Final assignment in Leadership for the EMBA program asks us to be prepared with a 4 minute thoughtful summary of our answers to some questions.

First, the questions:

1. What did you intend to learn in the process of earning your MBA?

2. Did you learn it?

3. If so, how did you learn it (be specific)?

4. If not, why not? What might you have done differently?

5. What do you want or need to learn going forward? Why?

6. How do you intend to learn it?

7. What did you learn about leadership and how did you learn it?

8. What do you intend to learn about leadership after you earn your MBA?

My response:

When I enrolled and began class, what I was looking for was a different way of seeing things. I wanted an acquaintance with business and finance terms and how to use/apply some of those concepts. I wanted to view the world more critically with understanding.

I did achieve this and in many ways. Class assignments, readings, and discussions were a main part, obviously. Study group interaction, whether discussing a leadership topic, solving a finance case, or constructing a method to solve a Decision Analysis problem, is where I learned a lot. And general discussion with my classmates has been a great source. My work life is completely virtual, working from my home with people all over the US and on other continents. I wanted the in-person interaction of being on campus every week and it has been a great benefit.

There are a few areas where I did not learn as much as I planned. I struggled in Finance as homework demanded that I apply specific and complex formulas while trying to still see the bigger picture, to be a manager, not just a clerk. I found the topics of Decision Analysis very fascinating and the systems were great to learn but the more abstract theories were harder to pull out of the lessons.

I am a constant learner, but I don’t have specific topics or areas planned, yet. I’ve learned that management and the current work I am doing at my job is much more about the specific systems at the company, not broad based leadership or strategy skills. However, there is always room to learn and apply more in negotiation, conflict management, and empowerment, as well as creative writing around performance review time.

In addition to classes through work and books, I will be working on and attending our own monthly meetings to discuss business, leadership, and social topics. I also will use my new connections from this program to get involved in the community.

I learned a lot about leadership and about myself. The coaching was of great value and I can now see where it would be of benefit to me long-term. The biggest thing I have gotten is the chance to redefine how I see conflict so that I can change how I handle it. That is a big work in progress that will continue beyond this program.

I teach Sunday School this month. We follow the Standard Lesson series. This quarter (which starts in December, go figure) is looking at 12 people who responded with faith and obedience to God’s call. The first lesson, today’s, was about Mary when the angel Gabriel tells her she will conceive a son by the Holy Spirit. 

Since I taught on Mary last December as well, I just spent part of the class reading the scripture from Luke 1:26-38, 46-55. I talked about Mary’s remarkable response and her submission to God. At the time of her response to Gabriel, I’m not sure she really thought through the implications. She just had a spirit ready to say yes in the face of an incredible situation. When she goes to see Elizabeth I think she had time on the road to start thinking about some of the less than positive things that could come out of this. The ridicule, how it would affect her parents and Joseph, and what it might mean for her life.

Then Elizabeth responds in just the right way, calling Mary blessed. Mary’s song at that point is truly wonderful as she rejoices in the special grace and mercy that God has shown her and His faithfulness through the generations.

Since the focus for the quarter is on obedience and being ready to respond to God’s call, I then read a blog entry from Zach Nielsen about an adoption his family was entering. I am going to include it here, but his blog is worth watching.

What are we doing?!?

Ever said this to yourself?

With all this adoption stuff flying around our house since last Sunday night, we have been finding ourselves asking this question quite a bit lately. Two examples:

Early Tuesday morning after we got the news that this baby could be ours if we could just round up the money in about 24 hours, my wife rolled over in bed at 4am and said, “Are you awake?” Of course I was. Sleep has been a bit tough to come by with the sudden realization that we could have a fourth child very soon. Are we really going to do this? What are we doing?

Tuesday afternoon after the adoption was verbally official with the people in Alabama, we were off the phone for about 2 seconds before it seemed that our three kids all decided to simultaneously lose their minds. Can we really deal with four kids under the age of 6? What are we doing?

This is not second guessing our adoption in the least, but rather just feeling the weight of the enormity of what God has called us to. Temporal emotions are sometimes nearer to the surface than our deeply rooted sense of calling. It’s not a question of doubt but rather one of an assured sobering weightiness.

I’m sure Abraham felt this way ask he marched up the hill to sacrifice his covenant child.

I’m sure Moses felt this way being a guy who couldn’t talk well and yet was called to command the most powerful man in the world to get a new plan for slavery in his kingdom.

I’m sure Paul probably asked himself this question numerous times as he was shipwrecked at sea. 

The Biblical examples go on and on.

Lately it has occurred to me that we should probably be asking ourselves this question a bit MORE if we are actually laying our lives down for the Gospel. The Bible says that the disciples immediately dropped everything and followed Jesus. Sounds pretty radical to me in light of what they were leaving behind. Sadly, in my comfortable, control driven life, I don’t ask myself the question of “What am I doing?” nearly enough.

Certainly if you are habitually asking yourself this question it could just be an indication that you are painfully unwise, but compared with the hyper-control I have over my life these days I think I am pretty far removed from this danger.

I pray for the faith to live like this more. I also pray our churches would be full of people who are living lives that are so on the edge that times of uneasiness are the norm. May this drive us to our knees in dependence and forward with great faith for the cause of love.

 

I love this and have thought the same thing myself. I may feel overwhelmed by my own “stuff” sometimes, but I am not in the center of His will and traveling along often enough. 

Then I talked about Samson because of a column I found on World Magazine’s online community, written by one of my favorite columnists, Andree Seu. I’m including some of that here as well.

But a recent Sunday’s sermon mentioned the incident in which Samson ripped the gate posts of Gaza out of the ground and carried them off on his back, which the preacher took to be a flamboyant visual aid communicating that God had given the Philistines over to Israel—if they only had the faith to see it, and act on it!

Instead, the attitude of the Israelites throughout their occupation by Philistia was abject defeatism, timidity, fear, and a resignation to powerlessness. They scolded Samson: “Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us? What is this you have done to us?” (Judges 15:11)

I was stunned. Paradigms shifted. Suddenly I saw that the contrast between Samson (a man of faith, for all his philandering) and the Israelites with their low-temperature faith was a contrast between great expectations of God and low expectations of God. Bawdy, bodacious, bad boy Samson was intimate with God, always asking for favor, always expecting it, always receiving it.

What is normal Christianity? Whom do I want as role models? Those sensible Christians who scold that we can’t do this or we can’t do that because don’t-you-know-that-the-Philistines-rule-over-us? Or those who see that God still offers us new conquests—if only we have the faith to see it, and act on it?

Samson made a lot of poor choices, but he certainly lived on the edge and there is something to his asking, expecting, and then receiving. Good food for thought.

I got this from 5 Minutes for Moms, it is great!

I figured that it was the time of year that we all needed to brush up on our Christmas Newsletter writing skills (or at least those of us who write them.  Oops.), so I wanted to feature another post by Jessica Riley that would help us with those skills.  She is a writer and an at-home mother to two children – one with autism, one with attitude. Ergo, her life is never in want of adventures on the home front. She says that “my greatest regret in life is that I never became a ninja. I could’ve been good. Chuck Norris style good.”  She has blogged at All Rileyed Up since 2006.

How to Write a Christmas Newsletter

Most people think of the holiday newsletter as an excuse to brag. Except mine of course. So, I’m going to impart to all of you newsletter writers some sage advice on not being the Odious Newsletter Braggart

About the Children

You write: Janet is in her first year at Yale where she is acing all her pre-med classes, Laine was named the Junior Prom Queen this year, Michael won the 8th Grade Talent Show, and Hubert earned First Prize at the Regional Science Fair for his project on evolutionary biology. As a result, he has been invited to spend the summer working on the Chimpanzee Genome Project. Can you believe he’s only in fifth grade?

They read: My kids are smarter than your kids. And more attractive. And more talented. In your face!

Better approach: Janet is at Yale because she didn’t get into Harvard. Laine was named Junior Prom Queen after the original choice was knocked unconscious when she was mysteriously hit over the head with a Regional Science Fair trophy. Michael won the talent show by playing “Rawhide” with his armpit. Hubert’s intelligence scares all of us, and we live in fear of him, like that old Twilight Zone episode.

About Yourself and Spouse

You write: I finished my year as PTA president and our numbers showed we raised more money than any previous year. Sweetheart just got promoted and doubled his pay. I was finally able to trade in that old 2004 beater of a Ferrari for something really hot. We’re going on our second honeymoon this January, a trip to Australia. Scuba diving, sunbathing, five star hotels, all the works. Can’t wait!

They read: I’m rich! In your face!

Better approach: I finished my year as the PTA president and now none of the teachers like me. I can’t remember my husband’s name anymore, and I’m hoping to figure it out before I tag along with him on the company trip to Australia. Oh, and I got rid of the Ferrari because Laine and her boyfriend kept sneaking off with it. I now drive a station wagon. I daresay they won’t want to be seen in that.

About Your Home

You write: We just finished our huge remodeling project. Those zeroes really do add up, don’t they? But on the bright side, our kitchen is gorgeous, the Florida room is spectacular, and the tumbled marble floor really gives the place a classy touch.

They read: I’m living large. In your face!

Better Approach: We finally got the house cleaned after Laine and her boyfriend threw that huge party while we were out of town, the one that can now be seen on that new TV series, Home Parties Gone Bad. The kitchen no longer smells and in place of a torn out wall, we now have a French doors leading to a new Florida room. We put that room when it became clear the grass in the yard would not be growing back.

Closing Lines

You Write: We hope to see you among our dearest 300 friends at our annual holiday party at the Ritz. If you can’t make it, we’ll be sending out pictures of what you missed. What a glorious year it’s been for us. Hope yours has been equally bountiful.

They read: One last time-in your face!

Better Approach: We are doing the usual party this year. I think my husband might be at it. I hope to see him. Does anyone know if he still has hair or if it finally fell out? If you don’t come to the party, you can check out the YouTube video that will undoubtedly get posted after I berate my husband in front of everyone. Is your life like mine? For your sake, I sure hope not.

I hope this clarifies everything for you. Now go write. And have a happy holiday.