Learning Leadership

What I Learned in 2011: Do What Your Job Needs, Not Just What You Are Asked

Another thing I learned in 2011 is to do what your job needs, not just what you are asked.

This experience happened last spring when I realized I needed to learn Spanish for my job at United Way of Stanislaus County. Because I work with a local agricultural cannery every spring I knew it would be beneficial to speak and understand Spanish. In past years I had coworkers who would go out with me and help with the cannery, but because of limited staff I realized that I needed to learn to speak Spanish. Thus, I embarked on my journey of learning Spanish. Everyday I studied vocabulary words, I talked with coworkers in Spanish, and I listened to Spanish radio stations while driving.

After months of studying, much help from my workers, and lots of courage I began giving presentations in Spanish for work. It was tough to do, but it needed to be done as part of my job. No one asked me to study Spanish or told me that I needed to learn it, I simply realized that speaking Spanish is what I needed to be able to do for my job, and I took initiative towards making that happen.

The response from my supervisor and my coworkers was very encouraging because they saw that I had taken initiative do something that was needed for my job without having to be told. Everyone knows that it is very difficult to learn a language so when I took the steps to make that happen I believe it showed others I work with that we (as employees) have a responsibility to do what needs to be done for our job, not just what we are asked to do.

From a supervisor perspective, this is something that they love. They love it when they have employees and members of their team who do things without being asked. In fact, bosses hate it when they have to ask their employees multiple times for the same information or to complete a task. Leaders are doers and they want to move forward so they appreciate it when a follower (such as myself) takes the initiative to do something that helps the organization keep moving forward.

Question: What is an example from your work where you did what your job needed, not just what you were asked?

What I Learned in 2011: Relax on Your Vacation

Another lesson I learned in 2011 is to rest on your vacation.

This past Christmas I was fortunate to spend 11 days on vacation in Alaska with my family. It was an awesome time and I am grateful that my job allows me have to spend on vacations and have time away from work. 

I have learned that when I take vacations I need to relax.

Many times here on the Learning Leadership Blog I have mentioned that leaders often work very hard because they are passionate about what they do. Because leaders have a vision for what they want to accomplish and the change they want to create in the world it causes them to work long hours and take very little time off. I am this same way. When on vacation I want to work, work, and work a little more. However, I have learned to channel that drive and tone it down while on vacation.

Through the years I have realized the importance of taking time off to relax and recharge because it helps prevent burnout which is something nonprofit leaders encounter much too often.

While on vacation I have allow myself to simply have no rules. When preparing to go on vacation I might think about a few things I want to do while on vacation and work on, but I create no "I need to get this done" agendas to accomplish. If I get work done, great. If not, then that is okay too.

For me I have found this formula most productive for me while on vacation:

1. Wake up before anyone else to enjoy my quiet time alone
2. Work for a little while under everyone in the house begins to wake up
3. Engage in family activities for the rest of the day
4. Later in the evening maybe sneak away to read or do some work

The key here is that I have no strict roles or goals of what I am trying to accomplish.

Because you are probably like me, a leader who works very hard, be sure that you take time to rest while on vacation.

Question: How do you take time to relax on vacation?

What I Learned in 2011: Focus on What God Has Told Me, Not What People Tell Me

Another lesson I learned in 2011 is to focus on what God has told me, not what poeple tell me.

When praying to God long and hard about what His will for my life is I have felt Him tell me that He does not want me to worry about what the need is in the world, He simply wants me to pour out what I am learning so others can learn from it too. This means that I should write, teach, and lead so that I may make leaders of everyday men and women around the world.

Part of my internship with Church Assistance Ministry (CAM) is helping me to advance on that by teaching a weekly Bible study for men. Teaching that Bible study definitely lines up with pouring out what I learn to help make leaders. However, sometimes the feedback I receive from the participants does not always affirming that God has told me to teach others. Sometimes at our Bible study the guys tell me they do not understand what I am trying to teach, they are not sure what I am attempting to explain, or they do not see how the questions I am asking relate to the topic of the lesson.

Luckily I have learned that I need to listen to God’s voice, not the voices of people here on earth. When God tells me to do something, I do it to honor and serve him. Even if people here on earth do not agree or are displeased with what I create, I know that the only opinion that matters is God’s. His opinion of the work I do and create is what I care about, and the negative statements of others are not going to slow me down or discourage me. I know what God has told me to do with my life, and I am going to keep doing that regardless of what I am told by people here on earth.

Question: How do you focus on what God has told you instead of what other people tell you?

What I Learned in 2011: Creativity Cannot Be Rushed

Another thing I learned in 2011 is that creativity cannot be rushed.

I think this is a great principle for leaders to understand because leaders have a responsibility to think creatively and foster creative environments for the people they lead.

The principle that creativity cannot be rushed was raised when I wrote my first book. To be honest, I believe my book could have been better if I did not rush so much to complete it. I wrote the book start-to-finish in less than 10 months. Now that I know creativity cannot be rushed I am taking time to write my next book tentatively titled, Serve Those Leaders: A Biblical Guide to Effectively Serving the Leader(s) You Work Under.

Now when I work on projects (especially writing projects) I take plenty of time. When I am working on an article to write or a thought to develop, I take time to allow it to sit and work itself out. I might spend two weeks thinking through and writing out some thoughts for an article. Often when I prepare a Bible study I begin studying the passage of scriptures weeks in advance with the hope to allow what I am thinking to improve and form.

An example of how a leader stops creativity is when he delegates and assigns tasks to others with little notice before the deadline. When a project or task has to be done the same day a leader gives it to someone it causes the person trying to do the work to simply get the job done by the deadline and does not allow the person to think creatively.

