I live and lead by the idea that who we are is more important than what we do. Since this is the case, I try to see everyone through the lens of being created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28). Because of this, my pipeline looks a little different. One of the ways I develop a pipeline is to see how my team leads themselves before I invite them to lead others.

I want to create a culture of healthy self-leadership encompassing self-awareness, holistic health, meaningful collaboration, and intentionality in and with God’s mission. This culture can be created in an office, a church, or in your home. The culture is intentionally coached and modeled for the person. If the person is growing in the Lord, humbly becoming like Christ, can articulate self-awareness at the level of discovery, and can communicate authentically, then I begin equipping them in decision-making. That’s right! Decision-making. Leaders make healthy, hard, and holistic decisions. This means I have to get through my stuff: What if they are a better leader than me? What if this overshadows my accomplishments? What if I am replaced? What if I lose control? What if…

These are good questions to work through. I am not belittling these questions or ideas. These questions are a reality and something Six2 Ministries would be honored to work with you on for your leadership development.

Equipping a teammate does not begin immediately. I typically practice with a trusted team member by letting them share in the decision-making process. I mention to them that I am responsible for the outcome.

Then, I watch for these 5 areas of growth (below) to release them to lead and ultimately scale leadership impact through team numerical growth and personal development. Each of these areas takes time, coaching, and attention. Don’t rush these. They are part of personal development and vital leadership lessons for the journey ahead.

Make a decision

Eventually, I entrust and empower the person to make a decision. At this point, I still own the outcome, even if they fail. I want to see how the person decides and if it is a good decision.

Do the decision

If the person makes several good decisions, next I want to assess follow-through. It is one thing to make a decision. It is another to follow up, follow through, and enact the decision. Tenacity is a key trait of a leader. So is grit.

Own the decision

This is the turning point. Eventually, I want the person to own the decision. This means that they now take ownership of the decision rather than me. This is a huge deal! This means they value their decision and trust themselves to make the decision, even if it leads to failure.

Learn from the decision

Success and failure are good teachers. Regarding success as self-worth can lead to pride. Regarding failure as personal will stop a leader from leading effectively and in healthy ways.

My hope is that a future leader will learn from their successes and failures in decision-making to continue to grow, mature, and become like Christ. There is always something to learn.

Develop others in decision-making

Finally, I hope to see the leader begin developing other leaders. Creating a culture of healthy decision-making throughout the team, organization, or home. Ultimately, creating a culture of who we are is more important than what we do.

As you can see, this is a process. It is slow, small, and messy. It takes time and intentionality. It focuses on the person and leadership development. Ultimately, this can look like disciple-making, passing the baton, and sharing the load (Galatians 6:2).

There is a pipeline to lead leaders of leaders. There is also a pipeline of personal development and growth into leadership. What step are you on? What step are you inviting others to?

For instance, if you are training for a race, more than likely you are focused on the event for which you are training. If you are asked to speak at an event but are afraid, you will more than likely focus on fear. If you reminisce about past accomplishments, you can inhibit future growth and opportunities. If you focus on the Lord and His mission, there is an opportunity to look more and more like Jesus.

Focus is critical to who you want to become and what you want to accomplish. The challenge is knowing what to focus on.

Charity, my Beautiful, bought me a telescope a couple of years ago. I enjoy stargazing–especially looking at a full moon. The challenge is finding the moon when the telescope is set for a strong focus. Once the moon is found, one can focus on the moon to view craters, shadows, and dimensions. She would say that I need more practice. She would be right!

Here’s the catch, we all focus on something. The hope is that we are intentional with our focus and pursue clarity.

As we begin a New Year, I would like to encourage 4 critical areas of focus for any leader. You may be a leader in ministry, at work, in your community, or at home. Consider these areas as you lean into this year. Then, look back at this year to see how far you have come.

Holistic Self Awareness

How aware of yourself are you in these areas:

• Spiritually
• Emotionally
• Physically
• Mentally
• Relationally
• Maritally
• Vocationally
• Personality
• Financially

This is important! It is difficult, if not improbable, to have a clear focus on the next three areas without distinct self-awareness. It is important to create a dashboard of sorts. Write down areas of growth and responsibility. The list above can be a start. Then create a weekly or monthly review of these areas. Which ones are thriving? Which areas are struggling? What are next steps?

Meaningful Collaborative Journey

Walking alone can be the most difficult journey for most. Have you ever felt alone? I have. It is a difficult slog. You’re not alone. Loneliness is a common theme among leaders. The hope is to focus on finding a small group of mentors, coaches, friends, and future leaders for the journey.

