There are literally thousands of “SUCCESS” books on the market advising you how to be a success in everything from your marriage to your business. Cheryl and I have spent the last twenty years working and serving with some very successful business people and until just recently I was never able to summarize in words the key ingredients that I felt contributed to these successes.
I was recently watching a television documentary on Olympic gold medal winners and what they individually had to go through to reach the pinnacle of success in their individual sports. The commentator was describing a story of two Scandinavian brothers that had endured all manner of setbacks, including major injuries, which would have crippled normal people. But these brothers kept after it and even at an older age were able to win gold medals at the Winter Olympics. At the end of the documentary the commentator used a quote from Claude T. Bissell, the late President of the University of Toronto, to depict the attitudes that he felt best described these particular Olympians. This quote is the best description I have ever heard of the attitude and spirit that I have witnessed in the super successful:
They risk more than others think is safe.
They care more than others think is wise.
They dream more than others think is practical.
They expect more than others think is possible.
I can remember back in 1989 when New Life Network was first birthed in a little office in Jacksonville, FL with one desk and one computer. Brig Hart had this big vision of the thousands of people that would be ministered to by New Life. At our first function, we had one book on our table. If you were at one of our recent functions you could see we now have a little better selection of books. In the last twenty years we have had the honor of seeing thousands of people touched. But listen to me!! There will always be plenty of naysayers along the way. The risk is too high! Business is not the place for caring! You are just dreaming! This will never work! Be practical! You are going to offend people! And on, and on, and on!!!!
If you want to be successful in anything you are going to have to take some risks. It is never unwise to care. Dream big and never let anyone talk you out of or steal your dreams. Expect the best. You only go through this life one time. We made the decision twenty years ago that we did not want to be 80-90 years of age and look back on our life with regrets that we did not attempt to do what we thought God had called us to do and trusted Him to provide. I sure am glad we made that decision and Cheryl and I can report to you today that God has never let us down. He has always provided and the dream lives on.
“Be strong (confident) and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success“.
(Joshua 1:6-8, Amplified Bible)
