The Difference Maker

“Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.”
Plato

Each day you can choose to grow as a leader, parent, servant, teacher, student, son and daughter. You have the freedom to choose to rise above past hurts or get stuck and wallow in self-pity. Recently I was reminded we must let go of the limitations of yesterday and race toward the possibilities of tomorrow.

While concluding a full day leadership session last November I challenged each member to make a commitment. This is intended to be the summation of all the emotions, dreams, and sharing from our time together into a specific action to change their lives. Yeah, nothing small here!

This group of business owners publically shared their commitments: double top line revenue in 36 months; start an employee wellness program within 6 months; get back into church – starting this weekend; lose 40 pounds by changing diet and daily work outs; create a plan to get back into balance with my wife, health, finances and life.

The last gentleman haltingly stood and shared his commitment to reach out to his daughter. He explained that she said things for which he expected an apology. She never did apologize. They stopped speaking. It had gone on for six years. Today, he was committing to being bigger than those words and contacting her.

Although all of the commitments were bold and significant (and if done would change lives), would any ever follow up? Would any take action? Would any write a different story? Monday I got my answer.

I began a leadership workshop in Colorado asking the attendees to share why they came. Each had his and her own reason: Grow my business; discover my passion; get my life back in balance; get out of the rut I am in. Then a woman stood and shared that she is here because John’s message changed her husband’s life.

She went on to share that her husband attended a leadership event three months earlier and made a commitment to reach out to his daughter. Her husband called his daughter that afternoon, had an emotional reunion the following day, and they have spoken every day since.

She shared the impact on her family, what it’s like to have Sunday dinners again, what it was like to celebrate the holidays as a family, what it is like to see her husband and daughter in love again. The woman wiped away tears as she shared; the other leaders wiped away tears as she shared.

So why send this story to you today? Am I that starved for a pat on the back? No need for that! Here’s why:

In November there were 17 business owners who made bold commitments to author significance through their lives. The ones who took action saw immediate impact in their lives, in their businesses, in their faith walk, in their finances, in their relationships. What a worthwhile day!

But the others? Just a day of feel good inspiration.

You see, we keep waiting for the silver bullet in our lives. That spark to pick us up and propel us forward. My friend, the difference maker isn’t the book you are reading or the money you are making or the speaker you are hearing or the newsletter you are reading. And it isn’t your spouse or children or health or economy.

The difference maker is when you wake up to the reality that you have one life to live, one opportunity to impact, one legacy to author. Whether yours is an epic to celebrate or a tragedy to mourn has little to with the events within your life and everything to do with the manner in which you respond.

Begin writing your epic story today! Take action today – the world is starved for you to become a difference maker!

John O’Leary
www.RisingAbove.com
www.Facebook.com/SpeakerJohnOleary

Want to be a difference maker today? Post your commitment online right NOW! Go to www.Facebook.com/SpeakerJohnOleary and share with me what action you commit to taking. You can commit to taking action on your health, finances, relationships, spirituality, personal or professional growth. Not only will you receive encouragement from me, but you’ll inspire our community with your commitment to do, be, serve, and impact more! Let the epic begin! J

“Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.” Plato

Each day we have the ability to actively grow as a leader, parent, servant, teacher, student, son and daughter. We have the freedom to choose to rise above past hurts or get stuck and wallow in self-pity. Recently I was reminded we must let go of the limitations of yesterday and race toward the possibilities of tomorrow.

While concluding a full day leadership session last November, I challenged each member to make a commitment. This is intended to be the summation of all the emotions, dreams, and sharing from our time together into a specific action to change their lives. Yeah, nothing small here!

This group of business owners publically shared their commitments: double top line revenue in 36 months; start an employee wellness program within 6 months; get back into church – starting this weekend; lose 40 pounds by changing diet and daily work outs; create a plan to get back into balance with my wife, health, finances and life.

The last gentleman haltingly stood and shared his commitment to reach out to his daughter. He explained that she said things for which he expected an apology. She never did apologize. They stopped speaking. It had gone on for six years. Today, he was committing to being bigger than those words and contacting her.

Although all of the commitments were bold and significant (and if done would change lives), would any ever follow up? Would any take action? Would any write a different story? Monday I got my answer.

I began a leadership workshop in Colorado asking the attendees to share why they came. Each had his and her own reason: Grow my business; discover my passion; get my life back in balance; get out of the rut I am in. Then a woman stood and shared that she is here because John’s message changed her husband’s life.

She went on to share that her husband attended a leadership event three months earlier and made a commitment to reach out to his daughter. Her husband called his daughter that afternoon, had an emotional reunion the following day, and they have spoken every day since.

This woman shared the impact on her family, what it’s like to have Sunday dinners again, what it’s like to celebrate the holidays as a family, what it’s like to see her husband and daughter in love again. The woman wiped away tears as she shared; the other leaders wiped away tears as she shared.

So why send this story to you today? Am I that starved for a pat on the back? No need for that! Here’s why:

In November there were 17 business owners who made bold commitments to author significance through their lives. The ones who took action saw immediate impact in their lives, in their businesses, in their faith walk, in their finances, in their relationships. What a worthwhile day!

But the others? Just a day of feel good inspiration.

You see, we keep waiting for the silver bullet in our lives. That spark to pick us up and propel us forward. My friend, the difference maker isn’t the book you are reading or the money you are making or the speaker you are hearing or the newsletter you are reading. And it isn’t your spouse or children or health or economy.

The difference maker is when you wake up to the reality that you have one life to live, one opportunity to impact, one legacy to author. Whether yours is an epic to celebrate or a tragedy to mourn has little to with the events within your life and everything to do with the manner in which you respond.

Begin writing your epic story today! Take action today – the world is starved for you to become a difference maker!

John O’Leary
www.RisingAbove.com
www.Facebook.com/SpeakerJohnOleary

Want to be a difference maker today? Post your commitment online right NOW! Go to www.Facebook.com/SpeakerJohnOleary and share with me what action you commit to taking. You can commit to taking action on your health, finances, relationships, spirituality, personal or professional growth. Not only will you receive encouragement from me, but you’ll inspire our community with your commitment to do, be, serve, and impact more! Let the epic begin! J