Always a Return on Time Invested
I’ve posted in the past about the peer learning group I’m a part of we call the Chicago 7 (click here for my post on its purpose and benefits). This week we finished one of our semiannual meetings and once again I walked away challenged, encouraged, inspired and thankful for such great friends and the time we have together.
We studied two books simultaneously – What to Ask the Person in the Mirror by Robert Steven Kaplan (look for my post on Sunday for a review of this great book) and the biblical book Philippians. The combination created powerful moments of dialogue between the seven of us.
The following are a few of the statements made during our dialogues I recorded in my journal. They provide a glimpse into the topics and tone of our discussions.
“Through their life every leaders telling a story of what they value”
“Affirm the virtue in the values of people today but discern the vulnerability of those same values.”
“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” Ken Blanchard
“Mentoring is internal, coaching is external.”
“Opportunity dances with those who are already on the dance floor.” Jackson Brown
“Many things we perceive as problems to be solved are really polarities to be managed.”
As a result of these discussions I always end up with a long list of “to do’s” for myself and for SpringHill. These “to do’s” spring from the ideas shared by others, new learning’s I’ve encountered or simply the new insights into issues I currently face.
So every time I walk away from a Chicago 7 meeting I’ve grown and SpringHill’s benefited. It’s one of the best “return on time investments” I make each year.
Never Underestimate the Power of a Team
Today I had the privilege of facilitating a discussion on the subject of teams with the staff of Workplace Chaplains, U.S. during their annual retreat at Young Life’s Timberwolf Lodge in northern Michigan.
This diverse and committed team of professionals provided such a lively and inspiring discussion about teams that I thought you’d appreciate some of their insights.
To the question “What’s the advantages of being a team?”
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”
“It refines you as a person – ‘iron sharpens iron'”
“Provides discipline and accountability”
“Teams are better image bearers of God than individuals”
To the question “What’s the qualities of a great team?”
“Raise people up to another level”
“Teammates trust each other”
“Unselfish teammates”
“Share a common goal”
“Win”
This team described “the types of people who make up great teams”
“Dedicated to the team”
“Committed to a shared goal and mission”
“Loyal, love and respect each other”
“Elevate people around them”
“Prepared to perform and ever improving”
“Intensity and strong work ethic”
“Self aware and coachable”
Finally we discussed the work of Patrick Lencioni found in his book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team which provides the following outline for creating a great team:
- Trust
- Constructive conflict
- Commitment
- Accountability
- Attention to Results
As you can see from our notes we had a great time together and one I pray will make a difference in their work and in the lives of the people they serve.
By the way if you’re responsible for the care and development of people in an organization you need to consider Workplace Chaplains whose mission is to “partner with client companies to provide care, counsel, and crisis management services for their employees from a Christian perspective.” You will be providing a great service to your people and helping to improve the performance of your organization.
Why I’m Still in School
Wednesday mornings this school year I’ll be in class finishing up my MA in Ministry Leadership. I’m not sure I’m the oldest student in class but, if I’m not, I’m certainly near the end of the age curve.
Which is no big deal, but it has caused me to think…
Or when I’m doing homework – reading many pages of theology or writing papers – instead of let’s say, steelhead fishing or working on house projects, I’ve thought more than once….
Why am I doing this?
But it doesn’t take long to fill in the blanks, because I’ve always known the answer.
It’s simply because I love to learn. It’s one of my personal core values.
That’s why I read what I read, it’s also why I’m occasionally taking up new hobbies and it’s why I’ve committed myself to finishing this portion of my education.
I believe learning’s a lifelong pursuit because God and the people and the world He’s created are His gifts to us and the best way to appreciate these gifts (and Him) is to continually learn more about them.
Also, truth be told, I’m a bit afraid of growing stale. I’ve convinced myself that if I continue to pursue learning I can stop the cobwebs from gathering and keep my mind and spirit young even as my body grows old.
Then there’s the stewardship God’s given me here at SpringHill. One of our core values is “we’re a learning and mission-driven organization”. So if this value’s to be a part of the fabric of SpringHill it needs to start with me. We can only be “a learning organization” when I’m “a learning leader”.
So why am I still sitting in a classroom? Well, for all the reasons above and, simply, I just can’t help myself.
Creation’s Calling
When this blog posts I’ll be in one of my favorite spots in the world for a week of fishing with two groups of friends at Camp Anjigami in northern Ontario.
