Photo by Bert Kaufman on Flickr
What does it take to really make a difference?
Each one of us, knowingly or unknowingly, makes a difference.
I have a friend who works part time in a property management office. She does admin-type tasks. The 8yr old daughter of one of the owners adores her. The little girl dresses, walks, and dances based on my friend’s influence. That’s making a difference.
Another friend easily strikes up conversations with strangers, often leaving them feeling better about themselves than when the conversation started. That’s making a difference.
Another friend has a knack for quickly assessing a conflict situation and knows the next steps to take to help resolve the conflict. That’s making a difference.
As I’ve observed those that make a significant difference in others’ lives, five traits come to mind.
Resiliency
The ability to keep on keeping on. In the midst of setbacks, disappointments, betrayal, grief – a difference-maker keeps on keeping on. They will take time for recovery, for renewal, for stopping. But, they will keep on. They are resilient.
Authenticity/Realness
They live out who they are. They read, they observe, they learn from others. But, they don’t try to be someone else. They are who they are. They know their strengths. They know their weaknesses. They live life to their strengths and invite others to come alongside who have strengths in their weaknesses.
Integrity
They do what they say they will do. They follow through. Their actions follow their words. Their lifestyle aligns with their words. Their close relationships (family and close friends) are the foundation for their public life.
Vision/Dream
They have a vision. It may be about their community, their business, their family, or the people they come in contact with. But, there is something that burns inside of them and it won’t let them go. They are constantly making decisions and choices based on their vision.
Servant’s Heart
They love to serve. They want to add value to others. They know whom they are called to serve and they do it with passion. It’s almost as if they have a built-in radar when it comes to serving those they are called to serve. They know how best to come alongside them and do it with life-changing effectiveness.
The five traits of people that make a difference. What traits, or characteristics do you think of when you think of some that makes a difference? How do they live out their life?
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