This book has been on my to read list forever – finally picked it up after Christmas.The book is by Andy Stanley – who is the Senior Pastor at Buckhead Church. On top of recommending this book – I would highly recommend Andy’s Pod-casts. They’ll add a ton of value to your life. This was a great book – Here are some of my key takeaways:

• The two best kept secrets in Leadership are: 1.) The Less You do, the More you Accomplish 2.) The less you do the more you enable others to accomplish
• Being busy isn’t the same as being productive
• Leaders aren’t the first to see opportunity – they’re the first to sieze one
• Failure is part of success
• Your leadership will be judged

• You can’t hold people accountable for things that aren’t clear. People will follow you in spite of a few bad decisions, they will not follow you if you’re unclear in your instruction and cannot hold them accountable.
• You need a leadership coach – they’ll take your father – faster
• A good leadership coach will do everything in his power to close the gap between your potential and your performance.
• In your early years of your career – what you learn is far more important than what you learn. In most cases, what you learn early will determine what you earn later on.
• You can lead without character, but character is what makes you a leader worth following

There were so many more great truths in this book – hopefully that wetted your appetite enough to go out and buy this book. Every young leader should read this!

Final Grade: A    Buy it here

Dirty Little Secret from I am Revolution on Vimeo.

2009 is here! Time really doesn’t wait for anybody does it? I thought I’d do a fun post on things I’m looking forward to this year. Here we go:

1. Victory Family Church - I love my church and we’re touching a generation of people together – so excited to see what God does this year!
2. Revolution - This will be our first full year under the leadership of Pastor Nathan Hurst – so excited to see where God takes us through him! We have some amazing things planned for Rev!
3. 19 North - is going to double again this year and we’ll see the main sanctuary filled with twenty somethings who are passionately pursuing God and making an impact on the city of Pittsburgh – believe it!
4. Learning to Cook - Yes, you read that correctly. It is a goal of mine to learn to cook this year! Get ready!
5. The Pittsburgh Marathon - I’m running this with Chris Martin and Scott Dozier and Pastor Moore – it’s going to be a ton of fun and an amazing accomplishment!
6. The Marine Corps Marathon - I’m pretty sure this is going to be my fall marathon – Let me know if you’d be interested! It’s in October – training would start in May!
7. Vacation - Not really sure where I’m going to go this year – but I always enjoy time away!
8. Imparation Conference - Keith Moore, Doug Jones, and Rick Renner – does it get any better?
9. The 2nd Cadre Advance – I get to go to Atlanta to spend time with Jeanne Mayo again in May – so pumped!
10. Other Possible Conferences - so many I want to go to this year – Catalyst West Coast, Catalyst, Marriage Enrichment, Week of Increase… so many to choose from – so little time!
11. Personal Growth – another year means plenty of more reading and plenty of more listening to series/sermons – Love it!

Other than this – the year is full of possibilities – I’m so excited! It’s going to be the best year ever!!! Time to go watch USC – PSU play in the Rose Bowl…..Have a great first day of 2009!