As we go through life, it’s not often that we come across someone who is truly, sincerely genuine to the absolute core of their being. John Powers is one of those people. He keeps people’s best interests at heart and he lives a life of service to others.
John is my former manager and good friend – a true champion, man of integrity and character, and role model for us all. He’s one of the most involved people I’ve ever met, and he is filled with wisdom. He taught me how to be the bigger person and keep things in perspective. He also shared with me all sorts of valuable advice.
John is a college professor at Quinnipiac who is actively pursuing his Ph.D. He is a leader of a semiannual service endeavor that goes to the Dominican Republic. He travels often and has a wonderful family with whom he spends a lot of time.
I had the honor and pleasure of featuring him in my latest book, Reach Your Mountaintop: 10 Keys to Finding the Hidden Opportunity in Your Setbacks, Flipping What You’ve Heard on Its Head, and Achieving Legendary Goals. I also gave him a shoutout in the acknowledgements because of the awesome impact he’s made in my life. The purpose of this blog post is to share with you some of his best kernels of insight, for your benefit. If his words of wisdom resonate with you, please share this post around with others.
Keep Things in Perspective
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with life. And it’s normal to have ups and downs on a weekly and daily basis. With that said, it’s crucial to remember to keep things in perspective. This is what I forgot to do when I was 17 years old and so zoomed in on a problem, I didn’t think I’d ever get past it.
When facing your own challenges and situations in life, John suggests you ask yourself: Is this really a problem?Look at your current situation from the eyes of what some of the most unfortunate people on this planet are going through. Please know that this is by no means whatsoever putting down your problem or disregarding it – you definitely need to honor what’s wrong, deal with it, and fix the situation (don’t let other people marginalize what you’re going through as you solve your challenges). It’s just a way of applying a situational mindset that allows you to handle the ups and downs of life better without losing your cool or going into the dumps.
“If you ate food today, then it’s a good day,” John said. “There are many people in this world who don’t have food to eat on a daily basis.”
You Don’t Have to Care What Other People Think
I’ve had many conversations with John over the years we’ve known each other, and in one of them I was sharing with him how I’m uncomfortable being judged by others. He gave me some great advice that I hope helps you as well:
“You don’t have to care what other people think,” John said.
Without a doubt, continue to be kind and respectful to others. In fact, John is one of the most gracious and kind-hearted people I’ve ever met. The point here is that you can be kind to others, while not caring what they think at the same time.
One of the key aspects of success is not to be so concerned about what others think, good or bad. Don’t get attached to other people’s opinions. John has transcended caring what other people think. He is the perfect example of serving others. He’s so busy helping those in need that he doesn’t even have time to worry about what other people think of him. Ironically, people respect and love him for that. There’s power in serving others. The greatest achievement of all is when you are focused on providing value to others.
Be The Bigger Person
When dealing with negative people, it’s easy to let others bring us down to their level. John reminds us that it’s essential to be the bigger person. This does not mean you are better than someone else, as we are all equal. It means that you refuse to let someone else take away your joy. By being the bigger person, you are able to maintain a calm, even-keeled demeanor even when around other people who are not treating you properly.
You can absolutely still stand up for yourself and make sure to trust your intuition – but do so calmly and from a place of peace. Make it a point to treat other people well, as you never really know what someone else is going through. How you treat someone says a lot about you, and John is a great example of someone who is a beacon of kindness and light.
Consistency Leads to Excellence
John goes down to the Dominican Republic twice a year to help those in need. He’s been doing this for many decades. By repeatedly going back to the same place, he is able to have a massive and sustained impact in an area where people have no food, no resources, and sometimes no shelter.
Be consistent in your efforts. When you continue to do something over time, you become excellent at it. John has made a superb impact in the poorest areas of the Dominican Republic because of his consistency and commitment to excellence. He is a leader and inspires others to be the best version of themselves.
Apply These Lessons In Your Life and Reach Your Mountaintop
Apply one or more of these lessons in your life and you will be better able to handle the ups and downs of life. You’ll also be better position to make a genuine and long-lasting impact on the world. If you’d like to hear more of John’s legendary input and advice, check out Chapter 9 of Reach Your Mountaintop: 10 Keys to Finding the Hidden Opportunity in Your Setbacks, Flipping What You’ve Heard on Its Head, and Achieving Legendary Goals.
Jeff Davis is an author, speaker, trainer, and authentic leadership expert. For more inspiring updates, please follow Jeff on Twitter.
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