Jamy Bechler

Providing Insights on Leadership and Success. Coach Bechler is a John Maxwell Leadership Team Member.

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Sep 06 2022

The Lighthouse Keeper

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” (Dr. Seuss)

A lighthouse keeper received a new supply of oil once a month to keep the light burning.

Click here to listen to the 2-minute audio version of this article

Not being far from shore, he had frequent guests.

One night a woman from the village begged for some oil to keep her family warm.

Another time, a father asked for some to use in his lamp.

Another needed some to lubricate a wheel.

All the requests seemed legitimate so the lighthouse keeper tried to please everyone.

Toward the end of the month, the supply of oil soon was gone and the light went out.

That night several ships wrecked and lives were lost.

When the authorities investigated, the man was very repentant.To his excuses and pleading their reply was simply, “You were given one job—keep that light burning!”

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell once said, “Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity”.

Just about every decision that we make will either complicate or simplify our life. The people that we come in contact with oftentimes demand that we give into their requests.

Unfortunately, we will not always be able to please everyone. In fact, if we try to please everyone, we may end up creating more problems than we had to begin with.

A good leader has a solid foundation and relies on that foundation to make decisions. If you desire to be a true leader or are currently in a leadership position, then you will have to make difficult decisions.

Too many leaders end up being like tumbleweeds or kites – whichever way the wind blows is the way that they go. They are scared to lose a job or that people won’t like them. They don’t rely on a solid foundation

If you want to please everyone then you should probably just go and start selling ice cream.

 

Jamy Bechler is the author of The Leadership Playbook, host of the Success is a Choice Podcast, professional speaker, and trains organizations on creating championship cultures. Bechler spent 20 years as a college basketball coach and administrator. He has worked with businesses and teams, including the NBA. Follow him on twitter at @CoachBechler. To connect with him via email or find out about his services, please contact speaking@CoachBechler.com. You can also subscribe to his insights on success and leadership by clicking here.

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Personal Growth · Tagged: Choices, Colin Powell, decision making, Dr. Seuss, Ice Cream, Leaders, Leadership, Lighthouse, making decisions, Selling, Tough Decisions

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