By: Carey Nieuwhof

NYT bestselling author and recovering lawyer, Bob Goff, talks about rebuilding when your life breaks down, how to dream bigger than you ever have, and what never losing a case at law taught him about life.

This wide-ranging interview is a tour de force of what’s possible when you realize you can dream.

Welcome to Episode 349 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.

Plus, in this episode’s What I’m Thinking About segment, Carey talks about 5 characteristics of great leaders.

Guest Links

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Website

Episode Links

Lead to Win

Are you a leader who wants proven, practical advice to guide you through the complexities of leadership today? If so, you’ve got to listen to my friends, Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller’s podcast, Lead to Win. It’s one of the best podcasts for getting practical leadership wisdom.

On it, Michael and Megan share from their experience of more than 40 years of professional experience leading teams and driving results. They’ve been where you are. And they have the insights and strategies to help you where you are today. One of my favorite things about their podcast is that it’s not just strategies to grow your business, though they have plenty of that. They’re about helping you prioritize The Double Win, where you win at work and succeed at life.

Search for Lead to Win wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, and you’ll get weekly leadership lessons to help you build the Double Win!

Serve HQ

We recently partnered with ServeHQ. If you’ve never heard of them, they offer two online subscription software tools for churches—TrainedUp and HuddleUp.

These tools are used to equip and engage your church no matter where they are. With the ability to send highly engaging mass video text messages and video emails, your church will always be in the loop and know what’s going on. Their safe chat feature lets you stay in direct contact with your people without worrying about inappropriate private communications. It’s like a smart private social platform for your church members and volunteers.

And, ServeHQ’s training features let you offer engaging online video courses for volunteer training, Bible training, member onboarding, or leadership training. You can use their library of over 800 videos or create your own training using their simple training builder.

Get a free, no obligation 14-day trial account at
ServeHQ.church

CONVERSATION LINKS

Dream Big by Bob Goff

Love Does by Bob Goff

Love Does organization

CNLP 278: Ian Morgan Cron on How Your Enneagram Profile Positions You for Burnout, Pride, Cynicism and Other Hidden Traps in Life and Leadership

CNLP 138: Bob and Maria Goff Behind the Scenes: Being Happily Married to Your Opposite, Overcoming Setbacks and Thriving in Life and Ministry

CNLP 241: Ian Morgan Cron on Using Your Enneagram Number to Boost Self-Awareness, Spiritual Growth and Reduce Conflict at Work and at Home

5 Surprising Characteristics that Separate Great Leaders from Other Leaders by Carey Nieuwhof

3 INSIGHTS FROM BOB

1. Choose your battles

In 25 years of law, Bob never lost a case. That’s crazy good. You would think that means he is a really great lawyer (which he is), but Bob gives more credit to his ability as a picker rather than his ability as a lawyer. He won’t take cases he doesn’t think he can win. He applies this principle to the rest of his life, as well.

Bob has noticed that most people are quick to engage in arguments that they probably won’t win. You probably do as well. Those arguments just aren’t worth your time. Wouldn’t it be so much better if you focused on the conversations and efforts in your life that will actually go somewhere? If you want to win, choose your arguments.

2. Minor setbacks can be a sign of deeper issues

While at his cabin, Bob does this thing called “water logging” where he looks out over the water for a valuable log that has been left by a tug-boat, sitting vertically in the water. Usually only a few inches of the log is above the water, so Bob finds these massive logs by looking first for the seagulls that perch on them.

He points out that many major issues and opportunities for growth in our lives are like those logs. They go deep into our subconscious but are barely visible from the surface. Maybe you have a bit of frustration or anxiety that bubbles up, but there might be a deep wound causing it. If you want to get better, you need to unearth those problems.

3. Dreams come in all sizes, so dream big

If you want to chase your dreams, you need to look deeper than just asking, “What do I want?” Ask yourself, “Why do I want it?” And, if the reason you want something is healthy, go after it! Bob recommends that you take action on your courageous dreams now. Write the letter, make the ask, do what you can today to start it.

Your dream won’t always be a career dream. Sometimes a dream is a meeting, an event, or a relationship in your life. One of Bob’s dreams is to be an amazing grandpa, and he will be chasing that dream forever. Another of his dreams was tea with the Queen of England, so he sent her a letter! Your ambitions come in small, medium, and large sizes. Bob would love for you to pursue all of them.

Quotes from Episode 349

God isn’t dazzled when you go across the ocean, he’s wowed when you go across the street. @bobgoffClick To Tweet

God never compares what he creates. @bobgoffClick To Tweet

Instead of giving the world more information, I want to give the world more examples. @bobgoffClick To Tweet

Know what you want, why you want it, and then importantly, decide what you’re going to do about it. @bobgoffClick To Tweet

You want to do awesome advocacy, take a genuine interest in your neighbor across the street. @bobgoffClick To Tweet

Not every argument is one that you need to win. @bobgoffClick To Tweet

You get so much further with kindness and respect. @bobgoffClick To Tweet

If you want to become a great leader, talk less, listen more. @cnieuwhofClick To Tweet

When you listen longer than most people listen, you hear things most people never hear. @cnieuwhofClick To Tweet

Great leaders rush to a question far more often than they rush to an answer. @cnieuwhofClick To Tweet

Great leaders often stay quiet about themselves. @cnieuwhofClick To Tweet

Read or Download the Transcript for Episode 349

Looking for a key quote? More of a reader?

Read or download a free PDF transcript of this episode here.

Watch Back Episodes of The Podcast on YouTube

Select episodes of this podcast are now on YouTube. Our new YouTube Channel gives you a chance to watch some episodes, not just listen. We’ll add select episodes to YouTube as time goes on.

GET YOUR LIFE BACK

Do you want to unlock more of your potential in life and leadership without sacrificing time with your family and your health?

Sounds crazy, but it’s not. I know because I’ve lived it. A few years back, I seriously crashed and burned because the demands on my time and life were bigger than the time I had to accomplish them. I promised myself that wouldn’t happen again.

Today, I still have bigger goals than ever before, but I’ve made fundamental changes that have led to a healthier, happier lifestyle without sacrificing my family and vastly increasing my productivity at work. I’ve taken what I’ve learned during this journey and put it into The High Impact Leader course.

You can complete the three-hour course at your own pace. It’s the most comprehensive content I’ve ever created for leaders to help you reclaim HOURS every day so you can become more effective at work and more present at home. When your time, energy, and priorities are all working together for you, it’ll impact everything you do.

You become a better leader, because you’re doing what you do best when you’re at your best
You become a better spouse, because you’re focused at home
You become a better parent, neighbor, and friend, because you actually have time off to relax and engage

These principles will free you to thrive in every area of your life.

You can learn more and gain instant access today.

Subscribed Yet? 

Subscribe for free and never miss out on wisdom from world-class leaders like Brian Houston, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Nancy Duarte, Henry Cloud, Patrick Lencioni, Francis Chan, Ann Voskamp, Erwin McManus and many others.

