As a senior leader, I try to read various perspectives on leadership -- from Biblical sources, Christian authors, and business leaders. I've even read a few books on the neuroscience of leadership. One of my favorite authors is Jim Collins, a researcher who approaches leadership and organizational health from a business perspective. His book "Good to Great" should be required reading for leaders of all types of organizations. In a nutshell, he examines what enabled a good company to become a great company while other good companies either stalled or failed. Not surprisingly, one of the distinguishing characteristics of great companies was leadership. Not just good leadership, but what Collins calls "Level Five" leadership. According to Collins, there are five characteristics that contribute to the Level 5 leader's success. Here they. I will spend the next several posts fleshing them out. They are self-confident enough to set up their successors for…
Read More
There is a difference between challenges and setbacks. A challenge is an obstacle, problem, or difficulty that must be confronted. Not all challenges become setbacks. Some challenges are overcome and we grow as a result of being stretched and tested. We gain confidence, climbing a mountain we never thought we could climb. And then there are the times we fall. Or, more specifically, we fail. What started out as a challenge became a setback. Rather than advancing forward, we actually lost ground ... or money ... or reputation ... or friends. When Peter was asked if he knew Jesus, that was a challenge. When Peter uttered those words, "I do not know the man," that was a setback. How we grow through a challenging experience seems obvious. But how do we bounce back from a setback even stronger than before? When Jesus predicted Peter's betrayal, he also predicted it would not…
Read More
Cigarette boxes come with warnings. So do mattresses. In the spirit of fair warning, I offer the following disclaimer. Micromanagers and control freaks beware: what I'm about to say may disconcert you. Not everything will turn out the way you want it to. There are times you must trust God for the outcome. This doesn't mean we sit on our thumbs and wait for God to deliver the goods. God has asked us to be stewards of the gifts, talents, and treasures he has given us. The Great Commission challenges us to be seed-casters, sowing the seeds of the Gospel to whomever will listen. The Great Commandment calls us to invest in the lives of people. We are to make the most of every opportunity. Whatever we do, we are to work at it with all of our heart. But, in the end, God provides the increase. Our job is to…
Read More
Decisions. Choices. Fear. Whether you find yourself at a fork in the road or are having trouble taking decisive action, ask yourself this question: "Is this the right thing to do?" If it is, then do it. If not, don't.
Read More
I started this Thanksgiving morning the way I start nearly every morning: by making coffee in my French press. I'm usually up before the sun, turning on as few lights as possible -- easing into my day. For today's coffee, I chose home-roasted beans from Peru. Life is good. Sure, not everything in life is good. We face disappointments, downturns, and diseases. Difficult stretches sometimes seem to stretch on forever. We're reminded, "This too shall pass," but we're not told when or how. Not all of life is easy, or sweet, or good. Some things in life just stink to high heaven. But today, of all days, I'm choosing to have an attitude of gratitude. I'm grateful for ... My family -- past, present, and yet to come My health My faith My friends My future My hope My opportunities My abilities My encouragers My critics My dreams My coffee…
Read More