Why Good Intentions Aren't Enough
Chapter Two
Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough
CHAPTER 2
Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough Opening Question Have you ever gone out of your way to help another person? If so, tell about the experience: what you did, how it helped, and how it made you feel. Discussion 1. What types of things do people usually have good intentions about, but rarely ever take action on? 2. John talks about how he wanted to play football in high school but never did. What’s something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done yet? 3. In your opinion, what keeps people from transforming their good intentions into action? Why do you think it’s so easy to get stuck? 4. What are some of the biggest barriers you’ve observed that keep people from taking action in their life? Do you think there’s a particular mindset that gets people stuck more easily than others? 5. John said that his parents, especially his father, were highly intentional people, but it didn’t connect with him until later in his life. What was your environment like growing up, in terms of intentionality? Was your family strategic and active or more spontaneous and laid back? 6. In what area of your life would you say you are the most intentional? Why are you inspired to be intentional there? 7. What are some of your personal barriers to change? If you could get rid of any one obstacle, what would it be and why?
©2015 John C. Maxwell
1
Chapter Two
Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough 8. John tells the story of his rimless basketball goal, and says, “Scoring is the ultimate purpose of the game, and there’s no scoring without the hoop.” Where in your life do you feel that there is no hoop? Why do you feel that way? 9. Shifting your thoughts from desire to deeds can help you embrace an intentional lifestyle. Identify some areas where you need to make such a shift — what area cries out most for change and why? 10. Intentional living requires commitment. Are you willing to commit yourself to making the shift from good intentions to intentional living? If not, why do you think you’re hesitant?
Application The most important part of the mastermind process is helping people take what they learn in discussion and turn it into action in their lives. If your participants agreed to commit to living intentionally, then ask them to do the application assignment below. Think back to your answer to Question 9 and write down a short list of ways you can make the shift from desire to deeds in that area. Over the next seven days, put that list into action by doing one thing each day. Be prepared to share what you learned from turning intention into action at the next meeting.
Reading Before the next mastermind meeting, please read Chapter 3, “Start Small But Believe Big,” on pages 51-76.
©2015 John C. Maxwell
2
Chapter Two
Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough
Where Do I Live? John gives a list of words that describes a life of good intentions, intentional living and a life that matters:
Words of Good Intentions
Words of Intentional Learning
A Life That Matters
Desire
Action
Results
Wish
Purpose
Fulfilment
Someday
Today
Every Day
Fantasy
Strategy
Follow Through
Hopefully
Definitely
Continually
Passive
Active
Proactive
Occasional
Continual
Habitual
Emotion
Discipline
Lifestyle
Somebody Should
I Will
I Do
Survival
Success
Significance
Which stands out to you from these lists? Which of these lists most describes the kind of life you currently have? Why?
©2015 John C. Maxwell
3
Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough
CHAPTER 2
Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough Opening Question Have you ever gone out of your way to help another person? If so, tell about the experience: what you did, how it helped, and how it made you feel. Discussion 1. What types of things do people usually have good intentions about, but rarely ever take action on? 2. John talks about how he wanted to play football in high school but never did. What’s something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done yet? 3. In your opinion, what keeps people from transforming their good intentions into action? Why do you think it’s so easy to get stuck? 4. What are some of the biggest barriers you’ve observed that keep people from taking action in their life? Do you think there’s a particular mindset that gets people stuck more easily than others? 5. John said that his parents, especially his father, were highly intentional people, but it didn’t connect with him until later in his life. What was your environment like growing up, in terms of intentionality? Was your family strategic and active or more spontaneous and laid back? 6. In what area of your life would you say you are the most intentional? Why are you inspired to be intentional there? 7. What are some of your personal barriers to change? If you could get rid of any one obstacle, what would it be and why?
©2015 John C. Maxwell
1
Chapter Two
Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough 8. John tells the story of his rimless basketball goal, and says, “Scoring is the ultimate purpose of the game, and there’s no scoring without the hoop.” Where in your life do you feel that there is no hoop? Why do you feel that way? 9. Shifting your thoughts from desire to deeds can help you embrace an intentional lifestyle. Identify some areas where you need to make such a shift — what area cries out most for change and why? 10. Intentional living requires commitment. Are you willing to commit yourself to making the shift from good intentions to intentional living? If not, why do you think you’re hesitant?
Application The most important part of the mastermind process is helping people take what they learn in discussion and turn it into action in their lives. If your participants agreed to commit to living intentionally, then ask them to do the application assignment below. Think back to your answer to Question 9 and write down a short list of ways you can make the shift from desire to deeds in that area. Over the next seven days, put that list into action by doing one thing each day. Be prepared to share what you learned from turning intention into action at the next meeting.
Reading Before the next mastermind meeting, please read Chapter 3, “Start Small But Believe Big,” on pages 51-76.
©2015 John C. Maxwell
2
Chapter Two
Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough
Where Do I Live? John gives a list of words that describes a life of good intentions, intentional living and a life that matters:
Words of Good Intentions
Words of Intentional Learning
A Life That Matters
Desire
Action
Results
Wish
Purpose
Fulfilment
Someday
Today
Every Day
Fantasy
Strategy
Follow Through
Hopefully
Definitely
Continually
Passive
Active
Proactive
Occasional
Continual
Habitual
Emotion
Discipline
Lifestyle
Somebody Should
I Will
I Do
Survival
Success
Significance
Which stands out to you from these lists? Which of these lists most describes the kind of life you currently have? Why?
©2015 John C. Maxwell
3
