Wow, what a true statement this is.  I have found in my life that no matter how hard I try in my own power, or better yet, no matter how much I lean on God’s power I am limited in my effectiveness when I am not operating in the core competencies God has created in me.  I used to assume that God would give me grace to do certain things because I was doing His will and His work.  What I found out is that God did not offer the grace I was looking for with some of the tasks I was handling.  I was doing His work and His will but I was doing alone and not surrounding myself and entrusting that work to people who could do it more effectively.  I am now working on doing only what I have the core competencies to do and giving away everything else.   Of course it may not be realistic to always have someone who can take on the tasks that I am not gifted with but the greater percent of time I am doing “what only I can do” the more effective leader I am.   I don’t get as bogged down and drained by the things that are difficult for me to do.  God created me with strengths and weaknesses.  He wants me to lead from my strengths. 

God, help me lead from my strengths, to operate in my core competencies so I can increase the effectiveness of the work you have given me to do.

Leaders: Don’t apologize for expecting excellence. God deserves it, and people are capable of it. Call it out.

Some leaders are afraid or embarrassed to expect excellence as a normal product from the people they lead or serve with. Usually it’s because they don’t want to appear to be demanding or demeaning. Apparently it’s an affront to expect a lot out of a person.  But it’s actually just the opposite. It honors them. 

The highest compliment you can give to those you lead or serve with is to demand the best from them. Low standards do not communicate appreciation. They communicate contempt for someone’s ability and potential. Once you have stopped challenging someone to do more, you have stopped believing in them. And you have effectively stunted their ability to grow in their God-given gifts and calling. 

It’s the responsibility of the leader not only to cast vision, but also to make sure that those serving that vision are maximizing their gifts in support of it. An indispensable tool that every leader must learn to develop then is the ability to speak life into potential. Call it out. And the best way to call it out is by maintaining a high standard. People don’t grow by being allowed to live in mediocrity.

So leaders: Don’t apologize for expecting excellence. God deserves it, and people are capable of it. Call it out.

You’re not being demeaning by holding your people to a high standard. The real affront would be to allow someone to work at a level that doesn’t correspond to the potential for greatness that God has put in them.

Quick example: “I realize this product cost $500 more a year, but if you break it down your investment is less than $1.50 a day, less than your daily Starbucks run. Don’t you think you can afford the extra $1.50 a day for the additional benefits you will receive using our product?” Slick isn’t it?  Thank you Tom Hopkins.

As I made the shift 6 years ago from business to ministry I still found that principle helpful in another way.  I am no longer in sales but I serve in ministry organizations that have big goals.  Not sales goals, but impact goals.  In sales we call this principle “reduction to the ridiculous”, but with goals we can call it “reduction to the achievable”.  Take the same concept (a big thing made up of tiny pieces) and apply it to goal setting and target achievement, then it becomes a useful tool when undertaking an ambitious objective. It allows you to improve your odds of success by defining smaller steps or goals. 

The three key elements to using this principal successfully are:

1) Define your goal (ex: Read one book each month)

2) Break the project into smaller, well defined, achievable, measurable goals (read 10 pages each day)

3) Take a moment to congratulate yourself on completion of each of the smaller goals. Celebrate the small victories.

Just a side note:  This is ABSOLUTELY how we should look at our relationship with God (prayer, quiet time, etc).  We are better off having small times with God daily than once a week splurges.  “Reduction to the Achievable” is a great principle for sales and goal setting, but also for our time with God.

The challenge to Google is to create an environment where failure IS an option.  Most organizations have a culture of “failure is not an option” and, when taken the wrong way, that actually conditions people to set modest achievable goals that they are certain they can achieve because if they fail…they are disciplined or even fired. Taking great risks, pushing innovation, and striving to achieve the impossible will never happen in organizations like that.  Achieving 65% of the impossible is better than 100% of the ordinary.  Setting impossible goals and achieving part of them can set you on a fast track and when measured every quarter it allows for mid course corrections and setting higher goals for the next quarter.

One thing I have learned in my pursuit of following Christ is that the philosophy of goal setting Google lives by is actually biblical when understood through a kingdom filter.  Jesus tells us in Luke 18:27, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”  I believe, a Christians, God wants us to plan for and anticipate the impossible because of HIS power and might but not our own.  When we build margin and expectation of God’s blessing into our goals, it creates a mindset and a culture of anticipation that God can and will do something big. One of the ministry organizations I served on staff with had an “unofficial philosophy” of overpromise and try to deliver.  It is a similar philosophy in a way and has carried that ministry to heights few have seen.  When done with the right (servant and humble) heart, it is acknowledging that God has bigger dreams and ideas for us than we have on our own and we should not limit him by what we cannot see.  Build in margin and leave a space for Him to fill. Set bigger goals than you know you can reach.  Make OKRs unrealistic and impossible to man and in doing so allow a place for God to show up and make them possible. 

