Live 2 Lead 2017 Notes

Executive Summary

Live to Lead

November 9^th, 2017

Notes taken by Paul Lundy

On Thursday, November 9th (a little late posting, I know) I had the privilege to attend the 2017 Live to Lead event.  The event was actually held much earlier nationally but due to several factors our local group hosted their event on November 9th.  Below is a summary of the notes I took from the event.  Should be a very quick and easy read but the speakers were excellent and I hope each one below could share something that will help you in your leadership journey.

John Maxwell

“If you aren’t changing, you aren’t growing.”

‘If you are still happy with what you were doing 5 years ago you have real problems.”

Common denominator of leaders – Leaders see more than others see and they see it before others see it.

“See more More and More Before

1.)     How to increase more More and more Before

a.)    Understand it’s out there if you chase it

b.)    Think Abundance

c.)     Creativity says there is always an answer

d.)    Flexibility says there is more than one answer

2.)    Nobody wants to buy less and less

3.)    People buy into something bigger than them

4.)    Develop a Process to find more more and more before

a.)Test

b.) Fail

c.) Learn

d.) Improve

e.) Re-enter

                1.) If you never improve and re-enter you may appear tenacious, but likely you are just stupid.

I don’t care how good you are right now, you can get better.

5.)    Ask questions to help you know more more and more before

6.)    Intentionally grow everyday

7.)    Invest time with people and places that will inspire you.

Average people want you to stay average.

Dave Ramsey

Serve others well and you will make money

Managers Count Stuff

An organization with no entreprenuers is “government.”

Organizations are never limited by their opportunities, they are limited by their leadership.

You are the problem in your organization but you are also the solution in your organization

All the attributes of leadership are attainable.

The quirky brilliance of an organizations founder can only take the organization so far.

When you are a leader you must have power, but rarely use it.

Bosses push, leaders pull

To be a true leader you must be a servant.

Cheryl Bachelder

Are people better off because of your leadership?

3 Key’s to Popeyes (Chicken Restaurant) Turnaround

1.)    Declare a Daring Destination

2.)    Choose to Serve

3.)    Deliver Results

Do you love those you lead?

Love, not as a feeling, but as an action.

There are no great leaders without results

How to become a Dare to Serve Leader

1.)    Courage – Are you courageously leading your team to a place beyond their wildest dreams?

2.)    Humility

How well do you know your followers?

Do you demonstrate your love for your followers?

Your leadership should deliver standing ovations.

Serving in a Full-Time Capacity

Some times there is an alignment of opportunities that almost defies explanation.  It's that eerie feeling hits you and you know something supernatural has just occurred.  For me one of those circumstances aligning, blow your roof off type moments happened yesterday.  Some may say it was a coincidence, but I believe in God and His sovereignty over the affairs of man.  I don't believe in coincidence and I don't think things "just happen."  I had one of those moments yesterday and I can't wait to share it today.

Here is what happened.  Several weeks ago (Mid-December) I wrote a series of Sunday School Lessons about "Gaining God's Favor."  I was prepared to deliver the fifth and final lesson yesterday (January 7th).  One of the key elements I learned about in my study on Gaining God's Favor is alignment with what God is doing.  For example: God used Nehemiah to restore the physical protection of Jerusalem as the exiles were returning.  In the same way God used Ezra to restore the spiritual foundations of the nation of Israel following exile.  Their lives aligned with a need that God wanted taken care of.  The challenge to my Teen Sunday School Class was "Are you willing to consider Full-Time Christian Service for your life?" 

I had that lesson prepared weeks prior to yesterday.  Then two events of note took place prior to church yesterday morning.  One was that I was up early and my boys and wife all slept in.  Those two things almost never, ever simultaneously occur.  Another event worth noting was that since the first two things happened I was able to read my devotional book BEFORE heading into church.  Another event that almost never happens as I usually do most of my reading in the early afternoon or after everyone else has gone to bed.  Because I was able to have devotions in the morning I was able to read the following devotion prior to teaching the lesson on "Full-Time Christian Service."

