Mitch

“Occasionally we hear the story of an organizational leader who, having given powerful leadership to an institution, comes toward the end of his working life and keeps holding on to leadership long after he should have let it pass into the hands of someone in a younger generation. Or he ensures that the leadership passes into the hands of a son or a daughter so that he can maintain his influence.”
― Gordon MacDonald, Ordering Your Private World

“Are we going to order our inner worlds, our hearts, so that they will radiate influence into the outer world? Or will we neglect our private worlds and, thus, permit the outer influences to shape us? This is a choice we must make every day of our lives.”
― Gordon MacDonald, Ordering Your Private World

“When I get home after a long day, I go to the chapel and pray. I say to the Lord, “There it is for today; things are finished. Now let’s be serious, is this diocese mine or yours?” The Lord says, “What do you think?” I answer, “I think it’s yours.” “That is true,” the Lord says, “it is mine.” And so I say, “Listen, Lord, it is your turn to take responsibility for and direct the diocese. I’m going now to sleep.”1”
― Gordon MacDonald, Ordering Your Private World

“Don’t underestimate the significance of this principle. Today in our media-fashioned world many good and talented leaders face the constant temptation to begin believing the text of their own publicity releases. And if they do, a messianic fantasy gradually infects their personalities and leadership styles. Forgetting who they are not, they begin to make dangerous assumptions about who they are.”
― Gordon MacDonald, Ordering Your Private World