Weekly Thought – May 19, 2026

Fred met many interesting people on airplanes, especially in the early days before celebrities used private transportation. On one flight he sat down next to a well-known actor. He opened the conversation with, “You are in wonderful physical shape. I would be, too, but I have to work. (At that time he was affectionately known as Fat Fred for the 220 pounds he carried on his 6’1” frame) I travel a lot, so I can’t focus on fitness.” “Oh, I travel a lot, too, but when I go into the hotel room, I sit on the luggage rack, put my toes under the bed and do back bends.” Not to be cowed by this, Fred ventured even deeper into the weeds. “Oh, but what about your shoulders? You need to be in the gym to develop them like that.” “No, I roll under the bed and push it up in the air.” Fred’s conclusion: Successful people say “I will” and less successful say, “I ought to; I plan to…”

The Winning Leader

Strong leaders understand the key elements of organizational development.
1) Selection – there is nothing more important than selecting the team. The smaller the organization, the more critical is this element. If you have 10 people, then each one represents 10%. In the corporation, I always use a multiple interview process to protect my blind spots. “Fit” is the word we use a lot, but it means understanding the culture, benefiting the organization, and promoting the common good.
2) Removal – The employer who fires too many is actually lacking in good selection. I have fired very few, but everyone knew I was willing if necessary… that is important. I find an underperforming associate is generally dissatisfied with the company, as well. The greatest payback is having that person come back years later and say, “Thank you – you did me the best favor in my life by letting me go.”
3) Strengths versus Weaknesses – I never deal with people’s weaknesses. This may sound cynical, but after a lifetime of executive experience I am convinced people are the way they are because they want to be that way. People have some strange need to be the way they are, even if they continually talk about changing. Leaders recognize strengths and make people better where they are currently good. My goal is to accent the strength and help them move to a higher plane. I develop my strengths and buttress my weaknesses, but spend no time trying to turn weaknesses into strengths – it rarely happens.
4) Motivation versus Manipulation – If you ask people to define motivation, they often say, “Getting people to do what you want them to do.” No, that’s manipulation. You cannot manipulate an organization long term. Motivation is mutual advantage. You show somebody how you can both win. And if there is no win-win, you shouldn’t be in association. People want to be part of a winning organization. They want to experience the excitement of contributing to the win.

Think about this: 1) How do I confuse manipulation with motivation? 2) Where am I spending too much time working on a weakness? 3) What methods do I use for team selection?

Words of Wisdom: “Accentuate your strengths and buttress your weaknesses.”

Wisdom from the Word: “But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – May 12, 2026

Fred saw potential in others. He thoroughly enjoyed spending time with talented men and women. Visionaries got his juices going. He kept mental files in which he stored ideas to share with them when they were together.

Psychological Barriers

Visioning is one of the critical tasks of leadership. But they must be careful to avoid psychological barriers. One of the things I enjoy most is blowing up the “bridges to nowhere” that these barriers create. Let me lay out a few for you:
1) Age – One of the nation’s top psychiatrists was visiting in our home (nonprofessionally, of course). He asked, “Fred. how old are you?” “50” was my answer. “Okay, start making longer plans.” When I objected he cut me off with this observation “When you start making shorter plans, you’re subconsciously telling yourself to die.” Interesting thought. People come and say to me, “I wish I had done this and done that 20 years ago.” My response is always, “Well, what are you going to do with the next 20?” A good friend was asked by his mentor Bill Bright, President and Founder of Campus Crusade for Christ “How old are you?” He answered, “68.” Bill looked at him and challenged him, “You have 20 good years left – make it count.” Age can be a stumbling block when it should be a platform for acceleration.
2) Education – In America we’ve gone crazy on credentials and degrees. We have three children who all have advanced degrees and we are proud of that, but I occasionally remind them to get an education while they are getting the degrees. I was unable to go to college a day in my life, except to lecture. I have probably lectured at more than 25 universities. Even today I meet men and women who feel “less than” because they have no degree. I remember feeling the indignity of being in a group of dignified academics who proudly identified themselves with their alma maters. I finally decided I had the right to not have a degree.
3) Location – “It can’t happen here” is a deadly barrier. As I travel the country I like to see where bold things happen, especially in places where they are not supposed to happen. Wonder why somebody didn’t tell the Mayo Brothers Rochester, Minnesota was a ridiculous place to put a world-famous clinic. Who told Maxey Jarman an international apparel company could be headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee?
4) Unbelief – “It can’t happen to me.” True leaders know there aren’t enough extraordinary people to achieve their greatest dream, so they must find the ordinary and light their fires. Yes, it can happen and must. Mason Roberts told me “Take one hundred people, spur them to each do 1% more, and you have a whole new person.”

