It’s impossible to adequately portray the experience known as Catalyst so I won’t even try. I would, however, like to pass along a few leadership tidbits from various conference speakers. I won’t recap each discussion; that has been done excellently here (look at the “Latest Articles” section”). Instead, I just want to pass on a few 3×5 card-sized bits of usable information. My hope is that they will challenge you and help you move forward as a leader as they continue to do the same for me.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll post similar “3×5 card” summaries of the messages that impacted me the most. Here is the first one.
Leadership Lessons from Catalyst 2009: Andy Stanley and “Making a Mark”
- Most people worry about who’s on their side.
- The question, however, should not be “who’s on my side” but “who’s side am I on?”
- God has invited us to play a part in his story
- Will I submit to play whatever part God has for me?
- Will I seek to make my own mark or have God make his mark through me?
- What will you do? Whatever you decide, you must choose who you will serve (ref: Joshua in the Bible).
- Action Item: Wake up each day and ask myself, “Who’s side am I on?” and remember that God takes full responsibility for a life fully devoted to him.
Next up in the Leadership Lessons from Catalyst 2009 series: Malcolm Gladwell with “The Mistakes Leaders Make”
Thanks, I just sent this to my children. My oldest son graduated from Harvard with his Masters of Theological Studies in June, and he’s now at Duke Law School. Though he has attained such high educational achievements, I worry about the influences of the “world”… Thanks for this list of awesome advice. I also needed to hear it for my own use today!
Stay tuned. The talk from Malcolm Gladwell centered on how more information/knowledge does not lead to better decisions.
Thanks for sharing this Dave. It’s so important for not just leaders but for all of us. We may not be in leadership roles but each of us needs each day to “choose whose side we are on”. Thanks!
John Maxwell has said in the past that leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less. So one could argue that we are all leading somebody.
Great point, though. We all do make that choice daily.
Hi ya Dave, Well, first I say I enjoy your writing and give me some thing to think about. And comment on. Unfortunately I can not read all your words and put them into a single thought so I just sort of pick some thing and then say some thing. So I just say about making a mark. Personally I am not trying to make a mark, I am content to live and die unknown as long as Jesus is known to others by me, so, I know, obviously we all make a mark in some way. Like it or not. I read from what Sandi and Aunt Sharon say and you say about leaders and think of this: (no idea if it is even relevant)One of my favorite Quotes from Chief Joseph of the Nez Pierce Indians “No greater strength a man can posess than true humility”. No one exemplified this more than Jesus and as he showed us by his example, great leaders have a servants heart. Ok, I have to stop now, I want to say more but it takes too long and I am spent
). Hope all this makes sense, if not I know you guys don’t care. I try. God bless. In Christ, Joe
Joe, You always make more sense than you realize and I love your quote from Chief Joseph. It makes me think of the idea expressed in Schindler’s List that having great power gives you the power to pardon. Schindler said this to the bad guy in an attempt to stop him from using his power to abuse the Jews.
Wow Dave! that’s great……. I just put that question on a piece of cardboard – so I won’t miss it. lol Keep the 3×5′s coming! thanks, nancy