Weekly Thought – September 8, 2015
Fred overachieved when thinking. Give him a thought and he would chase it down roads totally unknown to the civilized world. He once started thinking about words to hymns and made a list of hundreds. And, on a sleepless night he remembered the punch lines to 200 jokes. When asked to give 12 principles for high impact living, he finally ran out of paper well into the 40s. This week we complete a four week excursion into the wilds of Fred’s thoughts on this subject. There are scribbles in the margins of these pages, but we will stop with these 40. Parts 1-3 are available at breakfastwithfred.com in the Weekly Thought archives.
Thank you for believing in our work and telling us stories of being stretched by Fred’s thoughts. Continue to pray and when possible, help us financially to keep the website and the Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute strong.
Get It Done People – Part Four
High Impact People:
31) Use money as a means, not an end. They know that money is option and they see it as a tool, not an idol. They know how to avoid the “is this all there is?” trap.
32) Unite joy and accomplishment – I wrote a section of my first book (the great undiscovered classic You and Your Network) on “Joy for the Journey.” Work is part of God’s blessing. Accomplishment and achievement bring a sense of purpose and well-being.
33) Emphasize responsibilities, not rights – responsibilities laminate – that is, bring people together; rights divide.
34) Properly define pleasure – There is a misconception that life should be serious and any hint of pleasure is the sure road to hedonism. Baloney! Eric Liddell gives a clear definition when he says, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” Pleasure is the emotion of living life in the sweet spot.
35) Recognize reality versus image – we live in a world weary of words and longing for authenticity. Too many who adopt the “fake it ‘til you make it” mindset end up perpetually faking it and never making it.
36) Celebrate – one of my dear friends, Jack Modesett, likes to ask about goal accomplishment by saying, “How will we know when it is time to celebrate?” It is important to celebrate steps along the way to the big mile marker. And joining others in the recognition of accomplishment is key.
37) Understand the difference between character and intelligence – I have rarely seen a gifted person fail because they lacked training, or even intelligence. By far, the majority of failures come because of character flaws. Check the plumb lines to make sure the character is aligned.
38) Create an environment of encouragement – they know how to make others see their gifts, use them, and feel good about themselves.
39) Make long term goals – instant gratification isn’t a hallmark of high impact people. A young man told me recently his idea of long term planning was lunch the next day. That man has much to learn!
40) Aren’t surprised at the price tag for success – I once told a woman who complained about her executive husband’s hours: “Madam, you want the earnings of a racehorse and the placidity of a mule.” There are no shortcuts.
This week consider: 1) Out of the 40 principles, which one grabbed me? 2) How much do I want a high impact life? 3) What am I willing to do to fulfill my potential?
Words of Wisdom: “Madam, you can’t have the earnings of a racehorse and the placidity of a mule.”
Wisdom from the Word: “For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.” (1 Timothy 6:10 NET Bible)