Inspire or Be Forgotten

People hear the phrase, “There is good, better and best, and the good is the enemy of the best.” And it sounds sensible but they aren’t really sure how it relates to them.

Here’s an example: We all have had and probably will have many teachers, because it seems there is always something new we need to learn. Some people have had dozens and some hundreds of teachers over their lifetime.
Now here is the question: How many do you remember? How many stand out in your memory? How many INSPIRED you?

Bob the Teacher Jenkins in his book, Take Action, Revise Later, opens his introduction with the quote from William Ward that says,

“The mediocre teacher tells
The good teacher explains
The great teacher demonstrates
The great teacher inspires.”

Of the great ocean of teachers you’ve had in your life, how many do you really remember vividly? There’s a good chance they were the ones who INSPIRED you.

So here is the point. If you want to make a lasting impact on those you teach, don’t stop with just telling, explaining and demonstrating. Find ways to reach them on another level, the one that inspires them.

How to do that?
It relates to letting them see how this impacts their lives. Why this information is something they can use to elevate and improve their lives and to make a bigger and better impact in the world.

To be memorable, you must get them to see how they can USE this information to empower themselves to do the things they want to do. This is the real last step in training and educating, to show them how to USE the information in their own lives. Because only when you use the information does it come alive and benefit you. If you don’t do something with it you wasted your time learning it.

The real power and magic comes with seeing what you do after you have mastered it. The great and memorable teachers don’t just teach, they inspire people to go and DO things with the information.

They get them excited about the possiblilities. Want to be remembered as a teacher? Then inspire!