Much research has been done showing the positive effects taking time to "sleep on it" when it comes to important decisions or problems that must be solved. When a leader assigns tasks and projects to others with ample time for those team members to think about, work on, and sleep on the work, it allows them to think creatively and perform better work.

In 2011 I definitely learned that creativity cannot be rushed either for myself or the people whom I lead. That is why I try to get an early head start on my work and I do my best to delegate work as soon as I can so others do not have to rush their creativity either.

Question: How do you keep from rushing creativity?

What I Learned in 2011: Work When You Work Best

Another principle I was reminded of in 2011 is to find out when I work best and work 
there. In other words, "Work When You Work Best."

While in college at California State University, Stanislaus I remember learning about how our body has a natural Circadium Rhythm (also known as a "Body Clock"). A Circadium Rhythm is the rhythm your body naturally has and creates based on what you do and when you do it. It happens when our body naturalizes its internal clock to the times we go to bed and wake up, times we eat, etc. After doing specific things to your body at specific times on a regular basis our body begins to expect those things to happen.

Based on your Circadian Rhythm there are specific times of the day that your body is most likely to produce work based on what you do and when. For example, because some people are "Night Owls" and like to stay up late, there body is most likely to operate well in the evening and late night. For others who like to wake up early in the morning, they might be most likely to enjoy working and doing productive work early in the morning.

For me I have learned that I operate and think best from 4:30am until about 11am. That is the time of day when my brain is clear, my thinking is best, and I have a more positive attitude. As a result of knowing that I work best in the morning I do my best to make sure that I am up at 4:30am every single morning to enjoy some quiet time and get a head start on my work. 

This has been important to me as I have important projects that I know need to get done. An example of this is shown that because of my faith I believe I should give my best and most productive time to God. Thus, I do my best to wake up at 4:30am every morning to give Him that time of the day where I think and feel at my best. Another example is that when I have a Bible study lesson I am working to prepare I often try to work on it early in the morning on a Saturday. A final example is that I am writing this blog post on a Saturday morning just after my quiet time and eating breakfast. I knew I wanted to write this post and because writing is one of my core strengths and priorities, I gave myself this time to write the post before checking email, going to the store, doing my dishes, etc. Because I know when I operate best I want to do my most important work when I am at my best. 

This is a principle I learned from Jason Womack years ago and something I hope he has taught on in his new book, Your Best Just Got Better. Even though I learned it years ago from Jason, it has taken me years to find that time of day when I do my best work. I still remember him teaching in a workshop that his most productive time is from 4am to 7am and he makes sure that he gets done what he wants to get done in that time frame.

My suggestion for you as a take away is that you should spend some time thinking about what time of day you are at your best. When do you feel most energetic, excited, think best, and have a positive attitude? Is it early in the morning, around lunch time, or late at night?

Take some time to discover what that time frame is and start to play around with doing different tasks at that time and let me know how it goes!

Question: What when do you work best?

What I Learned in 2011: Take Time to Work on Your Relationship

In 2011 I learned that I need to work on my relationship with my girlfriend.

Having dated my girlfriend for over two years now things are great. We get along well, we 
have fun, and most importantly we share many of the same values of faith and family. While dating I have learned that even though we now know each better, the relationship 
still takes just as much (if not more) work. 

Early when we were dating I thought that the relationship might become easier once we 
learned more about each other, learned each others habits, ways of thinking, and decision 
making tendencies. 

But the part I failed to realize is that relationships take work because the closer you come 
together, the more you have to work to make the relationship successful. As a result of realizing that relationships take work, Jen and I often engage in a weekly "check-in" where we give each other permission to talk about important issues, topics, or problems. I like to call it the "State of the Union" but that is more of a fun phrase. We have also taken taken time to work through some dating books and marriage books to help us be oriented to what we might expect going forward.

The short answer to what I learned in 2011 is that relationships take time and hard work. 
And I need to continue to work on my relationship.

Question: How do you work on your relationship with your spouse?

What I Learned in 2011: Take Time to Play

Today I am continuing my series of 17 blog posts sharing what I learned in 2011.

Another lesson I learned in 2011 is that I need to take time to play.

Taking time to play is something that I have not been very good at in the past. As a leader I have a strong work ethic and passion to serve others. This means I spend lots of time working and not a lot of time playing.

However, I believe it is good that regardless of how busy you are, you need to take some time to play.

Play can be anything from going on a walk, playing video games, riding snow machines in Alaska, or golfing. The important part of taking time to play is that you find something that is enjoyable to you. 

For me, taking time to play is going golfing and riding snow machines or ATVs in Alaska with family. Those are things where I get to enjoy a physical release of tension and I get to enjoy "going for it." I get to take risks, challenge myself, compete against others, and have fun.

In 2011 I learned that I need to take more time to play.

Question: What do you do to "play" and how does it serve you?

What I Learned in 2011: Friends Often Move Away

Another thing I learned in 2011 is that friends often move away.

While living in Turlock I have had two close friends who I spent time with, watched football games with, and celebrated my birthday with. These were some good guys who were fun and definitely were those honest "truth tellers" in my life. They would not hold back to affirm in me when I was doing something right or to tell me they disagreed with a decision I made.

We attended California State University, Stanislaus together and continued to live in Turlock after we were done with school. However, 2011 was a year where they both moved away. One moved to Stockton which is about 45 minutes north while the other moved to San Jose which is about an hour and a half away.

This was a little saddening to me. They were my buddies who I saw about once a week but now they live far away and I hardly see them. But, I realize that this is part of life: things change. 

