STRETCH

Being 'the buzz'

In order for businesses or organizations to grow there are obviously several critical ingredients to making that happen.  One of those is excitement.  People want to be a part of something exciting.  Excitement or 'buzz' can come in small intervals or it can come in waves at a time.  How can you sustain the momentum of 'buzz?'

I would consider two specific areas when it comes to creating excitement.

1. INTERNAL - We have to create excitement for the people on the inside.  These are current clients, customers or members.  What do people really get excited about in your organization?  

Two things: Vision and anything measurable.  Vision inspires and measurable results translate into action.  Companies can talk about 'what could be' all day, but internal excitement will require results to sustain 'buzz' momentum.

Another opportunity to create internal excitement is to create 'personal touch' experiences.  One of the biggest complaints consumers have is the feeling of being 'just another number'.

2. EXTERNAL - We also have to create excitement for people outside of the organization.  Again, people are typically attracted to anything that puts a dent in the status quo.  In order to create 'buzz' for people outside of our area of influence we have to understand the 'market' we are trying to impact. Who is your target and are you connecting with them?

What if your organization found a need in the community and spent time and money meeting that need? It's been said, "people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care", so why not evaluate what's happening outside of your organization and creating a plan to enable progress.

My guess is, it could only help the totality of the situation.

Excitement allows for growth, but connection sustains growth.  Be willing to do what no one else does and you will find yourself being 'the buzz'.

Stretch yourself

Jesse

I would consider two specific areas when it comes to creating excitement.

1. INTERNAL - We have to create excitement for the people on the inside.  These are current clients, customers or members.  What do people really get excited about in your organization?  

Two things: Vision and anything measurable.  Vision inspires and measurable results translate into action.  Companies can talk about 'what could be' all day, but internal excitement will require results to sustain 'buzz' momentum.

Another opportunity to create internal excitement is to create 'personal touch' experiences.  One of the biggest complaints consumers have is the feeling of being 'just another number'.

2. EXTERNAL - We also have to create excitement for people outside of the organization.  Again, people are typically attracted to anything that puts a dent in the status quo.  In order to create 'buzz' for people outside of our area of influence we have to understand the 'market' we are trying to impact. Who is your target and are you connecting with them?

What if your organization found a need in the community and spent time and money meeting that need? It's been said, "people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care", so why not evaluate what's happening outside of your organization and creating a plan to enable progress.

My guess is, it could only help the totality of the situation.

Excitement allows for growth, but connection sustains growth.  Be willing to do what no one else does and you will find yourself being 'the buzz'.

Stretch yourself

Jesse

A few very important words

The least important word: I

The most important word: We

The two most important words: Thank you.

The three most important words: All is forgiven.

The four most important words: What is your opinion?

The five most important words: You did a good job.

The six most important words: I want to understand you better.

Jesse

Stench Pt. 3

Stench is the smell that lingers from our junk.  When the junk isn't thrown out, the smell gets worse.  Be careful to remove the junk, if you don't, you will find yourself all alone.  People will not follow you as long as you are leaving a stench trail.

Stench 3:  POWER STRUGGLES

Watch out for this obnoxious leadership odor.  Power struggles are played by insecure leaders. Leadership is only leadership when you are 'leading' others.  Some leader's confuse leadership with demandership.  They use their foul charm to demand individuals do certain things.  

Instead, true leaders understand that serving others leverages your positional authority.  You are never more influential than when you take time to serve those you are leading.  

So, as a leader in your household, organization or community.  How can you effectively serve those that follow you?

 
Power Struggles: They're a stinker.  Leave that nasty stench behind!

Stretch yourself

What is that smell? Pt.2

Stench is the smell that lingers from our junk.  When the junk isn't thrown out, the smell gets worse.  Be careful to remove the junk, if you don't, you will find yourself all alone.  People will not follow you as long as you are leaving a stench trail.

Stench 2:  PRIDE

Watch out for this obnoxious leadership odor.  It creeps in on us slowly and builds up over time before we eventually collapse under the toxic weight of arrogance.  Decaying leaders often have the 'gift' of blaming things on other people rather than taking responsibility for finding solutions to the issues.

Many successful companies rely on periodic performance reviews to gauge the effectiveness of their employees. Leaders should evaluate themselves often to combat the stench that prevents us from leading others.

Pride: It's a stinker.  Leave that nasty stench behind!

Stretch yourself

Jesse

If they're your friend, SLAP 'EM!

Our desire to be accepted is so overwelmingly great that it often diminishes our ability to be a great friend.  I think we take the role we play in our friends lives for granted.  It's interesting because rarely do we 'choose' our own friends, our friends 'choose' us.  We simply gravitate towards those who accept us.

Unfortunately this type of relational result rarely offers us the ability to be the person God intends us to be to others.  The reason is because when we approach relationships this way, we hardly ever have the courage to challenge our friends or be challenged by them.  The bible teaches us what a healthy friendship looks like in Proverbs.

"It is better to correct someone openly than to have love and not show it. The slap of a friend can be trusted to help you, but the kisses of an enemy are nothing but lies." (Proverbs 27:5-6).

 Wow - the Word is pretty strong here.  A good friend will give and take open correction.  Does it mean it will not hurt?  Nope, because it will, a slap always stings.   Correction is actually an opportunity for growth and growing usually hurts a little and that's okay.

So, start being a good friend and allow the slap of correction to be a healthy part of your friendships. 

Stretch yourself

Jesse

Chick - Fil - A

Thank you Sam Frederick @samfrederick

Stench

Stench is definitely the smell that lingers from our junk.  When the junk isn't thrown out, the stench gets worse.  Becareful to remove the stench, if you don't, you will find yourself all alone.  People will not follow you as long as you are leaving a stench trail.

