The 3rd “Are you” question

Enjoy this 3^rd post of 4 on “The Deliberate Team Leader…

Distraction everywhere. Bombarding…incessant…never-ending. Energy-draining…seducing…moving faster, faster, faster. Unlimited choice…more choice. Promises…empty promises. Pressure…distract…distracted…endless spinning distraction!

Think of your car in mid-winter…slipping, sliding, gas-down, brake-on, white-knuckled. You’re wanting progress, needing progress, but there’s little progress and no traction – only dis-traction! So much effort, so much energy, so much waste.

 Many small business leaders are lacking traction in the leadership of their inner life, their business and home. Caught in the whirlwind of a thousand demands – their capacity to focus on things that matter most is limited. Sound familiar? 

Dis-traction…keeping you from focusing on what matters most. 

 As a Christ-following small business leader you must decide to live a focused life. If you do not deliberately focus your life at work and at home on what matters most, dis-traction…living life without traction will “have your lunch” every time!!

Whatever you focus on will grow!  Focus on negative, unhealthy, undisciplined practices and they will grow…they will become habit. Focus on life-giving, Christ-centered thinking as you lead self, home and business and you will grow a life characterized by the qualities of the Kingdom of God. Which one is your focus?

Here are 5 Focus-Stealers – dis-tractions that can significantly diminish your capacity to lead yourself and your team well.

1. Lack of “soul care”. If you are not proactively experiencing God as you live out what is in front of you day-to-day you will compromise your ability to focus on what matters most. Empty on the inside, you will not have what is needed to lead yourself, your team and your family well. Matthew 22:34-40 NLT
2. Tolerating destructive relationships in your life is a serious distraction. Your capacity to navigate the real pressures of leading yourself, your business, your home and more is dramatically impacted by the quality of people in your “inner circle”.1 Corinthians 15:33

3. Being lured by things of this world. Godly focus as a leader requires deliberate focus on things that will move you toward God and His kingdom. Luke 9:25 NLT
4. Unclear priorities. If everything is a priority then nothing is a priority. Without clear priorities you will not be able to focus your God-given talent and resources on the most important things. James 1:5-7 NLT
5. A weak “No” muscle. In a world of overwhelming choices you must grow your “No” muscle. Saying “Yes” to everything will mean saying “No” to the most important things. Matthew 5:37 NLT

Stay tuned for next weeks post:

6 Solutions For The Deliberate Team Leader! 

The relentless press of Profit & Loss statements, team conflict, client demands, too many sales / not enough sales, family needs, self-care, soul care…they can be overwhelming.

Jesus powerfully reminded his “guys” of what mattered most while in the press. Confused, with no real idea of what was coming the next day, he wonderfully invited them to FOCUS on what mattered most. 

How are you doing in receiving Jesus’ invitation to focus and take heart…to focus on Him in the midst of the many “trials and sorrows” that have, and will, come your way?

What you focus on grows!! How about you: Are you focused on what matters most?

A Deliberate Application:

1. Describe your sense of being able to focus on what’s most important? Are you encouraged? Maybe discouraged?
2. Which of the 5 Focus-Stealers has tripped you up in your leadership of self and others? What was the impact?
3. What are you sensing God ask of you regarding your longing for traction…for focus in your life?
4. Who can you share this with?