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Jon Gordon
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When I ask people if they want to
be great or do great things everyone says, "Yes." I've never had
anyone say I want to be mediocre. I'm convinced that inside each one
of us is a desire for greatness because we were never meant to be
average. God planted this desire in our soul. It's why we are always
striving to improve. Inventors and engineers are always trying to
make better phones, cars, machines, planes and products.…An athlete
wants to get stronger and faster. A musician has a hit song and then
they want to create another hit. It's part of our path as human
beings to innovate, evolve, grow, improve and push the boundaries of
what's possible. I've discovered there are 4 stages that everyone
who pursues greatness will go through on their journey.
- The Preparation Stage: This is
where you prepare to be great – where your actions meet your
desire – where you show up each day and do the work that
greatness requires. While speaking to a MLB baseball team I
asked them, "Do you believe you can work harder than you already
are?" Everyone raised their hand. "So why aren't you," I asked?
We discussed it and decided to work harder you have to care
more. You have to care to prepare and embrace the process that
leads to improvement and growth. See yourself as an artist
dedicated to your craft and over time you will create a
masterpiece.
- The Planting Stage: This is where
you plant yourself where you are and allow yourself and your gifts
to be used for a greater purpose beyond yourself. This is where you
decided to serve WE instead of ME. Just as the seed must surrender
to the ground you must surrender your ego and put your team and
others first. You have to have an ego to want to be great but you
must give up your ego and serve others in order to be truly great.
- The Growth Stage: When you plant
yourself and allow yourself to be used for a greater purpose you
grow into the leader you are meant to be. Part of this process is
the growth stage where you will experience triumphs and success to
let you know you are on the right path. However, you will also
experience pruning during this stage. When you are being pruned it
looks like you have been destroyed but you haven't. Like a bush
that's been pruned, the pruning is meant to help you grow more
fully.…So many give up during this stage because they think when
they have been pruned they're finished. They think it's the end so
they never reach the final stage. Don't stop. Keep going and you'll
keep growing.
- The Harvest Stage: This is where
you reap the benefits of all your hard work, planting and growing.
It's where you produce fruit in your life and fruit in others and
leave a legacy. It's when it all becomes clear. The reason why we go
through these 4 stages and strive for greatness is because through
the process we become someone who can bring out the greatness in
others.…You may not have experienced a harvest yet but don't let
that stop you from preparing and planting the seed. Go through the
process. Don't give up when you are being pruned. It may take a
while but a harvest is coming. I don't know when but I know its
coming!
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