Subscribe using your favorite podcast app via

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google Play

Stitcher

TuneIn

Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review

Hopefully, this episode has helped you lead like never before. That’s my goal. If you appreciated it, could you share the love?

The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Stitcher and on TuneIn as well.

Your ratings and reviews help us place the podcast in front of new leaders and listeners. Your feedback also lets me know how I can better serve you.

Thank you for being so awesome.

Next Episode: Ryan Hawk

Podcaster, author and speaker, Ryan Hawk, has interviewed some of the top names in leadership including Jim Collins, Seth Godin, Liz Wiseman and Gen. Stanley McChrystal. But a few years ago, he knew no one of that caliber in leadership. Ryan shares how his unique approach (learned in sales) opened doors to world-class leaders, and how leaders can go from top performers to true leaders.

Subscribe for free now so you won’t miss Episode 350.

The post CNLP 349: Bob Goff on Breaking Out of Safe, Dreaming Bigger Than You Think You Can and How to Make a Difference Across the Street appeared first on CareyNieuwhof.com.

Source: CNLP 349: Bob Goff on Breaking Out of Safe, Dreaming Bigger Than You Think You Can and How to Make a Difference Across the Street

The post CNLP 349: Bob Goff on Breaking Out of Safe, Dreaming Bigger Than You Think You Can and How to Make a Difference Across the Street appeared first on Passion for Planting.

Source: Keep Your Passion for Jesus Boiling Hot

The post Keep Your Passion for Jesus Boiling Hot appeared first on Passion for Planting.

by Carey Nieuwhof: Few people have impacted Carey’s personal journey as much as Terry Wardle. That’s why it’s such a thrill to bring podcast listeners this interview.

Terry talks about why so many leaders cave under the pressure of leadership, what’s underneath the moral failure so many leaders experienced, and how to grieve the losses that come your way in leadership and ministry.

Welcome to Episode 309 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.

Guest Links

Facebook | Website | Healing Care | Some Kind of Crazy

Episode Links

Financial Peace University

Financial Peace University has helped nearly 6 MILLION PEOPLE take control of their money, pay off debt and build wealth. And they’re looking for leaders, like you, to help lead a class.

You don’t have to be a financial expert or debt-free. You don’t even have to take the class before leading it. In fact, 40% of group leaders lead a class while taking it for the first time. Plus, a dedicated advisor will walk with you through every step of leading a class.

AND they’ll give you everything you need—for FREE.

Simply text GIVEHOPE to 33789.

RightNow Media

Looking for ways to develop and equip leaders around you? Our partner, RightNow Media has created the world’s largest library of video-driven Bible studies, leadership training, and personal care resources. They have content from some of my former guests like Patrick Lencioni, Henry Cloud, Ann Voskamp, Francis Chan, J.D. Greear, and they cover topics like marriage, personal finance, mental health, and so much more. More than 20,000 churches, schools, and businesses already subscribe to RightNow Media’s streaming platform.

They’re offering podcast listeners a free trial when you visit
RightNowMedia.org/Carey.

Conversation Links

A Failure of Nerve by Edwin H. Friedman

Some Kind of Crazy by Terry Wardle

Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

The End of Memory by Miroslav Volf

Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman

Slingstones Podcast by Terry Wardle

Healing Care Mandate International

The High Impact Leader

3 Insights from Terry

1. Dysfunctional behavior is usually the symptom of a deeper problem

Terry is convinced that aberrant behavior is driven by deep wounds and false beliefs and ungrieved loss. When he looks back on his life, his depression, workaholism, and agoraphobia was never the problem, it was the symptom of a deeper problem of ungrieved losses from his past.

Eventually, Terry was able to work through the deeper issues of his past, and has since begun leading others through a similar healing journey. He works with people who have addictions, anger issues, deep depression, and many other struggles so that they can begin to attack the real wounds that are impacting them.

2. Ministry is a series of ungrieved losses

“Every loss in life demands an appropriate season of grieving, whether you’ve lost your favorite person or your favorite end.” Now, when Terry walks into a room of pastors, he can feel the ungrieved loss in that room. This breaks his heart and causes him to want to help more people.

When Terry first taught this in a seminar, someone grabbed him and said, “Say that quote again. Just say it again.” And he did. When he repeated the statement, the person started to cry because they realized when you experience a loss and just move on, rationalize it, or get onto the business of work, you cheat the grieving process.

3. It takes an emotional laden positive experience to overcome an emotional laden negative experience

Through his time of personal healing and counseling other leaders, Terry has learned that knowing scripture isn’t enough to get over the deep wounds and fears of our past. Terry has learned that it takes an emotional laden positive experience to overcome an emotional laden negative experience.

Just knowing the scripture, “Perfect love casts out fear,” does not cast out fear. It takes a very real experience with perfect love himself to cast out fear. This is what Terry encourages people to seek.

Quotes from Episode 309

Many people and leaders are not stable in their identity, and as a result, they use performance and achievement as a way of advancing themselves. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

Workaholism in ministry is not a matter of theology, it’s a matter of pathology. And until we deal with that pathology, we’re not going to be the men and women that we are supposed to be. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

There’s nothing that beats a person down more than trying to measure up. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

While my gifting and anointing were such that there was advancement in my ministry, I was actually just crushed inside by not dealing with the brokenness of my past. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

When you are basing your ministry on performance, your last performance isn’t good enough. It has to be the next performance. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

People want to kill the pain of loss. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

I am convinced that aberrant behavior is driven by deep wounds and false beliefs and ungrieved loss. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

Loss is meant to be grieved. And when we fail to grieve losses, that loss internalizes. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

If you have the fruit of dysfunction, you have the root of wounding. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

Grieving loss begins with finding a safe environment with people that are non condemning, empathic, who are confidential and who finally give you the permission to say what’s inside and say it like it is. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

Every wound in life, every loss in life, every false belief, needs confronted in the presence of Christ so we can be freed from those. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

When Jesus was at his worst, God didn’t give him a scripture. He gave him an experience of his presence. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

Change doesn’t happen because someone told you you need to change, change happens when you’re desperate enough to say, I must change. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

I think many of us try to forgive before we grieve. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

You got to grieve the losses that have come your way. And then if there’s someone to forgive after you’ve grieved it, you’ll have the strength to go ahead and forgive. – Terry WardleClick To Tweet

You’ll know when forgiveness is complete when the issue no longer comes to mind. – Miroslav VolfClick To Tweet

Read or Download the Transcript for Episode 309

Looking for a key quote? More of a reader?

Read or download a free PDF transcript of this episode here.

Watch Back Episodes of The Podcast on YouTube

Select episodes of this podcast are now on YouTube. Our new YouTube Channel gives you a chance to watch some episodes, not just listen. We’ll add select episodes to YouTube as time goes on.

