"Do As I Do... Not As I Say..."

Huh?!? I've always been told to "set a good example" but, man... that's hard work!
Thinking further though, I do realize that we are easily influenced by what we see other people do. When my two older daughters were young, I would ask "who wants the red cup and who wants the blue cup?". Katie: "I want the red cup". Sara: "I want the blue cup". Then Katie would quickly say: "No! I want the blue cup!". Talk about being influenced. Here's another from my mom: "If Andy jumped off a bridge... would you jump too?".
Lets face it, we all do what we see to some degree. Another 'hard fact'- we all have people watching us too! No matter who you are, you have a 'circle of influence', people who respect you, people who believe you, and people who trust you. Your example carries weight with them.
Don't panic! There's lots of easy ways to have a positive impact on their lives. John Maxwell in his book: "Developing the Leader Within You" gives some great, practical tips on being a good leader to others by helping bring out the best in THEM. Here's five key points he discusses:

1. Everyone wants to feel worthwhile. "There's hardly a higher compliment you can pay to an individual than to help that person be useful and find satisfaction and significance."

2. Everyone needs and responds to encourgement. "People tend to become what the most important person in their life thinks they will become."

3. People 'buy into' the leader before they 'buy into' their leadership. "People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care."

4. Most people do not know how to become successful. "It (success) is achieving one thing and using that as a stepping stone to achieve something else."

5. Most people are naturally motivated. "Personal accomplishment is motivating, but it is much more when someone notices the accomplishment and give worth to it."

Well, that said, it's time to 'target' someone in your circle of influence and help lift them up. Tell them they're important to you. Tell them they can do it! Tell them you care. Tell them they're succeeding. And, tell them they are making a difference.
Hebrews 3:13 says this: "...encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today...". Need encourgement yourself? Read Psalm 62:5-8. You will find strength.

Now, '"go get 'em". You can do it!!!

Keep pressing on...