Big Is The New Small

We have all heard the phrase “Practice makes perfect!” at least once in our lifetime; however I want to disagree with one of our favorite childhood sayings… I think practice makes you better but not perfect.  My son had an amazing teacher at a private grade school that he attended and in my opinion he took the ”Practice makes perfect” phrase to the next level… he said “Perfect practice makes perfect.”  Now this phrase is much more close to reality; however perfect practice may make you much better… but perfect, not so much!

Anytime I hear someone tell me that they are a perfectionist, I chuckle inside or sometimes I even laugh out loud.  The bottom line is that Perfectionist are no more then a bunch of wannabees… that’s right, they wanna be perfect, but the reality is they can’t, because they aren’t perfect.

Here are a couple of definitions of “perfectionist” to ponder:

1. Perfectionist- a person who demands perfection of himself, herself, or others.
2. Perfectionist- a propensity for being displeased with anything that is not perfect.

By looking at these definitions, wannabe “Perfectionists” set themselves up to demand something that’s unrealistic for themselves or others and become displeased when that standard isn’t met.  As for myself, I am as competitive of a person as there is and let me tell you I: strive to be the best, always demand excellence, expect amazing results, expect greatness, demand growth, shoot for the stars, dream big, expect my team do be second-to-none and do the same…; however I don’t have a lot of room for wannabe “Perfectionist” because… they aren’t perfect.

I will close with a quote I read from a Korean student Puhruen Chung; who scored a perfect36 on his ACT, Puhruen said “One of the most important things you can do is review what you have learned and concentrate on what your teachers teach.”   This statement is true for us as leaders, parents, Christ followers…  we can we review what we learn, learn from our mistakes, strive to be the best, aspire for greatness, demad excellence… and we also need to concentrate on what our mentors, leaders and most importantly what Jesus teaches us.

Perfectionists Aren’t Perfect… Transcend The Isms’

• Are you a wannabe “Perfectionist” that needs to have a mental shift? 
• What are your thoughts on “Perfectionists” & Have you experienced this mindset to be problematic?

60 Second Marine Commercial that could change your perspective… Transcend The Isms’ 

Don’t Think, Don’t Blink, Don’t Quit… Go For It!  Enough said!

Is there something you need to go for?  Thoughts?

Twitter Users: Speaking of Quitting there is a new program that identifies those people who Unfollow your tweets.  Click here to find out who stopped following you.  I have received several notifications of Quitters and it showed my last tweet before they Quit. (Click Here)

I don’t want to follow you; Quite frankly I know more than you do

I don’t want to follow you; I know you’re the boss, but I’m “the glue”

I don’t want to follow you; I know how to do this, Look at my resume; I made straight A’s in college, that’s right I’m full of all of this freakin’ knowledge

I don’t want to follow you; You should be following me; You know that I’m really smart and being the boss is just in my heart

I don’t want to follow you; My time is now, My time here

Thanks for letting me know that you didn’t want to follow me; Your actions spoke loudly ya’ see; I wanted you to be the first to know , You will no longer have to follow me; I just got promoted

You don’t have to follow me; You now get the opportunity to follow She; She’s your new boss

“Mr. Glue” you need to learn how to follow

A great leader has to be a capable follower… follow the leader!  Transcend The Isms’

Last night was one of those nights that I could not sleep… go figure I’m either waking up really early, or staying up really late these days.  I knew that I needed to do some reading and I could not get these two words out of my head: “Leadership Intuition.”  My boss had just complimented me on having great “Leadership Intuition.”   I had this vague memory of “Leadership Intuition” being one of John Maxwell’s laws in his book “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.”   So I decided to go in my office and grab this book off the shelf; in order to refresh my memory.  Here are some highlights and my thoughts:

• Leaders Are Readers of Their Situation-  Always have your finger on the pulse of your overall-situation.
• Leaders Are Readers of Trends-   Get away from the tree so you can see the forest in front of you and behind you.  You should be able to smell the necessary need for change; in the same manner a drug sniffing dog smells the drugs… he just knows it’s there.
• Leaders Are Readers of Their Resources-  How can I maximize production with the resources that I have?  Don’t ever forget that people and their respect for your leadership is your greatest asset.
• Leaders Are Readers of People-  You should be able to know your people; know their hopes, dreams, fears, potential, concerns… Here is a little bonus: genuinely care about your people!
• Leaders Are Readers of Themselves-   Know who you are, Know what’s in you, Know your abilities, Don’t be naive, Be aware, Be a student of yourself… Be a straight A student of yourself.  If you are flunking class “You 101″ you don’t deserve to be a teacher.

“Who you are dictates what you see!”  Transcend The Isms’

Have you worked for in the past, currently work for, or know a leader with good “Leadership Intuition?”

Is “Leadership Intuition” important?  Share your thoughts!

The title says it all; there is no Rhyme or Reason to the 10 bullets in this post!  Here we go:

1. There seems to be a new group of bloggers who have linked to BigIsTheNewSmall.com; as well as more subscribers then ever before.  Thank you for reading and if you have linked BIG; let me know so I can show you some LinkLuv
2. You might be addicted to twitter if you refer to yourself as @scottwilliams or @___fill in the blank___
3. College football predictions: Texas looses to Mizzou, OU beats Kansas, Georgia looses to Vanderbilt… Big 12 Rocks!
4. No football/soccer games this weekend for the boys; it’s fall break
5. My man Steven Furtick is speaking this weekends message at LifeChurch.tv
6. I have a really great team of leaders… I thank God for them!
7. “Leadership is not just a word, it’s a calling… it’s away of Life!”  Transcend the Isms’
8. If you have not tried Evernote, you should.  It’s an awesome online note-taking/external brain program: click here to download it.  There is also an iphone app.
9. I don’t watch “The Office” Am I missing something?  Do you watch it?  What’s all the hype?
10. Me and the boys will be hitting Sonic up for Happy Hour; any recommendations?

Do you have any random Reasons That Don’t Rhyme?  Share Them!  What’s up for the weekend?

“Don’t believe the hype or follow the hype… instead create the hype and be the hype.” Transcend The Isms’

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Let Me Lead

I know that I was created for this; So let me lead

I may not look like, act like, talk like, or think like you; You still need to let me lead

I know that you’re the boss; One day that will be; I promise you will see; If you just let me lead  

I know that you don’t like the word submit; Sometimes you even throw a fit; You don’t understand what I’m dealin’ wit; This is what I’m called to do; It’s True, It’s True, It’s true; So just let me lead

I’m a leader; I’m not a poet; I can make a difference in this world and I know it; If you will just give me the opportunity to show it; Please, just let me lead

Never-mind, I don’t need your permission… I’m A Leader!

To all the leaders out there… Go make it happen!  Transcend The Isms’

60 seconds that could change your perspective… Transcend The Isms’

As I was watching this Nike “Leave Nothing“ NFL commercial, I was mesmerized by the attitude, detail, imagery, depth, vision and life application of this 60 second spot.  I wanted to see more, so I searched YouTube, then I watched the commercial again, and again and again; and I encourage you to do the same.  Even if you don’t know who Troy Palamalu and LaDainian Tomlison are, you can understand the beauty and life application of this ad.

As Christ followers, if we really believe that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength… then our only natural response every single day of our life is to Leave Nothing and teach our children to do the same.  As play-makers, leaders and plain living lifers; each and every day we are faced with situations, choices, options and decisions.  If we expect our decisions to honor God and inspire others, then we have to make the daily decision to Leave Nothing!

Watch this ad… watch it again and then share your thoughts on Leave Nothing!  Are you Leaving Nothing?

Random Friday Morning Thoughts and a Roll Call!

