Don’t shun the sting!
By
Today I’m probably known most for my public speaking. The irony is that when I first started speaking, I was anything but effective. In fact, I remember being really fearful, and it showed. In my first speaking opportunity as a senior in college, I was terrible. People described my speaking style as “stiff.”
I could’ve given up then – decided that public speaking was not for me. After all, I really wasn’t any good at it. But even then I knew it was part of my calling, so I kept at it. I studied effective communicators. I spoke to audiences (mostly small groups) at every opportunity. And after SEVEN YEARS, I finally felt more comfortable than fearful speaking to a group. Then I had to begin working to develop and improve my style. Again, I kept at it.
In time I got chances to speak to larger audiences. The first time I spoke to over a thousand people was in Columbus, Ohio, in the 1970s. In the 1980s I spoke to an audience of more than 10,000. In the 90s, I actually spoke to audiences of tens of thousands. And now in the 21st century, I’ve been blessed to speak live in events that were simulcast to even larger audiences.
I don’t say all this to brag. I say it because in those early years, when I was afraid the entire time I was speaking, I could not have imagined where I would end up decades later. The key was refusing to let my fear rule me. Instead, I accepted it as the price I had to pay for personal progress.
English playwright William Shakespeare said, “He is not worthy of the honeycomb that shuns the hive because the bees have stings.”
Is there a “hive” that you’re avoiding because of the pain or difficulty that you believe lurks there? Don’t let your fear block you from taking small steps in your development. You never know where they might lead.
Adapted from The Maxwell Daily Reader
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! I know the feeling of ‘terror’ at speaking! Like you, it is part of my calling and I have had to continue to face that fear and overcome it! This November I will do my first 2-day conference and when fear threatens I tell myself that God has already equipped me for what He has called me to do and there is nothing to fear! It’s just like talking to a lot of small groups at a time!
Very Timely word!! I’ve been avoiding taking steps to improve my business because of fear of failure! Now I KNOW I have to do it anyways!
Manolo Heather Rivera Mr Maxwell you are such a blessing to me! I may not ever meet you here but perhaps in Heaven we can arrange to meet by the tree of LIFE – love you ; )
John, nice post. I feel the key for accomplishing anything of great significance is to consistently replace our fears with faith. We can only turn “Fear to Faith” when we do. The more we develop the habit to “Just Do It” the easier it becomes next time. However, I think the real key is to believe so strongly in the reason you are facing the fear in the first place that you just can’t imagine living life without it. Then pain of facing out feats becomes only a temporary price we must pay in order to grow and be all we were intended to become!IF IT WAS EASY EVERYBODY WOULD DO IT!
Thank you for sharing your testimony…..God Bless.
I couldn’t agree more. Don’t give up. In high school it was all I could do to lift my head in speech class without falling over from fear. Now years later I am an Associate Pastor who loves teaching people the Word of God. My new moto is to take advantage of every opportunity. You never know what God will do. Give HIM your small portions and HE will multiply them.
Thank you, John.
“Courage is Fear that has said it’s prayers.”
- Anne Lamott
Your testimony encourages those of us facing all forms of stingers. Thank you for sharing and continuing to serve others through your leadership.
Very encouraging word’s! our church has just planted a campus in Bali and I have been given the opportunity to speak. these words were exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you!
Great post.
It reminds me of a statement by E.M. Bounds who wrote (in the 1800s) that it takes twenty years to make a sermon because it takes twenty years to make the man [or woman].
As someone who has been listening to you for 20 years, it’s encouraging to know that you did not become an effective communicator overnight.
This is my greatest fear for the church. Ihave known pastors afraid to step out in faith for fear they may “rock the boat” and be asked to leave while they are nearing retirement, or fear of losing people, they try and keep them instead of “going into all the world” and planting churches inner city, they build bigger and bigger barns.
Faith … See Morerequires risk and obedience to the word of God, not actions based on fear, or b/c fear of people. God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power love and a sound mind. Anyone who says God and church is boring hasn’t been walking fully with God! Either you be hot or cold, if luke warm I will spit you out of my mouth. God hates complacency.
I would rather sink as Peter when walking on water and have Jesus save me, than to have never walked on water
inspiring.
Over the last 10 years I have been given many wonderful opportunities to speak before large groups of people. Although they have not been in the thousands (the most so far has been 500) I have not been nervous. I feel that if you know your subject and are confident you will be fine. It is when you allow that fear to take ‘front-seat’ then that is when you will lose your power.
Thank you for this timely message. I have faced that monster of fear so many times when I had to speak to an audience. I have had to learn to do many things afraid. It is a weight that ensnares so many people and hinders them from fulfilling their divine destiny. Thank you for the encouragement. Currently I am blogging on positive perseverance as Christians and what that produces in our lives. Please check it out at
http://oilofjoy.wordpress.com. I would love to hear your feedback. God bless!–Joyce
Thank you Mr Maxwell God bless you.
thanks for the advice. splendid!
