Timothy is that emerging leader who is hungry for someone to take time and invest in him. He is the next Captain, CEO, Professor, Pastor, Producer or Senator. He has great potential but needs someone to recognize it and draw it out. And you do. You are with him when he fails and when he succeeds. You are his biggest fan. You help sand off those rough edges, because you see a diamond in that piece of coal. You develop, challenge, stretch and empower him. And nothing causes you to grow more than sharing what you know with him.

So I ask again.

     Who is your Paul?

     Who is your Barnabas?

     Who is your Timothy?

If you don't have an answer, do something about it today!

"Life change doesn't happen without life exchange."

"More time with less people equals greater kingdom impact."

  --Tim Elmore

Less Attitude More Gratitude

Love 'Em Enough To Tell 'Em The Truth!

You have a team member in your organization that is difficult to work with and constantly rubs others the wrong way. So, what do you do?

      1.   You pull the entire team together and bring up the behavior generally. You give recommendations on how we should all work better together.

Bottom line, the person to whom you were referring, had no idea you meant them. And the rest of the team leaves wondering who or even what you were talking about.

2.   You constantly overlook this behavior time after time because surely “they didn’t mean to come across that way.”

Everyone else on the team wonders why you allow this to continue and loses respect for your ability to lead.

3.   You just avoid them.  “Out of sight, out of mind.”

Obviously we know this doesn’t work either.

None of these three address the issue. The problem is still there. Then after months or even years of frustration, you’ve finally had enough. And…they’re fired. It’s a total shock to them and they have no idea what they did wrong. They find another job, only to continue the same behavior, and the cycle repeats.

So the question is, whose fault is it?  Who are you really protecting?  Them or you?

Why is confrontation so dreaded?  Is it because you don’t want to hurt their feelings?

You think being honest with them hurts? Not being honest with them hurts much more in the long run. Why let issues continue year after year, that perhaps one conversation could fix?  By dealing with it early in the game when the issue is small, you prevent much greater problems down the road.

Sure the truth hurts….but only for a little while.  And when the truth is received, it can also bring tremendous growth. Honesty and truth are vital components to growth.

Is confrontation hard?  Sure it is. Otherwise, everyone would do it. But good leaders do what’s right, even if it’s difficult.

If you really care about the people around you, then be honest with them and tell them the truth.

To Be Continued….

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.  Ephesians 4:15, 25 NLT

Trust is built only when truth is told. – John C. Maxwell

Things I've Learned From My Chocolate Lab

I'll have to say, there has not been a dull moment since Gracie, the Chocolate Lab came into our lives. Within that great personality, she is the perfect combination of energetic & sweet. And now we know where they get the saying, "follow you around like a puppy." To top it off, she thinks she's a lap dog. Thank God she's a small 50 lbs.

As I've watched her, I've often thought what better people we would be if we were all like Gracie. 

Of course loyalty tops the list. She is after all, a lab. She has unconditional love and forgives in an instant. No matter how you treat her, she never focuses on the past. She loves you and wants to be with you every minute of the day.

She is focused and determined. When she gets her mind on something (whether a toy or something she's not supposed to have) or she's staring at the fishing line in the water waiting on the fish to bite, she does not give up. Even when you've long forgotten about it, there she is trying to figure out how to get it or relentlessly staring into the water.

Gracie never has a bad day. She is a never ending bundle of joy. And it's contagious. She gladly spreads it to anyone who comes near. From the time she wakes up in the morning to the minute she collapses after a busy day, her tail is wagging.  Often it wags so hard, her entire body is wagging too. One thing is for sure, you can always count on her being in a good mood.

The last lesson is one that seems simple, but is probably the hardest for most. Gracie girl knows how to enter the rest. She doesn't strive or constantly push herself. She doesn't get stressed about the situations around and could care less about what others think of her. She's content with today and never worries about tomorrow. Even in the middle of a thunderstorm, where is she? In a place of peace -- sound asleep.

Make An Impact. Do It On Purpose!