Besides the great friends and the very cool lodge I’m staying at, the opportunity to be out in “God’s creation” reaches my soul in ways I’m never quite able to express nor do other environments seem to do.
To live, even for a few days, in a wilderness setting reminds me of the vastness of our world and the greatness of the God who created it, providing perspective I’m so prone to lose while running hard through my daily life.
When I’m in the wilderness I experience God first hand. The theologians call creation “general revelation” because God’s character’s revealed in it. This explains why the purer and more pristine the wilderness setting the more I sense God directly and why my soul so loves and needs it.
So this week…
when I’m looking at the stars on a clear night that burn so brightly they reflect off the glassy lake creating the illusion that there are two skies…
or I smell the sweetness of the forest filled with freshly fallen leaves and spruce trees…
or listen to the sound of rushing water…
or, as I’ll work so hard to do, hold an incredibly beautiful brook trout in my hand for just a few moments…
I’ll have experienced God in a life transforming way.
And then I’ll be ready to return to the regular life I’m called to, better for having taken time in God’s creation.
Focused Freshmen Bulldogs
Andrea and Christina This past weekend was quite significant for our family. Denise and I dropped off our daughter, Christina, for her first year at Butler University where she’s in the Jordan College of Fine Arts majoring in Dance Performance.
We did all the typical tasks one does when dropping off a child at college. We put her room together, met and spent time with her new roommate Andrea, toured campus, attended events designed to welcome students and their families and went to the bookstore so I could buy a Butler hat.
During a “meet and greet” of department faculty, Denise, Christina, Andrea and I talked with one particular Ballet professor who asked Andrea “what’s your major?”
“Pharmacy” answered Andrea.
To which the professor said “well you will not seeing Christina during the day because she’ll be training.”
Andrea smiled and didn’t respond; she must have had that look that said “really, dancing all day long?” because the professor added…
Andrea and Christina embracing being Bulldogs “You see, if you want to be a professional you have to be fully committed, you can’t work at it part-time just like you cannot work at being a pharmacist part-time. There’s no part-time training; one has to be fully committed full-time to achieve such a goal.”
I’ve replayed this conversation in my mind since that meeting and I’m convinced that what this professor said is absolutely true. Whether you are pursuing a career in the arts or the sciences, to become a true professional requires more than just a part-time effort.
The realization then set in – Christina and Andrea’s room will be one focused place for the months to come because these two women have serious goals of becoming professionals in their competitive fields. What a gift…to have such focus at the age of 18.
Already Looking Forward to My Next Birthday
My birthday couldn’t have been better. I spent it in a little cabin on a small island filled with wild blueberry bushes in the center of a lake in the middle of nowhere fishing for speckled trout and walleye with my three sons (the only place better for a birthday might be heaven).We were on our annual fishing trip to Camp Anjigami and their Ogas outpost cabin in northern Ontario. As I sat down for breakfast on the morning of my birthday I couldn’t have been more content and blessed as I ate wild blueberry pancakes prepared by my sons while looking ahead to a day of trout fishing.
In reality this trip’s become a significant part of my life and one of the highlights of the Perry men’s year. It’s an annual ritual where we hang out, have fun, talk about life and experience God’s creation together – just the four of us. There’s really no other reason to make this trip each year.
But there are three other benefits that I count as a bonus:
First it provides a brief but needed change of pace after the intensity of 9 weeks of summer camp.
Second, I always find perspective being disconnected and away from the normal events of life while spending time with my sons.
Finally, there’s no other setting where I sense the presence of Christ in my life more than when I’m in His creation, away from it all. It spiritually nourishes my soul in a way that no other place does.
So as I read the words I’ve just written I realize that as long as we can plan this trip over my birthday I’ll always look forward to growing a year older.
Inspiration from Our 14-year-old Son’s Game Film Evaluation
“Dad can you take a look at this? I watched our basketball game against McBain and evaluated how I did” said our son Jonathan as he handed me a yellow pad of paper covered with notes about how he played (see photo).As I looked closer it amazed and frankly impressed me that our 14-year-old son had taken the time to evaluate his performance with a level of detail and honesty I rarely see in most adults.
His evaluation included tallying how often he used each hand, charting his shots, keeping track of his “good passes” verses “bad passes”, his “hustle” compared to “lazy” plays and finally my favorite “good defense” verses “bad defense.”
In addition to the fact that Jonathan evaluated his entire game and not just his offensive output he also measured himself against a high performance standard. He’s clearly not satisfied with his play and wants to see where and how he can improve.