Realmente isto é motivador, pois me vejo como você no inicio, tendo um chamado porém com barreiras para vencer, me vejo sem habilidades de falar em público, aquele branco na mente, o medo, ….mas creio que a promessa de Deus pode se cumprir também na minha vida, assim como aconteceu com você, Parabéns Deus continue te usando irmão.
Clóvis
Thanks for sharing your personal experience about overcoming fear when speaking. I needed that. I like the quote by Shakespeare. I have not read this quote before now.
I’m at the beginning stages of the speaking arena and I find that each opportunity seems like it’s the first. But regardless, I love sharing information about life and relationships. Blending Bible principles into my messages is like water for a lifeless plant. People come alive through hope given by His Word. Working past the fears is worth the end result.
Mr. Maxwell once again you have compeled us to think and search our inner. My fear has always been that I would not fulfill purpose while here on this earth, because I often allow people to hold me because of their fears. Nevertheless I keep going and going and getting stronger and stronger and more courageous than ever. I know who, and who’s I am I just need to walk in it daily. Joyce Meyers once said “Do it Afraid”
Thank you for the encouraging post. I’ve been postponing beginning a Bible Study group because of fear due to a past experience.
We had a Bible School Leadership camp this past weekend and got trained on your material “Developing the leader within you”. It was an amazing course and I learnt so much. I have made up my mind to go through the material from time to time so that I can stay encourage and progressively grow.
Thank you that you are so willing to share your wealth of wisdom learnt over the years with us and not keeping it to yourself.
[...] John Maxwell says don’t shun the sting! [...]
Thanks again John for words of wisdom., I never miss an opportunity to speak on stage whenever asked in order to become better. It is my dream to speak to audiences about their potential world wide and do my part to leave a lasting legacy.
John you are such an inspiration, your material has just found me recently and I don’t consider it late in my life because it is making a tremendous impact in my life. In reference to your post in my own experience I have come to realise this truth, ‘One can never say they have have failed if they haven’t tried, neither can they succeed if they haven’t tried, So either way just do it or you will wallow in fear and self pity and just die.’
Thank you so much for sharing. I guess even the great have the fear of not making it.
Fantastic post of hope. You are absolutely right John, Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, ” Declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you”.
That’s what I read over and over as I learn and trust the process.
M_
Well thank you for your message on Stingers and i guess we are better off that we have mentors like you Dr. Maxwell keep the good work up and God bless you as you train us for the future. This is really empowering us for future challenges and we can tackle them easily.
Thank you once again.
La verdad esta breve reflexion me ha ayudado mucho a reflexionar sobre lo que se que puedo hacer y que a veces me ha dado miendo debo continuar aunque cueste y cause dolor luego viene la satisfaccion en beneficio de los demas y mio. Gracias John bendiciones a tu vida
Disculpa JOhn
necesito saber si ya salio a la venta el libro Todos se comunican, pocos se conectan en español por favor, gracias
Wow! Were you in my head’s thinking last night as I tried to sleep??? I soo needed to hear this today! I questioned my “calling” myself as I lay on my pillow…. even when knowing the calling I’ve been called to. You’ve blessed me this morning. I’m more determined than ever!!! I’m in the honey… of course, I’ll be stung!!! But I’ll refuse to let any sting stop me. Surely, God has made us stronger than the stings!!!! Thank you for lifting me up and righting me back on my feet!
With the highest respect John,
How do you reconcile going from zero to hero in speaking with your teaching regarding working in your area of strength, not weakness?
Best,
Tyler Opsahl
thanks once again for such a nice message of encouragement. You always inspire me through your books, and many quotations and messages you are posting in FB and sending in my email.
God bless!
Marianne
Mr. Maxwell I have been blessed by your books and have heard you speak many times. You have spoken ecouragment into my life through various means multiple times and I thank you.
I am very comfortable speaking to small groups but have never been able to speak at any leangth in front of large groups. I am a missionary in a third world country and have been asked many times to preach at our church but have always declined because of this fear. I am in my 50′s and feel that it is to late to overcome this fear of large groups. When I stand in front of a large group my mind tends to go blank but when in a smaller venue I can speak with much more confidence. Am I the only one that is challenged by this? Or is this more common than I realize. Is it possible to overcome this at this stage in my life?
Blessings
Mark
Ugh… I absolutely hate public speaking. Every time I get up in front of a crowd my body starts to shake and my mouth gets all dry. And no matter what I seem to do or how much I prepare my nerves always seem to get the best of me.
