On the Journey

As we gear up for the big game tomorrow, relive some of the funnier ads from 2008 on Hulu. They are all there from last year so enjoy.

Many of you worship leaders who were at Catalyst remember Steve Fee leading everyone in the chorus of “Glory To God” this past October. Powerful moment and powerful song. Well, you can get the chords and lyrics to the entire song and watch Steve and Matt singing it at the Fee website. Check it out.

A pretty adventurous day yesterday and today here in Dallas. More thoughts later. For now, check out a few pics and follow the action at the innovation3 website.

Do yourself a favor and subscribe to Andy Stanley’s leadership podcast. You can stream from the North Point website or download from itunes. Incredibly practical short talks and interview.

A few thoughts as we begin the last week of January

1. Wow, how about the historic events of last week. A great moment in history. Now the work begins. In the meantime, check out this amazing pic that Los tracked down. I spent an hour looking at it. Seriously. 

2. How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions?

3. Working hard on the speaker lineup for Catalyst East in October. I am really excited about who we have so far, and who is in the works. Several favorites will be returning for the 10th year anniversary.

4. Heading to Dallas this week for the Innovation3 Gathering being put on by Leadership Network. Really looking forward to it. If you are going to be there let me know. Would love to say hello. 

5. In honor of all of the award shows happening in Hollywood over the next several weeks (and tonight), I think I am going to start asking everyone I talk to “who are you wearing today?” 

6. If you are a twitter user, make sure to follow Guy Kawasaki and Robert Scoble. Between the two of them, you’ll get all the info you need on staying up to date with all things in technology and innovation. 

7. Great article in Fast Company on Shaun White, the skateboarding/snowboarding mega superstar. 

8. Saw Cirque du Soleil on Friday night. Amazing. The creativity and attention to detail within the program is off the charts. A great book on the innovation within Cirque is The Spark. It’s been out for several years, but if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.

Check out this video from Pete Wilson – recorded earlier this week on his trip to Atlanta. He and Jenni Catron made a stop by the office and decided to join in on the festivities here in the office. Enjoy. 

I love people who execute. Who get it done. When it comes to hiring new employees, no other characteristic is more important than someone who can finish. It is the #1 trait related to work ethic that I look for in a new hire. 

Anyone can come up with a new idea, a new concept, a new pithy word, a new organization, or a new perspective. What ultimately matters is were you able to take an idea from concept to completion. And to do that, you have to have finishers on your team. The folks who are intrinsically wired to make things happen, and bulldog their way to the finish line. They find joy in checking things off the list. But not just a task machine. Anyone can take an order and then go complete it. What matters is whether you can carry the ball all the way down the field and cross the finish line. 

Take a moment and think about who that is on your team. If you don’t have someone in this role, go find them immediately. This is incredibly important if you are the leader- you have to have someone on your team in whom you have ultimate confidence that if you hand them a project, they will get it done… and without your constant management of them. The answer can’t constantly be “we’re still working on it….”. That is an excuse for either being lazy or unfocused. You’re either moving forward or backwards.

For our team here at Catalyst, it is imperative that everyone plays the finisher role. Now some have to more than others, but no one can only be the “idea” guy. Everyone is required to execute and own projects from start to finish. It’s a non-negotiable. We take incredible pride in being able to take a concept and turn it into a finished project. This is a distinctive part of our culture here. We’re serious about it. It’s part of our DNA. 

And for all you type A’s, you can’t do everything yourself, even though you think you can. Find someone who can carry the load alongside you.

Today, I am proud of my country. Yesterday was a historic day. Some might call it a benchmark day in the history of our country. Regardless of what you call it, I feel proud. 

I felt proud seeing 2 million people on the National Mall cheering and waving American flags. I felt proud watching the most civilized transfer of power the world knows. I felt proud seeing the first African American president being sworn in. I felt proud watching and listening to Rick Warren’s prayer for our country and for our President. I felt proud seeing the crowd on the mall made up of whites, blacks, latinos, asians, old, young, students, children, and grandparents. All Americans. All people who love this country. 

