thoughts from others...

I spent last Thursday and Friday at the Catalyst Conference, a place where young leaders gathered to hear from multiple speakers about leading with a Christian worldview. This was my second year in attendance (I take a group of students each year) and I have to say it is one of the best leadership conferences I have ever had the opportunity to attend. Below are a series of quotes/thoughts/ideas shared by the different presenters that were especailly meaningful to me:

Andy Stanley:

• are you open to what God has next?
• what man is a man who does not leave the world better?
• LEAN your leadership into a need - or into another person
• leaving the mark that has been designed by God for you to leave
• am I willing to submit my gifts and leadership to a bigger picture?
• not a leader in authority, but a leader under authority
• God takes full responsibility for a life wholly devoted to Him (attributed to Charles Stanley)
• I can't go until God tells me its okay to go
• Giving God (& others) maximum access to my leadership capabilities

Jessica Jackley:

• give people ownership - a fundamental shift in life (especially in education)

Malcolm Gladwell:

• incompetence irritates me; overconfidence scares me (one of my favorites)
• Humility: the willingness to stop and listen to others

Mitch Albom:

• faith is not about being IN or OUT - but figuring out what is important

Rob Bell:

• The bush is always burning; the ground is always holy
• Sometimes the crowd thins
• Our work comes from a particular place
• WHY am I building what I am building? Am I letting God build it?

Tony Dungy:

• you don't win every game
• I need to knowthat this relationship is worth fighting for

Matt Chandler:

• seeing repentance as a continuing ethic
• When we hesitate (is it a delay in obedience?) it may be that God is callling us to deeper waters

Priscilla Shirer:

• WHY has God called me to be __________________? And what am I going to do with that?
• Joshua, as a leader: 1) acted immediately; 2) acted fearlessly; 3) acknowledged the presence of God; and 4) anticipated that God would act (Joshua 3: 1-5)
• Help people take the lid off thier box
• Pray prayers that are unthinkable

Dave Ramsey:

• Creat momentum by pouring yourself into your vocation
• You lose focus when you begin to hear the footsteps
• You lose focus when you begin celebrating the results too early
• Intensity leads to excellence
• In the story, the tortoise ALWAYS wins
• What can happen when you decide to pour your life into someone (or something) over a significant amount of time?

Charles Swindoll:

• The Gospel frees us to change the world, i.e. transform communities
• leave room in your life for the crushings