Didn’t See It Coming Will Help You Solve the Problems Most Leaders Miss

If you want practical help overcoming some of the biggest challenges leaders face, my book Didn’t See It Coming: Overcoming the 7 Greatest Challenges That Nobody Expects and Everyone Experiences tackles the seven core issues that take people out: cynicism, compromise, disconnectedness, irrelevance, pride, burnout, and the emptiness of success and provides strategies on how to combat each.

I wrote the book because no 18 year old sets out to be cynical, jaded and disconnected by age 35. Yet it happens all the time.

The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here’s what top leaders are saying about Didn’t See It Coming:

“Seriously, this may be the most important book you read this year.” Jud Wilhite, Lead Pastor, Central Church

“Powerful, personal, and highly readable. ” Brian Houston, Global Senior Pastor, Hillsong

“Whatever challenge you’re facing, whatever obstacle you’re hoping to overcome, whatever future you dream or imagine, there is something powerful for you here.” Andy Stanley, Founder, North Point Ministries

“Uncommonly perceptive and generous…You have to read this book.” Ann Voskamp, NYT bestselling author

“Masterful.” Reggie Joiner, CEO Orange

“Deep biblical insight, straightforward truth, and practical wisdom to help you grow.” Craig Groeschel, Pastor and NYT bestselling author

“This book is sure to help you.” Daniel H. Pink, NYT bestselling author

Over the years, one of the things I’ve enjoyed most about being a public speaker is having opportunities to hang out with Carey…It’s not a matter of if you’ll run into these challenges; it’s a matter of when. Be prepared by spending a little time with a leader who has already been there.” Jon Acuff, NYT best-selling author

“Nieuwhof’s book provides expert guidance…with an accuracy that pierces the heart.” Nancy Duarte, CEO Duarte Inc.

“A refreshingly transparent guide for all leaders in a wide variety of industries.” Bryan Miles, Co-Founder and CEO, BELAY

You can learn more and get your copy of Didn’t See It Coming here.

Subscribed Yet? 

Subscribe for free and never miss out on wisdom from world-class leaders like Brian Houston, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Nancy Duarte, Henry Cloud, Patrick Lencioni, Francis Chan, Ann Voskamp, Erwin McManus and many others.

Subscribe using your favorite podcast app via

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google Play

Stitcher

TuneIn

Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review

Hopefully, this episode has helped you lead like never before. That’s my goal. If you appreciated it, could you share the love?

The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Stitcher and on TuneIn as well.

Your ratings and reviews help us place the podcast in front of new leaders and listeners. Your feedback also lets me know how I can better serve you.

Thank you for being so awesome.

Next Episode: Jasmine Star

Jasmine Star dropped out of law school, didn’t even own a camera, and within 4 years was one of top photographers in the world. These days as a strategist, entrepreneur and social media influencer, Jasmine talks about how to find and connect with your dream customer or audience, how focusing on who you want to reach drives growth, and how to protect your online message against the algorithm changes that happen all the time.

Subscribe for free now and you won’t miss Episode 310.

The post CNLP 309: Terry Wardle on Why So Many Leaders Cave Under the Pressures of Leadership, Why Leaders Implode Morally, and How to Grieve Your Leadership Losses appeared first on CareyNieuwhof.com.

Source: CNLP 309: Terry Wardle on Why So Many Leaders Cave Under the Pressures of Leadership, Why Leaders Implode Morally, and How to Grieve Your Leadership Losses

The post CNLP 309: Terry Wardle on Why So Many Leaders Cave Under the Pressures of Leadership, Why Leaders Implode Morally, and How to Grieve Your Leadership Losses appeared first on Passion for Planting.

Today’s post is written by Mark Clark. Mark is Senior Pastor of Village Church in Vancouver, a close friend, and co-creator of our course The Art of Better Preaching.

By Mark Clark

I have the great opportunity to not only communicate as part of my job – as a preacher, writer, conference speaker, etc., – but actually help train up preachers and communicators in different settings (church ministry, marketplace leaders, etc.,)

Here are five things I tell them to stop doing!

1. Stop pretending

Authenticity is the new currency of leadership.

So stop pretending. Stop using THAT voice.

You know the one – the preacher voice. False vulnerability. False concern. False ups and downs. Just be you.

Talk and proclaim to people as a real person. Use biblical language certainly but not heightened Christianese that nobody understands – or trusts – anymore.

Be a real person. A bruised reed. A leader with a limp. Not the hero of the story.

Be a real person. A bruised reed. A leader with a limp. Not the hero of the story. – @markaclark Click To Tweet

2. Stop being content-weak

Be theologically informed. Call people to think and feel on a deeper level.

There is a huge amount of stuff out there that is saying nothing. Don’t copy that if you are an up-and-comer.

It will scare you into thinking you can’t give people heavy ideas without losing them. It’s not true. You can hold people, but you have to work hard at it.

You know what you do now? The hours you put into writing, reading, and forming that message? You likely have to work even harder than that. And you’ll have to illustrate those heavy concepts in real life for them to land and stick.

3. Stop being boring

The scholars on the blog you read daily may care how many footnotes you have in your sermon or what a good ecclesiological hermeneutic is but most people are trying to pay the bills, hold on to their marriage and understand why God allowed fill in the blank.

Don’t bore them. Inspire them.

Ask why five thousand people followed Jesus out to the middle of nowhere and listened to his vision for their life, and ask whether you could get even a dozen to do the same. If not, why not?

Being theological accurate and yet boring is a kind of sin.

It abandons the reality of the gospel and its effect on our real lives.

Being theological accurate and yet boring is a kind of sin. – @markaclark Click To Tweet

4. Stop wasting precious time

How many times are you sitting there waiting for the preacher to SAY SOMETHING?

Greeting. Intro. Announcements. The passage. What I’m going to say. What I said. Get on with it.

You only have a few minutes every week and eternity is in the balance.

Hi, I’m so and so, open your bibles, here’s what that means! Jesus. Repent. See you next week. Repeat.

5. Stop not trusting the Gospel

I know it sounds like something I should be saying but it’s just true.

The message about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, not just a message about God generically, really is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). The means by which God saves people. More so than your series brand, or marketing ideas.

You want to see people meet Jesus and be saved from sin, death and Hell. How?

He tells us. It isn’t by being forced through some legalistic burden – to read your sermon word for word like you’re giving a paper at a mining conference.

The letter of the law is dead, the spirit of the letter is what brings life.

Nor is it by jumping around, working people’s emotions, trying to control the energy in a room.

Such things create false disciples. Counterfeit conversions.

What’s more tragic than that?

Why bury the gospel under, well, everything else?

The gospel is where the power lies. To change lives. Every week. Without fail. Start doing that. I believe in you!

The gospel is where the power lies. To change lives. Every week. Without fail. – @markaclark Click To Tweet

Looking for Training?

Ever wish someone could come alongside you to walk you through the finer points of the art of better preaching?

That’s exactly what my good friend Mark Clark and I do in our course, The Art of Better Preaching. We’ve even got a full unit on how to leave your notes behind the next time you give a talk.

