Looking for a Leader

Who is leading you?

Can you name them right now? Of course, you have your boss or your board. But who is really leading you? Someone who encourages you, pours into you, challenges you - but isn't signing your paycheck?

I looked around yesterday and realized omygosh I'm leaderless. Especially now that I'm not a pastor. I have a stack of books on my night stand. There are leaders I can call to ask a quick question. And I watched the political conventions. But I don't know anyone whose dreams involve me | compel me.

I wonder if leadership becomes a co-op after the age of 35? Leaders simply share influence for each other's projects.

Just musing out loud...

Comments

[Scott Fillmer]

I actually listed them on my blogs "about" page. I went and looked at who was pushing and pulling me and just wrote them down for all the world to see :)

[KM]

Ben ,
Your last line is insight that few speak about. As to co op after 35, it does not have to be that way but it is tough, especially if you are not the head guy.
The head guys I have watched up close are notorious for jumping around in the influence game with no real purpose other than you bless my project I'll bless yours. So the ones leading me are the ones I perceive not selling out their names to the latest fad or project. Age has little to do with it IMHO.

[Daniel]

Good question. I've been looking for one for months and am still coming up empty. Is that part of the problem with Gen Y growing up hoping Gen X will share their experiences with them? Because I'm still mentorless.

[daniel d]

thankfully i can say that i do have a few. one or two that know me very well and can speak into me in ways others can't plus a couple others who i'm getting to know better and we are taking turns leading each other (in certain ways) as we gain trust enough to let our guards down enough to be lead.

i guess that is the fundamental issue with being lead isn't it? being vulnerable enough with someone to let them in enough so dreams can be shared and they can speak into you with fear, without motives, etc.?

you noted above that someone who leads you...

"encourages you, pours into you, challenges you"

while i don't know you well enough to have earned the trust to do all of those things yet, i'd sure enjoy at least encouraging you.

not sure it would work from afar but it might be an interesting experiment to get a couple guys together on the phone weekly for chats, prayer, dreams, discussion, encouragement, etc. and see where it goes.

[Terrace Crawford]

I'm like you, I have people I can call or email to advise me (which is awesome)... but nothing like what you've described.

Shoot. Something else to pray about. Adding: Find Leader\Mentor to my agenda.

[Kevin]

I've been quite surprised by this myself. As an associate pastor who's only been in ministry 2 years after 15 years in the computer industry, I've been quite surprised by everyone's "lack" of interest to invest in me... it's almost like I'm now expected to figure all this out on my own.

[Chris]

What Kevin said. There is much talk about mentoring people but very little action. I am dying for someone to invest in my like I try to invest in the students I work with.

Hey Ben, you offering?

Chris

[Dawn Nicole Baldwin]

Great thoughts. And what is lacking for men seems to be even scarcer [is that a word?] for the ladies.

Especially in the ministry world, [not a lot of cross-pollination] with an entrepreneurial bent. I'm not really a "tea/quilter/scrapbook" type and typically avoid womens' retreats like the plague for that reason.

If there are any other like-minded individuals, I'd be interested in connecting