I recently discovered that a favorite blog of mine had some artificially inflated numbers…
I discovered it by accident…I wasn’t looking for it, but there it was…something I thought was true…I thought the blog did better than it really does…wasn’t true…
I was disheartened…saddened…confused…
Then I remembered…
The main battle for your organization’s long-term success doesn’t exist where you are…it exists where you are going…
Regardless of how great something may be now, this moment will pass. The successes created today will soon fade.
Take writing for example. Unless you are Rick Warren or a handful of others, the best selling authors have to continue to create new stuff to stay on the best sellers list for long. In the business world, the hottest products are only as hot as the next great update or until another “greater” product is introduced.
The fact is momentum dies. People lose interest. Motivation for what you are promoting fades. That’s more true now than ever before. If an organization wants to be successful over time, then it must be winning the battle for the future.
Here are three aspects or planning for future growth every organization must have:
Here’s a fun way to tell you about a cool app or two…
What would you name this guy? I created him with my Touch Board application on iPad. I use this application to illustrate when I’m meeting with a few people or less and want to draw out what I’m trying to say.
If you are an iPad user, here are some of my other favorite apps:
In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. 2 Chronicles 34:3 (Emphasis mine.)
I read this verse this morning and it spoke to me. I’m sure I’ve read it dozens of times, but today a new thought occurred to me while reading.
Here’s my dog NaJe…She’s named for our boy’s Nathaniel (Nate) and Jeremy. She’s been a special dog.
In honor of my dog’s 11th birthday…Let’s talk pets today…
Are you a dog lover, a cat lover, or neither?
As a leader, there are two qualities that really I value in other people, drive & selflessness. In most circles, these two words seem contradictory & rarely used in the same sentence. However, both of those words describe my good friend, Wayne Elsey. Wayne is the Founder & CEO of Soles4Souls. His drive has lead Soles4Souls to become one of the fastest growing non-profits in the country, but his attitude reflects total selflessness. A few months ago, I interviewed Wayne in my leadership series. You can read it HERE.
Don’t rush every decision…every movement you make doesn’t have to be made at rocket pace…
I recognize the pace of life and the speed at which the world is moving…
But sometimes wrestling for a while with a decision is the better option…
A few examples I’ve learned the hard way:
Tim Elmore is an incredible leader. He has one of the best understandings of how to reach the next generation of anyone one I know. I recently had dinner with Tim and can attest to this man’s incredible heart for people. I’m blessed to have Tim share his thoughts with us here today as a guest post.
In our recent work with students, Growing Leaders has drawn some interesting conclusions. We have seen a shift take place among the young people in Generation Y. (The kids born in the 80s are different than the kids born since then.) The research is in a new book called: Generation iY: Our Last Chance to Save Their Future.
One of the shifts we’ve uncovered is that kids have moved from “activists†(who want to change the world) to “slack-tivists.†They still want to change the world — but sort of. They often don’t really want to work hard or make sacrifices. They’d rather sign a petition on a website, get a wristband and then return to a video game or YouTube. They’re more self-absorbed than their earlier counterparts. So, how do we grow a heart for service in our kids today?
Try this.
Driving back from Nashville yesterday I listened to sports talk radio. The subject was the same I have been hearing for weeks. Everyone wants to talk about what’s wrong with the Titans. Everyone has his or her own theory. As I said in a previous post, (Read it HERE) I am a not an avid sports fan. I love sports, I love watching sports, but I don’t memorize player’s names or keep up with many statistics, I just enjoy sports.
I do keep up with leadership however, and as I said in my previous post, I think the main issue for the Titans now is a leadership problem. When leadership is uncertain or unsettled, it will impact the entire team. That’s an organizational leadership principle, and it’s true because it deals with people, which mean you can see the principle at work in business, in churches, and on professional football teams.
So, as one who does understand the subject of organizational leadership, here are 5 leadership suggestions I offer the Tennessee Titans leadership:
As a pastor, sometimes it feels we wear a lot of hats. This is a random list I quickly put together of roles I sometimes get to play as a pastor:
I’m sick of Satan’s dirty little tricks. Criticize me all you want for the strictness of this post but I’m not taking a chance in this area if my life and I want to use this post to encourage men to do likewise. If I’ve learned anything about being a man it’s that I am weak in this area. I’m tired of sitting with couples whose marriage is rocked because of an affair. If a man without proper discipline in his life tells you he’s not tempted sexually he’s most likely lying or impotent.
In nearly every situation I encounter (all but one or two that I can remember), the affair didn’t start in an instant; it started over a series of time and moments of indiscretion by the man (or woman). I can’t intelligently speak to this issue from a woman’s perspective, but here is the progression of the sin of adultery in a man’s life:
We have almost created a culture where the term management is seen as a negative term. I believe this is dangerous.
With the rising interest in the field of leadership, the task of management is starting to get a bad name. Organizations don’t look for managers anymore, they look for leaders. It seems unpopular or not as appealing to say “I’m a manager” as it is to say “I’m a leader”.
In organizations today, leadership has overpowered management as the desired function. I understand it ….But…
Then all the people left, each for his own home, and David returned home to bless his family. 1 Chronicles 16:43 NIV
What difference do you make in your home? David returned home to “bless his familyâ€. Do you bless yours?
I am sure your family loves you. You are the mother, the father, the brother, or the sister. Of course, they love you, but are you lovable?
I threw out a Tweet last night to see what might be a good Friday discussion. I got one suggestion that we talk Christmas music. We did seem to develop quite an interest this week on favorite versions of Little Drummer Boy. Read that post HERE. Lots of Twitter and Facebook friends, however, said they weren’t fans of the song.
That prompts the questions:
Yesterday our small groups pastor, Ben Reed, had a “fun†voicemail from church member Estavon Williams demanding he be allowed to lead a small group. You can read about that phone message here. Ben, of course, dropped everything to get him signed up to lead.
Today I got the call. Listen to Estavon’s complaint against me by clicking HERE.
How would you respond? Now keep in mind, I’m not as nice as Mr. Reed and prefer the direct response. I plan to go running soon, with my shorts (that are not that short BTW) and don’t want to feel intimidated into recognizing everyone who happens to honk. Normally, I get lots of honkers.
What would you do?
