This was my reading for the weekend. Once I started on it Friday night I could not put it down. It has been quite a few years since I read Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich. This book, Three Feet from Gold, was a good reminder of the gems contained in that book. I have learned a great deal from the experience of Napoleon Hill.
I have read Law of Success a couple of times and have referred back to it numerous times. Although it is 1,035 pages long, it is worth taking the time to digest the wealth of information contained in those pages. Hill's reminder to have "singleness of purpose" has been extremely helpful in my own spiritual journey. Do I have singleness of purpose in everything that I do to grow in holiness and in union with the Lord? It isn't just about becoming rich, successful, and famous. It is about living a good life and adding value to others. Although I don't recall seeing the words in the book, it always makes me think about "servant leadership."
The challenges we face in life are real. How do we respond to those challenges? Do we quit or find the strength to continue onward? Have we missed striking gold by three feet because we quit digging too early?
The gratitude I feel toward all those who have helped me in life is immense. It is amazing how certain people come along at the right time due to particular circumstances. I am grateful for a greater awareness of these blessings. In addition to everything I learned as a child, teen, and young adult by playing team athletics, my adult life has also been filled with opportunities to learn.
When I was playing basketball in college I had lost my confidence in making free throws. There were times I shot a higher percentage from the field than I did from the free throw line. How could I miss an easy shot so frequently with no one guarding me? After hours and hours of shooting free throws in practice, and more hours visualizing myself shooting free throws in game situations, I finally was able to make free throws my senior year in college. I no longer feared walking up to the free throw line. I welcomed it, especially in close games. This was a life lesson for me.
I was given a set of cassette tapes by Dr. Denis Waitley entitled, The Psychology of Winning. (Yes, it was a long time ago because it was a cassette tape set.) This started my adult journey toward understanding winning, success, goal-setting, and being a leader. I wish I would have had access to that information while I was playing competitive sports, but it was still a good starting point in my adult journey toward living a positive life.
Many years later I went through a video tape training series by John C. Maxwell entitled, Developing the Leader Within You. I have since devoured the many books written by John Maxwell. If you want to be a successful leader in the Church, his works are extremely helpful.
The challenges we face in life are real. How do we respond to those challenges? Do we quit or find the strength to continue onward? Have we missed striking gold by three feet because we quit digging too early?
The gratitude I feel toward all those who have helped me in life is immense. It is amazing how certain people come along at the right time due to particular circumstances. I am grateful for a greater awareness of these blessings. In addition to everything I learned as a child, teen, and young adult by playing team athletics, my adult life has also been filled with opportunities to learn.
When I was playing basketball in college I had lost my confidence in making free throws. There were times I shot a higher percentage from the field than I did from the free throw line. How could I miss an easy shot so frequently with no one guarding me? After hours and hours of shooting free throws in practice, and more hours visualizing myself shooting free throws in game situations, I finally was able to make free throws my senior year in college. I no longer feared walking up to the free throw line. I welcomed it, especially in close games. This was a life lesson for me.
I was given a set of cassette tapes by Dr. Denis Waitley entitled, The Psychology of Winning. (Yes, it was a long time ago because it was a cassette tape set.) This started my adult journey toward understanding winning, success, goal-setting, and being a leader. I wish I would have had access to that information while I was playing competitive sports, but it was still a good starting point in my adult journey toward living a positive life.
Many years later I went through a video tape training series by John C. Maxwell entitled, Developing the Leader Within You. I have since devoured the many books written by John Maxwell. If you want to be a successful leader in the Church, his works are extremely helpful.
Other authors and leaders such as Og Mandino, Zig Ziglar, Dale Carnegie, Charles "Tremendous" Jones, Harvey Mackay, Jim Collins, Norman Vincent Peale, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and many more have impacted my life by their writings. In my quest to understand life more fully from all aspects, these varying perspectives have helped me to become a better minister. It is important for Church leaders to be just that--"LEADERS." Why? One line from the book Three Feet from Gold sums it up quite well on page 192. "A true leader will take others where they would not have gone by themselves."
I have been sharing these blog posts recently about what I am reading to encourage you to read as well. We experience growth in our lives through reading. I have just started reading The Seven Minute Difference. On page 57 it shares some statistics. I did not verify these stats through any other source, but I am trusting that they are accurate. It says:
* 58% of American adults never read a book after high school; and
* 42% of university graduates never read another book after graduation.
Obviously, we need to be picking up the Bible and reading the Sacred Scriptures on a regular basis in addition to the other reading that we do. The less time I spend watching television the better off I am. This is especially true when I use that time to be productive instead. My time spent reading and praying is definitely productive time.
After completing Three Feet from Gold earlier today, I am excited about the blessings which may be just around the corner in my life. Whatever your life circumstances are right now, don't give up. Keep moving toward your purpose in life with energy and zeal. You may be closer to the "gold" than you think.
* 58% of American adults never read a book after high school; and
* 42% of university graduates never read another book after graduation.
Obviously, we need to be picking up the Bible and reading the Sacred Scriptures on a regular basis in addition to the other reading that we do. The less time I spend watching television the better off I am. This is especially true when I use that time to be productive instead. My time spent reading and praying is definitely productive time.
After completing Three Feet from Gold earlier today, I am excited about the blessings which may be just around the corner in my life. Whatever your life circumstances are right now, don't give up. Keep moving toward your purpose in life with energy and zeal. You may be closer to the "gold" than you think.
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