Tag Archives: John Maxwell

Fridays with Maxwell: Navigation

This week in The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day. I read about the Biblical character Nehemiah and the Law of Navigation. Today I experienced what John Maxwell was talking about when he said,

“Leaders not only know where they’re going: they also take people with them.”

A close friend of mine has been working to get into shape. He runs and cycles while I continue to reminisce on the times early in the year when I was more active. I kept saying that I was eventually going to run with him one of these days. Talk was cheap.

Today was the day. I couldn’t avoid him. The only running I wanted to do today was to hide but I couldn’t. We stretched and headed out. Thoughts of “why am I doing this” screamed in my head during our two mile trek (more like 2.40 according to the MapMyRun app).  Several times I wanted to quit. My friend wouldn’t let me.

He had run this path before.

He knew where he was going.

He had a goal in mind.

But rather than leave me behind during the journey he slowed his pace enough so I that I could keep up and continued to motivate me along the way.

That’s leadership.

You may know exactly what want to do with your life. The plans for your business have been set. Your ministry goals are engraved and hanging on the wall. But what about that guy. You know, the one who needs a boost or spark. The one who needs you to run beside him and help him finish.

Who are you taking with you as you walk (or run) your path to success?

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Fridays with Maxwell: The Process

This week in John Maxwell’s The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day I read about the Law of Process.

The lessons were drawn from the life of the Biblical character Joseph. Joseph’s story is intriguing because it highlights a leader’s need to be patient. I can think of several times in my life when I thought that I was ready for a job or a responsibility and then becoming upset when I wasn’t given that role.  Later I had to admit that despite my intense desire I wasn’t as prepared or equipped as I thought I was.

The summer that I started seminary classes I was excited. I had made a commitment to ministry and thought that the calls would come pouring in for me to share my teaching and preaching. They didn’t. No one called. No one inquired. I spent most of the summer wondering if I had chosen the wrong profession.

A friend of mine on the other hand stayed busy on the weekends. His teaching and preaching calendar were full. This happened despite his plans to avoid full time ministry and pastoring altogether. In the beginning I was annoyed when he wanted to talk about the places he was going and the things that he was working on. I didn’t want to give him advice, or help him unpack his sermons, or encourage him. Reluctantly, I did. It wasn’t too long before I realized that this was exactly what I was supposed to be doing at the time. My responsibility was to pray for, support, coach, and motivate my friend in his work. In my rush to be upfront I almost missed out on the valuable lessons that come from waiting. I became a much happier and fulfilled person when I embraced this role. Another way to describe the law of process would be to say wait your turn. Prepare yourself and your time will come. It happened for Joseph and it can happen for the rest of us.

What role are you in a rush to fulfill but find yourself having to wait to do it.

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Fridays with Maxwell: Influence

I finished week 2 in John Maxwell’s The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day. This week’s reading was about the Law of Influence. Maxwell analyzed the effectiveness of the Old Testament Biblical character Joshua during the different stages of his life.

On  page 19 Maxwell writes, “Leadership is influence-nothing more, nothing less.” According to Maxwell’s definition we all exhibit leadership because we all have a certain degree of influence. The questions is whether our influence is producing positive, productive results or negative, unproductive outcomes.

Maxwell concludes his teaching on the law of influence with the following 4 principles:

  • Leadership impact increases as influence increases.
  • When a leader has little influence, little can be accomplished.
  • When a leader has much influence, much can be accomplished.
  • When a leader places family first, future generations will be blessed.

Who would be on your short list of positive, productive leaders?

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Fridays With Maxwell: The Lid

I recently began reading The 21 Most Powerful Minutes In A Leader’s Day by John Maxwell. For the next few months my Friday posts will highlight some of the lessons I’ve learned from Maxwell during the week. 

The Law of the Lid.

Lids are the challenges to your leadership potential and ability. Using a comparison between King Saul and David, Maxwell describes what your life can become if you don’t address your lids (Saul) or the influence you can have if your lids are lifted (David).

Age, experience (or the lack thereof), an ineffective predecessor, and lust were just a few of David’s lids. David could address some of these lids on his own. For others David needed the help of “lid lifters” like Jonathan and Nathan.

I’ve been thinking about my lids. The ones I struggle with the most are the one I am reluctant to have someone else help me with. I could use a few lid lifters but when they appear I have to be willing to receive their assistance. Maybe you’re like me and have refused to let others help you because your pride got in the way. Maxwell states that without the help of others there are some lids we will never be able to lift.

Maxwell ends his teaching for this week with a challenge to make 3 lists:

1. Lids you can lift.

2. Lids others can lift.

3. Facts of life – things you cannot change.

What lids in your life challenge you the most?

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