Amazingly, here is what Author (and Congressman) Jim Ryun, in his book The Courage to Run had to say on January 7th (the 7th entry of his devotional book): One Eye on Eternity (some excerpts) "It has often been said that men and women who truly do great things in this life have kept one eye on eternity.  When I consider the lives of committed Christians... I see a common thread. To a person, their focus was on Christ and eternity while fulfilling their time on Earth."  WOW! WOW! WOW! God truly wanted me to see and be able to teach on the value of living our lives full time for Christ.  Congressman Ryun goes on to say that some of the greatest accomplishments for Christ have come from people who were "counted fools at one time or another, but they were willing to lay down this world's fame and wealth to achieve truly great things. They had one eye on eternity."

I was able to weave that day's devotional into my Sunday School lesson and challenge our teens to consider Full-Time Christian Service as their career choice.  Let me challenge you to consider the same.  I read an interesting quote from one of my former basketball players, Seth Parris, recently.  He made the statement in a tweet "Funny how many seminary students feel "called" to the big cities and never a small country church #christians." I have often thought the same thing when I hear Christian college students claim that they are being "called" to teach in public schools (where the pay is typically 2-3 times higher than christian schools).  Not to demean anyone who is serving in a well-paying position in a large city church or teaching in a well paying public school, but God does call people to lower paying, less prestigious posts all the time.  How many of these people are missing out on God's true calling in favor of a fatter paycheck and more opportunities for them personally.

The teens in my Sunday School were asked what types of jobs can be considered "full-time ministry positions?"  Most only came up with Pastor, Youth Pastor or Teacher.  I challenged them to think a little more creatively and pretty soon we realized that almost any profession can be done for God in a Full-Time Ministry setting.  The church and its related ministries need doctors, lawyers, teachers, coaches, nurses, accountants, computer and tech people, etc., etc., etc.  My group of High School students quickly realized that everything can be done for Christ that can be done in a secular setting.

Next we considered the reasons that many Christians don't consider Full Time Ministry positions as careers.  The answers basically boiled down to 1.) Earn Less Money 2.) Fear of the Unknown (like being called to be a missionary somewhere like Africa, or even worse places like New Jersey or Alabama) 3.) Less Prestige Personally or 4.) Less opportunity for advancement.

If you have read this far please take just another moment to consider my final thought.  Are any of those reasons valid?  When you stand (and then fall down before Christ someday) are you really willing to say to Him that you worked in a secular field simply because you wanted more money and a more prestige?  Are you willing to think that you won't be terribly ashamed of how you selfishly spent your life living for your pleasures and security?  I am asking you to spend some time in prayer today, and tomorrow and for at least a few days and strongly consider whether or not you may be a candidate for Full-Time Christian Ministry.  Whatever experiences, qualifications, skills and degrees you possess can be used to further the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.  Are you willing to pray and seek God in this area? 

Maybe you will still be led to serve Christ in a secular setting.  I am so glad for those of you who are able to serve in that arena.  We need you there shining Christ's light into the darkness.  However, I believe that many are called to Ministry that are not answering the call.  Parents, are you willing to let your sons and daughter attend a Christian or Bible College?  Are you willing to support them if they decide to go into Full Time Ministry?  Remember you will stand before God someday.  I hope that when you and I do we are able to answer the question "Did my career make a difference for Christ?"

Leadership Changes Things - Biblical Leadership Suggestions for 2018

Leadership Changes Things

“Everything will get worse naturally over time. Positive change only occurs when someone decides to make positive changes.”

Examples:  Run down houses can be restored to beautiful homes. – HGTV

Our bodies, we gain weight and get unhealthy effortlessly but lose weight and get in good shape only with extreme work

Our Brains – Use it or Lose it.  Think algebra skills you had in HS but that have seemingly disappeared now.

Our Relationships will break down easily, it takes work to maintain them.  Marriage, Family and Friendships.

NFL Examples of Leadership Making a Huge Difference:

1.)    Sean McVay – New Coach of LA RAMS. Completely turned the team around (4-12 last season and 7 wins as best season in 5+ years).  This year they are currently 11-4.  He instituted a Culture of Accountability.  Started fining players for being even 1 second late to meetings, practices, etc. No excuses allowed! His leadership has made a huge difference for this team.

