How to Have Hard Conversations
It’s happens to everyone. Your friend is always late. You know your co-worker or friend is mad at you. Your spouse never remembers to pick up their clothes or put the lid back on the toothpaste. When these things happen, you are faced with the inevitable decision- do I bring these infractions to their attention, or not? Many times we choose to wait, hoping time alone, will fix the problem. But, it almost never does. A Little Weird I have always struggled when there’s relational disharmony in my life. If I’m mad at someone, or know someone’s mad at me, ...
How Wins Build Momentum
If you lead a team, of any sort, winning is important! Last week we talked about how to determine what it looks like for your team to win. Now, let’s talk about building wins! Wins are the fuel that keep your group going and your people excited. Wins build momentum like a wave as it heads toward shore. As your team wins, it will build excitement and buy-in from the people on your team. They’ll then be willing to give more and invest more, because they know it’s worth it and it matters. But, the question is, once you know ...
Is Your Team Winning?
Winning? I admit it, I like to win. My wife makes fun of me for turning everything into a competition. A few of the bigger fights we’ve had in our marriage revolved around her amazing ability to beat me in most games (I’m looking at you Settlers of Catan). As you can imagine, being competitive is not always good, and I’m working on it (hoping to become the least competitive of all my friends). But, there is a good side to competition. Winning teams change the world. A winning team of doctors may keep you alive. A winning team of ...
The Most Awkward Text I Ever Received
Technology can be a wonderful thing. But, it can also be dangerous. A little over a year ago I received the most awkward text of my entire life. I thought I’d share my story in hopes of protecting you from suffering a similar experience. We were a few weeks away from my youngest brother’s wedding in Omaha, Nebraska. The extended Thorne family is a fairly close-knit group and texts were flying a mile a minute as the wedding approached. Soon, a large family group text began, filled with cousins, aunts, uncles, and my brothers and me. On July 2nd my cousin ...
Stuff My Kids Say #2
Over the last while I've continued collecting some of the stuff my kids say. Kids may drive us crazy sometimes, but there is no question they keep life interesting. For perspective: Caleb- Age 7 Logan- Age 5 Micah- Age 2 Dad- Hard to say Wife- Ageless "It's not how they say it, it really is what they say" 1. Quiz: What does Micah call this? Answer: "Basketball Poop!" Every time we see one, he's sure to call out, "Look basketball poop!" 2. We were going to the doctor the other day and Logan was worried about having to get ...
Cavs vs. Warriors Egg Roulette
Derek and I decided to determine who would win the NBA Finals by playing egg roulette. The carton is filled with raw and hard-boiled eggs. You get one point for every hard-boiled egg you crack on your head. First one to 4 wins. https://youtu.be/nfMlhGO7ZC8 Let's Go Cavs!
I Believe in Leaders Who…
Last week I was meeting with a group of 15 leaders from Velocity and I asked them to finish the sentence, "I believe in leaders who..." I thought I'd share the list of characteristics they came up with. I believe in leaders who... Listen Don't ask people to do things they aren't willing to do themselves (leads by example) Value people on the team Give constructive criticism Help you grow Are Approachable... Kind Patient Reliable Genuine Involved Open to ideas Balanced Courageous Consistent Creative I'm sure there's many more things we could have come up with, but this was our ...
Tools to Grow Over the Summer
Summer is a funny time. School ends for children and there's something in the American psyche that says, "Vacation." Summer may be a great time for vacation, but as a leader, it's also a great time to grow. Summer's probably a great time to give the people you lead a little space. It's not the time of year you'll be pushing hard and casting vision. So, take some time over the next two months to develop yourself personally. I thought I'd share a few tools you can use to grow. 1. Podcasts There are all sorts of Podcasts out there ...
Dear Younger David #2
August 8, 1996 I went to Kings Dominion with a bunch of friends and a girl named Erica. Erica likes me. She is a very cool girl, but I don’t think I would marry her. So, I don’t know if God wants me to continue a friendship with a relationship in mind, or if God wants me to completely stay on the friendship level. I don’t know, I could learn so much by dating her, but I don’t know. Dear Younger David, I have no recollection of who this girl even is and you have pages of journal entries discussing ...
3 Things the Church Can Learn from the World’s Best Chefs
The church can learn a lot from the best restaurants in America. Over the past few weeks I’ve been watching Chef’s Table on Netflix and been amazed. Each episode draws the viewer into the mind of one particular chef as we discover their drive and passion for cooking. There are 3 important things every church can learn from these talented chefs. 1. Passion Regardless of the chef, there is an absolute passion that drives them. They give their all to every dish. Passion propels their creativity and pursuit of perfection, which results in breathtaking food. Imagine if the church and its ...