CHOICES CREATE CHALLENGES

CHOICES CONTROL CIRCUMSTANCES

CHOICES CAN CAUSE CHAOS

CHOICES CAN CONFUSE

Sounds scary and maybe a little negative huh? It doesn’t have to be! When walking with the Lord and abiding in HIS will, we can make Godly CHOICES and find:

PEACE

PROTECTION

PROMOTION

PROSPERITY

PRODUCTIVITY

It is my prayer that we make quality, biblical based “choices” and experience ALL that God has for us. “yes and amen.”

If you haven’t read “Start Here, Go Anywhere,” I would love for you to check it out. Blessings to each of you.

How about you? As we enter this sacred week, has it crossed your mind yet? “I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sins upon that Cross.”

Someone took a chance!

I was walking briskly through the office with briefcase in hand, and my boss asked: “Where are you going?” I replied: “I’m going to get my work done. ”  I was an intern just out of seminary then and John Maxwell was my boss. Of course, he soon became my mentor, pastor, and close friend of nearly 30 years now.

I’ll never forget the rest of the conversation. John called me into his office and said: “Dan, you walked right by your work . . . people! You need to learn to walk slowly through the crowds.”  He was teaching me basic people skills. He knew I had a deep passion and love for people, but I didn’t show it well. I was always in a hurry to get somewhere and get something accomplished. My purpose and passion was high, but my people skills were low. Today, John would call me one of the most relational leaders he knows. I am forever grateful for his leadership development in me.

You may be a good, even a great leader today. But I’ll bet you didn’t start that way. Someone believed in you. Someone poured into you like John did for me. You have the opportunity to do that for others. Your church or team or organization will never realize its full potential if you don’t invest in other leaders. If you can realize your dreams by yourself, your dreams are too small! If you are a young leader and still seek a leadership coach for yourself, it’s never too soon to begin investing in others.

Take a risk.

Leadership development is more art than science. Sometimes it comes down to taking a chance on someone. Like leaning into a hunch. You see a spark of potential and make a decision to invest in a person. It doesn’t always go well. People are messy. You may get hurt in the process. Someone you coach might turn on you. But that’s rare and the risk is worth it. There is nothing like seeing someone rise up and fly because you developed them as a leader.

Here are three coaching tips to help you develop others well.

• Believe wholeheartedly

My son John-Peter just turned 21. He’s a junior in college and doing well as a computer-science major at Indiana Wesleyan University. Since he was a baby I’ve said to him “John-Peter, you have potential.”  I literally said it everyday until he was deep into his teens, and to this day he hears me say it often. He knows deep in his bones that he has huge potential to do great things. Believing in someone is essential in order to help them develop as a leader. In fact, not unlike my son, it is often necessary that you believe in a person before they do! In fact, it’s common that you believe in them more than they do in the beginning. That’s part of the risk. Your faith is a deposit of belief until they have enough confidence of their own!

• Invest deeply

Don’t hold back. No one needs a tentative coach or mentor. You are not expected to have all the answers, but what you do know, give it freely with boldness and passion. Your confidence will inspire confidence.

Always tell the truth.  You want to do that with grace, but sugarcoating things or avoiding the elephant in the room doesn’t help anyone. Each time you have “the tough conversation,” you may have saved a young leaders future – or at least shaped the trajectory!

Pour your heart into it. In addition to your coaching, get good leadership books in their hands, help them get exposure to other great leaders, and challenge them to next level achievements. Focus on their strengths, not their weaknesses. Make a simple plan for their development by choosing just one or two areas to concentrate on and talk regularly.

• Encourage generously

John still encourages me every time we are together. Even when we are on the phone or he texts me, he always adds an encouraging word. I promise, you can’t do this too much. Encouragement never gets old. Encouragement is like fuel for people, it helps them dig deeper, reach farther and last longer. Your encouragement to those you develop as leaders must be sincere and from the heart.  If it is, the impact is profound.

John has written over 50 books and I just published my 3^rd.  The title is Amplified Leadership, 5 Practices to Establish Influence, Build People, and Impact Others for a Lifetime — and you guessed it, it’s about developing leaders.  Every time we talk he is crazy excited about my book and encourages the socks off me! John doesn’t talk about his own books, he talks about mine.  He’s a true encourager! And in pure Maxwell style, he asks me when will my next book be released and tells me to start writing!!!

There is much more to this topic of developing people with a focus on leadership, but I trust that these thoughts will encourage you to start or keep on developing!!

So the question is: How have you STARTED 2012? In my earlier post, I expressed my one word resolution for this year= JOY. I have attempted to feel more, express more and spread more JOY than ever before. My self evaluation so far…….. probably about a 6 or 7 out of 10. (gotta do better) The best part of making my GOAL (JOY) public is my family and friends constantly remind me of my declaration. When I am cut off in traffic, my wife says “JOY.” When I get tense about something in business or ministry, one of my girls will simply say “JOY Dad!” Have you shared your Goals with your family? Accountability is a great thing!

What about you? Are you succeeding in your Goals or simply your ”GOAL” singular tense? Don’t be “NORMAL” let’s all be “EXTRAORDINARY.” 2012: the best year yet! “Start HERE, Go ANYWHERE!”

Many of you are asking just that. What will 2012 hold for you, your family, business, church, etc.? For me, after hearing the great  Christmas message and understanding the longest of long shots of Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus, I am encouraged more than ever! I  have spent the past 5 months preaching, teaching and explaining my thoughts on our “CHOICES.” The main 2 thoughts lately:

1. Our choices control our circumstances.

2. Our choices determine our destiny.

So, What “choices” will you make in 2012?

