John Maxwell’s talk was incredibly practical. I
will continue my notes here:
He then began talking, spewing out great information in what
he called just “Thoughts for Life.” (There
were five of them I will share them one post at a time. It’s just too much for one post.)
Thought 1: You need to define a personal definition of success.
Maxwell encouraged us to develop a personal definition of
success, rather than always chasing the ever-changing world’s definition. We must answer the question, “What is success
for me?”
He answered them for
himself. And says that he is successful
if he:
1.
Knows his purpose in life.
a.
What am I passionate about?
b.
What are my gifts, abilities, and strengths?
c.
What do I do well?
2.
Is growing to his max potential personally.
3.
Sowing seeds that benefit others.
I find the second one a little frustrating. It’s just not measurable. So maybe it would be better stated (and maybe
he meant it this way) growing towards his max potential.
What do you think?
Do you have a “stated” definition of success? Do you think we should? Would you think defining our own success can help us keep from being caught up in the world's definitions? Can we have a stated definition and let the
definition transform some over time?
What do you think of when you think success? What are your personal
definitions of success?
I like the thoughts. The problem we run into with this is-
ReplyDeleteIf we have a "measurable" definition of success, then what do we/others consider our lives should we never reach that measure? A failure? What if our life was magnificently lived, but our definition of success was perhaps a bit too unrealistic? Then, on the other hand, what if we DO reach our measure of success, or do so early? Then what?
Then, on the other hand, if we DONT have a measurable success, we would find ourselves asking what youre asking-- what am I really shooting for anyways?
I think thats why, if you think about it, Maxwell probably intentionally made them all (or at least #2 and 3 are) very generic and not really measurable. In fact, #2 is impossible. Max potential? That sounds like another way of saying "Being perfect". Impossible to obtain, although perhaps a great goal. Seeings how a very wise other man once told us to be perfect.
Seth,
ReplyDeleteI think you are right. I think he set up his definitions in a way that he has to be always working towards them. It may even be more fair to say, "I am a success as long as I am always living a life that exist to continually strive towards all three of these.
I think it important that we have some definition of what we should be working toward. I think it should be developed with close guidance and discernment from spiritual friends. And I believe that it can adapt some as time goes on, but only with more guidance and discernment with a group of trusted Christ-followers.
I think this would help us (not completely protect us) from falling pray to outside definitions of success. Money, power, status, title, size church/company we work with, etc.