5 reasons you should leave the Shire

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Kary Oberbrunner

Look around you.

Odds are you won’t retire in your current position. That means your stay is temporary.

For some people this reality causes joy. For others tears. (Your response is incredibly revealing to the deeper melody line that’s playing inside you.)

So how do you know when its your time to leave?

For starters, know this: there is a good time to leave and a bad time. As a founding partner in the new John Maxwell Team, I was able to hear some great insight from him face to face yesterday in one of our conversations.

After our chat, I reflected and wanted to share some of my thoughts with you:

GOOD (a good time to leave / a good type of restlessness:

When you’ve fulfilled your calling
When you’re being pulled toward improvement
When you’re embracing a new assignment
When you’ve reached your potential
When you’ve learned as much as you can from your inner circle

BAD (A bad time to leave / a bad type of restlessness)

When you’re bored
When you’re running from improvement
When you’re escaping your current assignment
When you haven’t paid the price
When you think you’re better than the people around you

Remember, don’t move anywhere else until you’ve done the best where you are. But, don’t stay a day longer than you should.

Disengaged people are dead people.

Ready to leave the Shire inside your head?

Join the rest of the hobbits.

Be Present – Wherever you are, be all there.

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Kary Oberbrunner

I saw something interesting the other day:

A room full of people and no one was talking to each other.

Instead, everyone was on their phone.

They were all “there,” but no one was truly present.

I’m trying to look at my own life and examine areas where I am there, but not present.

Here’s 10 reasons why being present is better:

You cry more.
You laugh more.
You love more.
You see more.
You feel more.
You live more.
You do more.
You listen more.
You reach more.
You are more.

I’m thrilled by this year’s theme for Catalyst Conference: BE PRESENT.

Watch this video and you will see that Director Brad Lomenick is completely committed to reach the goal of helping us BE PRESENT.

Catalyst Atlanta 2011 {Be Present} Preview from Catalyst on Vimeo.

The Catalyst team tells us the inspiration behind the theme:

In our culture of cell phones, laptops, iPad, etc. we really believe this is going to challenge church leaders at the core to be present in their churches, cities, families, and friendships.

I leave you with a challenging quote from Jim Elliot:

Wherever you are, be all there.

Translation? BE PRESENT.

And don’t delay because the Early Bird Rate ends on Thursday (8.25.11).

See you there.

The tribe just gathered. Here’s what you missed and how to still get in.

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Kary Oberbrunner

In his book, best-selling author Seth Godin defined a tribe as:

A group of people connected to each other, to a leader and to an idea.

I orignally got the book free at the Catalyst Conference from leadership guru Brad Lomenick.

So who is our tribe?

Who is our leader?

What is our idea?

What compelled 35 people from all over the country to invest an hour of their lives last Wednesday night?

Why is our group up to 80 people now in week 2?

What truths did we learn?

What leadership secrets did we uncover?

The truth is, there are no secrets. (See for yourself.)

Our recorded call.
Your PDF for the week. (With Blanks or With Answers)
Our Mastermind Facebook Page to network and keep the conversation going. (Post your name and where you are from).

We’d love for you to join the tribe.

Wednesday night we gather again.

Hope you can make it.

For more information click here: Free Leadership Mastermind Group

Hand out or Hand up?

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Kary Oberbrunner

A wise leader knows the difference between giving someone a hand out and a hand up.

I posted this on my facebook status the other day. Related, but a little different than the age-old quote:

Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.—Author unknown

The update started a conversation (see below). But rather, than just dialogue, the real important question is, what are we going to do? Are we going to give either? A hand out or a hand up?

Teresa Riley It seems that Jesus (also a wise leader) was into hand outs: 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25:35-36

22 hours ago · · 2 people
Penny Straley Thomas But he gave the blind sight – thus giving them a hand up into new life; he sent the evil spirits from the insane man into wild pigs – thus lifting the man into new life! Jesus IS THE wise Leader and my source of hope! On the wings of Eagles…

22 hours ago ·
Kary Oberbrunner I see Jesus giving more hand ups then handouts. In fact, check out this one…..

