Be the Underdog #7 – You're More Connected than You think You are
One of the greatest drivers of our leadership success are the connections we are able to form, have and maintain. And the ground is not level when it comes to connections in the life of underdog leaders. Some of us were born with better contacts and connections then others, but it doesn’t mean we all can’t do something about how and to whom we’re connect to.
Three Thoughts on Connection for every Underdog Leader:
1. Start where you are.
Don’t let what you don’t have keep you from what you can have. When we moved to southwest Florida in 2002, we knew nobody, but we didn’t let that stop us. I immediately started seeking out other pastors in town to honor them and learn from them. I started reading books and listening to CD’s (remember those) of pastors and leaders I wanted to be like. I started making connections where I was.
2. See connections differently.
The world has changed in the last decade thanks to the Internet. No longer are things like space and time a barrier to our connections. The world is small. Several years ago, I had a girl come to me with a desire to do missions overseas. She wanted to know what I thought she needed to do. My advice to her was to find 5 missions organizations who were doing what she wanted to do and learn everything about them. Study them for an hour a night. Then read 20 books from famous missionaries. Then find every audio recording online she could about what she wanted to do overseas. I finished by saying, “If you’ll do that, in 1 year, you’ll be a lot closer to going on the mission field then you are right now.”
The same is true with us today! Where do you want to be in 1 year? Then seek out what you need to know online. See it as a 2nd job! Get passionate about it. Don’t make excuses, instead leverage the connections you have through technology to get where you want to go.
3. Make the Most of your Connections.
Finally, identify the connections you presently have (even if you think they’re mediocre) and make the most of them. In 2002, we developed the phrase, “We can learn something from everyone.” Adopt that mindset and see how far it will take you with the connections God has presently given you.
In the life of a leader, few things are as important as the connections we have and maintain. As an Underdog leader, you’ll have to work hard to consciously make the most of the connections God gives you.
For more information on the God of the Underdogs book, go to: www.TheUnderdogsBook.com