Young Influencers List July Edition

Here you go the July edition of the Young Influencers List. You can see all the past month's lists here. 

1. Jason Dyba - Atlanta based designer, video producer, artist and creative project manager at Passion Conferences. Check this out. 

2. Latasha Morrison - Austin based abolitionist, reconciler, bridge builder, and director of operations at Gateway Church. 

3. Heredes Ribeiro - campus pastor and COO of Potential Church in Miami. 

4. Lawrence Sheffield - Birmingham based founder and ex director of Magic City Woodworks, helping young leaders experience the art of woodworking. 

5. Diana Mao and Alissa Williams - NYC based co founders of Nomi Network, globally creating employment opportunities for at risk women. 

6. Paul Park - executive director of First Fruit Foundation in LA. 

7. Nikkolas Smith - LA based concept artist, architect, and part of the Disney Imagineering team. 

8 Signs You're too Big for Your Britches

This post ties in directly to the issue of Accountability. Having someone in our lives who will shoot straight with us is incredibly important.

Many times as leaders we start losing a sense of reality and get "too big for your britches," as my grandmother used to say when I was growing up. When that happened as a youngster, my grandmother would go grab a switch from the tree outside and I would quickly shape up. Or at least start paying more attention. 

Here are a few warning signs of this potentially occurring for leaders. The pitfalls of becoming too much of a prima donna.

1. You feel like you need an entourage. Everywhere you go.

2. You're unreachable. You have so many systems and handlers in place to shield you from the outside world that not even your closest friends can get in touch with you.

3. The only people who get any time with you are those who you need something from or who you see as further up the ladder of success. Anyone "below" you gets pushed off to someone else. Along with the only people you want to interact with are peers at your level. 

4. You speak and give advice WAY more than you listen and ask questions.

5. You quit laughing consistently, especially at yourself.

6. There are certain jobs or projects that you feel are simply "below" you. You would be offended if someone asked you to do some of these tasks.

7. Nothing is ever good enough or done well enough. A standard of excellence is one thing. But when nothing ever meets your approval or is good enough for you, you've crossed the line to being way too wrapped up in your own world and in your own sense of hero status.

8. You quit learning, growing and innovating. You focus on being the expert, the hero, the speaker and the teacher, instead of being the learner, the guide, the platform, the shepherd,  and the aggregator. Your posture becomes the arrogant loud 1st instead of the confidently quiet and humble 2nd. 

Any of these consistently showing up in your world? If so, I recommend you take a chill pill, make some adjustments, and lighten up!

10 Ways to Elevate your Leadership Level

It's middle of the year, and as such, here are 10 reminders and ways to raising your leadership level. Hopefully these motivate you as well as inspire and challenge your team.  

I would recommend talking through each of these with your team, and challenging your team to live these out with intentionality over the next few months. 

1. Lead with Authenticity. Be Real. Human. approachable. Guard against hubris.

2. No sideways energy. Communicate. Focus. Guard against silos and wasted energy.

3. Stewardship. Each of us embracing and understanding our role in what we've been given and required to manage and uphold through the current platform we have.. Not just the leader, or the person in charge. 

4. Expertise. See myself as an expert, both in Individual responsibility and organizational responsibility.

5. Receive what we create. Become our own customer. Be passionate about allowing what you do to actually be something that you appreciate being the customer of. Guard against the mundane.

6. Guard against cynicism. Behind the curtain we have to guard against this. Fight it at every turn. And call it out if we see it.

7. Excellence. We are the best in the world. Confidence not arrogance. Act like it. Maintain a standard. Guard against being lazy and pessimistic.

8. Serve one another. Jump in and help. Get it done mentality. Not just at events or special occasions. All the time. Be willing to do whatever it takes.

9. Protect and maintain a "make it happen" culture. Guard against the phrase "it's not my job." and guard against creating clicks.

10. Get better every day. Guard against complacency. Keep learning and leaning into constant and continuous improvement. 

Young Influencers List, June Edition

Here you go, another edition of the Young Influencers List. The sizzling hot June edition! You can see all the past month's lists here. 

1. Kirsten Dickerson - founder and CEO of Austin based ethical fashion and social business Raven + Lily. 

2. CJ Alvarado - Sacramento based brand strategist, creative thinker and CEO of Bamboo Creative. 

3. Kristen Ivy - Atlanta based writer, story enthusiast, and Executive Director of Messaging for Orange. 

4. Eric Johnson - author, speaker, creative and senior pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, CA

5. Taro Arai- executive head chef of Mikuni, a Japanese Restaurant and Sushi bar in Sacramento, one of best sushi places on the west coast (**exceeds the age average but wanted to include!!) 

6. Alice Rhee - Emmy award winning journalist, TV producer, advisor for Tribeca Film Institute, and director of media for the HE Butt Foundation out of Texas. 

7. Rohan Dredge - Melbourne Australia based leadership coach, podcaster, blogger and senior pastor of Discovery Church. 

7 Thoughts on Taking a Risk Now

Stepping out. Risking. Taking a chance. It's what we do as leaders. So why risk? Why do we as leaders step out and move into places of the "unknown" when we are in a comfortable niche and established as the dominant force?

Why change if things are going great for you? Why shift when you're in a place of comfort, convenience and familiarity? 

Great question. So why do we risk and take courage as leaders? Had to think about my answer. Six things stood out to me on the whole issue of taking a risk:

1. Entrepreneurs and Type A Leaders are never satisfied with the status quo and the "comfortable" niche. They can't stand to sit still. Their DNA won't allow it. They must create change. 

2. Stewardship- because what you are running or leading is temporary, and your responsibility is to steward it correctly because others are counting on you. If this requires changing or risking, then you need to step out and continue to push the envelope with what God has given you.

3. Adventure and the power of the pioneer- many of us are wired to be pioneers. To go on an adventure. Pure and simple. The journey into the unknown actually beckons us. The mountaintop draws us. 

4. Due diligence suggests it's actually time to move- do your homework, research, talk to people, and take very seriously the idea that you are risking. It's dumb to step out and change/take a risk if you haven't properly prepared and surveyed the landscape. But once you've done your homework and prepared, then go for it. Many people stifle the actual desire to step out because they spent too much time on due diligence. Risking and stepping out can be calculated, planned and strategic.

5. The power of purpose and calling- it God has called you to something in a new season, then you have to be willing to chase after it. Because of the internal pull of God's call. It's a responsibility and an imperative.

6. Leaders are out in front- Being at the head of the pack means you many times end up in the unknown. Where there's no handbook, no guide, no roadmap. But being out in front is where leaders are comfortable, and out front is where leaders separate themselves from the rest.

7. Your response to risk opens up a spot- A willingness to step out allows other on your team to step up. A seat is opened up for someone else to step in and build a legacy of leadership.