Attitude of persistence

I saw a quote recently on a church sign that read "Any good deed, no matter how small, holds greater value than the greatest of intentions." It turns out the quote is from the late American naturalist, John Burroughs (completely irrelevant to the topic but a good bit of information).

I readily take two thoughts away from this quote. The first being, go hard! Far too often, I will have the idea to send a thank-you card, get a gift for someone, or reach out to an old friend; and inevitably I never do. These great intentions are of no practical use to those whom I have intended them. Furthermore, they are of no value to myself. They consistently serve as a reminder of things that one has not accomplished; comparable to failure. So in conclusion, go hard! When thinking of someone or something thoughtful to do, be more intentional to just do it!

The second thought I developed from this quote involved the nature of intentions. Great intentions are essential to great outcomes. Any small deed done is impactful for what it is. However, a great intention with a subsequent deliverable is all the more admirable. I mean something that will really make a difference! I desire to change people's lives! Therefore, small deeds accomplished serve their purpose, but for the purpose of sustainability and genuine impact, one must dream big! One must have great intentions. But most importantly, one must deliver the greatest of deeds to the world and deliver those deeds now! The world is waiting. So dream the biggest dream! And act on those dreams in these very moments!