As a Christian, begin restoring your relationship with the Lord Jesus. Invite Him into your plans, mission, goals, and focal areas.

The journey is meaningful. The journey is collaborative. The journey is intentional. The journey is relational.

Preparing for Tomorrow Today

I have been a student of productivity for over 10 years. I have learned a lot about what productivity is and what it is not. I begin with God’s mission in the middle. I want to bring glory to God by making more and better followers of Jesus through the power of His Spirit. I want to love others and myself as He loves. I want to help hurting people find hope and healing.

This will not happen by accident. Productivity is not simply getting a lot of stuff done. Productivity is getting the right stuff done at the right time to join God on His mission for His glory alone.

This takes intentionality, planning, purpose, coaching, and collaboration. This also requires a devout journey with God, with other Christians in a local church, and a clear idea of His presence, power, and plans.

Purposeful Impact

The first three areas of focus lead to this last area. Purposeful impact is for you and others. One can sense the intentionality, creativity, and beauty of God working in us, for us, and with us to create this kind of impact. But, if you are aware, collaborative and intentional, the results will impact you and others for a purpose greater than the one you can create.

What next?

Charity and I would be honored to walk with you on this journey! Six2 Ministries is a non-profit dedicated to your journey in these areas of focus. We want you to see the majesty of being created in the image of God, swim deeply into personal awareness, become more like Christ in the way He created you to be, develop healthy boundaries, and focus on making a purposeful impact for the glory of God alone.

When I (Mike) was a teenager, I enjoyed singing with the youth choir. During a Christmas season, I was asked to sing a song entitled, “He Came.” The lyrics of the song were part of a larger musical reminding us that “at the right time and at the best time, He came.”

Every year around this time, I have a reminder notification that reminds me of this special moment in my life when I was asked to sing, “He Came.” It was more than a song to a young Christian. The title was a message of hope, security, faith, and commissioning.

When I am excited, He came.

When I am sad, He came.

When I am hurting, He came.

When I am reflective, He came.

When I am disappointed, He came.

When I am joyful, He came.

When I am lonely, He came.

Jesus stepped into a world filled with sin, despair, wounds, pain, oppression, frustration, fear, and sadness. He came and brought healing, freedom, hope, love, joy, peace, and kindness. His methods were different, His ways were awkward, His strategy was counter-cultural…and He was exactly what we needed.

He came. Take it in. Take a breath. The Wonderful Counselor is knocking on the door of your heart. In the middle of a small town, born in the hurry of life, and glorified to a group of outcasts.

“Mike, would you like to sing, “He Came” at this year’s Christmas musical?”

Obviously, this moment became more than a song. This moment became an anthem of my life in Jesus.

Where are you in life right now? Need hope? Need faith? Need security? Need purpose?

He came.

God in flesh, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, came.

My prayer for you is simple. That you would find rest in the simplest and most profound of statements, “He came.”

God with us. God with you.

Do you know of someone else who needs to hear these words? How will you encourage others through a lifestyle of “He came”?

Let’s pause and pray.

Almighty God, in Jesus Name, through the power of your Holy Spirit, thank you. Thank you for remembering the forgotten, hurrying to the hurting, saving the sinners, providing a path of peace to the stressed, and hastening hope to the desperate. You came. You saved. You redeemed. You secured. You healed. Now, send us into a world who needs to know You came for them, too. Thank you, Jesus, for Your Presence and in Your Name we pray, Amen.

Sauron, the character who represents Satan or the enemy, is shown to be the great deceiver. In one such story in the series, Sauron describes a situation to an elf, who represents a person of faith. The elf, who had been deceived by Sauron’s lies only a short time before, sees through the pretense this time. He looks at Sauron and declares, “You are so good at deception that you are capable of even deceiving yourself.”

The enemy, Satan, has had a very long time to learn the craft of dishonesty. He seeks to trick even the faithful follower. He manipulates the believer into thinking that a sin or a struggle faced is so big that even God Himself cannot help or does not care. If he can isolate the believer into buying into this untruth, the believer feels alone and unworthy of the care and compassion of God and fellow Christians. The believer then gets stuck in their own heads and repeats the lies so often that they feel that they are now “the truth”. The fabricated story that the enemy has sought to create is one that keeps the believer away from God, just as the enemy himself is. The enemy had to have deceived himself so much that he now believes this is the best place to be, apart from the love of the One who created him. His lies seek to make us believe that too. Romans 8: 38-39 tells a different story:

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV)

The enemy may also seek to destroy us through the “little” lies. Does it really matter if you don’t pray today? Cheating on your taxes just this once can help you get past this tight financial spot. Viewing that site isn’t that bad, is it?

