I’m sure you’ve heard: It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
When David went up against Goliath, he didn’t have the rank, equipment nor training… but he had the winning attitude! So great was his level of expectation that he “ran quickly toward the battle line to meet Goliath” says the Bible in the Book of 1st Samuel. While Saul and his soldiers were hiding, David was running to meet the challenge. How’s that for great expectations?! From my perspective as a Christian, I’m not talking aobut faith in my own ability, but in “Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).
Martin Seligman, professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, did some research on a major life insurance company and found that sales people who expected to succeed sold twice as much as those who didn’t. Researchers have discovered that there’s a greater correlation between self-confidence and achievement than there is between IQ and achievement.
Know what? The God Who lives within us is limited by one thing only: our inability or unwillingness to believe in ourselves. The more you believe in yourself, the more you’ll be able to accomplish. And if you keep believing and expecting, you’ll find yourself someday doing what you once thought was impossible.
I went through my first 5 years as a head coach hoping and waiting and planning and believing till we got “over the hump” and consistently won 6, 7 or 8 games a year. Then it was even more frustrating because it was another 5 years before we hit the jackpot and made the play-offs. People were calling us the “best NON-playoff team in the region!” But I kept expecting good things to happen. I wouldn’t let anyone take away my dream.
It’s said that if Michelangelo had consulted his critics or gave in to his doubts, he’d have painted the floor of the Sistine Chapel instead of the ceiling!!! … and his work wouldn’t be around for us to admire. The truth is: great results begin with great expectations!
