10 Things I Wish Someone Would've Told Me the Day I Graduated High School

Personal Growth & Leadership

I recently had the opportunity to share a word of exhortation and encouragement with a special group of young men and women during their commencement ceremony (Home For His Glory Class of 2016 - Louisville, KY). In hopes that those same thoughts may serve you as well, here is what I covered...

10 Things I Wish Someone Would've Told Me the Day I Graduated High School:

1) GRATITUDE NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE.  All great things begin with an attitude of gratitude. When you don't know what else to say or pray, "Thank you" always goes a long way. 

2) YOU CAN'T CHEAT SUCCESS.  Achievement comes with a price, and it never goes on sale. Be willing to put in the necessary work to yield the desired results with integrity.

3) DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE RISKS.  The riskiest thing you can do is to do nothing at all. Don't look back, years from now, with a laundry list of regrets because you didn't go for it.

4) BE INTENTIONAL (with your time, talent, touch, and treasure).  Plan your work and work your plan, but be willing to make adjustments because everything won't go as planned.

5) IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY.  It takes courage to be vulnerable. We are all broken people, born with a sin nature. That's why you need grace.

6) LEADERS ARE READERS AND LEARNERS ARE EARNERS.  Your personal growth and development should be a priority. If you're not growing, you're dying.

7) ASK FOR HELP.  If you ask not, you have not. You can't accomplish a big dream all alone. The sharpest people in the world still don't have it all figured out. 

8) PEOPLE MATTER.  We are all in the people business, relationships are the backbone of all that you do, so value people over possessions.

9) EVERYTHING ISN'T ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK OR HOW YOU FEEL.  The world does not revolve around you, so humble yourselves. Our hearts are deceiving (they are idol factories) and our feelings are fleeting. 

10) GOD LOVES YOU.  If you operate out of one truth, let it be this: our Heavenly Father traded heaven for you by sending His only Son to live a holy life and die on a cross (to be resurrected from the grave), to pay a price you couldn't pay, to save you from your sin. No one (and I mean NO ONE!) loves you more than Him, and His plan for your life is precious and it is perfect. 

Whether you are graduating or not (whatever season of life you are in), we all have the opportunity to participate in the greatest love story ever told (the Gospel) and play a role in the greatest movement in all of human history (the Great Commission). I challenge you to accept that calling, use your gifts and talents to engage the culture, and live life on mission in light of what's next. 

To dream is to do. Nothing happens until something moves. If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right. Let's grow.

Love you guys. Let's grow.

JT
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Connect with me on Instagram: @jermataylor