WHAT MATTERS MOST --- THE POWER OF LIVING YOUR VALUES
by Hyrum W. Smith. A Fireside Book/Simon & Schuster, 2000



FORWORD --- Ken Blanchard (p11-12)

INTRODUCTION --- Mount St. Helens or why you should read this book! (p15-25)

PART 1 --- The power of knowing who you are! (p27-66)

    [1] Heroes --- people who know who they are (p27-30)

    [2] "One hundred years ago they had more time" (p47-57)

    [3] "Someday I'm going to..." (p58-66)

PART 2 --- Discover what matters most to you (p67-122)

    [4] "What e'er thou art, act well thy part" (p73-72)

    [5] What are your governing values? (p82-105)

    [6] What is your personal mission in life? (p106-116)

    [7] "The greatest force in creation..." (p117-122)

PART 3 --- Doing something about what matters most (p123-177)

    [8] Use the inherent power in planning (p127-135)

    [9] "Make it so!" (p136-153)

    [10] What's on your belief window? (p154-178)

PART 4 --- What matters most --- the broader view (p179-225)

At this point, your "roles" and "governing values" have been identified. Your "personal mission statement" has been written. You can now start as many or as few of your long-range goals as you want to do at this time.

There may be times ahead when things that are both urgent and important will press in, temporarily keeping you from focusing on what matters most. Just remember that the "PROCESS" is always there, waiting for you to use it whenever and as often as you desire!

    [11] Organizations also need to know --- HOW the process and principles apply to businesses and organizations (p181-190)

    [12] What matters most --- influence in a wider circle --- HOW history and lives are most often changed by the efforts of single individuals who know WHO they are, WHAT MATTERS most to them, and WHAT their personal mission is! (p191-203)

    [13] Life is not set in concrete --- living the abundant life in a larger, lifetime perspective! (p204-212)

    [14] Your "inner reward" --- living the abundant life by knowing the ABUNDANT MENTALITY! (p213-226)

      (1) Giving away the apples (p214-216)

      (2) Being a "servant leader" (p216-220)

      The "servant leadership" concept of leadership describes leaders who are NOT afraid to show the way to those whom they lead, that they should not be too high and mighty to do the same work as their subordinates. (p217)

      They are "servants" or "teachers" of those they lead! In this paradigm the leader sees himself or herself not as a "superior" but as a colleague. This kind of servant leadership tends to inspire and motivate far more than the approach we typically associate with a strong leader. (p218)

      A time-tested principle: If you serve your fellow beings, things are better, both for you and for them! To me that is part of the abundant life. You already have enough for your own needs --- the real satisfaction comes from sharing what you have, your time, talent, other resources, with others who have needs you can help meet. (p. 220)

      Too often the other leadership paradigm is followed --- the leader as a monarch reigning over the subjects of his or her kingdom. Such leaders let their positions go to their heads, and some almost become dictators in their companies or organizations. (p218).

      (3) Living with an abundance mentality (p220-225)

CONCLUSION --- You can do it! (p227-238)

INDEX (p229-245)


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