I am going through Dr. Henry Cloud’s book, 9 Things a Leader Must Do.  The book has been a great challenge for me and I would recommend everyone to read it who finds them self in some type of leadership position, either at work, church, or a parent at home.

I thought I would share just a little of what I am learning through this book journey.

#1—Leaders MUST Excavate their soul.

God has put into every leader the talents and gifts to be the leader He wants them to be.

Leadership success is the process of digging up the treasures of the invisible soul in order to bring dreams, desires, and talents into the visible world  –Dr. Cloud

In order for a leader to optimize his leadership he/she must:

• become aware of his/her dreams, desires, talents, and other treasures of the soul.
• Listens to them and values them as life itself.
• Takes steps to develop them, beginning in very small ways.
• Seeks coaching and help to make them grow.
• Does not care as much about his/her results, just continues to express his/her soul-treasures where they can.

Avoidance of risks is the greatest risk of all!!!!  –Dr. Cloud

Key passages to study:

• Matthew 25.14-30—Parable of the talents.
• Proverbs 4.23—Wellspring of life.

week 1–noticing needs

seeing it [Matthew 25:34-40]

³⁴Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”

³⁷Then these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?”

⁴⁰And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”

the hard work of noticing it

[A] The world is mostly good and needs little adjustment or help

[B] The world is mostly a mess and is in need of serious help

[C] I haven’t really thought much about the world… I’m a mess

[D] I haven’t really thought much about the world… I’m not a mess

[E] I am not OK with injustice, poverty, disease, isolation, racism, etc.

[F] I am OK with injustice, poverty, disease, isolation, racism, etc.

“the world” on god’s post-it… [isaiah 61:1-2//Luke 4:18-19]

¹The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
      for the Lord has anointed me
      to bring good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
      and to proclaim that captives will be released
      and prisoners will be freed.
²He has sent me to tell those who mourn
      that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
      and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

my post-it note

What does God want me to do today for Him?