Apex leaders are the very best at what they do. The following are a series of quotes and principles obtained in recent publications that give us insights into why top performers are at the top of their profession.
September 19th Sports Illustrated
What we learn from Justin Verlander, baseball’s best pitcher:
- Evaluated Experience - “It’s hard for me to put a finger on what I know, but it’s there. Time. Experience of pitching at this level for a while now. You log it all away, and it opens up a new game to you.”
- Maturity – Verlander’s manager Jim Leyland adds, “He’s figured out you don’t have to go all out, helter-skelter, from pitch one. If you throw the ball down and away, 92 miles an hour, you’ll get a lot of outs.”
What we learn from the Baltimore Ravens, the NFL’s best team in Week 1Â
- Constantly Improve – “Ozzie Newsome (team’s GM) and Company have been active this off-season in improving their team.” – Mike Tomlin
- Measure Yourself Against The Best – “You can measure yourself and your season with your ability to beat the Steelers.” – Newsome
- Embrace Responsibility – “Joe (Flacco) knows the heat that comes with the territory…Everyone picks a quarterback apart until he beats the team [that] maybe he’s lost to a few times.” – Cam Cameron
- Perspective – “We know it’s Week 1. It’s not the playoffs.” – Ray Rice
September 12th Sports Illustrated article on the LSU Tigers, possibly college football’s best team
- Have Talent Around You – “I just kept patting him on the back, telling him ‘It’s gonna be all right. We got this.'” – RB Spencer Ware to his QB Jarrett Lee
Outreach Magazine just came out with their annual Top 100 Largest and Fastest Growing Churches in America edition. There is more from this edition to come in future posts but here are some comments from some of the country’s greatest pastoral leaders:
- Strategic Focus – “We know from research that if the man comes to Christ, 98% of the time the family will follow. We want to help men feel comfortable in finding church on their terms instead of coming because of their wives.” – Erin Long, Communications Director of Christ’s Church of the Valley in Peoria, AZ.
- Commitment to Excellence – “We treat every weekend as if it’s the Super Bowl.” – Chunks Corbett, Executive Pastor of Elevation Church in Matthews, NC
- Value Diversity – “Because we’re about the Gospel, we’re multiethnic.” – Derwin Gray, Lead Pastor of Transformation Church in Fort Mill, SC
- Doing Good – “Their strategy for reaching their world was good deeds, which leads to good will, which leads to openness to the Good News.” – Ray Johnston, Senior Pastor of Bayside Church in Granite Bay, CA on their church following the strategy of the early church in Acts 2.
- Make Great Asks Of Those You Lead – “People want to be part of something significant. Don’t be afraid of challenging your people to raise the bar of commitment.” – Don Wilson, Senior Pastor of Christ Church of the Valley.
Evaluate Experience, Mature, Constantly Improve, Measure Yourself Against The Best, Embrace Responsibility, Have Proper Perspective, Build The Best Team Around You That You Possibly Can, Strategically Focus Your Efforts, Commit To Excellence, Value Diversity, Do Good, and Make Great Asks Of Those You Lead.
If you do these 12 things, you may one day be the best at what you do.
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