2.)    Tom Coughlin – Former Coach of NY Giants.  Led team to 2 Super Bowls. Let go 2 seasons ago.  Now is an advisor to Jacksonville Jaguars.  Jaguars are now poised to make the playoffs for the first time in 10+ years and the Giants are an utter disaster since he left. Culture of an Experienced Winner.

3.)    Jimmy Garoppolo – Tom Brady’s (New England Patriots) Back-up Quarterback for several seasons.  Gets Traded to 49er’s in the middle of this season.  The 49’ers were 1-10 before he started playing QB for them.  He has won his first 4 games and the team is now 5-10. Culture of Learning and Winning.

Leadership Changes Things!

Some Suggestions on How to Lead Biblically in 2018

1.)    Be Humble- Admit you Don’t Know Everything.  Humility gives God room to bless us.  Psalms 138:6, James 4:6

2.)    Be a Servant- Serve your family, your boss, your co-workers and your spouse.  Servant Leadership Says “What can I do for you?” instead of “What can you do for me?”  “You will either use  your people to build your position or use your position to build people.” Nehemiah 5:14-16

3.)    Be Present – Be Where You Should Be – 2 Samuel 11:1 – Make time with those you lead a key part of your life.

4.)    Be Consistent – Allow those you lead the luxury of knowing what to expect day in and day out.  There is great comfort and security in knowing that the one you follow is consistent.  Don’t make your family, team, co-workers or followers guess what type of mood you are in.  Nothing is more frustrating to followers than not knowing what to expect.  Ephesians 6:4

5.)    Be a Vision Caster – Have a Vision of a preferred future for your family, your organization, whatever you lead.  Have a plan to make people’s lives better, more fulfilled and be able to implement that plan.  “Where there is no vision there is no hope” George Washington Carver. Proverbs 29:18

6.)    Be a Teacher – Everyone loves a person who can teach them something new.  Teachers (not in the strict, professional sense of the word, but to include anyone who can teach us something) are an extremely valuable and much loved person in any society.  Be a person who can teach others things and you will greatly bless anyone who follows you.  Particularly teach your children how to live for Jesus Christ.  Provide opportunities for them to see how God has blessed your family and will continue to bless you in the future.  Proverbs 22:6, Joshua 4:1-9

7.)    Be a Lover -  Love Your Followers. Love Your Family.  Love Like Jesus Loved and Love Those Jesus Loved.  I John 4:7-11

Does Sports Participation Build Character???

I had the opportunity to attend a 3D Coaching Clinic this weekend sponsored by Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  The entire clinic was a blessing and a great learning opportunity.  I am thankful for the chance I had to go and learn.  The presenter was a man by the name of Kerry O'Neil and the following thoughts come from him and his organization with a few of my thoughts sprinkled in.

One of the many questions he asked was:  "Does Participating in Sports Build Character?"  Since the room was filled with 40 or so coaches the overwhelming response was "Yes, Absolutely, sports build character."  Mr. O'Neil's next question of course was "What character traits do sports build."  Typically, the answers provided (one came from me) were Dedication, Teamwork, Sacrifice, Time-Management, Organization, etc.  You could probably add a few others to the list but that is the basic idea and all the coaches in the room agreed.  Mr. O'Neil then rocked my world.  He said "Do you know who also possesses those qualities in very high amounts other than athletes?  Terrorists and most master criminals."  Terrorists are highly organized, work in teams, manage time well and make tremendous sacrifices to further their cause.  You could hear a pin drop.

Mr. O'Neil explained that the above character traits are "social traits" and while good, they are not ideally what we should be teaching our athletes.  He claimed that as coaches we must be teaching our athletes "moral traits."  For those of us in Christianity we must be teaching the next generation "christian values."  Coaches who only teach, model and require social characteristics are not doing much at all.  He states that to be an effective coach and leader we must be teaching "moral/Christian" character qualities.  Those qualities include empathy, integrity, trust, value of human life.