14 hours ago ·
Kary Oberbrunner ‎”What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Mark 10:51

14 hours ago ·
Kary Oberbrunner Acts 3:6

14 hours ago ·
Teresa Riley In both cases, the IMMEDIATE need IS being met. These are not “hand up” cases at all. The guy who was begging for money in acts 3 did so because he literally couldn’t get up and walk. The disciples met his need. Whenever I hear these scripture scrambling examples.. all I think is that WE are looking for a way out of giving hand outs. Jesus makes it VERY clear in Matthew 25:40-42. “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 FOR (this is the reason!) I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,Jesus understood systems. He knows its not a level playing field.

13 hours ago ·
Kary Oberbrunner Great point Teresa. Remember, though I never said Jesus didn’t give hand outs. I believe He gave out hand outs and hand ups. A wise leader knows the difference between the two and when to give which.

11 hours ago ·
Teresa Riley I believe we are to give whatever’s needed without judgment. If we are walking in constant communion with God & full of the Holy Spirit (as I believe the apostles were in acts 3) we will sense what other needs we can meet. I guess I dont agree with the wording “hand up” because it assumes I am “over” the one I’m helping. I’m called to be a servant leader… so I want to serve, give, come under… not give anyone a “hand up.” That’s probably the disconnect.

10 hours ago · · 1 person

What do you think?

One takes more money.

One takes more time.

Which one do you lean toward?

Either?

Both?

Neither?

Do you give God too much credit? 3 reasons why you might.

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Kary Oberbrunner

Too much credit…for God?

Yep.

I’ve seen the trend among Christians for far too long. It contributes tolazy, mundane, status quo living.

In fact, you might be guilty of it yourself.

Because most of us believe that God is sovereign, that He is in control and has predestined life (Psalm 139), we also can fall prey to these tendencies:

We don’t take risks. We assume that if God wants us to do something then He must part the sky and make it obvious. This is diametrically opposed to God’s wishes for His children (Hebrews 11:6).
We blame God. Because He’s the boss we don’t really have a say in the matter. Instead we just sit and sour. We then tell God it’s His fault that nothing is happening in our lives. Paul on the other hand had movement as his default. He assumed God would stop Him if He shouldn’t be doing something (as long as it wasn’t sin) (Acts 16:6-10).
We look to others to tell us what to do. Because we don’t want to own up to our choices and possibly fail, we wait for others to make a decision for us. David waltzed in and had a different mindset. Sure he had his critics, but they secretly envied his courage. (1 Samuel 17).

So what about you? Are you guilty of any? If so, why not step up and take responsibility for your life. Over 60 of you already have. Next Wednesday night we begin our adventure together.

The toughest person to lead is yourself.

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Kary Oberbrunner

The toughest person to lead is yourself.

Can you relate? If so, keep reading (because I want to help).

Most of us want to be better leaders at work, home, and life, but we don’t know how.

As a result we’re stuck. Maybe we’re even stuck in a good place, but we know it’s not the best place. We’re meant to be more, do more, and reach more.

Here is what I know. If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got.

Isn’t it time to break through?

Why not join our 7 week Free Leadership Mastermind Group?

Most people don’t know what this type of group is.

First, what it is:

A group of people who take personal ownership for their own personal growth.
A group of people who are committed to become better leaders at work, home, and life.
A group of people who are serious about reaching their next level.

Now what it isn’t:

It’s not a group of complainers.
It’s not a support group.
It’s not a book study group.

The fact that you’re reading this invitation about improving your leadership probably means you’d be a great addition our group. Besides the cost of the book, the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, the group is free, so you have nothing to lose. The only thing that’s stopping you is your own fear of becoming better.

By joining our group here are 6 things you will receive absolutely free :

7 hours of Leadership Development via our calls.
21 Laws Study Guide (PDF).
Special Facebook Group for additional networking, training, and free resources.
Tools, exercises, and best practices to be more, do more, and reach more.
Dedicated Q and A time to talk through the pressing issues you are facing in your context.
Plus other fun surprises!

If interested, here is all you need to do:

Sign up using the registration below. (You only need to choose the August 10 event to sign up)
Get the book here or at your local bookstore.
Join the weekly conference calls and get ready to learn and grow.

