#315 - 3 WAYS I KNEW I WAS CALLED

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Though I avoided my call to plant a church for some time, the following three incidences confirmed my call to plant and gave me the confidence I needed to pursue the call boldly:

Spouse Cooperation. My wife lovingly agreed to the call. She looked me in the eyes and stated that she knew that this was God’s call on my life and that she didn’t want to miss out on God’s great plan for our lives. That day is a day I will never forget.

Pastor Affirmation. Several pastors I respect affirmed my call. They told me that I had the gifting and making of a church planter and affirmed that I would be able to plant a successful church. They also said they would support the church plant in any way that they could. Those were very empowering days.

Team Formation. Six dear friends committed their lives to the call. When three different couples said they were all-in, when I could make them no promises at all, my heart was filled with joy. On those three separate days that each couple committed, I knew that God had already began to build His church.

What circumstances, experiences or incidences confirmed your “calling” into your vocation?

#278 - THE QUESTION ALL LEADERS SHOULD BE ASKING THEMSELVES

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Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.
– Sam Walton

As a leader, there are many questions you should be consistently asking yourself to ensure that you are leading well.

Questions like:

  • How am I leading by example?

  • What can I do to get better at what I do?

  • How clear is the vision I am compelling people to follow?

But there is one question in particular that you should have an answer to at all times.

And that question is…

Who, specifically, am I believing in?

Who are you trusting?
Who are you grooming?
Who are you mentoring?

Who are you placing confidence in, in spite of the fact that they have no confidence in themselves?

Have great faith in someone who you lead.

It is of significant importance.

And you know this to be true because you wouldn’t be the leader you are today if somebody didn’t, one day, put their faith in you.

#254 - WHY YOU NEED TO QUIT BEING A COWARD

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Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand. 
– Bodie Thoene

Quit being a coward.

For far too long you’ve been aware of the problem.
For far too long you’ve been burdened by the issue.
For far too long you’ve been frustrated by the situation.

But apathy has taken over.

You stopped loving – because you were hurt.
You stopped caring – because you thought it didn’t matter.
You stopped fighting – because you thought it wasn’t worth it.

Well I’ve got news for you.

It’s worth it.

Your relationship with your boss is worth it. He deserves to know how you feel.
Your relationship with your friend is worth it. She deserves to know what happened.
Your relationship with your child is worth it. He deserves to know why you’re frustrated.

Understand…

Your inaction is not protecting anyone, instead, it’s hurting everyone.

Don’t you get it?

If you don’t say it, who else will?
If you don’t bring it up, who else will?
If you don’t take a stand, who else will?

Nobody.

The responsibility is yours. You’re the leader.

So,

Go. Handle business. (View this blog post as the permission you were waiting for.)

Don’t wait another day.

Evil has no place here.

#227 - OF THIS YOU CANNOT LET GO

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Hold on to what you see.

Though your vision has yet to materialize.
Though your dream has yet to come to pass.
Though your hope has yet to become a reality.

Hold on to what you see.

Keep the colors bold.
Keep the images sharp.
Keep the pictures clear.

Hold on to what you see.

You have been given the vision.
You have been given the assignment.
You have been given the insight into what the future holds.

Hold on to what you see.

Because the time will soon come when…

What you so clearly see is where you will lead many people to be.

Believe it.

#212 - YOUR TOUGHEST LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE

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It’s not leading those who follow you.
It’s not leading your peers.
It’s not even leading those who are “above” you.

Your toughest leadership challenge is…

Leading yourself.

Physical and Health.
Family and Home.
Spiritual and Ethical.
Mental and Educational.
Financial and Career.
Social and Cultural.

In every area of life…

Self-leadership is key.

The big idea is this…

The best gift you can give the people you lead is a healthy, energized, fully surrendered, and focused self. And no one can make that happen in your life except you.- Bill Hybels

In regards to your health…lead yourself.
In regards to your pace…lead yourself.
In regards to your integrity…lead yourself.
In regards to your development…lead yourself.

Lead yourself.

If you don’t, you will soon be of no value to those who follow you. 

#206 - A LEADER'S COMMITMENT

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The opportunity to lead is a gift.

Therefore, in an effort to make the most of this gift I have been given,

I commit to:

Love those I lead.
Serve those I lead.
Develop those I lead.
Motivate those I lead.
Encourage those I lead.

I commit to:

Listen to those I lead.
Believe in those I lead.
Celebrate with those I lead.
Persevere with those I lead.

I commit to:

Expect highly of those I lead.
Speak truthfully to those I lead.
Give generously to those I lead.

My ultimate commitment is to lead those I lead.

Why?

Because when my opportunity to lead has ended…

I will be held accountable.

#204 - THE WAY YOU SHOULD LEAD

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There are many ways one can lead.

Not so popular ways like…

By force.
By power.
By manipulation.

More popular ways like…

By inspiring.
By motivating.
By encouraging.

But the truth is, one way trumps the others:

By example.

Lead by example.

Say the things you want your people to say.
Go the places you want your people to go.
Do the things you want your people to do.

Go first.

When it comes to risk. When it comes to trying. When it comes to innovating.

Overcome the fastest.

When it comes to setbacks. When it comes to obstacles. When it comes to difficulties.

Persevere the longest.

When it comes to the vision. When it comes to the goals. When it comes to the purpose.

Go.
Overcome.
Persevere.

These are the necessary traits of one who has decided to lead by example.

Commit to them.

#141 - LEADERS INSPIRE CHANGE

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Leaders are catalysts.
Leaders are initiators.
Leaders are jump starters.

Leaders Inspire Change

They envision the change.
They help others envision the change.
They, along with their team, make the change.

