START YOUR WEEK WITH THE COACH

“Great leaders live for their team. Good leaders invest in their team. Poor leaders use their team for their own benefit.”

Someone conducted a survey among people who lived to be over 100. Most people would expect the cause was eating healthy food, miracle drugs and strenuous exercise. Some of those reasons contributed to their longevity, but the one thing these centenarians had in common was–they had a purpose beyond themselves.

Do you have a cause that compels you to get out of bed every morning, or do you awake every day without a passion for something outside your own interest? Living for a cause greater than yourself means refusing to live trapped in fear or the very limited dimensions of a self-centered world.

Too many people are like the man who said, “No matter what I’m working on, I’d rather be doing something else.” Regardless of age or circumstances, everyone needs a cause great enough to focus your energies and strong enough to energize you on your worst day.

Just as God made Goliath for David’s benefit and development, God has a cause made especially for you. A challenge that needs confronting or a situation that needs changing.

The giant that caused the officers of Israel’s army to tremble in fear, and King Saul to cower in the palace, was the challenge that launched David’s rise to be the greatest King of his day.

At age twelve, Jesus said, “I must be about my Father’s business.” Twenty-one years later while dying for the sins of all mankind on the cross He cried out, “It is finished.” These two statements framed His life on earth. The greatest leader who ever lived, lived for a cause greater than Himself.

Until you find the cause for which you were born you are not ready to lead. Until you understand that great leadership is about using your abilities and influence for the benefit of others, at best you can only make periodic investments in others.

You exist for the team, they don’t exist for you. The sooner you learn that, the sooner great people will stand in line to be on your team and follow your leadership.

“Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something you can do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain.”

Helen Keller