Three MUST watch videos from Matt, Craig, and Patrick.

Like you, I want to become the best leader I can be, so that I can help other people fulfill their God given potential in life. Because of this I read books, listen to podcast and watch videos. (Lots of videos). 

Three of my favorite leadership videos are. 

The Healthy Leader by Matt Chandler. 

Increasing your capacity by Craig Groeschel

Five dysfunctions of a team by Patrick Lencioni

Each one has so much life altering information, that you can't just watch them. 

Here are four things I suggest that you do with each of these videos. 

1 - Watch the video alone. 

2 - Watch the video a second time and take notes. 

3 - Watch the video with your team and have them take notes. 

4 - Have a discussion with your team about what learned, how to apply, what they heard. 

5 - Hold each other accountable to continually apply and walk out the principles that you learned. 

---

---

Lunch Time Leadership Nugget. Four things to NEVER do.

Well it's lunch time here in California. So I thought I would give you something to chew on. 

Here are four things to never do as a leader. 

1. Never despise the days of small beginnings.

Trees that last start small, dig deep roots and continue to grow!

2. Never promote someone that has not proven themselves in small things.

You don't need people, you need the right people.

3. Never try to do anything on your own.

Anyone who has ever accomplished anything had great partners.

4. Never think that it's better to have things look good rather than be good.

Substance will win over style in the long run.

What are a few things you have done that you regret? I would love to hear from you in the comment section below. 

Four M's that will make you a better leader.

1. Mentor.

Paul said “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Every leader needs a mentor. Mentors don’t have to be people that you meet with one on one. Mentors can be people that you choose to learn from and then read everything they write, listen to everything they say, and watch everything they do, even from afar. If you want to become the leader God has desires you to be … you have to have a mentor.

2. Mind.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible says …”Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.” To be a truly great leader you need to think like Jesus. The primary thing on Jesus mind was “how can I serve others”. Jesus was a servant. Because of this he was the greatest leader of all time. 

Leadership is really just finding a problem that needs to be solved …then giving your time and energy to build a team to solve the problem. If you want to be a great leader – stop thinking about yourself, start thinking about others … and you will be like Jesus … an incredible leader.

3. Mission.

Jesus once said – “The Son of Man came not but to seek and save the Lost.” Jesus was on mission. His mission drove him to talk, think, and act the way that he did. His mission was the catalyst behind every thing he did. What is your mission? Why are you here? What are you living for? Most people in life never find the answer to these three questions. If you can …If you can find your mission …you will not be like everyone else … you will be a leader.

4. Message.

In order to be a leader, you have to have people following you. In order for people to follow you, they have to know where they are going. As a leader it is up to you to not only know where you are going or what you are called to do… but you also have to be able to clearly state these things to the people around you. 

Take your mission and develop a 5 minute verbal presentation, a 15 minute presentation and a 45 minute presentation. As a leader you must be able to talk to one person, a small group of people or a large room of people about your mission in such a compelling way that it is hard for them to pass on joining your team.

Want to keep growing in leadership? Check out Youth Ministry University by clicking HERE

Your past belongs to yesterday. Your tomorrow belongs to you.

Your past belongs to yesterday, but tomorrow belongs to you.To maximize your tomorrow here are three things you need to do today.

1. Remember the past but don’t live in it.
 

Learn from your past but don’t live there. Stop wasting so much time thinking or talking about where you’ve been,what you’ve done or what’s been done to you.

2. Embrace the present.

You are where you are. You are what you are. You have what you have. Don’t lie to yourself about the truth. Be honest and embrace the situation you are in.

3. Change the future.

Where you are is not where you have to stay. What you are is not who you have to be. What you have does not have to define you. You control you … if something needs to change … then CHANGE. Learn what you need to learn. Do what you need to do and go where you need to go.

Your past belongs to yesterday but tomorrow belongs to you.

INNER CIRCLE Part Two: Four characteristics you desperately need in your inner circle.

I once heard the statement, "As a leader, you teach what you know but reproduce who you are". I think this is not only true for the leader, but for the organization that they lead.  Whatever is in the heart will flow throughout the entire body. Whatever qualities the leadership possesses will naturally flow out into every part of the ministry, church, or organization. 

Get the heart right, and everything else will follow! 

Here are four characteristics you desperately need in your inner circle. 

1. Honesty. 

Relationship is the strength of every organization and trust is the foundation of every relationship. Where there is honesty, there is trust. Where there is trust you can do almost anything! 

2. Humility.

The greatest leaders are those that have mastered the art of serving others. You want your inner circle leaders to walk into every room and every meeting thinking, "How can I help?". Surround yourself with humble people and your organization will quickly rise to the top! 

3. Hunger.

I love being around people that are content, but never satisfied. You need people leading alongside of you that always want to do better, go farther, and serve more faithfully. As humans if we don't stay hungry and keep eating we will eventually die. The same is true for any organization. We need to stay hungry. Keep eating. Keep growing. Keep moving forward, or we will join the piles of thousands of other organizations that became complacent, just before their demise. 

4. Hard Work. 

Dave Ramsey often says, "When you find "Good Luck" it will be wearing work clothes.

Nothing is ever done by thinking. At some point we have to stand up, role up our sleeves and get to work. I will take hard work over talent any day. Through the years I have seen that hard workers keep making a difference long after the talented people have already gone home. 

If your inner circle is full of honesty, humility, hunger, and hard workers ... buckle up because things are going to get really good!