WRITTEN BY CHERYL WELLS
We have probably all heard the saying “don’t sweat the small stuff”. John Maxwell says that in order to develop competency we should sweat the small stuff. John is my very favorite teacher and coach about growth and leadership. He has authored over 70 books and sold more than 19 million copies. I became a member of the John Maxwell team exactly 10 years ago in March and I have continually used all that I learned, and I am taking another master class right now on his newest book called How to Get a Return on Failure. He says that in life, everything worthwhile is uphill, and that climb requires you to be either up or getting up. It’s going to take hard work to accomplish something meaningful.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
We don’t want to allow the setbacks and failures of yesterday become something that keeps us stuck permanently, or even for a season. I know I have done that over the years at times, but I am really grateful for the wakeup calls. They have come in many different forms and sometimes it is just waking up and knowing that I have to get back up and start climbing that mountain. I’m not looking for the easy path in my work or in my own growth. In fact, I am wired to believe and do the hard things. I believe though that in this season of my life a piece of what I need to learn about competency is to stop doing the things that aren’t for me and that I might not be the best person to do.
In my business journey starting probably about 15-18 years ago, I decided to do what I needed to do to learn and grow. Along the way I discovered quite a few things that I would never would have believed I was good at. We all have things that we believe that aren’t true. I kept forcing myself to learn the next thing that I needed for my business, and so as a result of that I just wouldn’t let myself make excuses or say, “I can’t learn that”. I think it is good for me to shift to a balance in some things now and release the things that I know I need to. I have been doing that, and I know it will be for the good of all, as well as there are others that are able to take it and release the pressure for myself. It will bring success to the teams that I work alongside of and succession is our goal.
“Bring exceptional focus to your work today.” – John Maxwell
Probably for me right now this is the right next step in my leadership that will bring greater competency for everyone. When I deliver in this way to them, I am lifting all their lids, just like John Maxwell talks about in his book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. When a leader remains stuck then it holds the whole team in that place. In taking a courageous step of faith the competency of everyone will be developed to a new level. I just read something from John’s Daily Reader that talked about doing the last 10 percent of whatever job we are doing. Usually, the last 10 percent has to do with implementation, and it is the most difficult part. I love coming up with ideas and starting to write up SOP’s and checklists. I need to know which of those new things that I started that I could finish the last 10 percent?
I will take some time to sit and think and reflect on this, as well as I will ask my teammates. I have an incredible team, and they are ready to go uphill and take on the hard things. I will “sweat the hard stuff” that is for me to do and focus on all the great things that we have accomplished so far. Gratefulness is always a great place to be, and it helps me to have a cheerful heart in the midst of my daily work.
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:18.)
