Archives For Leadership Lessons

Passing on what I’m learning from leadership talks, conferences, blogs and podcasts.

Seven Great Quotes from the Chick-fil-A Leadercast

May 13, 2013 — Leave a comment

Full color - gray textLast Friday’s Chick-fil-A Leadercast was an incredible experience! Listening to leaders such as Jack Welch, Condoleezza Rice and Mike Krzyzewksi filled up my leadership cup to overflowing. Another great blogger Brian Dodd has shared even more quotes from each of the speakers. Here are seven great quotes from the Leadercast Friday:

1. “Growth creates complexity, which requires simplicity.” Andy Stanley shared a great reminder that in the midst of the complexity that comes with success, we need to continuously seek the simplicity that made us successful. More quotes from his talk here.

2. “You don’t need more time, you need more space.” David Allen had great insight into the truth that as much as we wish for more time in the week, that’s not our greatest need. Proper perspective and engagement with our time is what’s most important. More quotes from his talk here.

3. “If everything is important, nothing is important.” Henry Cloud shared the absolute importance of focus, prioritizing, and pruning to achieve mastery in your field. More quotes from his talk here.

4. “Leaders create an environment conducive to success.” Mike Krzyzewski shared his story of coaching the gold medal winning Olympic basketball team, and how many overlooked intangibles contribute to success. More quotes from his talk here.

5. “Simply leading in a complex world is recognizing the one thing you can do to improve the situation.” Faced with sometimes impossible diplomatic crises, Condoleezza Rice shared her outlook that enabled her to be an incredible Secretary of State. More quotes from her talk here.

6. “70% of my time was teaching moment.  The team that fields the best players wins.” Jack Welch shared just how important coaching and developing his staff was to the success of his organization. More quotes from his talk here.

7. “Panic is contagious.  Stupid is 100% contagious.” LCDR Rorke Denver shared how he kept his calm through some of the world’s toughest environments: Navy SEALS training. More quotes from his talk here.

Go ahead and mark your calendars for May 9, 2014 for the next Chick-fil-a Leadercast!

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Better Before Bigger

May 8, 2013 — 3 Comments

5.8.13There’s an incredible quote I want to share from Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-a. But first let me give you the back story. As Andy Stanley tells it, in the 1990s there was a company called Boston Chicken, which ended up becoming Boston Market. This was Chick-fil-a’s first direct competitor, another major brand of a chicken-sandwiches-only restaurant.

Boston Market had huge expansion plans, with the goal of having $1 billion in sales by the year 2000. They were fast-expanding and aggressive. Naturally, the executives at Chick-fil-a were nervous about the new threat, a direct competitor in their market space. Conversations began around this threat, and Chick-fil-a’s initial response was centered on how to grow bigger, how to grow faster to compete with Boston Market.

The whole thing culminated in a board room at Chick-fil-a headquarters, with all the VPs and Marketing people trying to figure out how to get bigger, faster. At the head of the table was Truett Cathy, quiet and seemingly disengaged from the whole conversation. Then out of the blue, Truett Cathy began banging his fists on the table until he had everyone’s attention. What he said next is the point of this whole post.

Cathy said, “Gentlemen, I am sick and tired of hearing you talk about us getting bigger. What we need to be talking about is how to get better. If we get better, our customers will demand that we get bigger.” That statement changed the whole course of the conversation at Chick-fil-a headquarters. The result? In the year 2000 (when Boston Market wanted to reach $1 billion in sales), Boston Market filed for bankruptcy, and Chick-fil-a reached $1 billion in sales for the first time.

Why? Because Boston Market focused on getting bigger, while Chick-fil-a focused on getting better. Better before bigger.

Where in your life, in your business, are you tempted to focus on bigger before better? If you focus on making it better, it will naturally become bigger.

If you enjoyed this nugget of truth, then you experienced a taste of what the Chick-fil-a Leadercast will be like this Friday. Andy Stanley will be one of the headline speakers. If you can attend, you’ll be glad you did! Find a location here.

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7 Reasons Why You Need to Attend the Chick-fil-a Leadercast

May 6, 2013 — Leave a comment

Full color - gray textFor anyone interested in leadership or leadership development, the Chick-fil-a Leadercast is an incredible opportunity for you to expand your leadership universe and be challenged by some of the greatest leaders in our nation.

With speakers such as Jack Welch, Andy Stanley, Condoleeza Rice, John Maxwell, Henry Cloud and David Allen, you’ll be glad you attended this event. For those in the Columbus, MS area, you can order your tickets here. For those reading this throughout the US, you can search for a simulcast location here.

Here are seven reasons why you should attend the Chick-fil-a Leadercast:

1. It will challenge you. By listening to some of the best leaders in their fields, you will be challenged to improve your leadership capacity. If you need a jumpstart in your leadership, this is it.

2. It will give you perspective. Taking a day off to focus on leadership will grant you the white space you so desperately need. Too often we keep our nose to the grindstone, never looking up to see if we’re even heading in the right direction. This conference will give you perspective.

3. Personal leadership development is priceless. Some may look at the price tag for this conference ($59 for the Golden Triangle location) and struggle to see the worth in the expense. Looking back at my personal development, the time and income I’ve invested in personal development (such as conferences, books, and tapes) have more than paid for themselves. You can’t put a price on leadership. The price of this conference will more than pay for itself.

4. You’ll be exposed to some of the nation’s best leaders. As Proverbs says, “He who walks with the wise grows wise.” Spend a day walking with some of the best leaders, and watch some of that leadership rub off on you.

