More Winning Quotes

"The executive's job is to provide leadership, the kind of leadership that develops the best efforts of the men under him. He can't do that if he shuts himself up in his office. He has to get out and get acquainted with his men."
   -  Roy Moore


"You get the best out of others when you get the best out of yourself."
   -  Harvey Firestone


"Leaders must pick causes they won't abandon easily, remain committed despite setbacks, and communicate their big ideas over and over again in every encounter."
   -  Rosabeth Moss Kanter

Learn to Let Go

From the Jesus Calling devotionals by Sarah Young:


"This is a time in your life when you must learn to let go: of loved ones, of possessions, of control. In order to let go of something that is precious to you, you need to rest in My Presence, where you are complete. Take time to bask in the Light of My Love...


You can feel secure, even in the midst of cataclysmic changes, through awareness of My continual Presence....


As you release more and more things into My care, remember that I never let go of your hand. Herein lies your security, which no one and no circumstance can take from you."

Humble Yourself

From the Experiencing God Day by Day devotionals:


"There are two ways to attain high esteem. One is the world's method: Take every opportunity to promote yourself before others; seize occasions for recognition and manipulate your way into the center of attention. The other way is God's way: Humble yourself. Rather than striving for recognition and influential positions, seek to put others first. Cultivate humility, for it does not come naturally. One of the many paradoxes of the Christian life is that when God sees your genuine humility, He exalts you. 


Proverbs 16:18 warns that if we put our efforts into promoting ourselves, we will be brought down....Jesus said the wise thing to do is to seek the lowest position and allow others to exalt you if they feel you are worthy.


There is an enormous difference between the way the world honors you and the way God does. Proverbs 25:27 indicates that glory is not legitimate if you seek it yourself....When God exalts you, others will praise Him for what He has done in your life."

Know Your Customer

From the Today God Is First devotionals:



"Identifying and meeting the needs of customers is key to any successful marketing venture. Many years ago Coca-Cola decided to introduce a new Coke. They conducted research among loyal customers to determine if the new taste would be embraced by Coke customers. The evidence proved that the new Coke would be successful. However, what Coke did not realize was the emotional attachment Coke users had to their existing Coke product. It created a massive outpouring of negative publicity when Coke users rebelled against the new Coke. Loyal Coke drinkers may have liked the taste of the new Coke, but they did not want it as a replacement to what they were accustomed to.


The man responsible was fired. It became one of the most famous marketing blunders ever. However, the story does not end here. The company eventually turned a bad situation into a positive one. Coke ended up having two versions of Coke - new and old. The man responsible was rehired and went on to be successful in the company.


Jesus sought to meet the needs of His customer by ministering to their needs as His Heavenly Father revealed them to Him. Their real need for salvation did not get met until Jesus met a physical need that allowed Him to reveal the true need they had. Some of your "customers" have a perceived need for your product. But they also have a spiritual need they may not realize they have. God wants to use you to meet both needs.


That's why it is important for you to know your customer."

Our Values Determine Our Priorities

Our values help us determine the top priorities in our lives and where we focus our time. Sample values might include compassion, courage, creativity, faith, fitness, health, humor, patience, and teamwork. By clarifying your values, you are able to decide which areas of your life need the most focus at a particular time. Prioritizing doesn't mean that you believe one value is more important than another; it simply gives you structure so you can focus on the most compelling values first. 

More Winning Quotes

"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it."
   -  Henry David Thoreau


"The most important part of every business is to know what ought to be done."
   -  Lucius Columella


"A competitor will find a way to win. Competitors take bad breaks and use them to drive themselves just that much harder. Quitters take bad breaks and use them as reasons to give up. It's all a matter of pride."
   -  Nancy Lopez

When Things Don't Go....

Another 'Jesus Calling' devotional by Sarah Young:


"When things don't go as you would like, accept the situation immediately.


Remember that I am sovereign over your circumstances, and humble yourself under My mighty hand. Rejoice in what I am doing in your life, even though it is beyond your understanding.


Don't let the impact of the world shatter your thinking or draw you away from focusing on Me. The ultimate challenge is to keep fixing your eyes on Me, no matter what is going on around you. When I am central in your thinking, you are able to view circumstances from My perspective."

Vested Interests

From the Today God Is First devotionals:



"Leaders who attempt something greater than themselves will always get attacked and it often comes from those who have a vested interest in what you are changing. 


When Jesus began confronting the Pharisees about religious traditions, He was attacked by the religious establishment because they had a vested interest that would be negatively impacted by His teaching. The apostle Paul confronted a religious tradition that generated income for those in the trade. Opposition arose because he was impacting a vested interest.

Whenever you introduce a new product into the market, expect opposition from competitive products that have a vested interest. If God leads you to initiate a cause greater than yourself, expect opposition from those who may have vested interest."

