Misc

Questions to ask for reviewing 2010

I posted this last year, but wanted to go back to it as a very practical resource/application for the end of the year. It's important we take time as leaders to reflect and look back over the last 12 months, as well as looking forward to the next 12 months and beyond.

Year End Review Questions:

1. What are the 2-3 themes that personally defined 2010 for me?

2. What people, books, accomplishments, or special moments created highlights in 2010?

3. Give yourself a grade from 1-10 in the following areas of focus for 2010: vocationally, spiritually, family, relationally, emotionally, financially, physically, recreationally.

4. What am i working on that is BIG for 2011 and beyond?

5. As I move into 2011, is a majority of my energy being spent on things that drain me or things that energize me?

6. How am I preparing for 10 years from now? 20 years from now?

7. What 2-3 things have I been putting off that I need to execute on before the end of the year?

Leadership Qualities of Nehemiah

Nehemiah is one of my favorite people in the Old Testament. He was a leader, pure and simple. Here are several leadership traits that stand out to me that he possessed. 1. Humble- he ranked high in the Kingdom of Artaxerxes- he was cupbearer to the King. Yet he understood the stewardship of his role. And arrived in Jerusalem only with the animal he was riding, when he could have asked the King for many more men to help him and escort him back.

2. Compassionate- when he learned of the suffering of his people, he sat down and cried. And then mourned for days, fasting and praying for his Jewish brothers and sisters in Jerusalem.

3. Visionary- he immediately captured the hearts of the people to help in rebuilding the walls. He was a masterful motivator. To show up and be able to rally the people to work together was an amazing feat.

4. Strength- when confronted with naysayers and even potential attacks from those outside the city, he held the people together, spoke with strength and determination and confidence, and even instructed those building the wall to have a spear in one hand and a tool in the other!

5. Organized- Nehemiah quickly assembled working teams to rebuild the wall with haste, and had people working round the clock to finish the job. Anyone who can lead rebuilding the wall in 52 days has the ability to organize and stay focused on the strategy at hand.

6. Integrity- when Nehemiah learned of the way some of the people were being cheated and sold into slavery by others in the city, he quickly brought light to it and put a new solution and system in place. He wouldn't stand for the iniquities that had been going on for quite a while.

Chuck Swindoll, Louie Giglio, Daniel Pink, Jeremy Cowart, & more

Check out a couple of the recent Catalyst Podcast episodes- featuring some great leaders. 1. Part Two of my interview with Louie Giglio, where we discuss the One Million Can initiative, Auburn football, the issue of stewardship and calling, and a few other surprises.

2. Also available is a recent episode which features Tim Elmore interviewing Daniel Pink, NYT and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Drive and A Whole New Mind. Plus, I catch up with Jeremy Cowart, award winning photographer and founder of Help Portrait.

3. And the episode released yesterday features my interview with Chuck Swindoll, pastor, past president of Dallas Seminary, founder of Insight for Living, and author of numerous books, including the most recent The Church Awakening.

You can listen to all of these episodes here, or better yet, subscribe and download from itunes for FREE.

5 Things to check out right now

1. Jesus Culture new album- I'm listening to it constantly. Buy it. 2. Pulse News One of my favorite apps- get it for free for your iphone or iPad- my favorite app for keeping up with a bunch of blogs and websites.

3. Fast Company- either the print magazine, following on Twitter, or visiting their website. Great way to keep up with what is new and innovative in business and culture.

4. PTI- Pardon the Interruption on ESPN. Best show on TV. The one show I watch everyday- 5:30 and 6:30 EST. If you are a sports fan, watch this show.

5. Noisetrade- great website for finding new music. Check out some of the incredibly talented musicians/artists on this site- including Sleeping at Last, Zach Williams, The Civil Wars, etc. Free downloads of songs, along with a way to "tip" the artists, so that they are not just giving away all their stuff for free.

BONUS: A glimpse into my "secret" life.... Chris Ediger captured a moment of me "rapping" at our Catalyst Christmas party a couple of weeks ago. All done to win $100 for the talent contest. I do have a rapping background....My stage name way back when in high school was "Creme L", and I was part of a rap group called "OREO." Yep, the creme in the middle. Jay King from Integrity is already signing me to a new record deal, so don't even try to send me offers.......

Merry Christmas everyone!

Managing Leadership Tensions

"Leaders live and lead in the middle of the mess. Where the tension is constant, prevalent, and real." Our theme for Catalyst Atlanta back in October was The Tension is Good.

In looking back, I am reminded of how important understanding this idea is- that Tension is a good thing for leaders

Here area a few thoughts on Tension and the perspective as leaders we should have in managing it:

1. Tension is a powerful platform to clarify what is important. Out of tension many times comes change. Change for good.

2. There is a constant tension between who I am and who God wants me to be. The tension of growth and maturity is always present.

3. Resisting average creates tension. Striving for excellence creates tension.

4. We constantly live with a tension of determining in life how much we give away. Whether it is time, money, talents, resources, or focus, leaders must understand and embrace this tension of generosity.

5. Generational tension is essential in passing the mantle of leadership. For the Church to move forward in culture, older leaders must pass on their wisdom and legacy to younger leaders.

6. Tension among and within a team is healthy. Unity doesn't mean there's no tension. Unity means you are pursuing the same mission in the midst of real and purposeful tension.

7. Leaders lead in the fray. Leading in the safety zone is easy, but true leadership happens in the fray where change is happening, and there is a unique tug of war happening in that area.

8. Typically, where there is no tension, there is no real growth. Tension builds courage, character, wisdom and makes us authentic and real. It stretches and motivates us.

9. As a leader, lean into the tension that constantly exist. As Andy Stanley says, some tensions are meant to be managed, not removed.

The tension is necessary. The tension makes us strong. The tension is good.

Interview w/2009 Fastest Growing Church in America

Had the chance to catch up recently with good friend Chris Hodges, senior pastor of Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL. Chris also helped start ARC, the Association of Related Churches, which plants churches across the US and around the world. He is a board member of EQUIP, and recently launched GROW, which exists to help primarily smaller churches and pastors broaden in influence, grow in attendance, and break through barriers. Chris is one of the sharpest leaders I know. I really appreciate his leadership and his heart for the Global Church. Church of the Highlands began 10 years ago, and today is one of the largest churches in the US. In 2009, Church of the Highlands was the fastest growing Church in the US.

In Part One, we discuss the beginning of Church of the Highlands, Chris' leadership style, and how he's maintained the strong leadership culture even in the midst of the tremendous growth. He gives a great "swing tip" for leaders, and we talk briefly about his bent towards competition, especially when it comes to hunting!

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/17985095[/vimeo]

In Part Two, we discuss the Global Church, why he's really excited about Australia and Europe, LSU football, and why relationships are integral to collaboration and God's Church expanding.

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/17985197[/vimeo]

In Part Three, we discuss the GROW Network and why he has a passion for helping smaller churches and all pastors/church leaders grow their influence and reach in their communities.

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/17985281[/vimeo]

Thanks Chris!

10 Reasons to attend Catalyst West

I'm so excited about Catalyst West coming up March 2-4, 2011 in Orange County (Irvine) CA at Mariners Church. If you are considering attending, you'll want to go ahead and REGISTER TODAY to get the BEST RATES on tickets. After today, ticket prices will jump up. So go ahead and get your team or staff signed up at the lower prices. And when you register, use Rate Code FOB for an additional 10% off. Just for being a part of this blog community.

Here are 10 reasons why I am excited about Catalyst West, and why you should attend:

1. The speaker lineup- Andy Stanley, Eugene Peterson, Rev Run, Matt Chandler, Jack Dorsey (co-founder of Twitter), Dave Ramsey, Judah Smith, Christine Caine, Dr. John Perkins, Nancy Ortberg, Soledad O'Brien, Britt Merrick, Randall Wallace (writer of Braveheart). This lineup has me jacked. Seriously. I'm pumped!

2. Gungor- one of my favorite bands on the planet.

3. Tripp and Tyler- funny guys. funny videos. they will be funny.

4. Jud Wilhite- Jud keeps things moving. And provides context. And makes things stick. And is one of the sharpest and most influential leaders around.

5. Take Courage- this is our theme. And I love it.

6. LABS- wow, the wisdom and know-how that will be presenting at LABS is humbling. Come a day early and hear from thought leaders like Mike Foster, Jud Wilhite, Michael Hyatt, Anne Jackson, Jon Acuff, David Kinnaman, Gayle Haggard, Mark Batterson, Rick McKinley, Charles Lee, Bob Goff, Shaun King, Miles McPherson, Jaeson Ma, Samuel Rodriguez, and many others!

7. Opening and Closing Session at LABS- Scot McKnight will be presenting in the opening session of Labs, and David Platt will be presenting in the closing session. Scot is the author of recently released One.Life and David is the author of the best-seller Radical.

8. 3500 Leaders- Catalyst attracts the doers, the influencers, the cultural architects, and change agents. And when you get 3500 leaders and influencers who are intent on making a difference together, great things happen.

9. Mariners Church- a breathtaking campus in Irvine, CA. Lots of green space, and a staff that is incredible to work with. The Mariners team is family, and we love working with them!

10. The Unexpected- Our prayer is always that God would move in the hearts of the leaders who are part of Catalyst in ways we don't expect or plan for. We love creating what we consider to be a great event, but we trust and know that God shows up in unexpected ways and meets each leader in specific ways. We love hearing stories of life change, of moments of clarity, of great conversations, of powerful times of renewal, etc. The experience of Catalyst is what we all look forward to.

Make sure and Register TODAY. Can't wait to see you there.

Do you love what you do?

Do you love what you do? Do you enjoy your job, or are you just enduring it?

Is the greatest intent of your week to only get to the weekend? Or to suffer until the next vacation day?

Is what you do an extension of who you are?

If someone told you that you have to quit your "job" tomorrow, would you be relieved or disappointed?

Many folks go through life simply enduring what they do, instead of loving what they do. Not all of career life is glamorous, or constantly fires us up. I get that. Some things you just have to put up with and endure. But if you daily dread getting out of bed and diving in to your occupation, to your career, to your vocation, then something has to change. It's not worth it.

Don't settle for just going through life enduring the 5 days of the workweek, to only have as your greatest goal of the week to make it to the weekend.

Love what you do, or at least like it. It's too important not to.

A post for Leaders 55 and older

Several months ago I put together some thoughts for 20-somethings titled Shut Up and Listen. I also did a post for leaders in their 30's on Lessons I've learned in my 30's.... This post, however, is for Older Leaders. I'm categorizing that as 55 and older. Now don't get all technical and age arrogant on me.... There's no magical reason why 55 is the cutoff. The idea is that this post is for those leaders who are "older in general than others around them." So this might apply if you are 45 and you are surrounded by a bunch of leaders 25 and younger. You get the point.

From my vantage point, there are some things those of us that are "younger" want the leaders around us who are older to know. These are just a few of those:

1. Pursue us- We're not in it for the long haul anymore. 35 and under leaders in general are more about projects than they are about careers. More about movements instead of organizations. So if you want to keep us around in your organization, you're going to have to pursue us. Show us you are approachable, and connected to where we are in life.

2. Understand us- make an effort to be in touch with our generation. It doesn't mean you have to dress like us (not all the time anyway!!), but when you make a concerted effort to be in touch with what we are in touch with, it makes a huge difference. We're motivated by making a difference, and being part of something bigger than ourselves.

3. Train us- Once you've got us on your team, pour into us. We may not show it, but we truly desire to be mentored and we need wise sages and mentors who will train us up. Constantly look for ways to pass on your insights to us. We are hungry for mentors, and are open to you passing on your wisdom. And not just your successes and the things you've done right- we want to know what you've failed at, both to make you "human" as well to learn from your experience so we won't make the same mistakes.

4. Inspire us- Cast vision for us. Motivate us through painting a picture of where we are headed. Lead us. But Don't manage us. Managing to you means something completely different than it does to us. You were schooled on the management theories of the 80's. Major generation gap here. And a source of lots of tension that is difficult to manage.

5. Listen to us- We have a lot to offer. Sometimes we're not sure how to best communicate it, but we do bring tremendous raw talent and motivation to the table. We are technically savvy, and understand how to make things happen through completely different systems and processes. Take a posture of listening to us before you dismiss our ideas.

6. Connect us- We are drawn towards community, and relational networks through which we can make an impact and affect change. Community is incredibly important to us, in any context. We want to climb the hill together, not by ourselves.

7. Release us- Literally, kick us out. Not only give us permission to leave, but actually encourage us to leave and pursue other things. Once it's time for us to move on, we might need your encouragement to pursue what God might be stirring up in us. Especially during the last couple of years, when it was much easier to just hang on than to really let go and chase after our dreams. We're not leaving because we're "giving up" on your vision, we just want to make ours a reality.