Things don't stay the same, they are always changing and that is true for friends as well. These guys had life circumstances, family obligations, and careers that moved them away from me. But, that is ok. They did what was best for them and that is what they needed to do.

The learned lesson for me is that friends often move away.

Question: How have you dealt with friends moving away?

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr Day.

Last year in honor of Dr. King I posted several of my favorite quotes from him. Today I would like to take a break from my blog series, "What I Learned in 2011" to share with you those quotes again. 

Here are the quotes along with a little bit of commentary.

Martin Luther King was a leader who didn't need a formal position to lead.  He led a movement of people passionate about a cause, and he did that with integrity and influence.

Photo credit, The US National Archives

This past year I read the book titled, Martin Luther King on Leadership by Donald Phillips.  It's a pretty good book that tells the biography of MLK while highlighting his leadership influence and principles. The most amazing thing I learned is that MLK was depressed at times. And several other times he considered quiting the Civil Rights Movement.

The stress, pressure, and unsafety he experienced really wore him down. Even though he was extremely passionate about the Civil Rights Movement, he almost gave it all up.  However, millions of people are grateful today that he didn't. And I believe our country is better because of what he did and the movement he led.

To honor Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday, I'd like to share with you some of my favorite leadership quotes from him. 

Enjoy. . . 

Even if the world ends tomorrow, I will plant my seed today.

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.¹

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.¹

At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.¹

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.¹

Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.¹

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.<sup>2

1</sup> Adapted from brainyquote.com
² Adapted from inspirational-quotes.info 

What I Learned in 2011: Selling Books is a Tough Business

Another thing I learned in 2011 is that selling books is a tough business.

In 2010 I self-published my book, A Day of Hope: Leading Volunteers to Make a Difference in Your Community. I worked very hard on the book for ten months and was very satisfied when it came out. However, once the book came out I quickly learned that selling books is a tough business.

Even as an unknown author I thought I would be able to sell hundreds of books, maybe even thousands. That thought turned out to be much more difficult than I thought.

After a virtual book launch, a book signing, several radio interviews, hundreds of blog posts, many tweets, and Facebook promotions I have sold about 90 books. (Watch out triple digits here I come!) Selling books has been a tough business to work.

The good news is that I don't really want to work in the "book sales business." For me my passion is to write and teach. Selling books is just one way to do that. Luckily for me I am fortunate to have a blog with readers here where I get to share my writing with over a thousand people every single month. And the best part it is free for all of you readers.

Question: What has been your experience with selling books?

What I Learned in 2011: Journal to Get Your Thoughts Out

Another lesson I learned in 2011 is about the benefits of journaling.

The biggest advocate I know about journaling is my friend Jason Womack. Jason has a journal and pen he takes everywhere with him. He jots down quotes, diagrams, and gets his thoughts down on paper to organize, sort, and sift through them. In fact, Jason has a his second book being released next month and I am sure most of the content in that book started in his journal. 

I journal almost every day as part of my morning quite time. I usually journal anywhere from 250 to 500 words with the same pen every single day. (Writing with the same pen is another thing Jason Womack taught me because it helps to trigger your brain's creativity.) When I journal I mostly jot down my thoughts about what I did the previous day, what I experienced, things I have been thinking about, or a goal I am considering to shoot for. 

4 Things Journaling Does for Me

1. Journaling helps to clarify my thinking. When I have to take time to sit down, write out my thoughts, and think through them it helps to clarify my thoughts. There are many times when I am journaling about a problem I am going through and by the time I have journaled about the problem and written it down I have several ideas about how to solve it. The simple act of writing down my thoughts helps my brain to process that information so it can be used in a positive way.
2. Journaling feels like therapy at times. When I am going through a tough stretch of life or have experienced some hurt feelings in the previous days, just journaling about what happened helps me to feel better. The process of taking ten to twenty minutes to journal my thoughts and get them down on paper gives me a sense of relief and helps me let go of those negative feelings.
3. Journaling has been a great way to look back on my life and what I have been going through. One of my favorite activities is to go back through my journals to read about what I was thinking, what goals I had, and what I was feeling. Many times I have went back to my journals after the first couple of nights I took my girlfriend, Jen out on dates. Or when I go back to read my thoughts on what I was going through while leading A Day of Hope or when I read about the accumulation of a book project.
4. Journaling lets your legacy live on. This is one I have not experienced, yet, but I hope my journals one day serve as a way for my kids, grand kids, or others to learn about my life and who I was. Those journals contain my most intimate thoughts and I hope those are beneficial for others to read and relate to at a later time.

In 2011 I learned that I need to journal to get my thoughts out on paper. There are many benefits to journaling and I hope you are able to engage in it as well.

Question: Do you journal? If so, how often and why?

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Note: I recognize that not all people are geared towards journaling. My girlfriend hates to journal because she feels it slows down her thoughts and it does not allow her to think fast enough. That might be a downside to journaling, but I believe it is the upside. The benefit of journaling is that it forces you to slow down and think through you thoughts. It causes you to question if your thoughts even match up to reality, it helps you realize what might have caused your thoughts to take place, and it helps to forget about your thoughts if you get them out of your head and on paper.

What I Learned in 2011: You Can Read the Bible in a Year

Another thing I learned in 2011 is that you can read the entire Christian Bible in one year. I did it and it was more easy than I thought. (If you are looking for a Bible to read, this is the one I use and recommend.)

