Intersection of Purpose and Now

“The truth is that challenge is the crucible for greatness. The study of leadership is the study of how men and women guide people through uncertainty, hardship, disruption, transformation, transition, recovery, new beginnings, and other significant challenges. It’s also the study of how men and women, in times of constancy and complacency, actively seek to disturb the status quo, awaken new possibilities, and pursue opportunities.”~ Kouzes and Posner, The Truth About Leadership, Jossey-Bass 2010, p. 93

Have you heard the story of the two caterpillars? Two caterpillars are inching their way along when they see a beautiful butterfly fly over them. One caterpillar turns to the other and declares, “You’ll never get me into one of those things.”

You may have a somewhat similar response to coaching, your leadership role, even your continual need for development. That’s why leadership growth takes curiosity, courage and commitment.

Think about it: a caterpillar cannot become a butterfly. The caterpillar can only become a brown, gooey, sticky mess. The mess becomes a butterfly. Call it growing pains, confusion, ambiguity, chaos or the like, but there will be a messy stage between the goodness in you now and the greatness of the Design for Glorious Living God has planned for you. (No wonder the word chrysalis comes from the Greek word khrusos, meaning gold!) Enduring Ministry is living through the mess to produce gold!

Call it growing pains, confusion, ambiguity, chaos or the like, but there will be a messy stage between the goodness in you now and the greatness of the Design for Glorious Living God has planned for you.

Courage grows from a growing desire to become the kind of person you want to become, to have the kind of life God wants with you, and to be the effective leader you were meant to be. Whether you follow the path to mediocrity or success is a matter of your own free choice.

It is time to make that choice. Are you curious about the kind of Christlike leader you are still capable of becoming? Are you excited about the new results others might produce in response to your inspiration? Are you courageous enough to continue on this journey? Are you committed enough to make it count? Are you willing to go through the gooey mess of transformation? The choice is yours.

Accepting the invitation to show up in life is about moving from the bleachers to the field. It’s moving from developing opinions to developing options. It’s about having things matter to us enough that we stop just thinking about those things and actually do something about them.  ~ Bob Goff, in Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World

Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

~ Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NLT)

When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice.

~ William James

• What is your cause or message? Where are you going? What are your goals?
• Are you ready to become more authentic in your communication and relationships with others?
• What are your core values?
• What is your purpose — in your role and more grandly, in your life?
• Are you on a mission? What is it? Is it written down? What is the desired timeline for achievement?
• What is your vision for your life, your family, your ministry, your career?

People often profess “God, family, and service” or similar value priorities. God is not just the first priority among priorities; He purifies and gives purpose to everything.

Leaders are servants committed to improving the quality of life for themselves and for the world around them through authentic self-expression that adds value through their relationships, in the example of Christ and in service to God. They act in evidence of the Holy Spirit who shows up in their service to family, their businesses and customers, friends, neighborhoods, church, communities, civic and social groups, governments and even society as a whole… God is not a priority; He is in every priority. Christian leaders are like slaves to the cause of Christ.

Leadership is an active process of knowing what you want out of life, and what you are going to give with your life. Leadership is being (faith), and doing (obedience). Leaders develop a singleness of purpose; they bring purpose to their roles and give purpose through those roles. Leaders know who they are, where they are going, and how they will get there. How you lead your life not only determines your future, it also determines the future of those around you, because leadership is measured by the product of the behaviors of those around you.

Ask me about a structured Faith-based Change process for developing a renewed clarity of purpose, creating commitment to action, and a focusing on improved results. The truly successful leader understands the difference between who he or she is, and who he or she wants to be. As you continue your journey toward the person you want to be, continue to ask yourself the following questions:

• Where am I today?
• Where do I want to be a year from today? In five years? In ten years?
• What is important?
• If I realize my goals, what will be my rewards?
• What are the consequences if I fail?
• What is standing in my way?
• What are some possible solutions for those obstacles?
• What specific action steps do I need to take to accomplish my goals?

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
~ Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)