Young Influencers List, December edition

Here it is, the December edition of the Young Influencers List. You can see past month's lists HERE. 1. Aaron Ivey- worship pastor, musician and songwriter at The Austin Stone Community Church.

2. Derreck Kayong0- Founder and Chairman of the Global Soap Project.

3. Brooke Fraser- incredible singer, songwriter, and artist. Check out her newest album FLAGS.

4. James Choung- national director for Intervarsity's Asian American Ministry.

5. Trent Sheppard- helps lead Campus America, an initiative of the 24-7 Prayer Movement, and is co-author of God on Campus.

6. Katherine Wolf- amazing and powerful story of a young leader who has battled a massive stroke (seemingly life-ending) and since learned how to eat, speak, walk and live again.

Teeter Totter Leadership

We all know the simple rule of a teeter totter. If you go up, someone else goes down. If you are lower, someone else is elevated higher.

I heard my good friend Shane Claiborne mention this idea/concept as it relates to leadership last week at a small gathering, and it struck me that this is such a great illustration of what happens many times in our own leadership.

When we are high on the teeter totter, when we are elevated, and on the top of the mountain, and high up the ladder, someone else is at the bottom.

When we are lower, on the ground, at the bottom, someone else is elevated. When we are at the bottom, someone else is higher.

The simple rule of a teeter totter is this- you can't stay at the top and be the "high horse" all the time. You have to be lowered for someone else to be higher. One doesn't work without the other.

Sometimes as leaders we think that being at the top means that others around us should stay at the bottom. But many times for others to get elevated, we must be lowered. Teeter Totter leadership requires us to be equally high as we are low.

Thanks Shane for this simple reminder!!

Feeling Stuck?

Sometimes we just feel stuck. Not that anything is really wrong, but more the sense that we're not going anywhere. That place where you sense that things are okay, but not great. Going through the motions. Dependable, but not necessarily bringing your A-game. I know the feeling. For me, this usually happens after an event is over. About two weeks later. I usually just feel stuck at that point. I have a hard time being creative, being intentional, getting things done, moving the ball forward, and making decisions. I feel like I'm walking in knee deep mud sometimes.

How about you? Are you feeling stuck? If so, here are a few things to do:

1. Get out of your "normal" routine. Break up your schedule. Go on a trip. Visit someone you've wanted to see for quite a while. Hang out with people you don't know but want to learn from. The key on this is break up your "normal" with something that is out of place, out of context, or just simply breaks up the rhythm. Makes you see things from a different vantage point. For me, when I travel, it usually "unsticks" me.

2. Go back to the Basics. Sports teams will go back to the basics to get out of a rut. In football it's back to "blocking and tackling" or  in basketball it's back to "passing, dribbling, and shooting." For you, this could mean a number of things, but in essence, returning to the foundations of what you do, why you do it, and how you are uniquely designed to be doing what you are doing.

3. Jump on the Inspiration train. When I get stuck, I usually take time to find some stories of inspiration, read some emails, watch some videos, and allow myself to be re-inspired and re-energized. I also like to make sure I find some time to spend on the phone or in person with people who inspire me, because they usually can pull me out of my funk that I'm in. Make sure you have some people in your life who are motivators and inspiration icons- when you are around them it just fires you up.

Interviews w/ Louie Giglio, Mark Batterson, Christine Caine, & David Batstone

The Catalyst Podcast train continues to roll down the tracks, with most recent episodes featuring Mark Batterson, Christine Caine, David Batstone, and Seth Godin. And the just released episode features PART ONE of an in depth 90 minute interview with LOUIE GIGLIO. And if you still plan on going to Passion 2011 the 1st week of January in Atlanta, listen in closely for instructions on how to save on your tickets. But hurry, because Passion 2011 is close to selling out!

You can listen to all the episodes here, or better yet, subscribe for FREE on ITUNES and you'll get them delivered to your itunes account each time a new episode releases.

And let us know who you would like to hear from on a future episode.

Great Teachers I've had

We've all had great teachers in our past, right? Teachers who inspired us, challenged us, helped us mature, and were instrumental in us becoming who we are today. Why are some teachers considered great, and others not so much? Lots of reasons.

Thinking back on my teachers, here are the ones who stand out for me:

1. Mrs. Stephens- Senior English teacher. She pushed me to be better. Constantly. She didn't let me coast. She was highly respected among the students. Not necessarily liked by everyone, but always respected. She never let us coast and never just gave us "busywork." And she made me write my senior English paper on "Machiavellian Leadership." Not your normal English paper topic....

