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Servant Leadership

Jorge Fusaro — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:06:10 +0000

Earlier this week, I was talking with a friend about servant leadership and realized I haven’t written about it on my blog. Servant leadership is core to my philosophy of life, work, leadership, and ministry. I first heard about servant leadership at the Leadership Summit conferences years ago and discussed it much during my graduate studies at Fuller. Servant-leadership is particularly relevant to the work and ministry we are currently doing in Haiti.

A “servant-leader” and “servant leadership” are concepts coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader, an essay he first published in 1970. In that essay, he wrote:

“The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.“

“The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?“

We also see this concept lived out by Jesus. Jesus called his followers to be servants first. According to the Gospels, Jesus said:

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:25-28; also Mark 10:42-45).”

In another example, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as a way to demonstrate how to serve each other (John 13: 12-15).

Question: How has serving others made you a better leader?

The Butterfly Circus: A short motivational film (w/subtitles)

Jorge Fusaro — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:03:38 +0000

This short 18-minute film is nothing short of amazing. It’s so powerful you would want to watch it more than once. Filled with hope and redeeming metaphors, it may be what you need to watch today to help you overcome limitations set by yourself and by others. Starring Eduardo Verástegui (Bella) and Nick Vujicic and directed by Joshua Weigel, The Butterfly Circus is now becoming a feature film! Become a fan.

Part I:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9582NStUdqU

Part II:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUBPX28_mAE

Love this line from the film: “The greater the struggle, the most glorious the triumph.”

It reminds me of Paul’s words, “Not only so, but wealso rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

We can also say: great suffering produces great character.

An Afternoon of Serenity

Jorge Fusaro — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:08:34 +0000

Serenity is one of those emotional and spiritual states that we love, but struggle to find. Serenity is the presence of peace and the absence of stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, the world we live in, is not designed to favor or support serenity. We have to work hard to find and sustain it and they are worth every effort.

This afternoon, the streets of NYC are empty and quiet. A severe snowstorm visited us in the early hours of the morning and decided to hover over us for a while. Schools and colleges canceled classes, several companies had to give the day off, and even a few retailers chose to remain closed for the day.

I have a pretty good view of city life from the window of my midtown apartment. There are only a few cars, taxis, and pedestrians on the street. My phone has only ringed once (my dear mother) and emails have been few. There is a stillness and peace that is hard to describe. Not only has time slowed down, but the snowflakes have brought a joyful serenity to my soul. I was reminded of the Serenity Prayer which I share with you below. Most likely, you’ve come across the first verses of this prayer, attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr (1892 – 1971), a great American theologian and philosopher, whose legacy continues to be important to contemporary thought and social ethics.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

This poem packs a lot of truth and how to’s on finding serenity, happiness, and peace.

Question: How do you find serenity?

Words of Wisdom for Today – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jorge Fusaro — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:25:33 +0000

“Power at its best is LOVE implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is LOVE correcting everything that stands against LOVE.” -MLK, 1967.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist and leader in the civil rights movement. He became one of the few historical icons of human rights, along with Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, to seek justice via non-violent means.

King fought a non-violent fight so that you and I would be respected and valued by the “content of our character” rather than be judged by the “color of our skin.”

I believe King’s message of hope, love, and unity to end discrimination (of all types), abolish poverty (worldwide), and oppose war (Vietnam or any other war) is more important today than ever before. His prophetic vision continues to inspire those who believe that faith is not simply believing, but is also a call to redeeming action. Faith without works is empty, just as works without faith is empty. God expected Israel to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”

Lets recall some of MLK’s words of wisdom and truth:

Champion Non-Violence: “Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.” (MLK, Nobel Prize acceptance speech, 12/1/1964.)

End Discrimination and Racial Segregation: “Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them.” (MLK, 8/16/1967).

Abolish Poverty: “The curse of poverty has no justification in our age. It is socially as cruel and blind as the practice of cannibalism at the dawn of civilization, when men ate each other because they had not yet learned to take food from the soil or to consume the abundant animal life around them. The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty.” (MLK, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, 1967).

Oppose War: “The bombs in Vietnam explode at home; they destroy the hopes and possibilities for a decent America.” and “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” (MLK, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, 1967).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk

The catastrophe in Haiti has brought worldwide attention to the poorest country in the Western world. Lets remember the voices of those who came before us and do things that truly matter: lets give generously. If you already donated, great. Try to give a bit more and motivate your friends to give. The time is now. Consider these words by King: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Do you think MLK’s message is relevant today?

