The Leadership Epidemic, Hand Written Notes, and some tips from lunch #ThoughtsFromTerry
Good Friday to All!
I am currently in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area spending a little time with my dad and step-mom, Joan. Joan has been struggling with major back issues for a decade or more. This week Joan underwent major back reconstruction surgery that took two days...Tuesday and Thursday. I decided to head down Thursday afternoon and spend a few days with them to cheer her on, and support anyway possible. Tomorrow I will head home early, and get back to Easter weekend services as well as seeing my Mom and Robin's mom who traveled up to OKC for the weekend! Fun times.
Happy Easter!
The Epidemic before our eyes
Is there an epidemic before our eyes? Possibly, or it might be a bit of an overstatement - but it’s worth the shock I think to make a point. Maybe it’s called the “Leader” epidemic, or the Christian “leader” epidemic. The situation I am seeing more, and more of is the extreme focus on leadership development - and minimal to no Spiritual development. Over and over I meet with and mentor wonderful men who are Christ followers, but who are struggling in all areas of life because the simple fact is, there is little to no Spiritual growth - God is NOT first in their lives. We can look around and see Christian marriages falling apart, pastors removed from leadership, pornography on the rise in and out of the church, family chaos, etc. etc. But, at the exact same time I hear over and over what leadership books pastors and Christian leaders are reading, what podcasts, what conferences...but not nearly as often what God is teaching or showing them.
Please don’t misinterpret my words - leadership development is critical. Learning from books, podcasts, mentors, conferences, etc are all important. But, may I simply suggest that all of that on top of a weak and unstable foundation will come crashing down. Please, please, please build your foundation...and continue to reinforce your foundation, the rock, your relationship with our creator, the one true God...and then, build on top of it. Leadership first starts with you, leading yourself well!! Stop the epidemic before our eyes and remember that anything we put before God...anything is an IDOL, even leadership.
Hand written notes
Over the past few months I have received quite a few hand written personalized thank you notes. Man, they are impactful. Reading the words hand crafted, expressing how someone was touched or impacted etched onto a note card. Maybe it’s because so much is digital these days...emails, text, Tweets, Wall posts...I am not sure. But, for me, this was a personal reminder I must get better at this skill...or art.
A Mentor's Advice
I recently asked a friend, or maybe better said an acquaintance to lunch. This man is a very successful business owner that I have gotten to know over the years from riding bikes...and the more I have gotten to know him, the more I have come to respect all areas of his life. He has two grown daughters - and I wanted to learn from him. We had a great lunch, and I really got the opportunity to hear his story. As we were wrapping up a great lunch, I asked him a simple question...looking back over your life, what is one or two things you did that had the biggest impact, or return on investment raising great daughters? He looked across the table and though for a moment, and then shared without hesitation these powerful words. Terry, I think the greatest investment I made in my daughters was showing honor and respect to their mother. Wow...powerful words and a great reminder. He also went on and shared how intentional he was with time, and how he spent time with them growing up. And then he closed with this, as much as I love them, I also think it’s really important that they never grew up thinking they were the center of the universe. We did our best not being kid centric.
Powerful advice that I am taking to heart. Look around, who in your extended circle do you respect and want to learn from? Ask them to lunch, pay for it, and get to know their story.
Weekend reads
Powerful advice from Sergey & Larry...the founders of Google
Don’t Confuse Leadership with Control
In 2006 I read Erwin McManus book Chasing Daylight. I loved it!!! This week I watched a 30min talk from Erwin that was the core of the book. So good.
Chasing Daylight
Before I Hit Send
Tesla will unveil the final Model 3 in July- Link Musk also tweeted that the company will unveil a semi truck in September - Link...and a pickup truck in 18 to 24 months - Link
The Pentagon just released video of "the mother of all bombs" in Afghanistan - Link
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Have a great week,
Terry