We all fail in some way, shape or form from time to time. When John D. Rockefeller ran the Standard Oil Company one of his senior executives made a mistake that cost over two million dollars. The other excecutives thought that Rockerfeller would come down hard on him and probably fire him. But he didn’t.
Before he called the man in, he sat down, took a notepad and wrote across the top of it “points in favor of this man.” Then he listed the man’s strengths, including how he’d once helped the company make the right decision and earned them millions of dollars.
One of the senior executives who witnessed it later said, “Whenever I am tempted to rip into someone, I force myself to sit down and compile a list of the good qualities they have. By the time I have finished, I have the right perspective. And best of all, my anger is under control. I can’t tell you how many times this habit has prevented me from committing one of life’s costliest mistakes— losing my temper. I recommend it to anyone who must deal with people.”
So, before you jump to conclusions about someone (a coach or a player), stop and ask God for His wisdom. Then sit down and make a list of their best qualities. If you do, you’ll probably come to a different conclusion. One thing is for sure, you’ll approach them with the right attitude and you won’t say things you’ll later regret. I think the Psalmist had learned that lesson when he wrote, “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with me tongue.” (Psm. 39:1)