Sauron is shown in the series gaining the trust of those unsuspecting people around him by giving them what they most want. “Here’s a way to help your people.” “This will create unity.” On the surface, it may seem to be the best path, but when examined closer, those lies are more apparent. The help Sauron provides creates false unity and assists him in the long run rather than those he claims to want to aid.

John 8: 44 (ESV) says this:

You are of your father, the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV) points out Satan’s disguise:

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

So how do we defeat the lies, both big and small, that the enemy seeks to have us believe?

Ephesians 6:11 holds the answer!

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

So, believer, get dressed so that you can stand against the lies!

Thinking is not the issue. Overthinking is.

Maybe you have been there, ruminating on something that is bothering you, or a great idea. Maybe it is thinking through your day or your upcoming week’s schedule. Perhaps you are thinking about an organizational strategy or a business concept.

Whatever it is, thinking can become overthinking. Here are some challenges.

1. Overthinking can cause analysis paralysis. Overthinking can take too many things into consideration and you fail to do anything about your thoughts.

2. Overthinking can mess with mental health. You may find yourself in your head too much and it is actually impacting your confidence, relationships, mojo, or positivity.

3. Overthinking can thwart spirtual formation. While God is trying to get your attention, you find yourself hyper-focused on whatever topic captures your attention.

Obviously, something has to change, but how? How can I keep from sinking in my thoughts?

1. Tell someone. Another way to think about overthinking is to consider how often you find yourself “stuck”. Sometimes to get unstuck, tell a trusted friend, mentor, coach, or pastoral counselor. Folks outside of your thoughts can provide great insight to rescue you from the rising tide in your brain.

2. Make a list or write it down. This sounds too simple. If you keep rehearing things that have to be done in your head, make a list. If you cannot process a life narrative or relational challenge, then write it down. Something happens when you can get something out of your thoughts and on a piece of paper.

3. Do something. We can make a great decision on half of the information needed. This is how entrepreneurial and innovative people function. If you get trapped in your mind, then action may never happen. This can depress the most focused and driven of individuals.

Questions to consider:

1. Which challenge do you face the most when it comes to overthinking?

2. What can you do to prevent sinking?

Let Six2 Ministries know how we can help!

And then one day, the schedule doesn’t work. The leader cannot be in two places at once, or the outdoor fall event is scheduled on the weekend where all it does is rain! What now?

Flex. Don’t break.

If as leaders we become so rigid and so tied to our plans that we cannot be flexible, then we run the risk of spending life miserable and angry. If not that, then maybe we are stressed and anxious! I don’t know about you, but those are not appealing options!

Flexibility is key. When leaders must be flexible, they may have to rely on others for assistance that they may never have thought to call on in a crisis. They may need to rally the rest of the team of ministry leaders to get some ideas or to have someone else take over so that the child’s first gymnastics meet is not missed.

I know that when we have everything planned out and we have our minds set that this is how this ministry event is going to happen it is because we were so careful in the preparations that we think this is the very best plan! It has to be! We spent a long time getting it just right! Doing something different makes us uncomfortable! I don’t want to be flexible! I want it to happen the way I planned it!

But that kind of thinking and attitude makes us rigid. And if we are rigid, we are not flexible. We can be broken.

I know lessons can be learned in brokenness. But lessons can also be learned when we practice flexibility…when we take some deep breaths and come up with a new idea since we cannot take the 4th grade class outside in the torrential downpour.

Our plans may have truly been epic! We may have had an amazing event planned. But when it doesn’t work out, we can pivot and be flexible, or we can breakdown and pout. God is never caught off guard when our plans don’t come to fruition. He knows what will occur and what will not.

So, this year when things don’t work out exactly as you thought, what will be your response? Flex? Or break?

“When you stop learning, you stop growing.” ~Kenneth Blanchard

“What you reading?” A friend asks me this question on a regular basis. He knows that I am always into some topic, book, article, or study. I love to learn, and reading is a part of my learning process.

But, what are you reading? What is piquing your interest? How are you growing?

This is an important question as a leader. I agree with Blanchard, “When you stop learning, you stop growing.” I’ve witnessed it! Leaders get complacent or over-confident in their own abilities. Leaders get too busy to add reading to their list of things to do. Leaders do not prioritize growing themselves. There are a ton of reasons.

I get it! We’re busy! If it wasn’t, then there would be nothing to lead.

But healthy leaders are growing leaders. Growing leaders are learning leaders. Learning leaders are reading leaders.

So, what are some tips and tricks to sneak “reading” into your schedule. Yes, I put reading in quotes.

