LeadershipConneXtions

Slow, sure, steady, soaking processes...

After a week of being with the UWM team in Asia, I tried to summarize our time in a meaningful way. this is my best attempt to do so.

The Spirit of God uses slow, sure, steady, "soaking," processes where we learn to become friends with Jesus so we may then missionally engage our little corner of the world.

These processes are the spiritual disciplines, practiced in relational, reflective, transformative ways...

These processes are the way we are with Jesus, learning from Him and becoming like Him...

These processes are how we experience/encounter the Presence, the Work and the Word of God...

These processes cannot be hurried, there are no shortcuts, there are few "once and for all" events, instead it is the accumulating impact of hundreds of days being with Jesus...

These processes first are like disciplines, then become habits, eventually they become a way of life...

These processes are the way leaders are formed, the way the imitation of Christ occurs in the life of the leader...

So the real question is this:  Are those slow, sure, steady, soaking processes taking place in your life?

Brian K. Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com

What's Working (a Novel Approach to Leadership!)

Years ago when I was first exposed to the Strengths idea of Marcus Buckingham and those who had researched this issue before him, as soon as I heard it - it made all the sense in the world.

Of course it is better to build on your strengths rather than trying to improve weaknesses.

Here is another, similar idea, from the Heath brothers (authors of Made to Stick).  They tell the story of a troubled teenager named Bobby. He was in danger of being kicked out of school. His counselor asked him an interesting question.

Instead of focusing on Bobby's problems, he asked Bobby, "Are there classes where you don't get in trouble?" 

It turns out there was such a class, it was Ms. Smith's class. So the counselor asked why Ms. Smith's class was different and soon there were concrete answers. Ms. Smith did things differently for Bobby and it worked. Now there was a way forward and soon all of Bobby's teachers were doing the same thing for him.

Here is what the Heath brothers point out.

We are wired to focus on what is not working. This is just like focusing on weaknesses in performance reviews. This is why the news is full of what is wrong, bad, dangerous problematic… that is what we are drawn to.

The counselor asked - what is working and how can we do more of it? That is similar to asking - what are your strengths and how can we make you even stronger in those areas?

What a great perspective!

And I recommend you try it right now…

Ask - what is working? What is working very well?  And how can I do more of what is working?

If you remember the Pareto Principle which says, we get 80% of our results from 20% of our efforts… Well, what is working is what generates 80% of your results. If you find out how to spend more time doing what is working, you are bound to generate even more results.

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com

Presidential Leadership

When you think about leadership, you have to think about American presidents. It is the highest position of power and authority in our country, and a pretty good case can still be made that it is among the very highest leadership roles in the world.

Ruth Tucker, in Leadership Reconsidered, referred to a book that sounds very interesting, although I haven't read it. The book is Personality, Character and Leadership in the White House. It is written by psychologists, Steven Rubenzer and Thomas Faschingbauer.

They examine presidents in light of personality trains and character. Here are a few of their findings as reported by Tucker.

The average president scores a bit below most Americans on character.

Yet low scores on character are often paired with high achievement. Apparently modern leaders achieve more, for example, when they are more deceptive.

They found that character has NO relationship to presidential success.  "Our research leads us to conclude that the most successful presidents have been ambitious,intelligent, assertive and competent, but not necessarily straight forward or brimming with integrity."

"Modern presidents score higher on the need for Power. The want to have impact and prestige, to be in charge and they want people to know it."  They say this is not a bad thing because power and motivation is associated with better White House performance.

Tucker notes that when we talk about integrity, the reality is that the factors that lead to presidential success are often in conflict with integrity.

WOW!

Fascinating stuff.

Especially for someone like me, who believes in character as essential for great leadership.

This raises all kinds of questions for me:

How do we define success?

Who is defining success?

Is success in the short term, necessarily success in the long term?

Jimmy Carter had more integrity and character and "spiritual values" than many of our presidents, yet was considered one of the least successful modern presidents?

Bill Clinton -- do I need to say anything?

Was George Bush successful? Why or why not?

Is Barack Obama being successful with health care?  Why or why not?

Does the presidential defined ends justify the means?

