Today's Business Lessons
Reluctance to resolve
(The Philippine Star)
Updated June 30, 2013
Never undermine the power of an individual whose conviction,
determination and passion builds the resolve to relentlessly pursue a
higher cause that makes this world a better place.
Behind every major movement is an individual driven to work for a
higher cause. But as I study biographies and stories of great men of
achievements, almost all of them started out as being reluctant. They
had doubts. They had insecurities. They were uncomfortable with
uncertainties. But over time, their reluctance gives way to resolve.
Then they pour their heart, mind and soul towards the pursuit of a
higher cause and succeed. Such are men like Nelson Mandela, Mahatma
Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln and William Wilberforce.
They started out reluctant at first. But they saw the opportunity.
They felt the urgency of the moment. They realized that their reluctance
isn’t as important as the need to get things done. And now their
contributions have made this world a better place.
You and I can do the same. Within our own sphere of influence we can
contribute and make things better. We may be reluctant as we try to
count the costs of making things better, but it’s a good starting point.
Our contribution in making this world, or this country, or even just
our community or company better is worth the effort.
Let me give you reasons why you should have the resolve to contribute and make things better:
1. YOUR LIFE MATTERS.
You’re not an accident. God knows you even when you’re just being
formed in the womb. My
favorite part of Scriptures says that you and I
are wonderfully made. While humanists believe that you and I are
products of time + matter + chance, I choose to believe that God has a
wonderful plan for me, and I’ll never be fulfilled until I overcome my
reluctance and turn it into a resolve to contribute.
2. YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS UNIQUE AND ORIGINAL
3. YOUR CONTRIBUTION STARTS WITH YOU, BUT IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU.
People will always smell a fake a mile away. There are many who want
to “contribute”, while all they really want is the attention and the
accolade, and when these aren’t given, they go ballistic. I remember a
lady official of a civic organization who was so mad at the organizers
because she wasn’t placed at the presidential table. When she spoke, she
said, “I have lived my life as a service to others…” And eyes started
rolling all over the place.
Your work is for others. You can build a platform for others to start
contributing too. This is where the power of one grows into a mighty
force of many, but only if you inspire the many.
4. YOUR CONTRIBUTION DEVELOPS OVER TIME, AND YOU’LL BE FULFILLED.
Success isn’t microwavable. It’s always a crock-pot process. You see
your contributions develop over time. You develop patience and learn
lessons along the way. The fruit of your meaningful work will reveal
itself to you over time. You may not see it now, but you will when you
have the resolve to make it happen.
5. YOUR DAYS ARE LIMITED.
You and I have our appointed number of heartbeats. That’s why, for
the life of me, I don’t understand why certain people can be so brash
and arrogant and rude and live as if they will stay immortal. Life is
short. What we do now should matter. It should be meaningful. And it
should not be for our own vested interests, but for making our family,
our community and our country better.
Your contribution matters. Turn your reluctance to resolve, and be
determined to be a positive contribution everywhere you go. Many of the
real heroes don’t get the headlines, they don’t even have followers in
their Facebook, but they’re there – quietly, humbly and, with great
resolve, making things better.
This is our calling in life, and all should respond to that call.
No comments:
Post a Comment