Hope Is A Strategy
April 7th, 2008 Posted in Leadership, Life, NewsletterWhile some candidates in this year’s presidential election have criticized others for inspiring hope in people, even stating that hope is not a strategy, I’m here to weigh in on the subject and say that without a doubt, HOPE is an essential strategy for success in business, politics, economics, school and life.
Please know that I’m not talking about political issues here, or endorsing one political candidate over another. And I’m not suggesting that Hope all by itself can improve people’s lives or our country’s challenges. After all to be successful one has to take action, execute and implement a plan. One has to deliver results. Hope all by itself can’t do these things. But if people don’t have hope in the future it won’t matter how great of a plan you give them, they won’t have the inspiration, drive and power to move forward. Trying to succeed without hope is like trying to drive to NY from Florida without gas. You have the map, you have the driving plan but you don’t have the fuel to get you there.
Great leaders in businesses, non-profits, politics, schools and sports teams inspire hope in their people and teams. They inspire them towards a brighter and better future and empower them to believe in what is possible, not what is impossible. They have hope that their efforts and the efforts of their team will make a difference and accomplish their goals. Then they take action with drive and determination to turn their hopes into results and reality.
When I think of hope I think of President Ronald Reagan. Regardless of your political affiliation historians agree that it was Reagan’s optimism and hope in America and the future that helped put the United States back on the road to success. He inspired hope in people and this positively changed their mindset, their behavior and their actions and ultimately this changed the collective energy of the country.
Positive energy is contagious and one leader’s hope and positive energy has the ability to impact an entire country, business, community, school, non-profit and sports team. Hope is essential to get your team on the bus and moving in the right direction. It is a strategy to empower, inspire, and unite people towards a shared vision, focus and purpose. It’s a tool for those who believe that tomorrow will be better than today and who want to inspire others to roll up their sleeves and generate real positive change.
Remember that every great success began with an idea in someone’s mind and hope in their heart. So don’t listen to the cynics. Have hope. Let it fuel you and let if fuel your team. Without it you’ll never be able to unite and inspire others towards action and results. Hope is a strategy. Use it and share it today.
Do you believe that Hope is a strategy? Do you have it? Can you inspire it in others? Join the conversation and post your comments on this blog.
Sending Positive Energy Your Way!
-Jon
8 Responses to “Hope Is A Strategy”
By Nandishi on Apr 7, 2008
Well Jon, I believe nothing moves without hope. I cannot move from one day to another if I do not look forward ro what life has in store for me. Else I will be dreading each day and hoping to die. What fuels most super achievers is hope, motivation, drive, a will to survive, and these all stem from hope.
By Pastor Rob Bremer on Apr 7, 2008
Throughout today’s article on HOPE, you constantly mentioned action. Too many hope, without taking action. This is useless. It’s wanting something for nothing.
Personal responsibility is critical. Hoping for someone else to do it for you, is also useless. This is false hope which too many people cling to because of vague promises made by unscrupulous leaders.
Everthing has a price in action and effort. The wisdom of the ages must be understood, “There ain’t no free lunch.” For things received, there is always a price paid or a sacrifice made.
By Connie Atkinson on Apr 7, 2008
–The quality of habitual thinking matters for it makes life. Thoughts become things! The general quality or tone of thinking determines destiny and destination.
““High octane thinking is similar to high octane gas as both mean power and performance. Prizes go to trained, constructive thinkers. “Highest thinking realizes God is working through you in everything you do-one simple thought, but powerful beyond imagination.”
“ By believing God is working through you, your quality of work becomes so high by receipt of so much inspiration that every barrier in your path falls away and undreamed of good comes into your life making you a blessing to all around you.
“`High octane thinking means Power and Performance!
By Jim on Apr 7, 2008
Jon,
I look forward to your messages every Monday. Why? Because the messages inspire hope, they’re constructive and build life skills. One can not under estimate hope. It’s the essence of all positive change. We need hope from our leaders, as you pointed out with Mr. Reagan. The negativity and argumentative rhetoric permitted and accepted in our society needs to change. We don’t need leaders, politicians or others to allow dumb down what is right. I commend you on making a difference in others. Congratulations!
By Ken Hamilton on Apr 7, 2008
About thirty years ago I found out that hope was the most important attitude/strategy I could nurture in my surgical patients. I had Viktor Frankl’s experiences in 4 different Auschwitzes to share, and it made all the difference to the people I served… and me. I can tell you, Jon, that it helps people find meaning, value, and purpose in their lives. When they do, they take charge of their lives and tell their diseases how to help them live those lives. Hope works!
By Connie Eberhart on Apr 7, 2008
Thank you for that hopeful and inspiring post, Jon. And, yes, it is most certainly time to “inspire others to roll up their sleeves and generate real positive change”…which means ACTION with HOPE and VISION!
There are so many amazing and brilliant people and organizations that are already taking extraordinary action towards creating a World that Works for Everyone. However, many of those people and organizations are working in isolation from one another, and many are also losing their funding to actualize thier intended efforts.
It is time for us EACH to ignite, unite and magnify our efforts, our talents and our resources!
A vehicle that will allow for such a Movement - a New Paradigm - is Humanity Unites Brilliance. HUB is where we come together to make our humanitarian efforts more effective in the world, and where we are each also supported and empowered to launch our own personal passions into the world. Our New World must consist of a Co-Creative Society!
What would you do if you had a powerful impact team supporting your desire and drive to make a difference in the world? What would your humanitarian impact look like?
I apologize if this ‘blog comment’ seems like a ’shameless marketing endeavor’. However, I truly feel that HUB specifically addresses what Jon speaks to here, and I am also SO VERY PASSIONATE about the possibility that HUB provides in combining HOPE AND ACTION!
I invite you to learn more and to participate in perhaps the greatest adventure of all….birthing a NEW WORLD - A Co-Creative Society!
http://www.ihaveimpact.com.
By Bill Lyons on Apr 7, 2008
I am just starting to read the book. I picked it up on Saturday out of my personal library. It is amazing sometimes how the book you ramdonly picked at the time is EXACTLY what you need at the time! Our Sales meeting this morning was much different and I already see the energy coming back! A culture full of positive energy creates growth!
Bill
By Tacy on Apr 7, 2008
Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life birthed from the despairation or negative believing that a better or positive outcome is possible. I want a different result so I have a good ending to a difficult beginning - optimism. Helping me to move toward my goal and focusing on the ultimate result - hope feeds my belief, self-confidence, future earnings, and projected self to others by my body language.
so Hope is mental and physical for me. Without hope I lose my belief in everday living. I would become disfunctional.
You’re right about Ronald Reagan as well. this country benefits from great engaging orators that speak from the heart resonants with the soul!
I think we should “Play Forward” our good thoughts and intentions but for life to reflect on Hope and Faith as well as Love we need to push “Pause”. Keep it Simple and live the 24 hours we are given.