Last week I went to Live2Lead. I got to watch many speakers share a ton of great information. So much so, that I could do a blog entry, every day, for the rest of the year 🙂
The one nugget that really stood out for me though, came from Tyler Perry who said “Don’t despise small beginnings.” As an example, he referred to all the set backs he experienced while looking for a good filming studio site. The first one didn’t have enough parking, the second one got a lot of complaints from the neighbors and on and on it went. So much so that he almost passed on developing his current location. An abandoned military base, which now employs close to 30 thousand people.
Looking back and knowing what he knows now, Tyler was thankful for all the headaches that prepared him to build one of the largest studios in the United States. There’s no way he could have built something this big in just one step.
As I am reflecting, the parable of a mustard seed is coming to my mind:
“He set another man before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.” — Matthew 13:31–32
As a man, I want quick results. Not so much because I’m lazy, but when I don’t get to where I want to go fast, my tendency is to think that I’m doing something wrong. Or worse yet, I’m not qualified.Â
So the key learning for me is to look at the small beginnings as mustard seeds. The kind that don’t look like much initially, but with God, turn to something beyond everyone’s expectations.Â
When the doubts come and I start despising my small beginnings, it’s an opportunity to identify what might be binding my heart from loving better. From letting God in. From doing small things with a lot of love.
How do you view your small beginnings? How could you approach them with greater love?
Don’t know how to get started? We tend to be very good at solving problems with our minds. However, when our romantic relationships suffer, we don’t feel fulfilled at work, or don’t have quality friends … it typically has very little to do with logic. It’s driven by a locked up heart.
Please e-mail marek@cs1mindset.com for a complementary 30 minute “break the cycle” consultation.
After our talk, you will understand how leveraging love as a skill will unbind your heart and get you the breakthrough results you’re looking for.