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nyt bestseller

bob goff

Leo J. Lampinen | February 5, 2014 | 6 Comments

5 Things I Learned About Leadership from Bob Goff

There are many leadership lessons that are learned through living life to the fullest, and that is exactly what Bob Goff has taught me through living his life that way, every single day. Love Does by Bob Goff is an excellent read full of inspirational stories. Bob is an excellent storyteller, completely transparent, and has obviously lived a life full of excitement and adventure. Through reading the book, there are several things I learned about leadership, just by reading Bob’s stories. I enjoyed how he uses life lessons to deliver a message that desperately needs to be heard.

“I used to think knowing God was like going on a business trip with Him, but now I know He’s inviting me on an adventure instead.”

Leaders are spontaneous adventurers.
The whole book is filled with stories of Bob’s childhood, college years, and adult life, in no particular order. I will try not to spoil it for you, but in one particular adventure he took his kids on a world tour to eat ice cream with leaders of other nations. I hope to be able to take my own kids on spontaneous adventures similar to this. Even if we don’t cross the ocean, I look forward to those last minute decisions that cause us to pack up and just leave.

“I used to think I needed an invitation to get into most places, but now I know I’m already invited.”

Leaders are great storytellers.
There is a reason this book became a New York Times Bestseller. Bob does an excellent job of portraying every story. He paints a picture so vivid that it brings you into his life at the time. He does this to create an image to best deliver the message which is portrayed in scripture. Except, he doesn’t have to use scripture to get the message out. If there is one sure way for a leader to get their message across, it is to put it into a story, people will relate to stories.

“I used to think God guided us by opening and closing doors, but now I know sometimes God wants us to kick some doors down.”

love doesLeaders are transparent.
I don’t believe that any of the stories of Bob’s life are made up or even exaggerated. He simply tells us about some of the crazy and exciting things that have happened to him throughout life, and the events that eventually shaped his legacy.

“I used to be afraid that if I was authentic I might take a hit, but now I know that being real means I will take a hit.”

Leaders put the best interests of others first.
Bob is the founder and CEO of Restore International, a non-profit dedicated to securing a better future for the children of war-torn Uganda. These are not his own kids, or even those of close friends or relatives. They live in Uganda, thousands of miles away. Bob found an outlet for his creativity and talent, and is using what God gave him to make an impact not only on the local community, but in the lives of those who desperately need it the most.

“I used to think being loved was the greatest thing to think about, but now I know love is never satisfied just thinking about it.”

Love Does.
Love isn’t meant to be talked about, or dreamt about; it requires action. That is what Restore International and this book is all about. Taking action. “God usually chooses ordinary people like us to get things done.”

What will you focus on this year to put love into action and impact the lives of those who need it?

Photo Credit: Michelle Brea via Compfight cc

[box]We recently teamed up with Bob Goff and his organization Restore International to build a school in Gulu, Uganda. Click here to find out more information on how to make this a reality.[/box]

QBQ

Leo J. Lampinen | January 22, 2014 | 24 Comments

How QBQ Ruined Life As I Once Knew It

QBQ

 

I first became aware of John G. Miller and his message of personal accountability while listening to the Dave Ramsey Show and associated EntreLeadership podcast. John has been spreading the message about personal accountability since 1995. When I heard Dave talk about John’s book “QBQ: The Question Behind the Question”, I was immediately intrigued.

I thought ‘Hey! I know more than a few people this message is for!’.

But that isn’t how John wants us to think. The message of personal accountability focuses on looking for the question behind the question. That is, asking the second question in response to what he calls are IQ’s, or Incorrect Questions. Some good examples of Incorrect Questions look like this:

 

Why do we have to go through all this change?

When are they going to train me?

 

These are questions that invoke victim thinking. Asking these types of questions throws blame unto someone else. There are three simple guidlines for creating a QBQ. They are:

 

1. Begin with “What” or “How” (not “Why,” “When,” or “Who”)

2. Contain an “I” (not “they,” “we,” or “you”)

3. Focus on action

 

When we have created the right QBQ, it puts the power back into our own hands. So if we take the IQs from earlier and seek out the QBQ, we might come up with a couple new questions such as:

 

How can I better cope with this changing environment?

What can I do to ensure I get the training I need?

 

Do you see what happened there? By asking the right questions and finding the QBQ, we are able to take control again.

 

How QBQ Ruined My Life

 

So, how did QBQ ruin my life?

 

Ok, so my life isn’t in shambles because I read the book. What I mean is that my life as I previously knew it when it comes to victim thinking and blame, is now gone. No longer am I able to face a situation and look for a way to somehow put the blame on someone or something else. When I start looking for the question behind the question, the finger always comes pointing right back at me.

Boy was I wrong when I first thought, “Hey, this is something a few other people need to get on board with.” I never thought I was that person that used blame and victim thinking to curb situations. When I started looking for the QBQ, I found out that I was not as in tune with personal accountability as I thought I was.

Just as Dave has, I too will at any time and at every opportunity recommend this book as required reading by every leader out there. If there is one concept we should grasp as great leaders, it is this message of personal accountability. I am so enthralled by John’s message that I have the book in paper format, on Kindle, and on Audible too. This isn’t one of those books you read and put back on the shelf to gaze over the binding when looking for another book. No, you go back to it and you read it again.

I am now finding myself looking for these QBQs every day. I have not been perfect, but I have gotten real good at squashing the IQs before they even have a chance to show face.

I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book if you have not done so already. It will change your life and the way you view Incorrect Questions.

What are you doing today to eliminate victim thinking and blame and to seek out the QBQ in your everyday life?

Photo Credit: MoDOT Photos via Compfight cc

Adam Smith | January 9, 2013 | 50 Comments

Giveaway: Beyond Ordinary – A Post on Avoidance

beyondordianrypic

[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”raised” width=”565px” height=”” background_color=”#c5c5c5″ border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]A big part of what we talk about here on asmithblog.com is relationships, and what relationship is more important than with your spouse? At some point along the way through that specific relationship or another, we have been faced with thinking that avoidance is the easiest way out. Well, we are fortunate enough to have Justin and Trisha Davis here today to share some of their thoughts on what avoidance actually does and challenges us to take a deep look at ourselves.[/dropshadowbox]

 

Avoidance is like a drug. It convinces you that a little bit won’t hurt you, and by trying it you will feel better. But avoidance is addictive and it’s seductive. It makes you feel like the issues and the problems and the sins that you have aren’t as bad or as toxic or as lethal as they really are.

[Read more…] about Giveaway: Beyond Ordinary – A Post on Avoidance

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