Change requires Action

What leads to change? Brilliant ideas don’t lead to change. Actionable ideas lead to change.

Need to fill your leadership pipeline? Hold leadership training classes.

Not as efficient as you would like to be? Educate the organization in the production system.

Collaboration a problem? Maybe some teambuilding activities. These are all good ideas and good choices.

However, they do not become actionable without the hard work required to unfreeze old behaviors, remove existing organizational barriers, and build new reinforcement mechanisms into the system. Actionable ideas lead to change.

Wondering what action needs to be taken...

PAUSE

PAUSE: Collaboration or Competition?

As the Apostle Paul put it, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Phil. 2:3-4) We can also see Matt. 22:39; 1 Cor. 13:5; Matt. 7:12.

A biblical approach to negotiation may be summarized in five basic steps, referred to as the PAUSE Principle:

Prepare (pray, get the facts, seek godly counsel, develop options)
Affirm relationships (show genuine concern and respect for others)
Understand interests (identify others' concerns, desires, needs, limitations, or fears)
Search for creative solutions (prayerful brainstorming)
Evaluate options objectively and reasonably (evaluate, don't argue)

If you have never used this approach to negotiation before, it can take time and practice (and sometimes advice from others) to become proficient at it. But it is well worth the effort, because learning the PAUSE principle will help you not only to resolve your present dispute but also to negotiate more effectively in all areas of your life.

Embracing the journey...pursuing the dream...

Failure Realities

We’ve all experienced failures. I've failed; you've failed; we've seen others fail. Failure is part of the journey ---yet, not all failure propels us forward or is beneficial. Even so, failure can teach us much about ourselves and others -- failure is a learning opportunity.

I love this post from Tony Morgan (www.tonymorganlive.com)

This morning I tried to think through some common reasons why failure happens. I’m looking forward to some healthy conversation on this one. With that, here are:

10 Reasons Why You’re Probably Going to Fail

1. It’s not your passion. If it doesn’t make your heart beat fast or cause your mind to race when you’re trying to sleep, you’re probably doing the wrong thing.

2. You don’t have a plan. You need a vision, and you need to identify specific steps to make that vision become reality. That includes a financial plan. (I happen to believe you need direction from God on this.)

3. You’re waiting for it to be perfect. Test-drive it. Beta-test that new idea. You’ll fall into the trap of inaction if you think it has to be absolutely right from day one.

4. You’re not willing to work hard. Everything worth pursuing in my life has involved discipline and perseverance.

5. It’ll outgrow you. Keep learning. Keep growing. But more importantly, build a team of people including leaders that can be who you’re not.

6. You’ve had success in the past. I’ve watched organizations hang on to a good idea for too long. Time passes. Momentum fades. It’s risky to let go of the past and jump on the next wave.

7. You’re unwilling to stop doing something else. Complexity is easy. Simplicity takes discipline. You can’t build a healthy marriage if you’re unwilling to give up dating other women. Who/what do you need to stop dating?

8. You won’t build a team of friends. Anyone can hire from a resume. You need to find people you want to share life with. In the long run, great relationships will get you out of bed in the morning.
9. You won’t have the tough conversations. When breakdown happens (and it always does), someone needs to put on their big-boy pants and initiate the difficult conversation that leads to relational healing.
10. You’re afraid of failure. When fear consumes you, it will cause you to do stupid things. You’ll let negativity distract you. You’ll embrace the known, and grow comfortable with mediocrity. The more often you fail, though, the more often you’ll find success.


Here’s the deal. I don’t think this list is just about personal failure. This is about organizational failure (your ministry, your church plant, etc.). This is about business failure (your start up, your turnaround effort, etc.). This is about relational failure (your marriage, your dating relationship, etc.). The same principles apply.

Now it’s your turn. What else should be on the list? What are some other ingredients for failure you’ve experienced or witnessed? What would you add/delete from the list?

The Power of One

If you are asked to propose just 1 metric we should count for 2009, what would it be?

Suggestions might included:

80% participation in small groups
60% involvement in missions
60% tithing
50% involved in discipleship
365 salvations (1/day of the yr)

Or perhaps a last one would be: everyone lead one. If every person shared their Christ story and led 1 person to a life-changing relationship with Jesus...Everyone would be involved in discipleship - because the next morning that person has questions about following Jesus. Everyone would realize the value of community and groups.

Pursuit of Jesus results in transformation that addresses everything else...and everyone would be on mission. By making it an individual not a corporate goal, it also requires everyone to engage and cannot be satisfied by an event or small pools of overachievers.

What if we decided to make the entire focus of 2009 "One Story, One Life." We could still track other stuff for corporate metrics, but what if our team and church focus is to build, equip, pursue, celebrate and see everyone lead one. What if staff retreats are about strategizing how to best support that singular goal, and eliminating unnecessary distractions.

Here's to the Year of the ONE!

What's the measure

We’d say that measurement matters. The question arises with measure what? A "New Missional Report Card" could provide prospective. Here are some metrics used:

1) Number of new relationships formed where I know their names and they know mine.

2) Number of people who have been uniquely blessed by me and my community.

3) Number of people who invite me to be with their friends who don’t follow Christ.

4) Number of ways, my street, neighborhood, or community are more livable because of my influence.

5) Number of Christians that are actively confronting their consumerism and making adjustments at the life level.

6) Number of Christians that I ask or persuade NOT to go on mission with us.

7) Number of incarnational communities that commit to form around benevolent action instead of just a bible study.

8) How long people remain at our weekly gathering after the formalities are over.

9) Number of community-based initiatives our people are supporting with their time or money.

10) Number of young leaders we’re intentionally developing.

11) Number of people baptized: Still is a great guide to judge a persons commitment to follow Christ with the community.

12) Number of Bibles purchased because someone asked for one.

Pusuing the dream...

E3

Enthusiasm: passion ignites
Execution: essential element - without execution their is only an idea.
Excellence: attracts, determines the level of achievement and impact.

Whatever you do in word and deed do it all for His glory and fame. It matters. We are created for purpose that ignites a passion, a deep enthusiasm. When we embrace the enthusiasm we can fulfill the purpose, execution, while we soar to a new level of impact -- changing our world for His fame and glory!

Aim high,
dream big,
enthusiastically engage passion and execute with excellence.

The Difference - Sacrifice

It all begins with Jesus. It all ends with Jesus. He gave. He gives. We can give in His name and for His fame and glory. Giving means living a legacy...making a difference...changing the world one life @ a time.

Imagine what would happen if each of us gave a little to to those in need, imagine what would happen if we gave a bit more, imagine what would happen if we sacrificed. He sacrificed that we might have life. What will be our sacrifice?

Imagine abandon, abused, neglected children having food, shelter, clothing, an education and learning that there is a God and He is bigger and better than life; He loves them through us. That's the dream of Catalyst Resources International, Inc. (www.catalystresources.net).

Pursing the dream...embracing the journey of living more sacrificially...