Bumps make you grow!

Here is a list I found on 20 mistakes leaders make. Hope it helps you grow:

1. Holding grudges
2. Withholding an apology
3. Demanding what you should earn
4. Hording knowledge
5. Refusing to delegate
6. Delegating tasks without explaining vision
7. Allowing weaknesses in one area of person’s life to obscure their strengths in another
8. Clinging to Power rather than giving it
9. Saying yes when you mean no
10. Talking too much, deciding too slow, and doing too little
11. Making statements before asking questions
12. Adding minor corrections or improvements to another’s work
13. Making assumptions without information
14. Getting even
15. Blaming others rather than taking responsibility
16. Putting off tough conversations
17. Failure to establish clear deliverables that include milestones and deadlines
18. Accepting mediocrity
19. Mistaking busy for effective
20. Pretending you know when you don’t.

There are plenty more but this is a good start.

(Source http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/top-20-stupid-leader-tricks/)

GET OUT OF THE "SAFE"

“The single best way to develop leaders is to take people out of their safe environment and away from the people they know, and throw them into a new arena they know little about. Way over their head, preferably. In fact, the more demanding their challenges, the more pressure and risk they face, the more likely a dynamic leader will emerge”
-Bruce Wilkenson "The Dream Giver"


When God seems absent and everything is going wrong, will you still trust God enough to patiently allow Him to prepare you for what’s ahead?

The bigger the dream, the longer the preparation.

James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. NIV

The Chick-Fil-A Approach

So there I sat for lunch at a Chick-Fil-A this afternoon in Winchester, VA enjoying my #6 with fruit punch when I saw something I have NEVER SEEN...

It blew my mind....

Although the restaurant was pretty full,  the traffic at that moment was light. The young lady who served me with a smile came out from behind the counter and started to walk around the and ask people how their meal was and if they wanted a refill which she then proceeded to give person after person a re-fill. This effort was foreign to me.  After returning with one tables refill, she then took their tray and discarded it along with their food that they were done with. Hmmmmm.

This really got my attention because for all intents and purposes, this was a fast food place and they would have just been fine with doing it like they all do it. BUT, they personalized each tables and persons visit. Made people feel like this was different. Relax, we got you.  This includes the way I felt during my visit.

Taking a moment for Church leaders, what if we made each person's visit to the house of God personal, memorable, every single time. No, you cannot please everyone but what if....what if we valued their visit and made the LOVE OF GOD stand out more than just our services.

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another"

 ~John 13:35 (NKJV) 

I have been to many a restaurants and this got my attention. I havent visited many a Chick-Fil-A so I am unsure if this is practiced throughout the chain. Understanding that the business is run by Christian man but this approach should serve as a template for all businesses to stand out. Honestly, it should serve as a template for all churches too. This approach to customers reflects on Chick-Fil-A as an organization and to the individual management as well.  I am encouraged to step up my game and stand out as a husband, father, friend and as a believer. I hope it does you too.

Living intentionally,
Tony