Alan Loy McGinnis Quotes & Sayings

The Hasidic rabbi, Zuscha, was asked on his deathbed what he thought the kingdom of God would be like. He replied, "I don't know. But one thing I do know. When I get there I am not going to be asked, 'Why weren't you Moses? Why weren't you David?' I am only going to be asked, 'Why weren't you Zuscha? Why weren't you fully you?'" — Alan Loy McGinnis

You are a manipulator when you try to persuade people to do something that is not in their best interests but is in yours. You are a motivator when you find goals that will be good for both sides, then weld together a high-achieving, high-morale partnership to achieve them. — Alan Loy McGinnis

The ultimate leaders develop followers who will surpass them. — Alan Loy McGinnis

Those with a high level of confidence may have as many or more weaknesses than those with low self-esteem. The difference is this; instead of dwelling on their handicaps, they compensate for them by dwelling on their strengths. — Alan Loy McGinnis

Learn, earn, return - these are the 3 phases of life. Jack Balousek There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assist another human being - to help someone to succeed. — Alan Loy McGinnis

But leisure has little to do with one's happiness. To the contrary, I've found that the happiest people have found some cause and they stride through life propelled by a commitment. — Alan Loy McGinnis

We therapists hear many stories of how people have been victimized, how they've had a succession of bad breaks and are product of 'dysfunctional' homes. On good days I'm sympathetic and try to hear them out, to encourage catharsis for their pain, then gradually lead them into problem-solving mode.

But some days I mutter to myself, that if another patient comes in the door and says one word about being the product of a dysfunctional family, I'm going to stand up and do something dysfunctional to them.

ALL families are dysfunctional at times. And the biography is filled with stories of people who overcome the most miserable environments. — Alan Loy McGinnis

The bigger your job, the more negative evaluations you must hand out. And the more criticism you must be willing to absorb. — Alan Loy McGinnis

A true leader helps people focus on their potential, not on their limitations. — Alan Loy McGinnis

Wise parents do not criticize each other in front of their children or their friends. Nor do they talk negatively about their children when others are present. That is disloyalty. — Alan Loy McGinnis

When someone comes along who genuinely thanks us, we will follow that person a very long way. — Alan Loy McGinnis

The best transactions in families or between friends occur on the fly. They come as stochastic shocks, or serendipities.

People often step out onto our path as we are hurrying to a meeting or intent on finishing a project, and it usually turns out that the meeting or the project was inconsequential compared to the chance to get closer to someone we cared for. — Alan Loy McGinnis

If people know we expect good things from them, they will in most cases go to great lengths to live up to our expectations. — Alan Loy McGinnis

Tears are often a gift from God, and sadness is a healthy emotion. — Alan Loy McGinnis

Fears are educated into us," Dr. Karl Menninger once wrote, "and they can, if we wish, be educated out. — Alan Loy McGinnis

Our success at friendship, business, sports, love
indeed, at nearly every enterprise we attempt
is largely determined by our self-image. People who have a confidence in their personal worth seem to be magnets for success and happiness. — Alan Loy McGinnis

Love, honor, and negotiate. — Alan Loy McGinnis

If we build more windows and fewer walls, we will have more friends. — Alan Loy McGinnis

If you train your mind to search for the positive things about other people, you will be surprised at how many good things you can observe in them and comment upon. — Alan Loy McGinnis

One reason I can be more tolerant than most is that as a therapist I have the advantage of information about my patients that most people are not privy to. And I discover that we rarely if ever see the totality of another in ordinary social intercourse. When an individual appears mean and lazy, we are only seeing one part of the person, elicited by a particular set of circumstances on a particular day, and we do well to wait a while before concluding that what we see is the whole person. — Alan Loy McGinnis

Focus on your potential instead of your limitations. — Alan Loy McGinnis