In February of 2011 I began taking a Spiritual Formation class at Fresno Pacific University where our professor, Jeff Harrington, Ph.D. shared with us that he reads through the entire Bible every single year. Dr. Harrington explained that if you start on January 1st in Genesis 1 and read four chapters a day (which only takes about 15 minutes) you will finish the entire Bible by October.

That sounded doable so I tried it!

In February of 2011 I began reading four chapters a day from my Bible every morning as part of my quiet time routine. By the second week of December I had completed reading the entire Bible in 2011. Yes, there were plenty of days that I did not get to read all four chapters, and there were some days where I did not even read one word of my Bible (but I hate those days). The important thing is that I kept reading day after day after day.

Reading the Bible straight through in a year is good for 4 reasons:

1. It gives you a broad view of the Bible: Instead of just reading a few verses from select parts of the Bible, reading the Bible front to back in large chunks help you to have a context. It helps you understand the "big picture" of what is going on in the culture at that time and what God is trying to accomplish.
2. It helps you see God's whole story: The Bible is simply one big story God has given to us. From Genesis to Revelation it is a story of who God is, why He created us, what He has done for us, and what He plans to do in the future.
3. It deepens your theology: Reading the entire Bible helps you see the Bible in its theological context. When reading from Genesis, then Psalms, then the New Testament you get to read about the same topics talked about by different people in different contexts. All of that adds to your theological understanding of the Bible.
4. It speaks to you and what you are going through: Reading large chunks of God's Word daily allows God to use the stories and teachings in his Word to speak to you directly. Sometimes He will have you read a story that is relevant to what you are going through, if there is a question you are wrestling with He will have you read something that answers it, or He might even given you direction on a decision you have been considering. When you spend time in God's word you are spending time with Him which allows Him to lead and direct you.

Starting on January 1, 2012 I started reading the Bible all the way through again for this year. I started in Genesis 1 and will continue on through until reaching the end of Revelation.

Reading the Bible all the way through in a year has been very beneficial for me and I hope you give it a try in 2012.

Question: How much and often do you read your Bible? (If you don't read a Bible, please share why.)

What I Learned in 2011: Prayer Should be Done a Little Bit Everyday

I often write about the benefits of personal quiet time and prayer here on the Learning Leadership Blog. This past year has taught me that prayer time is important, but most importantly I need to have a little bit of prayer time every day.

Prayer is not something you can do all in one day and say you are good for the week. You can’t pray for two hours on Monday morning and then say you have prayed your time for the entire week. Prayer is personal quiet time devoted to you and God where you can talk to Him, talk with Him, and listen to Him.

For me, I have found that my prayer time is much more beneficial when I pray every day. When I miss a day or take a couple days off from prayer time it always takes me a couple days to get back in touch with God. On the flip side, when I stay committed to waking up early and enjoying quiet time with God every morning for weeks in a row my prayer time is much more beneficial. I feel closer to God, I hear from Him more clearly, and the prayer time refreshes me.

Whether you take time to pray early in the morning or late in the evening the important thing is to take time to pray. Just be sure to pray a little bit everyday.

Question: How do you take time to pray? What does your prayer itme look like?

What I Learned in 2011: Create a “Keys to Success” List

Creating a “Keys to Success” list is something that I did for the first time back in January of 2011. At that time I was about to start school at Fresno Pacific University to earn my degree in Christian Ministry and Leadership (which I am still working on).

Since I work full-time and have a girlfriend I knew I needed to create some type of list that would help me get done what I need to get done and not focus on the things that don’t matter. I needed something that would help me complete school successfully and not lose my family or integrity in the process. In response to that need I created a list of “Keys to Success at FPU for 18 Months.”

That list consists of 10 things I knew I would need to do to be successful at school. Things such as:

1. Get ahead and stay ahead
2. Don’t take school too serious
3. Don’t procrastinate
4. Say “no” to requests of my time to play video games and spend time with friends who don’t enrich me
5. Say “yes” to requests of my time from my girlfriend, sister, mom, dad, and two mentors
6. Flip through my school books as soon as I get them to become familiar with the content
7. Say “no” to requests for donations and volunteer time (exceptions are for A Day of Hope or if Jen wants to enjoy time together volunteering)
8. Post everything I write in school on my blog
9. Make time to study everyday
10. Direct my Bible study time, quiet time, and time with Jen to help me with what we are learning in class

I have been at school at Fresno Pacific University for a year and this Keys to Success list has been very helpful to me. It has helped me to stay on track, stay focused, and most important of all it has given me permission to say “no” to things that are hard to say "no" too.

I am not sure if I will create a “Keys to Success” list for other areas of my life, but I know it has helped me over this past year. I encourage you to look at an area of your life where you might be struggling or need improvement and create a “Keys to Success” list. Identify a few things, five things, or ten things you can do that you know will make you successful in that chosen area. Then, work that list. Review it, memorize it, and allow that list to guide you and your time.

Question: Do you have a list that helps you become successful?

What I Learned in 2011: Make Family a Priority

Another important lesson I learned in 2011 is to Make Family a Priority.

In 2011 I was reminded again for the need to make family a priority. Similar to yesterday’s post that I need to set my own agenda (before others do), making family a priority happens when I am committed to scheduling my family-time first.

Making family a priority is not easy for most people. For me, I am very driven and an extremely hard worker. Once I get my mind locked on something I work towards it and rarely stop. However, that can be harmful when I allow my dedication to my work creep in on the time I normally have scheduled for family.

