FROM THE BLEACHERS

BY DR. JACK WELCH

The Mind Sets Direction, the Heart Drives Follow-Through

Leadership always begins in the mind. The mind gives us the ability to think, envision, analyze, and set direction. It’s where ideas are born and goals are identified. Leadership is never proven by ideas alone. Leadership is revealed in follow-through, and follow-through comes from the heart.

Every leader has good thoughts. Many have strong opinions. Some even have impressive plans. Yet not every leader finishes. The difference between those who talk about leadership and those who live it is commitment. The heart provides the courage, determination, and discipline required to move from intention to execution.

The late, iconic Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz captured this truth with remarkable clarity. He often said that to get things accomplished, a person must: Have a goal or vision, develop a plan to accomplish it, demonstrate the follow-through to get it done.

Holtz summarized it simply: Do It, Do It Right, Do It Right Now. That sequence is leadership in action. The mind may tell us what needs to be done. The plan explains how to do it. But without heart-level commitment, both the thought and the plan will sit on the shelf collecting dust.

Leadership stalls when vision lacks resolve. A goal without a plan is wishful thinking. A plan without commitment is wasted effort. A thought without the determination to follow through is simply a wasted thought.

The truth is this: People don’t fail because they lack ideas, they fail because they lack follow-through. Follow-through requires discipline when enthusiasm fades, courage when resistance appears, and perseverance when results don’t come quickly. That kind of resolve does not come from the mind alone; it comes from the heart.

Effective leaders work the plan because they believe in it. They stay the course because they are committed to the outcome, not just the conversation. They finish because finishing matters.

From the bleachers, leadership often looks simple. On the field, it demands something deeper. Strong leaders think clearly, plan intentionally, and commit fully. They don’t just do it, they do it right, and they do it right now.

In leadership, direction comes from the mind, but execution is driven by the heart.

Thought for the week, “Leadership turns ideas into impact only when the heart is committed to follow through and finish what the mind begins.” John Hill, winningest head baseball coach in history at Fort Scott Community College.

 Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.

Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Hayward Tucker
A Light Sleeper

When a woman has her first baby, her sleeping routine immediately changes because her ears are attuned to the newborn’s cry. Yes, the mother sleeps but her ears do not. I became a light sleeper from the time my babies were born until many years later. Listening and acting upon the newborn’s faintest cry is imperative for a child’s healthy psyche. A deep bond of love is established during these tender, early years.

If believers want to mature in the Lord properly and be spiritually strong, we must attune our ears and hearts to listen for God’s still, small voice. Personally, I believe He’s speaking every day, but if we’re
afraid to be quiet and put life on mute for a few minutes, we simply can’t hear Him above the roar of our culture. Everything God says to us is important, even if you think it’s not. For example, God may be
impressing upon you to reach out to someone but you procrastinate and never get around to it.

If you ever hope to do big things for God, then you have to start by being obedient in the little things. And what you might consider little, the person you neglected could possibly consider it big. For example, someone feeling sad and lonely could be greatly encouraged by a phone call if only you’d take the time to
do it!

Some believers have the mistaken idea that when God speaks to us it will be grandiose, earth-shattering, and loud. Scripture indicates that’s not usually God’s style. Let’s refer to when God spoke to the prophet Elijah: “’Go out and stand before Me on the mountain,’ the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and
went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (I Kings 19:11-13 NLT).

God already knew what Elijah was doing, but He asked the question just to get Elijah to think straight. The following anonymous quote is from an old “Way of Faith” publication: “The reason that many of us
do not know and better understand God is we do not give heed to His gentle checks, His delicate restraints and constraints. His is a still, small voice. A still voice can hardly be heard. It must be felt as a steady, gentle pressure upon the heart and mind like the touch of a morning zephyr to your face. A small voice, quietly, almost timidly spoken in your heart, but if heeded growing noiselessly clearer to your inner ear. His voice is for the ear of love, and love is intent upon hearing even faintest whispers. He is love, and if you would know Him and His voice, we must give constant ear to His gentle touches. Simply listen, obey and trust God even when it seems highest folly to do so.”

The Key: Be a light sleeper toward God’s still, small voice. And then act upon it to form a strong and loving relationship with Him.