This is a re-post from November, but it is back by request. Several people have asked me lately how I accomplish as much as I do. Here’s my plan:
If you aren’t doing so already, I want to encourage you to plan your week for efficiency. Every Monday (or Sunday night if you prefer), as the first thing you do, consider the week ahead. Follow this formula:
The simple fact is that economies like this cause all companies (and churches) to get better, refine what they offer, or close. The organizations who survive will be stronger and better, creating real value to the economy through jobs, local investments, owner equity and long-term growth.
This clip is hilarious and shows the power of editing. Apparently John Maxwell’s okay with this.
Guess what? I don’t’ know everything. I don’t know everything about the Bible, about God, about life’s problems, about death and the afterlife, sometimes I don’t even know everything there is to know about me. (Actually that happens many times.) In fact, sometimes in my church I’m the last one to know anything. Sometimes people avoid telling me things either because they think I already know or they don’t want me to know.
Twitter works well for me because it allows me to express my thoughts as they occur, which are also why they appear so random at times. Extroverts need to understand that even though an Introvert may not say anything, it doesn’t mean they don’t have anything to say. When I have a thought, I can quickly express it in a 140 characters or less through Twitter, which automatically updates my Facebook page. Longer thoughts can be expressed on my blog. Twitter gives me an outlet I didn’t previously have to express myself, without invading my need for introversion.
Recently as I have thought about our sustainability as a church, I’ve been reminded of the hundreds of people who are in our church today that never experienced our first year as a church plant. We have new people coming all the time. They need the benefit of fully understanding the vision we have set from the beginning of who we really are as a church. To instill this vision into them we must continually find new ways to repeat our vision.
One resource helpful for assigning and evaluating responsibilities for a specific task or ministry is the RACI Matrix. It forces the organization to assign specific responsibility and understanding to a project. This eliminates confusion, helps insure projects have the people resources to be completed and provides for accountability.
I work with lots of church plants and young ventures. I love the enthusiasm and momentum an organization has early in its life. I hope to always be a part of starting something. As I’ve gotten older, however, I’m equally as concerned about sustainability. The right energy and vision will create growth fast, but building an organization that lasts requires having a plan for maintaining viability.
Do you need reminding that change is coming and there is a purpose to life?
My friend Tony Hill sent me this email this week asking me about our experience with church planting: (Tony is the mastermind behind my blog design.)