For me I make family a priority by spending a minimum of one hour a day with my girlfriend. We often enjoy dinner together, go for walks, or just sit and talk on the couch. On weekends we spend more time together such as walking to the local Starbucks, enjoying a hike, or simply driving out of town. I also have a standing lunch appointment with my sister every Monday. We enjoy a quick lunch while we talk about what we have been up to and what is new. Even though my parents live over 3,000 miles away in Alaska, I usually call them or they call me a couple times a week to catch up (and to get the latest fishing report from my dad) and see what they are doing.

I know lots of people who have good intentions of making family a priority but the demands of their job and need to earn a living can sometimes nudge out that family time that is so important for a spouse and kids. It is very easy to justify coming home late and missing dinner for the sake of providing financially for the family. I am sure that is okay on occasion, but to have it become a habit where work takes priority over quality family time will be harmful long term.

Several times here on the Learning Leadership Blog I have written about the impact of the book, Choosing to Cheat on my life. It has probably been one of the three most impactful books I have ever read. This book by Andy Stanley is a great book for any busy leader to read about how anyone with a professional leadership job chooses to “cheat.” Either you cheat your job or you cheat your family because someone is going to get cheated when work and family collide. You can purchase the book here from Amazon.

Whatever your process is to make family a priority, be sure to find a way to make it happen. Too many people in the world come to the end of their life and regret that they did not spend more time with the family members they love.

Question: How do you make family a priority?

What I Learned in 2011: Set Your Own Agenda

Today’s blog post is the beginning of a series of posts of me sharing with you what I learned in 2011. I did this same series of blog posts last year and I felt it was beneficial for me to think through and reflect on what I have learned from the year. The benefit for you as a reader is that you get to glean a few things I have learned that you might be able to apply in your own life.

As John Maxwell says, “We don’t learn from experience, we learn from evaluated experience.” I agree with Mr. Maxwell that in order to learn from what we have been through we need to take time to think through it and find out what we learned.

Today’s post is about how I learned in 2011 to “set your own agenda.”

Set your own agenda is something I was reminded of again in 2011 because of the many requests for my time that I have. You don’t have to be a fancy CEO or well known pastor to have lots of people requesting your time. A mom running a household has more requests for her time a day than most people do at work.

When it comes to your agenda and schedule, you need to set it. You need to take control of your time and what what you do with it because if you don’t, someone else will.

Before allowing anyone else to schedule time on your agenda, set your agenda yourself based on what you need to spend your time doing in order to be healthy. For me, this starts first with making sure I have an hour of alone time in the morning before having to get ready for work. That hour alone allows me to journal, read my Bible, and pray which helps me feel close to God and aligned with His will for me life. I also allow time for my girlfriend which is about an hour a day during the week, Saturday evenings, and all day Sundays (sometimes I alternate that Saturday and Sunday schedule). Then I make sure that I schedule time to study for school, time to meet with my mentor who I meet with every week, and a little time for friends. Those are the things I need to do that help me stay grounded and feel healthy.

To be a healthy and productive leader you must determine what your agenda is and only allow people to change it on rare occasions. Emergencies do happen, a family member might get sick and interrupt what you had planned, but those are okay. As long as you are able to set your agenda for yourself before others are allowed to dictate your time, you are on your way to being a proactive and healthy leader.

Question: How do you set your own agenda?

Happy 2012

Happy 2012 to you.

I hope your Christmas and New Year's was spent with friends and family.

I enjoyed a couple of weeks with family in Alaska but am now back to working.

Tomorrow I will begin a series of blog posts sharing with you about what I learned in 2011. Then, after that series is completed I have some lessons from the life of David from 1 Samuel of the Bible to share.

In 2012 I hope to write longer blog posts and post more of them as a benefit to you.

Blogging Fast

In order to enjoy my Christmas and New Year's with family I will be enjoying a blogging fast over the next two weeks.

New fresh leadership content will be posted for you again starting January 3, 2012. 

Enjoy your Holiday Season and see you in 2012!

Guest Post: UNDER THE INFLUENCE by Greg Wright

Today I have a guest blog post for you from Greg Wright. Greg's bio is below. Enjoy the article!

UNDER THE INFLUENCE: How Losing Control, Actually Makes Room for Us to Courageously Lead

by Greg Wright

“Is this the right thing?

I’m not sure that this is the right thing…

This can’t be the right thing….

Is it?”

I hate vacillating. Yet, as I get older, I’m finding that I do more and more of it. It seems like the right thing to do and the wrong thing to do used to present itself much more clearly. But now, the right thing to do hides behind the hard thing to do, and the wrong thing to do hides behind the easy thing to do. One way that I can always figure out if I’m making the “right” decision is based on the level of difficulty. The easy thing appeals to the lazy side of me. The hard thing to do pushes up against the lazy side of me, and says, “Don’t worry about doing the right thing. Let someone else do it.”

There are two sides of us, constantly at odds: Our emotional side and our responsible side. Emotional people wait until they feel good about something, and then do it. Responsible people just do something, and then feel good about it. But, the doing something takes more than responsibility, it takes courage.

If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that I control nothing (there are times when I can’t even control myself). But, I do have influence over a lot of things. The question is, “Am I influencing positively or negatively?”

My advice to other men and Dad’s like me–let go of what you can’t control, and embrace what you can. What is in our control is how we influence the people around us. One of the most important things we can do to become a better man and father is to focus on becoming a good model for our sphere of influence. For this, a good recipe is to mix one part courage with one part influence.

To courageously influence, simply means affecting someone’s thinking or actions by showing the ability to face difficulty or uncertainty without being overcome by fear. Furthermore, in order to courageously influence others, it’s essential that we’re fully involved with and dedicated to whatever task has been set before us.