I was trying to remember the last time I felt an overwhelming sense of patriotism and love for my country like this. Probably in 2003 while watching live footage of the statue of Saddam being torn down in the historic district of Baghdad by the Iraqi people. I was overwhelmingly proud of my country and proud of our soldiers then. 

We all know we have an uphill battle. President Obama is not the answer to solving all the problems. I disagree with most of his policies. Almost all of his policies. BUT, change can be good, and he has inspired us. I think he is a good man, and I am going to pray for him and his team, and do what I can to be part of the solution. 

But it is not about one man or one administration or one team. It is about our country. The American spirit and resolve just needs a nudging, a strong reminder of where we’ve come from, and where we are going.

Today, I am proud.

It’s a new year, and time for a brand new edition of the YIL. View all the past lists from recent months here. 

The January edition of the Young Influencers List. Here you go:

1. Josh Loveless- leads the charge on Status, a ministry to students and young professionals in Orlando, and also brand director for Neue. 

2. Vicky Beeching- talented worship leader and songwriter born in the UK but now hanging out in the US. 

3. Jon Bell- works with The Image Group in Grand Rapids, and also leading the charge on Rob Bell’s upcoming tour (you’ll hear more about this later). Very involved with Heart Support, an online care community. 

4. Dave Barnes- uber talented musician, singer, songwriter,  and insanely funny and all-around good guy. Take time to watch some videos on his site. You will laugh. 

5. Lindsay Orr- founder of LUO, an initiative focused on setting children free from poverty, sickness, slavery and other injustices around the world. Talented artist as well. 

6. Scott McClellan- editor of Collide Magazine, and also purveyor of the Collide blog.

A great list from Kent Shaffer over at Church Relevance on who has the top-read blogs among Christian leaders, theologians and authors. And unlike my infamous ranking lists, this list actually has scientific data behind it.

Thanks to Tim for the heads up on this list. Some definite surprises in the top ten.

Check out these interviews with Perry Noble, senior pastor of New Spring Church, and Mark Foreman, senior pastor of North Coast Calvary Chapel in San Diego. Perry gives out some down home leadership gold, and Mark discusses his new book Wholly Jesus and also some great insights into his fathering and friendship with his two sons Jon and Tim of the band Switchfoot. You can download from itunes or stream from here.

Rick Warren is doing the invocation during the Inauguration. We’ve all heard that news. 

But just released today is other prominent leaders who will be involved in the services surrounding the event. See the related article here. Andy and TD and others. Thanks to Brian for the heads up. 

And related to Rick Warren- an interesting piece from Melissa Etheridge on a recent conversation with Rick here.

So I am done reading Malcolm Gladwell’s latest book Outliers, which I highly recommend you go out and buy right now. I recommended the book back in December, and am recommending it to you again in January. 

One of the major points that Malcolm makes in the book is the law of 10,000 hours. Basically in most cases it takes around 10,000 hours to become really really good at something and be considered successful in that area. I am thinking back over the last 15 years for me. I worked on a ranch in Colorado for almost 5 years right after college. I rode horses on average of 3 hrs per day for 9 months out of the year for close to 5 years. That is just over 4,000 hrs. I felt like I was really really good at riding horses, and wasn’t even halfway to the 10,000 hr mark. Man.

I’ve been doing event management, networking, producing, and content development for the last 10 years. That’s about 11,000 hours invested. Interesting. 

What’s your 10,000 hour mark?

Join us at 11 am EDT today for a live webcast from our Catalyst offices with Mike Foster. We have already acclimated Mike to the culture here with an exciting game of cornhole to get the day started. Go to catalystspace.com to join in.

For all the folks in and around the ATL, thought you might want to know about the launch of Passion Church on February 15 at 7 pm at the Tabernacle in downtown Atlanta. Check out the website for more info.

Trying to come up with a pithy and catchy subject line to this post…. trying to get the words mad, church, anne, jackson, and disease into the same subject line. Not sure I achieved what I was going after in the appropriate order….

I am not mad at Anne Jackson, obviously. And her Church doesn’t have a disease. I hear Pete Wilson, the pastor at Cross Point, is a super cool guy, even though we’ve never met in person. 

