18 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Tony Dungy On Being An All-Pro Dad

18 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Tony Dungy On Being An All-Pro Dad

Earlier this morning, legendary head coach Tony Dungy visited Fellowship Bible Church and School where I attend to speak with approximately 700 men about his All-Pro Dad organization and the importance of being a Godly man, husband and father.
The following are 18 Leadership Quotes And Lessons from his inspirational and life-changing session:

1. “Tony has more under the counter than he has on display.” – Crawford Loritts introducing Coach Dungy
2. “People trust him because of his transparent Godliness.” – Loritts
3. “During my time in the NFL, a very public job, a job that many think is special, is not the most important thing.  Being a dad there is nothing more important than that.”
4. “So many dads are feeling the same thing – they want to do a better job.”
5. “The rookies we got in 1981 their families came to the game – their moms, their dads, brothers and sisters.  In 2008, guys would introduce me to their family, ‘Here’s my mom.”’
6. “I have some things more important in my life – my family.” (Interviewing for a head coaching job and asked, “Will this be the most important thing in your life?”)
7. “(Communicating) They (your kids) are more important than anything else in life is so important to them.”
8. “Being an All-Pro dad starts with loving your wife.”
9. “My oldest daughter is 29.  My youngest is 10 months.  And she wants more.”
10. “The way you’re successful in a marriage is by putting Christ in the center of it.”
11. “When I got to Indianapolis…everything was going to revolve around family.”
12. “Saturdays were always family day in Indianapolis.”
13. “Peyton (Manning) is a perfectionist at parenting too.”
14. “When Mel Blount (Hall of Fame cornerback of the Pittsburgh Steelers) says you need to go to team chapel, you go to team chapel.  These guys were Christian athletes.  Christians first.”
15. “One of the most important people on our team was Brock Huard – Peyton Manning’s back-up.  He never played but he always shared his faith and encouraged others to live out their faith…He encouraged others that is was O.K. to be a Christian in the workplace.”
16. “Mark Richt – One of my favorite guys in life because of how he coaches his team.”
17. “Unity and mindset is the most important thing in building a team.”
18. “We had a sign in our locker room for 13 years. – Expectations. Execution. No Excuses. No Explanations. – What we think and what we do.  Not what we say.”

Please click here for the All Pro Dad website and see how you can get involved in helping dads live out their God-given responsibilities.

19 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From The Disappointing Kevin Costner Movie Draft Day

19 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From The Disappointing Kevin Costner Movie Draft Day

I was so excited to see the new Kevin Costner movie Draft Day.  You see, I am HUGE Draftnik.  One of the three items on my bucket list is to be in a NFL war room on draft day.  This is why I am sad to write this post.
In 10 days we will be celebrating Easter and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus is my king, my best friend, my comfort, my security, my provider, my Savior, my assurance of Heaven and much, much more.  He is everything to me.  As a Christian, I am especially using this season to have an increased focus on the cross where He shed His blood for my sins.
With that as my personal belief, I do not know how many G.D.s you can put in a movie and keep it rated PG-13 but the film’s producers went to the limit.  They even threw in a F-bomb for good measure.  While some say this movie accurately reflects NFL culture, I felt extremely uncomfortable and could not enjoy the movie.
Sadly, I cannot recommend this film to any Christian leader.  Go see God’s Not Dead or Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier instead.
However, to add value to you as a leader, the following are 19 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Draft Day.  Beware – SPOILERS ahead:

1. Leaders Must Deal With Real Life Issues – On the busiest day of a general manager’s year, Sonny Weaver Jr., played by Kevin Costner, had to deal with his father’s will being read, his mother, ex-wife, and girlfriend being pregnant.
2. Leaders Must Endure Criticism – If you are getting kicked in the rear, it usually means you are out front.  Weaver faced criticism from social media, talk radio, the team’s players, head coach and owner.
3. Leaders Bring Perspective – “They’ll be a lot of ups and downs.  Keep a sense of humor.” – Weaver advising potential draftees.
4. Leaders Who Last Enjoy The Moment – “Enjoy today.  You only get drafted once.” – Additional advice from Weaver
5. Leaders Embrace Reality - “You play where you play.  That’s how it works.” – This was the advice one of the potential draftees received from his father.
6. Poor Leaders Favor Style Over Substance – Wanting the team to make a splash on draft day, the team’s owner told Weaver, “People pay to get wet.”
7. When Leaders Panic They Make Poor Decisions – Weaver traded three first round picks to get the top pick in the draft after the owner implied he would be fired if he did not make a splash.  Later, the general manager of the Seattle Seahawks made an equally poor decision when they feared not getting a franchise quarterback.
8. Leaders Must Be Willing To Stand Alone - Weaver’s mother even criticized him for the initial trade.  She said, “You sold a cow for magic beans.”
9. Leaders Must Embrace Social Media – “You’re on Twitter,” Weaver asks his mother.  She replies, “You’re not.”
10. Leaders Must Process Large Volumes Of Information – Between scouting reports, background checks, salary cap implications, countless advice from inside the organization and faulty information from outside, much goes into deciding which talent to acquire.
11. Women Bring A Unique Skill-Set To Leadership – Team salary cap specialist and Weaver’s girlfriend Ali, played by Jennifer Garner, was my favorite character in the film.  She was calm when others were not.  She compassionately protected interns but was also tough with the head coach.  She said, “I wasn’t born into this game.  I had to fight my way in.”
12. Leaders Do Not Confuse Activity With Accomplishment – Results matter.  Referring to the Super Bowl ring, Ali noted, “How is it the most macho thing in this sport is a piece of jewelry?”
13. Leaders Are Incessant Teambuilders – Great leaders are teambuilders but they want to select those who will make up the squad.  Weaver said, “I just want the team I want.”
14. Great Leaders Change Culture – “No one can stop a ticking clock.  But the great ones can slow it down.”
15. Character Counts – The draft’s top player dropped five slots over concerns about his character.
16. Leaders Know What They Can Control And What They Cannot – Leaders must make the best decisions with the information they have.  They must then live with the results.  Ali reminds Weaver,”There’s no such thing as a sure thing.”
17. Leaders Change What Needs Changing - Weaver turned in the team’s first pick in private rather than with traditional team involvement.  He advised those in the war room, “New tradition.  When the team starts winning we will go back to that.”
18. Leaders Pay A Higher Price Than Anyone Else – Ali told Weaver, “Sometimes the correct path is a tortured one.”
19. Approval Comes With A Twin Brother Named Results – Weaver was criticized throughout the entire movie – except the last 10 minutes when he made a second trade which landed him two of the draft’s top six selections.  Everybody loves a winner.

These are my thoughts on the movie.  What are yours?

11 Qualities The Greatest Leaders Look For When Hiring New Team Members

11 Qualities The Greatest Leaders Look For When Hiring New Team Members

You cannot take a person to a place you have not been yourself.  Therefore, if you want to raise up leaders in your church or organization, you need people who have been there before - People who have built teams, made hard decisions, created strategy, leveraged resources, persevered and had the character needed to have sustained success.
In short, it takes leaders to raise up other leaders in your church and organization.
This is why I want to point you to one of the smartest leaders you can read on Twitter, Louis Riddick of ESPN.  Riddick if a former NFL player, scout and Director of Pro Personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles.  Therefore, he has a unique perspective on talent acquisition.
As the NFL Draft approaches, I want to provide you 75 leadership posts from Riddick’s Twitter account over the last 30 days.  As you will read, he knows communicates information you will get nowhere else in a concise and descriptively compelling fashion.  If it takes a leader to raise up another leader, the following are just 11 of the qualities we learn Riddick looks for in a player:

1. Organizational Fit
2. Functional Intelligence
3. Motivation
4. Current Production
5. Competitive Toughness/Resiliency
6. Ability To Execute Under Pressue
7. Chemistry With Team
8. Good Decision-Making
9. Minimizes Risk
10. Hard Workers
11. Identify And Attack Personal Weaknesses

If you want to read what leadership intelligence looks like, then check out 75 of Riddick’s tweets from the last month:
April 12th

• “Tier 2 QB’s” looking more like successful NFL projections than “Tier 1″ from what I am seeing/hearing.
• Late game LSU vs ‘Bama’13, LSU had to throw/were 1-dimensional & ‘Bama brought variety of pressures, Mettenberger decision making suffered.
• Not much not to like about how Aaron Murray plays the QB position. FL game in’12 great example of his resiliency, as was Auburn ’13.