You are encouraged to share your thoughts in the comment section below. Thanks for sharing!

TIP: If you have not read any of Martin Luther King Jr. books, I recommend you read Strength to Love and Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? If you are a communicator and aspire to lead, inspire, and mobilize people, I suggest you listen (and study) MLK’s superb oratorical skills.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.

An Urban Legend and A Response to Pat Robertson: Did He Go Too Far?

Jorge Fusaro — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:52:05 +0000

Damon Winter/The New York Times

In this article, I want to address “Haiti’s pact with the devil” and a response to the insensitive remarks by Pat Robertson.

A lot has been said about Haiti and this is only the beginning. My other blog posts can wait. Haiti has captured my heart. More than 100,000 are presumably dead. The earthquake has been declared the worst disaster the Western hemisphere has witnessed in 200 years.

An Urban Legend

Allegedly, Haiti made a deal with the devil 200 years ago and this is why they have suffered so many hardships and terrible consequences. This legend has been carried around for decades. Yet research indicates, there is no factual or historical evidence that Haiti made a pact with the devil. In fact, 95% of the country claim Christian beliefs (80% Roman Catholic and 15% Protestant). However, voodoo practices from the ancient African religion, are practiced by some Christians.”There are an estimated 45,000 Americans in Haiti, many of whom are Christian missionaries and relief workers (source).”

Many reports from Haiti state that after the earthquake tons of people fled into the streets, crying out to Jesus for help.

The legend goes like this: A group of rebelling slaves led by voodoo priest Dutty Boukman at Bois Caiman in 1791, allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over their French masters. This sparked a revolution that expelled the French and established the Republic of Haiti in 1804. Dr. James C. Denison notes that the oral tradition of the story is unclear: “One tradition claims that Boukman led his slave followers in a voodoo ritual in which they slaughtered a pig and drank its blood. Then they allegedly made their pact with the devil: if he would free their people from the French, they would serve his spirits on the island for the next 200 years. By dedicating their country to Satan, they caused the economic deprivation and natural disasters which have plagued Haiti over the last two centuries.”

Andrew Jones wrote on his blog:

“Bill Ross, a commenter on my blog post yesterday, pointed me to a well thought out and well researched article by a Christian Haitian man named Jean R. Gelin, Ph.D. His article is called God, Satan and Haiti. Jean Gelin’s conclusion: “I have yet to find a good evidence of even the idea of Satan’s assistance in the Independence War, let alone a satanic pact.“ God, Satan and Haiti, 2005.”

An unChristian Response?

The Internet is plagued with posts, tweets, and comments regarding fundamentalist preacher Pat Roberton. Dr. Robertson (and other misinformed folk) implied that Haitians brought this catastrophe on themselves for having made a “pact with the devil.” Like noted above, evidence suggests this pact is an urban legend, it ever occurred.

Could Pat Robertson have chosen better words? I believe he could have, but am not surprised coming from a man who called for President Hugo Chavez’s assassination and said Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment to the people of New Orleans. Additionally, “In 2001, Robertson blamed the September 11 attacks on “the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way—all of them who have tried to secularize America,” he said. “I point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this happen.’” (via CT).

Where is the love and compassion? What is Christian about Robertson’s remarks? My faith teaches that God is love, not hate. “Robertson’s loudness and shock-jock verbiage seems strange and oddly uncompassionate. It felt like he was trying to tell us how tough he was, not how compassionate God is (Donald Miller, read his excellent blog post!).”

A Jesus-centered response is one of compassionate and unconditional love, grace, reconciliation, restoration, and compassion. That is the message Haitians are craving to hear; a message of hope, love, and peace in the midst of their pain, suffering, and brokenness.

It is important to distinguish between the way man represents God and Jesus, versus the way God and Jesus represent Themselves in Scripture.

Tony Campolo, professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University, wrote:

“Help them [Haitians] to hope! Help their prayers to be answered! I don’t believe God called this disaster down on Haiti, but I do believe God’s grace and love, flowing through those of us who are surrendered to God’s will, can bring healing and redemption to our Haitian brothers and sisters. Please, please, please … do what you can.”

Three things to learn here:

Do not judge or speak on God’s behalf
Do not blame, instead, seek to bless and impart hope
Do your research, especially when speaking in public.

