This is getting far too complicated. Where do I start? So many choices!” I was in a local pharmacy, looking to pickup some toothpaste and razor blades. In front of me were shelves…..so many shelves! Row after row of product, all making claims that my life will be so much better if I purchase their particular brand. We’ve all been there.

I just had the same experience again, while in a bookstore, browsing the business/leadership section. As I stood in front of so many titles, all promising the latest and greatest tips and techniques, I couldn’t help but ponder another question.

“Does leadership have to be this complicated?”

To be certain, there are many helpful perspectives, tips and tools that can be gleaned from what you would find in many of the books sitting on those shelves. With all the “mostly helpful” leadership perspectives on the rows in front of me I again asked the question, “Does leadership have to be this complicated?”

I wonder if……in the pursuit of the quick and easy answer coupled with our desire for the latest, greatest tip and technique that will solve our personal and business leadership challenges …we have been duped…seduced…lulled into worldly thinkin’, maybe even stinkin’ thinkin’?… Read the entire article

Slow me down, Lord.

Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace.

Give me, amidst the day’s confusion

The calmness of the everlasting hills.

A Deliberate Reflection:

Over the last few days, when might you have needed to slow the pounding of your heart by the quieting of your mind and then enjoy the calmness of His everlasting ways?

Break the tension of my nerves and muscles

With the soothing music of singing streams

That live in my memory.

A Deliberate Reflection:

What situations have you faced lately where tension and anxiety seem to describe how you have shown up?

Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.

Teach me the art

Of taking minute vacations….

Slowing down to look at a flower,

To chat with a friend,

To read a few lines from a good book.

A Deliberate Reflection:

Are you feeling rested after a night’s sleep?  When is the last time you literally stopped to…

…Take a minute vacation?

…Not only look at, but actually enjoy the smell of, a flower?

…Chat with a friend…with no agenda, unhurried?

…Read a book…just because?

Remind me

Of the fable of the hare and the tortoise;

That the race is not always to the swift;

That there is more to life than measuring its speed.… Read the entire article

I hesitate showing you these statistics. They are so very sobering. They tell the real story of leaders like you and me in the market place…..of leaders who are pastors and vocational Christian workers. These numbers tell the story of men and women who long to “do good” and yet find themselves trapped in, what seems to be, a never ending road of confusion and misdirection.”

These were the words communicated at the front end of a talk I was giving to a conference of pastors and vocational Christian workers (and a few “lay” leaders).

Some of the statistics I was referencing came from an American Psychological Association survey on the impact of stress on the average American.

Here, also, are the statistics from my keynote that I….with sober reflection…..offered to the vocational Christian leaders seated in front of me.

So what’s your response as you read these statistics?

Anger or apathy?

Compassion or judgment?

As I was reflecting on these numbers I couldn’t help but think about how quickly you and I can forget about the “log in our own eye”.

I wonder what the percentages would look like for our community of Christ following business owners? What do you think?… Read the entire article

So what’s your agenda?” asked this leader. We were engaged in a very focused conversation regarding our work with him and the other leaders in the company. His “spidey senses” were tingling as he felt the pressure to learn, grow and become a more competent leader. His suspicion of a “religious agenda” had become quite loud in his mind. He was compelled to ask “Why are you doing what you are doing?” “Are you trying to convert us to your religion?”

Over the past year and a half, the owner of the business…a devoted Christ follower…engaged our team to come alongside and help guide a significant business transformation. At the outset we knew that this process would require the very best of all involved. We knew that the pressure to change, learn and grow would precipitate much challenge and, at times, frustration for those involved.

Here was my response, knowing that he was quite aware of my deep faith and Christian worldview,

“I have absolutely no agenda to try to convert you, convince you or coerce you into my faith! That would be dishonest and in direct opposition to honoring the trust of our relationship. That would be a serious compromise of the work we are doing together.… Read the entire article

But I really did mean to call – honest!”
“There is so much on my plate that I can’t see my way to doing the things I know are the right things for me to do.”
“If only I had more time, then I’d be able to get it done”.
“When things slow down, then I will…!”

Do these phrases sound familiar? Often, experienced leaders offer these “reasons” for not doing what they said they would do.

The pain of “try” is written all over these leaders’ faces as they grapple with the deep desire to be a leader who “does”. They long for a story of being experienced as a “credible” leader, one who no longer “tries” to do what is right, but actually follows through on what was promised.

In the midst of ups and downs and mistakes…our families, teams, and communities are counting on us to “deliver” as promised. Consider the promises you may have made to:

• Yourself – promises to care for your spirit, body, mind and emotions.
• Spouse – promises to “love and cherish til’ death do us part”; and “for sure we will finally go out this weekend”.
• Kids – promises to hang out, go fishing, read a book, build together
• Team at work – promises to
  • Help navigate a difficult conversation,
  • Have opportunities to learn and grow.

