“A good leader inspires people to have confidence in their leader. A great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Be Careful with Do-Goodism
“You’ve got to be careful with do-goodism, you know. The do-gooders do more harm than a little. If you’re not careful, the do-gooders will do you in. Any help that doesn’t help a person to help himself is criminal because you rob people of their sense of self-responsibility and their sense of self-sufficiency.” – Reverend Ike
Get Up and Do Something
Dr. Karl Menninger, the famous psychiatrist, once gave a lecture on mental health, and then answered questions from the audience. “What would you advise a person to do,” asked one man, “if that person felt a nervous breakdown coming on?” Most people expected him to reply, “Consult a psychiatrist.”
To their astonishment, he replied, “Lock up your house, go across the railway tracks, find someone in need and do something to help that person.” The Key – Don’t sit and pout. Get up and do something!
Ringing the Church Bells
After Quasimodo’s death, the Bishop of the Cathedral of Notre Dame sent word through the streets of Paris that a new bell ringer was needed. The Bishop decided that he would conduct the interviews personally and went up into the belfry to begin the screening process.
After observing several applicants demonstrate their skills, he had decided to call it a day. Just then, an armless man approached him and announced that he was there to apply for the bell ringer’s job. The Bishop was incredulous: “You have no arms!” No matter,” said the man. “Observe!” And he began striking the bells with his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon.
The Bishop listened in astonishment; convinced he had finally found a replacement for Quasimodo. But suddenly, rushing forward to strike a bell, the armless man tripped and plunged headlong out of the belfry window to his death in the street below. The stunned Bishop rushed to his side.
When he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments before. As they silently parted to let the Bishop through, one of them asked, “Bishop, who was this man?” “I don’t know his name,” the bishop sadly replied, “I don’t know his name, but his face sure rings a bell!”