Team Leadership

I heard a CD by John Maxwell, which talks about leadership. I was very challenged and encouraged by it.

John said that leaders orchestrate environments, environments impact behaviors, and behaviors determine the fate of the organization. He mentioned the following 10 questions leaders ask to create a winning environment. Here they are:

"Do I understand what it takes to be a team?"
"Are my expectations crystal clear?"
"Do my people understand why what we do is important?"
"Does my team define success with their customer?"
"Am I holding people accountable for their performance?"
"Do I seek out barriers and remove them to make the team's job easier?"
"Do I give people the freedom required to learn, grow, and deliver?"
"Do I foster a culture of inclusion by hiring people who are different than I am?"
"Am I a consensus builder?"
"Have I created a caring environment among team members?"

I think they are excellent questions, and leaders from all various organisations need to consider.

Faith

The Scriptures indicate that it's the pure in heart, rather than the big of brain, who will see God (Matthew 5:8), and Paul prays that his readers might have the 'eyes of their hearts opened,' (Ephesians 1:18).

I read that for Hebrew people, the heart was the place where you made decisions, the will, where you made choices. Jesus says further, "Whoever is willing to do what God wants will know whether what I teach comes from God...." (John 7:17).

We have a faculty beyond just the intellect, that has a moral or volitional element to it, and it's the moral dimension that is involved when we are about the business of knowing God.

In Romans 10:17, Paul tells us that "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of God.". Faith is not some kind of religious feeling that you woke up and if you have enough you can buy blessing from God; rather, it has to do with obedience to what God has revealed of Himself.

The Importance Of Being Earnest

If you live in Melbourne (or if you'd like to visit Melbourne), I'd like to invite you to see the show presented by Candlelight Production, the theatre company that I am part of:

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
~ The Complete Bunbury Experience ~
By Oscar Wilde
Performed at Chapel Off Chapel

Strictly limited return season as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival!

Oscar Wilde's hilarious comedy returns for the Comedy Festival! Jack and Algernon lead double lives in order to escape unwelcome social obligation, an activity they refer to as 'Bunburying'. Misunderstandings, outright lies, faked deaths and shocking revelations follow as they both try to appease lovers intent on marrying only a man who is 'Earnest'.

We invite you to experience not only the show but 'The Complete Bunbury Experience'. Escape with us into the world of the late 19th century by playing croquet, waltzing to live music, receiving etiquette and elocution lessons, and being served cucumber sandwiches by maids and butlers - and all before the show even begins! This inventive take, on a treasured classic, returns after sell-out performances in 2007. Come and experience what last year's audiences called "impeccably brilliant", "lavish" and "truly inspiring".

'The Complete Bunbury Experience' lasts 3 hours.

27 March – 6 April
Thurs – Sat 7:30pm, Sun 6pm
Tickets: $40 full, $30 concession and groups of 10+
Bookings: 03 8290 7000 or www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
Chapel Off Chapel
12 Little Chapel St
Prahran

Beijing Olympic Games

As I am sure you know, The China Olympic Games will be happening in Beijing in August this year. Beijing is an old city full of beauty and mystery, but time has visibly taken its toll over the centuries. With the successful bid to host the Olympics, the ancient town has taken steps towards revealing its historic glory to the world.

China is one of the oldest civilisations on the planet - and yet for many years has been a source of mystery and fascination for outsiders. China has more than 20% of the world's population, and is now opening up to the world in new ways. It will take centre stage for the whole world as host of the Summer Games of 2008.

It is a place with many wonders to see, a rich heritage to experience, a beautiful and diverse land to explore. It has warm people to meet and embrace, and is a place of possibility and opportunity.

As the motto of the China Olympics says, "One World, One Dream". I am looking forward to the historial moments in 6 months time.

Leadership & Habit

Food for Thought...
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.
I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.
I am at your command.
Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me,
For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.
I am easily managed; just be firm with me.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a
machine and the intelligence of a person.
You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.
Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me.
Lead me. Reward me.
And I will then...do it automatically.
I am your servant.
Who am I?
I am a habit.

(By Mac Anderson)

Into The Wild

I watched "Into The Wild" the other night, and found it an inspiring movie. Into The Wild talks about this young man who leaves his middle class existence in pursuit of freedom. He gives up his home, family, all possessions but the few he carried on his back and donating all his savings to charity. Then he embarks on a journey throughout America. His eventual aim is to travel into Alaska, into the wild, to spend time with nature, with 'real' existence, away from the trappings of the modern world.

In the 20 months leading up to his Great Alaskan Adventure his travels lead him on a path of self-discovery, to examine and appreciate the world around him and to reflect on and heal from his troubled childhood and parents' abusive relationship. When he reaches Alaska he finds he has been insufficiently prepared for the hardships to come. Despite making it through the winter his plan is ill-judged and prepares to return home in spring, only to find the stream he crossed in the snow has become an impassable raging torrent and that he is trapped. With no means of sustaining himself adequately he eventually dies in isolation.

I think this is a good and meaningful film that tells the truth, and I highly recommend watching it. I totally agree with this young man's tragic realisation before he died: "Happiness is only real when shared".

Let us all share our happiness!

Change Your World

You cannot change the world,
but you can present the world with
one improved person, yourself.
You can go to work on yourself
to make yourself into the kind of person
you admire and respect.
You can become a role model
and set a standard for others.
You can control and discipline yourself
to resist acting or speaking in a negative way
toward anyone for any reason.
You can insist upon always doing things the loving way
rather than the hurtful way.
By doing these things each day, you can
continue on your journey toward becoming
an exceptional human being.


Brian Tracy

The Answer To Absolutely Everything

I've received news that Matt Morris, Founder & CEO of Success University, which I am part of, has been featured in the latest major personal development movie!

The Answer To Absolutely Everything explores the fundamental questions of how to live a profoundly abundant and joyful life. When you watch this movie, you'll see many inspiring people who have overcome major adversities and realized their dreams... and I beleieve so can we all!

Dare to Dream BIG!