Lots of evil things happen, everyday and everywhere, so why hasn’t God destroyed everyone and everything?

Truth is, we can’t really know what is happening between God and Haiti and what are God’s intentions. “Earthquakes happen everywhere, even in places where people have made a pact with God and not the devil (Andrew Jones).” Once thing we can rest assured of is: God loves His people, He longs for them, and His peace surpasses our lack of understanding.

Jim Wallis, author, president of Sojourners, and advocate for the poor wrote: “My God does not cause evil. God is not a vengeful and retributive being, waiting to strike us down; instead, God is in the very midst of this tragedy, suffering with those who are suffering. When evil strikes, it’s easy to ask, where is God? The answer is simple: God is suffering with those who are suffering.”

Lets continue thoughts praying and supporting the people of Haiti.

What do you think about this scandal?

As always, you are encouraged to share your thoughts in the comment section below. Thanks for sharing!

Four Questions to Sharpen your Vision and a Reminder to Count Your Blessings

Jorge Fusaro — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:46:25 +0000

Photo by Johnny Mobasher

We are hours away from the New Year. I am excited to witness (and be part) of what God will do in 2010!

I feel ready because I’ve done my homework. I’ve taken the time to process the year and take it all in: the good, the bad, and the ugly. What is done, it’s done and there is no possible way of turning back or changing history. Chapter closed.

However, the future is full of possibilities…

We are entering a new decade. It is time for: a blank page, a fresh canvas, a new slate. It’s time to create, to imagine, and to achieve. If this doesn’t get you fired-up and ready to hit the ground running, what does?

I love asking questions. In the past week, I asked about a dozen people: What have you learned this year and what are you looking forward to in 2010?

Only one person had a clear answer.

I know life happens so fast that few people seldom take the time to ponder, reflect, and plan. Think for a second: What does this say about them and what they want?

As an encouragement take the time to write ideas, experiences, and goals. Don’t assume you will remember them, because you are most likely not going to. You’ve probably discovered this by now. I have. This exercise should not take you more than one or two hours and the payoff will be HUGE! Don’t overestimate the power of reflecting, journaling, and affirming.

Here are four questions to sharpen your vision:

What did you learn about yourself this year? List the major life lessons.
What were the principal themes that kept recurring in 2009 and what did you do about them?
What did you accomplish and are most proud of for 2009?
Looking ahead: What are you going to achieve in 2010?

In preparation for the New Year, make a special effort to stop and count your blessings. There is so much to be thankful about.

Happy New Year!

When Danny Showed Up: God of Second Chances

Jorge Fusaro — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:40:19 +0000

Carlos Whitaker (artist, musician, and blogger) rallied his crew to shoot the EPK for his new record at a park in Atlanta.

Suddenly, Danny, a homeless guy that happened to be around, showed up and approached Carlos and the crew. Danny knelt down, lifted his hands, and with tears on his eyes…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDmibnRyhj4

Carlos blogged about this:

If you listen carefully at the end you hear me saying this to Danny.
“Keep trying to make it man.”
He looked me square in the eye…cocked his head sideways with a confused look on his face…and said,
“Trying to make it? No man. I ain’t trying to make it…I’m making it. Jah puts His soldiers everywhere. Jah says, Yea though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death… So He places some of us, in that valley.”

Let me ask you this:

How many times has God offered you a second chance?
How did you respond to God’s second chance?
What happened next?

As always you are invited to share your thoughts in the comment section below. Thanks for sharing!

American Celebrity Obsession: Can Tiger Atone for His Transgressions?

Jorge Fusaro — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:06:20 +0000

It doesn’t matter where I turn, online or on TV, someone is writing, commenting, or passing judgment on Tiger Woods. I’ve rarely seen/heard any traces of grace, forgiveness, hope, understanding, or respect. The “biggest story this Holiday Season” has received more attention than the 30,000 troops Obama deployed to Afghanistan, health-care, the credit crisis in Dubai, or the Ugandan death penalty law against homosexuals.

There is something really wrong with this picture. Is America obsessed with celebrity culture?

Have you ever done things that you deeply regretted, but cannot undo? How have you dealt with the situation? Did others support in love or point fingers in judgment? Did your supporters (sponsors/fans) abandon you in the trenches or did they lend a helping and compassionate hand?

Take a look around. Do people around you stand against adultery, lies, and/or infidelity? Do they have high standards of integrity and morality?