For those that sign up, I’ll send out the reading schedule and details for the call in a couple weeks. I’m doing this group free of charge because I want to invest in you and your leadership. Please contact me if you have any questions. I hope to see you on the call.

You don’t have to be ON FIRE to start, but you have to start to be ON FIRE.

The one thing you can control.

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Kary Oberbrunner

What is the one thing you can control?

People?

Future?

Circumstances?

NOPE.

There is only one thing you can control…

YOURSELF.

Here is what I know:

If you don’t like your circumstances, then quit trying to change them. Focus on what you can control…changing yourself. By changing yourself, you will change your circumstances.

Too simplistic?

Too unbiblical?

First of all it’s more difficult then you think.

Second of all, if it’s unbiblical, then why are we admonished and commanded so many different specific places.

If we didn’t have control, then why command us.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 1-3 who we are. And then in chapters 4-6 he tells us how we should be.

Behavior flows out of our belief.

Make today a day where you take control of the one thing you can control…yourself.

Would you follow yourself?

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Kary Oberbrunner

Lately, I’ve been asking people a question about their own leadership.

If you were not yourself, would you follow yourself?

The replies to this question are very interesting.

Most people shift uneasily, and then they say “No!”

Crazy, hey?

In a leadership context, most people wouldn’t follow themselves?

Then what business do we have asking other people to follow us?

The truth is that we all have leadership GAPS.

But the really important question is, what are we doing to close those GAPS.

Here is what I know:

Before others will choose to believe in you, they naturally judge if you believe in yourself.

The Bible suggests that good leaders provide a good example of what it means to lead and to follow.

Look at Paul’s statement to his followers (1 Corinthians 11:1):

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

In other words, Paul knew he was believable.

Paul said he would follow himself.

Make today a day that you close some of your GAPS.

Make today a day where you become more believable.

If you want to be part of a new initiative I am launching that will help you close your GAPS, then shoot me an email.

(info “at” karyoberbrunner.com)

I will give you more information.

Spaces are limited and this will be a virtual experience so you can be anywhere in the world.

Let’s close our GAPS together.

Our legacy is on the line.

The Details for our Tuesday 6/21 – 9 PM EST Live Conference Call

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Kary Oberbrunner

As you might have heard, tomorrow night at 9 PM EST is our LIVE conference call. (Time Converter)

I can’t wait.

Here are 4 reasons why you will want to listen in:

There will be a Q and A time. (I want to answer your questions)
You will get a free gift.
You will hear exciting updates about Your Secret Name.
You will get a special offer.

–OR—————————————————————————–

Using Skype for your call.

You may need to visit www.Skype.com and download the program. It is free. Select “Get Skype” from the top menu and choose the “Free Skype” option.
After downloading, run the program and select the menu option “Contacts/Add Contact” and add the Skype Name, freeconferencing.7124320900 to your Skype contacts. Respond yes to any questions that pops up.
Once the contact is added and shows as online (in green), select the “Call” button to place the call – if skype has not already placed it for you.
After the call is connected and you are prompted by the operator, select the dial pad (on the bottom menu bar below the dialing screen) and enter the passcode onto the dial pad (including the #). You may use your keyboard number pad. You are then connected. Please remember, if the program times out, just redial and try again.

FOR OUR CANADIAN PARTNERS AND OTHERS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CALLING IN – There are some issues with Bell Canada and some other service providers in dialing the 712 number directly. Please try to connect by dialing 805-360-1075 and then, dialing (712) 432-0900 and entering the pass code.

There are no shortcuts to living out your opus

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Kary Oberbrunner

Work.

There are 2 Latin words for it.

Laboris = toil
Opus = labor of love

Which one are you living out?

Are you a highly paid laborer – laboris?

Or are you living out your Opus?

When you live out your opus your life kind of looks like this quote:

A master in the art of living draws no sharp
distinction between his work and his play; his
labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his
education and his recreation. He hardly knows
which is which. He simply pursues his vision of
excellence through whatever he is doing, and
leaves others to determine whether he is
working or playing. To himself, he always
appears to be doing both.”!
Francois Auguste Rene Chateaubriand