leadership

  • Making The Most Of Your Influence

    I was walking into a coffee shop when I saw a mom with a stroller and a kindergarten-aged son making the most of her influence.

    197 Making The Most Of Your Influence

    The mother walked up to a homeless man sitting near another door and asked if he would like a gift card she had for a local pharmacy.  She had $15.00 left on it and felt to give the card to him.  He was very thankful, stood up to receive it and left.

    Making the Most of Your Influence

    I spun around, walked right back out the door and told her how impressed I was by her kindness and generosity.  When I let her know I thought it was powerful she did this for her son to see, they both smiled big!

    Parenting Well Isn’t For The Weak

    There’s a famous poem called “Children Learn What They Live”.1  It has been both an encouragement and a wake-up call for me in years past.  As a parent, you influence daily.  Children watch your every move…even following you into the washroom at times…but you don’t have to be a parent to be a daily influencer.

    “And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.”
    Titus 2:7   NLT

    If you work in an office, on a farm, in a factory, as an officer of the law…wherever you work, the people around you are watching.  Titus reminds us we need to “be an example to people by doing good works of every kind.” That means we’re expected to do a lot of good stuff!

    So, give people around you some inspiration for greatness today.  Lead the way by example, making the most of your influence!

    Prayer

    Father…Thank you for leading by example.  There’s nothing you ask me to do that you haven’t shown the way.  I’m amazed that you want me to influence others for You.  Help me to look for opportunities to do good and live in a way that will reflect Your love.  In Jesus Name…Amen

    Drawing From The Well

    1. Titus 2:7
    2. 1 Timothy 4:12
    3. 1 Peter 5:3
    4. 2 Thessalonians 3:9

    Soul H2O bookIf you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

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    First Published: July 30, 2017

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  • Leadership Leads… Good or Bad

    “...from the prophets of Jerusalem 
ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” 
Jeremiah 23:15  NIV

    John MaxwellAll my John Maxwell training is going to be put to the test in three and a half weeks when I’ll be moderating a panel on Leadership at the Women’s Connection District Retreat in Grimsby, Ontario. {If you’re going, make sure to stop by my table and say hello!}

    wod retreat 2019I have some amazing ladies on the panel who hold various organizational leadership roles in business, government positions, church leadership, and home management. The goal is to elevate the confidence of women in leadership positions and practically help improve their skills, enabling them to walk further and faster into the destiny God has for their lives.

    As we’ve been preparing for the panel, I can’t help but look back and rate my skillfulness as a leader. Lots of passes, and plenty of fails.  My thoughts went back to my first leadership position as a big sister. 🙂

    Sisters LoriSometimes, my little sister, Lori would follow me around playing ‘Copycat’.  Remember that annoying childhood game where people followed you around; often one-step behind you, repeating every word you said, copying move you made? Lori used to drive me crazy doing this!  Thankfully, we’ve grown up and now have a great relationship! {Don’t we look cute together now 🙂 }  As a “big sister” I hope I’ve given Lori more good examples to follow than bad ones!  No matter how small your leadership role may seem, it will have a huge impact because

    Leadership Leads…Good or Bad!

    RECOGNIZING YOUR REACH

    Sometimes we minimize the effect our leadership has in the home, school, court, field, rink, church or place of employment.  Whenever God has elevated you to a place of leadership, people are going to follow in your footsteps—It’s a scary thing!

    A friend once said to me,

    “I was forced to go to church and I won’t put my kids through that.
    I don’t want them to be forced to live what I believe but to be able to choose for themselves.”

    Since she never took her kids to church, they simply followed her lead and have seldom gone to church because they were never given another option to choose from.  Failure to give guidance is, in fact, leading, since it causes people to blindly follow your example and not know why.

    [tweetthis]You’re leading, even when you try not to lead. #leadership [/tweetthis]

    leadership leads pinterest

    Our leadership in life is followed,
    much more than we recognize.

    Today’s verse comes from the book of Jeremiah.  In his time, many of the prophets weren’t leading well. They weren’t proclaiming God’s word to the people, but instead speaking what they knew the people wanted to hear, so they would keep following them… following them down the wrong path.

    These false prophets were sharing a watered-down message with false hopes that led the people to be disappointed in God; causing them to turn away from Him. Jeremiah had to swim against the tide of his time as their poisonous message,

    “spread throughout the land”.

    Leadership was difficult for Jeremiah, but he knew his responsibility was to clear the path for others, so they could follow the right way; because

    [tweetthis]Leadership Leads… Good or Bad #leadership[/tweetthis]

    So, what’s going to spread in the future as people follow you?

    Prayer

    Father… I’m overwhelmed when I recognize that you have given me such influence in my world.  Help me to be wise with my words and actions so that my life impacts others to know and love you more! May others follow your plans for their lives as they see me chasing after the destiny you’ve set before me. In Jesus name…Amen

    wod retreat 2019I WILL RISE
    Women’s Connection Conference

    https://womensconnection.ca/events/conference

    If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join us
    Don’t forget to sign up for the Leadership Panel}.