Mr. O'Neil claims that a 20 year study that involved 70,000 athletes, coaches, parents and and former athletes shows scientifically that participation in sports actually lowers an athletes attainment of "moral values."  That is shocking but looking back over my close to 18 years in coaching I can see how it may be true.  Sports participation is not necessarily valuable in building the "important" values in young people.  Basically, it all comes down to who is coaching and how they are coaching.  We as coaches must be teaching, modeling and requiring our athletes to gain moral/christian values if we are to be effective.

Not a __________ Person

I have heard and given the excuse "Sorry, I am just not a ________ person."  That blank is usually filled in with "Math", "Science", "People", "Spelling", "Names" or something similar.  I guess we feel like if we say we weren't born good at something we are excused from ever having to be decent at it.

The areas that I feel like I am the weakest in "handyman", "Mercy" or "Car."  I have used these excuses on a multitude of occasions in my life to excuse my inability to do something.  Are these really valid excuses for us to use as adults?  Sure, we all have different gifts and abilities.  Surely, some of us will excel at laboring with our hands better than others.  Some can do complex math problems and make them look easy.  Others can remember people's names and other details while I struggle to remember where my keys are.  But are we really given a free pass through life by saying I am not good at ________.  Are we then excused from ever trying to develop in that area?

In their awesome book "Do Hard Things" the Harris twins explain the silliness of this kind of thinking through an illustration.  Babies are born unable to walk, talk, feed themselves or use the restroom.  That's fine for infants and toddlers but by the time these kids reach school age they need to have come close to mastering these things.  It would be pretty awkward if an 8 year old said "I am not a walking person" or "I am just not gifted in the area of using the restroom, I think I will stick to my diaper."  Kind of a silly illustration but hopefully it paints a picture.

One of my focuses this year has been on trying new things. Specifically things that I consider manly.  I have taken on new projects, worked around the house, tried new things. Some things I have found I am truly no good at, YET, but with practice I am getting better.  Also, having a willingness to change and grow has proven useful and helpful. 

What about you?  What areas do you struggle in?  What are some weaknesses?  You need to spend the vast majority of your time working in the areas in which you are strong.  You definitely need to delegate out the work that you aren't gifted to perform, but at the same time have a willingness to spend some time improving your weaker areas.  The best way to get better at something is to do it.

Let me close with an undocumented/uncited story.  Two people were brought into an art studio.  One person was given an unlimited amount of clay and told to make as many pots as he could that week. His job was quantity  He spent his week making a ton of clay pots.  The other person was only given enough clay to make one pot and told to make the best clay pot he possible could.  His job was quantity.  Well, guess what?  By the end of the week the potter who only needed to make one clay pot hadn't delivered an excellent pot.  He made a pretty good one.  However, the potter who went for quantity had delivered an extremely high quality clay pot?  How did he do it.  Well he got to work and made so many pots that by the end of the week he had learned the secret to making a high quality product.  By being forced to work and produce a high quantity of the pots he learned how to make them with great quality.

Task:  Find one area in which you are weak and find ways to develop those skills.  Instead of saying I can't do it, or I am just not a __________ person, give it a try and see what can happen.

No Time for Envy or Jealousy

I posted this message on Facebook and Twitter earlier today:


You have zero right to look at somebody else's career success, wealth, house, car, fitness etc. and get jealous or envious. They have worked, sacrificed, studied, learned and grown in ways that I guarantee you haven't been wiling to. How can I guarantee that? Because if you were working, sacrificing, studying, learning and growing in that way you wouldn't have a spare second to be jealous or envious of anyone else.


Let's unpack it a little bit in the blog.  Almost all of the great men and women in history have had to endure a tremendous trial or negative circumstance.  It is typically the lessons that they learn through that tragedy or bad situation that allows them to excel and achieve at a high level.  Most of us want to experience the success without paying the price of going through the negative life event.  We want to earn "doctor/lawyer" money but are not willing to endure 7-10 years in college preparing.  We wish we had a beautiful house, but are unwilling to earn the money to pay for it or are unwilling to do the upgrades to make it possible.  We wish we were more successful as coaches, leaders or teachers but rarely read anything that will help us achieve those goals.  When was the last time we gave up a weekend to attend a training session or a leadership clinic.  Do we listen to talk radio, pop music, sports talk or Podcasts when we are in our cars driving around.  Are we actively turning off the TV so we can carve out time to develop the talents and abilities God has given us.

