There are few consistent voices that teach amazing leadership and character like Mike Hyatt. For those wanting to write, lead or create, you will not want to miss the opportunity to dig into conversation with Mike. This is the last week to sign up, so don’t miss out. Go here now…Backstage Leadership.

I am so excited to have Kay finish out what will be an incredible year of Backstage Leadership. Kay’s leadership and influence for justice and compassion around the world is unbelievable. You will not want to miss this opportunity to learn from Kay and her decades of service and leadership at Saddleback and around the world. This week is the deadline to join us. Don’t miss out.

By the time that the prophet Micah got on the scene, things were pretty bad for the Israelites. His prophecy was not very encouraging to say the least. Because of their sin, the Jews were going into exile and receiving the fruits of their behavior. During the seven chapters of rebuke however, there is a promise that beamed with a huge light of hope.

Chapter 5 says that new ruler will come out of Bethlehem, even though this was a small and insignificant clan in Judah. This new ruler will stand and shepherd the flock in the strength of the Lord. This is obviously a prophecy about Jesus, but don’t miss what God is saying. True leadership is only possible by leading in the strength of the Lord. If you are trying to lead yourself, your family or a huge organization, you will only be successful if you do it in the strength of the Lord.

But life is more difficult that that. Circumstances have a way of dragging us up and down. One day you’re ready to change the world. The next day you don’t want to get out of bed. This is especially true if you are on the front lines in active duty. If you are starting something, then you know this all too well. So, how do we live work in his strength and not give into circumstances?

We have to let Christ be our peace. (Micah 5:5)…

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There are many ways to kill momentum on a project. One of the surest ways is to box in your team with little room to work. One of the best ways to get better work out of your people, especially your creatives (designers, developers, graphics) is to give them a huge area to work in and let them go.

Tell them the basic peramaters…then let’em work.

Give them the deadline…then let’em work.

Tell them any words or looks that are absolutely out of the questions…them let’em work.

You may not get the results you are wanting on the first try, but over time, you will get far better results than you would have by standing over their shoulder, directing from 2 feet away.

Just a friendly reminder that the registration deadline for the upcoming season of Backstage Leadership is in 2 weeks. Now, I know that is also the start of college football, but I know you can focus on 2 things at once.

Who’s your pick to win the BCS?

Have you signed up for Backstage Leadership yet?

I just got back some stuff I’ve been writing on from an editor and it is evident, I don’t know how to use a comma. I think every other correction or suggestion was about a comma. Either I put one in the wrong place or I left one out when there needed to be one.  I’m pretty sure that knowing how to correctly use a comma is important to be a successful writer. Alas

As I went back through the Word document and made the necessary corrections, I started thinking, “Man, its a lot easier to be great at something when you are great at the basics.” So, I busted out my Oxford Essential Guide to Writing and relearned how to use a comma. With a little practice, I’ll, be, a, comma, King.

I think this principle is essential for success in anything. If you want to be great, you need to excel in the basics.

• If you want to be a great writer, practice grammar.

• If you want to be a great basketball player, practice dribbling.

• If you want to great musician, practice the scales.

• If you want to be a great husband, practice taking out the trash (or cooking, doing laundry, giving foot rubs, etc)

• If you want to be a great __________, figure out the basics and practice.

I know the issue with this. No one likes working on the basics. They’re not fun. Why would you want to run up and down the court dribbling when you could be shooting 3-pointers? Why would you want to read a book on grammar when you could be writing? But, the point is, you’ll be able to have way more fun and be a whole lot better when you are excellent at the basics. So, I’m headed back to my grammar book.

What basics do you need to work on?

Waiting has to be one of the worst possible things to endure. I will admit, I hate waiting. I hate waiting in line, in traffic, for 3-5 day shipping, and all sorts of things. I know I’m not alone either. I know others who hate waiting for the new job, a spouse, heck a date for some. Waiting stinks.

We want to get to there when we are here. Here is not satisfying. There has to be. Leaders really want to get there. They don’t like it here, that’s why they are working so hard to get there. There is where we all want to be.

But what if there is a purpose in the waiting? What if in the waiting here, we are better prepared to get there?

Here are a few advantages to waiting:

1. Trust

While waiting, we gain a trust from God that we could not have received otherwise. As the Israelites were waiting in the desert, they learned to trust God in a way that would have been impossible had they gone from Egypt on Friday to Promise Land on Sunday. In the waiting, we search for God unlike other times. So, when he proves faithful, we are able to use those times to build our faith.

2. Growth

I think many times  we want something before we are actually ready or qualified to have it. All of us wanted to drive before we were 16, but most weren’t close to qualified. In the waiting, God blesses us with the opportunity to grow in the areas necessary to excel when we get there. John the Baptist knew he was called to prepare the way for Jesus, but before he could fulfill his calling he lived in the desert. Luke tells us that while in the desert, “he grew and became strong in spirit.”

3. Perspective

When you are waiting, God has a way of opening your eyes to things you would not have otherwise seen. Many times, there are other things God wants us to accomplish here that we would miss if we were there. When waiting, look around and see what God may have for you now.

I know that waiting is hard. My wife and I are waiting to adopt our daughter and it feels like its taking forever. But I know that between now and then God still wants us to build our trust in him. He wants to continue to teach us and challenge our perspective.

What lessons have you learned from waiting?

Keep pushing!