I had the chance earlier today to catch up with my good friend Michael Hyatt, chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers and soon to be best-selling author of his brand new book Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World.

In the short interview below, we chat about the new book, some of the key takeaways, and also what he believes is the one key in building your platform.

Make sure you purchase the book this week and you will also receive some extra digital resources worth over $350, all for free in conjunction with the book purchase. But you have to purchase this week. Check out more of the details here.

Interview with Michael Hyatt from Brad Lomenick on Vimeo.

I catch up with good friend Michael Hyatt, chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers, speaker and uber blogger, to talk about his new book Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World.

This is a guest blog post from Brad Lomenick, check out more of his blog here or follow him here!

I read this a few weeks ago from the Daily Meditation of Henri Nouwen & think it is so applicable to leaders.

Often we think that we do not know enough to be able to teach others. We might even become hesitant to tell others what we know, out of fear that we won't have anything left to say when we are asked for more.

This mind-set makes us anxious, secretive, possessive, and self-conscious. But when we have the courage to share generously with others all that we know, whenever they ask for it, we soon discover that we know a lot more than we thought. It is only by giving generously from the well of our knowledge that we discover how deep that well is.

What will you share with others this week?

You can read more of these here.

1. 5 Relationship Breakers by Linda Sasser
2. Why The Leadership Movement Is Leaving Your Chuch Leaderless by Mike Breen
3. Be Strong & Do The Work by Jenni Catron
4. 8 Things To Keep In Minds In Regards To Conflict At Work/Church by Perry Noble
5. 11 Pieces Of Advice For Assistants by Rich Hawkins

I get asked all the time by young leaders “how do you handle the responsibility of leading something like Catalyst?” Good question.

Reality is, anyone who leads a Church, leads a company, leads a community, leads a non-profit ministry, leads a team, or even a family feels and knows the pressure of responsibility. And Responsibility is part of Leadership. Always. You’ve heard this before…..”You’re responsible for what happens…..Don’t screw up!” Right!!! We hear this all the time from our parents, from our boss, from our boards, from our friends, from our spouses.

So how do I correctly live with the pressure of Responsibility and Leadership? For me it always begins and ends around the issue of stewardship. The whole idea of stewardship relates back to the concept of watching over something for someone else. Taking care of something you don’t own. Ultimately, stewardship begins and ends with a very clear understanding of how you view your role, and who owns it.

Are you the owner, or simply the steward for the owner? Is this mine, or am I just taking care of it while the owner is gone? This will help you shape the framework for what correct Biblical stewardship looks like. Whether it’s your role in managing your time, your role in cultivating a dream, your role in leading an organization, your role in managing your money, and more.

So here are a few thoughts on Stewardship, and how it relates to leading whatever movement or organization or community or tribe or initiative or project that you’ve been currently given.

1. Hold things with an open hand, palms down. Picture that one in your mind. Versus the mindset of holding things with a closed fist, palms up.

2. You don’t really own it. God does. All of it. This is incredibly freeing, but also dauntingly important.

3. You don’t deserve the credit. It’s not you. God deserves the credit. All of it.

4. Don’t be naive. You are NOT the reason for the mission and vision of the organization or community you are leading. Those who you are serving are. Embrace that one.

5. Be others focused. Always. And not just when it helps you. Creating wins for others is more fun, and ultimately very strategic.

6. Building a movement is not your job. That’s the work of God. Your role is to be prepared to lead one if God sees fit. Thanks to my friend Perry Noble for this nugget.

7. You are not the first. And you won’t be the last. Others have done this before, and there will be others after you. Understand your role in the generational impact chain.

8. Be an includer, not an excluder. It’s more fun to win when others are involved. Collaboration and partnership are crucial to proper stewardship. You want both your staff and those outside of the organization constantly saying “our” not “your.” You as the leader must always be saying “we” and not “I.”

This is a guest blog post from Brad Lomenick, check out more of his blog here or follow him here!

The Making of a Leader

We can do many things. But, we are made to do few. The Process is what Makes us unique. It defines us, shapes us, and reveals our calling. Beauty is revealed in the process, and influence is gained through the journey.

We are here. We desire to be there. As leaders, we all want to get there as quick as possible, yet we know that the process is what builds our character. It's what MAKES us who we are. There is no fabrication of influence. No skipping the essential steps. No fast-forwarding through the benchmark moments of clarity and wisdom gained. We must earn the right to be heard. Our story is being handcrafted through the process.

The Making of a Leader is about a long obedience in the same direction and being faithful to the process. It takes time, and there is no overnight formula or transformation. Right now God wants to define and refine who you are created to be, and what He's called you to do.

We're all in the process of being made.

Made to Make a Difference.

This is the Making of a leader.

Make.

Be sure to check out the speakers AND also to get your free download of 30 NEW songs.

What speaker are you most excited about hearing?