Take a look at yourself. Are you a saint? Have you not committed a multitude of faults. I know I have.

What is really paradoxical and sad, is that our society doesn’t give a crap about morality. Just, take an honest look around.

Yet, when a celebrity commits adultery, or any other wrongdoing, the media police enter the scene with no shame. The media dresses in white to become a moral authority and pass judgment? As far as I know, opinion and judgment are not the same thing. Is this journalism or people’s court?

Consider this: The same media engine responsible for manufacturing celebrities is also responsible for destroying them. The media is not known for providing unbiased reporting or fostering critical thinking. They usually tell you what to think.

Tiger Woods’ struggles are no different from those of most young adults these days. Add fame, money, and power and it can become a recipe for disaster, for anyone! Can any of us be certain to never fall into temptation?

Adultery is a Terrible Thing

As a disclaimer, I am not attempting to defend or ignore what Tiger did. Adultery is not to be endorsed or accepted. It is perhaps one of the most painful violations of trust that can be committed against someone else. The repercussions are destructive for oneself and others.

However, I do believe in repentance and forgiveness available to all. As well as in grace and the respect of other people’ s privacy. This is personal and private matter for Mr. Woods and his family. The public will always try to make judgments about whether someone’s repentance is authentic or not, but it is impossible to judge the condition of someone’s heart. Consider this famous quote from Jesus: “Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye (Mat 7:3)?” People have no right to judge.

Learning From Every Experience

I’ve learned that almost every experience (positive or negative) has learning potential. We cannot fail to see the positive clouded by all the negative. What if we turn this negative incident into a positive learning lesson for society, sports, and children who perhaps aspired to one day “be like Tiger?” We can learn that:

People are not perfect, and neither are brands and those who market them. Human failure is a consequence of being human and finite.
Tiger’s struggles are no different from those of most young adults these days. Add fame, money, and power to the mix and it can be a recipe for disaster for anyone!
Tiger is human. He is not a god. He is not an idol to worship. He is an excellent player, but he is not perfect. Just like any of us, he makes mistakes.
Selfish actions may end up hurting lots of people, as well as the one who is at fault.
Everyone handles crisis differently. You can’t learn how to handle these situations at the driving range. Let Tiger and his family deal with this on their own, not in the best or most convenient way for the sport, the fans, or the sponsors.
Sometimes taking a temporary or indefinite break from your routine, from work or career can be a great way to seek clarity and regain focus.
Before jumping to judge between what is right and what is wrong, stop to “notice the beam in your own eye?”
When people ask for privacy, the least others can do is respect and honor it. A public figure doesn’t owe any public explanations/confessions.

Adam Ostrow, Editor in Chief at Mashable, is one of the few writers to offer positive comments on Tiger’s story:

“…it’s not our God-given right to know what Tiger does in his personal life…” “…as a man, it’s his right to remain private and accept the consequences, whether they’re lost endorsements or unforgiving fans. That right was seemingly stripped away from him by the ‘we deserve to know everything about everything’ culture we now live in.” (go to post)

Seeking Reconciliation

Atonement basically means the state of being reconciled with God. In a more practical sense, atonement is the attempt to overcome guilt caused by misdemeanors. This process includes a sincere abandonment of sin, repentance, and confession. We are not exactly sure how everything will play out with Tiger’s marriage, sponsorship, fans, golf career, or social life. But we do know (per his personal statement) that he regrets the transgressions he committed with all of his heart:

“I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect.” He goes on to say, “I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.”

So, can Tiger atone for his transgressions?
Absolutely, as well as each and every one of us.

What do you think about all this?

Please share your comments on the section below. Thanks!

Photo by William Hacker

Gold Nuggets: Leadership Summit 2009 – Day 2/2

Jorge Fusaro — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:48:51 +0000

The best from the Leadership Summit – Day 2 below. If you missed my previous article (Gold Nuggets – Day 1), please click here to read it. To get all my notes from Day 1 and 2, email me.

The Leadership Summit, hosted by the Willow Creek Association, is the largest annual leadership event in the world.

*Scroll down for quotes from Bono and Tony Blair!*

David Gergen was my favorite guest of the day. Mr. Gergen is editor-at-large at U.S. News & World Report and political analyst for CNN and PBS, and has served as a White House adviser to four presidents; Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton. He is also a professor at Harvard’s School of Public Leadership.

