Are you a Puller or a Pusher?

Do you think the word Leadership is overused?


I was fortunate to be a part of the 2012 Chick-fil-a Leadercast. One of the speakers was Urban Meyer, the football coach at Ohio State University (formerly the University of Florida). He was asked how he defines "leadership" and gave a surprising response.


He said, "That's a word we throw around a lot, isn't it? I try to keep it simple. I define it as the ability to elevate the performance of those around you." I think that is an AWESOME answer!


When I take that definition and filter it through my own experience as a leader, I immediately ask, "Do I elevate the performance of those around me?" Then I stop and think,

Leadership begins at 2:00am

Dave McGillivray

Lessons I learned from Boston Marathon Race Director, Dave McGillivray. His day begins with a 2:00am wake-up call and concludes at 7:30pm when he crosses the finish line of his own individual marathon. 

(Source: Runner's World, May 2012, The Boston Wrangler)

• "If I've done my job right, I should be the least busy person on race day."

This is the essence of leadership. Take a team of people, find their strengths, hopes and desires and position them for THEIR success.  Unfortunately, some see leadership as positioning their people for the leader's success. 

• "I'm proud to finish last every year."

When the last runner crosses the finish line, Dave loads up and heads back to the start line. Not to begin cleaning up, but to put on his running shoes. He allows all 27,000 runners to cross the line ahead of him and then completes his own marathon. Servant leaders tend to shine a little brighter than selfish leaders.

• "At the end of my life, I hope I have used everything I had until I simply...ran out of time."

How often do you hear someone talk about just working hard? Most people I know are keeping something in the tank for later. They have a grandiose plan of saving a little energy for themselves; a little reward for having put in the time for others. 

When I think about the successful people I know, I see a clear trend of hard work, sacrifice and commitment. Sure, skill has something to do with it, but you just can't overlook good old "elbow grease." 

Are You Blessing Your Children?

What is your child's best skill? What can they do really well? If you can't answer that, we have a problem.

A few weeks ago, I partnered with some friends to host a Courageous Families Experience. We showed the Courageous film and then followed up with two afternoons of teaching/discussion/exchanges based on the principles brought to light in the film. It was a neat opportunity to connect the movie to our everyday lives.

One session was based on the concept of blessing your children. We used God's expression of joy over Jesus going to John the Baptist to be baptized as our model.

"As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.'"

Matthew 3:16-17

New International Version (NIV) 

Did you catch it? Let me unpack it: