Here are some of the best things about 2009

Top Blog Posts according to You:

1.) What Makes a Great Teacher Part 4 – Bad Teachers

2.) Free from Sin, Addiction, and Bondage Part 2 – Enough is Enough

3.) Free from Sin, Addiction, and Bondage Part 7 – The Other Side

Top Blogs I Enjoyed Reading:

1.) Michael Hyatt

2.) Mark Batterson

3.) Zack Blair

Best thing I Started in 2009:

1.) P90X

Best Movies 2009:

1.) The Blind Side

2.) Sherlock Holmes

3.) Forever Strong

Best Books I read:

1.)Spiritual Leadership

2.) The Essential Wooden

3.) 25 Ways to Win with People

4.) It

5.) Put Your Dream to the Test

6.) Axiom

Best Videos:

This book was recommended to me by Pastor Nathan. I enjoyed this book, although at times I thought it was a bit dry. Jack Welch has some great insights on how to create a winning organization. I really enjoyed his thoughts on differentiation, hiring, getting promoted, work/life balance, and finding the right career. For where I am in my career right now some of the chapters were over my head such as acquisitions and mergers chapter, but I’m sure I’ll be able to come back to them in years to come and have them add value to my life.

I’d recommend reading this book – especially the chapters with the concepts I’ve mentioned above. I’ll definitely be implementing a lot of those practices into my own leadership.

Final Grade: 8.5 out of 10   Buy it here

Here were some of my big takeaways:

• I didn’t invent differentiation! I learned it on the playground when I was a kid.
• I believe you are never “too nice” to implement the 20-70-10, only too cowardly.
• Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself, when you become a leader, success is all about growing others.
• As a leader, building self-confidence is probably the most important things you can do.
• You’re not a leader to win a popularity contest – you’re a leader to lead.
• Learn from everyone. Best case scenario – all your people will be smarter than you. It doesn’t mean you can’t lead them.
• A winning company does not let good people walk out the door for lack of recognition, financial, or otherwise.
• Ideally, the star will be replaced within eight hours. This sends a message that no single individual is bigger than the company.
• When it comes to strategy, ponder less and do more.
• It can feel very noble to say that you don’t care about being rich; it’s another thing to live with that decision over the years. Especially as mortgages and tuition start to pile up.
• Working for some companies is like winning an Olympic medal. For the rest of your career, you are associated with great performance.
• Every job you take is a gamble that could increase your options or shut them down.
• The first and best way to get noticed in a company is with results
• You can have all the work-life balance you want to if you deliver.

This book was given to me by a mentor – I loved it! I really enjoy reading Rick Renner’s books. While this book is titled “Promotion – Ten Guidelines to Help You Achieve Your Long-Awaited Promotion”, it also serves as a great tool for scouting, recruiting, and hiring potential leaders. This book is basically a picture of what a Godly leader’s life should look like. I’m going to use this book on a consistent basis to evaluate my life, my leadership, and in evaluating our leaders in our ministry.

If you want to go into ministry, excel in your workplace as a Christian, or if you oversee anyone in any capacity, I’d make this book a must read for you! I hope you enjoy it!

Final Grade: 9.5/10      Buy it Here!

Here are some highlights:

• Jesus said when choosing someone for leadership, we are to consider the fruit in his life.

• Nothing should be done better than the way a Christian does it

• Any person who does just the required minimum should never be considered for leadership.

• You may be able to preach a good message, but if you can’t effectively communicate with your followers, you’ll never be able to build a church or an organization.

• Public ministry begins in a person’s private life

• Your influence is only as strong as your personal life

• Nothing is more powerful than a message backed up by a life

• If I am to be a good leader, I have to realize that my decisions affect many other people’s lives.

• If a person interrupts you, argues, and wants to defend himself, it’s usually a sign that he has a difficult time submitting to authority.

• Time is a great revealer of who people really are

• One of the marks of an upcoming leader is that they have already made themselves essential to the organization