Published 2004, W. Publishing Group

Stan is one of the largest real estate developers in the United States. He grew up working in his dad’s restaurant, then he attended the University of South Carolina for a year and half before having to return home to help his family run the restaurant during his father’s illness. Stan completed college by going to night school at Georgia State University.

After graduation, he continued to help the family with the restaurant. Then, in 1987, he launched a development business, where his can-do spirit, competency, and vision shot him to quick success.

Then the bottom fell out. Over a period of three to four years, Stan lost almost everything and found his checkbook had collapsed from a positive net value to more than twenty million dollars in debt.

“I remember the night when I pulled my family around me and told them that the next day we were going to lose our house. I can remember how sobered everyone was and all I could say was, ‘We’ve still got each other and we’ll come back.’ It was one of the hardest times of my life.”

Through that experience, Stan learned that regardless of how many strengths one might have, unexpected circumstances, turns in the economy, disappointing people, and other issues can quickly bring you down. But in those points of weakness, you have a choice to become bitter or better. And Stan chose “better.”

Working his way back to the positive side of the ledger, Stan made up his mind to repay every debt he had incurred. It wasn’t because he had to — those debts had been written off by the individuals and companies — it was because he felt obligated to. That’s what a Christ-follower would do, regardless.

I worked hard to go back to every single institution that I owed to pay back the debts we’d incurred. I specifically remember going into one company to pay the money back and them telling me I didn’t have to do it, because they’d written it off the previous year.

I just looked at them and said, “You don’t understand, I have to do this because that’s the right thing to do.” And then I paid them back.

But I could hardly believe the results that came out of that. I remember one woman who worked in the office pulling me aside sometime later. With tears in her eyes she said, “You’ll never know what your actions did to my husband. He’s never seen this Christian thing as a viable reality in life. He always thought it was fake and something only weak people did. But seeing you grapple through such financial setbacks and then evidence such strength out of weakness has changed his life. ”

I still can’t believe what happens when, even in the weak moments of life, we do what’s right, and inevitably you see that God rewards us for that!

Stan has amazing strengths, has learned to manage his weaknesses, and constantly humbles himself before the Lord. ln fact, he has one of the most gentle, humble spirits we’ve ever seen in a leader, though he’ll be the last one to admit it (a sign of true humility).

And Stan summed up our point to this whole chapter when he said, “The thing I’ve learned is that strengths make you a better leader and weaknesses make you a better follower and servant. And both are critical in the eyes of Christ.” Reccord, Robert E. and Singer, Randy. (2004) Made to Count, W. Publishing Group, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Reccord, Robert E. and Singer, Randy. (2004)