Big Is The New Small

Trying to answer the question of “why an organization or an individual failed?” generally creates some great dialogue. It forces individuals to ask deeper questions and generally prompts individuals to start pointing blame.

Over the years in working with many organizations, individuals, political candidates, teams etc., I have found some pretty common and simple themes as to what contributes to failure.

5 Reasons Businesses, Organizations & People Fail

• 1. Lack Identity- They don’t know who they are or who they want to be.  They are defined by the latest, greatest, newest trend and this is a cyclical process.  A person or organization without an identity or clear values to shape their identity is destined to fail.
• 2. Copy Cat- This is similar to #1; however the heart behind this one is to be like “so and so.”  It’s important to copy what’s burning deep inside you, not what’s burning inside of someone else.  If your only desire is to mimic someone else and not bring anything new, fresh or different to the table, you are destined to fail.
• 3. Don’t Solicit Proper Feedback- It’s important for individuals and organizations to have the proper people speaking into their plan and their life.  This helps to bring clarity to their identity and encourages individuals and organizations to be true to their unique calling.  Additionally, wise counsel can provide critical input that may alleviate some of the failure contributors altogether.  If you want to know if something is a good idea, ask those closest to you.  Not only those closest to you, but rather those closest to you that will shoot you 100% straight. (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly)  Without Good, Godly and Golden counsel, you are destined to fail.
• 4. Me Syndrome- If it’s all about you or your organization, you can almost guarantee it’s gonna be all about you, in your own little failure corner of your own little failure world.  Failure island is a lonely place to be for selfish people.  If it’s all about me-me-me, you are destined to fail.
• 5. Premature Quitter- I am a firm believer that there is definitely a time to call it quits.  The good wise counsel in #3 can be the group that help you ascertain, when it’s time to quit.  I think it’s important to always keep trying to change and move the ball of success down the field.  Quitting is one of those things that you will often times have to even take one step past your wise counsel.  You must pull from deep inside to know your limits and how much harder you need to work.  Often times #1 or rather an individual or organization’s identity is defined in the moments they were thinking about giving up.  If you quit prematurely, you are always destined to fail.  “Most people give up just when they’re about to achieve success. They quit on the one-yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot from a winning touch down. ~Ross Perot

This is a video that I shot literally 3 years ago from this week.  It’s amazing how much things have changed in just 3 short years.  I took quick unedited video snippets throughout my day and pieced them altogether.

It’s amazing how much things have changed in 3 years:

• Feed The Children has gone through some difficult times and a major leadership change
• @Shaq has changed his twitter name and has retired from the NBA
• My sons are no longer little boys but rather little young men (kinda-sorta)
• I no longer have the goofy transitions glasses
• I’m no Longer at LifeChurch.tv and many of the staff are in new roles inside and outside of LifeChurch.tv

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. James 4:14 NLT

How much has life changed for you in the last 3 years?

Apparently the iPhone Siri has been hacked or maybe another word for it is a Siri Proxy has been developed by @Plamoni aka Pete Lamonica.  Siri can now be used to start your car, unlock you car and do about anything else a remote control can do.  It’s crazy that we are only years away from being the Jetson’s.  If you would like to learn more about the Siri Proxy, you can read a complete interview with the hacker inventor himself by clicking here.

What do you think?  What are some future things that you would like to see Siri be able to do?

Ran across this young lady rocking a guitar solo at Potential Church.  I love seeing girls lead with guitars. It’s a short video, Enjoy!

Is it just me or does anyone else like seeing ladies rockin’ a guitar or leading with an acoustic? Who are some of your favorites?

Lady Wisdom Gives a Thanksgiving Dinner Party

Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home; it’s supported by seven hewn timbers. The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted, wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers. Having dismissed her serving maids, Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place, and invites everyone within sound of her voice: ”Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on? Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me! I’ve prepared a wonderful spread-fresh-baked bread, roast lamb, carefully selected wines. Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning.”

