OK... sure I'm biased but I am a RAVING FANof the most beautiful woman in the world. No this isn't another anniversary post, it's actually a chance to see into the mind of an incredible woman. Young ladies you could do far worse than studying her example. Young men thank God should He bless you with a mate half her caliber. She is growing EXPONENTIALLY. She's always been an amazingly spiritual, Godly woman, deep in the study of the Word but now she's taking off like a rocket as a LEADER. She gets IT! I've noticed her reading leadership books the past few weeks and last night she was working through RAVING FANS. She Rocks... anyway I posed the question to a group of friends this week...here is the question and her answer.... Did I say... SHE ROCKS!
“what are you doing to insure that if you are dead three years from now that someone is ready to pick up the ball and run so that the organization does not fail?"
First of all, I am leaving a legacy for my family. Since May 25, 1988 (Jake's birthday), I have prayed for, worked overtime for, and invested heavily in my children. Every waking hour, (sometimes at my husband's expense....sorry, Johnny) I was on mission....reading to them, singing to them.....spending quality time with them.....always thinking, "what can my children learn from this experience, how can I make this a teachable moment?" Seriously, I nearly drove myself crazy! Looking back, I realize that the times they learned the most was when I got out of the way and let them be who God called them to be. I see them doing things that was no way possible for me to do.....and it's working for them! I now see my daughter with some of the same traits I have, but they are used in her own way, her own personality. What does this have to do with leading those outside of my family? It has everything to do with it!! My answer to last week's question, a leader must be continually learning (sorry....I wanted to hear from my competition before answering). Now, this week's question.....I have learned over these last 20 years (yes, Jake is actually 20 years old) that the most important thing I can do to ensure that my work and investment don't die with me is..........invest, teach, do life with, correct, love......but more importantly, LET GO. Turn them loose and let them become the leader that God intended them to be. Same principles, same values, same goal.....but maybe a different approach. It may not be pretty at first. I shudder when I think back on my first few leadership roles and how I handled them. Just like a child who has finally made it to college (and I have 2 heading down that road, by the way). Pat them on the back, encourage them, PRAY for them, and then trust that God will make them into the person He wants them to be. Who knows? We may learn something from them! Allison