I am definitely going to get this book and do a more substantial read.

Bran K. Rice 
Leadership ConneXtions International 
www.lci.typepad.com

Thailand Conference Update, Thursday 28th

One more day to go. We had a good morning... things are all coming together... the sessions build toward Thursday and Friday where the different themes are all converging.

It has been great to work with the UWM community here. Lots of desire, lots of insight on their part, it is a privilege to be together with them as a part of their journey into spiritually formed leaders who are working in many challenging contexts.

On the downside... I went to sleep last night at 3:00 a.m. and woke up at 5:00 a.m.  On the good side, I am getting a lot of work done at night and God is always awake and ready for conversations.

Pray for a good day of wrapping up on Friday and for putting stepping stones in place that will be useful for each one when they return home this weekend.

Grace and peace,

Brian

"Movement" Evangelists and "Viral Ideas"

Here is an idea that is dear to my heart. These ideas come from Guy Kawasaki who is an entrepreneur and prolific author.  This comes from the eBook, What Matters Now.

The future belongs to people who can spread ideas. So you have to find those people, influence them, serve them and turn them loose. Here are Guy's practical suggestions that I have morphed a bit (but still, they are essentially Guy's).

1.  Create a cause that people believe in and which is worthy of their time and interest. Understand that people are always asking: Why should I care?

2.  Love the cause you create. You become the Evangelist, the Apologist, the Missional Entrepreneur for your cause. You must be wildly enthusiastic about your cause. 

3.  Find agnostics, but stay away from the hard core atheists. Agnostics can become converts to your cause… atheists are going to waste your time.

4.  Be specific. For each person, show how they benefit. Bottom line - people always ask - what is in it for me?

5.  Let your people "test drive" the cause before you ask them for buy-in and ownership.  If you want a commitment, give them a real opportunity to see if they truly like what you are "selling."

6.  You must be able to "demo" or "show" what you've got. If you can't show it, people aren't going to want it. We have known for a long time that the best communicators are those who show and not just sell.  And, if you want them to become your next Raving Fans who pass it on, they have to know how to show it as well. So model the way. (By the way, Steve Jobs is a master at this.)

7.  Do the John the Baptist thing and prepare the way. Make the first steps accessible. Remove barriers and fill in pot holes that will prevent them from signing up with you. To be honest, make it easy to sign up... but still require commitment when they sign up.

8.  Ignore the flash of titles. Go for "everyman" and "everywoman." The highly placed people are great, but you can find advocates and evangelists anywhere. Go looking for them and don't presuppose where you will find them. You will find them in the most unlikely of places.

9.  Never lie. Always tell the truth. No spinning, no exaggerating. You have to earn credibility. You have to model what you want spread. It isn't worth it to trick or deceive someone into your "club." Get a reputation right up front for integrity. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

10.  Remember your friends. Don't forget the little guy. Don't grow too big for your britches.  (Does anyone know where that saying came from and what the context was?) Always treat people well. Have a long memory. Be grateful for a very long time toward those who helped you.

Brian K. Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

We Are on Very Different Pages

Dallas Willard had some insights about members and groups and what they understand and buy in to concerning the beliefs of the organization. Willard is mainly writing about the church, but what he says has application to many different settings.

Willard observes that the vast majority of those who are in "good standing" in a group, do not believe many of the things that the leaders of their organization believe are necessary and nonnegotiable.   In many cases, the followers don't even KNOW about the beliefs the leads have. In other cases, they do not UNDERSTAND those beliefs.

When it comes to the church or other religious groups, Willard says members profess a lot of things they don't understand, believe or are committed to.

WOW!

For a long time I have felt we (the evangelical church in North America) are slowly losing the battle (and that may be a great metaphor for this issue) to shape the minds and hearts of our people.

I believe this when it comes to issues of morality, of sexuality, of finances, evangelism, prayer, our core values… in fact, about most things…  

About most things, the average evangelical Christian has more in common with the belief and value of system of their non-Christian neighbors than with that of Christ.  

The average evangelical Christian is more influenced my the media than by Scripture. Lifestyle choices, priorities, ultimate goals - these things as well, are more shaped by our culture than by Christ.

It is going to take a lot of hard work, a lot of time, a lot of struggle, a lot of community… and also better learning methodologies than we typically use in the church, if we are going to shape the belief systems and lifestyles of those who are members of our churches.

What do you think?

Brian K. Rice 
Leadership ConneXtions International 
www.lci.typepad.com

Thailand Conference Update, Wednesday 27th

Just a quick update.  The first two days of the conference went well. It is great working together with UWM president John Bernard as we do the morning sessions. John is doing some teaching through the Gospel of Mark in a spiritually formative way and then I follow up with sessions that are more focused on themes, models and processes. It is a great tag-team.

I am impressed by a few things in these brief days that are flying by.

I am full of gratitude and very aware that I am with some precious, dedicated, awesome people here this week. I am motivated just from being with them.

The task we have for missional engagement with the world is enormous, the needs are staggering, it truly is beyond us and we need God's power and strength at every step of the way.

And even more, we need friendship with God, where we daily experience His presence, join in with His work and listen to His Word/voice.

Continue to pray for us... for good times together, for wisdom, insight and that the eyes of our heart would be enlightened.

Thanks,

Brian

A Follow Up to Kierkegaard from Thoreau

Many of you know my fondness for Kierkegaard's delightful and profound observation: Life is lived forward but understood backward (paraphrase).

In the moment and on the spot, we rarely understand the depth or significance of what is happening in and around us. It is only later, with the retrospective look back, that we move into a deeper understanding.
 

Some time back, I came across this little "Waldensian" gem from Thoreau.

We understand things rightly and well when we understand them over time.

And we understand ourselves and we understand other well, when we understand them over time.

So yesterday, I mentioned a great conversation starter:  What's it like to be you?

Well the answer to that question is a story. A story of growth, change, development, movement... a story that goes on today.

Yesterday makes even more sense in light of today and it will make even more sense in light of tomorrow.

We rightly understand when we reflect, over the course of time.

In one sense, isn't that what the Funeral Memorial Service is? For good or for bad, it is the retrospective, backward look over the whole of the other's life. We call it a legacy. And even then, the legacy is only a later, but not final understanding of the meaning of one's life. For the legacy continues and who knows where it will go?

Wow!

Which is why, I think when we stand on the other side of eternity with Christ and can finally have the retrospective look back... we will then understand the full significance of a life well lived... or not.

Brian K. Rice  
 Leadership ConneXtions International
 www.lci.typepad.com

Eat This Book

When I first picked up a copy of Eugene Peterson's book by that title, I thought it a rather stranger title, even though I knew it was based on a biblical metaphor.

I was reading these words the other day. They come from the prophet Ezekiel 3:3-11. It is worth pulling out your Bible and reading this passage right now.

For all of those who are involved in the ministry of teaching, preaching, leading learning processes of any sort, there are several good images here.

We need to eat and be nourished by God's words (also see, Deuteronomy 8:3). I love the image of tasting, chewing, imbibing, partaking. It is much more than intellectual cognition of truth. It is the personal experience of truth.

Those words are sweet, meaningful, nourishing (also see, Psalm 119:103).

I am also struck by the fact that God is the one who gives us the words He wants us to eat. I see this not only talking about the process of revelation, but also inspiration.

Then, having been nourished by God's words, we are sent by God to speak His words. We are to take heart (personally) to what we have eaten and then we are to "regurgitate" what has nourished us to others.

Whether they listen or not, we speak what we have been nourished by...

So, what you being nourished by this week? 

What words is God speaking into your life?

How are those words coming forth for the well being of others?

Brian K. Rice 
Leadership ConneXtions International 
www.lci.typepad.com

Thailand Conference Update, Monday 25th

Everyone arrived on Saturday and Sunday. Nice to see familiar faces and to meet some new people. Had some meetings yesterday, but today the schedule starts in earnest.

I could use prayer for my jet lagging. Normally I don't jet lag when I go to a location. I have been here three nights, the first night I slept 4 hours, then 3 hours and then last night 3 hours again.  I have to do an afternoon nap to get me up to about 5 hours.  

