Seth Godin has the uncanny knack of hitting the nail-on-the-head of many a "nail" I've been pondering. I thought he nailed a great leadership principle in this recent post:
First rule of decision making: More time does not create better decisions.
In fact, it usually decreases the quality of the decision.
More information may help. More time without more information just creates anxiety, not insight.
Deciding now frees up your most valuable asset, time, so you can go work on something else. What happens if, starting today, you make every decision as soon as you have a reasonable amount of data?
Late yesterday afternoon, Tyrone rolled up in his wheelchair to my booth at Sharky's. Tyrone had begun using the wheelchair over two months ago when he injured his foot. But his foot has healed, and Tyrone remains in the wheelchair. Tyrone has grown very attached to his wheelchair.
I asked Tyrone when he was going to get out of the wheelchair and start walking again. He smiled, stood up on his two feet (to show me he could stand)... and then sank back into the wheelchair.
"I can't walk!" Tyrone complained.
"Can't walk... or don't want to walk?" I questioned.
"I've got to go!" Tyrone muttered. He was tired of this conversation, so he rolled off to chat with another one of his friends.
I was talking with God last night and He challenged me to leave behind some weights that were keeping me from becoming more of the man He's calling me to be.
"I can't change!" I complained.
"Can't change... or don't want to?" God questioned.
"I've got to go!" I muttered. I was tired of this conversation, so I walked off dragging my weights behind me.
When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, "Do you want to get well?" - John 5:6 (The Message)
This child has apparently adopted a "let's be friends" approach to local swine... perhaps as a proactive, preventative strategy in response to growing concerns about the spread of swine flu.
I've gotta say, this approach is a bit too extreme for my taste.
On the street I saw a small girl cold and shivering in a thin dress, with little hope of a decent meal. I became angry and said to God; "Why did You permit this? Why don't You do something about it?"
For a while God said nothing. That night He replied, quite suddenly: "I certainly did something about it. I made you."
An individual who had enjoyed a successful career in the television industry found himself homeless and living on the streets. God used the ministry of others to help him find a new start. Now he's helping to tell the stories of other homeless people. Check out their stories on InvisiblePeople.tv.
Here's one example:
I hope you’ll take the time to watch some of these stories. There are real people behind those faces. Then share the InvisiblePeople.tv link with others.
Wow... praise God for the many, many ways in which He glorified Himself on WATS (We Are The Sermon) Day! I love it when the church leaves the building... and the SoHills church left the building in a powerful way yesterday.
I'm writing these words on Sunday evening, so my WATS 2009 perspective at this moment are the two projects the incredible team I had the privilege of working with completed. While I was tremendously impressed that our team was able to scrape and paint two houses in one afternoon... the God-moments of our day for me were the ways in which our team showed Jesus to each other, and especially to the sweet ladies whose houses we painted.
And I want to say a special thank you to Riley Stirman for his thoughtful WATS Day greeting... and the creativity he showed in expressing it to me. I know the homeowner must be as thrilled as I am to have this emblazoned on the side of their house.
I first heard about TOMS shoes a couple of years ago. TOMS' approach is simple and straightforward: every time you buy a pair of their shoes, TOMS gives a free pair of shoes to a child in need. One for one. Watch this video and be inspired.
TOMS plans to give 300,000 shoes away in 2009 to kids in need all over the world.
The pilot on a flight out of DFW came on with an important announcement: "We have enough fuel to get to Atlanta."
Hmmm. I probably was assuming that before he mentioned it. Is this something I really wanted to have brought to my attention? Is this something I needed to hear?
I started to imagine all the other situations in which I really would not appreciate an announcement. How about a nurse who assures you that the needle she's about to stick in your arm has never been used before? Or a waitress who mentions that the cook washed his hands before he made your sandwich? Again, really something I prefer you not call to my attention.
A boyfriend who says that he is not going to break up with you today? A boss who is not going to fire you? (Okay, in today's economic climate, that one might be nice reassurance to have.)
But we often say too much.
Here are five situations in which I'm thinking saying less would have been more:
1) Describing one more product feature, after the customer's facial expression indicates that she has already decided to buy. By describing an additional feature, the only thing you can possibly do is trigger an objection the customer had never considered.
2) Beginning any meeting or speaking opportunity by letting people know that you are poorly prepared, or that you prepared at the last minute. At a minimum, this demonstrates a lack of respect for the importance of the event, or other participants. In most cases, you also significantly decrease your listeners' receptivity to what you're about to say.
3) Asking a question that shows you have absolutely no idea about something you really should understand. I know, people often say there's no such thing as a dumb question. But, frankly, that's just... well, dumb. Sometimes it's much wiser to do some research (or ask a friend) in order to get some basic facts, and then come back with "smarter" questions.
4) Trying for a second laugh after your first spontaneous comment proves amusing. (Think of this as the "George Costanza rule" for any of you who are Seinfeld fans.) It almost never works. Quit while you're ahead.
5) Assuring people things won't happen that people never imaged would. An airplane with enough fuel should be a given.
Husband of Susan, Pop of Katie Lea and Caroline, adopted Dad of Serge, part of the Rwanda Children leadership team. Rwanda Children doesn't preview or approve this blog. My views are my views.
I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no "brief candle" to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. ... George Bernard Shaw
Many people die with their music still in them. ... Oliver Wendell Holmes
Great leaders don't create followers. Great leaders create leaders.
The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. ... Dorothy Parker
God is looking for those with whom he can do the impossible- What a pity that we plan things we can only do by ourselves. ... A. W. Tozer
Leadership is scarce because few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead. ... Seth Godin
The great illusion of leadership is is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there. ... Henri Nouwen Jesus used stories when he spoke to the people. In fact, he did not tell them anything without using stories. ... Matthew 13:34 CEV
Seth Godin has the uncanny knack of hitting the nail-on-the-head of many a "nail" I've been pondering. I thought he nailed a great leadership principle in this recent post:
