Great Leaders Are Not Born – They Are Discipled

Grant Skeldon is an expert on the Millennial Generation. Not only is he a part of said generation, but he is also the founder of The Initiative Network, a Christian leadership group for Millennials, and is currently the Next Gen Director at Q Ideas. His years of experience in bridging the generational gap culminated in his book, The Passion Generation. Martha and I have had the pleasure of interviewing Grant on the iWork4Him Podcast, as well as including an article that Grant did with Paul J. Pastor in Outreach Magazine in our recent book iRetire4Him: Unlocking God's purpose for your retirement.

Here's the thing, Grant's entire platform revolves around a single simple concept: Millennials don't want only to hang out and work with other Millennials. Instead, they want access to relationships and the wisdom of those chronologically superior to them; they want to run alongside those who are spiritually a step or two ahead! Grant begs the Church to change its perspective and purposefully engage Boomers with X'ers and Millennials and Gen Z'ers, rather than keeping them relegated to their age groups.

What's my point in telling you all this?

Well, whether you are a Christ follower who is already retired, contemplating retirement, or preparing for retirement sometime in the distant future, chances are that you see retirement as a 30-year vacation. But the truth is, if you live your life that way, all the wisdom you have gained will be buried with you, and the next generation will likely make the same mistakes that you made, or worse. Great leaders aren’t born, they are discipled.

You, my friend, have been given a gift. You have the kind of accumulated wisdom and knowledge that comes only through years of experience, struggle, and success. And the next generation wants access to what you know and WHO you know, but for that to happen, you need to make yourself available.

This is what retirement needs to look like for Christ followers: days spent investing in the next generation! Many famous people have said it: we all need a Paul, Barnabas, and Timothy in our lives. Someone to teach and challenge us, someone to encourage us, and someone we, in turn, can teach and encourage. This is how we become a cultural influence for Christ – one person at a time.

So, who is that in your life? Who do you run alongside that is spiritually a step or two ahead? Who is running alongside you that is a step or two behind? Plan your retirement today by planning on investing those blessed years into the lives of others. You can read Grant Skeldon's entire interview, as well as other incredible and inspiring stories in iRetire4Him. Oh, and I mention that you can download the first chapter for FREE? CLICK HERE to download.

Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Are you dreaming or making a plan?

Martha and I have been going through this excellent team-building training/leadership training over the last year from GiANTWorldwide. It has truly been revolutionary in how we interact with one another and how we interact with our team – all of whom are outsourced. There are so many qualities a good leader should have, but upon self-evaluation, the one I need to work on the most is the “Provisional/Plan/Promise” conversation. It turns out that the words I use could be undermining my leadership at iWork4Him.

If you are a dreamer like me, who is also an entrepreneur, you probably come up with original ideas all the time to keep yourself busy. I read a ton of books for the podcast and run across fresh ideas all the time, so I feel like I am continually filtering out my many ideas to only share the cream of the crop. However, when I dream out loud, sometimes I am inadvertently communicating that I plan to carry these dreams into realities. All I was doing was dreaming, but because I didn’t tell everyone that I was dreaming, they thought I was espousing a new direction or directive. So, Martha has learned to ask me. Is that provisional (dream), a plan (something we potentially will consider), or a promise (truly a direction we will take.)

Over the last three decades, I’ve been guilty of confusing the employees on my teams. I often would test-drive an idea in front of them, seeing how it landed but never clarifying if it was provisional, a plan, or a promise. For instance, there was the time I talked about moving our insurance agency to a new building around the corner. There was another time I talked about planting a church in our old town of Indian Rocks Beach. Then recently, I discussed my desire to buy a whole Christian media conglomerate so we could change the entire direction of Christian talk radio. These were provisional/dreams, but many of our employees thought I was planning or promising that it was our next step.

So, what about you. Do you offer clarifying statements when you share a new idea? Do you let people know whether you are dreaming, planning, or promising an outcome?

As followers of Jesus in the workplace, people rely on us to be Truth. To represent Truth. To communicate always in Truth. When we don’t deliver on what people think is a plan or a promise, some will think you and I are just full of hot air, that our words mean nothing. That could be devastating to their eternal life!

