WHEN BOB HAS A PROBLEM WITH EVERYONE, BOB IS USUALLY THE PROBLEM

Austin Gardner • July 27, 2022

Do you suffer from the "Bob or Bobbie Principle?"

Have you ever known one of those people that find fault with everyone? I have sat in the homes of God's people as they told me that no one was kind, no one was good, and no one was doing the work. They would talk about how everyone was quitting but them. They never considered that they might be part of the problem. They never looked in the mirror. 


John Maxwell in his book Winning with People teaches the "Bob Principle!" Here are some quotes to think about as you mediate on the above mentioned premise.


if Bob has problems with Bill, and Bob has problems with Fred, and Bob has problems with Sue, and Bob has problems with Jane, and Bob has problems with Sam, then Bob is usually the problem.


The Bobs of the world carry around problems, and those problems affect others. I first became aware of this truth only a few years into my professional career. 


Bob also likes to find problems and expose them to others. He subscribes to Chisholm’s Second Law, which says, “Any time things appear to be going better, you have overlooked something.”


Bob always creates problems, and he usually involves others in what he’s doing.

 

Bob is usually a recipient of problems from others, and he encourages people to bring him more. And of course, sometimes the person is a Bobbie instead of a Bob.


“Garbage trucks take their loads of trash to a place that accepts garbage. And people with problems take their gripes, gossip, and grumbling to someone who’ll accept it. Because you allow people to dump on you and make no effort to stop them, they keep dumping. And they won’t stop until you let them know they’re not welcome.”


Studies have shown that, in the average home, for every positive statement, a child receives 10 negative statements. The school environment is only slightly better; students hear seven negative statements from their teachers for every one positive statement. No wonder so many children are growing up feeling that they are losers. Parents and teachers are conveying that perception every day in how they talk to their children. These studies go on to point out that it takes four positive statements to negate the effect of one negative statement.


Now, Austin is speaking again. Do you suffer from the "Bob or Bobbie Principle?" Do you see problems in everyone else's life? Do you allow all garbage to be dumped on you about everyone? Could this article be a wake-up call for you? How positive are you? Do you inspire, encourage and motivate or discourage, deflate, and dishearten?


Other interesting articles about judging


How can I find the truth?

The Three Steps of Church Discipline

Division among the brethren

Be careful who you criticize

keeping a record of wrongs

Judge Biblically

Sizing up everyone but themselves

How Can I Find the Truth

WHEN BOB HAS A PROBLEM WITH EVERYONE, BOB IS USUALLY THE PROBLEM

What do you do with the accusation?

Wrong Motives



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