Influence | christopherhildreth

Archive for the ‘Influence’ category

Q Conference – culture – 14 days

March 27, 2008

Culture is perhaps the most intriguing part of the Q Conference. Since last year the questions and speakers comments have found a way to entangle themselves in a great deal of my thought and conversation.

Being aware and learning how to see into culture can help us in our developing and creating culture that evokes the core of the gospel. Christ, in his many forms, shows up throughout our local and global culture. If we are to become cognizant of his presence we must first shed preconceptions and assumed views. The ability to step outside of ourselves and view our life as an observer would view our life, greatly enhances our success in separating the vision of our lives from the assumed to the actual.

This is one of the greatest results of last years Q Conference. I was able to look at the world that exists around me, if for a few days, from an entirely different perspective. This change in viewpoint allows for great growth and new thought sustainability.

Categories: Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Q conference, religion

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Countdown to Q Conference

March 26, 2008

In 15 days I’ll be headed to the Big Apple for the second annual Q Conference. It is hosted by the Fermi Project and led by Gabe Lyons, the originator of the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta – a must if you haven’t experienced it yet. Last year Q was held in Atlanta at The Tabernacle – a great venue.

To find out about the presenters and their info. A great blog is Life of Linne. He has posted them in question format and it is a good refresher. One of the great thoughts early on last year came from Gabe. It talked about not being offended, but being provoked. He elaborated that provocation leads to engagement. Engagement is exactly where I want to be. Kevin Kelley was by far my favorite presenter. I had read a couple of his books and knew they were the inspiration for the Matrix Trilogy.

Being able to talk with him for a brief time was truly an honor. His mind is able to think ahead while still remaining in the present. Though his talent is in being able to spot the trends of the future, his words were startlingly relevant for today.

Categories: Awareness, Creativity, Influence, Q conference

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The Real X-Men

March 25, 2008

The title can go for both men and women, but it defines a group of people with whom I am feeling closer and closer. In this specific moment in history, particularly religious history, we are exiting a strictly modernistic approach to all things religious. No more pigeon-holing and walls of denominational exclusions. Yet while the shift is obvious and large enough to guarantee it’s further progression, the trip isn’t over. While we are leaving an era of dissection understood and hypothesis tested for a place of trusted uncertainty, this point of gap between the leaving and the arriving will for some be the parenthesis in eternity where their lives are lived.

These are the real X-Men. To understand and perceive a shifting in perception and function in the modern religious landscape is first to be commended, to have acted upon that feeling is courageous. Some have felt the change and remained… waiting. Others have seen the change and abandoned the past to embrace the unknown. Still others have sought to link the two and in many cases been “torn asunder” spiritually and emotionally.

As in the movie of the same name, the X-Men were something new. Some were frightened and wanted to “cure” them, but they understood that what had occurred was not a “disease” but simply who they were born to be. Most likely I will not live to see the other side of this river of change, my life will have been lived out not having rested on solid ground, but on restless waves. Still, I know that though the river is full of change now – once the traverse is complete the journey will be remembered as have been made on a river of dreams.

Categories: Belief, Context, Cultural Ideas, Influence, religion

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Jung

March 23, 2008

“What you resist, persists.” That was spoken by Carl Jung, one of my favorite people. I know some would question, but I really do enjoy reading about Jung and the perception he had on life and the formation of our inner person.

This quote resounds with me. When we focus our attention on negative things, we find ourselves surrounded by more of the same. When we strive and put forth all our effort in one direction against one idea or issue, it seems that the idea or issue grows in magnitude right before our eyes.

Have you wanted to start eating healthy, and as soon as you make “the commitment” every fast food chain suddenly comes out with brand new sandwiches? You finally decide you need to start saving money, and as quick as you deposit the first bit into your savings, the greatest sale is announced. Do you find yourself asking – “What gives?”

Instead of focusing our interest on the negative, put the positive in front of your eyes and center on those things.

It has been said that energy flows where attention goes. If you want the negatives to have energy and momentum in your life – put those things in front of you, but if you want the positive actions and issues in your life to grow and become energized – put the spotlight on them and see what happens.

Categories: Belief, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Life

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Barbizon Lighting, Penelope and Customer Service

March 21, 2008

Frequently, I have the pleasure of ordering stage lighting products from Barbizon Lighting. They have many offices, but I go to the one in Atlanta since it is relatively close. Over the past few years I have come to know a particular sales person who deserves credit and admiration. Her name is Penelope and she is the personification of the perfect salesperson.

I say this because first, have you ever wanted to proclaim the wonderment of a salesperson? Probably not. It is precisely because we encounter too often sub-par salespeople that those who embrace their gift rise to the surface. Don’t get me wrong, the complete sales force of Barbizon Lighting in Atlanta are wonders to work with. Penelope rises to the surface because she makes me wish I had more money to buy things with. I really want her to sell me more stuff.

