8/1/08
Content or Discontent

It’s been said that people live in either one of two tents, t-e-n-t-s – one of two tents: Content or discontent. In which tent do you live?’’

The contented person looks beyond circumstances and sees a better day. The discontented person looks AT circumstances and sees no other way. The contented person understands the purpose for which he or she was born; the discontented person looks at others’ success with a face full of scorn.

All persons live in one of two tents – content or discontent. In which tent do you live?

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.

8/4/08
Problems are Predictors

Problems are predictors. They forecast the future by exposing the trends of today. How you react to difficulty when it begins to surface will determine where you and the problem will be tomorrow. No trail will leave you tomorrow where you are today. The decisions we make today concerning problems we have will shape our future.

Remember this: The circumstances we find ourselves today are in direct reflection of the decisions we made yesterday. Problems really are predictors. If you see the negative trends of today, it will give you insight into the problems you might have tomorrow.

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.

8/5/08
How Do You Respond to Problems?

Problems are everywhere! Problems, problems, problems. Every-where you look, there are problems. Problems don’t respect anyone, any place or any time. Sooner or later a person, if he or she is wise discovers that life is a good mixture of good and bad days, victory and defeat, give and take. That’s life!

The person who loses their temper in the midst of problems usually loses out. That’s the person that take themselves just too too seriously. Problems have always been and always will be. What matters most is how we respond to problems…positively or negatively. That’s what matters most.

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.


8/6/08
Problems Are Indicators

Problems are like a weather forecast. They tell you what the environment is going to be life down the road by a day or two. Problems are indicators which measure progress and development. They are communicators letting us know vital information. Sometimes, problems yell for attention or point for redirection.

Here’s what we know. Problems can never be ignored. If you sit back and analyze every problem, you can recognize the message the problem is sending. So, if you want to know what the forecast will be at home or the office in the next few days, just take a look at today’s problem.

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.


8/7/08
How Are You Defined?

Have you ever known someone who could walk into a room full of people and in a few short minutes completely change the atmosphere of that room? Or, how about that person who keeps their head above water while everyone else seems to be drowning in confusion? What about the person who smiles when others are critical and snarling?

These are the kind of people Christ-followers should be: People who have learned to live their lives based upon what is right and not what is easy. These are folks who face each day with joy and optimism. These are people who work while others worry. What about you? How are you defined? Smiling or snarling, in life?

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.




8/8/08
Live to Give

Some give to live while other people live to give. Each has its own philosophy of life. A person who gives to live will never do something for anyone without expecting a reward. They keep a record of what they give. But a person who lives to give never expects any recognition or reward. This is a person who gives but doesn’t expect anything in return.

The person who gives to live says, “HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO GIVE?” But the person who lives to give says, “HOW MUCH MORE IS NEEDED TO MEET THE NEED.” See the difference?
The Christian life is saturated by giving…by living to give. 

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.



8/11/08
Don’t Live the Life of a Loner

A 10 year old boy was selling pencils door to door. When an interested adult at one house asked him the reason for selling pencils, he said, I WANT TO RAISE 6 MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD A NEW HOSPITAL FOR THE CITY.” The adult neighbor was shocked. “That’s a mighty big dream for such a small boy, isn’t it?” The boy said, “No. I have a friend who’s helping me!”

You and I need each other. This world is just too large and complex to live the life of a loner. We need one another in the Body of Christ. I encourage you to like others and…make yourself more likeable. It’s a great way to go through life – with friends who share you values and your dreams.

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.




8/12/08
Don’t Be Wasteful!

With all the rising fuel costs around us, we all grieve over wasted energy. But the greatest waste of energy may be found far beyond less than fuel efficient means: It’s the waste of unused potential in people’s lives. It’s stated that the average person uses only about 10% of his or her potential. What would happen if we could raise that person’s potential another 15 or 20 percent? Could be interesting!

Failing to become all God designed you and me to be seems like a sin. It’s failing to trust God to teach us more, show us more, equip us more, relate to more, respond to more, love more, help more and share more. As we try not to waste fuel these days, let’s not waste our potential for God’s glory either!

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.




8/13/08
Don’t be a Quitter!

There are lots of people who quit…and they tend to want to encourage others to quit. History is full of all kinds of folks who were advised to quit just short of their great accomplishment. Benjamin Franklin was told to quit the foolish work he was doing with lightening and electricity. So was Christopher Columbus and the Wright Brothers, and Thomas Edison and Abraham Lincoln. And, and and!

However, these and others didn’t quit. They pressed on, gave it their very best and as a consequence not only accomplished their dream, but they made other people’s lives better. Today, don’t quit. You’ve only just begun!

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org




8/14/08
Think It Through

An old carpenter gave this advice to a young apprentice: “Measure twice and saw once.” That’s a great word for builders of houses and builders of lives. The plans established for any endeavor should be thought through and well planned.

Counting the cost before we enter into a venture is something Jesus Christ taught us to do. Measuring, planning and organizing are great virtues when put into practice in business, church work, or at home. I know I’ve sawn twice because I measured only once in my lifetime – in short, I didn’t plan it out or think it through. Maybe you know a little bit about sawing and measuring that you could share right now. 

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.





8/15/08
Spend Time with Encouragers

You can trace your successes and failures in life to your most significant relationships! Surround yourself with people who add value to you and encourage you, and your talent will go in a positive direction. Spend time with folks who constantly drain you, pull you in the wrong direction or try to knock you down, and it will be almost impossible for your talent to reach its highest potential

Almost all our sorrows can be traced to relationships with the wrong people and joys to relationships with the right people. Relationships in our lives really do make or break us. They either lift us up or take us down.

Today, make time to spend time with encouragers – people who will lift you up!

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.




8/18/08
Friendships

Friendships are like bank accounts. You cannot continue to draw on them without making deposits. If either of you become permanently overdrawn, the relationship won’t last. Solid relationships must be beneficial to both parties. Each person has to put the other first, but both must have benefit. Relationships that continue to be one-sided will not remain solid.

If you desire to become a talent-plus person in the area of relationships – a person whose relationship influence him or her in a positive direction – there are some important steps to take. The first step is to identify the most important people in your life and spend time with people whose opinion you value the most.

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.




8/19/08
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!

John Maxwell states that “One is too small a number to achieve greatness.” He’s right. If you want to accomplish anything big that makes a major difference, then do it as a part of a team. Teamwork not only allows a person to do what he couldn’t do otherwise do; it also has a compounding effect on all he possesses, including his talent.

If you believe one person is a work of God, then a group of talented people working together is a work of art! Whatever your vision or desire, TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK!

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.




8/20/08
Share the Credit

All talented people have a choice to make – do their own thing and get all the credit, or do the team thing and share the credit, and give glory to God. Talented people accomplish more when working with others, but hey are also more fulfilled than those who go it alone.

Here’s what I know: Trying to accomplish a big task alone is the slowest and blandest of journeys. If it is your desire to choose teamwork over solo effort, then do the following: GIVE THE CREDIT FOR SUCCESS TO THE TEAM!

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.




8/21/08
Team Members

Jesus recruited and mentored the most important team ever assembled. His team would launch His church on the journey to fulfill his great commission. He chose specific people for specific roles. In Mark 2, we read about how Jesus called Matthew, the tax collector, to his team. He seemed an odd choice, but Jesus was never bound by human opinion.

You and I must learn how to find team members with the highest potential to embrace the dream and help move the dream to reality. They need to be faithful, available, have initiative and be hungry to learn. That’s what makes team players so special.

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.




8/22/08
Are You a Team Player?

Are you a good team player? Do your goals primarily benefit you or your team? If you think everything is about you, you will never be a good team player.

The best team players add value to other players on the team. They help their teammates reach their highest potential. And when you work with great teammates long enough, they will begin to compound team success, and ultimately your success. The best team players, like the best of Jesus’ disciples, understood that it was all about Jesus and the team, not just about themselves.

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.




8/25/08
Talent Alone Isn’t the Secret to Success

Many leaders today place too much emphasis on talent alone. Well, talent alone is not the secret to success. After all, how many talented people do we know that haven’t experienced success and probably never will?

When people achieve great things, people will try to explain it by talking about their talent. But they don’t spend much time talking about how they developed their talent or matched an excellent attitude with their excellent talent. Talent is never enough – and when we understand that, we begin a journey of success.

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.




8/26/08
Courage

People think of courage as a quality required only in times of extreme danger or stress, such as war or disaster. It’s much larger than that. Courage is an everyday virtue that is essential every time we are tested.

To discover, develop and use our talent, we need courage. A great deal of talent is wasted because of a lack of courage. On the other hand, if we display courage, our courage will be tested. If you desire to become a more courageous person, start by doing the right things instead of the convenient things. That’s a huge first step toward having a brave heart.

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.




8/27/08
Be Courageous!

King Saul and his army were dismayed and greatly afraid in the face of Goliath. When David visited his older brothers who were soldiers in Saul’s army, he volunteered to fight the giant! And how would he defeat the mighty Goliath and transform the cowardly army into a winning army? COURAGE!

Because of his courage, David acted differently from King Saul, his brothers and his soldiers. Courage can make a difference for you and in you as you face giant obstacles this day. Facing a giant task today? Face it courageously! 

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.



8/28/08
Leaders Must be Humble

The Apostle Paul was a leader with tremendous strength and courage. It’s interesting to note his comments about his weaknesses in I Cor. 2. Paul knew he was tempted by pride. In fact, pride was a big, big thing for Paul. And it’s a big, big thing for us.

Leaders must serve in humility. They need to be dependent on God and never seek the glory that only God deserves. In fact, God gives grace to the humble – and if there was ever a category of people who needed God’s grace in abundance, it’s leaders. 

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.




8/29/08
Basic Integrity

Leaders who cannot be trusted with basic integrity will surely suffer not only God’s anger, but the anger of their followers too. Back in the Old Testament book of Hosea, the leaders there established boundary stones which helped to bring definition to a plot of land.

As the Biblical story unfolds, Israel leaders moved the boundary stones – and that was a no-no in the eyes of God and the people. By doing so, they raised questions about their values and their honesty.

When leaders establish their own boundary stones to people, they better make sure they have a good sound reason to move them. Wavering, changing promises, not keeping your word, it’s going to cost a leader a lot of integrity and raise a lot of questions of trust. 

I’m John Hull. To get a free classic leadership CD by John Maxwell entitled “How to Make Right Choices”, go to leadershipmoment.org.