There is a Wisdom Famine in our world today.
Recently, my wife and I had the privilege of having dinner with Steve Robinson and his delightful wife, Dianne. Long-term readers of this site will be familiar with Steve. He is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc. from 1981-2015. In addition to serving on Chick-fil-A’s board of directors from 2016-2018, Steve serves on several boards for organizations and ministries, including FamilyLife, Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Atlanta, Links Players International, Atlanta Hall Management & College Football Hall of Fame, and the National Football Foundation.
He also wrote my favorite leadership book of 2019 – Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A: How Faith, Cows, and Chicken Built an Iconic Brand. If you have not gotten it yet, click HERE or on the image provided and order TODAY! You can thank me later.
While he has a robust resume to say the least, he is an even better person and there is no one I admire more. If your business or organization is looking to re-imagine, rebrand, relaunch, or just get better in all things marketing and branding, I suggest you reach out to him for his consultative services. Click HERE to start a conversation with S. Robinson Consulting. Because of COVID-19, there is not a better time to connect with him.
Every time we get together I always come with a series of questions. I really appreciate how he humors me. When you talk with people on Steve’s level, you notice they speak differently than other people do. They provide a unique beauty to the English language. One of my favorite things I heard him say recently was in regard to Chick-fil-A advertising during college football games but not the NFL. Steve said, “The NFL plays on Sundays and since we are closed that day, we can’t activate the brand.” ACTIVATE THE BRAND. I love that phrase because who talks like that but someone like Steve?
We also have a mutual friend in Crawford Loritts, the incomparable senior pastor of Fellowship Bible Church. Crawford provided me my favorite definition of leadership when he said, “Leadership is a picture of the desired destination at which others should wish to arrive.” Once again, who talks like that?
So the two of us and our spouses were talking after dinner. I said, “Steve, I’ve heard when you’re around really smart people, don’t find out what they do. Find out how they think. So, talk to me about the language smart people use. It’s different than everyone else.”
Steve’s response stopped me dead in in my tracks.
Steve said, “Smart or wise?” I said, “Well that answers that question.” He then talked to me about the incredible wisdom of Truett Cathy and other great leaders he has encountered.
I walked away from our time together completely rethinking my decades-long pursuit of knowledge. Knowledge and becoming “smart” is good and I do not regret whatever amount I have acquired. But wisdom is what I should have been after.
Dictionary.com says, “The primary difference between the two words is that wisdom involves a healthy dose of perspective and the ability to make sound judgments about a subject while knowledge is simply knowing. Anyone can become knowledgeable about a subject by reading, researching, and memorizing facts.” What is excludes saying but is inferred is not everyone can have wisdom.
2 Chronicles 1:7-12 says, “In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.”
Solomon could have asked God for anything and he sought wisdom. One of the results of his request is the greatest 31 chapters of leadership coaching ever written, the Book of Proverbs. And if you want to know why Steve has so much wisdom, he has read a Proverb every day, no exceptions, for over three decades.
The Bible speaks a lot about the value of wisdom. The following are just 10 of my favorites verses on the subject:
- If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5
- Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Proverbs 4:5
- Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city. Ecclesiastes 7:19
- When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice. 1 Kings 3:28
- God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 1 Kings 4:29
- Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse….Proverbs 2:12
- Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Proverbs 4:6
- How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! Proverbs 16:16
- Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it. Ecclesiastes 7:12
- But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17
We have an abundance of smart leaders. There is no lack of people who have great knowledge about various facts. What we need are leaders with great wisdom. Unfortunately, we have a Wisdom Famine in our world today.
God send us wise leaders. Send us a plethora of Steve Robinsons. We need them now more than ever. May I one day become one.
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.