Michael Jordan on success:: Friday E-Devotion

I read from a lot of angles and from various leaders and theologians. Didn't quite expect it from the person you about to hear from. The following blog post is from Kent Shaffer, a marketing guru and a Christian leader:

"From Good to Great According to Michael Jordan"

Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time. But his road to success has come a long way since he was cut from his high school basketball team. He once shared his secret to greatness:

"Heart is what separates the good from the great."

Natural ability will make you good. Big budgets will make you good. Fantastic marketing will make you good. But it takes heart to be great. Greatness lies in diligence, perseverance, and drive. Greatness lies in the intangibles.

Heart is never content but always pushes you to a greater level. Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, explains:

"Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life."

Just because you experience a sales success or management success or any success, don't trade your heart for contentment. Greatness does not come in the leap of one sole success, but it comes from the inching forward of one success after another.

Heart is not about comparing yourself to others but about comparing yourself to your past. It is about constant self-improvement. There will always be someone smarter than you, stronger than you, and faster than you. But your heart will determine how you measure up in the long run. Your heart is your key to greatness

Not what I often expect from Jordan, but there is deep insight. Think about how God has gifted you and how your heart plays a part in what you do.

Why is it that Jesus talked so much about our hearts? Proverbs 4:23 tells us to "guard our hearts". Listen to what Jesus said:

Mark 7:15 (nlt) --- It's not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.

John 7:38 (nlt) --- Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.

I recall something I heard a while back...one leader said something like "I'd rather have 5 people with vision and heart than 10 people with great ability." Think about it!

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan. His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God. Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st. The book is Forgotten God . This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into. All of it is within the Holy Spirit. Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people. It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about. And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts. We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share. For me C.S. Lewis is one of those. He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class. It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before. He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born. It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian. He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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