    Drawing From The Well

    1. Ephesians 1:5
    2. Hebrews 13:7
    3. James 3:1
    4. 1 Timothy 4:12
    Soul H2O BookIf you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

     

    #Dare2Share
    Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!

    Other posts about my journey with John C. Maxwell, the JMTeam, or John’s Books:
    John C. Maxwell And God Want You To Be A Talent-Plus Person
    Mentored to Lead by John C. Maxwell

     

    WHERE YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP MY BLOG WITH OR PLACES WHERE MY WRITING HAS BEEN FEATURED

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  • Mentored to Lead by John C. Maxwell

    John MaxwellWOW!  I’m just re-reading this post and blown away at how many dreams I’ve chased down in the past 7 years!!!
    Since writing this post in 2014, I joined the John Maxwell Team of Speakers, Trainers and Coaches in 2016.  I even got to meet John Maxwell and talk to him for a few brief moments {pinch me… is this real}.  I hope reading this inspires you to chase after your dreams.  If you’re interested in finding out more about the John Maxwell Team or the Online Leadership University I’m a part of, just email me from my Contact Page, I’d love to tell you how much it’s benefitted me.

    THE START OF MY LEADERSHIP JOURNEY

    Sisters Lori & I
    The first pictures mom had done of Lori & I. Sadly most of our childhood photos, taken in clothes made by mom, have water damage from a basement flood. Lori was seriously the cutest baby!

    The birth of my little sister Lori changed my life 🙂
    At the age of two, with the event of Lori’s birth,  I became a leader and I’ve taken my role seriously.
    You can read about that in my #soulh2o blog post on Leadership Leads…Good or Bad for more on that story but let’s just say that I didn’t just become a bossy big sister for nothing! Ha!
    By my teenage years, I was involved in leadership positions at church and in school.  During my years at College: I was was a TV Show Co-host, ran a field ministry team, led a missions trip, was a youth pastor n two towns, preached at a small-town church, was the third-year class president… Seriously, the list goes on and on.  I recognized from a young age that God made me a leader and saw repeatedly how He strategically placed me in leadership roles.  As this understanding and finally accepting of his calling grew, I desired to be the best leader I could be… wherever I served.

    MY MENTORSHIP BY JOHN C. MAXWELL

    I’ve read so many books, magazines, and articles on leadership.  The Bible is a huge resource for leadership training.  Following Jesus model for servant-leadership is the biggest lesson to learn from the Bible.  I’ve learned to lead with the mentorship of John Maxwell–even though we’ve never met!  I’ve read a bunch of his books, listened to more on CD and through Audible or Scribd.  I love watching his videos and have been blessed to attend events where he’s been the keynote speaker.

    John C. Maxwell book Laws of GrowthEvery time I read a book by John C. Maxwell it takes me forever to get through it!
    There’s so much helpful information
    that most pages are covered with highlights and notes in the margin!

    I’ve begun something that has kind of built into a tradition.  I tend to buy a John C. Maxwell book on leadership at Airport stores and read the book on my vacation or speaking event.   Todd and I both love reading and always bring books on holidays.  Todd feels like he’s reading two books each vacation because I’m not really good at keeping things to myself when I learn something new or if something inspires me…  I’m compelled to share the treasures I find!
    This became really clear to me as I began to write this post.   I went to my bookcase to find what books I have of John Maxwell’s and could only find two books and 2 Books on CD.  I can’t keep his stuff because as soon as I read it I want to share it and sometimes when you share a book, you never get it back 🙂  I just hope the recipients pass them along too!
    Right now my John C. Maxwell Stock Consists of:

    • Talent Is Never Enough
      Discover The Choices That Will Take You Beyond Your Talent
    • 25 Ways To Win With People
      How To Make Others Feel Like A Million Bucks
    • The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth
      LIVE THEM and Reach Your Potential

    …and my most recent purchase at the Choice Books in the Detroit Metro Airport :

    • How Successful People Lead
                 Taking Your Influence To The Next Level

    Aren’t you inspired just by reading the Titles and Sub-Titles?  I am.  Reading anything on leadership energizes me! I recently put John C. Maxwell’s book apps on my phone for the last two books on the list.  The apps have a listing of quotes from the books on them that you can share on social media.  There’s a bunch of other features on each of the apps that are helpful in goal setting too.  Great Leadership tools!
    As you can see, I am Mentored to Lead by John Maxwell!  One day, Lord willing, I will get to attend his Equip Leaders Course, meet him and let him know!  Hey, you gotta let a girl dream 🙂
    http://www.johnmaxwell.com
    John Maxwell’s Online Bookstore Click Here!
     



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