Week 2 Reading: Being a Contribution

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"There are stranded starfish as far as the eye can see for miles up the beach... What difference can saving a few of them possibly make...?" Smiling, she bends down and once more tosses a starfish out over the water saying serenly, "It certainly makes a difference to this one!"

Chapters 4-6 were captivating. I'm seeing more of myself as the chapters unfold! I tried to do a keynote on these chapters but had a difficult time trying to get my slides to cooperate. Unfortunately, I didn't succeed in solving the problem so I gave up. I was going to attach it anyway, but I changed my mind. and if anyone has any pointers on how to make this as awesome as I thought it would be, that would be great. Even after watching Lynda.com tutorials, to no avail... The opening story about the young lady and the starfish really blessed my heart. She's giving back to the ocean what belongs to it... Although she won't be able to save them all, every one that she does save will have another chance to live. What the man thought was futile, had heartfelt meaning to the young lady. I think that that's what life is all about: giving back, contributing by reaching out to others. When I think about it, that's what has happened all of my life and in ALL of our lives. Someone had to make sacrifices for us to be what we are and where we are today. Parents, teachers, coaches, Pastors, employers, and the list goes on. Education itself is so about being a contribution! Honestly, it's the best example. Can you imagine being an invalid? Not being able to read, write, walk or even speak because of neglect? Had it not been for the contributions of our parents and other loved ones, there's no telling what we'd be like... Giving is such a virtue and I believe it is what is keeping our world turning (as evil as it is). Contributors are people who care; people who care more about others than they do themselves.
In addition, here are the highlights from the chapters in my written version. These are phrases throughout the chapters that serve as "food for thought" and went a lot deeper than just the words on the page. Zander's choice of words is musical throughout the pages. I just wish my keynote worked so I could have expressed it the way I really felt it... maybe another time. My concentration is on being a contribution, but I listed additional phrases from other chapters that were so inspirational (Joe, I hope you don't mind...)

I found that many of the phrases expressed throughout the chapters really allows a man to see deep within himself. I can equate many of the thoughts to Bible scripture which is God's Word to man. I've attached scripture in parentheses for phrases that are applicable.
Chpt 4: Being a Contribution (It is more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35)
Naming your activities as a game breaks their hold on you and puts YOU in charge.
The Dinner Table game: "What did you achieve today?" rather than "What did you do today!" (Prov. 13:19--a deed accomplished is sweet to the soul)
The drive to be successful and the fear of failure are like the head and tail of a coin, inseparably linked...
The Contribution game:
I am a Contribution, contributions are not arrived at by comparison, as it has no other side
In The Contribution game, YOU are a gift to others!
Inventing oneself as a Contribution (and others as well): is like 1+2=3
1) Declare yourself to be a contribution
2) accept that you are someone who makes a difference although you may not understand why...
3) Remarkable powers for transforming conflicts into rewarding experiences
When you declare yourself to be a Contribution, "it is never just a single individual who is transformed; You never know what they will be or from when they will come. (Be a living sacrifice Rom.12:2)
The eyes NEVER lie... (I've heard it said, that the eyes are the windows to the soul--not scriptural, but true!)

Chpt 5:Leading from any chair
The conductor is the distant figure on the podium who never makes a sound; He is leadership mystique of significant magnitude! His true power derives from his ability to make other people powerful. "Natalie? You come up here and conduct. I want to go to the back of the hall to hear how it sounds..."
As leaders in any organization, "how much greatness are we willing to grant people?" (its within our power)
The silent conductor listens for passion and commitment. He askes himself: "Who am I being that they are not shining?"
*Invite information and expression
*Speak to their passion
*Look for opportunities to hand them the baton.
A leader does not need a podium! She can be sitting quietly on any chair listening passionately and with commitment, fully prepared to take up the baton...
Chpt 6: Rule #6
Rule #6 "Don't take yourself so seriously!" Lighten up because it may "light up" those around you. (Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought to, but condescend to men of lower estate-Rom. 12:16)
Humor and laughter are perhaps the best way we can "get around ourselves" (Laughter doeth good like medicine! Prov. 17:22
Rule #6 originated from the measurement world; the world where we calculate ourselves
Rule #6 reminds us to lighten up and in so doing, we break its hold on us! (Pride is headed for destruction: Prov.16:18)
The Calculating Self:
1)A child--an exquisite attention-getting device (never heard it put that way before!) (A child is known by his doings (Prov.20:11); (When I was a child, I behaved as a child--1Cor.13:11)
2)A child is designed to sound an alarm when he/she feels left out or forgotten (Adults do this too--we're nothing but big children, really)
3)A child uses his character to achieve "winning ways" (and many parents let them win far too often)
4)Survival mechanisms for the child to allow him to learn to "know himself"
The Calculating self is like a ladder with a downward spiral: "What would have to change for me to be completely fulfilled?"
When June lightened up, it saved her marriage
When Jeffrey surrendered his pride, the camera man got a revelation about his life! (amazing what humility can do for us)
The Central Self is the rich, free, compasionate and expressive world arrived from the ongoing reconstruction of the Calculating Self and is: an expression that transcends the personality that got it out of childhood ALIVE (many of us are still in need of reconstruction)
Transformation for our Central selves is a description of the mode through which we move through life (2Corin.13:5 Let every man examine himself)
We all need to be transformed (Rom. 12:1-2) Be transformed by the renewing of your mind!
In the opening phrase under the image of the girl on the beach, this is the same way it is when you throw out the life line to people. God through Christ is consistently throwing out the life line to man. He does it by using other men (and women). Some will reach back, many won't. It will make a difference in the lives of those who reach back, but if it's never thrown out at all, then there's no hope... (II Cor. 5:19)