Think about this week: 1) What barrier is stopping my progress? 2) How can I help others to do 1% more? 3) When am I most effective as a visionary?

Words of Wisdom: “Age can be a stumbling block when it should be a platform for acceleration.”

Wisdom from the Word: “That day the Lord brought honor to Joshua before all Israel. They respected him all his life, just as they had respected Moses.” (Joshua 4:14 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – May 5, 2026

Fred loved to turn experiences into experiments. He once underwent dental work with a stopwatch. He decided to run the watch just when it really hurt, not when he thought he was going to hurt; now when he was afraid he was going to hurt – just when it hurt. He reported it was only four seconds! Not many of us would volunteer for that!

Keep Looking!

As leaders of businesses, institutions, and families, we need to:
1) Find Opportunities. An SMU professor said the difference between corporate and entrepreneurial is the perception of a situation as either a problem to be solved or an opportunity to be maximized. A Harvard study showed focusing on problem solving dulled the ability to see opportunities. But, opportunities have to be within the purpose of the organization. I once sent a quick note to my daughter who was always seeing “open doors.” “Opportunity is not mandate” was my cryptic counsel. Many businesses and ministries hang up “Out of Business” signs because they didn’t define what they did and adjust opportunities to fit the mission.
2) Define Problems. A problem is something I can do something about; a fact of life is something I cannot solve. Understanding the difference is critical to leadership. I have no use of my right hand because I fell on a Mason jar at age 3 and a drunk physician allowed an infection. Is that my problem? No, that is a fact of life. Have you seen people who spend their time fighting with facts of life? Stick with the problems – something you can do something about.
3) Look for the Key Log. An amateur will always try to move all the logs around to get them moving down the stream. A pro climbs a tree, finds the key log, and blows it out – then the movement continues. But you can’t kid yourself about what the log is and you can’t duck it. A friend who was a President of a bank called to say he was working himself to death. I asked, “Who’s work are you doing? Anytime you are overworked, you are doing work that isn’t yours.” He thought and said, “The cashier’s.” That was the key log. Time to blow it out.
4) Value Confidence. Confidence doesn’t increase your ability one iota. So, what is its value? It gives you the ability to concentrate. Concentration is thinking the right thing at the right time. Fear and cockiness are enemies of concentration. One distracts from accomplishment by saying “you can’t.” The other distracts by falsely saying, “you can.” True confidence gives us focus and allows our abilities to operate freely.

Think about this: 1) How does confidence help me concentrate? 2) Who needs to hear Fred’s words today? 3) Where have I transposed problem and fact of life?

Words of Wisdom: “Concentration is thinking the right thing at the right time.”

Wisdom from the Word: “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:10 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – March 24, 2026

Fred distilled. He took information and absolutely squeezed it dry until he had the essence and the principles. Then, he used them as platforms for magnificent high dives! He read an article by a French music teacher, Nadia Boulanger, on the art of instruction. He commented on the article in a memo to three nationally known teachers who were close friends. Then, he developed his own “attributes of great teachers” list.

Legacy is living and breathing. Fred’s “word of wisdom gift” (as a ministry leader referred to it this week) is being passed on through the lives he touched. Thank you for participating in prayer, words of encouragement, and financial gifts as we build the Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute.

Great Teachers Are…

Allen Shawn interviewed the French music teacher, Nadia Boulanger, for the Atlantic Monthly. His summation makes me think about great teachers: “She was devoted above all to God, and to the idea of music not as the monument of an individual but as mankind’s monument to God.” I like that. So where can we take that? My kids showed me a book, “Love is a Warm Puppy.” Too “ooky-gooky” for me, but it got me to thinking, Great Teachers…

1. Show the student that learning is part of the larger life… the specific course of study is not the whole, but a valuable piece.