Let me share the story of Roger Bannister as an example:

In 1903, British Olympic coach Harry Andrews made the statement, “The mile record is four minutes, 12.75 seconds. This record will never be broken.”

A fierce intellectual debate took place over several decades about whether the human body had reached its full potential. Medical evidence was even offered based on bones, muscles and joints that proved a human being simply could not run any faster than four minutes, 12.75 seconds.

On May 6, 1954, in 15 mph crosswinds and 25 mph gusts, British runner Roger Bannister broke the record of the four-minute mile. His mile came in at three minutes, 59.4 seconds. Needless to say it was an impressive feat.

What was even more impressive? Later that year, two other men ran a four-minute mile, and in the next year, 236 people also did the “impossible.”

As the gusty day proved, Roger couldn’t control anything around him. The only thing he could control was his own performance. Through that controlled tour-de-force, Roger Bannister courageously influenced the decisions and the performance of others.

The take away? In order to succeed in our lives at home, at work, and in life, we need to be active members of our families, our communities and our team of coworkers at work. We need to be fully engaged in all steps of the process of raising a family, succeeding at work, and becoming a better man. Don’t just stand on the wayside and wait for things to happen, or wait for validation that you’re doing the right thing. Take charge, step up to the plate, and don’t be afraid to courageously influence those around you.

If you’re not feeling completely confident yet, don’t worry.  Start with small steps, by laying out what goals you want to accomplish for yourself, both at work and at home. Then, think about what you can do better in both of these areas, what extra effort you can put forth to help you accomplish your goals. Most importantly, take each challenge in your life head on, & treat it as an opportunity to step up to the plate and courageously influence those around you.

The truth is Roger Bannister didn’t just wake up one day and decide to break the four-minute mile. It was only through goal setting, training and perseverance – factors in his control – which positioned him to break the record and go on to become Sir Roger Bannister.

So, let me wrap up by asking you a question: What’s your four-minute mile?

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Greg Wright is the president of The Wright Track, www.thewrighttrack.com, a biz dev and sales growth consultancy based in Austin, TX. The father to four teen girls, Greg shares with other dads his secret to pursuing an intentional relationship with your daughter in “Daddy Dates: A Road Map for Any Dad to Raise a Strong and Confident Daughter.” (Thomas Nelson; $16.99; available where all books are sold; www.daddydatesthebook.com)

My Theology of Pastoral Ministry (part 6)

Today is the final part of a series of six blog posts where I am sharing my Theology of Pastoral Ministry. (You can read yesterday's post here.) By sharing this theology of pastoral ministry I hope to encourage you to develop your own theology of pastoral ministry (or philisophy of work).

One challenge with my theology of pastoral ministry is that it is broad.

“Being a leading servant who spreads God’s love around the world” is broad and does not give specific tasks or activities that I can do. However, that also gives me a strength because God is the one who has authority over me. Because God has authority over me, I follow His direction and what He wants me to do.

If God wants me to be a leading servant by doing one thing, then at a later time He wants me to be a leading servant by doing something completely different, that is ok because my theology of pastoral ministry has room for that. Because my statement is broad it allows God to be the leader and I can follow the change that He directs me to make. I recently heard Beth Moore teach on this same topic. She realized early in her life that she should surrender to God and commit to following Him, not to surrender and commit to a specific ministry.[1]

Another strength of my theology of pastoral ministry is that I am pretty good at envisioning and thinking. Because I am good at thinking and envisioning about a specific topic I can often dream and see things bigger than others. However, because I can think through my theology of pastoral ministry and see possible ways to serve others, that opens up the possibility that I might see something and pursue a vision that is not God’s vision for my life and ministry. Thus, I need to stay in communication with God and stay committed to Him and His vision for my life.

My theology of pastoral ministry is to be a leading servant who spreads God’s love around the world. This helps to direct me while here on earth. It helps me to follow God’s direction of shepherding those I work with and those who read my writing.

Question: What is your theology of pastoral ministry or philosophy of work?

BIBLIOGRAPHY (for the entire 6 part blog series)

Comfort Ph.D., Philip W and Walter A. Elwell. Tyndale Bible Dictionary: A comprehensive guide to the people, places, and important words of the Bible. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

Graham, Billy. Billy Graham Talks to Teen-agers, Wheaton: Miracle Books, 1958.

Graham, Billy. The Journey: Living by Faith in an Uncertain World Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group, 2006.

Moore, Beth. “So Long Insecurity.” Lecture, Catalyst Conference at Gwinnett Arena, Duluth, GA, October 7, 2010.

Roberts-Lewis, Amelia and Tonya D. Armstrong. “Moving the Church to Social Action.” Social Work and Christianity 37, no. 2 (2010): 115-127.

Smith, A. Iona. “A Little Child Shall Lead Them” in “Emerging as Ministers” in Congregations 32, no. 4 (2006): 26-40.

Stace Vega, April. Afterword of More Ready Than You Realize: The Power of Everyday Conversations, by Brian McLaren. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006.

Stanley, Andy. “When Less is More.” Lecture, Catalyst West Conference at Mariners Church, Orange County, CA, April 23, 2010.

Swanson, James A. and Keith Williams, “Dictionary and Index for Hebrew and Greek Word Studies.” in New Living Translation Study Bible, 2225. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.

Thompson, James W. Pastoral Ministry According to Paul: A Biblical Vision Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2006.

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[1] Beth Moore, “So Long Insecurity” (lecture, Catalyst Conference at Gwinnett Arena, Duluth, GA, October 7, 2010).

