Category Archives: The Next Level

Your Craft

During a post game interview NBA superstar Kevin Garnett was asked what kept him going or what “fueled” him after so many years on being in the league. In his response Garnett remarked:

“I take a lot pride in my craft, I work really hard on my craft everyday.”

That’s respectable.

You don’t have to be a fan of Garnett to see the value in his statement. Some of the professional athletes that annoy us the most are the ones who are clearly talented but don’t take the time and effort to work on their craft, especially in the off-season. Most of these players plateau leaving fans saying, “they could be so much better!”

Who really wants the following statements said about them:

He’s a good leader but he could be so much better.

She’s a good artist but she could be so much better.

They’re good teachers but they could be so much better.

His speeches are good but they could be so much better.

The difference in most cases between the good ones and the great ones is simple. The good ones are often content with where they are. The great ones never settle and are always looking for ways to get better. The words of Jim Collins are quite appropriate here. “Good is the enemy of great,” he says.

Who do you admire the most for working on their craft?

Fridays With Maxwell: Law of Solid Ground

This week in The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day I read about the Law of Solid Ground. The focus of this principle was the story of Samson. Samson had so much potential to do great things for his people yet he was never able to reach that potential. Samson made several choices that rendered his leadership ineffective. His story reminds us just how important the Law of Solid Ground is to leadership. Here’s how John Maxwell summarizes the principle:

  1. Trust is formed by a leader’s character and credibility.
  2. There are always signs when a leader is not on solid ground.
  3. When a leader is out of touch with God and his people, he loses his teachability.
  4. The consequences of sin are always great for both the leader and the people.

Think about a leader you know who lost his or her credibility and teachability. What lessons can you learn from their missteps? What can you do to insure that your leadership remains on solid ground?

It Ain’t Over!

On April 20, 2012 the Los Angeles Clippers were down by 21 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The game was clearly over right?

Just a reminder that it ain’t over til it’s over!