It’s time again for the weekly download of all the randomness I can fit into a single post.
All posts tagged Willow Creek
Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit :: Len Schlesinger
In today’s climate of social and economic uncertainty, conventional approaches to problem-solving don’t work anymore. “The traditional way of thinking our way into acting is rendered essentially useless,” says entrepreneurial thought leader, Len Schlesinger. “Action trumps everything.” A former executive in two Fortune 500 companies, Schlesinger believes that entrepreneurial activity, steeped in experiential learning, can transform the way leaders move forward in the face of unpredictability—and that entrepreneurial thinking can be codified and taught to anyone. Leaders hungry to stay ahead of the 21st century change curve are invited to unlock this entrepreneurial code for themselves and shore up their ministries or organizations for success, regardless of what the future may bring.
Office of the President, Babson College
Action Trumps Everything Babson Blog
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Len Schlesinger on Twitter
Babson College on Twitter
- A standard vision speech exists in every leadership course: the Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have a Dream Speech.”
- We try to figure out how we can have a vision just as compelling and articulated.
- Martin Luther King Jr. spent 3-4 years smashing the current reality before he could energize people with the vision for what could be.
- Bill Hybels defines leadership as the art of movingp people from “here” to “there.”
- You can’t get people “there” without being very clear about aspects of “here” that you personally find unacceptable.
- Show how unacceptable current reality is before you can bring people to a new, unknown reality.
- Entrepreneurship has the power to go a long way in providing for the kind of future we aspire we want to have.
- Believe in the future by creating first.
- Most stories being told about successful entrepreneurs are complete nonsense.
- When you look at the behavior of successful serial entrepreneurs over time, most entrepreneurs are good at reducing and spreading, not looking for it.
- Most entrepreneurs begin without a sharply defined vision.
- It’s hard to research the future… it’s hard to predict. It’s not time well spent.
- The half life of what you hear on the news won’t even withstand the half hour broadcast.
- Most people don’t have new big ideas, they just see something and figure out how to do it better.
- Our goal should be to make and find opportunities to create economic and social value everywhere.
- The first generation creates… the second generation enjoys… the third generation destroys.
- How can we build a successful legacy?
- Go to war with your business models and reinvent yourself.
- Don’t exclusively focus on economic outcomes.
- Deal with issues of economics, sustainability, and
- That requires examination and experimentation.
- We are all entrepreneurs, only too many of us don’t get to practice it.
- Move from self-editing to positive, forward action.
- Understand the natural limitations of everything we’ve learned.
- Entrepreneurs realize that you can’t predict the future.
- You simply see what is available to you and you act.
- The future is not a linear extrapolation of the past.
- If you can’t predict the future, create it.
- 80% of entrepreneurs favored a mode of action called “creaction” creation-oriented action.
- In the face of unknowability, what would rational behavior look like?
- You can sit and think or you can act.
- You can’t think your way into the future. You have to act.
- Take small steps forward with what you have at hand.
- We all have capacity to make a difference.
- Step onto firm ground: reality.
- Have friends and resources nearby to help.
- Start with things you care about.
- Don’t focus on where there’s a great opportunity… focus on what you’d like to do.
- Entrepreneurs are always doing what they want to do or what they need to do to get what they want.
- Act quickly with the need at hand.
- We live in a world of affordable loss.
- You can sell people or you can enroll people.
- Stop worrying about what you want to do and start worrying about what you want to do next.
- We’ve been educated to believe that failure is a dirty word.
- Failure doesn’t mean “game over;” it means try again with experience.
- You learned something that nobody else knows.
- Know what you want.
- Stop obsessing about all of the things you need to get the work done and start with what you’ve already got.
- Make reality your friend.
- Take steps based on your means and what you can afford to play to play.
- It’s not what you’re going to do, it’s what you’re going to do next.
- Little bets and baby steps are the way you win.
- Bring other people with you.
- Remain flexible in what you want and how you do it.
I’m Thankful for Willow Creek
Now I know what you are thinking.
“Really? You are thankful for Willow Creek?”
I know that for most next gen leaders the words “Willow Creek” may evoke some different opinions or feelings. It may seem a bit dated or corporate, or even representing a ministry model that didn’t work. But hear me out.
Regardless of your thoughts or opinions on Willow Creek, the seeker-sensitive movement, or megachurches, you can’t deny the impact Willow Creek has made on the lives of thousands of people and church leaders over the past few decades.
In a time where church was boring and irrelevant, Willow Creek gave many church leaders a glimpse of what was possible. And, beyond a ministry model or ideas, Bill Hybels has, at his core, been committed to helping leaders become their best.
In August of 2002, I was 19 years old I was less than a year into my first job working for my church as a communications director. I had decided against going to Bible college since most Bible colleges don’t pride themselves on their media programs. All I knew was that there was something in my heart to want to serve the local church and all I had to offer to the cause were my Microsoft Publisher skills.
All of the elders from our church were going to attend the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit but a few of them had to back out at the last minute. So, I got to take one of their places. I had no idea what was in store for me.