It is great being here and looking forward to diving into the meetings today.

Grace,

Brian K. Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com

This Question Will Get Their Attention...

What is the natural question we ask when we meet someone?  (At least men do this…)

What do you do?

It is the question of work and it can be easily answered. I am a bricklayer. I work in a factory. I make gobs of money speculating on the market. I am a pastor… teacher… nurse… etc. It is also a question of positioning. Once I know what you do and what I do, I make a comparison as to where we stand.

Here is a better question to launch what will surely be a good conversation and maybe a relationship.

What is it like to be you?

Now, several things could happen at this point.

The person could begin to back away from you...

They might stumble and stammer out something, anything…

Or… they might pause, gather their thoughts and then begin sharing some pretty interesting things.

This is a conversation worth having. it will turn into a story worth hearing. And maybe develop a friendship worth pursuing.

I bet you one thing.

They will remember you asking that question for the rest of their lives.

So, have at it.

Ask the question.

Start the great conversation.

And be ready if they return the favor and ask the same thing of you.

Brian K. Rice 
Leadership ConneXtions International 
www.lci.typepad.com

p.s.  By the way, what is it like to be you?

Thailand Conference Update, Saturday 23rd

I arrived at the Chaing Mai airport at 12:30 a.m. after a long but uneventful flight. It was a 15 hours flight from Atlanta to Seoul, Korea. Then a five hour layover in Seoul and a four hour flight to Thailand.

This was my first time in the new airport in Incheon/Seoul. It is spacious, lots of expensive shops, and easy to navigate. Not too many westerners were on the flight and not too many in the airport in Incheon either.

Once I was in Chaing Mai, it took 30 minutes to go through customs, then another 30 minutes of travel to get to the conference center. I was in my room by about 2:00 a.m and asleep about 3:00 and had a wonderful five hours of sleep.

The conference location is beautiful. The mountains are all around. The sky is crystal clear, bright blue. The tropical foliage is stunning. It is not too hot and not humid either.

People are arriving today and tomorrow, the conference actually starts Monday morning. I spent most of the day doing prep work for the week.

The internet is slower than I am use to... last night it just crawled...

Thanks for your prayers.

Brian

Show Up Prepared

Woody Allen said, "90% of life is showing up."

That's not true.

Showing up prepared is.

So what if you show up, and you are unprepared, not ready, and therefore winging it.

Do you want your favorite football team to just show up, or show up having rigorously prepared with training films of the opponent and the best strategies the coaching team could come up?

Do you want your cancer specialist doctor to just show up, or show up being on the cutting edge of the latest research and newest techniques that are promising?

Do you want your pastor to show up on Sunday mornings winging it with a few meandering thoughts, or to show up having wrestled with God, with the theme of the message, and with living it out in his or her life?

Okay, you get the picture.

Isn't it obvious when a leader, a teacher, a mentor or anyone shows up unprepared. We know they haven't done much homework.

What does that say about what that person was thinking about you? At the least, it says, they believe you didn't deserve their best preparation!

What does it say to others when you show up unprepared? It says, you don't think they need or deserve the best you can give them.

Don't fool yourself into thinking you can wing it and wing it well. You can get away with it once. If you are really good, you can get away with it occasionally. But not often and not long term. Even if you have fooled yourself on this, your audience isn't. They know...

By the way, the better you get at something, the more likely it is that you will think you can wing it, even do it in your sleep. As soon as you start thinking this - then your decline has set in

Honor your calling and vocation.

Honor your customers and clients.

Honor your family and friends.

Honor yourself.

Honor God.

Brian K. Rice 
Leadership ConneXtions International 
www.lci.typepad.com

Artist Clay Bennett did the cartoon below.

 

Unstoppable Momentum

Here is a simply brilliant idea from Dave Ramsey, who is the syndicated talk show host of The Dave Ramsey Show and author of The Total Money Makeover.

I had to change his formula a bit so I could show it here.  Ramsey says:

(Focused Intensity  x  Time ) x GOD = Unstoppable Momentum.

Here is what you can do to build momentum.

You can work at becoming more focused.

You can work at becoming more intense.

