Reader:

It's easier to judge the friends I have - than the friend I have been.

(click image below for the video version)

​

Morning Minute 8.25.26

What Kind of Friend Am I? It's easier to judge the friends I have—than to judge the friend I have been.

Over five decades, I have been fortunate to make friends through business, community functions, chance encounters, coaching, and speaking. Some remained for a season. Others lasted decades.

But instead of evaluating what kind of friend they have been to me, I am asking myself a more difficult question:

What kind of friend have I been - to them?

​Circumstantial: Some friendships exist because life puts us together—work, neighbors, chance meetings, and organizations. When the circumstances disappear, do I disappear too?

​Transactional: Some relationships grow because we provide something of value to one another. Would I still care about this person if there were nothing left for us to exchange?

​Social: Some friends share my interests, activities, laughter, and conversations. When life stops being fun or interesting, am I still present?

​Personal: These friendships go deeper. We know one another beyond our résumés, public images, or social posts. We listen, trust, encourage, forgive, and care about what lies beneath the surface. Have I created the trust that allows another person to be completely honest with me?

​True: These friends genuinely want what is best for each other. We celebrate our victories without envy, support each other during difficulty, tell each other truths we may not want to hear, and sacrifice without keeping score. Do my actions demonstrate that kind of friendship?

Personal and true friendships provide many benefits that superficial relationships cannot. For instance:

​Belonging. Someone knows more than our public persona and still chooses our relationship.

​Perspective. A true friend can see things about us that we cannot see ourselves.

​Accountability. They care enough to tell us when we're heading in the wrong direction.

​Encouragement. They remind us who we really are when disappointment makes us forget.

​Shared joy. Genuine friends don't merely tolerate our success; they celebrate it.

​Support during adversity. These friends remain close—especially during tough times.

The greatest benefit of true friendship may not be having someone who provides these things for us.

It may be becoming someone willing to provide them for others.

Here is a reflective exercise:

List five people you consider friends.

Don't evaluate them. Evaluate yourself by asking these questions:

· Do I contact this person when I need nothing?

· Do I know what's really happening in their life?

· Do I celebrate their success without comparing it to mine?

· Would I tell them an uncomfortable truth because I care about them?

· When they need me and it's inconvenient—do I show up?

We spend a great deal of time deciding who our true friends are.

Perhaps we should spend more time being a true friend.

Instead of asking: “Who would be there for me?”

Ask: “Who knows that I will be there for them?”

And remember:

Information without transformation is wasted energy.

Keep Learning! Keep Leading!

That is today’s Morning Minute.

***

Today's Morning Minute message was inspired by a broadcast from Dr. Charles Stanley. His broadcast replay last Sunday strongly suggested that to have good friends we need to be a good friend. His messages always share ways to serve the Lord by serving each other. Click HERE for more from In Touch Ministries.

***

Here are some recent Morning Minutes you may have missed with actionable ideas, useful instruction, and step-by-step methods to help you, your family, and/or your team to be more, do more, and achieve more.

​"Be The Change You Want To Create!" What if the biggest obstacle to your team's growth is the example they see every day? Learn the first step in team transformation by employing the T.A.S.T.E. leadership model. Answer 5 questions that will give you a starting point for transformation. Discover 2 successful examples of team transformation that you can model as you be the change you want to create.

​"Formulate - Initiate - Accelerate - Designate!" Four steps to transform your team - and prepare yourself for your next opportunity. Formulate your action plan by analyzing the 4 Ps. Initiate your plan based on what you learned. Accelerate transformation of your team by investing the required resources. Then designate and train the person who will succeed you to make yourself ready for your next opportunity.

​"Understand Their WHY Before Their WHAT!" Learn why beliefs and motives often predict behavior better than skills alone. Discover 4 decisions you should make before any hiring decisions. Understand how the why behind today's choices often predicts tomorrow's performance. For a list of probing interview questions request them at lab@larryonlearning.com.

​"Mental Toughness is Built Not BORN!" Learn why mental toughness is built not born. Discover the 5 daily choices that strengthen your mind and your character while preparing you to lead others. Learn how to set yourself up for continuing success by the choices you make, the habits you learn, and the character you develop.

​"Plan in ADVANCE - Pivot to WIN!" How being prepared, and being flexible, can turn tragedy into triumph. You can discover how to accomplish an amazing turnaround in short order by planning early, exercising sound judgement, quickly pivoting, and executing immediately. Discover the process that allows you to plan your promotional calendar for an entire year while providing the flexibility to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

​"The Courage to Ask For Help?" Discover how the best leaders seek wisdom without surrendering responsibility. Learn from examples at Ford Motor Company and Spartan Food Systems how that asking for help creates a stronger team, makes team members more accountable, and is a great way to be more, do more, and earn more.

Follow us on social media to never miss our twice weekly messages:

​​​​​

(published by the Bonorato Creative Group, LLC; all rights reserved)