God, help me to avoid limiting your blessing in my life by fearing failure or simply the unknown.  I desire to build margin in my life and in my goals to position myself for your blessing.  I acknowledge that only through your power can I seek the impossible, but I thank you that you desire us to have it.  

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:25-28; also Mark 10:42-45)

God, help me to be a leader built for others.  So often in our society leaders serve their own cause and agenda but Jesus modeled something different.  Help me to lead like Jesus and LABOR for the PROSPERITY of those I lead.

Excerpt from Revelations 2:1-7

² “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

This passage is a letter to the Church of Ephesus and has challenged and convicted me more than anything else I can think of.  Wrapped up in a few sentences God is stating this: 

I see you have labored, worked, and persevered.  I see you have done and said the right things.  I see that you have been consistent in doing what is right.  You have the right beliefs and right behavior . . . Nevertheless (BUT SO WHAT) you have lost your FIRST LOVE.  Where is you love and passion for me?  I am not examining your life, I am examining your heart.  Your life may look fine but I wanted your heart.  WHERE IS YOUR HEART?  WHERE IS YOUR LOVE? WHERE IS YOUR PASSION FOR ME? You have lost your first love.

Few thoughts/questions. .  .

1)    Have I lost my passion for you God?  Do I just live for the ministry or do I truly live for you?

2)    Am I just really consistent or am I PASSIONATE?

3)    I recognize that activity in the King’s business does not make up for neglect of the King.

God, I never want to lose my first love: my love and passion for You.  Forgive me for moments I was willing to sacrifice my life to demonstrate my allegiance, yet unwilling to offer my heart to reveal my passion.  Father, I acknowledge I have fallen short and need help in protecting my heart.  May it burn and be consumed by an overwhelming love and passion for You.

1)    Success is never final, failure is never fatal.

2)    If you want to go fast go alone.  If you want to go far go together

I have learned three things that integrity requires:

1)    GUTS to make the right decision even when it is not the popular decision or will not be seen or challenged

2)    DISCERNMENT to understand when your actions violate the core principal of integrity

3)    BROKENESS before God to not allow pride, selfishness, arrogance, etc. to influence your behavior

God, in a world where integrity seems to be forgotten, help me see those times when I put mine at risk.  Give me the strength to ask for help and even more strength to listen.  I desire to be a person of integrity, where my “yes means yes” and my “no means no”.  There is no middle ground and no gray area.   

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.  – Psalm 25:21

Is the feeling that nothing else in the world matters when you holding your little one in your arms? . . . That is true but no.

Is it the joy you get when they jump up and down and scream your name when you get home? . . .  Makes me cry just thinking about it but no.

For me the greatest gift of fatherhood is a “glimpse” of love of our heavenly father loves us. Seriously, for me there was something that unlock in me when I first realized that even the overwhelming love I had for my child didn’t event compare for how God felt about me.  That is incredible!

God I thank you for the gift of love you have given to me!

Sidebar. . . Now I want pancakes!

Anyway, thinking of IHOP who has continued round the clock prayer for 10 years straight reminded of a FCA Impact Play (devotional) I read a few weeks ago.  It asked the question…” Would you rather have one incredible sports season filled with recognition and awards, or five average seasons filled with good, solid consistent performances?”

How we answer that challenging question reveals how we are wired as competitors. Are you the type of competitor who looks for the next big opportunity or who digs in right where you are? In the sports world today, we see players jump teams mid-season, coaches leave great programs for bigger paychecks, and even entire teams change cities. The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence, doesn’t it? That is why we are quick to pursue the next big, great opportunity.

Something I learned with God is he doesn’t need, nor is he looking for today’s “superstar”.  All he needs (and what he really wants) is someone faithful and consistent.  God rarely (if ever) builds his ministry on the superstar.  Why? Because they often fade and are exposed. Truthfully, even in life we never remember the “one hit wonders” but the people who had the heart and the determination to stick it out for the long haul.

Quick point . . . Even though I say that this is something that I learned (and I have) the truth is it is much harder to be faithful and consistent than it is to become a “superstar”. My human nature often looks for the “bigger and better”.  My flesh knows it is simply easier to jump ship when things get difficult and there will always be another opportunity to connect somewhere else and be the “golden child”.     

Here’s my challenge and prayer to you and me: Commit for the long haul. Don’t bail. Be faithful. Dig in and make a difference. Sink your teeth into something, and be a competitor who is marked with consistency. Just start where you are and stay after it. You will be surprised what God can do with a commitment. IHOP is a simple example!

1.       When was the last time you committed to something for the long haul? How did God use you through that experience?

2.       Are you more prone to digging in or taking off? Why?

3.       How can God use you in your current situation (team, school, business, community) if you are willing to dig in?

4.       What is one area in which you can be more consistent?