She has found her niche and she owns it. Too many times we vocalize about people who didn’t do this or that – I wanted to give honor where honor was due to a person who definitely deserves it.

Kudos to you, Penelope! I can’t wait to buy more lights!

Categories: Context, Creativity, Influence, Leadership

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How to be a Great Leader

March 15, 2008

I couldn’t resist that title. There are probably a hundred books with at least that concept in the title. Most of them I’ve read, but here is a fact I thought timely.

Next week we will start a new series called, FAQ. We will look at the relevance of having 100% of the information for making decisions. Truth is even if you waited around for a very long time you would never have 100% of the information about anything.

In the Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, Michael Harvey wrote that curiosity is a trait that “stimulates learning and concurrently, increases the effectiveness of decision making and quality management in the global marketplace.” It seems that leaders with a bend toward the curious succeed at problem solving by “filling in the gaps between what one knows and what one wishes to know.”

This is where the joy and mystery live. Between what we know and seek to know is where we tend to find ourselves most often anyway. The ability to fill this gap with real life and following our intuition/spirit, I believe is the cornerstone to a well-lived life.

Categories: Cultural Ideas, Goals, Influence, Leadership, Strengths

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Checklist

March 14, 2008

This may seem like a mundane word, but it provides access to some amazing and interesting bits of food for thought. The biggest point to make is that to avoid blind spots institute checklists.

Hospitals use checklists to save lives every time they insert an IV line. Checklists give people the best way to do things – a clear cut “right way”.

In any business we do certain things over and over. Through the passage of time a certain amount of overconfidence can cause us to do things without thinking – think of the rate of auto accidents near to home; a route we take over and over and soon do as second nature.

Even when we do institute an actual checklist in situations we have to be wary of checklist creep. We have to discipline ourselves not to short change a working system.

To be candid, when we use checklists we make fewer mistakes. We all have things we do over and over again. Take these things and put them in checklist form. This is the one sure fire way to eliminate at least some of the blind spots we all share.

Categories: Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Life

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Life In Context

March 13, 2008

We often find we have a lot of people giving a lot of options as to how our life should be lived. Many do this because they are convinced that they “have our best interest” at heart, or that they have a better perspective of our life from “outside”.

I will be the first to say that having input from trusted people is a must in our lives, especially when you are in a position of leadership and given influence. That being said, these people are not random – they are chosen because of their knowledge of you as a person and leader. They have the ability to sift through personality to character.

We all have different personalities. I’ve worked with people who were very meticulous in their approach, but I’ve also worked for guys who were anything but hands-on. Those are personality differences. Anger issues and control problems are something entirely different.

I’ve been chewed out during a service on the platform and maintained a smile, but it was a point of evaluating that there existed a character issue that would not be solved by simple discussion. I’ve also asked that communication about service information be handled better – this is a personality issue, and was solved quickly and painlessly; the former situation resulted in my leaving a place of employment.

In every position and situation, self honesty is the most important thing to keep front and center. You are living your life and ultimately it will be you who literally lives with the results of your decisions. Input from others is great and necessary, but that input cannot run your life and make decisions for you. Weigh your choices and go with what you know is right for you at that time. Only then can you weather criticism and praise and come through either with confidence and a level head – both of which seem to become more rare the further up the leadership pipeline you go.

Categories: Context, Influence, Life

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Richard Florida

March 12, 2008

Richard Florida is the guru of the Creative Class. His book, The Flight of the Creative Class, has opened up a new way of looking at what being creative means for more than just the individual. The book discusses the “global competition for talent” and offers ways the United States can compete.

What I really like is his new book, Who’s Your City. In this book he discusses the attitude that “cities should focus on attracting high-paying, attractive jobs. Economic growth and a thriving jobs market would attract the best talent, right? Wrong. It turns out that it’s more important for cities to focus on creating a strong, diverse talent base. By fostering a strong creative class, cities are assured of future economic growth and prosperity.”

In an interview Florida also says something that needs no more interpretation than to simply read it:

“Talent and creativity do not reside in the individual. They reside in the relationship.” Think about that one for awhile.

Categories: Books I'm Reading, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence

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Jeffrey Sachs

March 11, 2008

Jeffrey Sachs is the author of The End of Poverty – which you should read if you haven’t, you should. His new book, Common Wealth, is like a textbook for the world.

In the book he lists four major things that need to be done in order to prevent a global economic meltdown.

1) Environmental Sustainability

2) Stabilization of the world’s population

3) The end of extreme poverty

4) Effective global cooperation

Despite the doom and gloom feel you could get from the title and index, the book itself is very readable and provides real optimism for both individuals and governments if the paths offered are followed.

Categories: Books I'm Reading, Cultural Ideas, Influence

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