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My Path to Me
Many leaders lack originality. One reason is that they’re learning from other great leaders, but often trying to reproduce what they see.
For years, I tried to emulate those I respected. I failed miserably.
God didn’t create me to be like others.
This week I’ll talk about my journey to “finding my voice” as a leader and speaker.
I’d suggest you study great spiritual leaders, read anointed authors, and talk with gifted friends. But don’t try to be them. God made them to do what they are doing. You’re created to do something else!
Don’t insult God by trying to do what He created someone else to do.
Be yourself.
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Amen, Amen, Amen… “My Path to Me” my love language, I preach this all the time “Do You!” What I have found is that sometimes you have to find your voice in each new arena, new environment or new role that you are in. I had to find my voice as a leader in corrections, politics, real estate, consulting and now ministry. It’s refreshing to be able to look back and reflect through the process of finding your voice.
Some voices are harder to find than others!
I love the idea of “find my voice,” and it’s an area God has been growing me in lately. I know when I listen to a particular preacher for awhile I start to subconsciously emulate their mannerism, voice inflection, and overall style. It’s never intentional, but nonetheless it prevents me from finding my voice. Maybe I need a sabbatical from all those sermon podcasts.
As a woman in ministry, this was especially difficult for me. There weren’t a ton of role models and frankly, I couldn’t really emulate any of them. Of the ones I saw, I had no glimpse into the inner workings of their lives as there were no books or blogs or podcasts yet!
I felt awkward for a long time because I just do not lead like the Maxwell leadership books talk about. That’s just not me. It’s not my gifting or personality.
@Kyle - seriously, I did take a sabbatical and the biggest thing I did was come face to face with me - good and bad. I realized there was something God created me for and I didn’t have to apologize anymore for leading in the way I was gifted to lead.
Now the challenge can be to lean into it and not look around comparing myself….
For years, I was taught that tapping into “my voice” and speaking it was selfish and it was better to “go with the flow.” Well…God’s word and time keeps changing this…I am finding out that embracing my quirky individuality and what God has created me to be as the best “selfish” and freeing thing I have ever done.
Totally feeling janowen’s comments. I have stopped apologizing for not being a “bells and whistles” children’s pastor and can say out loud that I’m okay with how God chose to annoint me. My style will never bring me fame, fortune, and maybe no one will ever want to emulate me but every kid that has ever been in my circle of influence KNOWS that I love them and care about their eternity. They trust me because I invest into their lives outside of Sunday morning. I think it’s so important in these last days before Jesus returns that we understand it takes all kinds of styles to reach all kinds of people and honesty, integrity and being real speak way louder than anything else. Be who God made you to be!
As young pastor it’s an easy out to try and copy what others are doing all the time. I have found exactly what you’re saying to be true. God has given me different gifts, talents and approaches to things. Keeping Him center of all and trying to find my most effective way to communicate and equip is what I am doing now.
Good thought. Thanks Craig!
Craig,
I went on staff with the pastor who was instrumental in my going into vocational ministry. Yet, he tried to make me like him. It not only didn’t work, it strained our relationship. Thankfully I left and I now call him for advice.
Wow, this one will shake the hearts of leaders….the ones who hope to preach what you,or a leader of another large ministry, preach and have the same results…don’t we all wish it was that simple…good to have a whole week to think about this one…I do remember the old days when I would wonder as I dressed for church who my husband would be that Sunday lol…lives were still changed, people were saved and given hope…I guess “The gospel IS the power of God unto salvation”….
Jan, I had some great time with Nancy Beach (who is simply amazing) at the Willow Conference. She expressed some of the same things you mentioned. If you haven’t read it, I’d HIGHLY recommend you check out her book, “Gifted to Lead.” I don’t know if it is out yet or not, but everyone has been passing her manuscript around the office.
http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Lead-Leading-Woman-Church/dp/0310285968/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218459259&sr=1-1
Thanks for reminding me of this AGAIN! I seem to always fall back into trying to be like those who have it all together.
This concept is a gift we can teach to our children!
Craig, her book is out and it’s marvelous! She has been a key influence in my life and I am just starting the chapter on “Finding Your Voice”. I heard your message really touched many at the conference as well. Wish I could have gone.
To any of you ladies, I know you can at least buy Nancy’s book from Willowcreek - I received mine a couple of weeks ago. Nancy writes all the things I thought no one else ever thought!
then why do churches spend SO much time grooming their leaders to bre just like those at the top? they have their system and if you’re an individual who has talents they don’t see as valuable you get corraled and disciplined into their mentality - or “you just don’t fit in, or and need to move on” becasue you don’t fit the ‘mold’ of the team.
i find this very ironic - be yourself, but not around here, i guess
“Imitate me, as I imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 1:11)
How does Paul’s statement here fit with your post?
Great thoughts Robin! And, “don’t insult God….” Never thought of it that way, but it’s true. As for the Nancy Beach book, I’m on it! I’ve admired her from afar for many years. I’ll never forget attending a conference in Chicago 6 years ago, and hearing her say, “I want to finish well.” Me, too.
