Category Archives: Leadership

Books that Push

I love reading books that push me mentally.

I love reading from authors who push the envelope a little bit. They experiment in ways that make people go “why would you do that? That is stupid.”

I am incredibly stubborn and if you tell me something is stupid….well I might just go prove you wrong. Or right. It depends on the experiment.

But I am rarely inspired by those who do the everyday. Who sit comfortably and refuse to move from their positions just because it is safe and part of the status quo.  People who make excuses for why they stay in the same job year after year even though they hate it? What a waste.

Don’t want to fight human trafficking or issues like abortion because it is controversial or dangerous?? I am bored by you.

Don’t want to share Jesus with others because they might laugh at you? I question if you really believe Jesus is Lord and Savior.

Does that sound harsh? Presumptuous? Judgmental? I apologize. That is not the point I am trying to make nor do you want to believe that I don’t have compassion for those who may be afraid and need a little encouragement.

But most people just don’t move or do anything.  They complain all day every day. But they still. Don’t. Move.

The last couple of weeks I have picked up a couple of books that I am devouring right now!

1. 7: an experimental mutiny against excess by Jen Hatmaker

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First, I believe Jen and I are long lost friends. Mostly because my favorite line that I read in chapter 1 of her book stated this: “I would positively get rid of cable tomorrow if it weren’t for the Food Network. I read cookbooks like they are Jodi Picoult novels.”

Amen girlfriend. This is so true. SO TRUE!

To be honest, I didn’t want to read this book at first. Because I knew that if I did, my way of thinking would be challenged and I would have to do something with the information I read.  That is just the way I am.  When you come face to face with your behavior and how it needs to be changed…you either have to change it, or pretend it doesn’t exist. I don’t like to live life with my head buried in the sand.

Realizing that her life, while she would not classify herself as rich, they were extremely well off as a family considering they had a roof over their head, plenty of clothes (over 300 items to be specific), never skipped a meal and was able to buy things when they felt like it.  The idea that many of us in America live in excess….meaning living with MORE than we actually need….hit her so hard that she decided to spend seven months, choose 7 topics, and spend 30 days on each topic boiling it down to only 7. That means eat only 7 foods, wear 7 articles of clothing, and spend money in 7 places.

Radical right?!  And I am loving every inch of this book. Does she say you have to do this in order to get the point? NO! But I am already rethinking how I view my possessions and what I have in my home.  I love books like this. Grab yours now!

2. Start by Jon Acuff

Start

This is a personal development book I picked up (and requiring my team to read it…heads up team hehe!) for my business.  When I first began my business, I had no clue what I was doing. And I definitely did not have a whole lot of money! But I went for it because I am so passionate about people getting healthy. So many times we can choose to just wait until the right moment to start whatever it is we want to start. We figure we are stuck where we are because it is too hard to get out. NO! Don’t believe it! Maybe it is a new career. Maybe it is an invention. Maybe we want to travel. Maybe you want to start a family. I don’t know what it is for you, but the perfect moment won’t come.

You won’t have all the answers to how it will pan out. You won’t have all the money you need.  This book challenges me to do the best I can with the information I have, find out what I am passionate about, and just begin.  To see where it goes.  To literally “Punch Fear in the face”, do something that matters and Start.  This is a great book for those of you who may be tired of doing something you aren’t passionate about and are looking to change.  Grab it!

What books are you reading that are pushing you lately?

Tiff~

Leaders Don’t Point Fingers

 

I have the tendency to blame others when things don’t go the way I want.

Or I am unable to complete a task that desperately needed to be completed.

“It was because *fill in the blank here* happened” I find myself saying a lot.

Truth be told, that does not make me a very good leader. It just makes me a whiner. And a person who cannot take responsibility for their own actions.

I don’t really like that about me.

But I am finding that this type of attitude is not all that uncommon. We see it everywhere:

*In Politics

*In Ministry

*In Business

*In a marriage/family

It is easier to Blame than it is to accept our own shortcomings.  It is easier to shift attention to the shortcomings of someone else.

And while there are certainly times when it is another person’s fault or circumstances happen out of our control, a true leader does not blame or point fingers.

I watch my husband as he leads college students and advise his leadership team. If they fail at anything, he always takes responsiblity.

He believes that leadership is “top down”.

This means that he is in charge of those under him. Their short comings become his and he needs to figure out a way  to help them and encourage them as well as develop solutions WITH them so that what failed before will not become a failure again.

My husband is a great example of a leader. And I know you might think I am being biased but I don’t really care.  I have known this man for nearly 10 years.  I have seen every shortcoming possible of his. He is a great leader. (Okay I will stop now *smile*)

I am working on being woman who grows to accept that she will fail at times and that I can control the urge to make someone else responsible for my failures.

“A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame someone else.” John Burroughs

What about you? Do you have a tendency to shift blame?

<3 Tiff

 

I Was Gifted with a Puppet Theater

Yesterday, after coming home from the grocery store, Madi and her Daddy had a surprise for me.

A puppet show theater.

Fashioned from an old shoe box.

And our own little puppets. Fashioned from notebook paper, shoebox scraps and crayons.

I don’t usually get extremely ideological over arts and crafts but I was impressed with Madi’s determination to create something even though she didn’t have the most sophisticated tools around. She had the basic essentials needed in order to put together what she had in mind.

And to her that was enough.

She didn’t need a degree in puppet theater construction.

She didn’t need to be an expert artist.

She just needed a little imagination. And patience. (And a really helpful, and might I add cute, daddy to help her cut the box).

