With today’s passing of the incomparable Dr. Billy Graham, I wanted to share the following excerpt from my book 10 Indispensable Practices Of The 2-Minute Leader regarding the relationship between legendary leaders Dr. Graham and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  It is my favorite story about this giant of the faith.

“When you learn to look at others in the right way – with positive expectations and eager desire for their success – the impact can be deep.  It can even extend well beyond your own team and your own sphere of influence.  Billy Graham, a son of the South, grew up in the midst of  a culture steeped in racism.  From childhood he witnessed the extreme divide between whites and blacks.  

When the civil rights movement began to gather momentum in the mid-1950s, Graham dared to encourage integrated seating at all of his events.  He took special notice of the brilliance and excellence of one man in particular – a fellow minister of the Gospel, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

At Graham’s 1957 breakthrough evangelistic campaign in New York City, he invited Rev. King to join him on the platform at Madison Square Garden.  It was the beginning of an unusual friendship.

Several years later, Billy Graham posted bail for Rev. King after the civil right’s leader was jailed during a non-violent protest in Birmingham, Alabama.  Graham’s own life demonstrates that honesty and faithfully observing other people – especially colleagues and peers – can change one’s thinking and radically alter one’s attitudes.”

Is there someone in your sphere of influence who after observing their life can change your thinking and radically alter your attitude?

The 10 Indispensable Practices Of The 2-Minute Leader

To read this and countless other stories of effective leadership, click The 10 Indispensable Practices Of The 2-Minute Leader or on the image to the left to purchase my new book.

Effective leadership is driven by key habits—indispensable practices that can be rapidly activated and applied. With compelling simplicity this unique book with accompanying study guide examines 10 of those practices—each centered on a key word, a key statement and a key application.

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