Always surround yourself with people who are even more talented and competent than you.

Life Applications

Commentary

Stephen Covey's quote emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with individuals who possess greater talent and competence. This fosters personal growth, inspires excellence, and encourages collaboration, ultimately leading to success.

Paraphrase

Surrounding yourself with more talented and competent individuals is key to personal growth and success.

Poem

Surround yourself with the best,
they'll put you to the test. Their talent will inspire,
your growth will never tire.

Presentation Suggestions

• Discuss the importance of surrounding oneself with talented and competent individuals for personal and collective growth.
• Explore biblical examples of collaboration and mentorship leading to success.
• Encourage the congregation to seek out mentors and peers who can inspire and challenge them to grow.
• Highlight the value of diverse talents and competencies within the body of believers.
• Illustrate how the principle of surrounding oneself with excellence aligns with biblical teachings on unity and mutual support.

Related Bible Verses

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.

If they were all one part, where would the body be?

As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.”

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty,

whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,

so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.

Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Ephesians 4:16

From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.

Proverbs 13:20

He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain. Free resources and databases are available at BereanBible.com

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

• How does surrounding oneself with more talented individuals contribute to personal growth?
• What are the benefits of collaborating with people who are more competent than you?
• How can this quote be applied in various aspects of life, such as career, relationships, and personal development?
• What challenges might arise when seeking to surround oneself with more talented and competent individuals?
• In what ways can one actively seek out and engage with individuals who are more talented and competent?
• How can surrounding yourself with more talented and competent individuals contribute to personal and professional development?
• What are the potential challenges and benefits of being surrounded by people who are more talented and competent?