What’s the Source of Your Success?
Ok. Here’s a tough one for you . . .
If you were to come into a bunch of money, would the people who know you be genuinely happy for you?
Or this one . . .
If you were to be honored with an award, like “Employer of the Year,” would your employees be glad? Would they happily tell their friends about you?
More close to home . . .
If you were picked as your town’s “Best Dad,” would your children be genuinely smiling and high-fiving each other? Warm in their hearts that others had recognized their awesome dad?
When I’m asked what makes a great mentor, one of the first words that pops into my head is humility. Not false humility. But the real deal. The kind you can’t fake.
Where does that kind of humility come from?
From a deep-seeded belief that God is the source of your success . . . all your success. Humble men believe that whatever they’re being praised for wouldn’t be if it weren’t for Him. Either His hand in the events and circumstances, His hand in building Godly character . . . whatever the good in them, it’s from Him.
And if you really stop and think about what you’d be without Him, it’s not a stretch to give Him the credit. He either changed you or protected you. All by yourself, you’d be a lot less than you are with Him living inside you.
One of my favorite Proverbs (23:7) says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” If you truly “think in your heart” that you deserve the credit . . . that it’s really your tenacity, your brains, your personality making you successful, then you will never be humble. It’s only when you come to realize that it’s God, not you, that makes everything happen. He is the creator of your success. He can end it in a heartbeat, or by allowing a heart to stop its beat.
Only with this realization will you be able to gain true authentic humility.
So whenever praise comes your way, say “thank you.” It’s rude to reject someone’s kind words. But look for a way to immediately deflect the credit to who really deserves it.
Scripture: The crucible is for silver, the furnace is for gold, and a righteous man is tested by his praise. (Proverbs 27:21)
Mentor Tip: Your mentees will look up to you, maybe even be impressed by you. This is great, it means they’ll value what you say, but don’t forget to make sure they know who is really responsible for the success in your life. And then help them to see the same is true for them.
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