What More Can I Do?

Happy Friday, Friends! 

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this glorious, stormy, Sunday afternoon in my Sweet Home Alabama!

For the last couple of weeks somewhere in my Happy Friday I have said something like, “I am reading this great book titled, On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life by John O’Leary, and I learned…” Well, this week is no different! 😊 In fact, the content of Chapter 6 has so grabbed my heart and convicted my Spirit that I am going to share several excerpts with you.

Chapter 6: What More Can You Do?

“One life can, and always does, change the world.”

“The impact of a simple spark is profound. Sometimes the smallest actions, words, and deeds transform lives.”

“My friend, we frequently cheapen our ability to influence radical change. We underestimate our personal ability to be a spark that ignites and influences the world in profoundly important ways.

We possess the ability and opportunity to positively and permanently effect change around us.

Simple action and ordinary people change the world.

It starts with one.

It starts with you.

But you have to pay attention.”

“And then he asked one simple but essential question: What more can I do?

In asking this question he saw possibility where others saw limitations, took action where others watched idly, and focused on making a difference for others.”

“What are you paying attention to? Most of us pay attention to our own problems.”

“The individuals who attain the highest forms of achievement in life don’t sprint toward success, but significance. They don’t run races, build businesses, raise kids, and live lives for themselves; they do these things to make a difference for others. They hold hands, move hearts, give love, and impact lives. Through these actions, achieving this kind of victory, the fire burns long after they are gone.”

“Yet, after getting to know the man, meeting his kids, speaking with his wife, and hearing stories of his impact from others around the country, I am convinced I know the secret to his success: his life wasn’t about him.

It was just that simple. He didn’t keep score. His work wasn’t about his earning power. His time wasn’t about what he could get. Renowned as a celebrity, he had no ego.

He paid attention to others around him – and took action to make their lives better. His actions weren’t loud, weren’t overly heroic, weren’t that costly. But by his consistent investment in others the ripple effect of his life radiates outward long after his death.”

“Believing in the power of one allows us to see where we could make a difference. It allows us to see the opportunity of What more can I do? It jars us from sleepiness, wakes us up to pay attention, and demands that we take action.

In my experience, believing that God works through all things frees me from the stress of worrying each day, being weighed down by the tragedies around me, and ignites me with certainty that the best is yet to come. I believe that God is all-knowing, all-loving, and all-powerful. And I believe that because God frequently works through our words, deeds, and love, we must remain open to his will in our lives.

Believing opens your heart to love, your eyes to possibility, and your life to the truth that your life, that every life, matters profoundly.”

“SUCCESS V. SIGNIFICANCE 

We make a living by what we get; we make a life

by what we give.

- Winston Churchill

We’re all busy.

We all have innumerable responsibilities, tasks, and chores. You may be

feeling, Gosh, I can’t do one more thing. I am maxed out with my family, my

job, the bills. What more can I do?

Here is your inflection point. Instead of throwing up your hands and

saying, “Gosh, what more can I do? – open up your heart, reach out

your hand, and say, “What more can I do?”

I encourage you to ask this question tonight. Journal it. Demand an

answer. What more can I do to achieve the opportunities in front of me,

to take back my health, to more fully celebrate the blessings God has

granted me, to better love family members, to pay attention to those

who may need a glimmer of hope?

Everything you do every day of your life matters profoundly.

When you chase success, your spark burns out quickly.

When you do something of significance, the spark jumps to life, spreads

to others, and burns brightly long after you are gone.

The work you do quietly for others may not make headlines, but it will

inspire others and give your life significance.

Decide today to make your family, your community, your organization,

your world, a better place.

Pay attention.

Ask, “What more can I do?

And see the spark catch flame and create a powerful inferno of change.

Choose significance.”

So Friends, will we be the ones? Will we choose to pay attention? Will we choose to focus on the needs of others instead of our wants, our worries, our cares, and our concerns? Will we choose to do what we can, where we are? Will we choose to live a life of significance? Will each one of us be brave enough to ask, “What more can I do?” Will we be courageous enough to live whatever the answer to that question is?

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great afternoon, a great week, please cherish your precious families, and please stay well! 😊

Kev