=============

Thinking Forward: Third Culture Leadership
Dave Gibbons

“Third culture is the mindset and will to love, learn and serve in any culture, even in the midst of discomfort.”
“Obedience is more important than passion.”
“We often assess people based on their strengths. There’s more to people’s strengths… there’s their story. The most important thing is people’s story… do you have time to listen to them?”
“When we love those who are hard to love, hard to get close to, completely unlike us–people will notice. It’s completely abnormal. That’s our calling. What’s noticeable about being normal?”

Aid vs. Trade
Andrew Rugasira

Aid is not really aid: “Between 1970-2000, Africa received $400 Billion in aid from the US. Is it any better? No, in fact the GDP decreased when aid increased.”
Aid undermines accountability: “Aid creates chronic dependence. When they become dependent on outside help, they are resistant to receive help from the inside…from NGO’s.” “Real partnerships will create lasting community transformation.”

Leveraging Your Past
Wess Stafford

“If the pain in your life is fueled by someone in your past who hurt you, there’s one word you need to know: forgiveness.”
“If you hold grudges against people who have hurt you, then you are allowing them to live rent free in your heart and your mind.”
“What people have done to us in our past should not define us.”
“Forgiveness may not mean forgetting, or that it was okay, or release from consequences of actions, or reconciliation. Forgiveness does mean giving up the right for revenge.”

Eyewitness to Power
David Gergen (Interview with Bill Hybels)

“Not every reader is a leader…but every leader is a reader.”
Leaders can get so busy that they don’t reflect, journal, write, discuss, etc. “It’s easy to confuse motion with progress.” “The best leaders are the ones who think carefully about they want to accomplish, choose what they want to pursue, and actively pursue it with feedback along the way.”
“A teacher of leadership cannot make/produce leaders.” “…We need to influence and point to role models.”
“The day of the Lone Ranger as a leader are over. Leaders no longer need to be alone. “Leaders today get the best results when they have a great team around them.” “The world is too complex..the role of leadership is about inspiring your team AND other leaders/groups outside your team. We must learn to partner and collaborate. We must build things together.”
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Switch
Chip Heath and Dan Heath (Interview with Craig Groeschel)

“When dealing with problems, ignore the True But Useless info (TBUs) and focus on learning from what is working and replicating it.”
“Big problems are rarely changed through big solutions…rather, it needs to be a series of small solutions.”
“To accomplish meaningful change, you must be convinced that there is a goal worthy of the pain of changing.”
“Sometimes we may not have a person problem…we actually have a situation problem. We tend to attribute things to a person rather than to their situation.” “We need to think broadly about people’s situations. Good leaders have the gift of seeing people’s situations. Sculpting the path is part of creating change.”

Bono, the Church… Three Years Later (videocast)
Bono

“We referred to the Church as the sleeping giant. Now that she has awoken, we didn’t know she could run so fast.”
“It’s an offense to Christ or any concept of truth and justice that we aren’t reaching people in need.”
“Had the church not woken up on the issue of AIDS we would not have 2 million Africans on anti-viral drugs.”
“I have a fear of denominationalism. I have been equally comfortable and uncomfortable in different churches…I like to go where the life is…what I don’t like are churches where it is a lifeless ceremony.”
“When you make a sermon, people don’t want things to be too complicated, they want you to be honest. They want a spirit of humility.”
“There’s always resistance on the journey to equality.”

An Interview with Tony Blair (videocast)
Tony Blair (Interview with Jim Mellado)

“Conventional wisdom says ‘to do’ the comfortable thing. The problem is that the comfortable thing to do can often be the wrong thing to do.”
“Part of leadership is having an inner core, an irreducible core, the thing that cannot be chipped away at. You cannot yield on what is at your core. You have to do what you know is right, even if it’s not popular. Your job is to stand by what you think.”
“The process of doubting is right. But there comes a moment when you need to lay aside the fear that comes with doubt and you have to be willing to take the responsibility of decision making.” “There are 2 types of people: (1) those who just provide commentary and, (2) those who actually step out and decide and lead.”
“By counting your blessings you can endure pain and disappointment. Whatever pain and disappointment you accumulate, it cannot compare to the blessings you have. This isn’t to minimize the suffering in our lives…but what are we really complaining about.”
“Leadership is a blessing and is a gift that you have to bless others. It is your duty to do if you can do it. The way that the world around you works, without the leader things don’t get done. The sense of joy in getting something done is worth all the pain along the way.”