2. Shed light on the dark areas of ignorance, showing them the beauty of construction.

3. Express truth that great talent always appears to the owner to be outside himself.

4. Realize we are limited by our emotional capabilities and we should be experience situations which test and expand our emotional wheelbase. Protecting against hurt insulates us from participating in life.

5. Understands candor in coaching should never cause embarrassment.

6. Communicates in vivid images which are unforgettable.

7. Walks comfortably with the transcendental nature of life – sees the longer view.

8. Balances affection and detachment. “I believe in you” is not “I see me in you.”

9. Appreciates the rhythm of learning and the discipline of structured instruction.

10. Recognizes learning consists of layers and layers of understanding and engagement which are constantly being peeled away like an onion.

11. Relishes the transition from memorization of a subject to being overwhelmed by its beauty.

12. Seeks a student who personifies what he or she believes and teaches.

This week carefully consider: 1) Which teacher has influenced me most greatly? 2) Who am I currently teaching? 3) Which of Fred’s points rang a bell with me?

Words of Wisdom: “It is wonderful when a teacher finds a student who personifies what he/she believes and teaches.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Then a voice came from the cloud saying, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen one. Listen to Him!’” (Luke 9:35 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – March 17, 2026

Fred’s influence on college students enriched his life. Years after being on the Baylor campus he received a letter from a woman student, “Mr. Smith, it was from you I learned to encourage people, to compliment them, to build them up, and brighten their day when at all possible. You taught me to pass it on. Your words of encouragement to me as a student made a difference in my thought patterns and in my life. Your approach to life was positive and I received a lot.”

Fred wrote much on character. This week’s piece is taken from a letter he wrote to his mentor, Maxey Jarman, expressing his thoughts and appreciation.

Follow the Leader

One’s character is largely determined by those whom they follow. Heroes are profitable. “Lives of great men all remind us we can make our life sublime and departing leave behind us, footprints in the sands of time.” Tearing down heroes isn’t helpful; it is dangerous. I am most interested in a man’s heroes. It tells me much about what he wants to become.

It is the rate of build up, not the tear down, which determines a man’s progress.

Your example of duty fulfillment is now a part of my life. I admire it in you. I copied it, not as perfectly as you demonstrated it, but enough so it a genuine part of my own character. My miniature copy is real. As A.W. Tozer said, “My flame may be small, but it is real.”

Your love for work is also something I caught from you. You were the first to get me to experience the excitement of accomplishment. Other had tried, but you succeeded. Why they failed, I don’t know. Somehow I could accept and be challenged by your example. It certainly isn’t because you talked me into it. You rarely talked about it; you just did it.

My responsibility is to set an example for those looking to me. I don’t know who is watching. We never do, do we? It is really frightening.

One night I was walking across the Baylor campus when a young man caught up and said, “Mr. Smith, today I decided to be another Fred Smith.” I didn’t feel complimented – I felt the weight of the responsibility. At that moment I wished I were all I’ve ever had the potential for being. He rushed on and I never knew who he was or what he has become.

It is not egotistical to want to live a life worth following. Our friend Paul said, “Follow me as I follow my leader.” Knowing that we are examples becomes a driving force, doesn’t it?

This week consider: 1) Who am I following? 2) What character traits are most important to me? 3) Where are the holes in my character?

Words of Wisdom: “It is not egotistical to want to live a life worth following.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.” (Mark 1: 17 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – December 30, 2025

Fred spent his last years in dialysis three times a week and confined to his bed, wheelchair, or large leather lift chair when he was at home. He accepted his immobility as the “new normal.” He told people who asked, “I am not disabled; I am delightfully dependent.” His lifetime of training himself in the fine art of thinking served him well.

The Joy of a New Idea

I asked the senior vice president of a billion-dollar oil company, “John, what do you know now that you wish you had known when you got out of school?”

Very quickly he responded, “Fred, I wish I had had the humility of an open mind.” Have you ever tried to talk to somebody whose mind is tightly closed?

A common denominator I have discovered among eager learners is that they are not far from a paper and pen (or any of today’s equivalents). Watch for this. Engage highly energetic,, ambitious achievers in a stimulating conversation, and suddenly you will see them record an idea that has crossed their mind. Note-taking achievers can throw away their recorded ideas later if they don’t want them. (I find smart folks evaluate ideas and discard bad ideas). But if they want to remember one and haven’t captured it, how can they retrieve it? So many intriguing ideas float quickly away if not saved. Howard Hendricks, distinguished professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, has trained thousands of men and women to carry 3×5 inch note cards available to catch “big ideas.”

