Courageous Leadership, Chapters 4-6

I am really enjoying this book. Hybels offers such practical information that I think most people can understand and would be able to implement. The chapter "Building a Kingdom Dream Team" is so good because he lays out a good foundation for building a strong team. Everything he says totally makes sense but on my own I probably would never think of doing this process the same way. I really liked how he said we first need to define the nature and purpose of the team. I know I've been on teams before where no one was really sure what the real goal was. Which totally correlates with our Acts 2 process - we have to all focus on the "main thing" and from there we will have unity in our body. I really liked Hybel's 3 C's of selection. I think it is right on. I think sometimes in churches someone with an incredible talent may be elevated to a position but the character is lacking. They will inevitably fail. Sometimes it takes a while to really see someone's character, which is why I appreciate our church's policy of having new people wait for a period of time before getting involved. The next chapter "The Resource Challenge" was a good one. I'm glad that someone is actually addressing finances and giving to this extent. Bill Hybels wrote in his book about how he was unapologetic about asking for resources in the early years of his ministry. People get so touchy about their money but Bill was willing to ask people who were just barely Christians about donating large amounts of money. It was really good to hear someone be so upfront about how its nearly impossible to make a church grow without financial resources. It really makes me think about what we could be doing to be generating more resources in our body. I whole-heartedly believe that our pastors and staff should be paid more. Their occupation is not easy and is not just a Monday through Friday 8 - 4 job. I believe they should be paid well. I definitely agree with Hybels that if people get excited about a vision, they are glad to give. I feel that we have a generous congregation and if we can get people excited about what our purpose is and dreams that we have for our body, I think we can draw new people in and also increase our resources.

Natalie's Courageous Leadership - Chapters 1-3

What an encouraging and timely book! It's cool to see that there are a lot of other churches that have done what we are embarking upon. God definitely brought this book to us at the right time. I really like how he described that "vision is a leader's most powerful weapon." I know that I have heard great speakers and have felt so compelled by their message that I wanted to jump on their bandwagon too. I think it was so cool to see how in his church, Bill Hybel began the process with his vision team of senior leadership in the church. It is so vital that we are all on the same page before we can carry the vision out to the church as a whole. I was very encouraged when he talked about how in todays world people have schedules so crammed with stuff that it's hard to imagine squeezing one more thing in. However, when people are excited and have caught the vision they are willing to do what it takes to carry it out. People are moved into action because they realize the great value in what the vision has set to accomplish. I believe that our family, our Signet group and many in our church family feel the same way. What has more value than bringing people into the kingdom of God?

I liked the "Getting-it-Done Leadership" chapter. It's practical and shows how you can cast vision all you want but if we never get up and do something, the vision won't become a reality. I think the setting of goals is a great idea and I hope we are able to do that in our Acts 2 process. I am excited to continue reading this book and seeing the parallels to our own transformation process.

Natalie's Chapters 8 & 9 Relational Intelligence

The chapter disproportionate investor is all about learning to invest our time in others who will also reproduce good works so that in the end our influence will be greater than we could have done by ourselves. Unfortunately the hard part is determining who to invest in and who to let go. I think we have all encountered those "consumers" the author describes. These people can never have enough of your time and efforts. I think the important thing to take from this is that there are times when we have to realize when someone is trying to use us and not willing to give out to others. I think it is something that we recognize fairly easily. On the contrast, as leaders we need to invest our energy into people who are also going to give out.
I think this chapter is a good reality check because although we want to believe that everyone has good intentions, there are some who will just use and use and don't want to give anything back. But thankfully, more often I have encountered those that really do want to live a life for God and make disciples like Jesus said so I feel that my investment in those people have been totally worthwhile.
I have enjoyed learning from this book. It has a lot of good ideas that I would not have thought of but totally make sense. I would recommend this book to other leaders who want to learn how to be smarter in relationships.

Natalie's 90 Day Goal (July-Sept)

GOAL: My 90 day goal is to strive to create and maintain a healthy life group. We want to create an environment that is welcoming to new-comers and a place where people feel they can be open and go through the Christian walk together.