• My 5yo at-least a few days a week asks me: “What Day Is It?” If it’s not Fri. He says “Maaan!” When it’s Friday he says “Yesss!”
• All three Oklahoma College Football Teams are undefeated Oklahoma Univ. (OU), Oklahoma State Univ. (OSU), and Tulsa Univ. (TU).   I don’t want to hear nothing about the SEC!
• The Red River Shootout (OU vs. Texas) is this weekend.  Colt McCoy will get hurt trying to run on my Sooners.  I’m sorry burnt orange is just a horrible color.  Boomer Freakin’ Sooner!  National Champions this year baby…  
• I am going to spend some time today writing/outlining a potential book and my wife and I teach Prep For Marriage Tonight!
• I will be filling in at the Oklahoma City Campus this weekend; I haven’t been there in a year and a half.
• Twitter is the easiest and fastest growing social networking place… follow me on twitter here! 
• If you have linked BigIsTheNewSmall.com  let me know so I can show you some LinkLuv!
• Transcend The Isms’- “You have another gear… are you willing to shift?”

I would like for everyone to participate in a Roll Call; It’s quite simple… Share the Following!

Name, City/State, Website/Blog and a one-liner of your choice!

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend! BigIsTheNewSmall

First of all I want to say that Bill Hybels is the man, he’s anointed and straight up has the E.F. Hutton Principle working: “When He Talks, People Listen.”  He had some of the best quotes, one liners, aha moments, contemplative points… and the entire time he talked people were quiet as a church mouse.  There were several things that he shared that really have me stirring; some of my thoughts I am not even prepared to share at this moment.  What I would like to share is a quote from Hybels’ Q&A time with Craig.  Hybels said:

Cool Is Not Cool Anymore!

This quote was in reference to the fact that we “The Church” can out-cool and over-cool ourselves.  Hybels went on to say that people want more than just a mild dose of God.  In other words, and in my humble opinion this new movement of the “Relevant Church” can fixate itself so much on trying to be cool and relevant that they miss the main thing.  Don’t get me wrong I do think it’s necessary to confront people with the Gospel and provide an engaging, relevant and comfortable environment.  I also think that we can go over the top with  some of this stuff; all of the isms referring to a church that is “not cool” and focus too much on trying to be cool, as opposed to creating an environment where people experience God.

We need to Transcend the Isms and one of the first Ism that we need to transcend is the word ”Churchy.”  The bottum line after all is said and done, cool or not, “churchy” or not, it’s still a church and the local church is God’s chosen vessel to reach the world with the Good News.

• Are we “The Church” becoming too cool for God?  Any other thoughts on “Generation Cool?”
• Is the word “Churchy” getting on your nerves or do you even hear ot being used?

Follow me on twitter, I will be frequently updating my thoughts, experiences and sharing quotes: www.twitter.com/scottwilliams

My boss gave me one of the biggest compliments that he could have possibly given me during our meeting the other day.  As we were talking he stated the following “Your leadership and communication transcends the LifeChurchisms!”  In other words: you have found your voice, don’t feel the need to act, talk and be like everyone else… you can say and do things w/out necessarily using the LifeChurchisms. 

When entering into an organization there is a natural desire to engulf ourselves in the culture; in order to learn, adapt and understand what it’s all about.  In doing so we begin to pick up all the isms’ of the organization, our peers, our boss…   Many times if we say or do things outside of those isms’ we begin to question ourselves and wonder if it’s acceptable to simply “Do You!”  I will say not only is it acceptable but it’s necessary for growth.  God didn’t place you in __________ to be another part of the isms’ but rather to be a part of the growth, life and development of that organization.  This same mindset can be applied to relationships, teams, situations etc.

I think it’s important to develop your own isms and find your own voice within the context of your particular situation.  The neat thing about devloping and maximizing your own isms is that they come very natural, because God wired you and only you the way that He did.  My good friend Scott Rodgers recently blogged about one of my quoteisms’, you can check it out here.

“Do You! It’s a Statement Not a Question.” 

• Do you find yourself or others getting caught up into the organizational, team and peer isms’?
• What are your thoughts on Transcending The Isms or Isms in general?

I just found a new quoteism’ “Transcend The Isms”