The Simple Things
Bill Hybels

Consider establishing a time and place where you will meet personally with God every day. Most leaders don’t do this because they are too busy. “Leaders need something fresh from God every day.”
Commit to reading good gooks for at least 30 minutes each day.
Review your replenishment strategy. “Instead of doing something big, maybe you should do something simple… decide if you are on a net gain or in depletion mode?”
Say yes to God without knowing what the question is.
Your life matters.
This isn’t the pre-game, this is THE game.

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Gold Nuggets: Leadership Summit 2009 – Day 1/2

Jorge Fusaro — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:51:03 +0000

Every year, the Willow Creek Association, hosts the Leadership Summit, which has become the largest leadership conference in the world.

It was envisioned by Bill Hybels and birthed in 1995. The Summit in North America has grown from 1 site to over 140 sites linked together via satellite and over 65,000 leaders in 2008. And in 2008, The Global Leadership Summit brought together via videocast over 46,000 people in 114 cities and 50 countries. Learn more about the history of the Summit.

The Summit is not exclusive nor limited to people of faith. While affirming that leadership is a gift from God, the Summit welcomes everyone involved in leading self and leading others. That includes you. The Summit holds a deep belief that if you change a church leader, you can change a church, and if enough churches start changing, you can change an entire region, country, and eventually the world. Who doesn’t want to live in a better world?

The Leadership Summit gathers the best in the world! This year’s outstanding faculty included: Bill Hybels, Henry Cloud, Carly Fiorina, Patrick Lencioni, Gary Hamel, Tim Keller, Jessica Jackley, Tony Blair, Dave Gibbons, David Gergen, and Bono. Yes, Bon0, the rockstar, activist, and prophet!

Some of the top gold nuggets (quotes) from the conference are below. If you really want more insights/quotes, email me and I’ll be happy to send you all my notes from the conference (10+ pages).

A golden nugget is that precious and valuable lump of gold found in the midst of, oh well, lots of gold. In Spanish, it is called a “pepito”

====================

Leading In a New Reality
Bill Hybels

“I didn’t have an adequate replenishment strategy…The pace at which I’m doing God’s work is destroying God’s work in me.”
“This is where we have to do self-leadership. We have to reinvent adequate replenishment strategies in the midst of new realities.”
“I have now started a new pattern, I start my day in a quiet place at home with God…away from the leadership distractions.”

Hiring, Firing, and Board Meltdowns
Bill Hybels, Patrick Lencioni, Henry Cloud, David Ireland, Carly Fiorina

“Often we idealize a potential candidate so that they fit into what we need.” – Cloud
“People see what they want to see…first impressions are usually wrong.” – Fiorina
“Clear, strong cultures are essential for healthy organizations. So much that people will either be drawn to or repulsed by an organizations culture.” – Lencioni
“If the board isn’t functional, the organization can’t be functional.” – Fiorina
“We often don’t give people enough feedback to let them make a decision for themselves to change.” – Lencioni
“We must honor people throughout the process of hiring and firing.” – Hybels

Manage Differently NOW
Gary Hamel

“Unprecedented difficulties allow for unprecedented opportunities…yet, you have to have unprecedented strategies.”
“Our churches feel too much like rigid corporations than fluid and dynamic communities.” “Maybe we need to try going back to Disorganized Religion. Spiritually powerful and institutionally week.”
“As far as I know, God doesn’t have a plan B for the (reconciliation of all things). We have been invited into that process.”

Leading People to the Prodigal God
Tim Keller

“Are you doing stuff for others or is the stuff you’re doing for them really for yourself? Don’t go into the ministry to save your soul.”
“The Gospel is not religion or irreligion…it is something entirely else.”
“Religion = I obey, therefore, I am accepted.” “The Gospel of Jesus = I am accepted through Jesus’ love and sacrifice, therefore, I obey.”

A Leadership Case Study: Jessica Jackley and the KIVA Story
Jessica Jackley (Interview with Jim Mellado)

“The secret to changing the world is a change of mindset.”
“Great poets show, they don’t tell.”
“The role of the leader is to equip.”

Against All Odds
Harvey Carey

“Nothing is impossible to those who believe. When you reach outside your grasp–outside your capacity–you will see amazing results.”

More coming soon!

Stay tuned for Gold Nuggets from the Leadership Summit – Day 2!