Stench 1:  SELF-PROMOTION

Proverbs 27:2 "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips."

I was watching American Idol recently.  I love how they show the worst people first.  Sometimes they are so bad, it makes me cringe.  That is exactly what happens when you sing your own praises.  It sounds awful, out of tune and just plain gross.  It stinks.

But when other people sing your praises, it's beautiful.  The key to having other people sing your praises is to stop singing your own.

Leave that nasty stench behind!

Stretch yourself

Jesse

Leaders BEWARE (especially, CHURCH leaders)

Just how good are your communication skills? Perhaps you can preach with the best of them. Maybe you've digested Andy Stanley's "Communicating for a Change" several times and you are fairly confident in your ability to bend everything you say around one 'Big Idea.' That is fantastic. I'm sure your people love you for it.

BUT, (that's a big but) what about your non-verbal communication?

If your ability to communicate from the pulpit is what proves your education and experience, your non-verbal communication skills will prove just how genuine you are.

Check out these poor non-verbal communication 'skills' and see if you need to practice your ability to connect with others.

1. The "no look pass" - This is the person who doesn't look at you when you are talking to them. They 'pass' you over for their computer or blackberry. They will often justify their actions as a "gifted ability to multi-task."

2. The "shake and bake" - This person is well known for leaving people in mid-sentence when something 'more important' comes along.

I heard about a pastor recently who was listening to one of his people talk to him about an upcoming event she was planning for the church. Just as she was telling him some of the details of the event, another man walked by and the pastor left her mid-sentence to join him while he kept walking. Yikes.

3. The "dipsy-doo" - This person has a knack for making plans and losing track of "his/her time."

Results might include missed meetings, unkept commitments and disappointed people.

Unfortunately, I have mastered all three of these. For all of those I have the privilege of "doing life with." Please forgive me. I am definitely on the road to 'non-verbal recovery'.

Ministry definitely gets busy and it is fairly easy to become more results oriented than people oriented, but I have made myself a promise to always keep people the priority over the pulpit.

Stretch yourself

Jesse

BUT, (that's a big but) what about your non-verbal communication?

If your ability to communicate from the pulpit is what proves your education and experience, your non-verbal communication skills will prove just how genuine you are.

Check out these poor non-verbal communication 'skills' and see if you need to practice your ability to connect with others.

1. The "no look pass" - This is the person who doesn't look at you when you are talking to them. They 'pass' you over for their computer or blackberry. They will often justify their actions as a "gifted ability to multi-task."

2. The "shake and bake" - This person is well known for leaving people in mid-sentence when something 'more important' comes along.

I heard about a pastor recently who was listening to one of his people talk to him about an upcoming event she was planning for the church. Just as she was telling him some of the details of the event, another man walked by and the pastor left her mid-sentence to join him while he kept walking. Yikes.

3. The "dipsy-doo" - This person has a knack for making plans and losing track of "his/her time."

Results might include missed meetings, unkept commitments and disappointed people.

Unfortunately, I have mastered all three of these. For all of those I have the privilege of "doing life with." Please forgive me. I am definitely on the road to 'non-verbal recovery'.

Ministry definitely gets busy and it is fairly easy to become more results oriented than people oriented, but I have made myself a promise to always keep people the priority over the pulpit.

Stretch yourself

Jesse

The Principle of the Journey

Recently, I hiked a mountain behind our house.  Trails winded all the way to the top.  It took a couple of hours, but I finally made it. What a sense of accomplishment!  

I noticed that the closer I got to the top, the harder the climb became.  It was more steep, a little rockier and the trail wasn't quite as visible.  Nonetheless, I made it!

As I worked my way up the trail, I would occasionally take a break and look out over the valley. I could look back and see the rocks I climbed over and the trails I had followed. I was able to see the journey from the other side.  Some of the climbs I had to make were a little tricky, but when I looked back, I could easily see how I made it.

Here is what I realized:

Perspective changes when you have an opportunity to look back on what you just went through. 

When a storm hits, all you can see are the dark clouds, the rain, the trees reacting to the wind.  You can't ever really see the end of the storm.  Rest assured, the end is coming, it's just a matter of when.

Life is much like that.  Circumstances can be grossly difficult, situations may turn out like we never expected them to.  During those times in life, we think things like, "Is this junk worth it?"  "Why is this happening to me?"  "Seriously, why me?"  

And, while those thoughts are completely normal, we have to realize that there will come a time when the storm passes and you will look back down that path and see just how far you have come. 

Although, the circumstance was tough, the situation was difficult - truthfully, you are now more refined.

It's the 'principle of the journey'

No matter what we go through, it is a preparation for what's next, good or bad.  In my experience, People usually respond to difficulty in two ways. They either get bitter or they get better.  Bitterness will destroy the opportunity to become stronger, wiser and more experienced.  We choose our response to each situation.  Learn to evaluate growth opportunities and apply them to you life.

I believe, the world needs more people who will weather the storms of life, not with questions of "why me" but rather, "what can I learn from this."

Stretch yourself

Jesse

You would think I would have learned by now...

Every time, and I mean EVERY time I give my almost three year old something to eat or drink - it ends up in a mess on the floor.  Why haven't I learned this lesson?  Why do I keep trusting him to 'keep it clean'? 

It could be applesauce, it could be macaroni and cheese.  It could be a water cup, or a bowl of pineapple.  It ALWAYS ends up on the floor. 

I think....he needs a trough.  I may install it right in front of the TV and fill it so he can graze most of the day.