April 11th

• Tape does not “lie” so to speak, but it never tells the whole story by itself alone, not even close.
• Test-taking intelligence is never a bad thing as far as I am concerned, but it is the application on the field that matters.
• Have played with/against many book smart intelligent guys who crumbled under pressure and played less than intelligently under duress.
• 3 step frm under OC, catch & release quick game frm gun, 5/7 step frm under OC, sprint/boot action, pocket navigation, 3-level accuracy…courage under pressure, movement in pocket, situational execution, multiple pro-style offense…..Aaron Murray, Georgia.

April 10th

• The context in which QB evaluations are talked about is so vague @ this point that the suggested draft day values have little correlation.
• Putting “round” grades on players is a waste of time anyway. The emphasis needs to be on evaluating players “within a specific context”.
• Rounds only matter on draft day, & when that day comes, the selection process is so affected by emotion, that it takes on a life of its own.

April 9th

• Biggest challenge during top 30 pre-draft visit process is getting kids to trust you so they show as much of their real self as possible.
• Been saying….there is something special brewing in Jacksonville w/#Jaguars. They get it. Spend 30 minutes actually talking to someone on the #Jaguars staff and getting your mind around how they think about player development….and then repeat with multiple other teams. Then you will understand what “it” is.
• Has to be better at converting contested catches.

April 8th

• There is no “secret” 2 separating a cluster of similarly graded players like this draft has. Secret is what u do w/them after u have them.
• Pointed out to me…”How many times does Manziel have what looks to be his first read available BUT still won’t deliver the ball, and why?”
• Evaluate what really matters. Not what is easiest to quantify.

April 7th

• Young players that identify weaknesses in their game and attack them stick out to me. Great sign going forward.
• New HC for NFL team = head start for off-season conditioning program “should” = near 100% 1st day attendance. #1stimpressionsmatter

April 5th

• Good “teams” are under-appreciated until it is those same good teams that rise to the occasion when it matters the most.

April 4th

• Coaches r largely responsible 4 driving the train when it comes 2 draft decisions at QB, especially those that have real credibility. Their expertise is essential. They look far beyond “arm talent”. Why I say that it is a must that you get exposure to their way of thinking.
• Who is E.J’s sounding board, his go-to guy in the meeting room other than the coach, who can really help him with his development?
• New coach, lose the respect of the staff and players in the locker room=you are on your way out the door as soon as they can make it happen.

April 3rd

• “2nd-tier” QB’s in ’14 draft, if there is such a thing, generating as much/more intrigue internally than those QB’s receiving more publicity
• Deep drafts w/many prospects grouped together from a value perspective make the emphasis on functional scheme fit/program fit the priority.
• From those who played with/against LT: Forget how gifted of an athlete he was; His football intellect & competitiveness was transcendent. he knew what was going to happen before it would happen. Combined with his physical gifts, he was unstoppable.

March 31st

• At some point in your career u r able 2 realize that the best fit 4 u is not always the place willing to pay you the most $..#NFLFreeAgency

March 28th

• Hardest thing to obtain when making veteran player acquisitions is accurate information.
• Ideal situation = when your best players are also your best character guys/best workers.  When they aren’t, roster-avalanche can hit at any moment.

