All You Need Is Love
John Lennon and Paul McCartney of the Beatles were most likely wrong about many things, but when they wrote these lyrics to “All You Need Is Love,” they got it right.
There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung
Nothing you can say, but you can learn how to play the game
It’s easy
Nothing you can make that can’t be made
No one you can save that can’t be saved
Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to be you in time
It’s easy
Nothing you can know that isn’t known
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be
It’s easy
All you need is love
One of the things I am faced with at Kimray is how to position the company to be run by someone who isn’t me. Organizations are often an extension of the person in charge and certainly an extension of that person’s vision. But what happens when that person is no longer there? We see this happen all the time. A charismatic and visionary leader leaves, and the organization changes substantially (if it survives at all).
However, even an influential leader can’t do what can’t be done, make what can’t be made, or know what can’t be known. There is a reason for where we are and who we are—and the reason isn’t about us.
In the past, I’ve told you that for whatever time I have left, and using whatever influence I can bring, I intend to change the organizations I am involved in so I don’t have to be there for these entities to survive.
I realize this might sound odd—perhaps even arrogant—but if I am making an impact where I am, I should transfer the ability to make the same impact to other people (because it was transferred to me). And if I am not making an impact, why am I still there?
How do I do this? How do we do this?
We must invest heavily in our team members. Push and inspire them to grow. Help them stay motivated and engaged. This is hard work—much harder than just doing your “job.”
Interestingly, we have a pretty good model for building a great team that will survive our departure.
In Mark 1:17, Jesus calls Simon and Andrew and then a verse later he calls James and John. All he says is, “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people” (NIV).
Jesus selected humble and teachable men, and he gave them a clear mission.
Over the next three years, Jesus was seldom apart from his team of 12 men. He spent a lot of time with them, which gave Jesus countless opportunities to teach them, hold them accountable, demonstrate his love for them, and show them how to “fish for people.”
Jesus committed significant time and attention to those he wanted to influence.
He put them to work. Even though they made mistakes and asked stupid questions, he kept giving them work so they could learn and grow. He also checked on them and guided them when they needed it.
Jesus delegated significant things, and then stuck around to follow up on them.
Finally, he made it clear that the expectation was for them to reproduce themselves too.
So, helping others become people of influence and impact is simple. It takes careful attention to selecting, spending time with, and teaching a few people at a time. It takes commitment and trust. Ultimately, all you need is love.
Jesus said love should be the distinguishing quality of those who follow him. We are imperfect at it and always will be. But we should make it the trademark of our relationships.
I love you. I am here to help you be the best you can be and perhaps someday even to step into my role. Instead of bothering me, that makes me very excited about our future—because that is The Kimray Way.