October 3, 2022

In the 10-part documentary series, "The Last Dance," which details the career of NBA legend Michael Jordan, he has a very powerful quote. "Winning has a price, and leadership has a price. So I pulled people along when they didn’t want to be pulled. I challenged people when they didn’t want to be challenged. Once you joined the team, you lived at a certain standard that I played the game, and I wasn’t going to take anything less."

Tim Grover, who was MJ's personal trainer, said in his book "Winning", that the "price" and the "standard" Michael was referring to was this: YOUR MIND MUST BE STRONGER THAN YOUR FEELINGS.

If you want to be an effective leader you must dominate the battlefield of your mind. You might laugh and say, "Pastor, our mind a battlefield? Aren't you being a little over dramatic?" No! You see every action originates in your thoughts. The habits, the processes, the plans that will take you to your destiny all begin as a thought. But here's the thing, the opposite is true as well, the habits, processes, and plans that can destroy your life and lead you down a path to mediocrity also begin as thoughts. These are usually attached to our feelings and emotions. "I don’t feel like working out today." "I don't feel like taking an extra online class to improve my leadership." This is where the battle is. Which thought will you choose to meditate on, magnify, and follow after? Winning and fulfilling your God-given purpose will always lead you one way and mediocrity and feelings will be calling you an easier and more comfortable way. Which will you choose? Begin to step back and look at every choice you have to make and ask yourself, "what would a LEGENDARY leader do here? What would a LOSER leader do here?" Then no matter the price and effort, do what it takes to be LEGENDARY!

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."
—Abraham Lincoln

"Where the mind goes the body will follow."
—Arnold Schwarzenegger

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:"
—Proverbs 23:7

"The state of our life mirrors the state of our mind."
—Joyce Meyer

You might say, "But Pastor I always seem to give in to my feelings. I know what I’m supposed to do but I just don’t follow through. What do you recommend I do?" I heard a story once that we have two dogs on the inside of us. They are always at odds and quarreling. One is the dog of negativity, depression, and mediocrity, the other is the one of purpose, fulfillment, and success. The dog that is gonna win the fight is the one you feed the most. Think for a moment. Is the relationships, media, books, and environment you live in feeding the failure dog or the success dog? Guess what? That’s one that’s gonna win the fight.

Action Step:
Audit all of the things you are putting into your mind. Is the majority feeding the success dog or the failure dog?

Recommended Book:
Winning by Tim Grover

God is for you!
Pastor David Blunt

COTR Marketplace Ministries is a ministry for those in the marketplace and those interested in starting a business. Lifelong learners, entrepreneurs, businessmen, and businesswomen, meet to grow in their leadership and skills. This is a great place to network, build relationships and exchange ideas!

Join us on October 15 at 5pm in the main campus lobby. We will have guest speaker, Richard Monteñez! His incredible story of how he went from a janitor to a top executive at Frito Lay will inspire and help you go to new heights in your own life.

Dinner and childcare will be provided. Purchase your tickets online for just $12 or $15 at the door.