To sum it up a quick story... When I coached basketball at a camp in New York an obese teenager came up to me and said "when I make it to the NBA I am going to have an entire kitchen stocked full of junk food so I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want."  I tried to sensitively explain to him that in order to achieve his dream of playing in the NBA he would likely have to closely monitor his caloric intake and that he would have to sacrifice eating junk food in order to reach his goals.  Clearly crushed and dejected he walked away.  He had no intention of changing his lifestyle in order to reach his dreams.  How many of us are the same?  How many of us are unwilling to sacrifice in order to reach our dreams?

In Defense of Screen Time

Screen time is a key bad word among most parents that I talk to.  They are either trying to limit or completely eliminate screen time from their kids lives.  I have heard parents brag "well we only allow screen time on the weekends" or "we limit screen time to only 30 minutes a day."  These parents are so proud of the fact that their kids don't sit around watching TV, movies or playing on IPads.

I just smile and nod my head.  My "good parent" side cringes because I do think my boys sometimes spend too much time laying around watching screens.  There are limits to everything and I think some boundaries need to be set and enforced.  However, just like most areas moderation needs to be practiced.  Too much of anything typically is a bad thing.  Chocolate cake can and should be enjoyed.  But, too much will cause a myriad of health issues.  That doesn't mean we don't eat it at all.  We allow the adults in the situation to provide it in moderation.  I think the same should be true for screen time in children.  ***Note:  I am not a doctor or child psychologist.  Just a parent trying to raise healthy, happy boys.

Recently my boys watched (and are now rewatching repeatedly) the movie Sing.  The movie features many animated animals in a singing contest and performance.  As a result of this movie my boys have gained a tremendous love and appreciation for music.  We now have a mini-kids sized piano in our living room and it is played regularly.  My boys are more interested in singing and dancing and acting as they reenact their favorite scenes from this and other movies.  Watching them the past few weeks has inspired me to list several advantages I see from kids having "some" screen time.

With all that being said, here are some definite advantages of screen time:

1.)  My boys have their imagination sparked every time they watch television (mostly Netflix and some Disney).  They can experience the world in a new and imaginary way.  They are challenged to think outside the box of what is possible and enter a world of make believe.  That is incredibly powerful for their young minds.  I don't want my boys boxed in the world that can be seen around them.  I want them to experience make believe and pretend.

2.)  My 20 month old son can now access Netflix and select exactly the show that he wants.  He is being technologically prepared in ways that simply don't happen by reading books or playing in the backyard.  My son still has a natural love for books and he spends plenty of time flipping through the pages of his many favorite books.  However, the fact is that he can do things technologically that I couldn't until I was 30 years old (because they didn't exist).  Whether we like it or not, the world is going to get more technologically advanced.  Kids who are raised with a natural ability to play and tinker electronically are going to be light years ahead of those who don't.  My kids still spend countless hours exploring streams, playing in sand boxes, riding bikes, planting and weeding gardens but they also have the advantage of being tech savvy at a very young age.

3.)  Television and other screens allow my boys to have experiences that we simply could never have as a family any other way.  They can explore the Himalayas, swim under the oceans, travel to the savannahs of Africa.  They are able to go on adventures in the Wild West.  Yes, we want to do as many things as possible in the physical realm, but technology allows us to have many great experiences as a family from the comfort of our living room.

4.)  Sitting mindlessly in front of a TV can be very educational for kids.  There are some incredibly educational and brain stimulating things to watch on TV.  Some of the games that my guys play are incredibly educational and build their brain power and problem solving ability.  Who knows, maybe a few hours a month of playing Angry Birds may lead to one of them developing a love for engineering or architecture. There are shows that are teaching them valuable lessons about science (octonauts comes to mind), history, music and math.

Yes, kids need to exercise, play, read, color and draw and turn off the TV.  However, if you are like me and allow your kids to have "some" screen time, quit feeling guilty and understand that there are some definite benefits.  The key again is MODERATION in all things!