Matthew 5:37 says, “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’”

Provisional. Plan. Promise. Be careful with your words… and if you frustrate people, ask forgiveness and do a better job next time. This is not only one of the qualities of a good leader but also God’s will for his people.

Just being real. Jim

Can you relate to the conversation above and want to learn more? Gain FREE access to a GiANT Ascend account with this link and go directly to a 2 minute video of this amazing tool.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Have you thanked them?

It’s true for all of us. Each of us has had at least one person, and maybe more that have significantly influenced our walk with Jesus. For me, it was my Jr. High Youth pastor who loved me when I was a squirrelly 12-year-old. He was there when I went “All In” for Jesus. Then there was Mike, who was a college student who actively discipled me in high school. He taught me the bible, how to study the bible, and how to enjoy the bible. He invested time and energy and asked me tough questions about my walk with Jesus as well. There were others, too. As an adult, I have had three racquetball partners who were also great influencers in my life. They motivated me to exercise and even loved me when I acted ridiculously.   There was Robert, who taught me how to be a minister to men. Sol taught me how to pray with others, on the spot.  My friend Bob has played a significant part in shaping the destiny and direction personally and iWork4Him.

Who do you have in your life that walked alongside you on the Narrow Path? Have you thanked them? Have you gone back and reminded them of the significance they have in your life?   I have done this many times with those that have impacted me.  It honors them and honors God for putting them in your life.  Take time this week to thank those who have been used by God to shape you into who you are today. They have been used by God to get you to where you are today.

Now what?  You’ve walked down memory lane for a few minutes, feeling nostalgic about someone special God put in your life.  You’ve sent them a card or called to thank them for spending energy on you. With these special people fresh on your mind, think about how you can pay it forward.  Who are you leading?  What spiritual impact are you having on someone around you?  Are you being a leader worth following?  Make a decision today to pay it forward and pray for God to use you in the lives of those around you.  You may never know the difference you can make when you walk in obedience.

A Culture of Leadership  Listen to this iWork4Him Podcast to learn more about leading well.

Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Jesus Worked The Family Business

It is not insignificant that Jesus was born to a family who had a small business. Carpentry. God could have put Jesus in any number of families but He chose one where the primary source of income to support the family was the small family business. You might find yourself asking why?  I often had until I started researching the Faith and Work movement 14 years ago. It was then that I realized that the major economic driving force in any countries economy is the small family run business. Sure there are huge corporations but 44% of US economic activity is driven by small businesses and small businesses create 2/3 of all net new jobs.  So what does this have to do with you?

God loves business. In fact He wanted His son to experience all the struggles of man including the challenges of being in and eventually running a small family business. Why?  When you run a small business, you are actually running a small niche focused ministry that delivers a product.  This small business experience enabled Jesus to put together the most powerful marketing plan ever and that plan has changed the world.  God loves business and He loves work. God planned it that way when the world was created. When He told Adam and Eve to cultivate the Earth, He meant to harvest its resources and use them to bring flourishing to others. That is all done in the hands of business owners. Jesus’ plan was to use the marketplace to spread the good news because commerce moves products and information.

The next time you wonder if God has called you into business or ministry, realize that He has called you into a Biznistry and its focus is a high priority to Him. You can bring flourishing to the earth by operating a small family business.  You have His blessing and it was His plan to bring the Gospel to this planet.

Jim

Curious about Marketing like Jesus?  This episode of iWork4Him podcast will give you some ideas.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Share Each Other's Burdens

Who came up with the notion that we can turn on and off our problems when we arrive at work? 

Our problems are not connected to a switch that can just be turned off and on at will.  In fact, quite the opposite.  Sometimes our issues surface when we least expect them to. 

“For every problem a small company leader knows about, that is only 20% of what is happening in their workforce. There are some employees that will simply not share a sensitive personal issue.” 

So said Jason Brown, CMO @ Marketplace Chaplains, during an interview with Jim and Martha.

