As you set out on your journey of “new”, whether it be a new business, a new ministry, a new church, even a new product, you need to learn that you have more to learn.
Lesson 4: There’s no excuse for not learning.
I heard Andy Stanley say recently that he constantly learns from reading books. He is constantly learning?!! I guess that shows why he is so freaking smart huh? I have a list of books that I want to read for the year and broken down to this quarter. Learning has its cost though. It cost time. It cost money. If you want to really make a difference, you will need to pay the price. It will mean reading instead of watching TV. It will mean getting up earlier instead of sleeping. It will mean eating pb&j over going out to eat so you can buy a book. It will mean getting up at 5 and driving 2.5 hours for a one day seminar and driving 2.5 hours home that night.
Where are you getting your learning from? What books are you reading? What blogs are you reading? What conferences are you attending?
Posted in: Leadership
I had lunch a couple of days ago with a friend who works for a church in town. As were discussing the things that God was doing with me and World Causes, we began talking about the local church. We talked about how the Kingdom that Jesus came to usher in, included the local church, but was not solely exclusive of it. The kingdom includes the local church, but is bigger than that. We talked about how the churches that we go to are different in style, in “worship”, and in other ways. Then he said something that was beyond amazing. He said we pray for your church and pastor in our staff meetings that God would bring life change to people there. WOW!!!!!!!!!!! How awesome is that??? That just fires me up to want to go help build the Kingdom!
What an example. What encouragment. He was a living example that God wants to build his Kingdom, not our own. Do you pray for the other churches in your town?
Posted in: Leadership
The FBI had a great breakthrough this past week. 48 girls were rescued, ages 13-17 and over 570 suspects were arrested.
Read details here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090223/ap_on_go_ot/child_prostitutes
Help us end child sex slavery at Free Chains.
Posted in: World Causes
Lesson 3: You are always casting vision
This was one of the lessons that I learned the hard way. With a start up, you are always casting the vision. To your donors, your supporters, your 2 volunteers, your spouse, and even to yourself. Being in start up mode requires you to always cast a compelling vision. Odds are you are not achieving your complete vision yet, but if you cast a luke warm, woe is me vision to someone, one of two things will happen. 1-if they are not a donor (or investor) yet, they probably wont be now. or 2-if they already give to you, they will now have doubts about giving again.
You are always casting the vision. Lesson 2 was, it’s going to be hard work. This we know and you cannot let the hard work side allow you to cast a poor vision. When people ask how you are doing, don’t lead with, “we still don’t have any major donors yet” or “the economy is really hitting us hard.” Lead with a success. Lead with something that has gone right. Now, I’m not tell you to mislead or lie here. When they ask specific questions, you must answer them, but that doesn’t mean you have to lead with them!
Every time you talk with someone, you email, you hold a meeting or even post a blog entry, you are casting vision. Don’t cast a poor vision. Cast the compelling vision that caused you to get off our duff and start!
By the way, World Causes and the Free Chains Campaign to end child sex slavery are going great! Our goal is to share with many churches, youth groups and college ministries our vision of seeing Christians lead the fight against poverty, injustice and epidemic diseases. In March, I will be speaking 9 different times, with the main message that social justice is not new, its biblical and we have an opportunity to respond. If you would like me to come share with your group, please email me today, greg@worldcauses.org.
Posted in: Uncategorized
Here is a link to an article in London where a judge has ordered monetary restitution for victims smuggled into the country to perform sex with hundreds of clients a week. I hope this is only the beginning of a trend as justice is served to those exploiting woman and children. Money can not make up for the harm that was done, but at least it will help as they try to move on with their lives.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7899923.stm
To join us in our fight, visit Free Chains. Buy a shirt, support a rescued victim. Visit here and buy a photo with 100% profits benefiting our safe house.
All Should Be Free!!
Posted in: World Causes
Lesson 2: Changing the world (or making the best new product, most cutting edge new website, or whatever your idea is) is really really really hard; that’s why so few people do it.
Our organization is trying to change the world, literally, by ending child sex slavery. The problem is, its been a long hard road. But if it was easy, everyone would be doing it right? That’s what I have to remind myself each day. Its hard work. Gains are sometimes slow. Fundraising is an uphill battle. Why aren’t there more volunteers? All those questions can be overcome if you realize that what you’re trying to do is going to be tough and only a long term perspective will enable you to endure.
One of my heroes is William Wilberforce, who lived in the 17 and 1800s. He was one of the youngest members of the British Parliament and he decided to try to end the slave trade. It was the backbone of the economy and the people who needed to vote on it were the people who would be effected the most. He brought up the bill and it was shot down by everyone. This would not be easy as he was literally trying to change the world. It took him 20 years before his bill was passed! 20 FREAKING YEARS!!!! Are you kidding me?
I ask myself a lot if I have 2o years of fight in me? If I don’t then, I probably wont change the world. It will not be easy. It will be hard. Stick with it and if its from God, it will succeed.
Posted in: Leadership
I thought I’d share some lessons on being an entrepreneur that I’ve learned in the past few years. For those that don’t know I’ve started a ministry/non-profit called World Causes, started the Free Chains Campaign, and will soon launch another project for young leaders in the fall (more to come on that soon). When I tell people what I do, they think its great and exciting, but they get the tip of the iceberg, they don’t get to see it all. So, for all those out there thinking about starting something…go for it! But, it won’t always be roses.
Lesson 1:
No one will care about your vision to the level you do.
This is a lesson that I’m reminded of on a daily basis. Starting something is hard and you need to know that you will have to work harder, longer and with more passion than everyone else involved. You will stay up all night planning, writing, praying, etc. Others will want to go home. You will give up cable tv, a nice car, going out to eat, and even going to college football games so you can pursue the vision. Others just don’t care that much. You will always care more than they do.
Why is this? Its simply because its your vision. God gave it to you and only you. Will you enlist others along the way? Sure, but they are responding to your vision, not there’s. Can God give them a vision that’s a part of yours? Yes, but the ultimate vision has been given to you and you will always set the pace for its execution.
So, keep this in mind when you’re 8 months into it, you still have no monthly donors and your only volunteer is your spouse. You have to keep going and if your vision is compelling enough, you will gain the momentum and help you need to totally fulfill it. You can not depend on others carrying the vision for you. They simply can not do it because they don’t care to the degree in which you do.
Posted in: Leadership
