Courage : Necessary for Everything — and For Our Leaders
To get ahead in life, one must be courageous. The Bible says it . . . and all the how-to-achieve-success authorities say it.
Those who play it safe rarely become all that they can be. Only the courageous, who face the difficult and challenging, day-after-day, optimize their success.
For example, in sales the courageous call at higher levels. In manufacturing, they innovate a new, more cost effective process. In finance, the courageous borrow the funds necessary to make the deal, to start the business, to make the acquisition, to buy the stock, etc.
Politically, people with courage deal at higher levels within their corporation, institution, etc. They negotiate something that is better for them and good for their employer.
Courage, of course, should not be confused with recklessness, which should always be avoided. Courage is never a substitute for competence. However, courage, combined with thoughtfulness and competence, can take one to greater heights than one could ever imagine.
They say the best way to develop courage is by overcoming that which you fear . . . by overcoming irrational fear. Of course, one must have the stomach for this kind of self development . . . and always be reasonable in every risk-taking venture.
Courage, persistence, determination, competence . . . all keys to success in every venture.
Regrettably, real courage is obviously lacking among our political leaders. We must have courageous leaders who are willing to say necessary, but risky, things.
Where is the congressman of courage willing to speak out that the unemployed should quit whining. They should go out every day, knock on some doors and submit an application.
When I was out of work I sent out one-hundred resumes a day, every day, no excuses. Sometimes it took months – but I always landed a good job. As a student looking for work, I knocked on every door in town until I got a job – even working the night shift.
Too many of our people are sitting on their behind’s waiting for government to rescue them. It won’t! Success depends on individual initiative, not on politicians who promise to take care of everyone.
And when you get a job … Get up early every day … read a page from the Bible and/or from an inspirational book … be clean, well groomed, an attentive listener, and well spoken … choose your friends carefully … get to work a half-hour early and leave a half-hour late … think, analyze, conclude, know what you know and don’t know … do the best you can … . treat people as you’d like to be treated … ask, believe, and receive the Lord’s support with undoubting Faith … and good things will eventually happen.
All of that is true; it’s essential for people to hear, even if they don’t want to hear it. But only courageous public figures will be willing to say it!
So, where are these courageous men and women??