March 27th

• The volume in terms of fundamentals, recall, functional execution, etc. for non-pro-style QB’s to learn once they get to the #NFL is huge.
• Have had QB coaches/ex pro QBs explain that getting a QB’s footwork, under duress, to be “2nd nature” is not close to being a given.
• 65.3% cmp and 8.3yds/att from the pocket for Russell Wilson in ’13. Only Philly as a team, Rivers, and P. Manning had better yds/att.
• Russell gets pushed down to 3rd rd, and there are prospects in this class w/o the same context being pushed up into the top 10. #Backwards

March 26th

• “Doing the best deals within the market place that minimize risk to the club.” Interesting how differently teams view this ideology.
• “There is a difference between diagramming plays/concepts and installing/teaching the game.”
• Where/by who this class of ’14 QBs are drafted/ coached will largely determine their relative success/failure more than anything else.

March 25th

• Elway mentioning the type of competitive “mentality” of the new players signed as UFA’s very telling.
• Mornhinweg the best I have been around at designing the downfield passing game. Has great feel for what “stresses” secondary defenders.

March 24th

• Tends to be a natural variance between coaching & scouting evaluations w/draft prospects, particularly at QB.
• The reason Y Foles is an Eagle is because of coaching evaluation. Andy Reid’s evaluation.Watch film/listen 2 Andy coach QB’s, u see why.  Bill Walsh felt the same way when it came to the role of coaches in the QB eval. process.
• There reaches a point when players just are who they are, and no “change of scenery, fresh start’ etc” is going to make a difference.
• You don’t put enough time and effort into player “makeup” as it pertains to evaluation, you are missing more than 1/2 of the point.
• You don’t downgrade a prospect for being a good player on a team with other good players. Makes no sense.

March 23rd

• 1.Good decision making. 2.Timing/accuracy within offenses that are being run at NFL level is what those who have played/coached QB in NFL…have told me they want to see.
• I keep coming back to that when watching this group of ’14 QB’s …how they play the position, like it’s played in NFL under duress.
• Examine Zuttah’s game at OC, you see exactly why he is ideal for Kubiak’s scheme. Will struggle 1 on 1 vs power in pass pro, but VG trade.
• Makes sense philosophically, but only philosophically (if that makes sense).

March 22nd

• Always more that is going on behind closed doors of an #NFL franchise than you can possibly imagine – good and bad.
• Team building is very delicate. Winning/losing not just a talent thing. Chemistry/camaraderie not as “fun” to talk about, but equally impt.

March 21st

• Because you are a veteran and happen to play QB does not automatically equal veteran leader…
• When I see a QB take a vicious hit in a scramble, then the very next play convert on 3rd down thru the air, it tells me 2 things….He has competitive toughness, and the coaching staff believes in his ability to execute when he is not “right”. Big indicator for me.
• Vick will walk in the door knowing Marty’s version of the West Coast Off. better than anyone in that locker room. Huge positive.

March 20th

• Finally getting to watch QB Tom Savage closely, and as some have told me, he makes some serious big-time throws. This should be fun..Considering circumstances – background, play history, character, scheme, talent played with….Savage should be getting much more attention. No QB in this draft class making the 18-22yd opposite “college” hash corner and comeback throws like Savage can. Mad I am late watching him.
• How many QB’s in this draft can work from under OC, get thru 3 progressions play side, then come backside to his 4th read & complete it?

March 19th

• Workouts either confirm game action..both good and bad, or cause you to continue evaluation. Not do a 180 degree turn.
• Their “rings” and past performance value means nothing. At all.

March 18th

• Two keys 4 personnel depts this time of year: 1: Current real-time data/evaluation entry from scouts @ pro days. 2. Knowing more about less not less about more. Have to have your “eyes” on the right guys and not chasing ghosts all over the country.
• Coaches on the road at Pro Days play crucial role this time of year as well. Have to be sent to the “right” places.
• Competitiveness issues very frustrating when watching him play. Should be so much better than he is. Needs strong group around him.
• Can’t see signing a bunch of 29+/30+ veteran UFA’s without anyone currently in the development pipeline ending well.
• 50% hit rate in the draft won’t be close to being good enough.

March 16th

• Can’t think of too many things more overrated in the pre-draft scouting process than a scripted, controlled QB workout.  Largely a waste of time as far as I am concerned.

