Sunday 14 September 2014

A Book Review: The Winning Edge by John C Maxwell



"Troubled from without and within, the psalmist, has stopped for a moment in the way. He knows he cannot turn back but knows how to continue. Therefore he prays that God will help him follow through his decision to stay on the right road."

Good manners and right conduct matter. To succeed good habits are essential. What are your priorities? Mothers and teachers always point to us that if we failed in an academic subject, that does not mean we come short of intelligence, but if we failed in Good Manners and Right Conduct, there is something wrong.

"The Winning Attitude" by John C. Maxwell tells about opportunities around us and how to make use of those opportunities.

The author highlights the words "I can, I will, expect the best, I know, I will make time, positively, I am confident, I do believe, promote you, and God is able," among others.

In this view, as group work and for evaluation, leadership consultancy offices have developed values-based leadership workshops. For example, if you had to choose only four esteemed words from a deck of cards, what would they be? Would it be integrity, honesty, trust, family unity, change or success? You have to explain to the group your choices. Nothing is right nor wrong. It is a matter of working together and how you would use these choices for greater goals.

Moreover, Maxwell says that others can stop you temporarily, but you are the only one who can do it permanently.

Check the following.

Rough weather will not last forever.
Thought: This too shall pass.

Try to make major decisions before the storm.
Thought: Get a plan.

Keep in contact with the control tower.
Thought: God is always available.

Associate with the right people.
Thought: Your friends will tell who you are or from the old adage, "Birds of the same feather flock together."

Select a model.
Thought: Jesus Christ

Learn from mistakes.
Thought: Learn from the sages. Wisdom goes with experience, age and light of God.

Expose yourself to successful experience.
Thought: Act now! Take a leap of faith!

The book is a gem of wise experiences, words from the holy Bible, and discernment. In childhood and preschool, we had schedules to prepare us for school and good habits. We were taught discipline. There is no time for trivial things if we let our hearts grow large. The Psalmist asserts, "The Lord is my shepherd, why should I be afraid?"

Win!