Be All You Can Be

1. Vision Fuels Fruitfulness & Purpose

The poorest person in the world is not the person who doesn’t have a nickel. The poorest person in the world is the one who doesn’t have a vision.

Vision provides direction. A clear vision, a dream or purpose beyond oneself, is the driving force behind a fruitful and impactful life. It moves individuals beyond the mundane, immediate concerns to strive for something greater, often for the glory of God and the betterment of others. Without a compelling vision, people tend to drift, lacking the motivation to overcome obstacles or reach their full potential.

Stages of a dream. A God-given dream typically progresses through stages: "I thought it" (initial idea), "I caught it" (excitement and personal connection), "I bought it" (commitment and investment), "I sought it" (pursuit driven by desire), and "I got it" (realization). Successful individuals move through all these stages, willing to pay the price for their vision. The ultimate stage for a leader is "I taught it," passing the vision to others.

Vision stops and sends. A powerful vision from God first stops us, revealing our current position and potential, often highlighting our shortcomings ("Woe is me"). But it doesn't leave us there; it sends us out to impact the lives of others. This dual action of stopping and sending, as seen in figures like Paul and Isaiah, is crucial for transforming personal potential into outward influence and fruitfulness.

2. Redefine Success: Contribution Over Acquisition

to be all I can be, I need to help you be all you can be.

Worldly vs. Christian success. The world often defines success as the power to acquire what one desires without violating others' rights, focusing on self-demand. A Christian definition, however, centers on contributing to the betterment of mankind and lasting eternity, where life demands of self. True success is found in using one's potential and gifts to serve others and enhance God's kingdom.

Reasons people fail. Many people don't achieve success (becoming all God intended) because they lack the need to succeed, are afraid of success (due to pressure, responsibility, poor self-image, loneliness, or risk), or are suspicious of success, wrongly equating it with a lack of spirituality or humility. Biblical figures like Joseph, Nehemiah, and Paul demonstrate that success and spirituality are not mutually exclusive.

Formula for success (SUCCESS acrostic). Achieving success involves selecting a worthwhile goal that includes others, unlocking imprisoned potential by stretching and seeking mentors, committing to God's plan found through prayer and using one's gifts, charting a course with wise planning, expecting problems as part of the journey, standing firm on commitment despite challenges, and surrendering everything to Jesus Christ for true power. This surrender brings the radiant energy of Christ, enabling a righteous and effective life.

3. Stretch Beyond Comfort to Unlock Potential

Like rubber bands, our personalities, talents, and gifts are different; we’re also not effective unless we’re stretched.

Why we avoid stretching. Most people instinctively avoid stretching because of fear of the unknown, satisfaction with their current state, laziness, low self-esteem, or a desire to conform and not be different. Evaluating these personal barriers is the first step to overcoming complacency and becoming more effective for God. Stretching is not natural; it requires intentional motivation.

Motivation to stretch. Motivation to stretch can come from various sources, including challenge itself, dissatisfaction with the present, previous successes, or making a public commitment. Throwing your "cap over the wall" by publicly declaring a goal creates accountability and pushes you to pursue something you might otherwise avoid. Spending time with people who are "better" than you in certain areas also forces you to stretch and improve.

Vulnerability and persistence. Stretching makes you vulnerable to criticism, misunderstanding, failure, and discouragement. Critics are often those unwilling or unable to stretch themselves. The best defense is producing fruit. Failure is inevitable when stretching, but it should not be final; surround yourself with encouragers. Stretching is a continuous process, not a one-time event, requiring constant learning and avoiding shortcuts or settling for less than the best.

4. See It, Say It, Seize It: Faith in Action

There are many people in this world who see it. There are some people in this world who say it. But there are only a few people in this world who seize it.

Three levels of living. Life can be lived on three levels: the "see-it" level (faith's opportunity, seeing potential), the "say-it" level (faith's word, verbalizing belief and commitment), and the "seize-it" level (faith's action, taking vital steps). While everyone has the opportunity to see, fewer move to saying, and only an elite few reach the level of seizing, where vision translates into tangible action and results.

