Catalyst ’15 – 45 Leadership Quotes From Andy Stanley

As a member of the Catalyst Blog Team and INJOY Stewardship Solutions, I will be bringing you live updates from the much anticipated Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, GA.  The theme for this year’s conference is Awaken The Wonder.

As is their custom, Catalyst opened up with  The afternoon’s first Lab session was conducted by Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor of North Point Community Church.  The following are 45 Leadership Quotes and Lessons from his incredible session.

Also, before reading, make sure you check out the announcement from INJOY Stewardship Solutions shown below about a FREE webinar on October 13th for churches needing to raise capital in 2016.  Now onto Andy’s thoughts:

1. A Catalyst Leader is a leader who loves the local church.
2. You saw something you never saw before and the wonder was awakened for you.
3. When you have a child a category of love is awakened in you.
4. We remember the joy that was awakened when we became Christians.
5. When wonder is awakened, we are suddenly aware that what is isn’t all there is.
6. The potential of wonder resides in all of us.
7. Everything in life conspires against wonder.
8. My dad kept wonder alive in me as a kid.
9. Don’t you give your life to something small.
10. I loved seminary.
11. When wonder is birthed you know there is more to this life.
12. In 1991, I heard Bill Hybels talk about leadership in the local church. I had never heard anyone speak on leadership.
13. We can’t change the world but we can be a snapshot of what could be and should be for a kid looking for a family.
14. Your mandate as a leader – To awaken the wonder within. To stir and disturb the imagination of the people and organizations you lead.
15. Wonder is the portal to progress. Wonder is the catalyst for change. Wonder is necessary for growth.
16. Wonder is as threatening and disruptive as it is inspiring.
17. Wonder is a match and organizations are like a bucket of water.
18. As leaders, our mandate is to work against everything conspiring against wonder.
19. It is human nature to resist what we don’t understand or can’t control.
20. To awaken wonder you’ve got to keep wonder wide awake in you. It is your responsibility.
21. If you allow wonder to shut down in you, you will allow wonder to shut down in everyone around you.
22. The most significant thing you may do for the Kingdom of God is someone you raise.
23. Be a student. Not a critic.
24. Everything I do makes perfect sense to me.
25. Students learn. Critics criticize.
26. If you are a critic before you are a student you shut down the wonder in you and you shut down the wonder in the people around you.
27. Why is the church viewed as judgment and critical? Because the church has been judgmental and critical.
28. You’re not going to learn anything from people who agree with you.
29. We must pay attention to the frontiers of our ignorance. Wonder lives on the frontiers of your ignorance. If you think you know everything, say “Goodbye” to wonder.
30. If you already know everything, please get out of leadership. Please get out of ministry. You are a wonder buster.
31. God gave the human race the gift of accumulated knowledge.
32. I’ve had a lot of dogs – no accumulated knowledge.
33. In times of profound change, the learners inherit the earth while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to handle a world that no longer exists. – Eric Hoffer
34. You must do everything in your power to keep wonder alive in you.
35. Replace HOW with WOW!
36. You can HOW a great idea right out the door of your church.
37. You must become a leader who is all about WOW instead of HOW.
38. We are attracted to women who say, “Wow!”
39. WOW is all about “Imagine if we could”.
40. You have no idea what trajectory-shifting idea lurks in the hearts and minds of the staff and organization you work with.
41. The next-generation product and idea never comes from the previous generation.
42. Add Imagine to everything. Every meeting. Every talk. Anytime you do anything. When you get to the end, “Imagine a world….”
43. We are on the other side of a resurrection. That should keep our wonder awake for a long, long time.
44. Why would we ever back down from what God could do through us?
45. I want to be a leader that sets the next generation up for success. Let’s keep wonder awake for that generation.

More leadership insights to come throughout the day.  And do not forget to join our team at INJOY Stewardship Solutions on October 13th for a session entitled How One Capital Campaign Raised Over $10 Billion.  It will be a fun hour of equipping and training.  Click HERE or on the image below to register today.