You can work at sustaining this over time.

This is your part of the equation.

Then the results of your Focused Intensity multiplied by Time is offered to God (through prayer and obedience and surrender and other such disciplines) who then multiplies it as much as He sees fit.

And the final result / SUM is what Ramsey calls Unstoppable Momentum.

So, here are the questions that need to be wrestled with.

Where is your focus and are you staying focused on that thing? You should be able to tell me right now - what are you focused on?

Next… how intense are you about this thing? A little intense, somewhat intense, or really, truly, deeply, passionately intense about your area of focus. Your passion is the motivational energy that enhances your focus.

Next… are you keeping this focused intensity sustained over time. You can't do it for a day or even a week. You have to keep at it. And the longer you keep at it, the more results you begin to see.

Finally, how are you engaging with God about this sustained, focused intensity?
Are you trying to go it alone?

Are you thinking it is all up to you?

If you think that way, watch out, because God may just give you what you want?

But if you believe that God must take all your efforts and do something with that offering, then you pray, listen, trust (all the "substance" of authentic spirituality) and then something dynamically powerful begins to happen.

One more time - Ramsey calls it Unstoppable Momentum

These thoughts and questions in this post are probably more important than you realize. If you spend any time this week on any of the posts, this is the one you should give your fullest attention to processing.

In writing this post, I did some self-assessment and have found that in the areas of my greatest success and forward movement, sure enough, all parts of the formula are there. And in areas where I have not seen as much fruitfulness, sure enough, some parts of the equation are missing.
 

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com

Thailand Conference

I depart today for Thailand, to do a regional conference for United World Mission. It will be my second time to do a conference for them in that region and I look forward to seeing people there again.  Plus I'll be spending some time with some friends of LWCC who are working there.

The conference is in Chiang Mai (in the northern most part of the country).

I'll be speaking on the same theme I did when I was in Hungary for UWM this past summer. 

• The Four Mindsets of Leadership and the Way of V.I.M.
• Relational Spirituality
• Below the Water Line Transformation
• The Incarnational Way of Christ
• reJesus:  Following the Way of the Wild Messiah

My friend John Bernard, president of UWM is doing devotional messages out of the Book of Mark and we are working to weave our themes together. So it should be a great time.

I fly out on Thursday morning from Baltimore to Atlanta, to Seoul Korea, and then on to Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is a long flight with some layovers as well.

I'll spend a lot of time during the flight and in the airports reading. I get a lot of books read every year on airplanes and in airports. I am taking a half dozen books. with me on this trip.

Desiring God's Will by David Benner

Surrender to Love by David Benner

Ignatius of Loyola by John Donnelly

The Ignatian Way by Simon Decloux

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much  (no joke, and no point intended, it is a novel, based on a true story of a thief who steals rare literary works).

I will give some daily updates on what is going on while I am in Thailand... plus there will be posts on leadership and spirituality on a daily basis.

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

Some Thoughts on Haiti: Robertson, Miller, Metzger and Annan

We have all been hit by the terrible tragedy of the earthquake that hit Haiti. I want to mention two things here.

Many of you have already heard Pat Robertson's comments about God judged Haiti for a pack it made with the devil many long years ago.In one sense, Pat's comments don't even dignify a response. What we need to do is ignore Pat Robertson and his ministry and let it go into its inevitable decline. However his comments make Christians look bad and so a thoughtful response to this is useful. And Don Miller (Blue Like Jazz author) has written a good essay on this.

Don's Essay on Pat Robertson in Relevant Magazine.com

Now a second item of interest is the incredible magnitude of Haiti's poverty. This is a country that has severe problems. The earthquake has amplified their crisis many times. And, as much as they need immediate help, there are deep systemic issues that keep that country poor. Simply throwing money and help their way will prove futile unless deeper change occurs. Here is a very thoughtful essay that broaches this issue of how does one change a culture of poverty and does the church have anything to say about this.

Helping Haiti by Michael Metzger

And finally, here is a book review by Byron Borger on a timely book about Haiti, full of stories and biblical reflections.  If you go to his blogsite and you do not see it immediately, just scroll down to January 17... it is right there.