As I sat bewildered a the size of the room [and the fact that I was with some of the key leaders from my church], I heard Bill Hybels say his infamous phrase, “I believe that the local church is the hope of the world and its future rests in the hands of its leaders.”
In that moment I realized what God had placed in my hands… my design and writing skills and tech savvy… could be used to build the Church. And, I realized that regardless of my title, I was a leader. That moment changed my perspective and the trajectory of my ministry. I realized what I was doing wasn’t about bulletins or websites, it was part of me living out my calling.
I heard many other great leaders speak over the next couple of days but that moment is one I’ll never forget. And I’ve been at the Leadership Summit nearly every year since.
There are many great leadership conferences out there but for me, The Global Leadership Summit is one of the best because it brings together voices from inside and outside of the church, has introduced me to leaders and experts I’ve never heard before, and reinforces that thought that we, as church leaders, hold a sacred privilege of leading the church forward. Fast Company even recently featured the Global Leadership Summit and shared about its size and impact.
Now, if you’ve attended The Leadership Summit before and think you’ve been there, done that, I have to tell you that it’s changed dramatically over the couple few years. This year, the Global Summit Leadership will be in 200 cities in 75 countries internationally-and is projected to serve more than 100,000 leaders. In many ways it seems like they are returning to the heart of what it’s always been about: practically inspiring church leaders.
Example: Check out this awesome piece Blaine Hogan put together for the Global Leadership Summit last year:
BE HERE NOW from blaine hogan on Vimeo.
So all of that to say, regardless of even my own preconceived ideas, I am thankful for Willow Creek and The Global Leadership Summit. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for that fateful August afternoon back in 2002.
Last year I was privileged to serve with the Willow Creek Association team as a blogger for the Global Leadership Summit and this year I helped organize a group of bloggers who will be helping share and extend the Global Leadership Summit experience online:
We’ll be blogging next Thursday and Friday during the 2011 Global Leadership Summit with guest speakers including: Seth Godin, Erwin McManus, Howard Schultz, Steven Furtick and more.
It’s not too late to register to attend at one of 185 satellite locations around the country. More info here.
Follow the madness here, on Facebook, on the WCA blog, on Twitter, or with the hashtag #wcagls.
And… I’ve got 2 tickets to giveaway for those of you who a) have never been to the Global Leadership Summit before or b) have been before but it’s been awhile. You’ll need to be available all day next Thursday and Friday, August 11-12 and be near one of the Global Leadership Summit satellite locations to win [the Barrington onsite location is sold-out].
To win, comment below and share how the ministry of Willow Creek has positively impacted you and indicate whether or not you’ve attended the Global Leadership Summit in the past.
I’ll randomly pick a winner on Friday morning, August 5, at 9 AM.
Hope to see you at the Summit!
God With Us.
You know how God has to sometimes put something in front of us a few times before we notice it?
Well, for me, it’s been the simple phrase: God with us.
I’ve been thinking and pondering the significance of that simple statement… and was sort of oblivious to the fact that it was also the theme of Willow Creek’s Christmas service, which I attended this weekend.
When the angel appeared to Mary in the ever-familiar Christmas story, it was proclaimed Jesus’ would be Immanuel, meaning… God with us.
What does it mean to be “with someone”?
It means to be in close proximity, not just physically, but emotionally. It’s an intimate togetherness.
God wants to be with us… it’s wrapped up in the very character and nature of who He is. He designed us for relationship with Him.
I think we don’t think of God and us like that.
I think too often we think God AGAINST us… God SILENT towards us… God is DISTANT from us… God HATES us… but through Jesus, we know God is WITH us.
I’ll be honest, this year has been full of amazing opportunity, new friendships and great moments, but it’s also been wrought with some hard moments, tough decisions, and disappointments.
In moments like those it’s easy to think that God is far away, but I guess the thing I’ve discovered sometimes when you look around and don’t see Him it’s because He’s right beside you or in places you may not expect.
So, moving into a new year [and a new decade!] it’s my prayer that we can live knowing God is WITH us. As we obediently follow Him and His leading, He is with us and promises to give us the strength we need to live out the life He’s calling us to live and give us everything we need to accomplish what He’s asking us to do.
One of the beautiful truths that Bill Hybels shared in his message during the Willow Creek service was…
“one of the best ways to see ‘God with us’ is in the faces and stories of people around us… “
As various people from Willow Creek began to share their stories and how God intervened and was “with them” I realized that one of the most vital ways we make it through life is through community. Through the people around us who speak life into ours and who do life with us. People who laugh and cry with us; people who listen and give advice.
In one of the final moments of the service as we were singing a song about “God with us” people all around the auditorium stood up with signs… some said “all shall be well…” others said “God with us.”
It was a beautiful reminder and profoundly moving… HUGE props to the entire team at Willow.
I pray this Christmas season, no matter what you may be trusting God for in the New Year that you will know… all shall be well… God is with us… and He is with YOU.
Merry Christmas!