Every week, Mark and I preach to thousands of churched and unchurched people, Mark at Village Church in Vancouver BC, and me at Connexus Church north of Toronto. We have very different styles, which means this course is not a preach-just-like-me approach to preaching.

You can customize it to help you preach better messages, and it draws from the rich tradition of different approaches that actually connect with unchurched people. Plus, we share our best secrets on how to craft the best messages we know how to create.

In the course, Mark and I cover:

The Why and How of Preaching
How to Preach to the Unchurched
How to Give a Talk Without Using Notes
How to Craft a Killer Bottom Line So People Remember Your Talk Years Later
How to Stay Fresh over the Long Haul

And much more.

We’re so excited to help you become the best communicator you can be.

Sunday’s coming. Boost your ability to connect!

Get the Art of Better Preaching

What else should preachers stop doing? 

Leave a comment below!

The post 5 Things Preachers Should Stop Doing! appeared first on CareyNieuwhof.com.

Source: 5 Things Preachers Should Stop Doing!

The post 5 Things Preachers Should Stop Doing! appeared first on Passion for Planting.

by Shawn Lovejoy: Many things attempt to kill your leadership:

Isolation…Fatigue…Character Issues…Moral Failure…and the list goes on.

However, there might be one thing that’s more dangerous than all of the others because it’s more of a silent killer. It’s subtle. It’s gradual. No one can tell it’s happening.

A leader’s #1 silent killer is when We Stop Learning.

When we stop learning, we stop growing. When we stop growing, we start dying. We get caught up managing, and we stop leading. We help everyone else at the expense of our own leadership.

You won’t make it if you allow yourself to stop learning.

Here are 3 ways to ensure that your leadership continues to grow as you learn over the long-haul.

Bite-Size Learning

Overwhelm is a big reason leaders stop learning. Trying to ingest too much new information or learn everything about a subject in a short timeframe is too much. Instead, make it a point to learn a little bit each day. Instead of reading an entire book, or even an entire chapter from a book, read a few pages each day. Learning is more sustainable when learning is easily doable.

Schedule Learning

Put. Learning. On. Your. Calendar. Just like everything else, you need to schedule blocks of time to grow. The moment I start managing more than leading, I’m in trouble. The moment I get so busy working IN IT, that I stop working ON IT, I start dying slowly. I may not notice it, but others will. Get ahead today by scheduling time to learn on your calendar.

Get a Coach

All of this is why I have always been a big fan of coaching and mentoring. I currently have multiple sets of personal coaching/mentoring relationships. I realize that I need to keep learning for my leadership and organization to grow. I MUST keep learning and growing! So must you!

What do you need to do today to put yourself in a posture of new learning and growth? How are you learning? When are you growing? Who are your coaches?

We would love to talk about coaching with you. Simply schedule a FREE 30-Minute Strategy Session today to find out what that looks like!

talk to a coach

order now

Source: Why You Won’t Make It

The post Why You Won't Make It appeared first on Passion for Planting.

by Carey Nieuwhof: Luis Palau has been leading crusades for over 53 years. In this powerful interview, he talks about his friendship with Billy Graham, why crusades were so effective a generation ago, and how he and his team changed the methods to keep the mission alive.

Luis is now 84 and has stage 4 cancer, but you’d never know it. He has more energy and passion than most 24 year olds, and shares how he has kept his vitality so strong over eight decades.

Welcome to Episode 268 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.

Guest Links

Luis Palau | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Palau: A Life on Fire

Episode Links

Check out the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on YouTube! Yep. We’ve added a YouTube Channel for our visual listeners. Are all 268 episodes there? Nope. But it’s a start and we’ll continue to make that available to you whenever we can. Enjoy!

Want to reach more people online? Pro Media Fire has the media solution that’s right for your church at promediafire.com/carey. Podcast listeners receive 10% off for life.

Did you miss the launch of Church Growth Masterclass? That’s okay because it’s still available for you. Take a look today and move past the barriers that are keeping you from growing.

BillyGraham.org

Revival in Our Time – Billy Graham

CNLP 109: Chuck Swindoll on How He Interprets the Scripture and Stays Fresh in Leadership

CNLP 152: Eugene Peterson on Why He Wrote The Message, the Rhythms of a Reflective Life + Mark Batterson and Adam Weber on Peterson’s Legacy

CNLP 263: Horst Schulze with Lessons from the Ritz-Carlton on Coaching the Best from a Team when You Can’t Pay Top Wages, What Guests Really Want, How to Satisfy a Customer and What to do with Customer Complaints

3 Insights from Luis

1. When preaching the Gospel, stay politically neutral

The Kingdom of God is above the kingdoms of this world. We are not here to promote one party. Luis has learned that if you a take side, you close off the other side. We evangelists and pastors don’t know who we have in our audiences on Sunday morning. There’s bound to be democrats, republicans and all sorts of other descriptions of individuals. We are supposed to be above all that.

When we are speaking for the Lord, we cannot be taking sides. As ambassadors of the Gospel, we want all people, left, right and center, whatever else, to be brought into the Kingdom of God. We need to be very careful, in the days when the political heat is heavy, that we don’t allow ourselves to be buttonholed as this or that side. If we want to change the political landscape, we must start by winning people to Christ.

2. Even though the methods have changed, the message never does

Evangelistic crusades in stadiums and arenas were a huge part of Luis’ ministry in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Now he has shifted to a more festival style approach. When explaining why he does this, Luis stated – We must not confuse methods with message… To get non-believers into a stadium is getting harder and harder. Whereas if you’re on the street, or the beach, or a park, it’s a place everybody shows up.

To continue to preach the message to more and more unbelievers, Luis’ method of delivery had to change. This is why he shifted to the festival approach. As the church, this same insight can be applied to how we are reaching our cities with the Gospel. Our methods should always be changing, but our message never should.

3. Prayer is not a button to be pushed, but a relationship to be pursued

Growing up, Luis’ mother was a critical part of his learning to pray. She lead their family in deep prayer when they had very little and were relying on God for provision daily, In looking back on that time, he sees that he learned how to pray by praying.

Luis has had that insight for many years. Since his cancer diagnosis, he has also learned that you learn to pray with understanding, not only with your spirit as Paul says, but with your understanding. As you pray and delight yourself in the Lord your understanding becomes more like God’s understanding, and then, you are praying in alignment with His will.

Quotes from Episode 268

Billy Graham showed me that you can speak to the world boldly and respectfully, but not be one of them. @LuisPalauLiveClick To Tweet

When you’re speaking for the Lord, you’re not taking sides. @LuisPalauLiveClick To Tweet

We must not confuse methods with message. @LuisPalauLiveClick To Tweet

You learn to pray by praying. @LuisPalauLiveClick To Tweet

Whoever is faithful in little is faithful also in much. Whoever is faithless in very little is faithless in much. @LuisPalauLiveClick To Tweet

Read or Download the Transcript for Episode 268

Looking for a key quote? More of a reader?