Leaders Inspire Change

A solution is conceptualized.
A team is formalized.
A dream is realized.

Leaders Inspire Change

In direction.
In attitudes.
In the norm.

Leaders Inspire Change

In themselves.
In their communities.
In their world.

Leaders Inspire Change

Why?

Because they understand very clearly that…

If I don’t inspire change, no one else will.

#120 - LEADERS LEARN

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by listening.  by reading.  by following.
by doing.  by comparing.  by sharing.
by teaching.  by modeling. by trying.

Leaders learn.

because they are aware of their weaknesses.
because they desire to improve upon their strengths.
because they aspire to be the very best at what they do.

Leaders learn.

from other leaders.
from their peers.
from their followers.

Leaders learn.

from their mistakes.
from their successes.
from their failures.

Leaders learn.

so that they always have value to add.
so that they remain worthy of being followed.
so that they can lead from a position of strength.

Leaders learn.

Because, they are absolutely convinced that, at the end of the day,

If you are not growing, you are dying.

As an aspiring and developing leader, do you have a plan for personal growth and development?

#108 - LEADERSHIP IS EMPOWERMENT

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To help people realize their gifts.
To help people realize their potential.
To help people realize their self-worth.

Leadership is Empowerment.

To teach people why.
To teach people how.
To teach people what.

Leadership is Empowerment.

To provide encouragement when times are hard.
To provide accountability when work is not getting done.
To provide inspiration when all faith has been lost.

Leadership is Empowerment.

When those you lead:

Realize their abilities.
Understand what they have to do.
Persist until the work is completed.

Empowerment has taken place.

Leadership is Empowerment.

Who are you empowering?

#91 - LEADERS LISTEN

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to those they lead.
to those they are loved by.
to those they are loathed by.

Leaders listen

to loyal “customers.”
to other respectable leaders.
to people who hold them accountable.

Leaders listen

for potential problems.
for constructive feedback.
for possible opportunities.

Leaders listen

when it is inconvenient.
when they need to understand.
when they don’t know what to do.

Leaders listen

because they care.
because those they lead need to be heard.
because they understand that if they don’t know one else will.

In the final analysis, I am confident that, ultimately,
Leaders listen because leaders love.

It has become clear to me that
If I do not choose to love more, I will not choose to listen more.

But on the other side of the coin, I know that
As my desire to love grows, my ability to listen will improve.

So with that said, let’s commit to love and listen more this upcoming year. Whatdya’ say?

#89 - LEADERS TAKE OWNERSHIP

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Of the vision –
Communicate it.
Communicate it again.
Communicate it some more.

Leaders Take Ownership

Of deadlines –
Make them.
Monitor them.
Meet them.

Leaders Take Ownership

Of the process –
Teach it.
Simplify it.
Duplicate it.

Leaders Take Ownership

Of the results –
When bad, adjust.
When good, celebrate.

Leaders Take Ownership

Of their gifts.
Of their calling.
Of their purpose.

Leaders Take Ownership

Of their responsibility to lead by example.
Of their responsibility to take the first step.
Of their responsibility togo where no one has gone before.

Leaders Take Ownership

Of their responsibility to your team.
Of their responsibility to your followers.
Of their responsibility to God.

You are a leader. Own it.

#76 - LEADERS SACRIFICE

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Their time.
Their energy.
Their money.

Obviously.

Their agenda.
Their emotions.
Their expectations.

Pretty Obvious.

Their ideals.
Their preferences.
Their convenience.

Not so obvious.

Their comfort.
Their reputation.
Their life.

This I wasn’t aware of.

But as a developing leader the lesson I am learning is this:

I must consistently “give up” so that others can continually “go up.”

I’m up for the challenge. Are you?

#75 - LEADERS LOVE PEOPLE

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In spite of their faults.
In spite of their bad habits.
In spite of their shortcomings.

Leaders Love People

Even when they disrupt.
Even when they disappoint.
Even when they distance themselves.

Leaders Love People

Especially when they’re hurting.
Especially when they’re helpless.
Especially when they’re hopeless.

Leaders Love People

Unmistakably.
Unconditionally.
Unapologetically.

Leaders Love People

Because people don’t care how much you know,
until they know how much you love…them.

To lead is to love. Period. 

#73 - LEADER'S MENTOR

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Regardless of who it is.

Friends. Family Members. The Next Generation.

Leaders Mentor

Teach your values.
Model your beliefs.
Share your knowledge.

Leaders Mentor

Pass on your unique skills.
Pass on your learned wisdom.
Pass on your effective methods.

Leaders Mentor

Tell them. Show them. Let them. Correct them.
Tell them. Show them. Let them. Correct them.
Tell them. Show them. Let them. Correct them.

Leaders Mentor

Leaders invest life into life.

Is there a better investment that could possibly be made?

#70 - LEADERSHIP IS A PRIVILEGE

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To serve.
To share.
To sacrifice.

Leadership is a privilege.

To fix issues.
To free minds.
To further ideas.

Leadership is a privilege.

To impact culture.
To influence lives.
To inspire change.

Leadership is a privilege.

At your work.
In your home.
At your school.
In your business.

Leadership is a privilege.

Let’s just be sure to never start treating our privilege as a right.

#65 - LEADERSHIP IS DIFFICULT

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Because casting vision is difficult.
Because achieving goals is difficult.
Because desiring change is difficult.
Because developing teams is difficult.
Because organizing people is difficult.
Because duplicating yourself is difficult.
Because going against the status quo is difficult.
Because believing before anyone else does is difficult.

Leadership is difficult.

This is the reality.

But then again, what valuable pursuit has ever been easy?