Be an Overcomer

Years ago I heard something that has stuck with me ever since. The man I was listening to said, in no uncertain terms, "it's either overcome, or be overcome." In other words, you have two options in life: you either win or you lose; there is no 'tie game.'

I teach John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership on a regular basis, one of which is The Law of Victory. This law says that "leaders find a way for the team to win." Thus no matter your position in life, albeit husband, father, wife, mother, business owner or manager, team leader - you have some degree of influence, which Maxwell says is leadership. And your responsibility is to make sure you and those you are responsible for win.

"Victorious leaders," Maxwell states, find the alternative to winning unacceptable, so they find out what needs to be done to achieve victory, and then they go after it with everything at their disposal."

I have to admit that I have not always been of this mindset. In fact, I thought for the longest time that there was no way I could ensure winning, since there were so many variables outside my control. That's until - not long ago - a trusted friend sat across the lunch table from me and said, "Terry, your business will take off once you change your thinking about it."

Since that time I have come to understand that there are certain characteristics of an overcomer, some of which are as follows.

Relationship. If you stop and think for a moment, it's all about relationship - who you know and who knows you. Not in a strictly sales sense, but in the sense of being in the context of others where there is the potential for encouragement and the exchange of ideas. No man is an island, and I don't think you can win without others.

Tenacity. There's a proverb that speaks of men who "may trip seven times, but they will get up again." That to me is tenacity. You don't give up. Even though you experience set-backs, you keep going.

Focus. The Wall Street Journal some years ago ran this little poem on their editorial page: "The bumper sticker in my view was clever, I admit it; as soon as I had read it through, I laughed so hard I hit it" (Dick Emmons). Moral of story: don't get distracted from your central purpose.

Creativity. I am of the opinion that there is simply no way you can win in this current economic environment without coming up with new ways of doing things. Maxwell says "creativity is essential."

Diligence. This is similar to tenacity but to me implies a determination, a pressing forward, a relentlessness. I picture a person with this quality forging ahead, nothing lagging. He has a mission and won't rest until it is accomplished.

Process. We must understand that certain things take time. Short and long-term thinking is required if we are going to make it through. Overcoming is almost always a long term endeavor. If we are short-sighted and base our decisions on the immediate we'll likely make the wrong choices.

Right thinking. There is another proverb that says, "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." In other words, in order to get it right in the marketplace you've got to get it right in your heart and your head. Your attitude is everything, and as a leader it will shape your entire organization. You've got to think, act, and carry yourself like a winner.

Right speaking. What we say has incredible power. The words that come out of our mouths will shape not only our enterprises, but the very course of our lives. Our choice of words is very, very important if we want to win.

Faithfulness. This characteristic understands that the little things are the big things. It means attention to detail. Faithfulness sees that it's the little foxes that spoil the vine. The basics are important to any undertaking, and to be an overcomer we must practice them consistently.

In summary, I am not aware of anyone who is not currently challenged, and I think there may be more tests on the way. Regardless of the circumstances, however, our approach to business - and to life - must be to win. And that is my take on being an overcomer.

2 Comments

Terry Hart

January 15, 2010 4:07 pm

You’re welcome. There is always the temptation to get discouraged – believe me, I know! However, if we have a choice in the matter, and we do, it is better to opt for the positives. Good always – always – overcomes bad. I have found the best thing to do is to be faithful with what we have, are given to do, and leave the rest up to God. Glad the article helped.

sab13

January 15, 2010 12:20 pm

Thanks. That was encouraging and helpful. I’m now in a position where I have to manage without any real authority, and am trying to establish myself as a potential leader at a company I just recently joined. I had to start a couple of rungs lower than my last position as Operations Manager. I am now a program manager, and responsible for everthing related to my customers from cradle to grave, but have no real authority. I see that the culture is poisoned and am constantly trying to lead them, by example, in a direction that better suits the growth and success of the company. As you can imagine, it is easy to get discouraged. So, once again, thank you.

