On mission - in business II

Session 2 the Effective Leader - Inspired or Tired? by Bill Mullet founder and CEO of Provia Door.

Love this - love hearing from unlikely sources...I shouldn't be surprised but these retreats and the variety of speakers are powerful in part because we get to be resourced by people from all walks of life. Bill is a Beachy-Amish pastor in addition to being a local business leader. His passion for leadership resonated with us on many levels.

Philippians 4:8 ⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. We as followers of Jesus are called to a higher standard as indicated by Pauls writing in Philippians.

Here are my take-aways:

• No organizational movement, no need to lead. If you aren't going anywhere you don't need a leader.

• Leadership is INFLUENCE. Influence is based on TRUST. Trust is based on CHARACTER, INTEGRITY, COMPETENCE, HUMILITY.

• When all else fails please don't use the authority card. If you do you've pretty much lost the game. i.e. because I'm the boss; I'm your Dad etc...

• An effective leader: Has a strong sense of purpose. Clear sense of calling. Knows what really fulfills them; is persistent; ask questions to help someone else answer their own questions. Possesses humility. Is progressive. Repents when necessary. Is a perpetual student. Loves his work. If you don't love your job...get off the bus. Has the ability to "color" and empower their people. Exhibits relational maturity; transparency. Is confident. Is a good follower. "One will never know how to be a great leader till he learns how to be a good follower!"

Loved this story: A young daughter was complaining about the difficulties of life to her mother and so the mother put three kettles of water on the stove, filling one with some carrots, another with eggs and yet another with some coffee.

After the water was brought to a boil; she put the carrots and eggs on a plate and strained the coffee into a cup. Then she asked her daughter to describe the effect that the water had on each item. Well, her daughter said, the carrots are mushy and soft, and the eggs are hard but the coffee..mmm it smells so good. Right, the mother said, now we have some choices...like the effect that the water had on the vegetables and eggs, do we also allow the water or difficulties of life to define us or do we, as the coffee defined what the water became, take our circumstances and define our environment to create a wonderful aroma?

Favorite quotes:
Howard Hendricks - "Most people don't think, they just rearrange their prejudices."

"If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.


Bills book recommendations: Speed of Trust - Stephen R. Covey
Good to Great - Jim Collins

On mission - in business

Brenda and I are at the beautiful little town of Walnut Creek, OH spending time with many friends from across the country at the BOOST retreat. This is an annual business retreat that we got involved with several years ago that moves around to several different communities in the midwest and provides a time for followers of Jesus who happen to be business people to get together and refocus, network and re-energize.

This year we have a number of different speakers presenting in their areas of expertise. First up this morning was Glenda Lehman Ervin, vp of marketing from Lehman's Hardware in Kidron, OH. Glenda brought us a wealth of experience and information in the area of marketing and communication. I will post a video shortly that will show you her entire presentation. Some take away's to ponder and act on:

• Customers have choices – they want to be in charge
• We compete for wallet share
• Brand your product in such a way that you differentiate yourself from the competitor.
• There are multi channels for marketing communication - use them. Glenda named this brick, flip, click. Brick being the brick and mortar store front, flip as in catalogs and click on the internet. Of course, depending on your particular business you may have other avenues or you may only use several of these. But all should be considered as potential ways to build relationships with your customers and friends. Speaking of the internet, it was so important for me to hear her confirming the proper use of social media like twitter, facebook and you tube. Positive word of mouth is the best source of advertising, the internet is word of mouth on turbo. Great, great insight!
  
• Facebook is a free, immediate, international focus group
• Use Google alerts to track comments about you or your services/products.
• 2/3rd of people on the internet use some form of social media...think FB, Twitter etc...

• TESTIMONIALS!!! a potential customer needs an average of 6 testimonials about your product or service in order to click the "buy" button. Immediate take-away...get testimonials posted on your site.
  
• Track everything. Measure the effectiveness of your marketing by tracking everything. Know how people find you. There are a variety of ways to accomplish this. One is to use Google alerts. Do a little research and you'll find other ways as well. The easiest form of tracking if you have verbal communication is to ask. Simple, but most of us don't do it.
  
• Change happens very quickly - be prepared.


• Glenda's recommended reading is The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.
  

Fearless

Recently I had a conversation with a friend regarding why cancer had given her a big scare last year and why her friend is in a reoccurring battle with the dreaded disease...questions like...if God is a good God...?? how do I manage the fear related to IT coming back...?? My words of encouragement like "God's purposes are at times secretive and unknown to us but his grace, love and mercy are ever present whether we feel it or not" were not cursory words said without thought or feeling but still seemed to be just words. I really don't have and didn't have any great answers but that conversation among others has caused me to do some very uncomfortable "fear" digging that is unearthing some of the why's and how's of my own fears.

One of the books I'm reading right now is Fearless by Max Lucado. He says "Fear will always knock on your door. Just don't invite it in for dinner. And for heaven's sake, don't offer it a bed for the night. What if faith not fear was our default reaction to the mole on our back; to the fear of going broke; being sued...? According to Jesus, this is possible. The one statement he made more than any other was "Don't be afraid." This past weekend New Spring Church showed this video of Zac and I'm posting it here for your and my encouragement.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Happy Valentine's Day

Hallmark makes a killing on today, somebody said it's a plastic holiday...The origins of the day are debatable but the premise behind the day is not. Love generously, sacrificially, with our whole heart everyday. Showed this during the opening this morning...have a valentine laugh.

10 Choices

Perry Noble, pastor at New Spring Church South Carolina writes the following blog post.

10 Choices a Leader Needs to Make About his Staff - January 6, 2010

#1 – Choose to believe the best about the people on your team rather than always assuming the worst about them.

#2 – Choose to trust them to make decisions that matter without having to run every minor detail by you for your approval.

#3 – Choose to believe that when they ask particular questions that they aren’t being disloyal but rather seeking clarification.

#4 – Choose to believe that they really do love the church and want to see it thrive.

#5 – Choose to lead through inspiration and revelation–NOT intimidation, humiliation, condemnation and manipulation.

#6 – Choose to listen to them before making a decision that will directly impact them.

#7 – Choose to value them as a human being and NOT just a person who can perform a task.

#8 – Choose to take a few extra minutes to coach them through the “why” of a particular decision so that they are equipped/empowered to make the decision on their own the next time.

#9 – Choose to allow them to present the solution to the problem they are telling you about. (A great leader will always have a solution to whatever problem they are bringing to your attention.)

#10 – Choose to point out all of the things they are doing well instead of just focusing on the areas they are messing up.

Family Christmas Pics

Troyer Christmas 09

Bontrager Christmas 2009

Beatitudes of Reconciliation

Blessed are those who are willing to enter into the process of being healed, for they will become healers.

Blessed are those who recognize their own inner violence, for they will come to know nonviolence.

Blessed are those who can forgive self, for they will become forgivers.

Blessed are those who are willing to let go of selfishness and self-centeredness, for they will become a healing presence.

Blessed are those who listen with compassion, for they will become compassionate.

Blessed are those who are willing to enter into conflict, for they will find transformation.

Blessed are those who know their interdependence with all of creation, for they will become unifiers.

Blessed are those who live a contemplative life stance, for they will find God in all things.

Blessed are those who strive to live these beatitudes, for they will be reconcilers.

-Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia