Have You Ever Felt Like Giving Up?

I am reading John Maxwell's book, Put Your Dream to the Test, where he says

Robert Peary attempted to reach the North Pole seven times before he finally succeeded.

Oscar Hammerstein produced five shows on Broadway that were flops before staging Oklahoma.

Thomas Edison failed in his attempt to create a workable light bulb ten thousand times before creating one that finally worked.

To achieve your dream, you will have to develop the ability to keep going when others quit. You need to develop tenacity!" Pg. 168.

Leading with Quality in Mind,

Denny

Are You Creating More Buzz Than Fuzz?

Leadership quote of the day from John Maxwell in communicating vision to others:

"If leaders create a fuzzy picture, then people follow in an equally fuzzy way."

[Put Your Dream to the Test, page 39].

In your leadership style, are you creating more of a buzz or fuzz?

Leading with Quality in Mind,

Denny

The Desperate Prayers of a Leader

One of a leader's potential traps is to believe (and then act) like he or she can go it alone without having an inner core that is founded upon dependence upon God for every leadership decision, the great and small.

For many believers, the nature of prayer often becomes a last resort when we can accomplish nothing more in our own wisdom, wit, and works. It is a comforting thought that God knows this about us too, and still accepts and answers our desperate prayers. Having a works mentality drives us even further away from the comfort that awaits those who put their trust in the Lord. Grace, however, (God's solution to our need) no matter how desperate our situation, opens wide the door to His Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:16). Chip Ingram reminds us of this great truth about “great prayers.”

“Not only are great prayers deeply personal, they are also birthed in brokenness. When we come to God with a sense of bankruptcy, knowing we’re in a desperate situation and have no resources to get ourselves out of it, God pays special attention. Brokenness will cause us to pour out our heart to God rather than trying to find the right words or the most persuasive arguments to present to him.” Pg. 103. Ingram, Chip. 2007. Good to great in God’s eyes: 10 practices great Christians have in common. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Desperate times require desperate measures that call for desperate prayers. How desperate are you in your need for Him?

Leading with Quality in mind,

Denny

Have Your Methods Become Monuments?

In his book, Rescuing Ambition, Dave Harvey says,

We're ambitious to start things but hate to end them. Every initiative can seem right, good, and important--we're sure God is behind it all. So we launch things as if great efforts in the name of God need no expiration dates. We assume that what's effective in one season is effective for all time. Methods become monuments. (Pg. 113)

It's something every quality leader needs to think upon as we lead.

Leading with Quality in mind,

Denny

The Key to a Fortified Life: Inviting Critique From Trusted Friends

As a leader, who do you trust with your life?

Kevin Harney suggests:

“We are wisest when we have relationships and networks that fortify our lives as leaders. Healthy leaders not only practice self-examination but also move beyond reflection to invite others into the deepest parts of their souls . . . The best leaders will ask, even beg, others to show them where they need to grow, where they are broken, where sin lurks in the dark corners of their hearts. Where we have blind spots, those who are close to us, who love us, can identify areas in which we need to repent, change, grow.” Pg. 17

Harney, Kevin. 2007. Leadership from the inside out: examining the inner life of a healthy church leader. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Leading with Quality in mind,

Denny