My Theology of Pastoral Ministry (part 5)

Today is part five of a series of six blog posts where I am sharing my Theology of Pastoral Ministry. (You can read yesterday's post here.) By sharing this theology of pastoral ministry I hope to encourage you to develop your own theology of pastoral ministry (or philisophy of work).

And finally, any statement of theology needs to lay out a view of the church to explore how the theology plays a part within (or outside) of the church.

Often when we think of the word “church” we think of the buildings which we call churches, a group of Christians in a local community, or Christians as a whole community within a pagan nation. I have felt God’s voice in my life saying that my church will not be geographically based and that He wants me to “go and make leaders of everyday men and women.”

There are so many people who are less fortunate and have much worse living situations than you and I. It is on my heart to do something about those terrible living situations many people around the world live in. I, as an American, have an obligation to do and use everything that I can to serve and help others who live around the world rather than someone right next to me. Thus, my church is the people in the whole world.

The truth is, whether we are talking about people who regularly meet inside a church building or people who do not yet know God, the world and churches are “comprised of broken people, people from all walks of life who experience pain and suffering.”[1] It is anyone who has a desire to learn and grow in leadership.

Right now part of the church I minister to is my work environment, but it also includes the thousands of people from around the world who read my writing on this blog. Within the past month, I have had people visit my blog from the United Kingdom (83 people), Canada (66), Philippines (41), Australia (41), China (33), Kenya (18), India (17), and Malaysia (12).[2]  I am sure that my view of the church God has made me responsible to shepherd is only temporary and that it will change over time, but for now shepherding my church is looking after my co-workers and serving those who read my writing and benefit from it.

Question: How do you view the "church" or people you serve through your work?

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[1] Amelia Roberts-Lewis and Tonya D. Armstrong, “Moving the Church to Social Action,” Social Work and Christianity 37, no. 2 (2010): 117.

[2] Stats taken from Google Analytics for ChristopherScottBlog.com from Oct 13, 2011 to Nov 12, 2011.

My Theology of Pastoral Ministry (part 4)

Today is part two of a series of six blog posts where I am sharing my Theology of Pastoral Ministry. (You can read yesterday's post here.) By sharing this theology of pastoral ministry I hope to encourage you to develop your own theology of pastoral ministry (or philisophy of work).

Pastoral ministry is about serving others,[1] which means it is important that I understand that people want to feel valued and worthy of respect.

While reading the book More Ready Than You Realize in an effort to learn more about evangelism, I learned how this great principle positively influences the people we serve. In the book a young woman shares her reflections on a two year evangelism conversation she had with the author, Brian McLaren, via email. While sharing her story and experience of moving from an unbeliever to a Christian, she writes, “I don’t remember much of what he [Brian McLaren] wrote [in his emails to her]. What I do remember is something far deeper and more important: that there was someone who was really listening to me and who was responding to me, not in a formula or in quick clichés, but sincerely and thoughtfully.”[2]

That statement from this young woman gives us great insight into what people are looking for when they are being shepherded by a “pastor.” People are looking for someone to be real with them and show a sincere interest in them.

The people I serve at work probably do not want to feel that I am trying to evangelize them so I can add another Christian to my “convert list.” They do not want to feel they are one of many people whom I have questioned about their faith and tried to lead to Christ. They do not want to hear me give a bunch of well rehearsed questions and answers to their struggles with faith. They are looking for me to be sincerely interested in them, to show them value for who they already are, and to walk and talk with them as their faith evolves.

Question: How do you understand the people you work with and serve?

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[1] Jennifer McLaughlin, interview by author, Norfork, CA, November 12, 2011.

[2] April Stace Vega, afterword of More Ready Than You Realize, by Brian McLaren (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006), 169.

My Theology of Pastoral Ministry (part 3)

Today is part three of a series of six blog posts where I am sharing my Theology of Pastoral Ministry. (You can read yesterday's post here.) By sharing this theology of pastoral ministry I hope to encourage you to develop your own theology of pastoral ministry (or philisophy of work).

Ministry is the work that we do to serve and help others.

A great definition of Bible-based ministry is written by James Thompson when he asserts, “ministry is participation in God’s work of transforming the community of faith until it is ‘blameless’ at the coming of Christ.”[1] This ministry of helping others to become blameless at Christ’s coming is a gift that is both strenuous and amazing at the same time,[2] and it can happen in any area or context. With my theology of pastoral ministry to be a leading servant who spreads God’s love around the world, I believe that the work I do should be focused.

One of the most successful evangelists in the past century, Billy Graham, who devoted his life to evangelism and winning souls for Christ, stated early in his ministry that “concentration is important. The [person] who has a general interest in everything usually isn’t good at anything.”[3] Another pastor, Andy Stanley, who is considered one of the most influential Christian voices in America, often teaches that we as leaders should “only do what only you can do.”[4] This means that for myself as a pastor and leader I need focus on doing only what I can do.

At United Way of Stanislaus County, I should work hard to share my faith and attempt to nurture the faith of other people around the office. No one else talks about their faith until I bring it up, so I must do what only I can do: shepherd those people at work. If I had not given that Bible to my coworker, I highly doubt anyone else would have. If I had not talked with the lady who sits across the hall from me about why she is an atheist, no one else probably would have (and I do not think anyone has done that since).

In the context of my writing about leadership during nights and weekends, I need to share biblical principles and how they can be lived out in businesses and nonprofits. Not many people are willing to do that for free; thus I must do that as part of what only I can do to serve others.

Question: Do you believe your work is about serving others? Why or why not?

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[1] James W. Thompson, Pastoral Ministry According to Paul: A Biblical Vision (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2006), 20.

