There are fewer qualities in a leader that gain more respect that the art of getting something done. For all the leaders that I look up to and learn from, the one’s that mean the most are the ones that have done something. They’re not going to do something. They are doing it. Being involved with Backstage Leadership has enabled me the opportunity to meet many amazing leaders. Let me introduce you to one that epitomizes getting it done. Jessica Jackley started a microfinance organization called Kiva and this is a brief history:
In March 2005, through a local contact in Uganda, 7 loans were posted on Kiva for a total of $3,500. They included a goat herder, a fish monger, a cattle farmer and a restauranteur. Six months later every loan had been repaid. These original 7 entrepreneurs became known as the “Dream Team” and proved it was possible to lend to the poor over the Internet.
In October 2005 Kiva announced to the world the first peer-to-peer microlending website via a press release. Shortly after the Daily Kos discovered Kiva and broadcast the website to hundreds of thousands of its readers. The word was out… and the rest is history.
Since its birth Kiva has grown from a small personal project to one of the world’s largest microfinance facilitators, connecting entrepreneurs with millions of dollars in loans from hundreds of thousands of lenders around the world.
Here’s what’s amazing. They are now the conduit for $5,000,000 a month in micro loans to entrepreneurs around the globe. That’s $5 Million with an “M”. So, here’s the lesson, if you want to grow as a leader, no matter in what field, find someone who’s doing something or has done something great and go learn from them. If you want to be a great spouse, find someone with a great marriage and learn from them. If you want to be a great golfer, find a great instructor. If you want to start a small loan organization that benefits the poor with the hopes of one day it raising millions of dollars every week, I know of a good place to start! Hopefully we’ll be hearing from Jessica in next year’s Backstage Leadership class.
The point is, if you want to lead, you have to do. Do something. Don’t talk about what you’re going to do. Go do it. Start today. Buy that book that will help. Sign up for a class. Call that business owner and buy them lunch and learn from them. Either you’re working towards the goal or away from it. There’s nothing neutral. Who knows, your next idea could raise $5 million a month to help the world’s poor.
In the mean time, go check out Kiva.org. Lend $25 and see the life change it can bring.
Posted in: Backstage Leadership
I wanted to introduce our special guest speaker for the Backstage Leadership lunch at Catalyst next week! I was excited to have Michael share with us, but after talking with him this morning, I’m even more excited!! You do not want to miss this opportunity to talk with an amazing leader!
You do not have to be a part of Backstage Leadership to join us, but you do need to sign up before. Spots are limited. If you will be in Atlanta on Oct 9th, you need to be there. Sign up here!
From Michael’s Blog
I am the Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest Christian publishing company in the world and the seventh largest trade book publishing company in the U.S. Our company is privately-held. I have worked at the company for a total of thirteen years. I began my publishing career at Word Publishing while a student at Baylor University. I worked at Word for a total of six years. In addition to serving as Vice President of Marketing at Thomas Nelson in the mid-80s, I also started my own publishing company, Wolgemuth & Hyatt, with my partner Robert Wolgemuth in 1986. Word eventually acquired our company in 1992. I was a successful literary agent from 1992 until early 1998. I have also written four books, one of which landed on the New York Times bestseller list where it stayed for seven months. I am currently working on my fifth book, The How of Wow. It is scheduled for publication in the fall of 2009. I joined Thomas Nelson for the second time in 1998. Since that time I have worked in a variety of roles in both divisional and corporate management. I was promoted to President and COO in February 2004 and CEO in August 2005. I also serve as Chairman of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).
Posted in: Backstage Leadership
Are you coming to Catalyst? If yes, you need to be here…
Join us Friday October, 9th for a private lunch with the team and participants of Backstage Leadership. Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers will be doing Q&A. You must register to attend. To join us, please post on your blog before Catalyst about the Backstage Leadership lunch and then once after the lunch. Hope to see you there. More information can be found at www.backstageleadership.org. Spots are limited. Hope to see you there. Oct 5th is the deadline to register.
Click here to register.
