When it comes to your dream, idea, organization, non-profit, business, etc., no one will care more about it than you–and that’s the way it should be. When it’s not, then you need to do some serious evaluation.

Your job as the leader is to help others own as much of the vision as possible and empower them to achieve the results you desire. This all starts with them following your lead. They will follow your pace. They will follow your attitude. This is especially true and important in a start-up.

Don’t expect them to pull all-nighters if you don’t.

Don’t expect them to raise money if you aren’t.

Don’t expect them to share the vision if you won’t.

Don’t expect them to be optimistic if you are negative.

If you work all nighters to get your product out the door, they’ll probably do it too.

If you are out raising money, they’ll probably raise some too.

If you share the vision, they’ll probably share it too.

If you believe, they’ll most likely believe too.

Be the pace setter today.

What areas do you need to set a better pace?

When it comes to you pursuing that dream you have, who are you waiting on to give you approval to go for it? Friends? Spouse? Parents? Boss? Who?

I think most people need to give themselves approval to go for it. Many times others believe in us more than we believe in ourselves. We are our own worst enemies. How many dreams, businesses, churches, ministries, books, or paintings were killed before they had a chance to get off the ground because the person talked themselves out of starting it?

I’m not sure where this doubt comes from. Does it stem from self-doubt–”I’m not smart enough”? Does it stem from God-doubt– “Will God really bless this”? Maybe its a mix of both. Maybe it’s something completely different, I don’t know.

Do yourself and the world a favor, give your self permission to pursue that dream. Start today. Implement. Ship. Get it out the door. Ideas in your head wont’ change anything or impact anyone. You now have permission. Stop waiting.  Go!

That idea you’ve been kicking around in your head…the one that you day dream about…the one you’re really considering pursuing…yeah, that one.

You need to know that when you pursue it. And yes, you should pursue it. You need to know that some people in your life will not understand why. They’ll have tons of questions. They’ll have tons of reasons why you shouldn’t pursue it. They just won’t understand.  They’ll probably try and talk you out of it. And that’s ok.

The question you have to answer is whether you will pursue it anyway. Once you’ve decided… get going.

• They didn’t understand when Noah was building a big boat (what’s rain?)
• They didn’t understand why Lincoln was running for President (how many times have you lost an election?)
• They didn’t understand why Wilberforce raised another motion to end the slave trade (is that 20 straight years you’ve been shot down?)
• They didn’t understand why Mother Theresa worked on the slums for so long (aren’t you just  helping a handful?)

They didn’t understand. They may never understand. You’re job is not to convince everyone. You’re job is to make sure you understand. Then go for it.

Was reminded of that today. God still answers prayer. He still cares. He still listens. He still answers.

This past week in our small group, we prayed for a friend of a friend that woke up one day last week feeling fine in the morning and by the night she’d been diagnosed with cancer. Crazy day I’m sure. We were told she would be going to Mayo to get more test run to see best next steps. I know tons of people were praying for her and our group did to. Only two people of our group knew her, but we prayed.  And God answers. Two days later I get an email.

It turns out that the experts at Emory and Mayo were wrong. In a tiny, minute, almost never happens percentage of the times case, the rapid growth of cells can be due to mono. And God decided to answer the prayers of so many. They changed the diagnoses to mono. I can’t imagine the ups and downs of the past week for her, but one thing is certain, God still answers prayer!

Anything in your life that we I can pray with you about?

When we think of St. Patrick, most of us immediately think of wearing green, getting pinched, beer, pubs, green rivers and the luck of the Irish. March 17th is a party day for most that celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But I wonder if that would change if people knew why we were celebrating this man. The truth is, we could use more St. Patrick’s in our day.

Patrick was British born in the mid 300s AD. When he was 16, he was captured by slave traders and taken to Ireland until he escaped 6 years later. While working as a slave, his faith grew stronger and after 6 years, he heard God tell him his ship was ready. Traveling 200 miles, Patrick made it to a harbor and sailed home for Britain. After a few years at home, Patrick had a vision of a man coming from Ireland asking him to come back. In what probably seemed like the stupidest move ever by his friends and family, he obeyed the call and went back to Ireland to minister.

For an estimated 30 years, Patrick ministered to the people of Ireland. He helped establish the monastic orders there, created commerce and literally change the culture of a nation. He took the Gospel to a hostile place and it changed everything. He did this all for a place that had treated him so badly and enslaved him. His calling was greater than his circumstances. We need more leaders like this today that will face ridicule for the sake of impacting the culture. Patrick also serves as a great example that one person can have a huge impact on the world.

So, when you put on your green and celebrate St. Patty’s day, let it inspire you to follow the call of God to change the world, no matter where it takes you.

Love the NCAA Basketball Tournament?

Want to help end modern day slavery?

Then this is the perfect combination!

Join our March Madness Bracket Challenge to End Slavery.  All you have to do is donate a minimum of $10 here, you’ll be emailed passwords to enter your picks here and help end slavery. The winner will have the proceeds donated in his or her name to the Free Chains Campaign to End Slavery. Part of those proceeds will support the Free Chains safe house in Nepal and also a partner in this fight, the International Justice Mission.

Thanks for playing and for helping end slavery!

I’ll admit that I’m spoiled in that with Backstage Leadership, I get to learn from some really amazing leaders. I am so grateful for the impact that these leaders have had on my life. In just the past semester of our program, we’ve learned from Chuck Colson, Andy Andrews, Michael Hyatt, Carlos Whittaker, Gabe Lyons, Brad Lomenick, Mark Batterson and Catherine Rohr. I am so thankful for each one as they’ve all helped me grow so much.  Every single session was amazing with the amount of knowledge and wisdom that was shared.  It has literally been the best learning time of my life. Each one came from different industries, backgrounds and experiences.  But they all have one thing in common…

Humility

Every single one was oozing with it. To hear one of them tell us that “I’m not really good at that either, I don’t think my answer will help” was both liberating and amazing at the same time. It was liberating in that to hear that a leader I look to on a consistent basis hasn’t gotten all completely right. It was amazing because the humility to admit it when he knows we would have taken anything he said not knowing if it was true or not. That really struck a chord with me.

In 1 Peter 5, it says “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” I think this is why each leader has had the impact they’ve had thus far. When we are prideful, God is opposing us– it says that God is literally against us, but with humility comes God’s provision. There is no accident that humility is what they all have in common.

(Later this spring we’ll hear from @mikefoster @dancathy and @kenblanchard and I know it will be the exact same with these guys!)