Biblical examples of seeing. Leaders like Moses were great visionaries who saw beyond immediate circumstances ("seeing Him who is unseen"). This vision enabled them to make difficult decisions, pay the necessary price, live for eternal rewards, and overcome fear. Caleb's vision gave him conviction, obedience, vitality (even at 85), and ultimately, possession of the land. Abram was told to "look from the place where you are" in every direction, emphasizing that opportunity exists where you are, but you must see it to possess it.

Saying and seizing. Moving from seeing to saying requires confidence, commitment, effective communication (getting others to participate in the dream), and conviction (emotional drive that motivates others). Seizing the vision, taking action, is the hardest step, often avoided due to fear of failure, the need for discipline, the division between the concerned and the committed, and the time commitment required. Securing a dream involves stating it, examining motives, considering options, utilizing resources, removing nonessentials, and embracing challenges.

5. Effective Leadership Rests on Relationships

Your relationship with others determines how you will influence them.

Relational leadership components. Jesus, the good shepherd, exemplifies relational leadership. Key components include knowing people intimately (calling sheep by name), building trust (sheep follow because they know his voice), and modeling behavior (shepherd goes ahead). The ability to work well with others is highly valued by employers and crucial for survival and success in any field.

Handling conflicts. Conflicts are inevitable in relationships. The "101 percent principle" suggests finding the 1% of agreement with someone difficult and giving it 100% effort. Ten commandments for handling conflicts include loving people more than opinions, giving others the benefit of the doubt, being flexible on matters of taste (not principle), providing an escape hatch for others, checking your own attitude, not overreacting, avoiding defensiveness, welcoming conflict as a learning experience, and taking the risk to extend friendship first.

Cultivating good relationships. Effective relationships are cultivated by knowing people (acknowledging your need for others, believing in their value, concentrating on people over programs), growing them (being available, reliable, reassuring through affirmation, and resourceful by solving problems), and showing them (modeling good people skills, as people do what they see). Leadership is about cultivating people, like a plow turning earth, rather than bulldozing obstacles.

6. Solve Problems, But Save the People

They wanted to get rid of the demon-possessed men, but they didn’t want to lose their pigs.

Cost of problem-solving. The story of the Gadarenes losing their pigs illustrates a common human tendency: wanting problems solved without paying the price. People desire deliverance without disturbance, benefits without bills, and success without sacrifice. This "gratification culture" prioritizes comfort and ease over results and growth, hindering effective leadership and spiritual vitality.

Leadership means discomfort. Successful leadership involves embracing discomfort. Paul's life demonstrates that commitment to Christ often means affliction, hardship, and never getting comfortable. Effective leaders don't have a "plan B" for commitment; they remove exit signs and press on, refusing to settle for mere maintenance when growth is possible. Comfort as a highest aim is incompatible with deep commitment.

Leadership means dissatisfaction and disruption. Great leaders like John Wesley and Charles Spurgeon were driven by a holy dissatisfaction, never content with the status quo but always striving for more souls and greater impact. This dissatisfaction fuels motivation and prevents stagnation. Leadership also means disruption; working with people is unpredictable. Effective leaders respond positively to disruptions, adjusting tactics while keeping their eyes on the goal, ministering to needs while pressing toward the vision.

7. Problems Reveal Opportunity, Not Defeat

Your problem is not your problem.

Surface vs. core problems. The real issue is often not the problem itself, but how we respond to it. People with large problems can thrive, while others are devastated by small ones. Our response is shaped by what we see (perspective, discernment) and what we seek (desires, values, purpose). Getting the person "right" is key to handling problems effectively; a strong inner state can overcome external difficulties.

How we see problems. Our perception of problems is influenced by past experiences (positive experiences build confidence), present environment (surrounding people matter more than circumstances), and personal evaluation (self-image determines the size of problems we tackle). We tend to magnify problems instead of reducing them. While we can't always change circumstances, we can choose our perspective, like the woman in the wheelchair choosing the color of her affliction.

