Catalyst Library

On more than one occasion, I’ve sat with people and listened as they described in detail how their lives are falling apart around them. As the tragedies unfold, I start to get depressed because honestly, I don’t see a way out. 

You probably hear this question all the time: “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”

If you are in an organization that is fear-driven and cannot effectively change the culture, you have to decide whether your calling is there or if you need to break free.

I am a leader who happens to be a woman. That’s all. My gender shouldn’t define my opportunities or my limitations. It shouldn’t dictate whether I’m a good leader or a bad one. It shouldn’t be the thing that holds me back from leading nor should it be an excuse for me to be given opportunities that I haven’t earned.

As I was finishing up one of my runs just the other day, rounding the last corner before the mile run was over, I was about to go into cruise control. The last 400 meters were going to be easy, I thought. I was a sizable distance behind the next runner, and… who cares? It’s just a run… I don’t have to win this.

The desire for creative team members has never been higher. As constraints grow for organizations, the importance of having people who can think differently grows exponentially. Finding creative people is difficult, but keeping them is even harder.

For years, my identity was self-defined. I defined myself by my work, my money, my status… and privately, I defined myself by my sexuality. Much of my life and focus was spent on those things and, thusly, trying to control how others perceived me.

As you step into this season of Thanksgiving, are you ready to show gratitude and to appreciate?

Most churches don’t have the resources necessary to field a full creative team. We all know that volunteers are the lifeblood of most of our ministries. So how do we promote creativity with our volunteers?