One of my daily rituals is to read from "The Maxwell Daily Reader" by John Maxwell. It has a wonderful message for each day of the year and here is the one I ready today:
The world has never seen a great leader who lacked commitment. If you want to be an effective leader, you have to be committed. True commitment inspires and attracts people. It shows them that you have conviction. They will believe in you only if you believe in your cause. People buy into the leader, then the vision. What is the true nature of commitment? Take a look at three observations.
1. Commitment Starts in the Heart:
I am told that in the Kentucky Derby, the winning horse effectively runs our of oxygen after the first half mile, and he goes the rest of the way on heart. If you want to make a difference in other people's lives as a leader, look into your heart to see if you're really committed.
2. Commitment is Tested by Action:
It's one thing to talk about commitment. it's another to do something about it. The only real measure of commitment is action. Arthur Gordon acknowledged, "Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing harder than living them day after day."As a leader, you will face plenty of obstacles and opposition -- if you don't already. And there will be times when commitment is the only thing that carries you forward. David McNally commented, "Commitment is the enemy of resistance, for it is the serious promise to press on, to get up, no matter how many times you are knocked down."