What we seek determines problem size. Problems shrink as our purpose increases. Goal-oriented people are less deterred by obstacles. Seeking learning over leisure helps us handle problems well, as problems are the "cutting edge" where life has meaning and growth occurs. Seeking holiness over happiness, rather than just comfort, leads to true blessedness. Seeking solutions instead of sympathy empowers us to tackle problems rather than dwelling on them.

8. Failure is a Stepping Stone, Not a Tombstone

Failure is not final.

Failure is common. Successful people fail frequently, only slightly less often than unsuccessful people. Everyone fails, often, and will continue to fail throughout life. The key difference lies in how failure is treated: as an enemy to be hidden or a friend to learn from. Concentrating on avoiding failure often leads to the very outcome feared.

Treat failure as a friend. Viewing failure as a friend allows for positive reactions: honesty, learning, and even laughter. Hiding failure or taking mistakes too seriously leads to anxiety and stagnation. A person is not a failure until they blame others. Admitting our "schnozzles" (peculiarities or mistakes) allows us to learn and move forward, rather than building monuments to past failures.

View failure inwardly and successfully. Failure is not merely an external result but an internal activity. What the world labels as failure may be a necessary step in a larger process, as seen in Edison's experiments. Successful failure occurs when we learn from mistakes, are stirred to keep trying (like the mule in the well), and are willing to change. Failure can also help us discover our true selves and purpose, as it did for figures like Hawthorne and Brooks. Never quit because of failure; keep swinging the bat.

9. Decision Determines Destiny: Choose Wisely

where you are today, in all probability, is a result of decisions you made yesterday.

Leaders guide decisions. Leaders like Joshua bring people to points of decision, recognizing that while some things are beyond our control (like birth circumstances), many crucial choices are ours to make. We are responsible for these choices and their outcomes; blaming others hinders maturity and progress. Making right choices sooner rather than later is always better.

Leaders decide first. Effective leaders do not wait for followers to decide; they step out and declare their direction, influencing others by their example. Joshua's declaration, "as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD," influenced the Israelites to follow. This willingness to make choices first, even when it's lonely, is a hallmark of leadership.

Decision-making process. Making wise decisions involves a five-stage process: 1) Foundation (understanding history, key players, problems, accomplishments, expectations), 2) Fact (identifying what you know, need to know, and don't know), 3) Feedback (consulting a trusted "inner circle" based on knowledge, skill, experience, responsibility, feeling, and principle), 4) Focus (anticipating problems, planning procedures, communicating, gaining consideration, comparing options, building conviction, and securing commitment), and 5) Forward (acting with good timing, recognizing that the right decision at the right time leads to success).

10. Move Beyond Survival for God's Full Power

I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself.

Survival hinders effectiveness. The natural instinct to survive can keep us at a mediocre level, leading to compromise, spiritual stagnation, excusing ineffectiveness (prioritizing faithfulness over fruitfulness), sapping joy, hindering complete obedience, and robbing us of God's power and blessings. Biblical examples like Lot, Ananias and Sapphira, and Saul show that trying to save one's life often results in losing the best God has to offer.

"I don't have to survive" characteristics. People who move beyond a survival mentality have faith in God, not themselves, recognizing their limitations and trusting His power. They become agents of change, impacting people, nations, and generations. They are willing to stand alone for what is right, even unpopular decisions. They possess unusual spiritual power because God empowers those who are selfless and willing to put their lives on the line for His cause.

Overcoming security and success problems. Insecurity drives survival behavior; secure people, anchored in God's approval rather than human opinion, are free to take risks and make right decisions. Success can also lead to a survival mindset, guarding accomplishments and avoiding risks. Paul's secret was not considering his life or reputation as dear, choosing weakness and humility to demonstrate God's power. Overcoming this involves not taking ourselves too seriously, creating a climate of acceptance, fearing God more than man, turning accomplishments into challenges, and making room for innovators.

Last updated: June 9, 2025