(This is a little test of sorts that applies to the team I lead in Springfield. It will certainly give clarity on who reads the bosses’ blog—and really, if the leader of your team blogged fairly regularly wouldn’t you want to read that? I thought it might also be a useful idea to others seeking to make a difference in the world, so I decided I’d post it as a blog article for you, and a test for my team.)

Next Tuesday is the first Driveline meeting of 2011. (For those who aren’t on our local team, Driveline is the name of our monthly team training meeting. It comes from the fact that the driveline is what transfers the power (ideas, concepts, principles, truths, values) from the engine (that’s me) to the rear wheels (that’s where traction occurs—–no smart remarks about front wheel drive please—its where the work gets done; you might say “where the rubber meets the road.”).

In preparation for Driveline I’d like for you to pause and write down all of the things you “shipped” in 2010. Shipping is what Linchpins do, so I know you’ve shipped. I’d just like for you to capture what you’ve shipped and share it with us on Tuesday.

My guess is that when you see what you have shipped in black-and-white, ink-on-paper, it will provide great clarity and energy so you can ship more, better, faster, in 2011.

With the new year upon us it might be helpful to ponder this maxim: the best way to predict the future is to create it.

I was reading in Proverbs today, something I try to do everyday–you know there is a chapter of Proverbs for every day of the month–and I pray for wisdom. In chapter 18, verse 18 it says “Casting the lot settles disputes, and keeps strong opponents apart.”

Some observations:

1. It’s not about who is right or who is wrong, winning or losing, its about deciding. There may be a clear right or wrong. There may be many shades of gray. Or it may just be a mess that we can’t really untangle. Whichever the case, the “issue” has everybody frozen. All forward motion has ceased, and when the herd isn’t moving forward the individuals in it tend to stand around and pick on each other. The objective is to move forward, and the rendering of a decision—right, wrong, offensive to all or none—at least gets it over and allows everyone to move on. I’ve won cases and I’ve lost them. The important thing is they are in my past.
2. Casting the lot doesn’t really require much skill. You just have to roll the dice, or flip the coin. In ancient thought there was the idea that God controlled how the lot fell, and certainly I think He could, and sometimes does, but I also think that sometimes the lot just falls the way it falls. It is not ours to control how the lot falls, it’s ours to cast it—to make the decision—so that everyone can get unstuck and move forward.

Personally, I get stuck sometimes. I want to win. Particularly when I am sure I am right. And, I try not to get “at issue” with someone unless I think its a big deal and I am sure I am right. Sometimes I even want to punish someone, because frankly, I think they deserve punishment and I can even create a very valid Biblical argument that well justifies our meting out punishment to an erring brother.

My guess is that many people get sucked into this quagmire of right and wrong and punishment. And that’s rarely the point.

We’d all be better off if we could let go of winning and losing, of right and wrong, and focus instead on making the decision that allows everyone to move forward. Forward motion holds the reward. Whether they like it or not, Wisdom moves people forward.

Cast the lot. Settle the dispute. Make the decision. Say “Earl, you pay me to give you advice. Should I give you advice that will make you angry, or only advice that you want to hear?” If he says he doesn’t want advice that will anger him, that’s forward motion. You have now discovered someone who should not be your client. YOU can move on! But if Earl says he’s willing to hear, then tell him it’s time for him to move forward and not waste time and energy on what happened back there. “Settle the dispute” in his MIND. That may be the only place it exists. The opposing party may not even know there is an issue.

Ultimately, the best thing you can do for a client is provide them leadership that gets them unstuck and moving forward!

Non-profit leaders depending on donations to fund their work need to become more skilled at telling their story—the stories of the people they are helping. That is my conclusion after about……oh, 5 seconds of thought on the subject. It came to my mind because I’ve given to a number of ministries and efforts over the years, and never heard much from them afterward.

Oh, I got put on their mailing list and got an occasional newsletter or magazine, and that’s fine. But you see, I really would like to be involved. I’d really like to be on the front line engaging the people who are being helped. But time, and geography, and commitments, and age, and generation gap, and………….well, you know…..all those things tend to keep me from many of the front lines. But that doesn’t mean I am not interested. I am!!!!

I could be all wet here, so don’t take this idea to the bank. But consider whether it might be right. If you lead a non-profit that’s making a difference in the world, you need to capture the stories and tell them often.

Capturing means get the story in video and print, then put it in a format that you can distribute it. Don’t just format it once. Tell the same story from several different points of view. Hire four writers to take the take and write their stories. Hire four video producers to write and edit the story the way they think it needs to be presented. You might be amazed what will come from that one story.

Hey, even Jesus needed His story told from four points of view. Why would you think it is enough to tell your story from one perspective?

Often means don’t just put it out there and be done, distribute it in video, then on You Tube, then in print through a fund raising letter, then in your magazine or newsletter.

If you had a good story of one person you had helped, but you had it on video or in print written four different ways, and then you could distribute it on You Tube, and in your newsletter, and in your fund raising letter, and in your blog, and on your podcast. Well…….I’m sure that somebody who got better grades than my “D” in statistics could figure it out, but I think that the equation I produced above yields 20 different “story products.”

Unfortunately, many leaders / speakers / teachers think “Well, I told them that last time, so I can’t tell them again. I’ve got to say something new.” No. Not so much. Tell them the same story over and over, only from a slightly different perspective.

I’m reminded of the old preacher who preached the same sermon three Sundays in a row. Finally, exasperated the deacons approached him and said “Preacher, you’ve said the same thing three Sundays in a row. We’d like something different next week.” To which the Parson replied, “When you start doing what I’ve been preaching, we’ll switch to the next sermon. But for now, we’re going to keep preachin’ this one until you get it.”

I like that.

I want to give. I really do. But, first I want to see the difference you are making. And since I can’t be there live and in person, you’ve got to tell me the story.