• Set an appointment with yourself to read. This does not have to be daily or weekly. You get to choose the time, place, and environment. But if you don’t plan to read, then it may not happen.
• Set a goal. Sounds easy, but setting a goal to read takes energy and effort. Reading takes a lot of energy! Let’s just say you set a goal to read 12 books a year. That is one book per month. When can you read the book? What book will you read? Which articles are interesting to you? What skills do you need to develop? Each of these questions can provide goals to set.
• “Reading” can come in the form of listening or watching. Hey, we are in a digital age. Get creative. Walking? Listen to a book or podcast. Enjoy video? Check out the university of YouTube. Don’t have a lot of time? Check out Blinkist. Enjoy listening to books on the commute? Consider Audible.

Get creative. Have fun. Enjoy Reading!

So, back to my friend’s question.

I am back in school to finish my Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling. I stopped short of this degree to enter my Ed.D. I just finished my last class and have an internship to go. So, I am reading a ton of stuff on Counseling Women (my current class). But I am also reading other books. I like to skip around on books based on the environment I am in.

Car: “Canoeing the Mountains” by Bolsinger & “Your Brain at Work” by Rock. My next car book will be, “Think Faster, Talk Smarter” by Abrahams.

By my bed: “Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life” by Schwarzenegger

On my shelf at work: A re-read, “Better than Good” by Ziglar & a new book, “Chief of Staff” by Parris

Podcasts while exercising: “At the Table” with Patrick Lencioni, “Armchair Authentic” by my friends Rhett and Justin, “Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast” by Scazzero, “Grow Leader Podcast” with Chris Hodges, the “Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast,” “Beyond the To-Do List” by Fisher, and “AI Knowhow” by Knownwell. I also squeeze in some post-secondary accreditation and training podcasts from time to time.

As you can see, I love to learn! Why? Because I love to grow. Why? So I can help more people become what God has created them to be. Why? So, together, we can catalytically synergize His mission around the world.

To be fair, I did not start here. I began with a short list and slowly grew the list over time. I keep a “wish list” of books and topics to research. As long as I am on earth, I plan to learn. I plan to learn so I can lead others to become something more than they could ever dream.

So, “what are you reading?”

What is rest to you? For my other half, he needs to stimulate his mind but also needs time for a good nap. I enjoy unstructured moments where I can choose what to do based on how I am feeling at the present. I may appreciate getting a neglected house task done or I may want to simply sit and enjoy a good episode of I Love Lucy or a chapter in a book. The afternoon is always capped off by a good nap!

How do you lead rest? Lead rest? You may be wondering what I mean by that. How often do you encourage those around you to rest? Do you speak about it in a Bible study, sermon, or in conversation with a friend? Do you ask others how often they are taking care of themselves?

I would venture to say you probably have spoken to someone about rest recently. But do you lead it yourself? Are you one who says to others that they should take a break, but then push yourself to your limits every day? Do you speak about the blessed rest in Jesus, but then feel guilty because you did not attend every possible event?

As a leader, if you speak about rest but do not do it, then others in your circle of influence will simply look at you and see you burning the candle at both ends and wonder if that is how a “true Christian should act”. Leading rest creates the example of Sabbath. God created the Sabbath so that we would have the ability to slow down, rest, and reflect on Who He is. As leaders, we don’t “outgrow” the need for Sabbath. We don’t get so Christian that we no longer need the time for rest. Christ tells us in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He doesn’t say, “Come to me, all you who have not become Christian enough that you still require rest.”

Needing to rest does not mean we are not following Jesus wholeheartedly. It just means we are human. Elijah did amazing things for God as recorded in 1 Kings, but he became afraid and wanted to give up, praying that he might die. He fell asleep, and later ate food prepared for him. Elijah slept again until the angel of the Lord woke him up and encouraged him to eat once more, saying, “…for the journey is too much for you.” (1 Kings 19:7b, NIV). When the journey has become long and we are following God’s plan, rest is not a distraction from the task, but a needed element for continued pursuit.

“What are you focused on?”

Like I said, it sounds easy.

So many of us are in such a big hurry that we do not slow down and answer the “easy” question. Even now, you may feel the tendency to rush to the bottom of the blog for the big takeaways.

Focus, attention, free from distraction, essential priority, and “the most important thing” are all synonyms. If you search “what are you focused on” through the internet, you will find a lot of thought leaders writing on this topic.

You will read ideas like you are what you become what you are focused on, focus provides energy in the same direction, attune you mind, body, and emotions to the main thing, and the list goes on.