Read or download a free PDF transcript of this episode here.

Get Your Church Growing (Again…or for the First Time)

Getting a stuck church growing, or helping a church that’s reaching new people grow even further can seem daunting.

It doesn’t have to be.

Whether you’re a church that isn’t growing, has plateaued, or whether you wish your church was growing faster than it is, I’d love to help you break through. That’s why I created the Church Growth Masterclass.

The Church Growth Masterclass is everything I wish I knew about church growth when I got into ministry more than 20 years ago.

Naturally, I can’t make a church grow. You can’t make a church grow. Only God can do that.

But I believe you can position your church to grow.

You can knock down the barriers that keep you from growing. You can eliminate the things that keep your church from growing and implement some strategies that will help you reach far more people. That’s what I’d love to help you do in the Church Growth Masterclass.

In the Church Growth Masterclass I’ll show you:

The 10 reasons your church isn’t growing
Why even committed church-goers aren’t attending as often as before
How to tell if your church leaders are getting burned out
The 5 keys to your church better impacting millennials.
What to do when a church wants to grow … but not change
5 essentials for church growth
5 disruptive church trends to watch—and how to respond
How to increase church attendance by increasing engagement.

The Church Growth Masterclass includes a complete set of videos that you can play with your team, board or staff, PDF workbooks that will help you tackle the issues you’re facing, and bonus materials that will help you navigate the most pressing issues facing churches that want to reach their cities today.

You can learn more and gain instant access to the course today.

Subscribed Yet? 

Subscribe for free and never miss out on wisdom from world-class leaders like Brian Houston, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Nancy Duarte, Henry Cloud, Patrick Lencioni, Francis Chan, Ann Voskamp, Erwin McManus and many others.

Subscribe using your favorite podcast app via

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google Play

Stitcher

TuneIn

Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review

Hopefully, this episode has helped you lead like never before. That’s my goal. If you appreciated it, could you share the love?

The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Stitcher and on TuneIn as well.

Your ratings and reviews help us place the podcast in front of new leaders and listeners. Your feedback also lets me know how I can better serve you.

Thank you for being so awesome.

Next Episode: Dave & Ann Wilson   

Dave and Ann Wilson fell in love and were married young. 9 months later, they were fighting every day. Their struggles continued on and off for years and at one point Dave told Ann he’d rather be dead than married to her. All through this, they were leading in ministry and even planting what would go on to become a large and influential church. 39 years into it, they are very much in love and learned how to get healthy. In this interview, they share the truth about love, sex, conflict and marriage.

Subscribe for free now and you won’t miss Episode 269.

The post CNLP 268: Luis Palau on His Friendship With Billy Graham, How Evangelism Has Changed, And How to Be More Alive at Age 84 than Most 24 year olds appeared first on CareyNieuwhof.com.

Source: CNLP 268: Luis Palau on His Friendship With Billy Graham, How Evangelism Has Changed, And How to Be More Alive at Age 84 than Most 24 year olds

The post CNLP 268: Luis Palau on His Friendship With Billy Graham, How Evangelism Has Changed, And How to Be More Alive at Age 84 than Most 24 year olds appeared first on Passion for Planting.

by Carey Nieuwhof: When she was in eigth grade, Margaret Feinberg’s teachers asked the class to write a story. While most students turned in four pages, Margaret turned in a 127 page book.

Today, Margaret has sold over a million books and in this episode, we unpack how not being one of the cool kids shaped Margaret for the future, dissect the daily disciplines she uses to create content, why she spends 95% of her time as a writer marketing, and why never mixing business and pleasure has been so energizing for her.

Welcome to Episode 267 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.

Guest Links

Margaret Feinberg | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Joycast | Books & More

Episode Links

Want to reach more people online? Pro Media Fire has the media solution that’s right for your church at promediafire.com/carey. Podcast listeners receive 10% off for life.

Get your volunteers ready to serve with simple online training. Try TrainedUp free for 14 days at servehq.church.

Relevant Media Group

Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson

Into the Silent Land by Martin Laird

3 Insights from Margaret

1. Draw clear lines between work trips and vacations

Logic would say if you’re going somewhere and someone else is covering your travel, it would make sense to tag on a few days either before or after for vacation and rest. The problem that Margaret and her husband have found is that they never fully leave work mode throughout the duration of the trip. Whether they do the vacation portion on the frontend or the backend, their brains never fully disengage from work.

When Margaret and her husband would return from these trips, they would feel more tired and drained than when they left. They now completely separate personal trips from work trips and it has been game-changing for them. Margaret’s rhythm while on a vacation is to spend 10 minutes a day on high-priority email and spend 2 and a half hours working during the middle of the trip. She also does her best to leave her phone in her hotel room as often as possible.

2. In your relationship with God, not everything should be “for sale”

In this life of leadership, and especially church leadership, you can easily make it so that you’re sharing everything you discover from God with others. That is not a healthy place to live. If we are going to stay healthy as leaders, we need to be able to keep a few things just between God and us.

This is really tempting as a preacher, writer, podcaster, or blogger. It is so easy to use those really good lessons from God for our platform, but we need to have a filter so that we have a few things that we keep between God and us. There’s something so healthy and so rich for leaders who practice this. It allows them to have a more unique and personal relationship with God.

3. Writing should be an act of self-sacrifice

Oftentimes, writers sit down and the only thing they write about is themselves. This is a huge problem if you want to reach a broader audience. If you write for yourself, you are the only one who’s going to read your book. As authors and content creators, we have to constantly be thinking about what our audience needs and how we can serve them.

It is helpful to think of an “avatar” that you are trying to write for. Imagine this person’s life situations, struggles, challenges, and what you can do to help them. Margaret often found that the avatars she was trying to serve with her books looked similar to the friends that had become a huge part of her life. Margaret is constantly trying to find ways to practically add value to those people’s lives. She views her writing as an act of love for her audience.

Quotes from Episode 267

If you write for yourself, you are the only one who’s going to read your book. @mafeinbergClick To Tweet

Even if it’s junk, even if it’s not logical, just get it written. @jonacuffClick To Tweet

Writing is an act of self-sacrifice…When I write, I feel the holy hum of God’s presence. @mafeinbergClick To Tweet

When we sit down at a table, we long for so much more than the food on the table. @mafeinbergClick To Tweet

Read or Download the Transcript for Episode 267

Looking for a key quote? More of a reader?

Read or download a free PDF transcript of this episode here.

Get Your Church Growing (Again…or for the First Time)

Getting a stuck church growing, or helping a church that’s reaching new people grow even further can seem daunting.

It doesn’t have to be.

Whether you’re a church that isn’t growing, has plateaued, or whether you wish your church was growing faster than it is, I’d love to help you break through. That’s why I created the Church Growth Masterclass.

The Church Growth Masterclass is everything I wish I knew about church growth when I got into ministry more than 20 years ago.

Naturally, I can’t make a church grow. You can’t make a church grow. Only God can do that.

But I believe you can position your church to grow.

You can knock down the barriers that keep you from growing. You can eliminate the things that keep your church from growing and implement some strategies that will help you reach far more people. That’s what I’d love to help you do in the Church Growth Masterclass.

In the Church Growth Masterclass I’ll show you:

The 10 reasons your church isn’t growing
Why even committed church-goers aren’t attending as often as before
How to tell if your church leaders are getting burned out
The 5 keys to your church better impacting millennials.
What to do when a church wants to grow … but not change
5 essentials for church growth
5 disruptive church trends to watch—and how to respond
How to increase church attendance by increasing engagement.

The Church Growth Masterclass includes a complete set of videos that you can play with your team, board or staff, PDF workbooks that will help you tackle the issues you’re facing, and bonus materials that will help you navigate the most pressing issues facing churches that want to reach their cities today.

You can learn more and gain instant access to the course today.

Subscribed Yet? 

Subscribe for free and never miss out on wisdom from world-class leaders like Brian Houston, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Nancy Duarte, Henry Cloud, Patrick Lencioni, Francis Chan, Ann Voskamp, Erwin McManus and many others.

Subscribe using your favorite podcast app via

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google Play

Stitcher

TuneIn

Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review

Hopefully, this episode has helped you lead like never before. That’s my goal. If you appreciated it, could you share the love?

The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Stitcher and on TuneIn as well.

Your ratings and reviews help us place the podcast in front of new leaders and listeners. Your feedback also lets me know how I can better serve you.

Thank you for being so awesome.

Next Episode: Luis Palau   

Luis Palau has been leading crusades for over 53 years. In this powerful interview, he talks about his friendship with Billy Graham, why crusades were so effective a generation ago, and how he and his team changed the methods to keep the mission alive. Luis is now 84 and has stage 4 cancer, but you’d never know it. He has more energy and passion than most 24 year olds, and shares how he has kept his vitality so strong over eight decades.

Subscribe for free now and you won’t miss Episode 268.

The post CNLP 267: Margaret Feinberg On Why Writing is 95% Marketing (and How to Do It Well) Connecting With Your Audience and The Disciplines That Fuel Content Creation and Vibrant Life appeared first on CareyNieuwhof.com.

Source: CNLP 267: Margaret Feinberg On Why Writing is 95% Marketing (and How to Do It Well) Connecting With Your Audience and The Disciplines That Fuel Content Creation and Vibrant Life

The post CNLP 267: Margaret Feinberg On Why Writing is 95% Marketing (and How to Do It Well) Connecting With Your Audience and The Disciplines That Fuel Content Creation and Vibrant Life appeared first on Passion for Planting.

by Carey Nieuwhof: Michael Hyatt is one of the top influencers in the leadership space today. His books consistently reach the New York Times best sellers list and his company helps millions of leaders a year become better.

In this interview, Michael explains how to focus with far greater effectiveness in a world filled with distraction, how to work less and accomplish more, and shares dozens of practical productivity tips. Plus, he talks about succession and where he’s heading next in life.

Welcome to Episode 261 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.

Guest Links

Michael Hyatt | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Free to Focus

Episode Links

Join me and May 22-23, 2019 in Dallas, TX at the Pushpay Summit. You’ll hear from some incredible leaders as we help you solve your ministry’s hardest problems. Save almost 50% off by using the coupon code: CAREYN.

Get your life and leadership back with the High Impact Leader. It’s an online course you can do on demand to beat burnout and get things done without giving up the things you love most. Check it out at thehighimpactleader.com.

Getting Things Done by David Allen

BELAYSolutions.com

KOLBE.com

Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

3 Insights from Michael

1. Stop total work and find freedom through productivity

People are going crazy with work, some would call it Total Work, and it’s consuming everything in our lives. Productivity should not lead to more work, but, unfortunately, it often does. Different types of freedom should be found through productivity, not more work.

Freedom to focus – which offers margin for problem solving and creativity.

Freedom to be fully present – both at work and at home.

Freedom to be spontaneous – interruptions offer opportunities.

Freedom to do nothing – breakthrough ideas don’t always come with an agenda.

2. Cut the things someone else should be doing and focus on your zone

Michael’s new book, Free to Focus, is all about achieving more by doing less. One way to do that is to make sure to stay in the right zone, the Desire Zone. We achieve the results we’re expected to produce when we apply passion and proficiency.

The Desire Zone: your work produces the most results and leads to more freedom because there’s clear focus.

The Drudgery Zone: your work has no passion or proficiency. Plenty of other people on the team could do what you’re doing, so it’s not the best utilization of your time.

The Disinterest Zone: you’re good what you’re doing, but possess no joy in the work.

The Distraction Zone: you’re not good at the job, but enjoy doing it. It’s a place to get lost in busy work and hide from more important responsibilities – the most dangerous zone.

3. Act with intention in order to be proactive instead of reactive

Imagine your ideal week. If you could design your schedule so that you had 100% control of your time and resources, what would it look like?

While it’s rare to be able to fully consolidate your calendar there are ways to structure it to better suit your work week in order to be more proactive rather than reactive.

Divide your time into 3 categories: Front Stage, Back Stage & Off Stage.

Front Stage: time for you to deliver the results you have been hired to do.

Back Stage: time necessary to prepare in order achieve Front Stage work.

Off Stage: time where work is off the table so that you can rest and rejuvenate in order to get back on the clock.

Quotes from Episode 261

Focus is the superpower in the distraction age. @MichaelHyattClick To Tweet

People can handle no. What they can’t handle is a lack of response. @MichaelHyattClick To Tweet

Productivity should not lead to more work, which it often does…The goal is freedom. @MichaelHyattClick To Tweet

Vision always precedes the resources. You’ve got to get clear on what you want, before you try to figure out how you’re going to make it happen. @MichaelHyattClick To Tweet

It’s easy to leave failure behind, but it’s harder to leave success behind. @cnieuwhofClick To Tweet

Never do anything that someone else can or will do when there is so much of importance to be done which others cannot or will not do. -Dawson TrotmanClick To Tweet

Read or Download the Transcript for Episode 261

Looking for a key quote? More of a reader?

Read or download a free PDF transcript of this episode here.

Get Your Life Back

Do you want to unlock more of your potential in life and leadership without sacrificing time with your family and your health?

Sounds crazy, but it’s not. I know because I’ve lived it. A few years back, I seriously crashed and burned because the demands on my time and life were bigger than the time I had to accomplish them. I promised myself that wouldn’t happen again.

Today, I still have bigger goals than ever before, but I’ve made fundamental changes that have led to a healthier, happier lifestyle without sacrificing my family and vastly increasing my productivity at work. I’ve taken what I’ve learned during this journey and put it into the High Impact Leadercourse.

You can complete the three-hour course at your own pace. It’s the most comprehensive content I’ve ever created for leaders to help you reclaim HOURS every day so you can become more effective at work and more present at home. When your time, energy, and priorities are all working together for you, it’ll impact everything you do.