If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you’ll get slapped in the face; confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins. So don’t waste your time on a scoffer; all you’ll get for your pains is abuse. But if you correct those who care about life, that’s different-they’ll love you for it! Save your breath for the wise-they’ll be wiser for it; tell good people what you know-they’ll profit from it. Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God, insight into life from knowing a Holy God. It’s through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens, and the years of your life ripen. Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life; mock life and life will mock you… Proverbs 9:1-12

Dessert is defined as: A sweet course, treat or dish; served after the main course.

As I was thinking about the holiday season and all of the desserts so many of us are going to consume; I was reminded of how dessert applies to our lives.  It’s the sweet course or treat after life’s main courses. e.g.

• Main Course- Attending College  Dessert-  Obtaining Degree.
• Main Course- Becoming A Leader  Dessert- Lessons Learned/Taught & Leaders Developed
• Main Course- Tithe and give generously  Dessert- The floodgates of blessings
• Main Course- Struggles of life, darkness, insecurity, sin…  Dessert-  Truth, life, grace and forgiveness through Christ.

It’s essential for us to always be mindful and thankful that even though the “main courses in life” may not always taste great or be our favorite dish, there is always opportunity for dessert. Remember you also have the freedom of choice as it pertains to what you consume, nonetheless always be thankful.  “We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” ~Harry Ironside

Don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t be stressed; instead take stressed and flip it backwards.

The Desserts of Life.

For those that still may not understand the title of this post…  spell stressed backwards.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

I was planning on writing a blogpost about leadership this morning; however during my 3B-Time Bible, Books & Blogs God gave me something a little different.  It’s basically some sentences to help define who “I Am” and who “You Are.”

These sentences by themselves are quite simple, yet if the heart behind them is truly embraced, the results are profound.

These 7 Little “I Am’s” Will Change Your Life

• 1. I Am A Follower Of Christ
• 2. I Am Created For A Purpose
• 3. I Am More Than A Conqueror
• 4. I Am Held Accountable For My Actions
• 5. I Am Defined By What God Thinks Of Me and Not What People Think
• 6. I Am Called To Love and Make A Difference In The Lives Of Others
• 7. I Am A Work In Progress

I worked with, alongside, for and supervised many people who confuse activity for productivity.  These are two very different animals; however they are readily confused for being the same species.  Below are some brief definitions of the two:

• Activity- The state or quality of being active.
• Productivity- The efficiency with which work or output is produced.

Just because a person, group or team is active, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are efficient or productive.  This applies to both personal and business life.  When individuals make the presumption that Activity = Productivity, they create a system where their primary goal is to be active.  They will work long hours, always try to look busy, always try to work on something and encourage those around them to keep busy.  Each day they tell themselves, “I have lots of stuff to work on today, I need to get busy.” Their busyness can often be translated to slowness, because their driving force is to be active.

The productive person on the other hand will ask themselves these types of  questions: “What do I need to work on today?”  ”Am I working on the things that matter?” “What do I need to put on my not-to-do list?” “How can I become more efficient?”

For instance I could keep writing this post trying to drive the point home; however I’m convinced that I’ve stated enough for you to have a clear understanding that “Just Because You’re Active, Doesn’t Mean You’re Productive.”  For the sake of productivity, I’m done now and not two paragraphs later.

What do you think?  Share your thoughts and experiences with those that mistake activity with productivity.

The Jets Lose to the Broncos and Tebow Haters Keep Getting #Tebowed.  I have always been amazed by the Tebow haters and overall hatred that Tim Tebow has received over the life of his public athletic career.  When he was at the University of Florida many people couldn’t stand him; and the fact that he proudly represented John 3:16 on his eye black, his famous speech “The Promise”, the incident with blood running down his face, and the list goes on and on.  I always liked Tebow in college, simply because of how he represented himself, although I didn’t particularly like his coach or the Florida Gators.

