Connecting with People: The Exchange Principle.

The Exchange Principle: Instead of putting others in their place, we must put ourselves in their place. Look at Ephesians 2:19, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household” We are fellow citizen’s. Too many times we stoke our egos by stepping on others. God desires that we connect and to truly connect we need to realize we are in this together on equal ground.

George Washington Carver made this incredible observation…He said, “How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.” Our treatment of others results from our perspective of them. The problem is that seeing things from another person’s point of view doesn’t come naturally or easy. The reward is that if we leave our place and step into their place, we will connect with that person.

American Airways, which later became American Airlines, had a tremendous problem with complaints from passengers about lost luggage. Mr. LaMotte Cohn, general manager of the airline at the time, tried to get his station managers to overcome this issue, but he saw little progress. Finally, he came upon an idea to help the airline’s personnel to see things from their customers’ points of view. Cohn asked all of the station managers from across the country to fly to company headquarters for a meeting. Then he made sure that every manager’s luggage was lost in transit. Afterward, the airline suddenly made a huge leap of efficiency in luggage management. In order to connect with someone, we need try to see the world through their eyes… we are fellow citizens in God’s Kingdom.

You know I love ya - Don
(much of this came from John Maxwell's Book, "Winning with People," Nelson Business Pub. 2004)

Quiters, winners, and saying, "NO."

Therefore, brethren, since we ^(AH)have confidence to ^(AI)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by ^(AJ)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through ^(AK)the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have ^(AL)a great priest ^(AM)over the house of God, let us ^(AN)draw near with a sincere heart in ^(AO)full assurance of faith, having our hearts ^(AP)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies ^(AQ)washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the ^(AR)confession of our ^(AS)hope without wavering, for ^(AT)He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how ^(AU)to stimulate one another to love and ^(AV)good deeds, not forsaking our own ^(AW)assembling together, as is the habit of some, but ^(AX)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see ^(AY)the day drawing near.- Hebrews 10:19-25 (NASB)

I like this leadership thought from John Maxwell:

You may have the the saying, "Quitters never win, and winners never quit." Nothing could be further from the truth! Leaders are strategic quitters. They ruthlessly avoid activities that don't align with their vision or values. They know the power of "no" when faced with opportunities that cause them to drift from their purpose.

I've quit many things. during my leadership journey: counseling, administration, controlling, people-pleasing, and more. Quitting has been healthy for me because I've always quit for the right reasons. A few valid reasons to quit are:
1. You quit something you don't do well to start something you do well.
2. You quit something you're not passionate about to do something that fills you with passion.
3. You quit something that doesn't make a difference to do something that does.

No matter what it may be that you decide to pursue as a leader, remember that it takes initiative to get the project started.

I am working at being a better person at winning with people. In order to do that it is necessary to say "no" and quit some of my issues to grow in other people lives. So, this article struck a cord with me. I trust it will with you as well. Have a great day and you know I love ya - Don