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Posted in: Backstage Leadership
I love this commercial. I think there’s something to be said about knowing when to speak up and when to just let the moment happen. A great thought for leading others and in our relationships. Sometimes, it’s best to not say what you are thinking!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtAwOpQBYPI&hl=en&fs=1&]
Posted in: Leadership, Life
I’ve got to stop reading James! On the way home from a long day today, I was the lucky winner of the tour de flat tire for the second straight week. Add that to my dead battery last week and I’m getting close to the triple crown. As I hear the lovely noise of my rim riding on the pavement and the impending pop of the tire, I was on the verge of yelling many creative words. As I walked around the side of my car a thought hit me though and it was this…how many people wish they had a flat tire because it would mean they have a car?
It was a joyful tire changing experience (minus the fact that the jack fell over with the car on it b/c the idiot driver forgot to put the emergency break on!).
In October, Andy Andrews will be speaking for Backstage Leadership. His latest book is called the Noticer and its all about perspective. In summary, we have a huge say in what we do with the circumstances that happen everyday. We have a choice to make and how we respond is so important.
Do you let your circumstances dictate your joy, happiness and overall mood? I know for the longest time I did and still do a lot of times. I know that I’ve got to get better. Help me see the other side of the coin. And if you see a little red car on the side of the road next week, do me a favor and stop by to say hello.
Posted in: Backstage Leadership, Leadership
I finished reading Andy Andrew’s latest book The Noticer and I thought it was a great read. If you are familiar with Andy’s books, it was right in line as far as content, flow and feeling. The story is set in Orange Beach, Alabama, supposedly where Andy grew up. It’s a part fiction part biography of the author. The main character of the book is an old man named Jones that comes in and out of the story, almost like an angel, at the right time to speak words of wisdom into different people’s lives.
The main point of the of the book is on perspective. What your perspective is in any given situation will determine your success or failure in life. A memorable story from the book stands out to me the other day while stranded on the side of the road with my second flat tire in a month. The story in the book is where a young man is homeless and doesn’t have a lot of food. Jones eats a meal with him that includes sardines and potted meat. When Jones asked the man what he’s eating, the man replies with a negative response. Jones then tells the young man, well that’s a matter of perspective you see, I’m having surf and turf. As I was changing my flat tire, I realized that a positive perspective would be to recognize how many people don’t even have cars that can get flat tires. We are all blessed and this book will help you see that in a new way.
You can hear from Andy in this fall’s Backstage Leadership program.
Posted in: Backstage Leadership
A few weeks ago on the way to an extremely important meeting, I got a flat tire. There was a chuck the size of a Moe’s burrito missing from the tire. Later that day had to go in and get a brand new tire. Last night I was reading through James and got just a few verses in when he starts talking about perseverance and that if we are to truly make a difference, we’ll have to persevere through tough circumstances. I felt like I needed that as we start Backstage Leadership in a few weeks, looking at the next phase for World Causes and Free Chains and as I look at other projects on the horizon.
Thinking about that verse, I get up when the moon is still out this morning to head to the gym for a work out and a day of incredible productivity. After a nice work out, I climb in my car to head home to prepare for another important meeting. Do you know how many times a day/week/year we take for granted what happens when you turn the key to your car? Usually it starts right up and you’re off to your destination. That did not happen to me.
Battery is completely dead. I call every friend that is in a 5 mile radius to see if someone could come jump me off. No one in the parking lot has cables. I then go back in to the Y and they tell me a maintenance man would help if they could find him. After 10 minutes of waiting an older gentlemen sticks his head in the door and asks if I need a jump. We go to my car and on the first attempt, nothing happens. The car won’t even turn over. He decides to take the cables off and clean off some corrosion. He then asks what I do. Ha! I said, how long do you have? He said, he’s paid by the hour so he’s got as long as I need.
Our conversation covers the gambit of World Causes and preaching and all the stuff I’ve got my hands in. After the first failed attempt, he says, why don’t I pray for your car and meeting? (What do you say to that? No?) He prays for the car and after a second, it starts up. He looks at me and says, God is over all the little stuff too you know. Stuff like this will always happen, but its your reaction that impacts and shows your character.
We left the cables on to charge for a second and he prayed for my lunch meeting, our ministry, my marriage and I stood there and cried over my running engine. God is over the little stuff too. Wow, what a crazy morning. (I then got the opportunity to go buy a new car battery! A blessing tons of people don’t have).
What circumstances is God teaching you through right now?
Posted in: Life, World Causes
