Chapter 7

Spread the Word

Imagine if we all lived out the word meant for us. Can you imagine what our families would be like? How about our workplaces, schools, and communities? How powerful would you be? How big of an impact would you have? If we could pull that off, we might just change the world!

Why not start spreading the word by taking your family through the One Word process? After experiencing the power of the process in 1999, Dan and Jimmy shared it with their wives and kids. Now they have a tradition of getting their families together every New Year’s Eve to paint their words on canvas tiles that they hang in the kitchen as a constant reminder. During this time, they even create One Word for the entire family that they focus on together.

ONE WORD A FAMILY EXPERIENCE

Share the Power

In addition to your family, you can also spread the word to your school, work, sports team, church, or other organization to which you belong. For example, we have taken a number of school districts through the One Word process and have heard amazing stories. Some teachers post their words in the teachers’ lounge so that they can see their words each day and also help each other live their words. We also know of teachers who do this with their students and have their students make pictures of their words that they then post around the classroom.

We’ve also worked with a number of sports teams to help their coaches and players discover their words. Mark Richt, head football coach at the University of Georgia, had each player discover and share his word for the year. Players listed their words on big-screen televisions around the football facility to remind them to live their words.

Players for the Atlanta Falcons also came up with their words. Head coach Mike Smith’s word was Finish, because he wanted himself and his team to finish strong in everything they did. He said it had a powerful impact on him and his team.

Hendrick BMW in Charlotte, North Carolina, featured a car in the middle of its showroom displaying the words chosen by each employee. Imagine all the employees coming into work every day and seeing their word and their coworkers’ words on a car. Now imagine customers seeing these words, asking what they mean, and hearing how One Word helped Hendrick develop the best team and provide the best customer service possible. Talk about spreading the word!

THE ONE WORD CAR

THE ONE WORD CAR (CLOSE-UP)

The men at LifePoint Church in Finksburg, Maryland, discovered their words and shared them with one another to keep one another on track. The positive impact on marriages, families, and the local community has been remarkable. Many men told stories of marriages saved and relationships with children restored.

In addition to having each person in your family and organization come up with his or her individual word, you can also come up with a One Word focus for your entire organization.

The staff at Christ’s Church in Jacksonville, Florida, wrote their words on their hands and made a collage.

ONE WORD HANDS

For example, the entire executive leadership team of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a nonprofit organization that connects with more than 2 million coaches and athletes, developed a One Word theme for the year. The team’s word, Together, became a unifying force for team members, as their commitment and loyalty to one another grew throughout the year. The word gave them a focus to center on and an awareness of staying together as they led the organization.