Check out the new episode of the Catalyst Podcast, featuring an interview with Jon Tyson and Darren Whitehead. Both originally from Australia, Darren is a teaching pastor at Willow Creek in Chicago, and Jon is lead pastor at Trinity Grace Church in downtown New York City.
Also in this episode we discuss some of the Holiday traditions of the Catalyst team.
You can stream live from here or download from itunes.
Tim Hawkins is funny. Really funny. A great clip from him regarding THE favorite restaurant in the South, Chick-fil-A.
I believe in Jarrett and Jeanne Stevens. I love their heart, passion for the Church, connection to reaching the city, and willingness to step out and launch something new. They’ve been at Willow Creek, North Point, and now launching something brand new.
Soul City Church. A brand new church community in downtown Chicago. I wholeheartedly believe in this Church community.
No, I’m not moving to Chicago to help out (Carlos is). But even though I won’t be attending, I’ll still be a part.
And my part right now is helping them launch.
And the best way I can help right now is to ask my friends and our community here to give.
As the year comes to an end, I want to ask you to help. You may not know Jarrett and Jeanne, or have a connection to the city of Chicago, but I believe so much in the impact that they are going to have on the city of Chicago and beyond that I am willing to make a big request of everyone.
Specifically, Soul City Church is looking to secure an inexpensive lease space where they can do a low budget renovation. This space would provide an inviting environment for weekend gatherings, as well as a creative space for anyone to use throughout the week. Your gift can help fund the makeover of this space so that Soul City Church can have a church home.
Let’s all help Soul City Church START right. Give a one-time gift right now at YEAR END START.
Extreme Church Makeover: $50,000
It’s the end of the year. But it’s the START for Soul City Church.
I believe in Church Planters. I believe in Jarrett and Jeanne Stevens. Soul City Church is going to impact Chicago. Be a part right now.
Leadership is Influence. That’s what Maxwell says. And I believe that to be true.
And influence can show up in a variety of ways. Influencing a team, a friend, a family, and sometimes a network.
In the past, when it came to influencing through giving, most of us kept that part of our lives to ourselves. Giving, and being charitable, was a private matter. But times have changed.
Today, a new style of giving and being charitable has emerged. Philanthropy has changed. A new form of influence for good through bloggers and twitterers, and the amazing social networks that have been created.
- Seth Godin just challenged his blog community last week to provide a small donation in exchange for receiving his new book a few weeks before it releases next year, and quickly raised over $100,000 in 48 hours for the Acumen Fund.
- Jon Acuff just raised $60,000 to build two kindergarden schools in Vietnam through challenging his blog readers to give.
- Alyssa Milano just raised $25,000 for clean water in 5 new communities through charity: water and the Mycharity project in conjunction with her 37th birthday. And Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter, just recently raised $15,000 through Mycharity as well.
- The Causes function on Facebook is constantly being used to create giving opportunities for Facebook friend groups.
Philanthropy has changed. Changed for good. And for those of us who have social networks, let’s consider how we are using our influence as well.
As leaders, sometimes we become so focused on pushing others, that we forget to push ourselves.
Being self-disciplined and willing to push yourself is a key attribute of successful leaders. And especially successful entrepreneurs.
Don’t be like a wheelbarrow, that only goes as far as it is pushed. If you are relying on someone else around you or above you to push you to get things done or to grow as a leader, it’s time to step up and push yourself.
Someone once said: “There are three kinds of people in this world. Those who MAKE things happen. Those who WATCH things happen. And those who say ‘WHAT HAPPENED?“
Which kind of leader are you?
LV Hanson, the Catalyst ambassador, recently chatted with Greg Russinger, a great young leader from Portland who is the co-founder of Just One and Laundry Love. Greg co-founded these great projects with Charles Lee, founder of IDEA Camp. Some great thoughts from Greg.
1. Seth Godin writes on how you can still make you or your organization competent in social media. It’s not too late.
2. Mike Hyatt writes about 10 mistakes when you blog and how to avoid them.
3. Tripp Crosby starring as Brad Wiggins in several shorts he is doing on his blog. Check the latest one out here and see several of the recent episodes.
4. Perry Noble writes about Five Mistakes He Made as a Young Leader.
5. Pete Wilson writes how Information does not equate to transformation.
Tone is incredibly important in music. Bad tone, bad music.
In leadership, tone is also incredibly important. Tone of your conversation, tone of a meeting, tone of your reprimands, tone of your encouragement, tone of confrontation, etc.
Let’s be clear- I stink at this. And lots of us who are intense Type A’s need to work on this. The ENTJ in me many times doesn’t care or even think about what my tone might be saying or in some way impacting those around me. Too many times I am completely tone deaf.
So think about your tone. Be it in what you say, how you say it, what your posture is when you say it, or even the way you don’t say something.
It is saying much much more than we might think. Just ask those around you.