“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
– Winston Churchill
The Peanut Farming House Builder
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life.
The nation mourned and celebrated President Jimmy Carter’s passing this past week. Many wonderful stories, having nothing to do with politics but rather humanity, have been shared. Today’s message comes from an apocryphal yet powerful story about service.
Jimmy Carter was running for president. During a campaign stop in a small New England town, an older woman approached him with tears in her eyes. She explained that her house desperately needed repairs, but she couldn’t afford them. Instead of offering sympathy or making empty promises, Carter asked for her address.
Three months later, after winning the primary, Carter showed up at her door with a toolbox, ready to help.
Throughout his life, before and long after his presidency, Jimmy Carter was known for rolling up his sleeves and doing the work himself. From his peanut farm in Plains, Georgia, to the homes he helped build with Habitat for Humanity well into his 90s, Carter exemplified servant leadership.
After his presidency, when most former presidents were writing memoirs or making good money at speaking engagements, Carter and his wife Rosalynn picked up hammers and joined Habitat for Humanity. It was more than names they lent to the cause—they worked on the construction of the sites. Over the next four decades, they helped build or renovate more than 4,000 homes across 14 countries.
True leadership isn’t about the height of your position – it’s about your commitment.
Through his example, Carter showed the world that influence doesn’t come from titles but from tangible contributions and that real leadership isn’t about the power you hold; rather, it is about the purpose you serve. There aren’t excuses when you’re committed to a cause bigger than yourself. Sometimes the most powerful leadership statement isn’t what you say, but what you do with your hammer.
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”
– Nelson Henderson
Connecting this quote to the story. Jimmy Carter committed to serving others selflessly, building homes, advocating for human rights, and creating lasting change—not for personal gain or recognition, but to leave a better world for future generations. Shouldn’t we all do that?
Chasing Influence tip: Leadership isn’t about what you gain, it’s about what you give.
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
Updates on Chasing Influence
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life is available in Kindle, softcover, hardcover, and audiobook editions.
For additional resources, links to podcast appearances, and other Chasing Influence news, click here.
©Troy Urdahl, 2025