The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. (Ken Blanchard, management expert and author) Sometimes we may think that our authority should motivate our colleagues to accomplish their work more effectively. But, forcing people to do what we want...
The immediate goal is winning on the field, but the ultimate goal is winning in life. (A paraphrase of Gil Haskell, professional football coach) Successful athletes focus on the task at hand—win the game, defeat the opponent, capture the prize. Everything else is...
Effective performance is preceded by painstaking preparation. (Brian Tracy, self-development speaker/author) Some of us long for the ability of an accomplished musician or artist. We’d like an instant infusion of talent, so we could perform right now as well as an...
No great dream has ever been built on the fear of what might go wrong but rather on the hope of what might go right. (Rich Yauger, men’s leader) Many dreams and worthy ideas have been dashed by the fear of possible mistakes and ultimate failure. We all wish that our...
Vision is the ability to see people, places and things, not just the way they are, but the way they could be. (Sam Adeyemi, pastor) We might think of a pessimist as a person who sees things as less than they really are, an optimist as one who sees things as he wishes...
Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. (Joshua J. Marine, author) When you are faced with a challenge—perhaps an obstacle in your planned path, how do you respond? Some become discouraged; maybe they even give up...
You have to be willing to be misunderstood if you’re going to innovate. (Jeff Bogue, pastor) It’s generally thought that people don’t like change. The older you are, the more likely it is that you will resist change. Leaders with new ideas often have to face that...
I wrote some of the worst poetry west from the Mississippi River, but I wrote. And I finally sometimes got it right. (Maya Angelou, 20th & 21st centuries American poet) Very few artists achieve instant success and fame. A writer may produce numerous short stories,...
God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves. (Joni Eareckson Tada, radio host) “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Books have been written on this subject, but here is an answer that is succinct and enlightening. Paralyzed from a diving accident in...
Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers. (Pope Francis) We are surrounded by voices, all clamoring for our attention. In addition to personal interaction (e.g. conversations, speeches, or sermons) there is input from radio, TV, the Internet, ad...
If you don't sacrifice for what you want, what you want will be what you sacrifice. (Keith Minier, clergyman) It may take a little thought to understand Minier’s statement. Perhaps he’s suggesting that if you aren’t willing to “pay the price” (whether it’s financial,...
I truly believe that the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. (Viola Davis, American actress and producer) We most often think of other people as privileged if they are born into wealth or have some unusual natural ability. In some societies there are various...