An outstanding young man I recently met said to me: “A leader is not the one who has the best ideas; a leader is the man or woman who uses the best ideas.” In order to do this the leader must have an open, discerning mind. Of course, I am not talking about a sticky fly-catcher that picks up everything that passes by, but an acute ability to open up to ideas that are helpful.

I always keep in mind that what leaders know is not uppermost – I am primarily interested in how they think for that will determine how well they will use what they know, and how they ascertain what they don’t… then create a strategy for obtaining the knowledge.

A world-renown scientist told me, “Fred, make friends with your ignorance.”

This week carefully think about: 1) Where are my blind spots creating a closed mind? 2) How friendly am I with my ignorance? 3) Who is encouraging me to become more teachable?

Words of Wisdom: “Fred, make friends with your ignorance.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – December 9, 2025

Fred considered integrity a key element in a mature man or woman. He wrote frequently to and for Christian audiences. His understanding of human nature and the pressures of leadership helped many.

The Integrity of Leadership

As I think about spiritual leadership, I am convinced that the key is the Holy Spirit’s energizing and directing the leader’s uniqueness and giftedness by giving him or her a vision that creates a passion. I have never known a lazy or confused leader with a clear passion. Oat Willie of Austin, Texas, charged “Onward through the fog!” It works for cartoon characters, but fails miserably as a leadership mantra.

For years I have been writing articles targeted to Christian leaders. I have spoken in groups, large and small. I realize that it is difficult to be a Christian leader in an almost totally secular society whose renewed interest in spirituality is new age, not biblical.

In a world of “doing God’s work in man’s way” many Christian leaders have lost much of the respect they once enjoyed. Burnout is common; depression is almost epidemic. Stress is increasing; immortality and divorce are more prominent. Short tenure is too much the rule, rather than the exception. More and more preachers are faced with the demand to entertain and excite.

Could a major part of this problem be that leaders have lost their identification with the Lord? Have they become convinced they work for the church rather than for God? Are they surrendering their spiritual authority to the church board?

Some in Christian leadership are misplaced. Remember the farmer who read a “GP” in the clouds, immediately left the field and headed for the pulpit? After he failed as a pastor, the word came down from above: “Farmer Brown, “GP” meant go plow, not go preach!”

Leaders who are not endowed with gifts energized by the Spirit become easy prey to human methodology and open themselves to the temptation of power, prestige, and money. Christian leaders should always remember that theirs is a calling, not just a career.

Focus on the key elements of Christian leadership empowers the stewardship of service.

This week think about: 1) How clear am I on my passion? 2) When did I recognize my calling? 3) Where am I possibly losing focus on my direction?

Words of Wisdom: “Christian leaders should never attempt to do ‘God’s work in man’s way.’”

Wisdom from the Word: “The one who conducts himself in integrity will live securely, but the one who behaves perversely will be found out.” (Proverbs 10:9 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – December 2, 2025

Fred appreciated the book Stress versus Distress, Written by Canadian psychologist Hans Selye. He frequently talked about the value of tension. The book differentiates between vertical and horizontal stresses… one pulls together, and one pulls apart.

Holding a Taut Line

Successful leaders have learned to appreciate tension. I am convinced that positive stress is a wonderful thing. Where else would we get the energy to carry out our responsibilities? Botanists teach us about the importance of turgor – that normal fullness that comes from the tension produced by fluid flowing through the veins of plants. Lack of people tension makes plants droop. We are no different. Without a healthy degree of stress and tension, we wilt.

Certainly we must control stress but we must not eliminate it. One of the finest ways to control it is by learning to correctly using it, and not fearing it. If you don’t have tension, you won’t have the enough ambition to become successful.

We had a young man who, when asked the question, “How long have you been working here?” answered, “Ever since the boss threatened to fire me!” This young man didn’t have the fire in the belly needed by true leaders. Successful men and women have an intense rhythm and energetic pace.

I sometimes hear wives complain about how tired their husbands are at night. I think this is part of the price of leadership. You can’t have the placidity of a mule and the earnings of a race horse.

