Leadership is from the inside out

All this week, we are going through some of my favorite things that I have learned while reading Brad Lomenick‘s new book, The Catalyst Leader.  Brad is the leader of the Catalyst Conferences for raising and encouraging Christian leaders in the world today.  Here is what I want to share with you today:

Leaders are defined by their inner strengths and convictions, not the outer portrayal of who they are.”  (p.132)

This idea is pretty straightforward but worthy of contemplation.  As leaders, you will always be up in front of people encouraging them or challenging them to do more.  But we must never have our outward portrayal be stronger than our inner yearning.

One of my favorite worship songs is “From the inside out” by Hillsong United.  In the song there is a line that has always resonated with me, “the art of losing myself in bringing you praise” and I think it truly helps give a greater glimpse of having our inner strengths pour out of us into every single one of our relationships.

This is my hope as a leader.  I do not want to have people doing something that hasn’t resonated inside of myself yet.  I can’t begin to lead people to a place I haven’t even had a desire for.  It is unfathomable for that to happen so I am yearning to take myself deeper and deeper into all that God has for me.  And then to take others deeper in that journey.

In closing, here is one last quote from this chapter of this great book that I think truly helps you and I see more clearly:

I think leadership just comes down to walking in a humility that allows you to learn from others and hear from others, that isn’t quick to judge, that allows you to give people the benefit of the doubt until they prove otherwise.”  (Matt Chandler, quoted on p. 133)

We must remember that leadership is just walking the path before others and helping guide them down on their journey.

Courage

As I mentioned yesterday, I will be going through Brad Lomenick‘s, leader of the Catalyst movement out of Atlanta, new book this week. It is called The Catalyst Leader and you must check it out.

“Don’t play it safe.  Chase after something so much bigger than you are, there’s no way you could ever accomplish it without God.”  (p. 103)

One of the essentials for becoming a change maker, according to Lomenick, is that we must be courageous as leaders.  If we did have a great calling from God, but no courage to chase after it, then we would not amount to much so I truly wish to take ahold of this courage that he speaks of and go after it with everything I have. 

I don’t want to dream of writing a book that people read 100 years from now without having the balls to get up early and write it and fail many, many times while trying to do so.  I want to have the courage to share everything I am going through and let it help whoever it needs to. 

I don’t want to fear having others write disrespectful reviews of my book/music but I must let that fear go if I am going to plunge forward doing what I love. 

So as you pursue whatever it is you wish to go after, embrace the courage and plow through regardless.

Things I’m loving (6.3.11 edition)

Videos

1. Amy Poehler did the commencement speech for Harvard this year.  They always get the best people.  The lady who did my graduation speech made me fall asleep and never wish graduation upon anyone else.
2. Only one video this week.  Not because of lack of content but because I was so busy that I didn’t get to enjoy many of them.  But I did hear that you can now watch Kevin Smith’s movies on Hulu.  He was my one of my favorite filmakers growing up.  His films are hilarious and they really make you think even though you have to endure tons of curse words and very suggestive language.

To read/look:

1. 15 killer offices in a tech company.
2. Interview with Billy Graham.  One of the heroes of the faith being interviewed by Christianity Today.
3. Good review of Rob Bell’s newest book.  I think I am done reading reviews about his book.  I believe I have read like 10 of them now.
4. The worst parade of all.  Jon Acuff is quickly become my favorite blogger.  Probably because he has twonow.  This post was really good and inspiring.  Also, read his book Quitter if you want to be inspired.  Favorite of the year for me so far.
5. Here‘s why the Whittaker love astounds me.  Carlos Whittaker is a rockstar.  He starts movements everywhere he goes.  He was in Cali, then serving with Andy Stanley, Catalyst, Integrity, etc… but through it all, he is a blogger at the best blog on the Christian planet.  But he is a family man first and foremost and that is what astounds me about him most.  This is a good wedding video that I would watch even though I have yet to meet either person.

What inspired you this week?

iBible

I have seen this on a few blogs and thought I would post it here for you. 

For some odd reason, this makes me want to get a Kindle real bad.