A lot of people ask about Backstage Leadership and how and why it works.

The short answer: Learning from those that have already walked the road your on is one of the best ways to learn.

The long answer: Backstage Leadership sessions are unplugged, raw, intense Q&A sessions with amazing leaders. Each session’s content is driven by the participant. The speakers answer their questions, not their own. Each participant is free to learn exactly what they need to at exactly the time they need to. Think of it this way, with every sermon or leadership talk you listen to it is broken up into certain sections. You have the introduction, a story, the set up, the scripture, the 3-5 minute section of exactly what you need to know and then a closing. So the important part is around 10% of the content. Backstage sessions are an hour and a half of those 3-5 minute sections. Its all take away material. It is very intense learning.

You get to learn from amazing leaders like Brad Lomenick and Dan Cathy. Tons of others too!

Interested in learning more? Visit Backstage Leadership today or email me greg@backstageleadership.org

I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom.

A few more thoughts, and I’m really moving on!!

While there is a lot that I don’t know, here’s what I do know.  In case I haven’t told you, I am a broken sinner who can be selfish, mean, lazy and rude. But this same man is redeemed by the power of the Cross and in His grace I have been given new life. In that new life, I am able to pursue dreams and crazy ideas like Backstage Leadership and Free Chains. I haven’t made it on my own. I have the most supportive wife on the planet who believes in me and supports the bigger vision than just our comfort.  I’m surrounded by an amazing team (of all volunteers btw!!) and God has opened many doors. I cannot take the credit for those doors opening, but by his grace, I’ve been able to walk through them. If I haven’t given enough credit to you God, let this be my repentance and acknowledge that it is the working of the Holy Spirit that has enabled all of this stuff to come together, not our feeble efforts. Thank you for giving us the chance of a lifetime.

Sorry for you if the first time you meet me you are overwhelmed by all this. Sorry for those of you that think we’re doing too much or we’re crazy. We are, because there’s a lot to get done! I’ve only got one shot at this life and I want it to matter. Maybe I need to watch how I describe everything in my life, as to not sound self promoting, but I’m excited about this and dang it I want to tell anyone who will listen. If that is too much to take in or shocking, maybe it means your life is too boring. Maybe you need to get in on the action. I know my life wasn’t nearly as exciting until I started going out on limbs. There’s plenty of empty limbs out there! We’ve decided that we don’t want to look like everyone else. God doesn’t need another boring marriage, another regular guy or a typical wife. He’s doing awesome stuff why would I not want to talk about it? I will not apologize for being passionate about what God has called me to and what he is fulfilling.

I also know this, I believe in what God is doing through Backstage Leadership and Free Chains. With amazing help and support, we’ve raised over $10,000 to help girls affected by sex trafficking. This has given life to children that might not otherwise have ever gotten it. We’ve been able to preach the gospel to audiences we never would have been able to before. I believe in the lessons we’ve learned from amazing leaders in Backstage. I believe in the ministry of Chuck Colson and all our other presenters. I believe in the efforts of Lee, Chris, David, Cathy, Shane and others who have given countless hours and money to see a new generation of leaders grow to their potential to do big things for the Kingdom. I believe in our participants who are in the trenches, grinding it out.  I believe in their ministries and businesses and that they will do HUGE things for the Kingdom. I believe that God is using all of you to do great things. I am so glad you are on this journey with me.

I’ll admit its hard to not want the recognition for myself, to be patted on the back, to be acknowledged, but there’s no way I can honestly take it because I’m only a little cog in a huge machine that God is driving. God has opened the doors. God brought amazing leaders together. God has opened people’s hearts. Others have given time and money.  There is no other explanation other than God is doing something great and I’m just trying to figure out what that next step is. Sorry I don’t have all the answers. But I’m thankful I serve a God who does know the answers.  I’ve got a lot to learn and a long way to go, but for all those on the journey with me, thank you. Here’s to changing the world!

Btw, here’s the note my wife left for me after reading my thoughts! I love this woman!

**I want to help change the world with you. Have grace, forgive and push forward. I love you.**

This was one of the best reminders of living for things that matter that I’ve ever witnessed. I cried like a baby. In fact, I’m crying as I type this. MAN! I want my life to mean something. For $38 a month a life was saved and a life was changed. Why would you not want to do that? Sponsor a child. You will literally change the world 1 life at a time.

Go watch this video now!

http://www.catalystspace.com/catablog/full/2009_catalyst_compassion_moment/

Visioneering, Andy Stanley

What do you know?  Andy made the list again.  This is by far my favorite of all of Andy’s books and really close to my favorite book by anyone.  This book opened my eyes to see ideas and vision in a brand new way.   I love ideas.  I have tons of ideas.  This book helped me figure out what to do with those ideas and how to process them.  Andy did such an amazing job of walking through the entire idea process.  More importantly though, he helps distinguish between an idea and a vision.  Vision goes beyond an idea.  An idea is “what could be.”  A vision carries with it a conviction.  A vision is not something that could be done, its something that should be done.  After reading this book, Nehemiah jumped way up the list of favorite leaders and heroes.

Favorite Quotes (there are way too many, so I’ll list a few)

“ A vision does not necessarily require immediate action.”

“Pray for opportunities and plan as if you expect God to answer your prayers.”

“God is using your circumstances to position and prepare you to accomplish his vision for your life.”

“What God originates, he orchestrates.”

“Communicate your vision as a solution to a problem that must be addressed immediately.”

“Don’t confuse your plans with God’s vision.”

“The end of a God-ordained vision is God.”

“The best way to silence your critics is to see your vision through to completion.”

“When you make a personal sacrifice for something you believe in, it gives you moral authority.”

I’m a reader. I love a good book.  I love a new book.  I love old books.  I also have a certain affinity to a couple books that I find myself reading for a second, third or fourth time.

Besides the Bible, here are a few that I really enjoy to come back to-often.

How Now Shall We Live?, Chuck Colson.

This book radically changed my life.  After reading this book, I entered Chuck’s Centurion program so I could learn more from him.  This is one of the longest (maybe longest?) non-fiction books I’ve ever read.  I go through certain parts of this book every few months.  It is so rich and deep.  In this book I first saw that Christianity is more than a religion or a faith.  It is in fact a worldview where we can see all of reality.  This book opened my eyes to the potential that the church can have in radically changing the world. A must, must read.

Favorite Quotes:

Favorite quotes:

“Don’t get me wrong.  We need prayer, Bible study, worship, fellowship and witnessing.  But if we focus exclusively on these disciplines—and if in the process we ignore our responsibility to redeem the surrounding culture—our Christianity will remain privatized and marginalized.”

“Our choices are shaped by what we believe is real and true, right and wrong, good  and beautiful.  Our choices are shaped by our worldview.”

“Christianity cannot be limited to only one component of our lives, a mere religious practice or observance, or even a salvation experience.  We are compelled to see Christianity as the all-encompassing truth, the root of everything else. It is ultimate reality.”

Mr. “One Minute” himself, Ken Blanchard.  This is an incredible opportunity to hear from one of the best leadership teachers on the planet.

I’ll post Ken’s bio and then the books he’s written in the next two posts as they take up quite a bit of space.

The winner of the drawing will take place later this afternoon.  You’ll be notified via twitter if you’ve won.  Thanks for playing.

If you want to learn directly from Ken and other great leaders, go to Backstage Leadership today or apply on line here.