Now that Tim Tebow is in the NFL this Love/Hate condition is even larger and on a more national level.  In the City of Denver, Tebow gets ripped by Anti-Christian groups on a regular basis.  Yet, he gets cheered on by thousands of fans that have made his Jersey one of the most purchased Jersey’s in the NFL.  Tim Tebow is more than a quarterback for the Denver Broncos, he’s an iconic figure that represents Christian, courage, honor, good and wholesome.

Tebow appears to have gotten used to the criticism and has never once backed down from outwardly sharing his faith, and as a matter of fact he boldly ends every interview with “God Bless!”  People in the media and NFL analysts are publicly concluding that the hatred of Tebow is primarily based upon his outward showing of his faith and religious beliefs.  Inside the NFL host “JB” James Brown asked his co-host Chris Collinsworth a question regarding how Tim Tebow is treated, and Collinsworth was straightforward about his thoughts.  Collinsworth said, “It’s unbelievable JB, that one of the best kids – pure kids that’s ever come into the NFL, is hated because of his faith, because of his mission work, because of the fact that he wears it on his sleeve…”

In Matthew 10 in the Bible, Jesus talks about people hating you because of Him.  I think Tebow not only understands that but lives with the understanding of Matthew 10:32-33 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”

It’s one thing to disagree with someone because of their views, however this hatred and dislike that comes from the Anti-Christian is superfluous.  The harsh reality is The Tebow Haters Keep Getting #Tebowed.  It appears as though in the Tebow situation the fans were right, while the analysts, experts and haters are being proven wrong every week Tebow takes the field.

After weeks of “Tebow” chanting fans in Denver, the 3^rd string QB finally got his start against the Miami Dolphins 5 weeks ago.  Since that start, Tebow is 4 and 1 as a starting QB and knocked off Miami, Oakland, Kansas City and New York.  As I type the words of this post, I’m watching the analysts on ESPN trying to make sense of it all.  New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, in his post game interview, just gave Tebow mad props and said, “The kid just wins!”

For the Anti-Christians and those who hate Tebow exclusively because of his faith, I say get a grip.  Instead of always focusing on what you are against, take a play out of Tim Tebow’s playbook and focus on what you are for.  I’ll end this with a little wisdom and life perspective from a young NFL QB by the name of Tim Tebow who happens to be a man of faith,   “If someone asks, I’ll always be willing to share His will because I also know that there are a lot more important things than football and that is one of them. That ultimately overrides football any day of the week.”  

For the sports people, analysts and Monday morning quarterbacks that say Tebow’s unconventional style and running the ball being a key part of his arsenal won’t get it done long term, you’re fooling yourselves. Just because a person doesn’t meet the establishment’s guidelines doesn’t mean that they can’t be uber-successful.  If you don’t believe me, ask Tebow.

Broncos Head Coach John Fox, as he just took the podium after the Jets victory, said,  ”I thank the Good Lord for every player in that locker room.”  Shortly after Fox, Tim Tebow took the podium and is answering the reporters with “Yes Sir” and “No Sir!”  One reporter asked him what he’s going to do to celebrate the win?  His response was “I’m going to spend some time thanking my Lord and Savior, hang out with some friends and get some sleep.” Tebow also just said, (paraphrasing) “It’s just a game, it’s a game that we are passionate about it.  It’s more important for me to use my platform to honor God and influence kids in a positive way.”  When asked about the naysayers, Tebow responded “I don’t worry about the naysayers, I’ve had them since I was 7 years old.  I just have to focus on what I can control.”  He closed with, “I think analyst Hugh Douglas said that if the Broncos win, he will go to church on Sunday.  I’ll be hitting him up on Twitter and telling him to put on his Sunday Best.”

Gotta Love It!  I love that Tebow works hard, has the respect of his team and is the definition of a gamer. The fact that he has supernatural favor is a nice bonus.

#Tebowed – (verb) another word for #winning.

Share your thoughts on Tebow, His Game, The Haters and Success.  Sound Off!