… Read the entire article

So what’s your answer?” Chip asked the group last Friday afternoon. We were in the middle of a discussion regarding how we view money, profit and the trust of running a business well. The question prompted a very healthy interaction.

So what’s your answer?

As you lead your life and business, are you…

…Engaged in the undisciplined, unfocused pursuit of more?

Or

…Engaged in the disciplined, focused pursuit of less?

There is something about us that seems be enticed, compelled or drawn into more and more and more. Add the ever-reaching encroachment of technology to your already compulsive nature of adding more….you are likely feeling overwhelmed and unfocused.

Greg McKeown, in his book “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” invites us to think and act differently.

The apostle James holds some high value counsel for us as we look to bring greater focus to what we say “yes” and “no” to.

⁵ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. ⁶ But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. … Read the entire article

It’s not about you!”, Andy Stanley stated, as he invited 100,000 leaders to understand the impact of a purpose well lived. It struck me, as I listened, that he nailed it. “Ouch” was my response as I reflected on his pointed, unapologetic direction to the leaders scattered around the world participating in the 2017 Leadercast event.

Far too often, the underlying motive in clarifying purpose (or vision) for one’s…

• Self,
• Family,
• Team,
• Company,
• Church

…….is…….

Themself!

The language of purpose can sound, at least on the surface, quite noble and honorable. If we are not careful, behind the language and the money and every painstakingly-just-right word, we can be left wanting. The reality is that, although sounding nice and maybe even inspirational, the sense of purpose for any of us can still be driven with self at the center. This focus on self is, at the end of the day, a house of cards that will come falling down.

In his quite simple and yet profound book, “In The Name Of Jesus”, Henri Nouwen highlights 3 temptations that can sabotage us as leaders. I suggest that these 3 temptations can, if we are not careful, have a dramatic impact on the motivation for your sense purpose.… Read the entire article

Just a bunch of ordinary leaders. That’s what we are. Nothing more and nothing less.” These leaders meet weekly as part of our “Maverick Master’s Mind” Business Leaders Group.

We were reminded of a couple of things that are crucial for us as we consider growing in the leadership of 3 key areas…

1. Self: learning, growing and becoming the man / woman God has designed you to be at work, home and community.
2. The business God has entrusted to us: creating a great place to work, such that the gospel of Jesus and His kingdom is advanced in and through the business.
3. Making disciples: learning to engage people right were they are at; helping them become the very best version of themselves.

These 3 are non-negotiable, in my opinion, if Jesus is who He says He is to you.

If these 3 “Non-negotiables” are real, how do you and I step into them? How can you even contemplate growing in these areas when you are already feeling…

1. No time.
2. Pressed to the max.
3. Relational work unfinished.
4. Embarrassed by history.
5. Unqualified.
6. Uneducated.
7. …..?

I believe that listening to these temptations has crippled so many leaders from stepping out and engaging in what God would have for them at work and at home.… Read the entire article

But we don’t have enough time”, was the response of this business leader as we worked through the challenges of creating a remarkable customer experience. Although their desire was in the right place, their willingness to engage in the disciplined pursuit of remarkable was cautious and maybe even clouded. I have this conversation multiple times a week.

The volume of work and pressure that this leader was grappling with was clouding a CRUCIAL reality. Losing sight of this, and not refocusing it, would result in another small business owner choosing to be average – a conforming to the ever-pressing, over demanding, unforgiving world around them.

Our team at DeliberateU is no different. The press of work and time can cloud our view as quick as anyone’s. Frequent recalibrations are needed.

As Christ-following leaders, I know of no other option other than the courageous pursuit of offering remarkable service to those on the team and to those the team serves.

Take a look at these verses and see if you agree….

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23 NIV

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.… Read the entire article

Jesus was not a nice man!” as Nancy, my very good friend and leadership colleague, said as she responded to a question about being a leader in the work place. She was responding to a question on how to be nice as a Christ follower.

The premise for the question, albeit well intended, was filled with challenge. Quite frankly, said with respect, I suggest that the general thought that we are to be “nice” is flawed.

Take a look at some of the “nice” language found in the dictionary…. 

Pleasing    Agreeable     Delightful     Amiably Pleasant

 

Here’s a challenge. Read the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life. As you do, where do you see Jesus pursue being “nice”? How often do you find Jesus’ objective in a conversation to be “pleasing, agreeable, delightful, or amiably pleasant”?

Consider this…….We just celebrated Easter. Jesus was not crucified for being nice. He knew full well that He needed to say challenging things to people, to ask things of people that were hard to hear. He knew that not all would like Him as a result.

Think about it. What would have been the impact on the advance of the gospel and Jesus’ kingdom if his objective was to be nice?… Read the entire article