Obviously, focus is important. Along with contemporary thinkers, the Bible has some things to say about focus. Think of verses that remind us to fix our eyes, think about one thing, seek first, what to study, where to go, who to follow, and how to find and keep His perfect peace (Proverbs 4:25; Proverbs 29:18; Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:2; Hebrews 12:2).

So, what are you focused on?

If we’re honest, we may not like what we find when we answer this question.

Our ideal focus may not be our actual focus.

Ideally, I am sure you want to glorify God, prioritize your family, have energy. Feel good about where you are and what you are doing. Actually, your life may be the opposite. You feel stuck in the mud, spinning tires, trapped, and lost. I know, I’ve been there! But things can change.

We are focused more on “how” rather than “who.”

“How?” is typically the first question we ask when we are not focused. A problem arises and we seek a solution rather than focus on the source. This takes practice. What is the source of your focus? Generally, most leaders and Christians would focus on the main things: God, family, legacy, and relationships. If you ask “how” first, then you may be missing what is most important. Focus on the source. The source consistently begins with “who.”

We are too busy to pay attention to what we are focused on.

It’s 5:00 am. Your alarm sounds. Your house is quiet, but not for long. Another big day is planned. Your to-do list is so long that you are afraid to look at it. Family, friends, co-workers, and folks are waiting for you. Meetings, deadlines, chores…you filled your day. You wonder if this will ever end. You’re tired, stress, frazzled, and frustrated. Whew….

So what can we do?

Slow down.

Sounds simple, but for many of us this is the most difficult solution to answer with integrity what we are focused on. The simplest way to do this is to make an appointment with yourself. Typically, we do not miss meetings with doctors, sports practice, church, family meals, or birthdays. But we will miss a meeting with ourselves. So, set a meeting for the purpose of answering what you are focusing on…and keep the meeting!

Build this question into a daily or weekly review.

Set the meeting daily or weekly. This depends on your personality and productivity types. I like daily check-ins since my schedule is nuts. You may be able to swing weekly. Perhaps schedule this meeting with yourself before leaving for church on Sunday so you can examine your heart and prepare for the week. More important than when you answer the question, just make time to answer it. You will thank me!

Be accountable.

Tell someone that you trust that you will slow down to answer the question, “What are you focused on?” Tell them when you will do it and provide accountability to follow-up with them once you have answered the question. Having personal accountability will help you early in the process to stick to the routine.

Charity and I have worked hard to remain focused. We have built systems, processes, and questions into our lives and relationships to do so. We would be honored to walk alongside you and help you clearly focus on what is most important to you.

You can stay on the path, walk toward your vision, be excited, have energy, experience joy and peace, and glorify our Lord Jesus if you can remain focused.

The rain was so severe that I could not see ten feet in front of my face. The lightning was striking. Runners were quitting. Charity, my bride, was worried sick in a hotel room several miles away from the race venue, hearing the news that her Paw-Paw had passed.

There we were. Stuck in an uncomfortable reality. One of us was pressing on toward victory. The other was pressing on toward loss.

Can you relate?

Sometimes growth and change come from success, and at other times, they can come from tragedy and difficulty. Both Charity and I had “tired legs.” It just looked different.

How can we have joy in un-comfortability? These are simple ideas but good reminders.

1. Press on toward the prize. Philippians 3:12-14 summarizes this idea. We are “pressing on toward the goal” of eternal glory, Heaven, in Jesus Christ.  Some days, this is easier than others. Sometimes you know where the finish line is, like in the race I was running. Sometimes you don’t like the one Charity was running. In both, keep pressing on.
2. Stay focused on Jesus. Matthew 6:33 states that we should seek Jesus first. In pain, victory, difficulty, or plenty, we can keep our eyes and focus on Jesus. It is easy to be distracted by the storm or isolation around us. In Matthew 14, Peter continued on His journey toward Jesus while his eyes were fixed on the Master’s. But, when Peter looked away, He began to sink. Are you sinking? Then, stay focused on Jesus.
3. Expect difficulty AND peace. Jesus promises trouble and peace in John 16:33. The Man of Sorrows was familiar with this journey (Isaiah 55). Yes, we will have difficulty. But, yes, we can have peace.

With less than 5 miles to go, my legs went flat. I was tired, wet, cold, and weary. Five miles and over 26,000 feet to run. It might as well have been another marathon. I slowed to a walk and then stopped. No one was around. I drank the little electrolyte mix I had left and swallowed some energy gel.

“One more step.” That is what I said. Then, I took one more step. I repeated the phrase, “One more step.” Before I knew it, I was running again. The finish line was in my mind and eventually in sight. Oh, the joy. Oh, the peace.

Press on, my friend—one step at a time. Press on.