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Kindle Notes & Highlights
Never is such a definitive word. Never. It’s the stuff death produces.
To exist offers the illusion of freedom without any responsibility. Our present culture encourages effortless living since all that matters is appearing successful.
In essence, I had to move from making an impression to making an impact.
A substantial disconnect exists in our world today which results in a massive division between generations.
Simply stated, the great disconnect is between an older generation of doers verses a contemporary generation of viewers.
His admonishment to me was not to be a good preacher or a good writer, but to be a good person who stays clean and finishes strong.
How would your life change if you stopped excusing yourself so often? How would the quality of your life improve if you kept your word, did what you said you would do, and held yourself more accountable in the process?
These are the kind of persons who make great leaders because of one major reason. They have integrity; there is a consistency between what they say and what they do.
Is the lack of kindness killing your career?
Your noble quest toward living a complete, enriched life begins simply and unwittingly with a choice to be kind.
Your acts of kindness are stored in the vaults of the soul.
His philosophy was you don’t give based on what you have or what you don’t have. You give when there is a need.
kindness is at the root of any individual success.
Note the words of Albert Einstein: The ideas which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been kindness, beauty, and truth.
Kindness will force you to see yourself as a good person.
“Humility is the God-given self-assurance that eliminates the need to prove the worth of who you are and the rightness of what you do.”
Help those who lack the power to reward you.
if you are perceived as unkind, expect very little from employees.
Kindness is biblical, practical, and wise. You gain a reputation as being a decent human being!
Choosing to speak in a kind tone has the power to turn away wrath, change a mood, even transform a relationship.
A simple act of kindness can turn around a career, transform a relationship, and even impact someone for a lifetime.
What do people feel like after they have been in your presence?
And, they did it with promptness, honesty, integrity, diligence, and hard work!
“One sure way to make a negative lasting impression is to waste someone’s time!”
We live in a culture where discipline has eroded far from the consciousness of everyday thought.
Discipline is a wonderful elixir for a culture desperately seeking depth and purpose amidst the enfranchisement of superficiality.
The great misconception in modern society is that finishing first is best.
the stuff required for success—time, struggle, evaluation, reevaluation, even failure.
“Never, Never, Never, Never Give Up.”
a disciplined life creates greater freedom in life.
Quitting creates constant upheaval and destructive turmoil.
The best helpers—the very best helpers—are silent, quiet, and unassuming.
Ironically, even though today we all have more, we seem to help less.
When a leader is perceived as a helper, the entire culture benefits.
“Son, always put yourself in a position to help somebody. Your job is to look for people to help. You’ll find great joy in helping others to their feet.”
All labor has value. If you’re a street sweeper, sweep streets the way Michelangelo painted pictures. Sweep streets the way Beethoven composed music. Sweep streets the way Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets in such a profound way that the Host of Heaven will say, “There goes a great street sweeper!”
Often, true greatness is revealed in weakness.
wisdom rarely is acquired without a storm.
He understood that he was not a great player, but he had fought hard, given his best and discovered that no one on the field intimidated him, no matter how big or fast.
greatness usually follows a disciplined approach to living out one’s life with skill.
“Hearing tells you the music is playing. Listening tells you what the song is saying!”
Note the tangible characteristics of wise people: • They are slow to talk. • They are quick to listen. • They are always thinking. • They evaluate every message. • Their response is measured and thoughtful. • They are wordsmiths; they do not waste words. • They do not talk to be heard. • They do not speak to impress. • They use words when absolutely necessary. • They use words to reveal knowledge. • They use words to elevate understanding. • Their primary goal is to be understood. • Their secondary goal is to share information.
The great casualty in academia is learning!
There is a plausible link between one’s desire to learn and the level of excellence attained.
focus on doing your very best right now, and don’t stop!
“If you do the little things right, the big things will take care of themselves.
Maybe the goal in leadership is to shift from a singular focus on the bottom line to integrating excellence in processes and protocols along the journey.
CHARACTER IS WHAT YOU DO . . . IN THE DARK
a man was not worth much if he could not be trusted to do the right thing at the right time in the right way.
Son, a good reputation is worth more than riches.