Three Keys to Prospering in Your Work

By Terry Hart • January 13, 2023

“And every work that [Hezekiah] undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:21). There are here in this one verse three keys to prospering in your work. One, whatever you do should be in accordance with the word of God. God’s will is revealed in his word; it is to be found in no other place. I realize the Bible does not tell us whether we should be a carpenter or a financial advisor, a realtor or a nurse, but it does tell us to do what we do as unto the Lord. So if what you are doing can be so done, it is well and good as far as God is concerned. Better yet, find out what God wants you to do, and do that. I teach that a person should get a word from God as to his occupation. It could be that God puts a certain thing on your heart, to be and do such and such a thing. This is also good in God’s sight, as he gives us the desires of our hearts. He is in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. That said, let it be “in accordance with the law and the commandments.” Two, seek God. He is a rewarder of them that seek him. Jesus taught, “seek and you shall find.” Having sought God as to what he wants you to do, keeping seeking him as to how to do it. This is a never ending endeavor. There is a verse in Scripture that goes like this: “As long as he sought the Lord, he prospered” (see 2 Chronicles 26:5). So if you are seeking God and prospering, if you want to continue to do so, keep seeking God. Three, do what you do with all your heart. The Bible says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). What is to be noticed here is who you are working for. You may think you are working for the government, or the auto-maker, or the real-estate broker. Or, if you are self-employed or own your own business, that you work for yourself. The Christian, however, is to work for the Lord. Verse 24 of this same book and chapter says, “You are serving the Lord Christ.” So, if you think a half-hearted approach to your job pleases the Lord, then go for it. Otherwise, you had better up your game. There is another verse in Ecclesiastes that addresses how you work. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (9:10). In other words, in everything you do, whatever it is—your job, your service to your family or church, or even mundane things like mowing the yard or shoveling snow, give it all you have. Do it as for Jesus, as this greatly pleases him. It should be apparent, then, that if you wish to prosper, be applying these principles. And if you want to keep on prospering, don’t let up. I have found that after enjoying a measure of success, it is easy to ease off on the intensity with which you approach your work. Jesus says it best when speaking about prayer: keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. The key words here being “keep on.” The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

What Goes into the Cost of a Paint Job

By T.L. Hart • December 8, 2020

While you can get your property painted for just about any amount, hiring a reputable commercial painting contractor will ensure you get a quality end-product with a firm that stands behind its work. To provide this, there are three cost-factors that go into a good commercial contractor’s price: labor, materials, and profit.

Keep Your Commercial Property Watertight

By T.L. Hart • November 12, 2020

Moisture is among your commercial property’s greatest enemies. Wind-driven rain, leaky gutters and downspouts, old, deteriorated caulk or glazing, plus improperly painted substrates are all factors in moisture penetration. The result of water getting into unwanted places include peeling paint, damaged substrates, and—worse yet, mold and mildew. This is why you want to keep your commercial building waterproofed. While no one can prevent unwanted weather, and leaky gutters and downspouts are outside the scope of this article, proper preparation and a good quality paint job can go a long way in preventing moisture penetration. The following will contribute to a watertight building: Caulking. It is surprising how much damage a little water can do and how small an area allowing access will allow a lot of water in. Gaps in building materials, open joints, holes, plus splits and cracks may seem insignificant, but they’re a major entry point for moisture. This is easily solved by installing a good quality caulk. Since building components vary, caulks vary as well. They can be as simple as latex caulk, acrylic, siliconized acrylic, polyurethane, butyl, and pure silicone. The key is to seal up points of entry. Painting. Your commercial building is properly painted when all the paintable substrates have an adequate and cumulative amount of coating on them. I say adequate and cumulative as typically one coat of paint applied too thin will typically not do the job. Every substrate, that needs to be protected from moisture penetration, must have the right amount of millage installed. The proper mill thickness can be found in the manufacturer’s product data sheet (PDS). Of particular concern are those commercial buildings comprised of concrete masonry units (CMUs), or block. Concrete block is extremely porous, and unless coated properly will allow a huge amount of water into the walls of your building. The most important aspect of waterproofing a masonry building is filling the pores of the CMU. This is done by applying a block-filler as a first coat, with no more than ten pin-holes (the pore) per square foot. Once this is achieved, a good quality topcoat of any sort will provide water tightness. Best for CMUs are elastomeric coatings. These are rubber-based paints that, once dry, form an impenetrable rubber film over the substrate, and are the best for preventing moisture penetration—even wind-driven rain. Another advantage to elastomeric coatings is that they expand and contract, and will actually bridge small cracks in the masonry that may develop over time. There are other options for waterproofing—actual waterproofing sealers, stains, and cementitious coatings, all of which we have applied over our 36 years in business. In summary, to keep your commercial building looking good and free of moisture damage, keep it sealed up and make sure it is properly painted. Here at T. L. Hart, Inc. our goal is to ensure your commercial property is always in excellent condition. Our team of professional painters stands ready to keep moisture out of your property. Contact us today to request a quote.