It used to be that absenteeism was a problem in the workplace. But today, it’s the opposite: It’s called “Presenteeism”.  Employees are showing up, but not actually fully mentally present and focused on their work. Their worries, concerns about children, aging parents, marriage, or finances, are taking over their ability to concentrate. Per a Forbes study in 2018, it’s costing U.S. companies $150 billion dollars a year. A company’s leadership cannot spend all day ministering to their employees, nor can the HR department. So, what’s the answer? One answer is to look at adding a corporate chaplaincy to your workplace. Their only focus is to confidentially listen, support and walk alongside the staff. 

When our burdens are shared and heard, our load is lightened. We are then able to think and focus on the task at hand. Just as Galatians 6:2 encourages us:

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Will you start sharing today?

Jim and Martha Brangenberg

The World's Greatest Consultant Is.....

There is a great deal we do not, and will not understand about our Triune God, until we go to heaven. Take the Holy Spirit, for instance. We don’t really understand Him, but He’s here with us. Dr. Jim Harris believes The Holy Spirit is the greatest partner in our work we could ever imagine. Even if we do not understand HOW He works. He is our counselor, He is our paraclete (the helper), the spirit of truth and wisdom.

Dr. Harris asked us:

“Why not let the world’s greatest consultant, the Holy Spirit that lives inside us, lead us and guide us in our business?”

What would happen if we invited him into our work every day? What if every time we walked in our office or truck cab, we asked “Holy Spirit, What do you want me to know as I begin work today?” 

What if today, we worked as if the living God and His wisdom were inside us? (which it is)

So, let’s all ask ourselves his question: Why not let the world’s greatest consultant, the Holy Spirit that lives inside us, lead us and guide us in our business?   

Would we be doing different work? In a different way? Would we think higher, grander thoughts? Would we expect and GET bigger results? Over-deliver for our clients?  Would we take off the limiting thoughts that hinder how our work will turn out?   Our God is SO BIG, He spoke our universe into existence.  So, let’s invite that God into our work every day, and expect God-size results.

“Holy Spirit, lead me and guide me today as I head to work.  Help me with my decisions and relationships.  Guide me to honor my Heavenly Father through my actions.  AMEN!”

To hear how Dr. Jim Harris is living this out, listen to his interview HERE.

Jim and Martha Brangenberg

Can You Do This??!?

There are a lot of things about Christianity that I love and enjoy, like reading my bible, going to church, and digging into the Word through bible study. But I really struggle to listen to the Voice of God. How do I know when I’m hearing from God? What does His voice sound like?

The other day Martha and I interviewed Mark Virkler from cwgministries.org and he has a lot of resources to help with this question. He wrote 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice. I loved his approach. Here are the 4 steps in summary. I recommend you read further on this website.

1) Be Quiet – go to a quiet place – be at peace and not in a hurry. The First Key – actually be prepared to listen – with your mouth shut and your ears open. (I struggle with this)

2) Imagine that you are talking with God. Picture it in your mind. God is real – ask Him to give you an image that focus’ your thoughts on Him. (I picture talking with God on a mountain meadow)

3) Recognize God’s voice by listening to the spontaneous thoughts that pop in your head – that appear to come out of nowhere.

4) Write down whatever you hear – (Sometimes I prayer Journal – writing down my question and waiting for an answer to enter my mind)

Hearing God’s voice is a discipline that takes time. Recognizing His voice, and not the voice of the enemy or your own mind, is similar to controlling your breathing during a panic attack or when learning to drive. Both eventually become 2nd nature, and so will hearing the voice of God.

Start today – He is talking – are you listening?

Isaiah 30:21

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

The Love-Driven Leader

“Love-driven leaders are excellent followers of the ultimate love-driven leader. Jesus”.

~ Dr. Steve Greene, author of Love Leads via a recent interview on iWork4Him - listen to it HERE

Love in the workplace? Love in leadership? "What's love got to do with it?" Tina Turner famously asked.

EVERYTHING. If we are a Christ-follower, love is the basis for everything we do, because it is the basis for all He did. And if we have just one person following us, then we ARE a leader, regardless of our age, our role or where that is. Work, home, church, school...And in order for us to be a God-honoring leader, the first requirement is to love as Christ loved us. That love, by the way, is an action. An "active" intentional action that holds deep affection (vs. the type of love as the world defines it) and shows itself.