Since his game film evaluation Jonathan’s been at the gym every day, he’s watched a number of basketball videos and he’s even read a book about Pistol Pete Maravich. He’s committed to becoming better because he now sees where he can improve and has the vision and energy to do so.
As I’ve watched Jonathan over the last month I couldn’t help but reflect on the importance of regular and thorough self-evaluation in my work, family life, relationships and community involvement.
This reflection led to an evaluation of my own where I ask myself “what more could God do through me if I might only follow the example of my 14-year-old son who simply wants to be a better basketball player?”
There’s Just No Solo Climbing in This Life
This summer one of our Day Camp teams faced the challenge of assuring a young camper with Cerebral Palsy could participate in all the activities (a goal we have for all our campers).The biggest of these activity challenges turned out to be our climbing wall.
You see because of this camper’s condition he had no use of his legs and little strength in his arms, both of which are essential to successfully scaling a wall.
Our staff knew the situation demanded a creative solution if this camper would have the thrill of climbing the wall and ringing the bell at the top.
The team didn’t dismiss the problem with an “it just can’t be done” or “we guess God didn’t intend this camper to have this experience” kind of response. No, our team stayed with it until they found a way – a way which turns out, in hindsight, to being an obvious solution to the problem.
So they put harnesses on the camper and two of our staff, one staff member on the left side of the camper and one on his right. Then as the camper placed his hands on the rock holds our staff carried him up to the top.
When the bell rang out for everyone to hear our team knew a couple of special things just happened. First this camper experienced the thrill and satisfaction of reaching the top of the wall and ringing the bell. Second, everyone learned an important lesson – that we all need help from God and others if we’re to succeed in the life God’s given us.
The truth is there’s just no solo climbing in this life if we’re to reach the place God’s created for us and become the people He’s created us to be.
The Significant Difference Between Critique and Criticism
Over the last year I’ve attempted through trial and error to improve my photography. I’ve been using a Canon Rebel mostly on auto focus because I didn’t know a thing about the camera nor very little about shooting a quality photograph.I’ve read the camera’s manual as well as a photography book in an attempt to improve. As a result I knew just enough to be dangerous but not enough to be better.
What’s worse the reading and practice had given me a false sense of confidence in what I thought I knew and could do. So in hopes of making some improvement I decided to sit in on a training session for our summer photographers and videographers facilitated by Chris duMond from our marketing firm DesignVox.
The key learning element required us to shoot photos of people at camp, picking our best ones and sharing them with the group. The group then critiqued our photos by having each person provide something they liked and something to improve.
As the team reviewed my photo (the one above) I realized critique was the missing piece in my attempts to become a better photographer. If I was going to improve I needed input and perspective from others, especially those experienced in photography.
I also thought about the positive impact critique can have in other areas of my work and personal life. Critique, as Chris pointed out, is different from criticism. Critique builds up where criticism tears down. Criticism comes from people who’ve never done the work (think film critic) while critique comes from people who’ve been in the same place doing the same kind of work. Critique’s helpful criticism’s judgmental.
So if your desire’s to improve some aspect of your work or personal life, find others who’ve accomplished what you’re attempting to accomplish and ask them to provide you some critique. It may be just what you need to become better. Click here to see some of the other photos I shot.
“On Any Given Day”
“One game. If we played ’em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can! Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world.” Herb Brooks in the movie Miracle
This past weekend there were regional track meets across the state of Michigan and our third child, Mitch a freshman at Northern Michigan Christian, participated in his first running the 200m, 400m and the 800m relay.
He’s had a good season, one where he had some success but also learned a lot. Coming into regionals he knew he’d be battling against older, more experienced runners and he was also recovering from the flu he had earlier in the week.
So needless to say he wasn’t brimming with confidence as Saturday approached.
I told him two things in an effort to combat his dwindling confidence –
First, I told him that all he could do was to give it his best and if he did his mom and I would be proud of him no matter what place he received.
And second, I told him that state qualifying wasn’t determined by what happened during the season but what happened in the regional meet. The only day that mattered was Saturday. I wanted him to know that on any given day anything can happen.
Now I can’t report that the day ended for Mitch like it did 30 years ago for the 1980 USA Hockey Team. It wasn’t that “given day” but I can say that Mitch gave it his best and more importantly as we talked on the way home he shared his new-found vision of what his future regional meets could look like and what it’ll take to achieve that vision.
And as it turns out, that talk on the ride home was his best performance of the season.