Review of Following Jesus Through the Eye of the Needle

Brian K. Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com

Passion Makes a Lot of Difference

When I have to speak on a topic, if I am passionate about it, it flows, it fits, it may even soar (if the muses are with me) and when I am done, it feels good. But if I am speaking on something that I am not passionate about, I have to work a lot harder for it to be a good event.

It is the same way about work. When I can work in the realm of my passion, time flies by, results flow, and when I am done, I am ready to do it again.

I am one of the fortunate and blessed people, I get to spend a lot of time in doing what I am passionate about and speaking what I am passionate about. Therefore, much of the time, work doesn't feel like work. It isn't work.

When your passion doesn't match or significantly dovetail with your work or current vocation, then you need to find ways to bring your passion into work (where possible) or to find other outlets for you to engage in your passion.

The source of the image. 

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com

The Pathway to Competency and Expertise

Here is a nice little scale that shows the increase in competency.

We start as Beginners.

We may become Hobbyists.

Then we of to Intermediate levels.

Then we are positioned to become Professionals.

And finally, at the very top is the status of Expert.

Assess yourself these areas:

How are you as a communicator?

How are you as a leader?

What about mentoring?

And finally, describe, define the essence of your vocation. Now, how good are you in your vocation?

   

Brian K. Rice 

Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com

Credibility

Credibility.

Where does it come from?

How do you get some?

How do you keep it once you've gotten it?

How do you grow it?

How do you put it to good use?

It seems to me that Credibility comes about from a few, closely related things.

Demonstrated Expertise is one of them. Show me you are really good at something. Don't just tell me. Don't just spin doctor your resume. Show me. Do it in front of me. Prove it.

Appropriate Authenticity is another. You gain credibility when I know I am seeing the real you. Not a carefully doctored image. Not a photoshopped presentation of yourself. The real you. The true you. But always appropriate. I don't need to know everything. And there are some things I definitely do not and should not know. Letting it all hang out is not what builds credibility. But appropriate authenticity and the self-disclosure will help me trust you. And when I trust you, you are close to having credibility.

Proven Results. Okay, I know you are good at something, but let's go one step further. What is your track record of accomplishment? "Show me the money" to borrow a phrase. After all, results may not be the SINGLE most important thing,but results are certainly in the top three. (By the way, don't ask me right now, what the other two are…!)

Affirmation From Quality People. Who are your Raving Fans? Let me re-phrase that? Who are your intelligent Raving Fans? I want to talk to them. I want to hear first hand about who you are. I don't want to talk with a cheer leader. Cheer leaders are almost always naive. But give me a satisfied customer who knows you, your performance, and even better, who has seen the results… and your credibility quotient is growing nicely.

Internet source for image.  

Brian K. Rice  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com 

Loss Aversion

Our aversion to loss is a very powerful motivating factor for most of us.

The authors of SWAY: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior say, 

"We experience the power associated with loss, much more vividly than we do the joy of experiencing a gain" (pp. 18).

"We overreact to perceived losses" (pp. 19).

"The more meaningful a potential loss is, the more loss averse we become" pp. 22).

In other words, we all work real hard to avoid losing something and we are less motivated to gain something.

What are you afraid of losing?

What triggers your "loss aversion" mechanism?

I think this is part of why failure is so painful for us. For in failure, we lose something. We lose confidence, we lose esteem, we lose reputation, we lose options.

 What are you avoiding right now because you fear the loss that will come with failure?

Brian K. Rice 
Leadership ConneXtions International 
www.lci.typepad.com

Musings on Power and Powerlessness (John Hillard)

Over the past year I have been pondering the journey of  ‘grace’ that my friend Mike Johnson has been on.  His experiences walking and being with the homeless of inner city Baltimore, Maryland has been both enlightening and convicting.  Taking time to be with those who are more ‘resource challenged’ than you.  It sure sounded like being ‘Jesus with skin on’ in a real and practical sense.