The Moments That Sustain Us

From the In Touch devotionals of Dr. Charles Stanley:



"When life falls apart, how do you cope? All of us face circumstances that challenge our peace—and some of these situations are very painful and prolonged. Unless we have purposeful focus, joy fades and hope seems unattainable.


King David experienced extreme hardships, including the profound grief of losing a child and a best friend. And King Saul, for selfish reasons, pursued him in an attempt to take his life. Later, David’s own son led a rebellion against him. As drastic as these trials are, they were just four of the many difficulties he endured. Yet even in times of deep suffering, David found hope and peace in God.

How was his soul sustained when others in similar situations would have drowned in despair? David knew how to meditate. He focused his mind and spirit on God—His character, ways, and will—in order to know the Lord better and to obey Him.

We should be following David’s example. Our role during difficulty is to set our eyes on our heavenly Father and meditate on His Word. The Psalms document the depth and passion for which the shepherd and soon-to-be king delighted himself in God. By continually pondering the attributes and ways of the Lord, he found solace in the midst of turmoil.

What subjects consume your thoughts during the day? Do you have time set aside to dwell solely on the Lord? Perhaps you can remind yourself periodically to bring your attention back to your Creator—one way is to read several of the Psalms and notice how the author refocuses on the almighty God."

Hunger and Thirst

From the Experiencing God Day by Day devotionals:


"Hunger and thirst are the body's way of telling us that we are 'empty.' Our natural response to physical hunger and thirst is to seek food and water to satisfy our need. Each Christian has an inner longing that only Christ's righteousness can satisfy. But we cannot be filled with righteousness if we are filled with self. Throughout the Scriptures God emphasizes that the one who longs for Him with all his heart will find Him...


Our selfishness will be replaced by the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). The Spirit will make us to be like Christ...


Righteousness is not to be taken lightly, nor is it easily attained...Our desire for personal righteousness must be powerful, all-consuming, dominating everything we do. Pursuing righteousness means that we value the opinion of God far more than we treasure the opinions of people. 


Righteousness is not merely an absence of sin. It is allowing God to fill us with His holiness."

More Winning Quotes

"One of the key elements of being a good business leader is the capacity to tell the hard truths."
   -  Jeff Bezos


"I am suggesting to you the simple idea that people work harder and smarter if they find their work satisfying and know that it is appreciated."
   -  Robert Six


"Don't let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was."
   -  Richard Evans

Come to Me Continually

From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young:


"Come to Me continually. I am meant to be the Center of your consciousness, the Anchor of your soul. Your mind will wander from Me, but the question is how far you allow it to wander. An anchor on a short rope lets a boat drift only slightly before the taut line tugs the boat back toward the center. Similarly, as you drift away from Me, My Spirit within you gives a tug, prompting you to return to Me. As you become increasingly attuned to My Presence, the length of rope on your soul's Anchor is shortened. You wander only a short distance before feeling that inner tug - telling you to return to your true Center in Me."


  

Overcoming Obstacles

An In Touch devotional, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley:


"The Lord has a beautiful plan for each believer's life. But to thwart God's purposes, Satan sprinkles obstacles in our path.


There are many types of hindrances, such as a difficult boss, contrary family members, and financial trouble. Anything that blocks a desired goal can cause anxiety and great frustration. But remember that no obstacle can touch you without God's consent.


Waiting can be difficult. And after a while, we might even begin to wonder if God will do anything at all—then it is easy to quit. But, God has gone before us and is preparing the way. No matter how He chooses to handle the problem, His solution is always in our best interest.


Whenever you face an obstacle, you may experience great heartache. But even in the midst of pain, you can have full confidence in God. The most important part of each day is the time you spend alone with the Lord. He will encourage you with His love and give direction."

More Winning Quotes

"The time when you need to do something is when no one else is willing to do it, when people are saying it can't be done."
   -  Mary Frances Berry


"Those who wish to transform the world must be able to transform themselves."
   -  Konrad Heiden


"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude."
   -  Thomas Jefferson

An Exchanged Life

From the Experiencing God Day by Day devotionals:


"The Christian life is an exchanged life: Jesus' life for your life...


When you are weak, then Christ demonstrates His strength in your life. When you face situations that are beyond your comprehension, you have only to ask, and the infinite wisdom of God is available to you.


When you are faced with humanly impossible situations, God does the impossible. When you encounter people whom you find difficult to love, God expresses His unconditional love through you. 


When you are at a loss as to what you should pray for someone, the Spirit will guide you in your prayer life. When Christ takes up residence in the life of a believer, 'all the fullness of God' is available to that person.


It is marvelously freeing to know that God controls your life and knows what it can become. Rather than constantly worrying about what you will face, your great challenge is to continually release every area of your life to God's control. The temptation will be to try to do by yourself what only God can do. 