July Action Steps:

1. Meet with Steve Roux (Life Group Servant Leader)**

• Obtain resources pertaining to creating healthy life groups -- Done


• Discuss new ideas Steve may have to try in the group -- My plan is to invite Steve to one of our groups so that he can observe and make suggestions

August Action Steps:

1. Read materials from Steve -- Still in progress


2. Discuss materials/read some with Josh** - Have not done yet


3. Pray for our group at least once a week -- Included in my prayers throughout the day

September Action Steps:

1. Bring ideas to life group -- Will do this next month


2. At a life group meeting, discuss material I have studied** - will do


3. Have members of group share their ideas of what life group is to them and other things they would like to see -- will do

Natalie's Chapter 7: The Likeable Hero

This chapter is totally common sense but it's something that people probably don't really think about when it comes to relationships. Others are drawn to leaders who they like - who they have a good time being around and feel like they are genuinely cared about. It was interesting to learn about the 5 signs of likeability. I think I do pretty well in the areas of "stickiness" and "rapid trust formation". I think I struggle in "approachability" and "flexible optimism."
I am unsure about the best ways of becoming better these areas but I think awareness is probably the most important thing.

May 30 day goal

My May goal is to get my Quicken software usable so that I am better able to track my finances. We have been paying for our back account to sync with Quicken so now I just have to figure out how to do it! Here are my action steps:

1. Call Wells Fargo about setting up password/account info
2. Download bank transactions to software
3. Categorize expenses

This will be an ongoing process. I would like to set aside time to go through finances once a week. I am also hoping that Josh and I will be able to go through this process together so that we both can make better financial decisions.

Natalie's RI Chapter 5 & 6 book review

Chapter 5 - "The Compelling Relator" is a chapter that challenged me but it can also be quite intimidating. I think I've always had that desire to be liked by all. Looking back in my life I can see where I was trying to fit in. I also recall times where I challenged the norm and didn't go along with what everyone else was saying or doing. That surely didn't bring me great popularity. I pray that although I made a lot of mistakes along my younger christian years that people will remember me as compelling and that I did take a stand for things that I believed in. One area that I think I may struggle with now is being culturally relevant. A lot of my time outside of home is at church, and I really only listen to christian music. I haven't read a non-christian book probably since college. So I do kind of feel disconnected to culture. And its not that I think I really care because the world has gotten so corrupt. The only reason that I feel like I should is that I want to be relevant to unbelievers and make an impact in the lives of unsaved around me.
Being a better communicator is also another big challenge for me. I don't speak to large groups very often but even if life group situations I know this would be helpful. Having passion is also another great leader. I don't know any effective leaders that aren't passionate in their field. Sometimes I feel like my passion hasn't been fully harnessed. So this chapter definitely challenged me to see my shortfalls. But it has challenged me to try to be interesting.

In chapter 6 the author talks about being a "conversational futurist." Jesus was obviously the best model of this. I think what's important to get out of this chapter, and what Jesus demonstrated, was getting to the heart of the issue. Sometimes it seems like in conversation we can seem like we're going round and round but never getting to the point. Jesus saw people for who they really were and saw their real need. I think the key to this is what the author calls "keeping one ear to earth and one ear to heaven." We should always be aware of what the Holy Spirit may be prompting us to do or say.

Natalie's RI Chapters 3 & 4

What I got out of being a story collector is that part of relational intelligence is drawing people out. When we ask people questions that are deeper than just discussing the weather we can connect with them and they feel a sense of being valued and that someone cares about them. I think we all want to feel like we are understood and that someone else can relate to what we're saying. The most important thing I think the author is saying is that if we get to know who a person really is then we will be able to have greater influence in their life. This is so important in getting to know new people and getting to a place where you can speak into someone's life.

In the "Energy Carrier" chapter the author describes how leaders set the tone for energy. I can definitely resonate with this chapter. Having been a life group leader for several years now I can see how things like distractions and the appearance of alertness can be energy killers. The energy of a group can really go down when it seems like people aren't paying attention or just aren't really engaged in what's going on. I know that he's talking more about the leader having distraction in his/her own mind or being internally asleep. But I guess I can see it both sides. I know I've been guilty of pretending to be listening to someone when in reality my mind is really somewhere else. This chapter motivated me to try new things to create positive energy in our group and to keep people involved and motivated. Especially at this point in my life I do feel pretty distracted on the inside so I have a hard time being fully in the moment, so that is something I will be thinking about.