2. Mr. Galatian- High School physics and Science. he made Physics and science and computers a ton of fun. He engaged with students constantly. He was approachable and always willing to spend extra time helping you understand what was being taught. He had lots of jokes that he rolled out on a consistent basis. He was authentic.

3. Mrs. Darrah- 5th grade teacher. She was awesome. Made our class a ton of fun. I remember hundreds and hundreds of pages of cursive writing in her class..... And the fact that she also enjoyed dipping nacho cheese doritos into the chocolate shakes in the cafeteria!!

4. Mrs. Thompson- Elementary school Librarian. She made books and stories come to life. Listening and watching her read a book was just short of experiencing the same story through film. Her storytelling was magical!

Here's the deal. If you can remember the great teachers in your past, don't just remember who they are, but actually send them a note, or call them, or make a visit to their classroom over the Christmas break when you might be back in your hometown. Tell them how much they meant to you and to your development as a person and as a leader.

We need Great Teachers. and we need to acknowledge the great teachers.

10 Organizations worth a year-end gift

Okay, here's the deal. I wanted to recommend a few organizations that I think are worth a year end gift. All of these organizations are ones that I'm invested in- both in terms of giving gifts and supporting them, as well as knowing the staff and the people behind these organizations. So as you think about year-end giving, I would recommend any of these organizations as a great place to invest.

1. Word Made Flesh- Run by my good friends Chris and Phileena Heuertz. I love what they do in serving the poorest of the poor all over the world.

2. Compassion- sponsor a child. I sponsor several. I've seen their work up close in Rwanda and your money is being stewarded well.

3. Young Life- been involved with Young Life since college. No one creates better experiences for teenagers and introduces the Gospel in such a compelling and loving way.

4. Gift Card Giver- full disclosure on this one- I serve on the board so I'm a bit biased. But there is literally no overhead and you can give a gift or a gift card to help out.

5. Convoy of Hope- they've brought their trucks to Catalyst the last several years, and their disaster relief and community development is amazing.

6. International Justice Mission- Gary Haugen and the team at IJM have been fighting sex trafficking and human slavery for the last 16 years. Rescuing victims as well as bringing justice to areas where no justice exists.

7. HOPE International- run by good friend Peter Greer, HOPE Int provides micro-finance loans all over the world, helping give dignity and lift people out of poverty. A $100 gift goes a long way.

8. charity: water- perhaps my favorite non-profit organization in the world. Scott Harrison and team have revolutionized the concept of providing clean water, and are only getting started.

9. One Days Wages- Eugene Cho makes it easy to see the impact of giving up one day of your salary. And he leads by example.

10. Your Local Church- make sure you are giving regularly to your local church body. That is the place to start.

What Poisons a Team faster than Anything else

I've been reminded recently of the constant tension on a team. And.... the Tension is Good. We talked about this and leaned into this phrase at our Catalyst event earlier this fall in Atlanta. The right kind of tension is important for teams, as well as for individuals. It stretches and shapes and allows for growth. But there are other things that can creep into a team and poison it quickly. Things that sneak up fast and before you know it, start to define the team and take everyone off course. In the wrong direction. Headed the wrong way.

Here are a few of the poisons to make sure and avoid:

1. Arrogance- Pride comes before the fall, and for teams, the same holds true. Jim Collins talks about this at length in his book How the Mighty Fall. Humble confidence is the ticket.

2. No communication- this one is the most common poison for all teams to have some form of. The remedy? Overcommunicate. Be intentional and make sure folks are in the know. For team leaders, this one is tough. I struggle at this.

3. Me first, vs. We first- see this alot on high profile sports teams. Or with celebrities. As they say, there's no "I" in team. A WE first mentality starts at the top with the leader who has to set the tone in word AND deed. If you are hearing "it's not my job," then it's time for a gut check.

4. Jealousy and Cynicism- many times these go hand in hand and one follows the other. The remedy? Confronting it head on. Don't allow jealousy or cynicism or cliques to form. Stomp it out immediately.

What else would you say poisons teams in your experience?

There's No Way I (We) Can Do That

How many times do you hear that? From your team, your friends, your family, the organization you work for, your church, etc. "There's no way I can do that!"..... "Our team could never pull that off!"..... "Well it's easy for (so and so) to accomplish that kind of game changing project, because they have a massive team and lots of money"......"I'm not that smart or that connected to pull the right people together....." And on and on and on.