5. You’ll be inspired to do more. Listening to the incredible stories of these leaders, there will be something inside of you that stirs with a motivation to achieve more. Take advantage of this motivation and achieve more in life.

6. There will be incredible personal and spiritual application. Although this conference is billed as a leadership conference, the principles you learn will apply to so much more than your place of business. You’ll walk away with truths that can help you in your personal and spiritual life as well.

7. You’ll experience excellence. The Chick-fil-a Leadercast is an incredible experience. You’ll laugh, you may cry. And you’ll experience an event done at the highest standards. That’s worth the price tag all by itself.

Attend the Chick-fil-a Leadercast. You’ll be glad you did.

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The Seven Phrases Most Critical to Success

March 8, 2013 — Leave a comment

3.8.13Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, recently shared a great message on the words that we use. The end of that message was so powerful, I wanted to share his thoughts with you. Bill Hybels sat down with a retired businessman who had started a company from scratch and built it to be one of the most successful companies in the nation. Now in his 80s, this man shared with Bill some of the key phrases that he attributed the lion’s share of his success to in his business. See which ones you need to implement in your interactions with others.

“You can do this.” Fear stops many people from achieving their best. They need someone to remind them they can do it.

“I believe in you.” Everyone needs to hear encouragement. Everyone needs to hear that someone believes in them.

“I trust you.” When you convey trust, the recipient will feel empowered and enabled.

“I need you.” People need to be reminded of how valuable they are to your overall success.

“I’m proud of you.” We live for the approval of others. Be liberal with your praise and affirmation.

“I respect you.” When people know they’re valued, they’ll work harder and achieve more.

“I love you.” The greatest human emotion is love. It touches the deepest part of who we are.

Words matter. What phrases do you need to utilize better in your interactions with those around you?

image courtesy of http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

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Why You Need to Attend the Chick-fil-A Leadercast

March 6, 2013 — Leave a comment

3.6.13

Jack Welch – former CEO of General Electric

Mike Krzyzewski – head basketball coach of Duke University, winningest men’s basketball coach in NCAA history

John C. Maxwell – best-selling author and leadership expert

Condoleeza Rice – former Secretary of State

Andy Stanley – pastor of North Point Community Church

Sanya Richards-Ross – 2012 London Summer Olympic Games gold medalist

These speakers, plus many more, will be at the Chick-fil-A Leadercast on May 10, 2013. If you’re a leader of any age, this Leadercast is designed to inspire and equip you to reach your God-given potential as a leader. Mt Vernon Church is proud to host this event as a simulcast on our campus. So, instead of traveling to Atlanta, simply buy a ticket from us and attend the Leadercast live from Columbus, MS. Click here to purchase tickets for this event.

Watch this short video to get an idea of what the Chick-fil-A Leadercast will be like. Hope to see you there!

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7 Things I Learned From The Unleash Your Leadership Conference

February 25, 2013 — Leave a comment

2.25.13This past week I had the privilege of traveling to Anderson, South Carolina for the Unleash Your Leadership Conference with Perry Noble and NewSpring Church. I had gotten connected to Perry through the Catalyst Conference, and was excited to spend a few days at his church, learning best practices that could benefit Mt Vernon Church in Columbus. Here are seven great truths I learned (or was reminded of):

1. Health of the leader = health of the church. Perry spent the first day working on the health of the leader. Danger signs that you’re working too hard, ways to know if you’re unbalanced between work and family, and practical ways to minister for the long haul. Great stuff for a driven guy who sometimes struggles with balance.

2. Acts 1 has to come before Acts 2. I loved this insight. Everyone wants Acts 2 to happen: the Spirit falling down, thousands of people getting saved. What we don’t look at is Acts 1, where the church filled a critical leadership need in preparation for Acts 2. Perry correctly taught that many churches don’t grow because they don’t have the leadership capabilities or ministry infrastructure to handle growth. All churches want to grow, but unless leadership structures are healthy and expanding, a church couldn’t handle the growth God wants to give it.

3. Preaching style matters. Perry’s ministry is successful for a number of reasons, but one of the primary ones is his preaching style. Controversial to some, Perry’s in-your-face, PG-13 preaching style cuts through the fog and speaks to issues close to the heart. Perry will never win awards for style points, but his passion and transparency strike a chord with 25,000 people a week. Most of his critics don’t even have 1% of that audience.

4. Established denominations are losing their voice. I can’t tell you the last time I’ve been to a conference by my denomination where I was fed and inspired like this. Although a born and raised Baptist, I’m now going to conferences outside of my denomination for inspiration and growth. That does not bode well for established denominations.

5. You can have a big ministry in a small town. Anderson and the surrounding area is no larger than Columbus, MS, where I minister. Perry reaches 10,000 on his main campus and over 25,000 throughout the state of South Carolina. You don’t have to be in a metro area to have a large ministry. You just need a vision bigger than your town.

6. Young people can change the world. I was thoroughly impressed with the employees of NewSpring Church, 95% of whom were younger than me. NewSpring is giving young people a chance to make a difference, and the next generation is taking them up on that offer.

7. The church in America can still grow at an exponential rate. The church can still grow. In thirteen years NewSpring has grown from a living room to over 25,000 on a weekly basis. Not the church as we know it, but a church able to hold onto the core truths of the gospel and be willing to adapt to the 21st century. While traditional churches will continue to die out, churches like NewSpring will continue to change the world. My prayer is that Mt Vernon is one of those churches.

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