[Today's post is by the author of Success Kills, Dr. Wayde Goodall. Goodall and his wife, Rosalyn, are authors, speakers, life-coaches, ministry consultants and pastors traveling extensively around the globe holding family events and seminars. Success Kills is published by New Leaf Press.]
When writing Success Kills, Sidestep the Snares that Will Steal Your Dreams, several thoughts ran through my mind over and over again:
- What happened to that guy when he got promoted? He became weird.
- What happened to that company when they became the top in their field? They seemed to lose their focus when they became successful.
- Why is that church no longer on the cutting edge? They were once the Christian voice of this community.
Most of us have watched people become elected or selected to a board position and it seems that overnight they changed from “Mr. Nice Guy” to “Mr. Mean.” Position, power and title can change a person or an organization in negative ways. Companies, churches, organizations, people…you and I…can change with an important title or much-improved income, and often the basics are forgotten.
The auto industry is going through a major adjustment. General Motors, along with and several other companies, has been approved for bankruptcy. When reading this news on the Internet I remembered a time when G.M. was the place to be.
I used to hang doors on G.M. cars when I was 18. Those doors weighed over 40 lbs. and I hung about that many an hour, for 8 or more hours a day. It was hard work, but the pay was great and I was proud to work at the factory. Back then, living in the Flint, Michigan area gave one a sense of pride to get a job with a “successful” company.
My father and my brother retired from General Motors. Cousins, uncles, aunts and friends worked for the “factory.” Now…bankrupt, reorganizing and selling off…who knows where the company will be in a few months. What happened?
Recently I was doing some work in Japan and I noticed Toyotas everywhere. They have been the #1 selling auto in the U.S. and lots of other places. Today, they are experiencing a loss and are reorganizing. Not long ago they fired their president and are now trying to find a way to get back to the basics…which they say means affordable, quality cars that the average person can buy.
I remember the previous president saying that one of the greatest fears he had when they became #1 was Complacency. Meaning, losing the passion that made them #1 and becoming satisfied with just getting to the top. Toyota knows that the economic crisis has really hit them; they also feel they have made some mistakes and forgotten the basics.
I believe God has designed a unique plan for you and me. You have gifts, abilities, talents, skills, and dreams that no one else has. Being successful is a good thing, and your Creator has a personal design for your life and what you are created to do.
It’s good to evaluate what success means to us and ask the question, “How does God evaluate success and how does His definition fit into my life, plans and goals?”
Success can be the new position we have worked for, a certain income level, or an award or recognition, but it’s not necessarily connected to power, money, education, talent or our title.
But, it is being faithful and obedient to do what we know is right. That is God’s will.
Abraham was called a “friend of God.” When his wife died, he and his son Isaac grieved. He also noticed how lonely his son was. Abraham felt that if Isaac had a wife that had certain characteristics and the same faith as Isaac that he would be happier and comforted.
He asked his servant to go to a certain location and find a specific kind of woman for Isaac. The servant wanted to be successful in his assignment of finding exactly the right person that would be a match.
He prayed, “O Lord … grant me success today.” (Gen. 24:12). And guess what? God gave him what he prayed for. Absolute success.
We can’t ever forget that this servant followed the rules, the specific plan, stayed with the basics of trusting the Lord and he prayed for success.
In your success, what are the rules? How did you get there or how do you plan to stay there? Who helped you? Do you remember the hard work, dedication and passion it took to get you where you are? Most of all, do you know that God has given you favor? This is a sacred trust.
Also, have you have stumbled?
You can start over today. Don’t stay down. Perhaps you have to reorganize and reengineer your life. With God’s help, you can do it.
“The steps of a man [or woman] are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand” (italics and bold mine) Proverbs 37:23-24.
