Hey Turtle!

A turtle will hide in his shell when he’s afraid…

And when he’s hiding—he’s going nowhere, he’s accomplishing nothing.

There’s a famous quote about this:

“Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.”

I think this is true about people too.

We only make progress when we stick out necks out—but when we hide in our shells, we go nowhere and we accomplish nothing.

Looking back on significant things I’ve either participated in or accomplished, I notice…

Nobody told me I was perfect for the job. Nobody begged me to do it.

It didn’t come knocking on my door.

I stuck my neck out.

I chose the opportunity to make a difference over hiding in my shell.

I wasn’t perfect for the job and the conditions weren’t perfect.

I went for it anyway.

And I’m glad I did.

When I think about the people who have made a significant difference in my life, I notice…

Not one of them was (or is) perfect.

They stuck their necks out—they chose the opportunity to make a difference over hiding in their shells.

Here’s what I’m saying:

Hey Turtle!

Stick your neck out.

Choose the opportunity to make a difference over hiding in your shell.

If you stay in your shell, not only will you go nowhere and accomplish nothing, but you will rob others of the blessing you could have been in their lives.

“Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.”