Talk without example means nothing. And those leaders Collins presented practiced what they preached.

I don’t believe growth was just the main reason for the fall either. The problem is with their growth came the arrogance–and they just grew for the sake of growth.

But you are right attentive service is truly the key: we grow but will stay humble at the same time.

Servant leadership and empowerment is what Christ displayed throughout the Gospel in reference to Matthew 20: 25-27, and I agree with all Proverbs and the Word regarding pride’s contribution to downfall’s.

I don’t believe that ‘growth’ by itself connotes pride so we must be sure not to readily equate the two, without understanding. Holding to God’s promise in Joshua 1:1-9 “3 I’m giving you every square inch of land that you set foot on (MSG)”, an abundance of material Blessing’s can be a promise of God (though our Heavenly reward is the TRUE reward).

Reviewing some of the response’s, it appears that these companies’ failures were most aligned with Luke 12:48 (NLT) 48 …When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” They focused on the growth, not the reason why they grew.

It gets back to what you most appropriately summarized: Service is what created the growth, and attentive Service (and humility) is required in order to give ALL Glory to God for any success! Thanks again, and great job!!

Just wanted thank you for the opportunity to post on your blog. And thank you for the vigorous handshake!

Thank you for your transparency and openness…and I would agree with you: you are blessed!

Interesting to think about. Is growth always a problem? Or maybe just if it eclipses humanity, or creativity?

Looks like a good book.

(Btw, aside to Bradley… I am loving The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work.)

From a business standpoint, i knew the owner of a nice little mexican resturaunt that was filling seats every night. He was making money

But he wanted more. So he decided to expand with a huge dining area. It lost it’s little hole in the wall expereince, the food quality went down and the people left dismayed.

It was over. It was pride.
David
http://www.redletterbelievers.com

“Pride goes before a fall”

I graduated at fifteen and had been steadily working all sorts of jobs since I was 12. I also had a weird mind that would get me a lot of criticism, being in a small, legalistic town, that was also home to a prominent bible school (which I realize now was firmly rooted in a hefty mix of socialistic Christianity, which really took hold on the Canadian Prairies).

“Before I was afflicted, I went astray…”

I was successful in pretty much everything I did and I knew it and didn’t hesitate to let anyone else know it. The Lord rescued me from a couple vices and gave me a good wife early, and I knew that He was with me. He also lead me to leave the trades, where I first started in writing non-fiction (first prize within first semester) and fiction. I also fairly savagely abused teachers who digressed with my preferred marks, and then quit.

Went to copywriting on almost a whim because the money was good. I had a $12,500 contract in my hand five days later. And the exact line wasn’t “Praise the Lord!”, it was a “F–k you ALL” plus elaborations. So I prayed “Lord this isn’t good.”

And cut.

Every job for the next three years went down the tube. Every dollar of savings and debt. Stretched beyond any limit. Utterly destroyed in vocation; it was like cancer. Trades, writing, nothing — it all bombed in amazing ways! Contracts slipped from between my fingers every month. And the Lord pinned me to the ground and ruined me.

“Before I was afflicted I went astray…” “Do not despise the Lord’s discipline…” “Wounds from a friend can be trusted.” “Gain wisdom though it cost you everything you have.”

I’m not sure that humility leads to greatness this side of the gate, nor necessarily pride; it’s the other side of the gate that counts and that must bear memory — pursuing humility for business’ sake is just trying to manipulate God and coerce him by force, which is always a loss.

Humility does lead to blessing, though. Incredible blessing, and then the award on the other side of the gate. And often in this life the Lord blesses us in ridiculous ways and Proverbs states it, but it is not a given: proud wicked men reign supreme, often, and good men die poor and unknown.

I would no longer consider myself great, although I have been blessed by God. But that’s enough for now I think, for me, and that contentment has “been GREAT gain.”