Everything rises and falls on Leadership – John Maxwell
The Parable of the Trees – Judges 9:7-15
Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them: “ Listen to me, you men of Shechem, That God may listen to you! “The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree,‘ Reign over us! ’ But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my oil, With which they honor God and men, And go to sway over trees? ’ “Then the trees said to the fig tree,‘You come and reign over us! ’ But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, And go to sway over trees? ’ “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us! ’ But the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine Which cheers both God and men And go to sway over trees? ’ “Then all the trees said to the bramble ‘You come and reign over us! ’ And the bramble said to the trees ‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you, Then come and take shelter in my shade; But if not, let fire come out of the bramble And devour the cedars of Lebanon!
Luke 6:43-45
“ For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
L – Lead (Simply put, go to the front of the line. Can’t lead from the back.)
Never say, “Our people won’t.” Only say, “We haven’t led them to….”
E – Excellence (Excellence is a “standard” of expectation.)
A – Attitude (Respect and Appreciation)
D – Develop
Develop the leader within you
Develop the leaders around you – John Maxwell
E – Environment (This is the atmosphere we grow in. You can either be in a
healthy environment or an unhealthy environment. Positive or Negative )
R – Repetitions (Repetition is the key to training.)
Contrasting Characteristics of a Bad Leader
L – Lead from the back. (Goat herder)
E – Elite-ness is more important than Excellence
A – Attitude of Disrespect and Negativity
D – Decider instead of Developer
E – Enterprise instead of Environment
R – Reputation instead of Repetition