Hello! Today is the last day of June – and the last day of the FIRST half of 2010. As is my custom, I like to reflect on how things have gone in the last few weeks/months and come up with ideas/plans for improving in the next few weeks/months.
So. Today is the day where I'm thinking through January – June 2010.
If you recall from my My Three Words blogpost early this year, I'm working hard to improve and focus in three areas – Read, Share, Play.
Read
I've been communicating about once a month with my reading list. My goal, again, is 40 inspirational / leadership books this year. Here's my status so far:
- The Servant by James Hunter
- Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey
- First Break all the Rules by
Marcus Buckingham - Good to Great by Jim Collins
- Tribes by Seth Godin
- Choosing to
Cheat by Andy Stanley - Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel
- Next
Generation Leader by Andy Stanley - Outliers
by Malcom Gladwell - Purple Cow by Seth Godin
- The Big Moo – 33 authors, edited by Seth Godin
- The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel
- Switch by Chip & Dan Heath
- Basic Christianity by John Stott
- Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Bradberry & Greaves
- Fearless by Max Lucado (a quick re-read)
- The Me I want To Be by John Ortberg
- Silos, Politics and Turf Wars by Patrick Lencioni
- Vital Friends by Tom Rath
- What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
- A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller
- The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
- The Shark and the Goldfish by Jon Gordon
- The Go-Giver by Burg & Mann
- Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels
I pulled an audible while on vacation the last couple weeks and re-adjusted some of my order. So, my NEXT books (in no real order) are Rework, Well Being, Spiritual Leadership & Business IT Fusion.
I'm taking a little break on the reading list for July – I've got a Cisco Industry Certification to study for (that expires 7/31) and also am speaking at a Lunch-n-Learn at the end of July – so – I'm going to focus there for the next few weeks.
Share
If you recall, my focus on "share" is finding ways to help the local church and invest in other people. I've had a great opportunity this first half to really invest in a few specific churches in the surrounding states to me (Kentucky). I've enjoyed being a technical "subject-matter-expert" but also being a theological/leadership sounding board as well. It's been a huge blessing to me.
One thing that's really been a focus in my reading and my reflections this year is a renewed passion I have for the "next generation" of leaders. I don't know what that means. I really enjoying investing in other technology professionals, and other pastors (and staff) and coaching / developing / guiding them. I truly believe one of the best ways to "learn" is also to "teach." Because I often learn and hone skills and processes when I'm in the process of developing others.
I've found a couple different places of service in my local church – working with the staff in various ways (sounding board, coaching, administrative advice, and even scapegoat at times when technology doesn't work as expected). So far, I'm pleased with all of that! 🙂
Play
I've had a great couple of breakthru's in the area of "play" with my boys in the first half of 2010. One thing I've started doing "mostly regularly" is the Lowes Build & Grow thing. It's a free thing at your local Lowes Home Center where you (and your kiddos) build something. We've built some toys and games and a birdfeeder and a robot car and things like that so far. They enjoy it and they get a patch when they are done. We've been sewing the patches on their "work aprons" – and I think they really find it fun to get a new widget and a new patch too.
I've also recently starting some "Dude Time" (because Daddy date sounds too girlie) with the two older boys – Nathan & Jacob. I want to take them out (one on one) about once a month for some Father-Son time. So far we've only gone one time each, but they really enjoy the special time and dessert helps too :) Probably pretty soon I'll add Andrew (he's 14 months-ish) to the rotation too for some icecream, or a cookie, or just some time out of the house.
My family just got back from a whirlwind 10-day vacation. Yes the V-word. I only checked email on my Android a few times (really) and didn't catch up the Inbox or anything. I took a total of 1 "work" phone call. It was nice. I was able to concentrate on family and probably sleep a little longer than I should have. My wife asked me when SHE got her vacation (really). We live in Louisville, KY and over a 10 day period ended up as far south as Gulfport/Biloxi, MS to play on the beach, and as far north as West Lafayette, IN to visit / relive our Purdue experience. We drove about 2,500 miles with 3 boys in the car ages 5, 3 1/2 and 14ish months. We went to a wedding, several water/splash parks, a petting zoo, a scary motel, a family reunion, VBS and saw lots and lots and LOTS of potties.
So – that's my first half of 2010. It's been pretty good. I have a lot of room to grow, but overall am seeing some renewed focus and renewed passion in areas that are important to me.
What about you? How has the first half of 2010 treated you?