Can't tell you how many times I've pulled my boys in a wagon far from the house on a hot day... only to have them refuse to ride back home.
On good days, I can convince them I'm not a pack-mule and satisfy them with a lollipop. On bad days, I have to conjure up super-human strength to lug these pumpkins home... dragging the wagon behind me.
Okay, I confess this is actually a gripe couched in a personal story. Let me shoot straight. More and more, I find myself trying to convince people to stay with projects.
No less than three people have bailed on me this week when I was "miles from home."
John Maxwell is famous for saying, "We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are."
We don't get promoted into greatness. We have to go through the fires of commitment and hard work and struggle and follow-through to become a person of integrity. To become better than we are.
John Maxwell is also famous for abandoning speaking engagements while saying, "Gun? What gun? HuH?"
sorry... couldn't help it :)
http://tinyurl.com/d44z56
Posted by: david | March 18, 2009 at 10:52 AM
My kids do the same thing. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
Posted by: Paul | March 18, 2009 at 11:23 AM
hey, i'm still looking for a job if you need me to replace any of those three bailers! =)
Posted by: Shawna Lawhorn | March 18, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Great analogy. I can relate. Sad that so many seem to lack the conviction to see things all the way to completion. I'll admit that sometimes I screw up during the journey but I am always honest and see it through, even if it pains me.
Posted by: Daniel Decker | March 19, 2009 at 09:12 AM
ha!great story,make 'em walk back.
Posted by: Jim Gray | March 19, 2009 at 12:06 PM
what would say is an okay situation to drop out of a committment? is it ever ok to thrown in the towel or do you have to be "in it to win it" with every committment?
Posted by: gail | March 20, 2009 at 10:46 AM
I'd say a commitment to someone else should be kept.
Posted by: Ben Arment | March 20, 2009 at 02:39 PM