A psychiatrist friend of mine was sent to Guadalcanal following the bloody battles with the Japanese in 1942. He was to talk with both heroes and cowards to ascertain why each reacted as they did. My friend told me both were motivated by the same great fear, but the heroes ran forward and the cowards ran backwards. The heroes redefined the fear as a positive motivator.

The same principle applies to business. We either face problems as challenges or withdraw into the shell of inertia. We can choose to see either obstacles or opportunities.

This week think about: 1) Do I handle stress in a healthy way? 2) How do I process important decisions? 3) What changes do I need to make to make tension work better for me?

Words of Wisdom: “Successful men and women have an intense rhythm and energetic pace.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – November 4, 2025

Fred often remarked when questioned about a troubling situation…”Follow the ego.” He had great discipline and self-control. He understood his giftedness, and his responsibility to steward it without an inflated ego.

Controlling The Ego

I remember an embarrassing situation that occurred one night at a business meeting with a group of high-profile executives. One man, who considered himself as an authority all because he read the newspaper, popped off about the energy situation and its easy solution.
Unbeknownst to him, another man in the room had just returned from chairing an international conference of major oil companies. After the first fellow finished spouting off (only proving his ignorance), the second man quietly but effectively exposed him for the fool he was.
I quickly said to myself, “I hope that never happens to me.” I left that meeting determined to make sure in my speaking I always remember that someone in the audience may know a lot more about the subject than I do. The memory of that business meeting has stayed in my mind and tempered many remarks I’ve been tempted to make.

On the other hand, sometimes speakers are too impressed with who is in the audience. One night I was in a church listening to a preacher when I saw a well-known university president slip into the sanctuary. Clearly, the preacher saw him enter, as well, for he changed his style considerably. I could tell he was preaching for the benefit of just that one individual. He went from preaching to giving an intellectual performance, trying to impress with his learning. He seemed to forget the rest of the audience.

Being impressed with ourselves or with the celebrity of another blocks the power of good communication. In our work and in our speech, we should always remember that God is listening and He is our ultimate audience.

It is never far from my thinking that God is present. If He isn’t, we ought to dismiss early!

Carefully consider this week: 1) When I speak is it to express or impress? 2) How well do I understand myself, identifying my ego potholes? 3) How well do I listen before speaking?

Words of Wisdom: “In our work and in our speech we should always remember God is listening and is the ultimate audience.”

Wisdom from the Word: “The fear of the LORD provides wise instruction; and before honor comes humility.” (Proverbs 15:33 NET)

Weekly Thought – October 21, 2025

Fred asked questions… Of others and of himself. Their son Fred, too, has the gift of questioning. This week’s thought is based on a conversation between the two of them.

The Last Word

When I was 28 I sat in a cemetery thinking about what I wanted my family to put on my tombstone. “He stretched others” came to mind and it hasn’t changed for my entire life.

Recently our son Fred asked me, “If you had only one more talk to make, what would be the subject?” Intriguing question, don’t you think? As we all face our mortality, we think more seriously about the impact of our speech and our example. We know our time to influence others is limited. Just as Fred asked me, I started asking others. I find it a worthy question.

I was then challenged to describe the process of answering the questions. A good friend said, “Everyone hasn’t thought about these issues as much as you have, Fred. Give me some help on processing my own answers.” So here are some questions that I thought about in forming my own.

1. What one fact do I feel has affected my life the most?
2. What one thing final thing would I say to my children and grandchildren?
3. What is the one statement that most deeply stirs me?
4. What is the one thing I could say that would affect my hearers the most?

Whether it’s one last speech to make, one last song to sing, one last book to write, or one last time around the family dinner table, it makes a difference when you know what you would want your final expression to be. In defining this, you find out a lot about who you are and what your life’s purpose it.

Editor’s note: (In case you were wondering about Fred’s answer to his son… “The nature of God and the nature of man: is man basically good with a tendency toward sin, or basically sinful with a possibility for good?” He added: “The answer to this question influences all human relationships and commerce.”

This week carefully consider: 1) What would I want my last words to be? 2) How would these words impact those around me and others to hear of my death? 3) Who is asking me good questions?

Words of Wisdom: “As we all face our mortality, we think more seriously about the impact of our speech and our example.”

Wisdom from the Word: “I have competed well; I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 NET Bible)