Achuckallen

Instigating Better

Leadership

Forget New Normal – It’s a New Currency

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A NEW CURRENCY by AChuckAllen

All I hear is talk about the “new normal.” Does anybody know what that means? Seriously, if Anthony Fauci’s version of new normal is accurate, he’s the next President of the United States, and we will all be wearing masks well into 2030. I don’t know about you, but the heck with a new normal. I don’t want the old normal, and I’ll pass on what “they say” is the latest version of normal.

I stumbled on something that I thought was life-altering, earth-shaking news during the pandemic and all of the bluster surrounding it. I found a new currency and investment strategy that has paid off in a HUGE way. Before I launch out in this new and better way to a far better life than “normal, ” let me stop and say that despite the lives that we have lost and the pain inflicted by this virus, there has been some good that came out of it as well.

If you lost someone in this mess, I am so sorry. I know dear friends that are in Heaven today as a direct result of this terrible virus. I’ve had it, and it was a big deal. I had a few days that I thought I would be intubated and wondered if that trip to the hospital would be one of “those stories.” I truly underestimated COVID-19. I trust that we are headedb out of “the long dark winter.”

Last year, I began seeking every possible way that Sugar Hill Church could serve people in need. Everything in me wanted to hunker down, care for me and mine, and let everybody manage independently. I mean, that’s what selfish, self-centered people like me do. But I couldn’t get past the firm belief that the Divine was calling me to my burning bush moment. Sitting in my Chevy Colorado, enjoying a moment of solitude, I was so moved by God’s presence that I was tear-filled and awed. Why would the Creator and Sustainer of the universe give a hoot about me and what I thought about COVID-19, the pandemic, the economy, and families in need? I don’t have a huge platform, a huge church, a vast audience. I’m just Chuck.

But I know that I know God was prompting me. I mean, I know it! When God brought Moses up to the Mountain, He said, “Come up to me on the mountain and STAY HERE, and I will give you the tablets of stone…” Did you see it? God Himself said to Moses, don’t just show up, show up and be fully, completely present! Stay Here! It’s like when Jenny says to me, “If you are listening to me, I need full-faced attention.” That’s my reminder to stop the impossibility of multi-tasking and give her my full attention.

The new currency in America today isn’t showing up. That’s part of it, but anybody can show up. It’s “BEING THERE” or “STAYING THERE.”

Years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a small gathering in a tiny theatre in New York City. When I say tiny, I’m talking—about thirty seats. I was attending a marketing workshop lead by Seth Godin. Seth is one of the brightest people on the planet and a marketing genius. I was the only non-profit faith leader out of the twenty-two people that paid a considerable amount of money to hear Seth dismantle and rebuild each of their marketing plans. When it came to my turn, Seth, being a practicing Jew, said, “I don’t even know where to start with you, but let’s try.” He asked a series of poignant questions and then hit the nail with my head. He asked this question. “What would be unique in your space, in your community?” Bam! That’s the new and more significant currency. What is rare and unique in America today?

Here are FOUR unique and rare commodities that are
creating a healthy new currency and economy of scale:

Directly Serving Others. If people are hungry, feed them. If they need shelter, house them. If they need clothing, clothe them. I’ve discovered that people remember and appreciate your assistance more than any other time in my 61 years of life. Sugar Hill Church is still feeding more than 600 families each week and tutoring more than 200 children each week. The amount of support to assist families directly affected by COVID-19 has reached far more than $750,000, JUST LAST YEAR.

Directly Addressing Mental and Emotional Health. I doubt if there has ever been a time that so many Americans have carried so much anxiety or stress in their daily lives. The expectations that we place on ourselves and the expectations that we inherit are simply overwhelming. Add to that the guilt we heap on ourselves and the unmet expectations we place our souls, and you have a recipe for a far greater pandemic than COVID-19. We are working hard to build a Healthy Holistic Home Service that will assess and professionally treat men, women, couples, children, and families with real, tangible help for emotional and mental health. That is a huge undertaking, but we must recognize that we all can serve with help in the currency of BEING THERE.

Directly Offering Words of Affirmation and Encouragement. Do you know what is unique and rare in America today? KINDNESS! We have become a culture of critics. We see something that has zero impact on us but criticize it and post negatively about it non-stop! We find what is wrong with anybody and everybody that is leading. The end goal? To catch them doing something wrong. No wonder our best and brightest leaders run away from serving our land. I know firsthand how cruel people can be. I’ve heard more than my share, and most often, it comes from people that claim to be Christians. No wonder folks say, “church isn’t for me.” I have determined to be rare and unique. I want our church to be full of people that love God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. But I want them to be normal. Normal as in not self-righteous know-it-alls, but kind, gracious people that offer that rare currency of affirmation and encouragement.