Our assignment is to 'abide in the vine' and to allow God to do in and through us what only He can do. Only God can be God. Allow Him to live out His divine life through you. He is the only One who can."

Recognize Your Weakness

From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young:


"It is good that you recognize your weakness. That keeps you looking to Me, your Strength...Instead of trying to fit this day into a preconceived mold, relax and be on the lookout for what I am doing. This mind-set will free you to enjoy Me and to find what I have planned for you to do...


Don't take yourself so seriously. Lighten up and laugh with Me. You have Me on your side, so what are you worried about? I can equip you to do absolutely anything, as long as it is My will. The more difficult your day, the more I yearn to help you. Anxiety wraps you up in yourself, trapping you in your own thoughts. When you look to Me and whisper My Name, you break free and receive My help. Focus on Me, and you will find Peace in My Presence."

Big Anxieties, Little Faith

From the In Touch devotionals of Dr. Charles Stanley:



"Stressful situations come in a variety of forms and intensities, and in this earthly existence, we will never be totally free of them. However, the important issue is, What are we going to do with our anxiety? If we let it dominate, fretfulness can become a way of life. But if we believe what the Bible says about God and His care for us, we will experience an awesome liberation from worry.


Do you sometimes doubt whether our heavenly Father really cares about the ordinary things that cause you anxiety? After all, He’s got the entire universe to run, and your issues are so small in comparison. Consider how inconsequential birds and flowers are, yet Jesus says that the Father cares for them (Matt. 6:26). Don’t you think you are worth much more to Him than they are?

At times we let ourselves get all worked up and stressed out because we’re trying to change something that is beyond our control. Just as no one can add a single day to the length of his life, so there are some situations that we are powerless to alter. But the sovereign Ruler of the universe loves us and holds everything in His hands—including our stressful and seemingly out-of-control situations. Therefore, we have no reason to fret or fear.

Perhaps the biggest reason we worry is because we don’t trust the Lord. Anxiety is no more than unbelief. The Bible is filled with God’s promises to provide, but so often we doubt that He will. If you can trust Him for your eternal security, can’t you also trust Him for your earthly needs?"

More Winning Quotes

"Whether a man is burdened by power or enjoys power; whether he is trapped by responsibility or made free by it; whether he is moved by other people and outer forces or moves them - this is of the essence of leadership."
   -  Theodore White


"All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership."
   -  John Kenneth Galbraith


"No matter how much a man can do, no matter how engaging his personality may be, he will not advance far in business if he cannot work through others."
   -  John Craig

God's Timing

From the Today God Is First devotionals:



"There is a timing that is ideal for releasing information or moving forward with a project. Jesus understood the importance of timing. 


How often has Jesus not been able to move in your situation because you have failed to honor the right timing of the situation? Perhaps you have moved ahead when you were not supposed to move. 


'There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven?' [Eccl 3:1]. Ask God for His timing in your projects to be released."

The Extraordinary in the Midst of the Ordinary

From the Experiencing God Day by Day devotionals:


"There will be times when, immersed in the ordinary details of life, you may be oblivious to the extraordinary that is right next to you. You can be in the midst of a common moment, only this time the activity is filled with the presence of God. There may be times when, in the middle of your harried day, you notice something unusual. Your first reaction might be 'I'm too tired to go aside to investigate this!' or 'I'm not going to disrupt my life for this.' Yet, in that moment you may have the opportunity for a unique encounter with God.


God usually speaks out of the ordinary experiences of life. Often, it is not while you are worshiping at church. Many of God's most profound and history-changing encounters come during the ordinary experiences of life. When you see the unusual in the midst of the mundane, don't continue business as usual. It may be that God has ordained that moment to be a life-changing time for you and those around you."

I Speak to You Continually

From 'Jesus Calling' by Sarah Young:


"I speak to you continually. My nature is to communicate, though not always in words. I fling glorious sunsets across the sky, day after day after day. I speak in the faces and voices of loved ones. I caress you with a gentle breeze that refreshes and delights you. I speak softly in the depths of your spirit, where I have taken up residence. 


You can find Me in each moment, when you have eyes that see and ears that hear. Ask My Spirit to sharpen your spiritual eyesight and hearing. I rejoice each time you discover My Presence. Practice looking and listening for Me during quiet intervals. Gradually you will find Me in more and more of your moments. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me above all else."

More Winning Quotes

"Details often kill initiative, but there have been few successful men who weren't good at details. Don't ignore details. Lick them."
   -  William B. Given Jr. 


"It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision."
   -  Helen Keller


"Do it now. You become successful the moment you start moving toward a worthwhile goal."
   -  Samuel Insull

Time Management

From the Today God Is First devotionals, and adapted from The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker:



Peter Drucker was a renown management consultant to major corporations and authored many bestselling business books. He suggested three activities that might help busy executives better manage their time.