Interestingly enough, I continue to trust that nothing I do or am a part of surprises God. I wish I could please him more, but when I  get cut off in traffic, I am quite sure HE wishes I had a different reaction. I know HE wishes that I could like some folks who are difficult for  me. (I still love those in Christ) While I have a long way to go, I know that God is in total control of the end and the final outcome. We  all take some detours, but I trust the God who “stretched the North over empty space and hung the Earth on nothing.” Job 26:7 Really? Have you ever thought about that verse?

In the end 2012 will be a great year in many ways and I pray that you celebrate, experience and spread great JOY to all with whom you are in contact with. I wish you great success.

When I was coaching HS basketball, we would always have a ONE word focus for each game. Maybe it was: Rebound, Defend or Compete. I always felt we could achieve more by focusing on one thought. In my life, I have adopted the same principle in place of New Year’s Resolutions. Examples of the past have included: Wisdom, Kindness and of course most recently “choices” (wrote a book about it, maybe you’ve heard). So when I pray daily, I aspire to focus on the word. “God give me Wisdom OR Help me to exhibit Kindness to others OR Allow me to make good Choices.” For many years this has been an important part of who I aspire to be.

For 2012, I am seriously considering the word JOY. You see last night as I arrived at the Target shopping center, I observed frustrations in the parking lot, people competing for a good spot, anger in the store, impatient people in the check out line and it occurred to me, isn’t this the time of year to be JOYFUL?
Psalm 16 “In His presence is fullness of JOY.” Life has its challenges, but we all have so much to be thankful for. Maybe my word for daily prayer next year will be “Lord, grant me and those around me great JOY.” How about you, GOT JOY?

1. I took my kids to school. (watched my 7th grader cover up one of her very 1st blemishes with make up. MAKE UP!!!) That’s my little girl!!!- Not little anymore. (cried)
2. My 5th grader wore sweats and Ugg boots to school. Significant because that attire is against dress code next year as she enters middle school. I encouraged my wife to let her wear these clothes with these boots as time is short for her ability to do that in the future. (teared up again)
3. As I dropped my oldest off at school, I looked at the empty back seat. (both girls at school) Prayers of protection over them and their school. (tears)
4. I looked at my wife of 17 yrs. in the passenger seat and just for a moment, I saw the girl I married all those years ago. (hair in ponytail, the smile that I have always loved and all of the things (memories) of what attracted me to her from the beginning. (reflections of thanks- more tears) How fortunate a man I am.
5. So, I get to my office with more than a full plate and find it somewhat, let’s say “rearranged.” You see at one of our hotels, my office is a play place on Sundays for my children. I found markers all over the place with the computer moved around and paper notes everywhere. “Ticked off” at the disorderly office? NO, Tearfully, I gave thanks that they were still in our care and that I had them to make the messes they create at home, in the car and even in my office. (blurred vision from too many tears)

So today I write to remind myself and you what we have in our children. Yes, mine fight with each other far too much, we provide as much of a taxi service as we do a parent service sometimes and let’s face it, it can be expensive this time of year (really anytime of year) feeding, clothing and providing for their needs.

Wow! Thank you Lord for the most incredible blessing possible and please slow things down so we can enjoy our kids more. Take a moment to thank HIM today.

1. Family first and above all else on Earth after my Faith in the Creator. (BTW, my wife is an 11 on the 1-10 scale)
2. I have found it easier to Love some people in Christ than to actually “like” them. I’m also aware of those that don’t “like” me. I pray for you, please do the same for me.
3. I appreciate the Veteran’s and those who serve and protect us more each day. To those of you who have lost loved ones to service, God bless you!
4. I love the NBA, but I may “lock” you guys out of my house and TV if you don’t get a deal done soon.
5. I’m grateful for those who have supported my book. It’s been amazing how God has opened doors through a 150 pg. paperback. “Start Here, Go Anywhere.”
6. I struggle to eat healthy! I love food that is not good for me, but I do enjoy running and hopefully keeping some lbs. off that way?
7. As I have said all week, Penn St. officials know more than we do and unfortunately this story will be much worse than we know. God help those families who were abused.
8. My golf game: NO practice + NO playing = NO game!
9. Are UNC and MSU really playing on an aircraft carrier tonight? What a creative idea to promote Veterans Day and NCAA hoops. (NBA: Are you paying attention?)
10. My passion for lost and hurting souls has made me more emotional each day I live. I seem to tear up over most anything lately. I hope to help more people in need.
11. I can’t breathe a breath without recognizing how good God is. His Grace and Mercy are beyond my comprehension. Thank you Lord for forgiving me and loving me.

Anybody want to add to this list, please comment here….

My devotion today centered around a familiar scripture, but I caught a new piece that I have never really noticed before. Jeremiah 17:5-8 depicts who is blessed and cursed. The Bible makes it SO simple!

Hughes Translation: “Cursed is the person who trusts in themselves or others, but Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” Of course, the passage goes on to explain that “he will be like a tree planted by the water” indicating – no lack, more than enough sustenance, a thriving life, etc.

Here is the thought I had: Could it be that our lack of blessings (if we indeed do lack at all) is directly tied to “Trust” but in the wrong things? The Bible is clear! If we “Trust” in HIM, we will be blessed. If we do not, we are cursed. (verse 5) I know how many times I have tried to force things to happen. Like many of you, I want it my way and want it now. Maybe God is saying “Trust Me more.” Repeatedly, we see how clear the scriptures are that in the end, our faith WINS!

Today, Let’s exhibit a new level of “Trust” in HIM and not in ourselves, our jobs, our friends, etc. I look forward to hearing the outcome from you.

What do yo believe? I’m curious. I would love to hear why you believe either way….comment.