Book Review: Poke the Box by Seth Godin

The latest offering from Seth Godin, Poke the Box, is his manifesto on starting. It resides somewhere between a high-tempo motivational speech and a swift kick in the butt. We should all read this quick book, and then pass it on.






What Is At Your Core?

“People don’t at first follow worthy causes. They follow worthy leaders who promote causes they believe in” – John Maxwell

Your dreams, your goals, and your mission in life will only go so far, no matter how passionate, how organized, or how persuasive you are . If you don’t have character, you will not be an effective leader. You may be successful for a while, you might even have a flourishing ministry or church, but the underlying ‘faultlines’ will undermine and destroy the best organizations. Character is key.











On top of the moutain, above the clouds, at sunrise

Why Blog?

Bottom Line Up Front: I’m not a great writer. I’m a decent teacher. I was a good military officer (and that’s where I get most of my stories). But I am a smart guy, a perfectionist, a hard worker, and I hope most of all, I am an example, or better yet, an inspiration. Another […]






A sketch of the G42 Network

It Takes a Network

I taught this week on Building a Network, also subtitled “More than you ever wanted to know about Al Qaeda.” I used Al Qaeda as a case study for a “starfish” network that works–although its goals and methods are obviously way out of whack. Held together really only by ideology, not needing a membership form […]






Atop Sierra Mijas with G42 Interns

We Have Nothing to Fear…

I began a series on the “Elements of Leadership” today at the G42 Leadership Academy.  I always start the series with “Overcoming Fears-Facing Your Giants.”  Before we can step into our inheritance, we need to look past the fears–the giants–and stand on the promises that God has given us.  Either He is God, and has […]






The Truth About You

Short.  Blunt.  To the Point.  A great concept for a self-help book.  I recently read this book called The Truth About You, by Marcus Buckingham.  In it, he explains a simple concept that many of us have missed: we must play to our strengths.  But Buckingham is quick to tell us that our strengths aren’t […]






Authority

Being a military guy, I love the account of the Centurion in Matthew 8:5-10:  When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” The centurion replied, “Lord, I […]






Servant Leadership: My Dad

Seems like a contradiction in terms, right? But it’s not.  Mark 10:41-45 “Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. But it is not this way among you. Instead whoever […]






Courageous Leadership

Hello again.  I’d love to give you all more info on what I’m doing, but then I would probably go to jail.  But in the meantime, here are some great thoughts on Leadership from John Maxwell.  I borrowed these from Andrew Shearman’s blog. “When I began my career I was very ineffective as a leader […]