BROAD SHOULDERS

Success and achievement are not for the weak or faint!  Success carries with it a great weight and can be very demanding.  Whether you are pursuing a great career, a vibrant marriage, a strong family, or launching a new business – there’s a great weight that must be shouldered.  I talk a lot to people who are pursuing success about developing “broad shoulders”.  Broad shoulders give you the ability to carry the weight of a great life.

A young man was serving on my team a few years ago and was struggling with the weight of the pursuits we were endeavoring to achieve.  He wanted it, but he misunderstood what it would cost and the demands it would place on him.  Even though he was undeveloped he had such incredible potential.  I became increasingly concerned that he was going to soon buckle under the pressure and weight of achievement.

At one point he walked out on the team – he quit.  The reason; “You need major-league players, I am not a major leaguer.  I can’t give you what you want.”  Out the door, he went… Sadly, he’s like many people, he couldn’t see it nor would he allow himself to believe it – when it got tough he quit!

A lot of people walk out on their dreams because it becomes too much, too demanding, too difficult, too hard.  People want success until they realize the weight of it.   There are two primary weights of success and achievement.

1.  Broad Shoulders carry the weight of RESPONSIBILITY.

The weight of responsibility is about how we handle what comes and goes.  As you pursue success and achievement you must develop broad shoulders.  Recently a high-capacity leader from the Tacoma, WA area was speaking and he talked about being the guy at the top.  “It’s different at the top.  The weight is on your shoulders.  A lot of people want that corner office until they get it and then they realize the weight of responsibility that comes along with it.”  Success will require you to shoulder the weight of responsibility.  Let me encourage you to not be afraid of the responsibility that a great life brings and don’t let yourself buckle under its pressure.

2.  Broad Shoulders carry the weight of OPPORTUNITY.

The weight of opportunity is about how you handle what your success and others bring you.  As you experience success you will have opportunities bombarding you – the tendency of many is to shrink back in fear and intimidation – but don’t!  Embrace the opportunities that are presented to you with courage and discipline.

Success and achievement can be heavyweights to shoulder but you have what it takes to carry it.  Allow God’s strength to help you develop strong and broad shoulders that can successfully carry the weight of responsibility and opportunity.

If you are ready to take your life or leadership to the next level I can help.  For more information on how I can help, please check out the tabs above.

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Please leave me a note in the comments below. What weight of success has been the most challenging for you?