You become a better leader, because you’re doing what you do best when you’re at your best
You become a better spouse, because you’re focused at home
You become a better parent, neighbor, and friend, because you actually have time off to relax and engage

These principles will free you to thrive in every area of your life.

You can learn more and gain instant access today.

Subscribed Yet? 

Subscribe for free and never miss out on wisdom from world-class leaders like Brian Houston, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Nancy Duarte, Henry Cloud, Patrick Lencioni, Francis Chan, Ann Voskamp, Erwin McManus and many others.

Subscribe using your favorite podcast app via

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google Play

Stitcher

TuneIn

Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review

Hopefully, this episode has helped you lead like never before. That’s my goal. If you appreciated it, could you share the love?

The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Stitcher and on TuneIn as well.

Your ratings and reviews help us place the podcast in front of new leaders and listeners. Your feedback also lets me know how I can better serve you.

Thank you for being so awesome.

Next Episode: Nona Jones 

Nona Jones works for Facebook and shares about what most leaders are missing when it comes to getting people to engage on social media. Nona is also pioneering a way for churches to go beyond social media and dive deeper into social ministry. Plus she shares a host of tips and insights on best and worst practices on social media and where social is heading in the future.

Subscribe for free now and you won’t miss Episode 262.

The post CNLP 261: Michael Hyatt On How To Focus in a Distracted World, How to Get More Done in Far Fewer Hours, and Why Succession Matters appeared first on CareyNieuwhof.com.

Source: CNLP 261: Michael Hyatt On How To Focus in a Distracted World, How to Get More Done in Far Fewer Hours, and Why Succession Matters

The post CNLP 261: Michael Hyatt On How To Focus in a Distracted World, How to Get More Done in Far Fewer Hours, and Why Succession Matters appeared first on Passion for Planting.

by Carey Nieuwhof: If there’s one characteristic I see in successful leaders in growing churches and organizations, it’s passion.

The more church leaders I connect with, the more I see this trend: leaders of growing churches (and growing organizations) have a white hot passion for their mission.

You can hear it in their voice.

You can see it in their eyes.

It spills out of them.

I think John Wesley (or Abraham Lincoln or whoever said this) was right: Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come for miles to watch you burn.

Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come for miles to watch you burn.Click To Tweet

By contrast, leaders of stuck or declining churches or organizations generally do NOT burn with drive, desire or passion.

In fact, I can’t think of a single leader of a growing church who isn’t passionate about their mission.

The problem for most of us is we can’t tell what kind of leader we are. We live in our own skin. It’s hard to get an objective read on our passion level.

Will your passion level always be white hot? No.

My passion level has gone up and down in seasons, but overall, for me to be effective as a leader, it has to be high.

I know that in the seasons in which my passion has been white hot, I’ve led the best.

Here are 5 signs your passion level is white hot.

1. You have a hard time shutting down

Passionate leaders have a hard time shutting down. They are obsessed with the mission.

This isn’t workaholism…that’s different.

I’m talking about people who care so much that it becomes part of who they are. There’s little to no clock-watching. Monday is an opportunity more than it is an ugh.

And yes…I realize there’s a ton of potential pitfalls in being obsessed with your work or even having your identity wrapped up in it.

But I don’t think Jesus spent most of his days pining for 4:00 so he could go home and watch Jeopardy after dinner or work on perfecting his golf score.

Yes…he took breaks and rested. But his burden was always for people and for his Father.

To be transparent, I’ve grown a little weary of people who call for ‘balance’ in life and in mission. As I outline in the High Impact Leader, most people who make a significant difference don’t live balanced lives; they live passionate lives.

Most leaders who make a significant impact don’t live balanced lives; they live passionate lives.Click To Tweet

Of course, there is a ton of meaning outside work, but too many people forget there is a ton of meaning inside work and ministry.

Obviously, to make life work, you need clear boundaries. The best leaders leaders find clear boundaries, but as a rule, they have to restrain themselves from putting too much time into the mission.

The goal isn’t burnout—it’s passion. And passion can be hard to turn off.

That’s actually a good thing!

There’s a ton of meaning outside work. But there’s a ton of meaning inside work too.Click To Tweet

2. You invest on your own dime and your own time

I think what you do on your own dime and your own time speaks volumes about your heart.

If work is something you do only when someone else is paying or when you’re officially on the clock, it speaks volumes about what you really value.

I’ve worked in churches that have had no budget and I’ve probably over-invested in the ministry at the expense of my family. That’s not what I’m talking about.

But truly passionate leaders don’t mind picking up the check personally, or taking part of a ‘day off’ to work on a project or help someone out once in while.

If you’re only working when you’re working or paying when someone else is picking up the tab, chances are your passion isn’t white hot.

What you do on your own dime and your own time as a leader speaks volumes about your heart.Click To Tweet

3. Possibilities excite you more than problems weigh you down

Passionate leaders are always more excited about the possibilities than they are weighed down by problems.

In every organization there are problems, and sometimes there are BIG problems.

But passionate leaders are determined to remove problems—even big ones—and get moving because the possibilities are so exciting.

Where other leaders see only obstacles, passionate leaders see opportunities.

Where other leaders see only obstacles, passionate leaders see opportunities. Click To Tweet

If you see more problems than possibilities, it will be hard to motivate a team to follow you.

So how do you get your eyes off the problems?

Leaders who focus on the possibilities find the problems tend to take care of themselves. Leaders who focus on the problems find the possibilities eventually evaporate.

Choose your focus carefully.

Leaders who focus on the possibilities find the problems tend to take care of themselves. Click To Tweet

4. You can’t stop investing in people

Don’t get me wrong, passionate leaders have hobbies and pursuits that have nothing to do with work.

They cycle or fly fish or BBQ or run marathons or camp or do yoga.

But passionate leaders can’t help but see people through the lens of their life mission. They pray for their neighbours. They throw parties for unchurched friends.

You’ll find them hanging out with people who are far from God because it’s part of who they are, not just a part of what they do.

They become beacons in their community and people who want nothing to do with Jesus come to them for advice.

They can’t help but bring the love and hope of Jesus in some way into every aspect of their lives.

5. The mission is something you GET to do

We have a very negative view of work in our culture (especially Canadian culture). That can seep into our world view as church leaders.

Not every day is going to be a picnic in ministry. You will have headaches and frustrations.

Some days you will drag yourself in. You will make yourself do what you’re called to do simply because you’re called to do it.

And even though I’ve said “Love what you do and you’ll never work another day in your life” before, I agree with Jon Acuff that the saying isn’t 100% true. (Read Jon’s awesome perspective here).

Some days are work. And that’s okay.

But overall, leaders who have a white hot passion for their mission realize work is something they get to do, not something they have to do.

The difference in your attitude will leak to your team and to your congregation.

And Christians, we GET to do this! God could have brought hope and forgiveness to people any way he wanted to, but he chose you.