STOP using this as an excuse. As believers, as followers of Jesus, if we're not chasing after something that is so much bigger than we are, and there's no way we could ever accomplish it without God, then we are playing it too safe.

Is there currently something you are working on, organizing, idea crafting that is so big that everyone around you says "There's no way!!" If not, it's time to think big. Get outside your comfort zone. Dream about accomplishing a project so out of your abilities that it keeps you up at night.

God calls us to think big. If we are only working on something that we can accomplish on our own, I'm not sure that's good enough.

So what's on your heart or stirring in you that you keep pushing back because it just doesn't seem possible? Whatever it is, put it on the table. Stretch. Pursue it. "There's no way" those around you will say. But there is a way. God can accomplish what seems impossible to us. Through His power. With our sweat. And our work.

There IS a way I (We) can do that......

Aspirin vs. Vitamins

Read a great article recently in Fast Company by Dan and Chip Heath. Talking about the need for Consumers to have a deep felt need for your product. And considering the example of  aspirin and vitamins. Both found in the drug section of the grocery store. But a big difference between the two.

Vitamins are nice. They're healthy. And nice to have around.

But Aspirin cures your pain. Solves short terms solutions. Meets a basic need. And is a must have.

Compare that to your business, your organization, your product, your service, your project, your offering..... Is what you do or the service you provide a vitamin? Or does it serve as an aspirin for your customers and tribe? Is it a must have, or a nice-to-have?

The Heath's argue that our goal should be to actually turn vitamins into aspirin. It's not enough to give people something they might want, you have to give them something they acutally need.

People buy aspirin because it takes away pain. It meets a deep felt need. If you have a headache, you're not thinking "well I wonder if this is a good time to buy that aspirin I've been thinking about....." No, you want aspirin, and you want it now!

The question is this: Does your product or service or offering resolve a pain point for your customer? Does it meet a deep seated felt need? Is it a must have vs. a nice-to-have? If not, figure out how to turn your vitamins into aspirin.

5 Tips for Communicating Well

Whether you are a seasoned leader, college student, author, professor, CEO, politician, or pastor, we all have to learn to communicate well. Whether we are speaking to thousands, or speaking to our staff, or giving a report, or making a speech, it's imperative as leaders we know how to communicate. To make our point. To deliver a message. And communicating is much easier said than done. Actually it's the saying part and the doing part that make it difficult.

So here are some tips that might make communicating a bit easier for you and a bit more enjoyable for those listening.

1. Keep it Simple. Stay focused on a few key points. And use common sense. If it sounds confusing, it probably is. If it sounds cheesy, it probably is.

2. Tell great stories to validate your points. Unless you are just an amazing communicator, your points probably won't hold me. So sprinkle in some great stories, good analogies, and current events.

3. Inspire action. Push me towards doing something, not just hearing something.

4. Create hooks, repetitions, and memorable phrases. I won't remember all you said, but I might remember something you said. Our current culture is now built around soundbytes- status updates, tweets, texts, etc. So keep it simple, but also keep it short.

5. Land the plan on time. Not just ending on time, but actually ending with the right timing. Don't keep circling above the runway- land it now.

Check out these Links

- Catalyst Coaching is now available to our Catalyst community! We are partnering with Steve Cockram and Mike Breen from 3dm Ministries to bring a unique and incredible opportunity for hundreds of leaders in the Catalyst network to be part of a great leadership coaching program, and continue to expand their leadership journey . More info here. I encourage you to sign up TODAY - if so, you'll receive a FREE ticket to any Catalyst event in 2011! - I recently was interviewed by Michael Myatt for the N2 Growth Blog. You can watch the full interview here.

- The most recent Catalyst Podcast features an interview with Seth Godin, uber blogger and best-selling author of tons of books, including his most recent Linchpin, which I highly recommend.

- A BRAND NEW Release from Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel. The Power of Momentum DVD Set. Contains 4 individual DVD's with talks from Andy and Craig, Q and A, behind the scenes interviews, and participant guides for staff training or small group interaction. This is a GREAT resource for leaders and highly recommended for staff development or individual leadership development.

- This video is a guaranteed laugh. A Japanese TV game show. Worth the 3 or 4 minutes to brighten your day!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGcPRfPtjYo[/youtube]