It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
Greetings to you!
Each week I send out a short leadership blog that's called "Tuesday at 2:00pm". The purpose of this is simply to provide a brief thought on leadership that you can read and think about in just a few minutes. I send it out every week at 2:00pm (PST) and encourage you to make an appointment with yourself to pause and think about the thing I'm writing about.
Russ...
LEADERSHIP QUOTE:
"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do." Steve Jobs
What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.
A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:
This month I want to look at some words from the late Steve Jobs. While much of his life was focused on building Apple, he has a lot to say about leadership, culture and perseverance.
Jobs was a disrupter.
Over the years, I've read a number of books on his life and leadership, and watched a couple of movies & documentaries on him, and they all tell the story of him as a disrupter.
He never liked people telling him that he couldn't do something, and when he got an idea in his head, he was relentless in his pursuit of it. While this characteristic was a difficult one to manage and work with, he was able to do things that no one ever dreamed were possible.
People called Jobs "crazy" in his pursuit of innovation and in his desire to impact the world, yet today, more than 2 billion people are actively engaged with Apple products.
Jobs believed that he and his company could change the world, and he lived his life in constant pursuit of that and even following his death in 2011, others continue to carry the vision that he began.
Changing the World. That's a crazy goal!
What would it take for you to believe that you can change the world? What are you doing about that?
DEEPER STILL:
I don't know about you, but I'm inspired by people who set out to do something significant, and they then achieve some level of success and impact.
I too want to be a part of changing the world, and while I might not be creating the next life-altering technology, I do play in the "life-change business".
There are so many people that I can recognize in my life and circle who are "world changers". They are people who wouldn't take no for an answer, people who we're afraid of taking risks, people who others looked at as "completely crazy", yet they persevered and kept going, and the result was huge impact and influence.
I'm reminded of Jesus and the small group of people he gathered around himself. His model was effective...
Spend some time building relationships, doing life, casting vision and building purpose
Equip them to lead, build self-confidence in them and teach them to multiply
Challenge them with an impossible task to change the world
Then, step back and let them go, while at the same time, being a constant presence, support and hope.
And then they did it.... they changed the world and what Jesus started is still continuing today.
I think that Jobs quote can mean many different things to us, but to me, I'm reminded that if I'm called to do something great, it doesn't matter what others might say or think. I can be a part of changing the world, especially if Jesus is working in me and through me.
Think of something you've accomplished that others thought was impossible... How did that make you feel?
Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:
I love this version of Eric Clapton's "Change the World" on YouTube.
Gina and I just finished a pretty crazy flight itinerary on American Airlines. I've been an elite member of the Advantage Program since 1998, and even when flights go crazy, there's something very familiar about an airline and knowing how things work. Thank you American for years of great flights, and some not so great ones.
I finally finished the series on Apple, Franklin with Michael Douglas. I had never heard this part of the revolutionary war story, and while it might not be 100% accurate, it was interesting to watch and learn!
If you want to connect with other leaders who are changing the world, check out Leader Mundial (Global Leadership). In 2024 & 2025, Leader Mundial will host Summit Events in Ecuador, South Africa, Philippines, Kazakstan and in the United States. Men & Women from around the world will gather to join a Community of Leaders and will be equipped, encouraged and connected. Contact me for more information!
I'm reading this book by Peter Greer, The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good. Some great ideas from a 10-year old book that I missed somehow!