Leadership

5 Ways You Can Leave a Legacy of Influence

5 Ways You Can Leave a Legacy of Influence

When you use Scripture as your plumb line and the five senses as your viewpoint, you will have something to say that others will want to hear.

by KAREN PORTER in Leading Hearts Magazine

WHEN I WAS ASKED THE QUESTION “WHO INFLUENCED YOU?” names ran through my mind and faces danced in my vision. My mom, who loved unconditionally. My dad, who demonstrated the joy of working hard and laughing riotously.

My husband, who remains calm in the craziest situations and speaks peace to our family.My dear friend Carole, who has never wavered in her faith even though she has faced more tragedy than most people. My daughter, who believes it can be done — no matter what it is. And friends and family who have inspired my life and who have laughed with and prayed for me.

But today I want to tell you about a special influencer — Florence Littauer (pictured below) — who trained more than 30,000 speakers and leaders, including me.

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Sharpen Your Writing Skills and More

Sharpen Your Writing Skills and More

by KAREN WHITING in Leading Hearts magazine

I IMPROVE WHEN I LISTEN AND APPLY THE WISDOM OF OTHERS. This includes God, my peers, mentors, friends and loved ones.

It’s been especially important in my writing and speaking to let others help me sharpen my skills and keep me accountable in my walk. It’s putting “iron sharpens iron” into practice.

Schedule times to be together and set time limits. Come prepared with what you want to share or ask. Be ready to listen to each person’s needs.

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Stop Stabbing, Start Sharpening

Stop Stabbing, Start Sharpening

by Edie Melson in Leading Hearts magazine

IN SOCIAL MEDIA TERMS, IT’S A VOLATILE WORLD OUT THERE.

So often, what’s posted online seems more focused on stabbing and wounding than on encouraging and sharpening. Part of that is due to the medium.

Almost 100 percent of the time, online interaction lacks the warmth of a real-time, human connection. It’s an impersonal — anonymous — medium. While we may call those we connect with “friends,” many of them are just faceless names.

When we’re speaking online, it’s far too easy to be so focused on what we want to share that we forget the individual — hurting — hearts of those we’re communicating with.

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My Mentor Loved the Word Impossible

My Mentor Loved the Word Impossible

By LINDA EVANS SHEPHERD in Leading Hearts Magazine

I FOUND MY MENTOR IN A DARK COLOSSEUM when a young woman sat on a stool, inside a bright spotlight. In a voice that sounded like a child in song she said, “Hi, I’m Ann. I am one simple woman in the world. I have never shaken hands with the president. I cry. Sometimes I am insecure. I am only one, but I have come tonight to tell you I am one … and Jesus and I and love are out to change the world.”

In those days, I was a young college student, totally in love with Jesus, and I had never heard anyone articulate my heart the way Ann Kiemel (Anderson) did. She spoke of love and simple acts of kindness, and how she and our big God could change the world. I followed her example with my own acts of love and kindness.

I learned that everything Ann said about living life sold out to the Lord was true. It was true for me. Through Christ, nothing was impossible.

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The Hand in Glove of Leadership

The Hand in Glove of Leadership

by Karen Porter in Leading Hearts magazine

FAITH IS A WORD THAT IS THROWN AROUND IN THE MEDIA AND ON SPORTS SHOWS AND IN LIFE. People say, “Yes, I did it because I had faith.” Or, “We won the game because we had faith.”

I always perk up when I hear someone say those words because I want them to finish the statement and say what they have faith in. But most of these proclaimers don’t say the object of their faith — they only say they have faith.

It’s one thing to have faith that your chair will hold you up when you sit in it or that your car will start when you turn the key. But we need deeper faith, and sometimes we need faith for the impossible.

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When Did We Forget to Dream Big?

When Did We Forget to Dream Big?

I’ve always been a dreamer. One of the very first books I remember reading was, To Dance, To Dream, by Maxine Drury. Just seeing the cover on Amazon made my heart smile. Published in 1965 (I would have been seven years old), I distinctly remember carrying that book around with me. Filled with aspiring words, my little girl heart dared to start dreaming.

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