Directly Listening, Not Thinking About What I am About to Say While Pretending to Listen. That’s a mouthful. Do you know how rare it is to find people that listen? Rare and unique enough that we pay billions of dollars to therapists to listen to us! I’m a believer in counseling and therapy, but often I think we need someone that gives a hoot and will listen to us.

These four things are rare and unique. Seth Godin would be proud of the lesson I learned that day in New York. Now, the question is, will my ego sustain the neglect that is required to act on these four currencies? If so, I do not doubt that the Divine will bless them hugely. To quote a brilliant man, David Orr, “The planet does not need more successful people. But it does need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, and storytellers. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane.”

Join me in this new and better currency of service and kindness. I’m discovering that these investments’ net gain is greater than any other commodity on the planet.

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with ACHUCKAllen

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4forFRIDAY is a weekly collection of recommended books, albums, podcasts, gadgets, sermons, resources or reviews. Thanks for subscribing and thanks for sharing.

Here is this week’s recommended reads, listens, learnings and reviews. Please let me know what your thoughts are and what you agree or disagree with. I love hearing from you guys.

A Really Good Read: I DECLARE WAR; 4 Keys to Winning the Battle Within Yourself by Levi Lusko

In I Declare War, Levi Lusko candidly shares about his personal struggles and challenges with managing himself. He identifies four tools that we all have at our disposal – thoughts, words, behaviors and power. Lusko will guide you thru the way to utilize these God-given tools to overcome the battle with managing you!

A GREAT LISTEN/WATCH: Lauren Daigle – “Tremble”

This gal can sing, y’all. After seeing her live and listening to her for 3-4 years, I think she’s the real deal. Crossover, Ellen Show, Jimmy Fallen, Carnegy Hall. This kid is special. Enjoy, and you are welcome!

A RESOURCE CLOSE TO MY HEART: The Weekday Meditation

I discovered the power of meditation several years ago, but couldn’t find a simple Christ-filled meditation that allowed for a time of simple, powerful, guided prayer and quietude. That’s why I created the WeekdayMeditation.com. In 7-8 minutes you can hear an encouraging word, walk thru a guide prayer and gratitude time and a brief, but poignant time of quietude to hear from the Divine. Please subscribe via iTunes or listen daily on the Sugar Hill Church APP. You can also find it at weekdaymeditation.com

A REALLY GOOD MOVIE: The Upside Starring Kevin Hart, Nicole Kidman and Brian Cranston

Okay, it’s a bit crude and yes, the use of weed is used in some funny ways that might freak you out, but don’t let that keep you from finding the redeeming qualities in this “based on a true story” film. It’s been one of my favorite films in a long time!

And a solid quote from Mark Batterson:

“The most important law of ecology is this: L ≥ C. For an organism to survive, the rate of learning must be equal to or greater than the rate of change happening around them. With the rate of change escalating, we must learn faster, learn better, and learn more.”

If you can’t make it to Sugar Hill Church on Sunday:

Have a great weekend! –AChuck

Football and You

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football-game

I’m a football fan. Maybe even a football freak. But one of the realities of being a fan is that you are the shorter version of fanatic. I remember watching the NFL and the AFL on a black and white TV with rabbit ears with my Dad and thinking, this is a great game.

I’m a Georgia Bulldog fan. That means that I fully expect to start the season 5-0…but wait for it…October and November are coming! I’m an Atlanta Falcons fan. I fully expect to be missing my heart as I watch it stomped upon, one more time!

But let’s face it. Anybody can have a day where nothing goes right. Kind of like the University of Tennessee two days ago. Or the Falcons earlier today.

The question is, do these teams have three critical elements that all of us need to overcome a setback and get back in the win column. Our lives are similar to the game of football. So, here are three elements that you might find helpful in your life’s game.

  1. Strong teams and strong players recognize that you are going to fail, but that doesn’t make life fatal. Every single winner has had losses. The real question is what did you learn from the loss that matters. Losing is essential to appreciate winning! Get off your pity party and get back up, dust yourself off and get back in the game!
  2. There will always be naysayers! Plenty of people stand on the sidelines and babble on about what they should have done. It’s always an easy call from the cheap seats! A buddy of mine once said that if you are pedaling uphill as hard as you can, you don’t have time to deal with every yapping dog that is chasing after you! Leave the stands and get on the field. There are plenty of things to focus on. Dream poopers aren’t one of them. Press On!
  3. Get back in the gym. Get back in the film room. Refine your trade. Work your plan! Stay the course. When we surrender our willingness to learn, we have surrendered our right to lead. Preparation is the fuel of champions! My friend, Dr. Jay Strack offers this thought on getting prepared to win, or to win again: “The future belongs to those who are prepared.”