Natalie's 60 day goal

Sorry, way late in getting this done!
Goal : Assist Annette in planning/coordinating youth girls night out and seniors trip. Action Steps

• Met with Annette to brainstorm - talked about themes for girls night
• Meet with Annette (last week of March-first week April) to determine theme and discuss activities
• Week of girls night do prep for activities - shopping for supplies - set time schedule
• Day before or day of girls night shop for groceries for supper, breakfast and possible baking activity

Nat's Feb RI "Chapter 2" Review

Oh oh Michael Scott! Who doesn't love "The Office"? How we love to watch him be such a fool. I find myself embarrassed for him at times in the show because I think, "how can you be so dumb?" Steve Saccone definitely nailed Michael right on as being blissfully unaware. He truly believes he is the most awesome everything and that people should treat him as such. How well does that correlate to our lives sometimes. Of course I am talking in 2nd person here because as this chapter reveals, it is not easy to point the finger back at ourselves to reveal the flaws. Self-awareness is such a polite way of saying it, but how true it is. Reality is a funny thing because I have my version of what I think and see and then there's how someone else sees things and then there's the objectional view of how things really are. I guess I feel for Michael because there are times when I look at myself, knowing full well of a particular area of weakness, and I'd rather just hide it under the rug and pretend it doesn't exist because I just don't want to go there; I don't want to deal with the feelings or do the work to strengthen myself in that area.

This chapter was a good reminder for me that I have become lax in this area. I do feel like I have genuine people in my life who are trustworthy and honest, but loving to speak into my life, but I don't think I invite them often enough to give their input. And this chapter has really challenged me to bite the bullet and ask my friends and love ones who I value to give me input. I want an honest look at myself through their eyes and I know it may be a tough pill to swallow, but I really think I need at this point. I do feel as if I am in a bit of a rut and I think I need a little nudge to get going up the hill again. I really liked his line "...there should definitely be some people who practically make us nervous about what they might say because they are willing to be so completely honest." I have definitely had that feeling before. But the biggest times of spiritual growth for me was when I opened myself up to people who I saw as wise and admired their walk with Christ and allowed their influence to change some things in my life.

I am looking forward to gaining some fresh insight about myself. Scared but intrigued. Thank you Michael Scott for showing me who I do not want to be.

Natalie's personal growth book

This book covers ten basic time management choices and shows you how to put them into action in your own life.

Natalie's 30 day goal for February

Goal Update: Well friends, it's not good news. Unfortunately my progress has been stalled. Due to some sick days and poor time management my goal did not get completed. Obviously I need help in this area. I think the key is becoming more disciplined in the mornings and getting the kids to daycare early so that I can have some good productive hours in the morning. Errr, I hate procrastination. Maybe I made too big of a goal?



30 day goal: Complete organizing/filing system at home. Learning more about organization will help me to be a better leader and be a better manager. This is also the topic I have chosen for my personal growth book.

Action steps:

• remove 2010 and older paperwork from filing cabinet
• file current 2011 paperwork
• put old paperwork to keep in labeled boxes (old tax returns, loan info, house info, etc)
• weekly go thru mail and file necessary things
• Separate out health care spending information in folder (receipts, EOBs, etc)
• Fill out and submit HCSA forms for 2010

Natalie's Jan "Relational Intelligence" Review

Hmm, well I guess the biggest thing that hit me in the first chapter of "RI" is that to have smarter, better relationships, leading to being a better leader, I first have to view relationships differently. I really liked the line "...we must shift from a positional authority mind-set to the crucial leadership mind-set of relational authority." I think being a leader sometimes in certain settings we can kind of think to ourselves "I gotta be the leader - come one guys, listen to what I have to say and let's get this over with." But I think Saccone is absolutely right that if we don't have real relationships with those we are trying to lead, what is the point? Who is going to want to be a part of that group?!
Another line that was really challenging to me was "As leaders, we can sometimes see relationships as simply a means to an end, and this inevitably short-circuits the process needed to apply and implement RI in our everyday lives and leadership." This creates a struggle within me. As a leader you want to influence people and make their lives and walks better, but to me, this starts to feel a little overwhelming. I start to think about all the people that are in my sphere of influence and that's a lot of people! Not that I don't care about every person in a different way (some are closer than others) but how do you give fully of yourself to so many people? I'm not saying that I think of people as commodities, but where do you draw the line to how much you can give? Maybe it's because at this stage of my life we have small children who require a lot of attention and depend on us for everything.
I definitely want to value people for who they are, but it is easy at times to get more focused on getting the job done, rather than cultivating the relationships along the way. I am praying that these thoughts will challenge me when I'm in the midst of a situation to remember what's really important and to focus more on the relationships than the end product.

Natalie: Why I am doing Signet

Ok so I sort of figured out how to get here and what to do.
So I think that I wanted to be a part of Signet to put myself to a challenge. Since not being in college for several years now I feel like I have gotten behind in learning new things. I also feel that it's important for me to become a better leader because I want people within my influence to be inspired to do great things for God too.

I think growing means not staying in the same place. Growing in our relationship with Christ means we should always be moving forward and not being satisfied with the level we are at or we are comfortable with how much we know of God. I want to have fresh revelation of Him not just what I've known for years.