Global Leadership Summit - Day 1

As I walked into the conference, I felt a little anxious.  I grabbed my name badge and took a seat, as I started to see some familiar faces I took a deep breath and relaxed a bit, then my husband sat down next to me, and I was perfect :)   This wasn't 'real' anxiety, this was excited anxiety... knowing I was walking into a game changing event for this little lion...


Bill Hybels opened and asked me what my challenge level was (a little low)? Where I do my best work (when I'm just challenged enough)? How I deal with challenging people (I don't know)? Am I naming, facing and resolving my problems ( I think so)?  Have I examined the core of what I am/believe lately (not enough)?  And has my world been rocked recently, in a good way (today it was!!)?

Len Schlesinger told me that I have to "believe in the future by creating it first."  He spoke about how we have to start breaking down why status quo isn't good enough, then create and idea of how it could/should be... then take action.  Schlesinger was all about action, and we know lions love action, I was all over this.  He told me to just take small steps with the skills and tools I already have, not to get caught up in what I am trying to do, just worry about what to do next.  And that failure doesn't mean game over it just means I get to try again with more experience (I am working on this skill).

Cory Booker opened with a video of his life as the Mayor of Newark, NJ.  His personality is so bright, his character seems to emanate from him at all times.  Booker asked me what it means to stand up for something?  What I will do with what I have been given?  I have wrote about this before... letting our light shine, being grateful for what God has given us (much is expected to whom much has been given) and using our blessings to make our light shine even brighter.  He told me that how I see the outside world is a reflection of what is inside me. If you see goodness then you have joy and hope within your heart, if you see evil then you have doubt and pessimism in your heart.  So before you preach or teach, change yourself and show how you live before you expect anyone else to change.

Rev. Brenda Salter McNeil challenged me to resist the temptation to back-off when things get tough and to move forward (I knew this would come up, I'm a work in progress).  She challenged me to break through sound barriers, how?  First by praying for a divine mandate (I'm still waiting on this one), then by naming your catalytic events and then to mobilize people to move.  She warned us not to be the type of leader that looks at catastrophe as a negative, look at it as an opportunity.


Over all everyone seemed, to me, to be telling me to TAKE ACTION and to MOVE FORWARD.  I didn't really think I had been standing still, but I guess I am.  I will be continuing to pray for a divine mandate, for God to allow me to see what He is calling me to be.  But while I'm waiting, oh so patiently, I will be continuing to take steps forward... they might be small, but they will be steps.  Action requires movement....

I'm looking forward to Day 2!!!!