I have started reading Wayne Cordeiro's book 'Leading on Empty'. . I have always pictured Wayne Cordeiro (New Hope Honolulu) as one of those out there, high profile, strong, dynamic, visionary type of leaders; in the vein of Hybels, Maxwell et al. I picked up the book along with a couple of others at Koorong last week. I wanted something that would speak into some of the places I have been over the last 18 months. Normally I would have ignored authors like Cordeiro - you know the type. Its not that I don't respect them, its just that I really have trouble connecting with these people... but t hat's a whole new blog.
Anyway I picked this book up because the title intrigued me. 'What's a high profile, energetic, visionary leader doing with a title like this?' I thought. The book chronicles Cordeiro's own journey through burnout and depression and the lessons he learned through his experience. In spite of my general apprehension, I find myself empathising with his journey - even great leaders have human failings and fragile natures. I am appreciating his honesty as he chronicles his own journey and the insights and strategies he shares for dealing with this. Right now I'm looking at 6 of the most important areas of life - the 5% that 'shapes our souls'. Cordeiro discovered that he was devoting 85% of his time to stuff that didn't need it. Only 5% was spent on the really important stuff - the stuff that only he can do! The stuff that God has shaped him to do.
I think that in a sense that is where I am right now - part of my leaving was made much easier by the certain knowledge that I was being bent out of shape - forced into a role, a mould that just didn't fit. Looking forward to reading some more.
No comments:
Post a Comment