Love Works Wednesday Linkup Week 9

We continue the Wednesday series based on Love Works by Joel Manby.  In today’s post, Bill Grandi (The Cycleguy) and I are discussing the tenth chapter (A Choice You Make).  Check out Bill’s take by clicking here.

Since I already read the book, I thought it would be interesting to highlight some of the sentences I underlined when I read the book initially:

• “’Profitability is a necessary condition for existence and a means to more important ends, but it is not the end in itself for visionary companies.  Profit is like oxygen, food, water, and blood for the body; they are not the point of life, but without them, there is no life.'”  Jim Collins – Author of Built to Last (p. 171)
• “Enduring and successful companies are more ideologically driven and less purely profit focused than companies that don’t perform as well financially.”  (p. 171)
• “‘There are two essential activities that take time:  developing an organization and developing a brand.  Those activities are parallel and interdependent.  Leadership is about teaching an organization what you stand for; brand building is about teaching millions of consumers what you stand for.  Leadership and brand building require time, consistency, and constancy.'” Joe Kennedy – CEO of Pandora  (p. 173)
• “Shaping corporate culture is up to individuals across the hierarchy, no matter what their job title is.  Any of us can make a real difference.” (p. 175)
• “Never lose an opportunity to bring sunshine into the life of another.  A few encouraging words could make a huge difference in someone’s life. (p. 176)
• “Leading with love is too important to be left to chance.  It takes effort to lead with the principles of love – to be patient, kind, trustful, unselfish, truthful, forgiving, and dedicated.”  (p. 182)

We live in a time of entitlement – at least here in America.  People think that things should be handed to them and that the hard work of making things better belongs to others.  Many people are looking to their organizations, to other organizations, and to the government to take the leading role in changing the world.

While organizations and political entities may play a role in this change, I’m convinced that true change will only happen when individuals stand up and decide to take action.  Love based leadership is up to you and me.  We can’t wait for others to jump on board and take charge.  We have to be the trailblazers in our companies, in our churches, in our communities, and even in our homes.

We all have a choice to make.  We can sit around waiting for the world to change.  Or we can be the change that the world needs.  It starts with us leading with love.  As Manby states in this chapter, it doesn’t matter whether you’re the CEO, a mid-level manager, a front-line employee, or the janitor.  How you live and act will impact your span of influence.  From there it will spread like ripples in a still pond until the whole body of water is impacted.

Choose today to lead with love.  Choose to make a difference.  Choose to set the tone where ever you are today.

Next week, Bill and I will conclude our exploration of Love Works and love based leadership.  It’s been a great adventure.  Be sure to check out next week Wednesday’s post for the conclusion of the series.  (And don’t forget to stop back every day between now and then for more great Stretched content.)

How will YOU make a difference TODAY?  What will you do to lead with LOVE today?  What difference have you seen around you when one person decides to take action?