From Matthew 25: 14-30 comes the parable from Jesus, of the Lord of the land who, before leaving on a journey, entrusts in three of his servants various amounts of talents. When he returned he asked for an accounting.
The first said, “Lord, I knew the importance of these talents that you entrusted with me, so I went out into the world, invested them, and I give you back more than I received,” and he was blessed.
The second servant said the same, of multiplying the talents he was given, and giving back more than he had received, and he was also blessed.
The third servant said, “Lord, I know how important your talents are to you, so I buried them in the ground to protect them. I give you back what I received,” and he was cast out into the darkness.
Possibly our greatest responsibility is to look within ourselves, of the gifts we have been given, go out into the world, multiply our talents and, in the end, give back more than we received.
Imagine parents buying a gift for their child, but the child would rather watch television. Most likely the parents would be disappointed, that the child did not even care to open the gift. Or, if the child opened the gift, such as a book of great value, but then went out to play, rather than even read a few pages, would also disappoint the parents.
Imagine how God would feel if we never opened the gifts he gave us. Or, if we opened them, but never accepted our responsibility to multiply our talents.
Each of us are motivated by two opposite needs. One is to go out into the world and be productive by multiplying our talents, or be protective of what we have been given.
Why are so many people protective of their talents, rather than achieving those objectives which will develop their potential?
One reason is the fear of failure, particularly considering that most new businesses fail.
A second is rejection, of trying to develop customers when most prospective clients are going to say no to us.
A third is the anxiety that is usually experienced when, to succeed in our own business, we have to take on so many responsibilities.
How can we enjoy failure, be amused by rejection and thrive on anxiety?
Successful people understand that failure can actually accelerate their success. They imagine every possible way to achieve their objectives, knowing that each failure gives them insight, of what adjustments they need to make in order to increase the odds of succeeding.
They realize that success, by causing complacency, can be dangerous, while failure always has value. They know failure is only an experience that was less than they expected that renews their humility, sharpens their objectivity and gets them one step closer to what they are trying to accomplish.
Second, they understand why they might take rejection personally, and how to react positively to negative feedback, whether from prospective or existing customers.
Some people, in an effort to gain trust and build ideal relationships are friendly, pleasant and sensitive, but for fear of rejection avoid negative feedback and never gain the results they desire. Other people, in an effort to gain results, are aggressive, confident and decisive, but for fear of failing, become too aggressive, and damage relationships.
Successful entrepreneurs, by being aggressively sensitive, perseveringly pleasant and decisively friendly, develop the quality of relationships that assure their results.
Third, they know we are all vulnerable to depending on at least one of the ten negative addictions for coping with stress, and how to instead thrive on anxiety by using a combination of four positive addictions. In this way they use anxiety as an added energy to exercise and improve their health. They also use the stress to stimulate their creativity in business, of imaging all the ways to take their success to the next level. Another way they relieve frustrations is by the quality time they spend with family, friends and associates. Most of all, as an independent entrepreneur, they strengthen their self-reliance through spiritual solitude.
What do you believe are the benefits of failure?
In what way are you reacting to rejection that helps you build ideal relationships that assure your results?
Rather than depend on negative addictions for coping with stress, what combination of the four positive addictions are you using to thrive on anxiety so that, more than being successful, you are always enjoying the challenge of taking your success to the next level?
May the spirit of the Lord be with you in multiplying your talents so that,
in the end, you give back more than you received.
Art Mortell
310 457 2551