[2] A. Iona Smith, “A Little Child Shall Lead Them” in “Emerging as Ministers” in Congregations 32, no. 4 (2006): 34.

[3] Billy Graham, Billy Graham Talks to Teen-agers (Wheaton: Miracle Books, 1958), 29-30.

[4] Andy Stanley, “When Less is More” (lecture, Catalyst West Conference at Mariners Church, Orange County, CA, April 23, 2010).

My Theology of Pastoral Ministry (part 2)

Today is part two of a series of six blog posts where I am sharing my Theology of Pastoral Ministry. (You can read yesterday's post here.) By sharing this theology of pastoral ministry I hope to encourage you to develop your own theology of pastoral ministry (or philisophy of work).

 

Understanding who God is is very important in order to have a clear view of my own theology of pastoral ministry.

Evangelist and author, Billy Graham, explains that, “You will never understand who you are until you understand who God is.”[1] As Mr. Graham stated, it is important for us to know who God is before we can legitimately know who we are. In my view, God is all-powerful, ruling over the earth and all things. God is the holy trinity, the one who is the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and I am under His supreme authority serving others.

I view myself being under God’s authority much like the Roman officer described in this passage of Matthew:

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.[2]

I am not sure if I completely understand this story theologically, but I do understand that the Roman officer knew Jesus was here on earth under God’s authority. Because Jesus was under God’s authority He was able to do what He was supposed to do—perform miracles.

Similar to Jesus being under God’s authority, I too am under God’s authority. God has a plan that I do not know about and that is at times hard to understand, but I do realize that He has a plan and story for me to fit into. For some of us that story is to be full-time ministers where we shepherd and pastor people for a living. God employs others, such as me, to do pastoral ministry in a semi-formal way where it is not their full-time job but they have received some specific training that allows them to minister to others and serve them.

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[1] Billy Graham, The Journey: Living by Faith in an Uncertain World  (Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group, 2006), 13.

[2] Matthew 8:5-10, 13

My Theology of Pastoral Ministry (part 1)

Today is part 1 of a series of six blog posts where I am sharing my Theology of Pastoral Ministry. By sharing this theology of pastoral ministry I hope to encourage you to develop your own theology of pastoral ministry (or philisophy of work).

My personal theology of pastoral ministry directs and orients my life to be a leading servant who spreads God’s love around the world.

It is something that I have thought through, lived out, and participated in for three years now based on my study of scripture, input from mentors, and books that I have read. In this paper I will explain how my theology of pastoral ministry is lived out in my life as a pastor, who God is, ministry, humanity, and the church.

An important element of being a leading servant who spreads God’s love around the world is to live out my role as a pastor.

When thinking through what it means to be a pastor the word “shepherd” comes to mind as a great biblical example of the role of serving as a pastor within any context. The definition of a shepherd is “one who took complete care of a flock or sheep.”[1] The Greek word for shepherd is “poimen” which means “taking care of sheep. They [the various forms of the word poimen] figuratively refer to someone who is in a leadership position, such as over a community or nation; a shepherd has authority, provides protection, and cares for the flock.”[2]

Being a leading servant who spreads God’s love around the world means that I seek to pastor and shepherd people by looking over them and taking care of their spiritual health. A Bible verse that demonstrates this well is Mark 6:34 where we read about Jesus and His disciples attempting to get some quiet time alone to rest. As they were in a boat traveling, some people saw Jesus and His disciples leaving, so they ran ahead of the boat (via shoreline). In the Gospel of Mark we read, “Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.”[3]

This is similar to me in my own ministry. A part of me feels called to minister to people through writing about biblical truths to help direct them in their own leadership work and life. The Apostle Paul’s letter to Peter further explains how I see my role as a pastor within my theology of pastoral ministry when he writes, “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly. . . .”[4] This says to me that God has entrusted people to me, and I need to do my very best to guide them along, protect them, and serve them through my spoken and written words.

At this time, God has entrusted me be an unofficial pastor at United Way of Stanislaus County where I can help “shepherd” and watch over the spiritual health of the people there. However, while working at United Way of Stanislaus County I have not always thought of myself as a pastor, I have just tried to share my faith and do the “right thing” when interacting with coworkers. It has not been until thinking about my theology of pastoral ministry that I realized I have been serving as an unofficial pastor at work. I give Bibles to people I know might need one, and I respect the opinions of people who are agnostic and believe Jesus is a “mythical guy that people believe in.”[5]

Recently a woman at work mentioned to me that she and her boyfriend were reading the Bible together out of the King James Version (KJV). For Christmas I purchased a New Living Translation Bible for them to read together which is more understandable than the KJV. Since then she has told me on several occasions that they have enjoyed reading their new Bible together.

Additionally, outside of work I feel that I serve as a pastor when I regularly write and create content which reaches almost 5,000 people on the internet. To be a leading servant means I serve as a shepherding pastor who looks after the spiritual health of my coworkers at United Way of Stanislaus County and those I share my faith through my writing.

However, my view of pastoral ministry is affected by my view of who God is, which is what I will explain in tomorrow's post.

Question: Do you have a theology of pastoral ministry or a philisophy of work? What is it?

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[1] Philip W. Comfort, Ph.D. and Walter A. Elwell, Tyndale Bible Dictionary: A comprehensive guide to the people, places, and important words of the Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), 1192.

[2] James A. Swanson and Keith Williams, “Dictionary and Index for Hebrew and Greek Word Studies.” in New Living Translation Study Bible (,Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008), 2225.

[3] Mark 6:34 (New Living Translation)

[4] 1 Peter 5:2

[5] Estrella Garcia, interview by author, Modesto, CA, June 10, 2011.