I had the privilege of interviewing Cheryl Bachelder, former CEO of Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen several years ago. This anecdote from her sums up the power of "love in leadership" well:

“I had a boss who was an encourager-leader. The first thing he said to me was 'I chose you for this role because I love what you bring to it. You're innovative, you're creative, you're bold.' Nobody had ever told me they loved that. And then every week he told me how excited he was about what I was doing. And boy, I was like, this is new. I never experienced this before. How uplifting! And, no surprise, I did some incredible work for him because we had a vibrant, encouraging relationship. The man that I worked for right after him was the opposite. The first words he said to me were, 'I've heard you were good. I'm going to see if I can trip you up.' And I said, 'Really? That's the most inspiring thing anyone's ever said to me.' I worked for him for a year. It was ugly. It was not fun; he was constantly drawing my weaknesses to my attention.”

Sound familiar? If you're a boss, are you the love-driven leader? Or the opposite? How would your team members describe YOUR leadership?

If our leadership is rooted in the love of Christ, it will have a solid foundation. The motivation behind our leadership will be well-placed, well-rooted and well-directed.

Romans 13:8 directs our love-based leadership:

Owe nothing to anyone-except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law.

Lead in love well this week.

For His Glory ~

Caroline Mendez, National Brand Ambassador

About the Guest Blogger, Caroline Mendez, National Brand Ambassador, iWork4Him

Caroline’s Mission: To raise the visibility of Christian Women in Leadership. She is passionate about empowering each woman she meets to be free from that which keeps them oppressed.

Through Colored Glasses

Have you ever heard the saying: “You can’t see the forest for the trees”?

This saying deals with familiarity. Think about this, in terms of our workplace. When we are new to a job we see things that long time employees may not notice anymore. Our ability to have a proper perspective diminishes when we’re deep within a problem, an organization, or a situation that is overwhelming us.

Losing the ability to see ourselves honestly can happen to the best of us.

Earlier this week I spoke with Tom Harper from Networld media group about his leadership fable “Through Colored Glasses”. It’s a story about an executive that lost the ability to be honest with himself about a situation in his company. Eventually the only solution was to tell the truth and admit defeat. In that defeat there was a victory, because the truth was honored.

Are you struggling with being able to see the forest and the individual trees in that forest?

What does your forest look like today?

Ask the people that you work alongside or live with. Be ready for their perspective and honesty and then listen for their answers. When we value the perspectives of those around us, we become a better leader.

Perspective changes depending on your point of YOU. But the truth is, it never changes.

Great leaders learn to be authentic, transparent and vulnerable. Surround yourself with people that you are willing to listen to, this is the sign of a great leader. Those around you will feel loved and appreciated and that’s what makes a great leader.

What color is your forest?

Ephesians 4:29 New Living Translation (NLT)

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Visit Biblical Leadership for more amazing resources.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Relationomics

You've heard the business motto:

The customer is always right and the customer comes first.

How's that working for us today? Not good, not good at all. The general market news media has one thing right, and it’s only marginally right at that. Corporate America has become a bastion of creating wealth and ignoring of people. Stock holders generally come before the customers and the employees.

As Jesus followers we know this is wrong. The economists are finally coming to their senses and seeing this is wrong as well. When the employees of an organization feel treated like a number, they respond like a prime number. They are lonely, with 1 as their only ally and the ability to divide and conquer is destroyed.

In contrast, when employees work in an environment where they are genuinely loved and appreciated, the bottom line is impacted exponentially. Is anyone talking about this impact? Will corporate America ever wake up and realize this?

Dr. Randy Ross is founder and CEO (Chief Enthusiasm Officer) of Remarkable!

We need Jesus Followers to start leading by loving, instead of leading by pressure. How did Jesus bring out the best in the 12 disciples? He loved them unconditionally and showed that with firm rebukes and a loving touch, then he died for them.

Willing to lead? Are you willing to die? Randy Ross and I talked about Relationomics this week. It is not a new concept but it can change the world.

Jesus Followers need to lead the way.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!