Deceptive in its simplicity
Oct 21, 2016We are sitting in our hotel room in Antwerp after having just finished up 'A Day About Leadership' event in Belgium with John Maxwell. It was a great event. John was on fire as usual!
At the beginning of the day, John asked how many different countries were represented in the audience of around 300 people.
Twenty six!
People from twenty six different countries in one room, all there to learn about leadership and take back what they learnt to their countries.
I had a real feeling of pride to be associated with an organisation that was so multi-cultural.
Then John asked how many people in the audience were John Maxwell Team coaches. Over 50% of the hands went up.
‘Do you know that there are JMT coaches in over 140 different countries around the world?’ he said.
Again, a real feeling of pride and wonder at the enormity of the reach of the JMT.
Then he said that his not for profit organisation, EQUIP, has trained over 6 million leaders around the world in EVERY SINGLE country of the world!!
There are not many organisations that have trained people in EVERY country of the world.
During the lunch break, Susan and I sat with John in the green room and he told us a few of the details of his visit to Italy and his audience with the Pope.
‘He knew of our work in the transformation of Paraguay.’ John said.
‘After 25 years as a Pastor, and then all your work with Equip and transformation in Latin America, it must feel wonderful to have your life’s work recognised by being asked to meet the Pope?’ I asked him.
‘It was pretty special!’ he said.
When you look at what John has achieved in his life, it is incredible. But actually, his recipe for success is very straightforward. He’s stuck in is strength zone and moved consistently forward, year after year. After over half a century of that kind of discipline and focus, it really starts to add up!!
‘I spend over 80% of every day in my top 3 strength areas!’ he told the audience. ‘Whenever people stop working in their strength areas and start working in their weak areas, I tell them it’s like going from being paid $100 an hour to being paid $2 an hour. Why on earth would you want to do that?’
It’s an interesting thought isn’t it. Continually working on our weaknesses can be very depressing! But working in our strengths can be very motivating .. and very fruitful.
‘I never take short cuts in my strengths’ he said. ‘Not in my strengths. It’s very tempting sometimes, but you must resist that temptation. You have to keep getting better and better. Never take short cuts just because you can.’
It’s a simple strategy isn’t it? Perhaps too simple for most! Like many universal truths, the fact it is simple means some people just miss it. Don't be one of those people! Keep on keeping on.
At the beginning of the day, John asked how many different countries were represented in the audience of around 300 people.
Twenty six!
People from twenty six different countries in one room, all there to learn about leadership and take back what they learnt to their countries.
I had a real feeling of pride to be associated with an organisation that was so multi-cultural.
Then John asked how many people in the audience were John Maxwell Team coaches. Over 50% of the hands went up.
‘Do you know that there are JMT coaches in over 140 different countries around the world?’ he said.
Again, a real feeling of pride and wonder at the enormity of the reach of the JMT.
Then he said that his not for profit organisation, EQUIP, has trained over 6 million leaders around the world in EVERY SINGLE country of the world!!
There are not many organisations that have trained people in EVERY country of the world.
During the lunch break, Susan and I sat with John in the green room and he told us a few of the details of his visit to Italy and his audience with the Pope.
‘He knew of our work in the transformation of Paraguay.’ John said.
‘After 25 years as a Pastor, and then all your work with Equip and transformation in Latin America, it must feel wonderful to have your life’s work recognised by being asked to meet the Pope?’ I asked him.
‘It was pretty special!’ he said.
When you look at what John has achieved in his life, it is incredible. But actually, his recipe for success is very straightforward. He’s stuck in is strength zone and moved consistently forward, year after year. After over half a century of that kind of discipline and focus, it really starts to add up!!
‘I spend over 80% of every day in my top 3 strength areas!’ he told the audience. ‘Whenever people stop working in their strength areas and start working in their weak areas, I tell them it’s like going from being paid $100 an hour to being paid $2 an hour. Why on earth would you want to do that?’
It’s an interesting thought isn’t it. Continually working on our weaknesses can be very depressing! But working in our strengths can be very motivating .. and very fruitful.
‘I never take short cuts in my strengths’ he said. ‘Not in my strengths. It’s very tempting sometimes, but you must resist that temptation. You have to keep getting better and better. Never take short cuts just because you can.’
It’s a simple strategy isn’t it? Perhaps too simple for most! Like many universal truths, the fact it is simple means some people just miss it. Don't be one of those people! Keep on keeping on.
Until next time .. Have a great weekend!
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