Leadership is a privilege, not a burden.

Leadership is a privilege, not a burden. Passionate leaders lead like that’s true.Click To Tweet

Passion Level Need Some Help?

If your passion level needs a boost (or you want to test out it’s limit), my new book Didn’t See It Coming: Overcoming the 7 Greatest Challenges That Nobody Expects and Everyone Experiences is all about spotting the things that suck the passion and joy out of your life and leadership.

No idealistic 18 year old sets out to be cynical, jaded and disconnected by age 35, yet it happens all the time. Ask them how they got there, and they’ll tell you they just didn’t see it coming.

The question is: can you see it coming? The good news is, you can.

Didn’t See It Coming reveals the seven core issues that take people out: cynicism, compromise, disconnectedness, irrelevance, pride, burnout, and the emptiness of success.

Discover how to reverse the most significant challenges to your life, closing the gap between who you are and who you’ve always longed to be.

You can pre-order your copy now (hardcover, Kindle or AudioBook narrated by me).

What do you think?

What are some signs you’ve seen that a leader’s passion is white hot?

Scroll down and leave a comment!

The post Do You Have the Passion Level of a Successful Leader? How to Tell appeared first on CareyNieuwhof.com.

Source: Do You Have the Passion Level of a Successful Leader? How to Tell

The post Do You Have the Passion Level of a Successful Leader? How to Tell appeared first on Passion for Planting.

by Carey Nieuwhof: If there’s one characteristic I see in successful leaders, it’s passion.

The more church leaders I connect with, the more I see this trend: leaders of growing churches (and growing organizations) have a white hot passion for their mission.

You can hear it in their voice.

You can see it in their eyes.

It spills out of them.

Sure, passion waxes and wanes in all of us (even in the best leaders). But one of the differences between leaders who are effective over the long haul and those who are not is that the effective leaders always find a way to keep the passion for the future alive.

By contrast, leaders of stuck or declining churches or organizations generally do NOT burn with drive, desire or passion.

In fact, I can’t think of a single leader of a growing church who isn’t passionate about their mission.

Craig Groeschel is a great example of someone who has led for decades but who seems to be more passionate today than he was a decade ago, and even more effective as a leader.

The problem for most of us is we can’t tell what kind of leader we are.

We live in our own skin. It’s hard to get an objective read on our passion level.

I think there are 5 ways you can tell if you’re truly passionate about what you do.

1. You Have A Hard Time Shutting Down

Passionate leaders have a hard time shutting down. They are obsessed with the mission.

This isn’t workaholism…that’s different.

I’m talking about people who care so much that it becomes part of who they are.

And yes…I realize there’s a ton of potential pitfalls in being obsessed with your work or even having your identity wrapped up in it.

But I don’t think Jesus spent most of his days pining for 4:00 so he could go home and watch Jeopardy after dinner or work on perfecting his golf score.

Yes…he took breaks and rested. But his burden was always for people and for his Father.

To be transparent, I’ve grown a little weary of people who call for ‘balance’ in life and in mission.

As I outlined in this post, most leaders who make a significant difference don’t live balanced lives; they live passionate lives.

Most leaders who make a significant difference don’t live balanced lives; they live passionate…Click To Tweet

Of course, there is a ton of meaning outside work, but too many people forget there is a ton of meaning inside work and ministry.

Obviously, to make life work, you need clear boundaries. The best leaders find clear boundaries, but as a rule, they have to restrain themselves from putting too much time into the mission.

The goal isn’t burnout—it’s passion. And passion can be hard to turn off.

That’s actually a good thing!

My High Impact Leader Course opens again in just over a month. In it, I show you how to live passionately without burning out. You can join the waitlist here.

Too many people forget there is a ton of meaning inside work and ministry.Click To Tweet

2. You Invest On Your Own Dime And Your Own Time

I think what you do on your own dime and your own time speaks volumes about your heart.

If work is something you do only when someone else is paying or when you’re officially on the clock, it speaks volumes about what you really value.

I’ve worked in churches that have had no budget and I’ve probably over-invested in the ministry at the expense of my family. That’s not what I’m talking about.

But truly passionate leaders don’t mind picking up the check personally, or taking part of a ‘day off’ to work on a project or help someone out once in while.

If you’re only working when you’re working or paying when someone else is picking up the tab, chances are your passion isn’t white hot.

What you do on your own dime and on your own time speaks volumes about your heart.Click To Tweet

3. Possibilities Excite You More Than Problems Weigh You Down

Passionate leaders are always more excited about the possibilities than they are weighed down by problems.

In every organization there are problems, and sometimes there are BIG problems.

But passionate leaders are determined to remove problems—even big ones—and get moving because the possibilities are so exciting.

Where other leaders see only obstacles, passionate leaders see opportunities.

If you see more problems than possibilities, it will be hard to motivate a team to follow you.

So how do you get your eyes off the problems?

Leaders who focus on the possibilities find the problems tend to take care of themselves.

Leaders who focus on the problems find the possibilities eventually evaporate.

Choose your focus carefully.

Focusing on the possibilities, not the problem, makes for effective leadership.Click To Tweet

4. You Can’t Stop Investing In People

Don’t get me wrong, passionate leaders have hobbies and pursuits that have nothing to do with work.

They cycle or fly fish or BBQ or run marathons or camp or do yoga.

But passionate leaders can’t help but see people through the lens of their life mission. They pray for their neighbors. They throw parties for unchurched friends.

They hang out with people who are far from God because it’s part of who they are, not just a part of what they do.

They become beacons in their community and people who want nothing to do with Jesus come to them for advice.

They can’t help but bring the love and hope of Jesus in some way into every aspect of their lives.

5. The Mission Is Something You GET To Do

We have a very negative view of work in our culture (especially Canadian culture). That can seep into our worldview as church leaders.

Not every day is going to be a picnic in ministry. You will have headaches and frustrations.

Some days you will drag yourself in. You will make yourself do what you’re called to do simply because you’re called to do it.

And even though I’ve said “Love what you do and you’ll never work another day in your life” before, I agree with Jon Acuff that the saying isn’t 100% true. (Read Jon’s awesome perspective here).

Some days are work. And that’s okay.

But overall, leaders who have a white-hot passion for their mission realize work is something they get to do, not something they have to do.

The difference in your attitude will leak to your team and to your congregation.

And Christians, we GET to do this! God could have brought hope and forgiveness to people any way he wanted to, but he chose you.

Ministry is a privilege, not a burden.

Do what you love…and you’ll love what you do.

Ministry is what you get to do, not what you have to do.Click To Tweet

What Do You Think?

What are some signs you’ve seen that a leader’s passion is white hot?

Scroll down and leave a comment!

The post 5 Signs Your Passion Level in Leadership is White Hot appeared first on CareyNieuwhof.com.

Source: 5 Signs Your Passion Level in Leadership is White Hot

The post 5 Signs Your Passion Level in Leadership is White Hot appeared first on Passion for Planting.