Later reading the beatitudes in Matthew I come across similar concepts like ‘blessed are the poor in spirit, they that mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, or persecuted for righteousness sake’.  All of these teachings started to take on new meaning when I was all of a sudden confronted with the concept of power.  There is social power, economic power, emotional power, political power, and physical power.  Jesus was confronting all of these types of power throughout his life and most of it was contrary to his way of life and ministry. 

I am a white, late middle aged (not quite a senior yet but close), male, protestant, North American, who has a higher income and resources than many of the people I know and billions of people I don’t know.   I have a good education, secure job, burgeoning ministry, a great family, close friends and a nice house.  In other words I have economic capital, social capital, emotional capital, physical capital, and political capital.  Lots of resources that I can use to ‘MY’ benefit whenever or however I choose.  

Challenge Day is a high school program that is conducted throughout the United States to help breakdown prejudice, discrimination and contempt for others. 

Last month I participated in Challenge Day in a local high school as a community supporter.  During the program they have a ‘cross the line’ exercise where all 130 participants stand on a line and then cross it if the explanation applies.  The topics relate to having a single parent, being abused, being a female, being under age 18, living in a place where you hear gunshots on the street, having a relative in jail, etc. etc. 

There were 35-40 of these situations and many of the individuals crossed multiple times.  Some individuals crossed the line as many as 25 or more time showing the depths of their pain and powerlessness.

Personally I only crossed 4 times.  That was a powerful and sobering message to me.

While others are living lives of great discrimination, pain, abuse, and powerlessness, I am living a life of power, privilege and protection.  

I have to ask myself what am I doing with that power?  Am I using it for me, for my wants, my security, my protection?  Am I desperately trying to control my life so that I am comfortable, insulated, and not vulnerable? Am I abusing my power lording over others in a variety of ways and times? Or am I “poor in spirit for they are blessed and theirs is the kingdom of heaven...?” 

I’m afraid not.

John Hilliard  
Leadership ConneXtions International  
www.lci.typepad.com

BEST BOOKS OF 2009 (part 1) NOW POSTED AT MONTHLY REVIEWS COLUMN (Hearts & Minds Books)

BEST BOOKS OF 2009 (part 1) NOW POSTED AT MONTHLY REVIEWS COLUMNDaily Devotionals; Yancey, Seerveld, Crabb, Foster, Chrysostom, unsung Puritans, contemporary cultural critics and peacemaking prayersSeeing Everything Anew: A (bookseller's) MeditationBEST BOOKS OF 2009 PART ONEThe 12th Day of Christmas gifts: Some great Children's Books and Bibles (Be sure to go to the end for two great adult books about kids' books---and a 50% off savings on a wonderful children's Bible.)A Very Last Minute Gift Idea: Make Your Own Hearts & Minds Gift CardWorship Words: Discipling Language for Faithful Ministry by Debra & Ron Rienstra. A great gift for your pastor or worship leaderGift of Creation: Images From Scripture and Earth by Norman Wirzba & Thomas BarnesStudy Bibles, The Mosaic Bible, Oswald Chambers Devotional Bible, The Transformation Study Bible, The NIV Stewardship Bible, The NRSV Life With God (and, yes, the very cool Waterproof Bible)The Illustrated Screwtape Letters and the new Screwtape Letters audio

via www.heartsandmindsbooks.com

Here is a very substantial review of the Best Books of 2009 by Byron Borger, co-owner of Hearts and Minds, which his friends believe is the best book store in the world (or at least in Dallastown).

Even skimming through this list of books will give you ideas of books to get.

This was a labor of love and there is Part Two still to come.

Adding Value, a Follow-up Thought

Here is what Jeffrey Gitomer says is a Universal Truth of Connecting (Little Black Book of Connections, page 110).

The questions that you ask,
the ideas you bring to the table, 
and your communication skills, 
combined with your passion, belief, and attitude, 
are the fundamentals of what it takes to connect.

Life is all about relationships and adding value to those relationships.

In the language of today, life is about connecting, about networking . . .

QUESTIONS

IDEAS

COMMUNICATION SKILL

PASSION

BELIEF

ATTITUDE

All of this is the substance of what you bring to the connections you have.

In the words of the post from a few days ago - this is some of the VALUE you bring (or add) to others. 

So, be aware of what you bring to the relationships, and be intentional and strategic about making the most of what you have to offer in EVERY connection you have today.

And here is a little and very valuable exercise.

Write down the name of the ten most important connections you have.

Then write this down…

What value have you added to each one's life this past week (or month)?

When you are done with this exercise, just look it over and ask - how much real value did I add?

Are you satisfied with what you added?

Brian K. Rice 
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com

The Advice of Charlie "Tremendous" Jones

Quick - what are the most ridiculous names you can think of that parents have given to their children?

I always think of three names.

Dweezil Zappa

Moon Unit Zappa

River Phoenix

Oh yes, and a boy named "Sue."

       

Well, Charlie Jones' mother didn't give him the name "Tremendous." But it was a nickname that someone gave him, it stuck, it fit, and it described an incredible guy.

Think about having to live up to that name. Every time you are introduced to someone, a crowd, an audience, a customer - "I'd like you to meet Charlie "TREMENDOUS" Jones.

Talk about having a life long problem with a name over promising and now you have the danger of under-delivering!

However….

Charlie "Tremendous" Jones lived up to his name. Year after year.

He wrote a book, Life is Tremendous.

This is one of those motivational, positive thinking, self-help books. It is dated but it is full of nuggets of wisdom that transcend a decade or even a century.

 Here is one of Charlie's nuggests.

The only difference between where you are right now, and where you'll be next year at this same time, are the people you meet and the books you read.

What Charlie is getting at is simple.

Personal Growth

Relational Connections

These are the two ingredients needed for a growing, improving life.

Okay, it may be a little simplistic (maybe), but on the other hand, at the very least, it is a great start.

  

So - here are the two questions:

Question Number One:

What are the best books you are going to read this year?  What about this month?  And what are you reading right now that is stimulating your mind, stirring your heart, supercharging your will?  If you aren't reading right now - when are you going to start?

Question Number Two:

Who do you want to meet? Who do you want to get to know? How are you going to do that?

I recently made a list that had 30 names, 30 people I want to get to know. On that list of 30, some of them didn't have a specific name. it was "somebody" in a specific position of responsibility. I don't know who they are yet. I just know I want to meet someone like them, in their role. 

So, go ahead and get your paper out. 

SUPER SUGGESTION:
In fact, I hope you have a learning journal that you use. If you don't, go out and buy one this week and start keeping a log of ideas, of experiences, of reflections.  This will be one of the best things you will do.  If you are a regular reader of this blogsite, one thing you can do is use your learning journal as the place where you do some work using the follow through questions we so often provide.

What are the "first" three to five books you are going to read this year?

Who are the people you want to get to know this year? Come up with the first five to ten names.

Because according to Charlie "Tremendous" Jones, this is the way you will become a different, better person next year.

Here is a link to a website devoted to spreading Charlie's mindset. 

Brian "K" Rice 
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com

Adding Value

Here is a real short, real simple, and EXTREMELY important post.

You are placed on earth for this purpose:  To add value to the lives of others.

Followers of Christ morph this and say:  To add value to others in the name of Jesus, for their greater well being and for the glory of God.

Okay… that sounds real good, I like it… but now… it is time to get down to the hard, brutal facts.

What did you do yesterday that added values to the lives of others?

You have to get specific and concrete on this.

Who did you add values to?

What value did you add to their lives?

What was the kind of difference you made?

Right now, pull out a piece of paper, write down the names of the five people you did this for yesterday. Be specific. What value did you add to their lives.

Look at what you wrote…  

What do you think? 

Did you add much value?

Are you satisfied with your contributions?

Are you being intentional enough… strategic enough about doing this?

Do you have enough substance in your "self" so you can actually add value to others?

 

On that same piece of paper…

Who are you going to add value to this day?

What value are you going to add to them?

How will you do that?

It is this simple.

It just needs your intentionality and focus, your desire and a plan.

So, get out and have an incredible day adding value to others in the name of Jesus, for their greater well being of their lives and for the glory of God.

Discover what Jesus meant when He said, "It is better to give than to receive."

Brian K. Rice 
Leadership ConneXtions International 
www.lci.typepad.com