Rising Above Status Quo Leadership

Seth Godin commented today on the question, “Is everything okay?” His conclusion is that we spend way too much time focusing on making sure everything is okay and end up losing the opportunity for positive change. This caused me to reflect on one of the great challenges of being a Pastor. We want to keep people happy and harmonious. We want things to be okay because of all of our insecurities, but we end up forfeiting the opportunity to throw off the equilibrium of people to create opportunities for growth and positive change.

Status quo leadership seeks to keep the peace, to appease the disgruntled, and to manage conflict. Rising above status quo leadership requires that we actually challenge the status quo and refuse to allow it to exist at all. How do you rise above status quo leadership?

• Size up the biggest tasks you’ve been afraid to face.
• Count the cost and consider the sacrifice.
• Weigh the benefits of pressing forward against the benefits of slowing down.
• Take risks in faith.
• Follow God’s lead.
• Rebuke comfort zones!
• Challenge people to grow.

Everything isn’t okay and it never will be, so why stay put?

Seth Godin Shares a HUGE Marketing Lesson from the Election

Seth Godin is a genius when it comes to marketing. I read his blog today and was intrigued by what he had to say about tribalism and elections, but it was the last paragraph that really stunned me. It’s what I’ve been saying for months now about our two choices… we get the leaders we deserve!

The lesson that society should take away about all marketing is a simple one. When you buy a product, you’re also buying the marketing. Buy something from a phone telemarketer, you get more phone telemarketers, guaranteed. Buy a gas guzzler and they’ll build more. Marketers are simple people… they make what sells. Our culture has purchased (and voted) itself into the place we are today.

When Israel demanded a king against God’s will, they got the tall and handsome Saul who wound up being a flake. God eventually rescued them with a leader after His own heart. I feel like we’re demanding something we won’t be happy with a year from now… but we get what we demand, what we deserve.

You can read his entire article below…

Seth’s Blog: Marketing lessons from the US election.