May 1st through 3rd are three of my favorite leadership days of the year. Each year, INJOY Stewardship Solutions allows me to live-blog the Orange and ReThink Leadership Conferences. No event stretches my thinking more and make me a smarter and better-equipped leader than this event.
If you are unfamiliar with ReThink and Orange, let me give you an overview. Hosted by Carey Nieuwhof, ReThink is a series of Ted Talk-stlyle lessons from some of the most innovative minds in business and leadership. Orange is simply the nation’s preeminent organization on children’s ministry.
As part of my time here, INJOY Stewardship is offering a FREE Capital Campaign Calculator for your church. If your church needs to raise significant capital in the next two years, this will be a wonderful source of information for you.
The afternoon’s first speaker was Jon Acuff. Jon is the New York Times bestselling author of six books, including his most recent, Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done. For 20 years he’s helped some of the biggest brands in the world tell their stories, including The Home Depot, Bose, Staples, and the Dave Ramsey Team.
The following are 26 leadership lessons and quotes from his challenging lesson on change:
- Americans spent $72 billion on pets in 2018.
- Trust data, not drama. Change is emotional.
- We romanticize the past and catastrophize the future.
- The problem is we hate data.
- However, data kills denial which prevent disaster.
- Great chefs are artists, scientists, and business owners.
- Data is just data. It is not emotional.
- I think you can pray and have a plan.
- Be a tourist. We’re not just afraid of change. We’re afraid of looking foolish.
- Tourists ask a lot of questions.
- Tourists don’t pretend to be experts.
- Tourists request help from experts.
- Tourists make mistakes.
- Tourists have fun.
- “I don’t know”. You have to become real comfortable with this phrase.
- If I’m not honest about my weaknesses, people will not trust my strengths.
- You can still be leader and don’t have all the answers.
- Use the phrase, “I don’t know yet.Let’s figure it out.”
- Do small experiments that generate big changes.
- Change is only scary when you think it’s all or nothing.
- Few things remove the fear of change like the word “experiment”.
- To experiment, find one thing to change.Next, launch a 30-day test. Then, embrace the results. Finally, expand the size and repeat it.
- Leaders like to be liked.
- Leading through change will cost you likability.
- A leader should call you past where you naturally call yourself.
- Change is a choice or consequence.
The next speaker is Joel Manby.
My book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders is available for purchase. If you have ever wanted to become the leader God created you to be, this book is for you! By combining leadership lessons from biblical heroes like Jesus, Daniel and Joseph, along with modern day leaders like Bill Gates, Nick Saban, Kobe Bryant and multiple pastors, Timeless will equip and inspire you. This book is not to be read alone. Discussion questions are included in each chapter allowing you to develop those in your circle of influence. Click HERE or on the image provided and order your copies TODAY.