March 15th

• It’s about 1 thing w/Peppers for me. Is he motivated to play at a high level anymore.
• NFL front offices apparently seeing Jared Allen’s past vs future performance value as being much different.
• The team is the side assuming risk in this particular situation when it comes 2 having a plan 4 utilization/reducing risk of it not working.
• A lot of new high priced/high profile parts that will need to be integrated w/#Broncos in ’14. A lot of risk involved.

March 14th

• Leadership matters in certain positions down the middle of the field.
• Emmanuel Sanders, all things being equal, would be a very good schematic and WR-composition fit for the #Chiefs.
• If: 1) You don’t draft well &/or 2) Switch to a scheme that you don’t have players to run effectively & 3) Face make/break season…you over-pay in free agency for average players.
• Selling “hope” only goes so far. It gets old quick..
• Big difference between agreeing on the evaluation and valuation of a player, particularly in 1st wave of UFA’s.

March 13th

• It’s a team-builder’s league above all else.
• Really like what the #Jaguars are doing. Have made no secret about the fact that I am a big believer in their program building approach.
• Look at the PT% of the top 5 highest paid veteran DT’s in the league the yr b4 they signed new deals, and all were above 50%.  In fact, all were above 65%.

March 12th

• Fit is everything in free agency. Watch how #Steelers play, and you see why they coveted Mitchell’s skill set at FS.  By same token, look at what #Redskins need most..leadership/intelligence at the safety position, and you know why Ryan Clark is on his way..
• Every move in the off-season seems like the right move until players actually start playing. On the field. In real games.
• 1. Evaluation 2.Valuation & selection 3. Development & utilization. UFA’s no different than the draft. No. 3 is what REALLY matters.
• #Seahawks top 6 secondary players in ’13: 1st rd, 5th rd, 5th rd, 6th rd, 4th rd, and 6th rd. Home grown. #howquicklyweforget

TOP 10 BENEFITS OF COURAGES LEADERSHIP

Top 10 Benefits Of Courageous Leadership

I have been involved in a number of complex leadership situations lately.  These situations have reminded me leaders must have COURAGE and be willing to STAND ALONE.  Leaders face too many competing agendas, polarizing personalities, complexity and uncertainty to not lead with conviction and a resolute spirit.
Those whom God has called us to lead want to follow leaders who own the vision and its results.  They want leaders who will take responsibility.  Our teams want to know “if you cut us, we will bleed it.”
Reviewing the Top 10 Most Read Leadership Posts Of March 2014 confirmed these principles.  The post 18 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From God’s Not Dead The Movie became one of this site’s most all-time popular posts.  
People have responded to this film because its characters must have the courage to defend their faith in the face of overwhelming circumstances.  They must stand for what they believe in.  And as a leader, so must you.
Courageous leaders who are willing to stand alone receive the following Top 10 Benefits:

1. Courage gives your team security.
2. Courage gives your team confidence.  They borrow your courage.
3. Courage gives you the grid of what you say “No” to.
4. Courage gives you the opportunity to live with a good conscience.
5. Courage gives you the platform to attract other strong leaders.
6. Courage gives you a healthy sense pride.
7. Courage gives you strong boundaries and clear marching orders.
8. Courage gives you an increased likelihood of success.
9. Courage gives you more influence.
10. Courage helps make you a leader worth following.

Leaders, I have two questions for you – What do you need courage for today?  Are you willing to stand alone?
For the full list, the following are The Top 10 Most Read Leadership Posts Of March 2014:

1. 18 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From God’s Not Dead The Movie
2. 10 Signs Your Church Does Not Have A Leadership Culture
3. 7 Practices Of Growing Churches
4. 3 Stages Which Precede The Fall Of A Leader
5. The Top 10 Leadership Posts I Read The Week Of March 10th
6. 10 Practices Of Maturing Leaders
7. The Top 10 Leadership Posts I Read The Week Of February 24th
8. What Churches Can Do To Ensure Visitors Return The Sunday After Easter
9. 11 Practices Of A Healthy Church Volunteer Culture
10. Statement From World Vision President Richard Stearns Reversing Decision

The following are 4 hidden gems which did not make the Top 10 but were some of my personal favorites:

• 7 Practices Of Leaders Who Build Great Teams
• 16 Reasons Great Leaders Are Passed Over
• 6 More Practices Of Leaders Who Build Great Teams
• 5 Lessons On Top Talent And Their Impact On Church Growth

12 LEADERSHIP QUOTES AND LESSONS FROM GODZILLA

12 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Godzilla

 

Tonight I took a chance and it paid off.  Godzilla is a very, very good movie.  Any science fiction, action or summer popcorn movie-goer will flat out enjoy this film.
The following are 12 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Godzilla:

1. Getting Better Leaders Improves Results – The answer to every problem is a person.  When I saw the previews I really had no interest in seeing Godzilla because of the 1998 Matthew Broderick disaster.  However, directed by Gareth Edwards and a new screenplay Max Borenstein, this reboot of the legendary Japanese monster was done with incredible excellence.  If churches or organizations need improved results, upgrading your leadership is often the answer.
2. Proven Leadership Results In Trust And Credibility – You can trust proven leadership.  The superlative cast includes Ken Watanabe, Bryan Cranston, Juliette Binoche and David Strathairn.  When they signed on I knew the film had to be good.
3. References Matter – Good business leaders know you cannot outrun your references.  When the USA Today gave Godzilla 3/4 stars it confirmed I would be watching the movie.
4. Leadership Demands Hard Decisions – To save the lives of thousands, Joe Brody, played by Cranston, had to sacrifice his wife’s life.
5. The Power Of Your Past – The one thing every leader has in common is each has a past.  Brody’s son, Lt. Ford Brody played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, asked him, “Why can’t you let her rest?”  He replied, “Because I sent her down there.”
6. Healthy Tension Is Good – Building tension is a good thing for anyone who does public speaking or makes presentations.  The film waits approximately one hour before revealing Godzilla in all its fullness.
7. Leaders Address Issues – During one scene a soldier says, “I guess we’re monster hunters now.”
8. Extreme Situations Call For Decisive Leadership.  Passive Leaders Put People And Organizations In Danger. – Military officials were constantly called upon to make immediate decisions to save as many lives as possible.
9. Leaders Pay A Higher Price – When it came time to implement a plan to kill Mothra, Lt. Brody said, “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
10. Quality Leadership Is Marked By Humility - The movie’s defining statement is when Dr. Ishiro Serizawa played by Watanabe, says, “The arrogance of man is thinking nature is in our control and not the other way around.  Let them fight.”
11. When Calamity Strikes People Still Reach Out To Jesus – The ultimate person of influence is Jesus.  As a team of paratroopers prepared for an insertion a soldier read a prayer that began, “O Lord God, we give you thanks.”
12. Leaders Protect Those Who Can’t Protect Themselves – Leaders give a voice to those who have no voice.  Mothra went to protect her unborn children when they were in danger.

In conclusion, Godzilla is well-worth your time and money.  You will have a great time.  After watching, let me know what other leadership principles you were able to find.

10 PRACTICES OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL YOUNG LEADERS

10 Practices Of Highly Successful Young Leaders

 

This morning I had a meeting with an incredibly talented young leader from our church.  She not only has incredible potential, but God is doing amazing things through her life right now.  Her future is incredibly bright and I was honored to speak into it.
Investing in young leaders is a passion many seasoned (that’s a nice way of putting it) leaders like myself.  This is why a recent Tom Verducci article in the May 12th edition of Sports Illustrated resonated with me so much.  Verducci profiled baseball’s best player, 22-year-old California Angels outfielder Mike Trout.  
In just his third season, Trout is already a Rookie Of The Year award winner and two-time American League MVP runner-up.  The following are 10 Practices Of Highly Successful Young Leaders I gleaned from the article:

1. Highly Successful Young Leaders Treat EVERYONE With Respect  - Teammate Howie Kendrick says, “He says hello to everybody – the workers in the stadium, the guys in the hallways…My wife tells me, ‘I don’t know much about what he does on the field, but I know I like him because of who he is and how he treats everybody.”
2. Highly Successful Young Leaders Treat THE ORGANIZATION With Respect - Team owner Arte Moreno says, “The greatest thing about Derek (Jeter) has been his consistency, the way he represents the organization, his family and himself.  Mike is the same.  He’s a gentleman.”
3. Highly Successful Young Leaders Continually Improve – Every leader have things they can improve on.  Because of an intense off-season training program Trout improved the weakest part of his game – arm strength.
4. Highly Successful Young Leaders Limit Their Mistakes – Chris Iannetta, the team’s catcher says, “You just don’t see him ever make a mistake.”
5. Highly Successful Young Leaders Have Confidence – Jannetta continues, “The most amazing thing is that his confidence is through the roof.  And he has it all the time.  It never wavers, whether he’s 0 for 5 for 5 for 5.”
6. Highly Successful Young Leaders Are Grateful – Too many young leaders enter organizations with a sense of entitlement.  Not Trout.  He says, “I want to be here (with the Angels).”  This attitude along with the way he negotiated his contract left a lasting impression on Moreno who said, “I wanted more years (on the contract), but that’s part of the compromise you make to get a deal done.”
7. Highly Successful Young Leaders Live Uncomplicated Lives – Smart leaders remove the clutter from their lives.  Still living at his parents’ house during the off-season, Trout lives a life of simplicity allowing him to focus solely on baseball.
8. Highly Successful Young Leaders Embrace A Process – Systems, not silver bullets, is the key to lasting success.  Another way to say this is everyday is more important than the big day.  Trout acknowledged, “If I tell myself to hit a home run, I get out 100% of the time.  All my home runs come from just telling myself, ‘Base hit up the middle.’”
9. Highly Successful Young Leaders Have A Positive Attitude – Trout says, “I’m always positive.  That’s the biggest thing that’s helped me my whole career.  No negatives.”
10. Highly Successful Young Leaders Do Their Job – Many young leaders are braggadocios, confusing exposure with experience.  Trout says, “I think that’s where all my success comes from: always staying humble.  If you do get four hits and two home runs or whatever, you’re not in there bragging.  You just come in and do your job.”

Treat Everyone With Respect, Treat The Organization With Respect, Continually Improve, Limit Your Mistakes, Be Confident and Grateful, Live An Uncomplicated Life, Embrace A Process, Have A Positive Attitude and Do Your Job.  If you practice these 10 things, you will most likely be a Highly Successful Young Leader.

16 Things You Must Know to Become A great Leader

16 Things You Must Know To Become A Great Leader

Senior Pastor Lee Jenkins is a good friend and senior pastor of Eagle’s Nest Church located in Roswell, Ga.  Today I heard him discuss a topic I cannot remember previously hearing on a Sunday morning – the topic of greatness and why it should be aspired to.
Whether you are in ministry, business, non-profit work or part of the athletic community, the following are 16 Things You Must Know To Become A Great Leader I gleaned from Lee and want to pass along to you:

1. Everyone in their heart wants to be great at something.
2. Mediocrity is no one’s ambition.
3. You must possess the desire for greatness.  A Christian who does not want to be great is like an athlete who does not want to win.
4. The world’s definition of a great leader is someone who exercises lordship over another.  It is someone who holds rank, wealth or power.  This leader requires recognition and glory.  It is the least serving the great.
5. Jesus’s definition of a great leader is a servant.
6. God prepares a leader for greater responsibility by having them serve.
7. You know you have a servant’s heart based upon how you act when you are treated like a servant.
8. Kingdom greatness focuses on serving.  Earthly greatness focuses on ruling.
9. Kingdom greatness focuses on others.  Earthly greatness focuses on yourself.
10. “Anybody can be great because anybody can serve.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
11. Great leaders must strive to demonstrate greatness.
12. God wants you to be a great leader for His Kingdom.
13. God wants you to be a great leader and have a great relationship with your family.
14. God wants you to be a great leader and have a great marriage.
15. God wants you to be a great leader and have a great church.
16. God wants you to be a great leader and have a great relationship with Him.

In closing, God wants you to be a great leader.  What is one thing you can do today to make this a reality?