I just got the news that a sharp promising Pastor of a California mega-church committed suicide.  

Now all that seems like an oxymoron unless you're a point leader -- especially if you're the point leader of a church.  

I'll be brief and simply say for now that Pastors and other Point Leaders suffer from a unique set of wounds that only other point leaders can understand.  

Most people play it safe and stay in the pack to cover their back side, but by definition a point leader climbs the hill first and therefore is exposed to the hazards in front of her/him in the heat of battle and also is more exposed to the judgment of those 'behind' her/him.  It is a crucible that magnifies small scrapes and can infect that scrape so that it becomes an oozing mass of pain and pussy nastiness.  

It's tough to fight the enemy you have out in front of you, the 'demons' within, and to take arrows from behind from a culture that 'needs' somebody to blame for their situation and it's usually the point leader nearest them that wears the target.  And, in America, that targeted one is often the lead pastor of a local church.  

So, I'm preparing to launch a new project aimed at helping Point Leaders become stronger from within and to know how to stay on mission despite the challenges that all 'Point Leaders' will face. [ the link won't be active for a while so if you want to be on the wait list please send me a message on FB Messenger at Jeff Fuson Motivation ] 

I'm seeking the advice of Point Leaders who are church planters who are now serving as lead pastors in the church that they've planted.  I'd love to talk with you if you fit that profile.  I've got some great things to give you for those of you who reach out and have a quick text conversation with me. [ and I promise not to sell you anything! ]. Just click here to share your advice please.  

Carey Nieuwhof just posted an excellent article that you may want to check out here.

If you are part of the 'rainmaker' tribe -- one of those who must change the world for the better somehow then you need -- no you MUST-- hear this talk.  It will help you make sense of the resistance that all rainmakers and change-bringers encounter.  It's universal and it helps to know how one of our tribe overcame it. 

Go make it rain!
Jeff

Remember that classic baseball song by John Fogerty called 'Centerfield'? Main lyric is 'put me in coach, I'm ready to play!'  What if you are your own coach?  

I'm constantly amazed of how many of my truly gifted and talented friends never step up to the plate and take a swing at living the life that they are truly called to.  I wonder to myself, what is that about and what is holding them back.  Sometimes I've been given the chance to speak into their lives and sometimes that makes all the difference -- and sometimes it just falls on deaf ears. 

I think it's about fear and doubt and wondering whether God is really out in front of them in their calling.  And, there are times when I'm stumped by the same tyrants and don't get into the batter's box and take my turn.  But, I do most of the time and sometimes it works out and I get the grand slam home-run to win the game -- but most of the time I get walked or hit by the ball or bunt.  And, most of the time I get on base and it's not that glamorous but I'm in the game.  And, sometimes I score the winning run.  [ sometimes I don't, but that's life ]

What about you, what if you just stepped into the batter's box more often?  What would happen if you simply took the chance?  A Major League Baseball Player is an All-Star if he hits the ball 3 times out of 10 at-bats.  Do you imagine that you could get up to the plate, give it all you've got and 'get on base' whatever that looks like in your industry?  That is, set 3 appointments out of ten calls made?  Make 3 sales out of ten prospect calls, etc?   Have 3 great talks out of ten given? 

The core challenge is that most of us never get into the batter's box at all.  We wait on the bench for a special hint or nudge or for the 'coach' to put us into the game -- an imaginary manager to see our value and sub us in.   For most of us, we are our own managers and we decide whether to put ourselves into the game or not.  We would rather 'ride the pine' and imagine that we would succeed if the imaginary 'coach' would just put us in the game instead of owning up the the reality that we are mostly managing our own game and can put ourselves in or bench ourselves.  That's a harsh reality, but today, what if you put yourself in and stepped up the plate and took a chance?  You may just wind up on base with a chance to score the winning run for yourself and your team. 

Be your own coach and put yourself in the game. 

BATTER UP!
All the Best,
Jeff

p.s.   By the way, I'll be posting a great talk about an ancient story about an unlikey 'big hitter' in the next few days.  Watch for that post coming up.