Day 36: The Only Thing That Really Matters

Launches are all about creating one thing – momentum.  Momentum is that sense that something is moving – that things are happening – that you are going somewhere. 

So many ministries are just plain stuck.  Stuck in the pattern of just doing what they have always done.  There is no sense that anything new is happening, or is going to happen.  And truth be told, most of our “regulars” have become pretty comfortable with the status quo.  They know what is expected of them, they know what is going to happen next and they enjoy the power and authority they have gained that keeps things the way they are. 

The problem is, when a new person walks through the door, I believe they can sniff out, in a minute, whether or not this place is moving.   They can tell if there is room for them, for their dreams, for their ideas, for their leadership.  They can tell if there is any momentum.

And nothing creates momentum like momentum. 

Some really good thoughts on creating momentum

I could write about specifics, about the kind of events and programs we have done in order to create momentum around here, but that is not what has made the biggest difference.  What I believe creates momentum, is as much about philosophy as it is about practice.  And there are two philosophical approaches we have used to foster a culture where momentum can flourish: 

Permission Giving and Unconditional Collaboration.

Permission Giving.  We try to say yes far more than we say no.  If somebody comes up with an idea to try something we are currently not doing – we try to find a way to say yes.  Most of the time, they have already given some thought as to how something might work – who else might be involved – how much it might cost – and where the money might come from to make it happen.

No need to refer them to a committee.

 

No need to ask for a complete five-year, budgetary breakdown.

 

No need to see if anyone objects. 

Say yes – then get out of the way and see what happens. 

My experience tells me that if God is in it – people and money are never a problem. Out of trying new things – momentum can be created.  The next “big thing” can emerge without spending a dollar or needing to come up with the idea or recruit the volunteers.  There is nothing that can stop an inspired person on a mission – equip them and grant them permission.  Momentum is sure to ensue.  

Unconditional Collaboration:  We will work with any one, and any group, if it helps further our ultimate mission (and again our ultimate mission is not to grow the church – our ultimate mission is the transformation of people, the community and the world.)  If you, or your group, are interested in doing that, we will find a way to collaborate with you.  

We will open up our building – open our ears – open our resources to help make that happen.  Our buildings are one of our greatest assets and one of the ways we can put ourselves in mission right from the start.  So we go out of our way to let the community use it!  If rent is a problem, we lower it or drop it all together to help make space available for the mission to happen.  

• Block Clubs, 
• Support Groups
• Baseball Card Shows
• Exercise Classes
• Even Baby Showers, Anniversaries Celebrations and Birthday Parties

All of them help you move towards the mission.  

We allow denominational events to use our space almost anytime with very few questions asked.  Any time our space is being used it helps create a spirit of momentum.  “That place is hopping.  Something is going on there all the time.  Maybe I should stop by sometime and see what all excitement is about!”  

Interesting Article on How to Collaborate

A story:  When I began my last appointment, Sally came to me wanting to start a drama team.  I could tell she had been through the church wringer before.  She had asked this question and been referred to committees who paid her lip service but did nothing to help her dream get off the ground.  She came to me.  She was nervous.  Almost bracing herself to be told no once again.  But what she got was, “Sure, go for it!” Her jaw almost hit the floor.  “Me.  You want me to do it?  You are going to let me do it?”  “Yes.  Go for it!  Research it.  Recruit for it.  Let me know if you need any help.  And when you are ready – we will use it!”

And sure enough that is what she did – and two months later we had regular dramas being presented in our worship.  But more importantly it created momentum.  Something new was happening and new people were getting involved.  The ripple effect from that single "yes" was too big to enumerate here – but let me just say, we rode that momentum for the six years I had the privilege of serving there…..

Need momentum?

Try saying yes next time somebody asks if they can start something – then get out of their way and see what happens.

TED Talk:  Stavros Michailidis - Building Momentum for Great Ideas

Day 34: Why I haven't written in two weeks?

I have not written a blog post in over two weeks.  And here is why.  I hit it!  I knew I would, I just didn’t know when and frankly, I didn’t expect it so early.  Bit I hit it nonetheless.

What am I talking about? 

The Dip.  I hit The Dip. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dip

The Dip it is that inevitable moment after the initial launch when things start to settle and the real issues start to emerge.  The Dip comes after the opening party is over.  The Dip comes after the initial press release has been released.  The Dip comes when all the hype and hoopla has died down.  It comes when you wake up one morning and you realize that there are more questions than there are answers, more things that need to get done than hours in the day, more things that need to be fixed than dollars to fix them.  It is when you wake up and stare at a blank computer screen because you are not sure you have anything interesting to blog about.  It is The Dip.

The Dip is the season of really, really, really hard work. 

I write this watching the Summer Olympics.  There is something just really fun about watching world class athletes perform at the absolute top of their game.  They make it look so easy – so easy that you think, for a minute, that anybody can do a Reverse 2 ½ somersault off a diving board and enter the water with absolutely no splash. 

What the Olympics doesn’t show you is that at some point on the road to London every one of these competitors hit The Dip.  They hit that moment when it got tough – that moment when it would have been easier to sleep in rather than train – that moment when others were going to go hang out with friends but they were headed to the gym – that moment when they weren’t sure they could do it any better, any faster, any higher, any stronger than they were doing it at that moment.

Every Olympic athlete is standing where they are today because they successfully navigated the dip.  And there is only one-way through The Dip.  It’s through the Dip.

You get up.  You go to work.  You do the next right thing.   You make a list.  You check something off your list.  You make a call.  You write an email.  You solve a problem.  You do your best.  You make mistakes.  You get up the next morning and you do it all again.

And when you are not sure what to write for your blog – you write something anyways!

To all of my friends out there trying to do cutting edge, vital, transformational ministry - let's push through The Dip! 

We are in this together!

Seth Godin talks about The Dip