That was it.

I go back to thinking about how I need to be an expert in this or that in order to help people, when the exact opposite is the truth.

I don’t need a seminary degree in order to tell others about Jesus. I just need to tell them what He has done for me.

I don’t need to be Jillian Michaels in order to help people live healthier lives. I just need to share my own story and struggles.

I don’t need pinterest to be a creative mommy or put on the best birthday party anyone has ever seen, complete with all the bells and whistles that craft stores can offer. I just need to be a present and loving momma, willing to use her heart and a little imagination to bring a smile to her baby’s face.

I don’t believe in the whole name it claim it theology that is out there, but I do think sometimes we limit what we are able to do because we think we need to be a certain way in order to achieve results.

Jesus did not pick the most intelligent, wealthiest, classiest men to be His Disciples.

He chose Twelve Ordinary Men.

And that encourages my soul deeply.

What about you? Do you feel you need to have it all together? Or have you truly shed this myth and are ready to step out?

Tiff

Our Priorities Matter

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For those of who work outside the home or have chosen careers for ourselves, we know how to answer this question:

What is most important to you and in what order?

Of course, all of us would give the answer we know we should give:

God first. Then family. And third career.

Am I right?

But can I just be honest and say that sometimes, I get that list all wrong. And I switch it.

I often put God last. Sometimes, I  would much rather answer email than read the Bible or deal with the 10,000th argument that Sean and Madi decided to have over a toy. (I mean really kids?)

I have found though that everytime I go out of order in my priorities….nothing really works. But when I place everything back in the order they should be in, then it all works. That doesn’t always mean more customers or money, but it does mean more peace in my home and my relationship with God is good.

I have been reading a book my sister gave me. It is called “Miracles Happen” by Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay. I am not a consultant for them but I have found her faith in Jesus to be inspiring and that she built her company on those three principles.

And it is helping me keep things in perspective with my business. My relationship with God is the most important.

My marriage is next and the upbringing of my children right after that.

Ministry and then my career, which I love. God has allowed me an opportunity to help others, but I must not force that very opportunity to tear apart the things that matter.

Because without God and my family, what them do I really have?

Not much.

I know that I won’t always get this right. But I am sure going to try.

Do you have your own business or work outside the home? How do you keep your priorities in line?

Tiff

KACC University

When I made the decision to take  care of my body, I had no idea how much I would learn just by exercising and eating healthy.

And never did I even think that God had really cared all that much about what I ate.

Or how I felt about my body.

That I couldn’t fit into my size 5 jeans anymore.

Really. I believed he could care less.  That He mostly cared about me serving in the church, serving my husband and my family. Taking care of what I needed to take care of. My body and health had nothing to do with that.

Or did it?

When I studied the scriptures, I noticed that while there weren’t any verses talking about signing up for 5K’s, Vegan diets or Beachbody fitness programs, there was talk about discipline.

Stewardship.

Our bodies were a temple.

We were made to serve God. In His church. In our communities. In the country.

And if I failed to care for the one thing He has gifted me at my birth, then how could I possibly expect Him to expect ME to do more.

If I was struggling with my weight. So consumed with myself that I was incapable of serving my husband, my kids or Illuminate….then I clearly could not expect God to give me anything else to do.

Until I made taking care of myself a priority.

So that I could do more for the Kingdom.

On Monday, 7/16/12 I will be sharing a bit of my journey, what God has taught me through this journey and process as well as give tips, nutrition and fitness encouragement and help to those looking to feel better and do more for His glory.

My class is called Be Healthy. Be Fit. Be You!

My class will be on at Knott Avenue Christian Church and if you haven’t already, and you would like to check it out, you can register here.

Seeing that our nation is going through a major crisis in Obesity, I believe the church can be a part of the healing of those struggling and hurting.

I hope you will join me.

Tiff

Leaders Listen

In my devotions awhile back, I read Exodus 18.  Moses and his Father In Law Jethro had finally been able to see each other after years away.  Jethro had heard about all the Lord had done for Israel and went up to see Moses.

During his stay, he observed Moses judging all of the people from morning until evening.  

Jethro, in his loving concern for Moses, pointed out wisely that the task Moses had taken on was too big for him. And he gave advice to him concerning how to do the work God had called him to and how to establish other leaders that were Godly and wise and utilize them to help Moses with governing the people.  

In no way was Jethro trying to usurp Moses authority or to keep him from leading.  But he wisely saw that the task was far too large for any one man (or woman!) to do alone.  Moses listened to wisdom and acted upon it.  

How often as leaders do we take on good, but rather large tasks all by ourselves?  It is good to enlist help! Duplicate ourselves when it comes to leaders so that we are not doing it alone! We are not meant to do this alone. In Illuminate, Dan has leaders who interact with a lot of our members when it comes to prayer, life groups, questions, events.  Dan is the Pastor, but he cannot do it alone! We have over 100 college students attending. Can you imagine Dan trying to take all of that by himself?  I would never see my husband.  And then that would make me a very crabby wife! *smile*

Dan tries to seek the wisdom of other pastors because they often can see things that he can't.  And he utilizes the advice that he believes will best benefit Illuminate and the people attending.  

Leaders listen.  

Often times pride and ego can get in the way and we can miss out on spectacular opportunities to see God at work.  So don't be that leader!  Be the leader who is open to wisdom, who is a constant sponge willing to learn more and seek those who have walked before you. They more than likely have much to share with you.

Blessings,

Tiff~