Leadership Paradoxes

In an editorial entitled “Leadership Paradoxes”, William McCumber states six things about people:

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

3. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

4. People favor underdogs, but only follow top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

5. People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them. Help them anyway.

6. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

These conclusions about people form “. . .an interesting commentary upon the Lord’s words: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ The value of an action lies, not in the response it will receive, but in the quality of the action itself. Doing what is right, because it is right and honors God, is abundantly worthwhile, whether it is understood, appreciated, or reciprocated.” (Herald of Holiness, 15 September 1982, p. 17)