The Inspired Leader: 101 Biblical Reflections for Becoming a Person of Influence (41 page)

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IT WAS THE WORST retail store I had ever seen. Sam had brought a couple of trucks of watermelons in and stacked them on the sidewalk. He had a donkey ride out in the parking lot. It was about 115 degrees, and the watermelons began to pop, and the donkey began to do what donkeys do, and it all mixed together and ran all over the parking lot. And when you went inside the store, the mess just continued, having been tracked in all over the floor. He was a nice fellow, but I wrote him off. It was just terrible.” Thus was described the launching of Sam Walton’s third Wal-Mart store in Harrison, Arkansas. Not a spectacular beginning!

One of the qualities that made Sam Walton ultimately so successful was his eternal optimism. Regardless of how poorly something began, he always assumed it would get better. In Sam’s early years he took a management position at J.C. Penney. When the regional manager stopped by and examined Sam’s store, he declared, “I’d fire you if you weren’t such a good salesman. Maybe you’re not cut out for retail” (
Sam Walton,
23). Sam didn’t give up, however. When he later began opening stores across the country, his daughter Alice tearfully confided to a friend, “I don’t know what we’re going to do. My daddy owes so much money, and he won’t quit opening stores.” Ultimately, of course, Sam’s early, small, relatively unimpressive efforts grew into the largest retail chain and employer in the world. Many of the greatest accomplishments in human history have begun inauspiciously.

God declared, “
For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones”
(Isaiah 57:15). God is high and lifted up. But on earth, He delights in those who are humble. Even when God sent His Son to earth, He did not start Him out in a palace, but in a stable. Jesus claimed that His kingdom was like a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32). It begins as something seemingly small and insignificant, but it gradually grows into something large and widespread. Jesus did not begin His earthly ministry with great fanfare. In fact, He told His first disciples that He had nowhere to lay His head. Yet they followed and, eventually developed a movement that covered the globe.

The world loves to celebrate size and numbers. The bigger it is the better. The faster the growth is, the more impressive. Yet this mindset is dangerously seductive. When we begin something with plentiful resources, we do not feel totally dependent upon God. When we have many people heralding our spectacular launch, we may not feel we need God’s guidance. When we launch ventures with much fanfare, we attract people who are looking for quick and easy success. While strong beginnings are certainly not sinful, they tend to foster carnal attitudes and self-sufficient behaviors.

The problem can be that we do not have the patience to wait until that which is small has had time to develop and gain strength. In 1905, Alex Y. Malcolmson had a falling out with Henry Ford. In a pique of anger, he sold his shares for $175,000. Malcolmson would later declare bankruptcy, while his relinquished shares would have been worth hundreds of millions of dollars only ten years later. Don’t despise small beginnings!

REFLECT FOR A MOMENT

1. Are you easily seduced by size? Do you assume that bigger is better? Perhaps you need to take time to study the Scriptures and to beware of that which the world is impressed with!
   

2. Are you discouraged by smallness? If you are a part of a humble beginning, don’t lose heart! Some of history’s greatest ventures began small and without fanfare. What is one “small” thing you are a part of right now? If you do not belong to anything that is small, perhaps you need to find something that you can help grow.
   

3. Have you lost patience with smallness? Could it be that you are in danger of walking away before a project or effort reaches its potential? If God has called you to something small and seemingly insignificant, be certain you do not abandon it if God has not released you from it.
   

WILLIAM VANDERBILT WAS a warmhearted, kind man, who inherited 100 million dollars from his father in 1877, making him one of the wealthiest men of his day. In less than nine years, he grew his wealth to $194 million. Yet perhaps what he is best known for were two infamous quotes in the
Chicago Daily News.
In an interview on 9 October 1882, he declared, “The railroads are not run for the benefit of the ‘dear public’ —that cry is all nonsense—they are built by men who invest their money and expect to get a fair percentage on the same.” In 1883, when asked about a popular fast mail train that was being discontinued, he retorted, “The public be __________! I don’t take any stock in this silly nonsense about working for anybody but our own.” While technically he was correct, his honest comments were public relations disasters and came to symbolize the calloused attitudes of the “robber barons” of the Gilded Age.

John Jacob Astor was famous in his day as one of the wealthiest men in America. But perhaps he is best known for being the wealthiest person on the
Titanic
during its maiden voyage. When the ship struck an iceberg, the captain informed his most illustrious guest before he sounded the general alarm, so Astor could be saved on a lifeboat. Astor declined, however. Instead he ensured that his pregnant wife Madeleine was safely aboard a lifeboat. Astor’s body was eventually recovered with $2,500 in cash in his pockets.

Randy Pausch was a popular computer science professor at Carnegie-Mellon University. On August 15, 2007, Pausch learned that his pancreatic cancer had metastasized and that he was almost certainly going to die. He was asked to deliver a final lecture at his university on September 18, 2007. His title was, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” On that day, the lecture hall was filled. Though everyone knew he was dying, his lecture was on living. He subsequently put his thoughts into a book entitled
The Last Lecture,
that became a bestseller. Pausch died on July 27, 2008, leaving behind his wife and three young children. But through his book and Web site, he continues to be remembered, and to exert an ongoing positive influence on people worldwide.

Scripture concludes, “
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches”
(Proverbs 22:1). Biblically, our “name” represents the reputation of our character. It is what we are known for. We generally develop our reputation through our words and primarily through our actions. Yet not all words and actions are of equal value. We might speak kind words 100 times to our child, but in a moment of frustration, spew out a few angry insults that are remembered long after our kind words are forgotten. We might do 100 different effective projects for our company, but what we may be remembered for is the unethical behavior that led to our eventual dismissal. Often it is not how we began, but how we ended, that carries the most weight with people. Certain words and actions have a way of being indelibly imprinted into people’s minds, regardless of what else we say and do.

The question for each of us is: how will we be remembered? One careless word can undo 1,000 thoughtful utterances. One selfish action can erase the good of 1,000 noble actions. Every day we are investing in our name. We cannot control what people think about us; but we can control our words and actions.

REFLECT FOR A MOMENT

1. What kind of “name” have you been developing with others? If your actions and words have been contributing to your name, or reputation, are you pleased with the name you have built? If not, how do you wish it was different?
   

2. Sometimes one thoughtless, negative word or action can negate hundreds of positive ones. Have you been careless with your words or actions? Do people know you more for something negative or something positive? You cannot erase past words or actions. However, you can live your life today in such a way that you begin to restore your name into a positive one, once more.
   

3. What positive actions are you doing today that will be fondly remembered long after you are gone? What could you do to enhance the positive reputation of your name for years to come?