To be increasingly effective as a person and/or leader, we must grow in our self-perception. Without knowing it, many people believe things about themselves that are simply not true. Self-reflection is not just about putting more truth in your life; it’s also about removing the lies. This is why it is so important to have healthy, mature mentors as well as accountability partners in your life.… Read the rest
If I raise my kids right, I gain influence, but that also means my options are limited. I have to say NO to things that I might love and want to do in lieu of being home to raise my kids right. If I want to build an organization right, then I have to stay around that organization. So in which arena do I want to achieve success – the worldly arena or the family arena?… Read the rest
“You can over-estimate in the short run what God can do, and you will under-estimate what God will do in a lifetime of integrity” (Craig Groeschel). Running a complete race is where the joy of success really comes into play.… Read the rest
In this world we teach independence as the mark of maturity. As parents, we teach our children to grow up by learning to think and live on their own. Children grow up, and we want to aid this process. However, in God’s world, it is precisely the opposite. The mark of maturity, according to God, is dependence – a full and complete dependence on Him. Thus, as we grow, He longs that we’d be like a helpless infant, fully and totally dependent upon Him as our source for everything.… Read the rest
“No one can take from you what God has for you. And no one can give to you what God has already for you” (Kevin Myers – Lead Pastor, 12Stone Community Church, Atlanta, GA). How you respond, or react to anything, is always in your hands.… Read the rest
As I mentioned yesterday, self-reflection is one of the great leadership needs. Thus, if we’re going to have supernatural success, we have to have God’s supernatural power. To SEE Him, we have to SEEK Him. So as we self reflect, we need to ask ourselves: How are we doing in our relationship with God?… Read the rest
Self-aware leaders can actually lead others; but the lack of it can, and will, harm others. As Pastor Craig Groeschel wrote, “The greatest challenge in leadership, then, is not leading others; it’s learning to lead oneself.” Learn to self reflect, and do it often. The more you know you, the better you will lead another.… Read the rest
Success will change you – good or bad. As you look over your successes, have they made you more humble and appreciative, or arrogant and expectant? Believe it or not, how you deal with failure speaks volumes in how you deal with success.… Read the rest
Strong organizations have strong staff. One of the great pieces of wisdom that was told to me was that success will be dependent upon those you wrap around you. If the team you have cannot deliver on the vision for that organization, either help them grow or help them go.… Read the rest
Stop counting minutes; instead, embrace moments. Two things come to mind as I think about this: One, we can easily miss the journey when we get consumed by the destination. Second, we go through the motions – we watch the clock, and end up missing out on the great gift that is right in front of our eyes.… Read the rest
“Now you should carry this project through to completion just as enthusiastically as you began it. Give whatever you can according to what you have” (2 Corinthians 8:11 – NLT). That’s good advice.… Read the rest
Anybody can start something – the question is: Can you finish? People are wondering if your word matters. As a little rule of thumb, be careful what you say if you don’t plan to stay.… Read the rest
If the stable was not too dirty for the Son of God to be born in, then neither is any place in which we can serve. Always consider the place in which you lead Holy Ground. Leadership is not thinking about what you need; rather, it’s using what you have.… Read the rest
The smallest package I’ve ever seen is a man wrapped up in himself. “Pride goes before the fall” (Proverbs 16:18). A great leader is only great because of the people they work with. If you’re going to wrap yourself up in anything, may it be that of love – and then lead with that love.… Read the rest
Serving is the highest form of leadership. So I ask: Whose feet are you washing?… Read the rest
Seek to listen, not to be heard. “Be quick to listen and slow to speak” (James 1:19). One of the great vices in leadership is found in our ability to teach. Far too often our lips are moving more than they should. Learn to listen.… Read the rest
Saying yes to a few things means that you must learn to say no to many other things. We’ve all heard the validity of doing a few things well, and many things just okay. No effective leader is spread thin. Do what you must, and empower others to do what they can. As one of my mentors always told me, “Less is always more.”… Read the rest
Satan is not always concerned that we’re in sin, but many times that we’re just distracted. Either way, we’re not about the Father’s business. What are the distractions in your life – those things that keep you from the keeping the main thing the main thing?… Read the rest
There are three successions that we must understand as leaders. First, we LOVE. It’s the foundation for everything we do. “And the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Second, we LAUGH. Joy is contagious. It moves a person from feeling like they are on the outside to being on the inside. Finally, we LEARN. I truly believe that knowledge for the mere sake of knowledge is useless. To know something, yet do nothing with it, makes no sense to me. Thus, this part of the succession is teaching people to take what they’ve learned and teach it to someone else.… Read the rest
Leadership is best provided in the moment, not in a class or seminar. Classroom-type instruction and guidance is necessary, but it’s in the moment that reveals what a person truly learned. So learn to walk WITH them (in the moment), don’t just talk TO them (in the classroom). Jesus, time and time again, took His disciples out into their world around them and coached them in the moment.… Read the rest
I want to give you three plausible steps to leadership: EMBRACE them; EQUIP them; EMPOWER them. Think of these three as being in a circular pattern where those whom we empower will go out and embrace others as we had embraced them. I truly believe that the goal of raising up leaders is not to have them serve us, but to go and serve (love) others.… Read the rest
Have you ever gotten upset by the simplest thing like driving through a construction zone and/or having to take an alternate route? How about having to change your clothes after you spilled something? Always remember, change represents an inconvenience, but it’s the inconvenience that reveals much about ourselves. Watch how you face them and handle them.… Read the rest
People lash out when they feel backed into a corner. So don’t preach at them or talk down to them – walk with them.… Read the rest
“Until I am committed, there is a hesitancy, a chance to draw back. But the moment I definitely commit myself, then God moves also, and a whole stream of events erupt. All manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, persons and material assistance which come my way begin to flow toward me – the moment I make a commitment” (John C. Maxwell – “The Recipe for Leadership,” INJOY Life Club).… Read the rest
Martin Luther used to say that when the devil came knocking on the door of his heart, he would send the Lord Jesus to answer. And Jesus would tell him every time, “Martin Luther used to live here, but he’s moved out. I live here now.” I just love that.… Read the rest