Lessons From A Third Grade Dropout Quotes

Good enough is not good enough if it can be better. And better is not good enough if it can be best.

Son, there will always be people in life who rub you the wrong way. Some you will work with, others you will work for. Make every effort to respect them. Make every effort to learn something from them. Son, sometimes you have to just stand. Sometimes you have to just hold firm—knowing that you will get through whatever it is.

We have reared a generation of incredibly bright young people, who have been fed a diet of instant gratification, seasoned with self-absorbed heroes who function in a culture that encourages superficiality.

A fish would not get caught if he kept his mouth shut!

Son, if you’re not going to do it right, it’s not worth doing at all.

Find a wise mentor. The mentor must have endured some setbacks, failures, and disappointments—for wisdom rarely is acquired without a storm.

It’s hard to breathe within the space created by never.

What do people feel like after they have been in your presence? Do they walk away saying, “I saw another possibility in life?” Or do they depart undaunted, unaffected, and none the better?

In essence, I had to move from making an impression to making an impact.

If you want to know what’s inside a man, just shake him up.

Choosing to listen actively to someone, looking them squarely in the eyes, and purposely remembering the major points may take more than the 15 seconds that defines the attention span of the average adult, but will add value and honor and dignity to the person with whom you are interacting.

Have we reached the point in our society where it is more important to look good rather than be good? Has the pride in doing good work been replaced by self-entitlement, perfect offices, and slick suits?

Discipline is a wonderful elixir for a culture desperately seeking depth and purpose amidst the enfranchisement of superficiality. In other words, ours is an age that would rather feel disciplined than actually be disciplined.

Ours is a visual world with citizens who delight in those who appear good or gifted or great. Thus, we find it pleasantly acceptable for morality to be replaced by materialism, principle by popularity, or character by convenience.

There was something very noble about a young soldier who dared to give his life for the sake of his country. Gratefully, we witness the same valiant sacrifices on the battlefield today. Regrettably, few are the other venues where similar heroics fill the landscape.

If you ask to help, chances are you are the only one who will be blessed! People tend to express their gratitude, and politely decline your offer. But you’ll feel good for asking! However, when you see a need and fulfill it, then the individual is surprised, thrilled, awed, and blessed beyond measure.

The greatest crisis in America today is a crisis of leadership. And the greatest peril of leadership is a crisis of character.

Hearing tells you the music is playing. Listening tells you what the song is saying!

A victorious decision to stand will always be met with resistance!

Life boils down to choices. You cannot choose what happens to you. You can choose how you will respond.

I had to learn I could no longer trust my feelings and my emotions. They lied to me every day. I had to trust God. Had it not been for God, I would have given up.

The lack of wisdom in our present society poses a critical threat to the quality of our lives. A substantial disconnect exists in our world today which results in a massive division between generations. The division does not interrupt economic, social, or even political channels. It’s a divide that separates one generation from the wisdom of an earlier

Kindness can take on many forms. For example, when communicating, your tone may speak more about you than your words. Have you ever been scolded by a superior, who used firm words but a kind tone? Conversely, have you ever been ridiculed by someone who may have used appropriate language but whose tone was demeaning and discouraging? Choosing to speak in a kind tone has the power to turn away wrath, change a mood, even transform a relationship.

Note the tangible characteristics of wise people: • They are slow to talk. • They are quick to listen. • They are always thinking. • They evaluate every message. • Their response is measured and thoughtful. • They are wordsmiths; they do not waste words. • They do not talk to be heard. • They do not speak to impress. • They use words when absolutely necessary. • They use words to reveal knowledge. • They use words to elevate understanding. • Their primary goal is to be understood. • Their secondary goal is to share information.

The greatest joys of living are the joys of giving,” Cathy says. “Seeing these kids grow up and be somebody is an experience you just can’t buy with dollars and cents.” 1

Albert Einstein: The ideas which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been kindness, beauty, and truth. The trite subjects of human efforts, possessions, outward success, luxury have always seemed to me contemptible. 3

You show me any athlete at any level who gives maximum effort, and I will show you a player who will excel. It is not a matter of talent. It’s not a question of where you went in the draft. The question is do you have the heart of a champion? And at the heart of every champion I have ever coached is a dedicated effort to be the absolute best you can be. Results are important. But results don’t define who you are as a man. Success is not being a first-round draft pick. Success is using your God-given ability to give maximum effort every day—whether you’re in the NFL, teach school, or work construction.

My parents, like other parents of this era, represented a generation of helpers—what I refer to as generation of doers. We have become a generation of viewers. We talk a good game when it comes to helping, but there’s no follow-through if we sense the slightest degree of inconvenience.

Pastor Jentzen Franklin put it best when he said that if you can find the faith to move beyond and get over your perceived shortcomings, even your worst liability has the potential to become your greatest asset!

What good is technological supremacy without authentic leadership? What good is an information superhighway without trustworthy travelers?

Howard Hendricks said it best when he asserted, “The greatest crisis in America today is a crisis of leadership. And the greatest peril of leadership is a crisis of character.