What I Know

John Maxwell has a five-day-a-week short leadership challenge. It is called Minute with Maxwell (https://johnmaxwellteam.com/minute/). A typical quip revolves around a word, or a phrase, submitted by either one of his team members, or a listener.  

He will often use this phrase, “Here’s what I know.” I appreciate when he does this. At that moment he will be providing an insight from his many years of leadership experience. 

He knows it because he experienced it. He knows it because he may have made a mistake in such a situation. He knows it because he had to handle it, walk someone through it, or simple learn from another.

Insight is knowing what to do. Application is doing what you know. Experience is what you learned from doing what you know. Wisdom is understanding that what you know is not always applicable. 

Experience does not always translate to wisdom. It only does so if you pay attention in the living of your experiences. When you do pay attention this provides a treasure trove of things you genuinely know.

Here’s what I know…

  • Reactive anger seldom results in anything being rectified

  • You’ll let your grandkids do things you would never allow your kids to do

  • Always take time to admire your work

  • Even if you are unable to explain on something works, use it anyway

  • You can complain, but the majority of people don’t care

  • My problems almost always seem bigger than your problems because they are MY problems

  • I don’t have to have an opinion about everything

  • People seem more intelligent when they agree with me

  • Genuine friends are those you can pick up right where you left off, regardless of how long it’s been

  • The more comfortable you are in a relationship the less you feel compelled to fill in the gaps of silence

  • Just because someone talks loud doesn’t mean they have something to say

  • Sitting in my backyard, reading a book, can be one of the most productive things I do

  • When it’s time to be done, just be done

  • Everything does not have eternal value, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid doing it

  • Contentment is found in knowing you have done your best; complacency is knowing you have not done your best and you’re okay with that

What do you know?