The Invisible Effect

I read this the other day on Seth Godin's Blog. It's a tribute to the cumulative effect that Invisibles have in organizations. So many things are overlooked when it comes to success and nurturing momentum, often organizations lose ground because they fail to see all the influences involved and focus on the visible things. A good word for those questioning conventional wisdom. Whoop! Kev


Won by a walk

I was just informed by the resident baseball fan that the Mets won a game by a walk. By a walk!

Of course, in a 4 to 3 baseball game, you don't win by a walk. You win because before the walk, you scored three runs, and you win because before the walk you limited the other side to three runs. The walk was merely the last event.

The last event has huge impact for organizations. When a non-profit fundraiser brings home a million dollar donation, there's a lot of celebration and the fundraiser (deservedly) gets a lot of credit. But what about the person who started the group thirty years ago? Or the firm that named it or the volunteers that staff it or the heroic work one employee did in Rwanda? What about the CFO who has never missed a quarter in turning in tax returns or the admin who makes that donor feel so welcome every time she stops by?

Marketers take a lot of credit, because marketing is near the end of the game. Part of my mission is to move the work marketers do closer to the beginning of the game. Not because there's more glory there, but because there's more leverage. If you build the right thing in the first place, you're more likely to get a walk at the end.

HUGE! K

Packed!!!!

Man!, Do we serve an Amazing God or what!!! Yesterday was Easter at the Pointe and it Rocked!! Over 4300 people came and worshiped together and heard stories of life change and experience an opportunity to know Jesus Personally. Dwight delivered the Goods and our incredible volunteers and core people served well and created room for a lot of people who bumped into Jesus yesterday.....some for the very first time. I cried when I watched that video and realized that those stories were the result of God working through countless people. People who set aside their agendas, preferences and focus to serve, make room and contribute to a mission that is outwardly focused! That my friends is Jesus with skin on! I am so proud and thankful to be a part of a group of like minded people committed to reach people by making Jesus famous in our community!
I tip my hat to all of you!!!!! God Is Up To Something! Whoop! Kev

Props from Bubba

Recently, John had a post on his blog about playing Bubba and pumped me up in the process. I just want to say thanks to John for the kind words, but I will say this, Bubba is a freak!, and has a unique comic genius. Many think that I reel him in but the truth is he does it himself! Now that is hard my friend, props to you Bubba! The world will never be the same. Here's the post check it out.

It’s been a while since Bubba Joe appeared in KidStuf. Well…he was back Sunday—in full Bubba force. Man, it was wild. Honestly, I love doing Bubba Joe—it’s always fun being on stage in KidStuf but last Sunday TOTALLY ROCKED! Man, it was a blast! Here are a few pics:



Now, I think it’s important for me to point this out: I have people come up to me all the time and tell me how hilarious they think Bubba is. I’m honored and flattered, HOWEVER, this must be added: Bubba would not be nearly as funny if it weren’t for his straight-man, Kevin West. Really, Kevin is amazing as a straight-man. Strong. He offsets Bubba Joe perfectly. He told me Sunday that it’s so hard for him not to laugh sometimes (because, truthfully, he doesn’t always know what Bubba’s going to say). But Kevin always nails it.

So here’s to you, Mr. Bubba Joe Straight-Man. You’re a real man of genius.

Leading In Beta

Somewhere between ineffectiveness and infatuation is a "Leadership Trap". As leaders we are coached to be learners so we read, discuss, plan, process, adapt and network and we find ourselves stuck short of application. Truth is it's easier to live in beta, to talk the game and forget to play the game. Somewhere deep inside of us is this desire to succeed without experiencing failure...ie...Gain without the Pain. Sometimes it's best to stop reading and do something, balancing the world of words with the gift of experience. Bottom line, credible leadership is directly connected to your ability to balance the world of beta with the world of trial and error...in other words from my bud, Big Black....Got to "Do Work"!

In search for dolphin leather

Recently I have met with a number of Churches working through the process of implementing a prevailing Family Ministry. I often hear about the obstacles and the overwhelming feeling of leaders wondering if what they are trying to do is impossible, when I read this post from Seth Godin it rocked my world and I hope it rocks yours...Whoop! Kev

There's a story in the bible with very specific instructions for building an ark. Included in the instructions is a call for using tanned dolphin leather. Regardless of your feelings about the historical accuracy of the story, it's an interesting question: why create an impossible mission like that? Why encourage people who might travel 100 miles over their entire lifetime to undertake a quest to find, capture, kill, skin and eventually tan a dolphin?

My friend Adam had an interesting take on this. He told me that the acquisition of the leather is irrelevant. It was the quest that mattered. Having a community-based quest means that there's less room for whining, for infighting and for dissolution. Having a mission not only points everyone in the same direction, it also creates motion. And motion in any direction is often better than no motion at all.

All around you, people are telling you two things:
1. whatever you want, forget it, it's impossible, and
2. sit still, preserve resources, lay low.

And yet, the people who are succeeding, creating change and (not coincidentally) are happier aren't listening to either of these pieces of advice. Instead, they're on the search for dolphin leather.

Frank Sinatra had it wrong. Your dream shouldn't be impossible, but it sure helps if it's improbable. Don't choose your dreams based on what is certain to happen, choose them based on what's likely to cause the change you want to occur around you.


KEEP FIGHTING....HEY NOBODY SAID THIS WOULD BE EASY! Kev