 

"First, do not start with the task. Start with your time. Determine where your time is going. Then, attempt to manage that time and cut back unproductive demands on your time. Consolidate your 'discretionary' time into the largest possible continuing time units.

Drucker refers to the second step as time management. After listing the activities to which we devote our time, he suggests that we ask three questions about each of these activities to help us minimize the amount of time we waste: "What would happen if this were not done at all?" And if the answer is, 'Nothing would happen,' then obviously the conclusion is to stop doing it. Next, which of the activities on my time log could be done by somebody else just as well, if not better? What do I do that wastes my time without contributing to my effectiveness?

Drucker closes by saying 'Know Thyself,' this old prescription for wisdom is impossibly difficult for mortal men. But everyone can follow the injunction 'Know Thy Time' if you want to, and be well on the road toward contribution and effectiveness."

Why not evaluate how you are spending your time and ask God how to better use your time.

Delivered into Your Hand

From the Experiencing God Day by Day devotionals:


"No greater confidence will ever come to you or to any other Christian than the confidence of knowing you are doing God's will. God will not commission you to do anything without ensuring your success...


Be careful to evaluate success in the way that God does. Perhaps He is working to produce His peace in your heart as you face troubling times. Perhaps He is working to develop a forgiving spirit in you when others mistreat you. Perhaps He is working to eliminate a particular sin in your life. If you accept the world's understanding of victory, you may feel defeated. If you look to see what God is accomplishing through your situation, you will find that He is succeeding. When you face opposition but know you are doing what God has asked, have confidence that He will accomplish everything that He desires."

More Jesus Calling

"Watch your words diligently. Words have such great power to bless or to wound. When you speak carelessly or negatively, you damage others as well as yourself. This ability to verbalize is an awesome privilege...


Though the world applauds quick-witted retorts, My instructions about communication are quite different: Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry....


Simply apply...discipline to communicating with people around you...


As positive speech patterns replace your negative ones, the increase in your Joy will amaze you."

More Winning Quotes

"The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not a bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly."
   -  Jim Rohn


"When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality."
   -  Joe Paterno


"The ability to form friendships, to make people believe in you and trust you, is one of the few absolutely fundamental qualities of success."
   -  John J. McGuirk

Achieving Success

From the Today God Is First devotionals:

"In the workplace, we can become driven to achieve. Corporate pressure drives executives to make decisions that can impact many people. We become deceived by the need to succeed at any cost in our venture.

In order to achieve Godly success, we must be sensitive to those around us who can give input to the direction we may be taking. God will confirm His direction in our lives if we are willing to accept input from those around us. It can come through a spouse, a co-worker, a boss, a secretary or any other person. Be aware of situations that encourage you to press too hard for a particular outcome.

Achieving goals should be a result of following the actions you believe God leads you to take. Let results become a fruit of your strategic actions."

Living Water

From the Experiencing God Day by Day devotionals:


"There should never be 'dry spells' in the Christian life. God said that He would be like an artesian well in the life of a believer. Artesian wells bubbled forth with a cold, fresh, never-ending supply of water from the depths of the earth, quenching any thirst and always satisfying. This is the picture of the spiritual refreshment that belongs to the person in whom the Holy Spirit resides.


Have you ever heard people say they are experiencing a dry spell in their Christian life? What are they saying? Are they saying that the Lord ran out of water? It should never cross your mind that the fountain of living waters residing within you should ever be reduced to a trickle. You don't need to run all over the country trying to find sources of spiritual refreshment. Conferences, retreats, and books can all bring encouragement; but if you are a Christian, the source of living water already resides within you.


Have you exchanged the living fountain for man-made cisterns that cannot hold water? Why would you exchange as artesian well for a broken water tank? Artesian wells do not dry up. Broken cisterns do. If you are experiencing spiritual dryness right now, is it because you have been attempting to find your source of spiritual refreshment from man-made sources, which will fail you every time? Jesus extended an invitation to you when He said: 'If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink' [John 7:37]. Have you been refreshed by the living water only Jesus can provide?"

More Jesus Calling

"...Many voices vie for control of your mind, especially when you sit in silence. You must learn to discern what is My voice and what is not...Many of My children run around in circles, trying to obey the various voices directing their lives. This results in fragmented, frustrating patterns of living...My sheep know My voice and follow Me wherever I lead."

More Winning Quotes

"A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron."
   -  Horace Mann


"The trouble with complete security is its drab monotony. A life without the impetus of work and struggle is only half a life, and most of us would settle down to complete inertia if we did not have to work to eat."
   -  Cid Ricketts Sumner


"The motivating team leader is that one person with a dream for the future."
   -  Lewis Losoncy