Tuesday at 2:00pm with Russ

It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)

LEADERSHIP QUOTES

I'm going to spend a few weeks looking at some great quotes. Over the past few weeks we've looked at quotes from Genghis Khan, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ghandi and Steve Jobs. You can read these posts HERE.

The format for this season is the following:

#1) LEADERSHIP QUOTE: I'm going to share a quote with you. I'd like to encourage you to think about it, respond to it, process it. You can stop here, or go to Section 2.

#2) A LITTLE BIT DEEPER: I'm going to share a couple of thoughts that come to my mind when I think about the quote. Just a short reaction from me. You can stop here, or go to Section 3.

#3) DEEPER STILL: I'm going to share something I've found from someone else: A quote, some tips, a challenge, a thought....

#4) RUSS' LIST: I'll continue to share some links, ideas, books or products that I think some of you might benefit from.

Russ

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Do not be afraid of work that has no end." Avot de Rabbi Natan

What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I was on a walk this week, finishing an audio book by Scott Harrison called THIRST. He shared this quote from Avot de Rabbi Natan, and I stopped in the road to write it down.

As I've been thinking about it over the past few days, its stirred some interesting thoughts.

Harrison used it in referring to his work with Charity:Water, and the idea that there would always be a water crisis, so his work would never be finished.


For me, I work in the Leadership Coaching space, and as long as there are leaders, there is a demand for the work I do and for the communities I create.

While this is great in from a "job security" perspective, it brings up some questions around purpose, sustainability, and focus.

Here's my question for you: The work that you have been called to, is there an end? Are you working towards a "magic number"? Will you work until you hit a certain age then step out? How are you motivated when your job seems endless?

DEEPER STILL:


There's a passage of scripture found in Colossians 3 that says this:

"...and don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work." (MSG)

We were created to work, not only for our benefit, but for His glory.

It's easy to get lost in our work and what we're able to accomplish. As I continue to think about this quote, I'm challenged to work harder, to work better and to work smarter. I'm also encouraged to put everything I have into my work, which is the work that God has created me for and called me to. I'm not doing it for myself, but for Him.

There is purpose in everything I do, even when it seems that I'm not making a difference.


I don't want to be critical of my work, of having to do things that aren't fun or don't seem productive. I instead want to shift my focus on WHY I'm doing the work and clearly see the impact, the results and more importantly, the lives that are being changed.

What about you?

 

Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:

Source: www.leadermundial.org