Mark Bowser Blog

By Mark Bowser

Photo by Lukas Kacaliak on Unsplash

“Burn it down”

“Excuse me sir?” said the young Lieutenant.

“You heard me. Burn it down”

“But General, if we burn the bridge then we will have no way to get back home.”

“Lieutenant, there is a way. We must win this war and capture the enemy’s ships. Then, we will be able to go home.”

Stories such as this are sprinkled in every generation of history. Men and women of conviction who burn the bridge of failure to expose the road to success.  Where are those leaders today? Have we forgotten the past? Are our eyes dimmed for the future?

Such leaders still exist, but they are fewer and farther between just like they always have been. Leaders are not born. Leaders are made. You can become one of those leaders. We must rekindle the fire of conviction. If not, all may be lost on your job, your personal situation, your company, and our nation. 

Depressing thought? Bleak outlook? Maybe, but it doesn’t have to be a future of dark clouds. Conviction is choosing the best and believing the impossible. What the masses believe as impossible, the leader with conviction creates into reality.

In 721 B.C., King Hezekiah of Judah had to find conviction or his nation would perish from the face of the Earth. In that faithful year, King Sennacherib and his mighty Assyrian army began an assault against Israel.  Sennacherib’s strategy was to cut off Hezekiah’s escape routes by conquering the coast and Galilee which would virtually paralyze the great city of Jerusalem, the home of King Hezekiah. 

When faced with a crisis such as the one King Hezekiah faced, the leader with conviction must prepare for the battle to come.  Let’s take a look at what King Hezekiah chose to do and see how it may be the answer to the business or life situation that you may find yourself in today.

One, decide that it is possible.  King Hezekiah believed that there was a way to defend his kingdom. There had to be a way!  So, he believed it and he looked for it.  We must do the same thing in our lives.  I don’t know what you are facing today.  It may be a business challenge in a very tough economy.  It may be a personal crisis that threatens to tear you down.  Whatever it is, there is an answer.  Believe it! It some cases, there may be multiple answers.  The key is to believe it is possible and then look for that answer.

Two, gather your cabinet. Hezekiah gathered together his nation’s leaders to discuss the Assyrian threat.  Jerusalem and the nation was in danger and they needed to form a defensive strategy. When faced with a crisis, bring your inner circle together.  Every leader needs an inner circle.  A group of leaders and friends whom you trust who will share with you their insight and wisdom instead of telling you what they think you want to hear. 

Three, form your strategy and take action.  King Hezekiah and his inner circle formed their strategy.  The first action they took was to fortify the city walls and to build up their stockpile of weapons.  However, they knew their most vulnerable area was their water supply.  If the enemy could cut off their water supply then Jerusalem would fall in quick order.  And with it … the nation.  

Jerusalem’s only source of water came from a spring at the bottom of a hill — and here is the clincher — outside the protected walls of the city.  How could they keep it safe?  How could they get to this life saving substance once the attack began?

It was decided that they would have to dig a tunnel from inside the city walls through solid rock to the spring outside the city walls.  But would there be time?  The Assyrian army was advancing quickly.  There was no way they would finish on time … or was there?

Hezekiah quickly formed two works crews.  One crew would begin digging from inside the city walls and the other crew would start outside the walls down at the spring itself.  How could they snake their way through 1,700 feet of solid rock to meet in the middle?  They had absolutely no modern technology to lean on.  It seemed absolutely impossible.  

One morning, as the Assyrians were closing in on the city, one of the work crews heard something.  Could it be? Was it?  It was!  The two work crews met in the middle only one foot apart.  Impossible you say?  No, not impossible!  With their protected water supply, King Hezekiah and the nation of Judah were able to withstand the enemy attack and sent them running back from where they came. 

When faced with your ultimate challenge, you must form your strategy quickly and with courage and conviction take massive action.  The leader of conviction is not timid.  The leader of conviction is a person of massive action.  Not impulsive action. But thought out, strategic action. And, before you know it, you may have your miracle at your fingertips.  

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Would you like Mark Bowser to consult with your team or speak at your next event or conference? Then, contact him today at email Mark@MarkBowser.com.