Catalyst 08 w/ Jim Collins

Jim Collins –
The greatest chief executives most signature characteristic is humility – defined as a passionate burning ambition of the values, not themselves.

You cannot build a successful church based on you. It cannot be about you.

Think about the difference between the flywheel of the church and the flywheel of the faith –
Those who understand how to build an organization, know that the success is really measured when you are not there. If it goes on without you. It endures.

What is the direction on the flywheel? The hedgehog concept. The hedgehog knows opne big thing and really focus on the one big thing. You want to push the flywheel in the intersection of three circles: what you are passionate about, what you contribute uniquely, and the resources (ppl, $, and brand reputation)

The WHO is more impt than the what.
Part of being a great leader is disciplined action:
The critical thing is not wking more hours… the critical question is not what to do, but what to NOT do. Focus. Focus on priorities. If you have too many priorities... then, you really have none.

There is always a duality about A or B. Is about leadership OR followship. It is about leadership AND followship. It is about financial strength or serving the needy? AND. There is a lovely symbiotic tension. AND. Preserve the core and stimulate progress.

What is the core are the values. What must never change is the core values. But where we get in trouble is confusing values with practices. How is this up and coming generation of church ldrship different than before… it is not about the set of denominational practices, it is about the values. Every generation needs to create its own practices to passionately exemplify the eternal values that cut across all generations.

BHAG – Big Harry Audacious Goal -

Ten things Jim Collins would like you to consider doing and not doing:
1. Go to website. Good to Great diagnostic tool with your team to self assess how are we doing?

2. How many key seats are on your bus? How many are filled with the right ppl? How close are you filling them 100%?

3. Build a personal board of directors. Of true leaders and people you look up to.

4. Get young people in your face. Have them pushing you and challenging you. There is something very special about this upcoming generation of leaders. Get them in the keys of leadership asap. You want the right young people in your face.

5. Asking what job, what career, etc. The question is WHO. Who will you allow to be your mentors. That is far more impt than what organization, career, etc.

6. Build a counsel. Use your counsel as disciplined thought.

7. What is your questions to statement ratio??? Don’t give answers. Ask them questions. Can you double your ratio in the next year? You spend way too much of your life trying to be interesting… why don’t you invest more time being interested.

8. In the age of great electronics, then you need to turn off the gadgets. Take white space days. Nothing can be scheduled. Quiet days. NO gadgets! Work is infinite and time is finite.

9. How do you become level 5? The level 5's always began with how do I commit myself that I have the passion that I can endure the pain of level 5 decisions. They engage themselves in a worthy cause that they have such passion that they can endure the pain of level 5 leadership.

10. Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Of conscious choice and to discipline. WE are not imprisoned by our environment our setbacks our mistakes, staggering defeats… we are freed by our choices. It is the choices that no on can see.

Peter Drucker: Pay your mentors back by mentoring others. We are put here for a reason and that is to be useful.