Craig,
I can say the same thing as janowen. I found myself in a position as pastor where the Maxwell Leadership model did not fit me. (That is not a slam vs. John at all). As that became more and more the model they wanted, it became more and more apparent that I didn’t fit in. It soon became time to say goodbye. Man, did I struggle! Until God showed me that I must be me. No one else. thanks for reinforcing the freedom we have in being okay with “me.”
I think the “imitate me as I imitate Christ” is in our walk of faith. Not in our personalities or gifts, which is - quite honestly - impossible. We imitate the things of God - integrity, joy, peace, love, etc.
When we try to be someone we are not we rob the Kingdom of God of the gift of us….we have a purpose.
Great post and comments! Just wrote a post this morning on my blog about finding THE right model for doing church — which is essentially about getting in touch with what God is uniquely calling us to do.
It’s great that we can learn from others. And we should imitate the faith others have expressed in courageously stepping out and following God’s lead. But when we try to turn this into a formula for success, we miss out on what our infinitely creative Heavenly Father has planned for us.
I’m very excited about reading all of your posts this week. It’s actually funny because I was talking with the wife on the way home from church last night about how I’m still fighting with acting like whatever speaker I’ve listened to last.
A lot of wiser people around me say that this is something that every young leader struggles with, glad to see you did too.
I can really use some help in this area for sure.
I will only make a good Anna Meadows… no one else
This past year I encouraged my flock to forget trying to fill someone else’s shoes. Filling your own is hard enough.
That said, watching Craig in action on lifechurch.tv vids has reminded me that I’ve settled for something less creative than I really am.
Time to bring it.
How do I abbreviate what I’m thinking? It’s not in keeping with Paul’s character to assume he meant for people to imitate him but to join him (be like him) in imitating Christ. He always pointed people to Christ. I have been working through what I believe is a calling to help pastors, preachers, and teachers to “find their voice”. (skills like storytelling, voice & diction, and stylistics) I won’t go into myself here but what Craig has said rings with such clarity that I’m excited and overwhelmed. Maybe there’s enough interest out there for me to find a place to “play” too.
Mike,
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles[f] or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.
1 Corinthians 11
1 11:1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
Seems this is refering to how we treat people and addresses misusing our liberty in Christ…
hey all,
it took me a long time to realize this: my parishioners want to hear ME, not someone else’s thoughts! ME - with all my bumbling words and awkward motions.
“Be yourself”
…that is whats happening & people are freaking. I love it! It is scary…
Craig,
First off — thanks for your message at the Summit. God used it in my life BIG TIME. The Summit filled me up and cleared out a bunch of junk in my life. I entered this week with a freedom to be ME. I love learning from others but I sense God doing something so unique and amazing in my life.
The more I have of Him — the more I become Me. Look to Jesus and the things of earth will grow strangely dim.
So, does this mean I need to return my Andy Stanley Signature edition high bar table with matching stool back to the Pottery Barn?
well said Craig!
someone once said,
“You were born an original, don’t die a copy”
hey, just arrived your new book, “IT”, in the mail today - plan to read it this week!!
Ha, OK, MUST read comment before hitting “Submit” button! *Meant to say: your new book, “IT”, just arrived in the mail today.
(I guess I was so excited, I fumbled over my words! That’s, at least, what I’m going to stick with!!)
If I may quote Ed Young, “When we clock out and meet the Lord face to face, God is not going to look at you and me and say ‘Hey, I wish you would have been more like him or her.’ He’s going to say ‘I wish you had been more like YOU.”
We’re so preoccupied with how others view us, that we miss out on being what God created us to be. His opinion is the only one that counts, and when we’re anything but ourselves, it’s a slap in his face because He created us.
[...] “Do You!” Be yourself! “Do You! It’s a statement not a question” under: Leadership [...]
Thanks Craig!
Ryan, no you do not have to return you high bar table & chair… as long as you’re not trying to become Andy Stanley. I think we can use great ideas from each other. Same team. (I’ve struggled with preaching behind a pulpit, cos it’s a like a barrier between me and the church… so when I set my eyes on the bar table, it set me free)
I just ordered my high table and chair and will be using it today at our Bible Study… and will be teaching on “The Supernatural” (ideas, graphics, teasers from Craig open.lifechurch.tv)… however, the content & delivery will be ORIGINAL.
The funny part about the quote below….I heard Rick Warren say it first…at least I think he was the original.:-)
If I may quote Ed Young, “When we clock out and meet the Lord face to face, God is not going to look at you and me and say ‘Hey, I wish you would have been more like him or her.’ He’s going to say ‘I wish you had been more like YOU.”
Originality means being what God created us to be…we all learn from someone…nothing is new under the sun. Be inspired by others and be you…both can co-exist.
If anyone wants to give away their high table and chair — we can put it too good use.:-)
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