i's of leadership


issue no 2. no care for those people out there... inward-ness.

Most people are not taught how to care for others...

One friend of mine has noticed that the 'natural tendency of the human heart is to turn inward.

'Selfishness is the act of giving priority of thought or deed to the self. It is placing one’s own interests over the needs or desires or others. Selfishness is often thought to be the opposite of altruism. Altruism is the selfless concern for the welfare of others. Altruism is considered a virtue, while selfishness is considered a vice.'

Selfishness is rampant and is manifested through a me, myself and I mind set. The worldview revolves around a persons self interest. They, are at the center of their universe.

A friend of mine was an interior designer for the Queen of England. His clients were the powerful, famous and the wealthy.

One lady burst into his shop, interrupted a meeting with some other clients, while weeping with hand to head, dramatically stated accusingly,'You've ruined my life!'

He had the presence of mind to escort the weeping emotional woman to a side room. When she calmed down he was able to hear how he ruined her life. Turns out the custom carpet he designed and had installed... had a seam.

After phoning the installers he found out there was an almost unnoticeable, undetectable to the naked eye seam. He assured her that her life wasn't over and the seam was quite normal on this type of carpet. The drama queen left quite satisfied she had been heard and that her life had not been ruined.

Amazing! Guess who was at the center of her universe.

Not caring for those in our community often stems from a my church, my weekend service, my seat, my kids, my training, my needs mind set. Although following Christ, there is often no thought of others. Nor is there the heart / life value of caring for the least, the lost and the lonely in their mix.

donald miller author of blue like jazz stated at a certain point in his life,
'I was addicted to myself. All I thought about was myself. The only thing I really cared about was myself. I had very little concept of love, altruism, or sacrifice. I discovered my mind is like a radio that picks up only one station, the one that plays me:
K-don, all don, all the time.'


the leadership component needed to break this mindset is motivational, touching the heart stick-able stories, facts, figures, stats, and emotional visual... information.

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