Models trump mottos. There’s a story behind that. This is your daily message from Chad number 664, to upgrade your mental game today by telling yourself a better story, because the most important story you hear is the story you tell yourself. This message is dedicated to the pace-setter, Brian Johnson, for setting a good example.

In a bustling coastal town, Clara, a skilled fisherman known for her generosity, mentored young apprentices. She was famous for her pithy sayings and words of wisdom such as “A fish won’t bite if it can’t see the bait” and “The best fishing is where no one else is.” She loved teaching the art of fishing and the many life lessons the fisherman’s life teaches.

One summer, a severe drought struck the region, drying up rivers and reducing fish in the bay. Many fishermen gave up, while the apprentices faltered, their spirits dampened by empty nets and long days. Clara gathered them by the shore, emphasizing the significance of perseverance in the face of adversity.

The next morning, Clara ventured far from the usual fishing grounds, casting her nets despite the odds. Clara never complained and continued morning after morning onto the water. After weeks of persistence, Clara’s nets caught a hidden current of fish untouched by the drought. The haul fed the town and eased hardship. Word spread, and apprentices joined her, their nets filling as they followed her lead. The town marveled at her quiet resolve, not just at the catch, but at how she showed them perseverance.

Years later, the apprentices, now fishermen themselves, passed down Clara’s lesson: she didn’t just talk about patience; she lived it, and they saw its power. Her actions made her advice real. Her example turned words into a legacy.

People need a model to see more than mottos to say. A motto is only as strong as the character of the person saying it. Norman Vincent Peale use to say, “Nothing is more confusing than people who give good advice, but set a bad example.” John Maxwell says the most valuable gift we can give is being a good example. When advice and action align there is power. Walk the talk.

Walk the talk.

Walk the talk.

Email me who comes to your mind as an example of someone who walks the talk at fromchadsmith@gmail.com. You can find these messages on YouTube by searching @fromchad. You can read the transcript of this message and hundreds of others at fromchad.com.