Don’t offer emotional, uneducated assumptions from the cheap seats. Get in the game. And when all goes wrong, take your losses and the critics and toss them away, after and only after you have learned all that you can from them. Then get back in the gym. Get back in the film room and get back on the field.

You have been created to strive for excellence. You are equipped to overcome loss and the critics that come with it. Once you are prepared, play to win! Walk off the field spent and exhausted from the battle and lay your head on the pillow tonight and close your eyes as you think over the events of this day with the joy of knowing that you did all you could, with all you have. Friend…there will always be days when you must look in the mirror and state: “All I can do is all I can do. And all I can do is enough!

–AChuck

The Taxes We Pay

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The Taxes We Pay with ACHUCKAllen

It’s that time of year, again. Tax Time. Its that day when you look at your previous years income and realize that you have paid for a lot of Americanism. If you lived in the Ukraine, Syria, or Somali, you’d gladly pay those taxes to have the freedom and prosperity that we enjoy, here in the USofA. 

But there are other taxes we pay. 

  • There is a tax on leading anything: You will be criticized. 
  • There is a tax on being a parent: You will be broken-hearted. 
  • There is a tax on a happy marriage: You will learn to sacrificially compromise. 
  • There is a tax on Peace: You must remain strong. 
  • There is a tax on friendships: You learn to hurt when they hurt and celebrate when they celebrate. 
  • There is a tax on serving others: You will be taken advantage of. 
  • There is a tax on loving Jesus – Openly: You will be hated and belittled. 
  • There is a tax on sin: Be sure your sin will find you out. 
  • There is a tax on giving: Living with an open hand will cost you something. 

Whatever we do, that truly counts for something worthwhile, will cost us something. King David said, “I will not bring an offering to the Lord, which costs me nothing.” 

Let’s be found guilty of paying the tax on leading, loving and serving well. Let’s not grumble over that tax because King David is still right, in 2017. Live loud, live large, and live this life with an open hand. That will require a tax – a tax well spent. 

Peace — AChuck

YOU

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If you’re a leadership and productivity geek like me, you probably know that thought leaders and scholars the world over have conducted mountains of research to answer the question: What are the characteristics of great leaders?

I’d like to suggest that we are never qualified as a “great leader” without one particular and crucial trait for success.

In fact, I’ll go as far as saying that this is the one leadership quality any person aspiring to lead others, absolutely must add to their personal development plan in 2017. What is this trait that great leaders must discover and hone? Self-awareness. And I believe it is a learned skill.

Self-awareness requires each of us to assess not only our own strengths but also our shortcomings, limitations and blind spots. What you don’t know about yourself might be limiting your relationships, leadership, and joy. The lack of self-awareness most certainly increases stress, tension and productivity. 

So where do you start in your quest for accurately assessing your self-awareness?

Thanks for asking…Let’s start with a few questions. Ask yourself…

  • Why do the same issues keep coming up over and over in my business, marriage, friendships, health, or life?
  • Why do I respond to situations with anger, fear, optimism, or withdrawal? And once identified, address them. 
  • What makes me think, act, and feel the way I do? Especially when I feel defeated or negative thoughts take control of my mind.
  • What makes me get up in the morning? What pushes me to give more of myself?
  • What tasks are torture to me? What are those things that drive me to procrastination?

But first, get over yourself! We all have strengths. We all have weaknesses. It is when we primarily function in our strengths that we discover contentment and fulfillment. That fulfillment is then greatly increased when we surround ourselves with people that are strong in our weakness and weak in our strengths. We were created by the Divine to live in community and in need of other folks that make us better and we in kind make them better. That never happens apart from a healthy self-awareness.

Ego and entitlement need not apply–it works against increased self-awareness. As we get introspective about some fault or shortcoming we have, we need to handle the obstacle of denial. Denial is a powerful detriment to personal development, and it can keep even the brightest and most successful people stuck. It can be the greatest hurdle that we face in becoming a healthy, self-aware leader. Remember that the brighter your strength, the more glaring your weakness is. 
I think we’re all pretty much guilty of that at some point or another in our careers. We all have egos that need to be stroked, fears and insecurities that need to be smoothed. And we all have emotions that need to be tamed and tucked away.

Many of us don’t realize that success may be just around the corner but first we need to humbly acknowledge the blind spots that need to be identified and overcome. Once you identify those blind spots, this effort will be one of the biggest wins of your life. And your family, friends, and relationships will thank you for it.

Just in case you are pondering the validity of this exercise, here are a few thoughts from Scripture to encourage you.

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

Galatians 6:3 “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”

And for good measure, let’s all take a deep breath and remember that Jesus had a lot to say about great leaders. He said that “if you want to be great, you must become a servant.” The true measure of self-worth and self-awareness is found in our willingness to serve, not in who serves us.

Stay Cool, Chuck