At first I thought I could conquer it but lately I have had my doubts. The fact that it took you 7 years in encouraging though ( not trying to get joy out of your pain). It’s just that watching men like you and Tom Mullins can be very intimidating because you men have your act together. But me as a college student trying to compare my abilities to yours can be downright embarrassing. Your brief message could not have been anymore appropriate considering just last week I gave one of the worst presentations anyone has ever had to sit through.
Thanks so much Dr John. These are the right word I need now. Encouragement that can only be gotten from men Like you. God bless You
Thank you so much, I had a few phone calls to make to several businesses and was faced with fear of not sounding professional enough and your words inspired me to step out and it was a growing experience. God Bless you!
Thank you so much. I must admit it souns like you put 2 Timothy 1:7 into practice. Thank you for hanging in the ring for the creidt does not go to those who stand and watch cheering others on. The credit goes to those who are brave, strong enough, to step into the ring. Thank you for sharing your divine wisdom and allowing God to use you to mentor so many even me.
Thanks for sharing John…it inspires me to overcome my fears…
You are absolutely right sir. Never let fear rule us. Your sharing is truly such as inspiration and a source of hope. I remember myself having so much fear to be in front of people, be it in small or large, like having to deliver a report in class or act as a moderator in a meeting. I can’t even understand why. Till I told myself, if others can do it, why can’t I. I refused to let fear rule my life. And I did. Now I’ve learned to believe in myself. I have realized that all I need is a little faith in myself and a huge amount of faith in God who after all created each and everyone of us to perfection, whom He designed to succeeed and not to fail.
Way to go John! That example of overcoming the sting of public speaking has taken you miles and that is the difference between the successful and the common people. Successful people stay longer on the track even when it hurts.
Joy be all yours
Sohan
Great post… Feel the fear and do it anyway!
Awesome advice. Definitely something I needed to hear at this very moment. Thanks.
what would Martin Luther say…
-Faith must trample under foot all reason, sense, and understanding.
-Reason is a whore, the greatest enemy that faith has.
-The man who has the will to undergo all labor may win to any good.
-If he have faith, the believer cannot be restrained.
-All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.
-Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.
Martin Luther
Now, whats stopping you?
Often we are called to an area where we don’t feel particularly competent. It is our job to learn what is needed, seek excellence, prepare and then finally trust God when we launch our effort.
I don’t believe God wants us to every feel fully self-sufficient, because if we did, we wouldn’t think we needed Him.
Thank you so much for your work.
Powerful post! Ouch! Oftentimes the sting, the hive, the venom, the fall….is what moves us toward taking much-needed action.
Many blessings,
Nancy Carroll
John –
Thank you for following your God given desire, I have benefited from your wisdom more than once. I overcame my greatest fear last year, and with God’s help in three weeks I will be spending two weeks in Hawaii having overcoming it! The new fear I’m working on is putting my family’s financial health at risk in considering a new business venture which would close the salary door and open the entrepreneur door. As Alicia Keys so eloquently said, “And the day came when the risk it took to remain tightly closed in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom” this is the element of freedom!
Wow! your blog resonates with me. I, too, had a similar experience (and it appears from the posts before mine that many have experienced the same thing). The capacity to look inside and understand how we are limiting ourselves is a true gift–an often underutilized one. I’ve been real proponent on the use of reflection as a leadership development aid. Only by looking within can we understand how to bring a better self to the world. Mindfulness is the key — the capacity to “be with” your internal fears/demons/hopes/concerns, not let them drive you, and eventually let them go. It’s that sequence that enables significant change to be born.
-Ria Hawkins
I really appreciate this. So many people seems to be able to look at this and agree with it and feel encourage or let it remind them of a previous situation. I am also encouraged because, up to your first seven years, your describing my situation perfectly. But i feel like i am on the side of the mountain where i am still walking up and can’t even see the top… let alone the other side! And bee’s seem easier to brave when you haven’t been stung multiply times. I have already made up mind to keep going… i really don’t have a choice. But sometimes i feel like i am running on pure faith that i can make it.
[...] Don’t shun the sting! “If I could conquer this fear, there’s hope for you” from John Maxwell [...]
Thanks John, for the release of another success key. I really wonder whether there can be victory without the “stings”. For me, the stings are what make our victory worth what they are. The victories and successes we relish today are becuase we have been stung. I think we need a work from you on “how to cope with the stings of life”. Thank you
I thank you so much for this message of particular revelation. It encourages me to do not give up even if progress delays.
Please, keep on sharing with us your great experience about Christian Life.
To me your pattern is an successful lesson.
May God bless you.
Where fear abounds, faith much more abounds. the choice is ours to either allow fear stop us or stop our fears by facing them by faith. If Dr. John can then there is hope for us. Thank you for this encouragement.
Great comment, and maybe it’s implied by your faith, but we must never forget that only God can take us to where we cannot get on our own. Listen to Him and obey, despite how it looks, and He can work through you to take you above the next level.