How do I give a proper synopsis on Anne’s new book Mad Church Disease? There is a major blog blitz going on right now among all the cool bloggers regarding the book, and for good measure. This book rocks. Most of the more well known bloggers have already posted their comments on their pages, so now it’s my turn. So in order to not copy, I revert to my steady standby- the top ten list. 

So here is why I think Anne’s new book Mad Church Disease is a book worth mentioning, and a book worth reading. 

1. She compares Mad Church Disease to Mad Cow Disease, and I worked on a ranch after college and know lots about cows.

2. Anne is my friend, and I like to highlight projects that my friends are doing. 

3. She is a carrier of MCD. Her father was a pastor, she grew up in the church, and has worked in church environments her whole life. Someone like me who has never worked in a church has no credibility nor is considered a carrier. Her being a carrier gives her credibility. 

4. We both consider ourselves Oklahomans… ok maybe not, but it sounds good. I having grown up there and Anne spent only six months in the Great State. But even though she spent 23 years in Texas, I would venture to say she considers herself an Oklahoman, and cheers for the Sooners. Who wouldn’t want to say they’re from a state where the license plates say “Oklahoma is OK……” But Anne is great. 

5. The book includes very cool sidebar interviews with a number of leaders talking about their own journey and struggles- these are entitled “second opinions.” Bill Hybels, Perry Noble, Mike Foster, and many others. 

6. Anne gives us a prescription for how to not only overcome burnout from working in the Church, but also how to create unity in the Church and with our brothers and sisters around the world as well as in our congregations. Very important. 

7. She gives us five principles for fighting mad church disease tied to relational health. You’ll have to get the book to know what they are. But one includes sleeping more, which is always a positive. 

8. Anne talks about weight and calls out those in ministry to get in shape. A much needed challenge. She also gives practical ways to do this. 

9. This is her first book, so she hasn’t become stale and repackaged yet as an author. Not that this ever happens to others……

10. I really like stories. Especially personal stories. And ultimately, this is Anne’s story. Her personal journey with all of its ups and downs. 

Being real, honest and vulnerable is not easy, especially when you are doing that publicly in book form. 

Thanks Anne for sharing your story. A story that so many can relate to who have also been hurt, burned out, and thrown out by the church. The great thing is, stories always help us to realign and to be inspired. Especially when they are stories of people who are just like us. 

If you are a pastor, go and buy this book for your staff. And if you are a lay leader, go and buy this book for your pastor. Chances are, many of them are suffering from MCD. They need our help.

Order the book pronto.

Remember as a child how exciting it was for your family to change the furniture configuration in the living room? I do. It was like having a whole new home. It created a major sense of excitement and anticipation for our family, especially my brother and me. Or when you would change your bedroom up and move the bed to the other wall (perpendicular) and put the dresser on the other side of the room, and your trophies in a different spot? Like a whole new room. All good memories.

We decided today to reconfigure the office space here at Catalyst. Why? No good reason, other than sparking some fresh thinking and feeling like we are starting “new” in 2009. Everyone was involved. Everyone was excited. Fresh eyes and fresh perspective.

Will it improve productivity? Who knows. But maybe it will spark some extra momentum as we start 2009. With all the change happening around us, it feels right to create some change that we can control.

yes, I know, I spelled party wrong- on purpose. Last night was the first official NATIONWIDE Gift Card Giver House Party evening. There were hundreds of folks around the country gathered in homes playing games, having fun, and providing unused gift cards for those less fortunate. Check out the new website. And if you have any gift cards laying around, whether unused or just a few dollars left on them, send em in! It’s a great way to help others. 

It’s been a week of top tens. Top Ten Books I’ve read, top ten events to attend this year, and now the top ten blogs I am reading. 

Again, this is the top blogs I am currently reading. Not necessarily the top ten blogs I recommend (that would be hard to limit to only 10). No particular order.

1. Seth Godin

2. Ben Arment

3. Tim Sanders

4. Perry Noble

5. Mike Hyatt

6. Anne Jackson

7. Todd Rhoades 

8. Swerve (Craig Groeschel and Bobby Gruenewald)

9. Guy Kawasaki

10. Carlos Whittaker

It’s here. I am not sure I believe it, but read this article and see for yourself. Freaky.