1. The way to guarantee success is to work smarter, not harder.
This is a losing idea. You will find that effective leaders do both. They work smarter, and they work harder.
2. Activity equals accomplishment.
Activity is not accomplishment. Hard work is not results. We should not ask ourselves whether we’re busy, but what we’re busy about. We serve a God Who is interested in results.
3. Take care of things, and they will take care of you.
We should not “take care,” we should take control. If you don’t take control of your own life, somebody else will.
4. If you want to be a success, you must pay the price.
You don’t pay the price for success; you possess the price for success. The path to success belongs to you. It’s not something that you have to give up in order to succeed.
5. Don’t waste (kill) time.
Although this truism expresses a good thought, it is really not accurate. When you waste time, it is not time you are wasting, it is your very life.
6. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
That is not good advice. Even though things are working, many times they still can be significantly improved or modified.
7. What you see is what you get.
We Christians are commanded not to be moved by what we see but by the Word of God. We are to see the unseen in every situation of life.
8. He is a self-made man.
There is no such thing. A person can succeed only with the help of God and others.
9. Talk is cheap.
False. Talk is very expensive. What an individual says is ultimately what he gets – and what he pays for.
10. Practice makes perfect.
No, perfect practice makes perfect. Wrong practice leads to wrong habits. Perfect practice leads to perfect action. Make sure that whatever you do on a regular basis is right and correct.
Excerpt permission granted by Insight Publishing Group
John Mason is an international bestselling author, minister, publisher, executive author coach, and noted speaker. He’s the founder and president of Insight International and Insight Publishing Group. Both organizations are dedicated to helping people reach their dreams and fulfill their God-given destinies.
He has authored thirty-two books including An Enemy Called Average, You’re Born An Original—Don’t Die A Copy, Let Go of Whatever Makes You Stop, and Know Your Limits Then Ignore Them which have sold over 2 million copies and are translated into 40 different languages throughout the world. His books are widely regarded as a source of godly wisdom, scriptural motivation, and practical principles. His writings have been published twice in Reader’s Digest along with numerous other national and international publications. Seven of his books have reached number one on Amazon bestseller lists.
He’s been the president of two Christian publishing companies. He’s also a former Vice President and Publisher for Thomas Nelson Publishers (Harper Collins), the 6th largest book publisher in the world and largest Christian publisher.
He’s an internationally recognized executive author coach, helping numerous prominent authors with their books for more than thirty years. Politicians, NBA, NFL, PGA, MLB, an Olympic gold medalist and other professional athletes, billionaires, businesspeople, pastors, ministers, New York Times bestselling authors, a Fortune 500 CEO, Navy SEALs, Top Gun pilots, and a Texas governor have all benefitted from his knowledge.
Known for his quick wit, powerful thoughts, and insightful ideas, he is a popular speaker across the US and around the world.