Becoming a Leader by Living Second takes the faithful following and serving of others first… Many of us think that in order to be a leader we must also carry a title.  Titles in fact mean very little in the business world as they no longer garnish you with guaranteed respect or esteem they once may have. We all know someone in our life that carries a title of manager or lead yet could not find their way out of a wet paper sack. Leadership requires others to become followers, not followers in the sense that they worship the ground you walk on per se hang on every word you might speak.  Followers as in those that look to you for guidance, as a decision maker and one that will steer them straight. Many times a leader is the quiet one that sits in the back of the room.  They may even be the sarcastic one that comes across a bit callous or rude.  These are the people who know exactly where they are going, they reek of confidence and whether they like it or not (usually not at least at first) they make others want to follow wherever they might be going. The silence exudes authority and intelligence and the sarcasm a quick wit and raw honesty.  We all know who these leaders are, sometimes long before they ever do. Although they may shirk titles and wish to remain anonymous, their morals, values and character generally shine through. When you are at peace with your […]

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Everyone that is a Christian understands the Cross …right? Since Pentecostal Sunday there has been a journey towards the Cross that has shaken my core into a new brokenness.  We, as Christians make the sign of the cross at church, when we pray all without thinking of its power.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Spirit that crosses our hearts and sets us on fire. Spending a few days in the hills of Georgia serving thousands of other Christians spreading His love and word at our annual trip to AtlantaFest at Stone Mountain can bring anyone to their knees.  Between the Christian artists, speakers and guests there were moments of profound brokenness and healing that all were directed toward the Cross.  Through pain, joy, tears and repenting, lives were changed and redemption found. Starting with singer Matt Maher on opening night describing how broken people can be saved by the healing power of Christ and how broken hearts can be mended by taking our sins to the Cross.  The theme continued throughout the festival, from artist like R3D, Thousand Foot Krutch, Rhett Walker Band to Kari Jobe there were four days of phenomenal worship and testimonies of healing. Professor and Apologist Ergun Caner broke it all down in a real ‘honest’ way describing how a Muslim was saved by one person that showed him the way to the Cross.

Best selling author Jon Gordon returns with his latest book The Carpenter: A Story About the Greatest Success Strategies of All that is bound to inspired readers and audiences around the world.  Jon has been a consultant for  numerous NFL, NBA, MLB coaches and teams, Fortune 500 companies, school districts, hospitals and non-profits.  He has nine previous books many of which are best sellers and his tenth book The Carpenter is sure to follow in the same path. From the author of The Energy Bus and The No Complaining Rule comes another heartfelt leadership story we can all learn from and relate to.  In The Carpenter, Jon takes us on a journey with the main character Michael who wakes up in a hospital bed bandaged up on the outside burdened with fear and a heavy heart on the inside. Like many people who try to take on the world and build a business on their own, the stress and anxiety finely got the best of Michael on his morning jog. Fortunately as Michael tumbles to the ground collapsing with he is seen by a stranger who comes to aid and possibly saves his life.  His doctor stresses that he needs to slow down and take it easy for a while. Remember, life gives us warnings for a reason. Learn from this. Do things differently. Click To Tweet As Michael tries to heed the doctors warnings and his wife’s pleads to take it easy he begins to go stir crazy.  While sitting in front of the TV one day he […]

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