515am.

“DAAAAAAAAADDDD!!!!!!!!” at the TOP of his little lungs.

Jump out of bed. Run down the hall into the 4 year olds room.

“What’s going on buddy?”

“I want to snuggle with you.”

“I thought your room was on fire.”

“Nope. Just want to snuggle.”

You see, we trained him very early not to get out of bed.

“If you need anything, just call us and we will come.”

We though we were the parents of the decade. Easy breezy.

And it worked brilliantly. Until now.

Now he screams every morning. Very early. For us to come snuggle.

I mean, the snuggles are awesome. Just REALLY EARLY in the morning.

We are realizing that we overtrained him.

He’s glued to the bed in the morning.

Training children, employees and customers is a good idea. Until it’s not.

I think it is a good idea for us to consider where we are overtraining in our businesses, organizations and family.

What are we trying to control with our training? Are we overtraining in those spaces? Does our training keep people from making creative decisions? Does it glue them in place?

Over training happens more quickly than we think it does. And it can be disastrous.

May we week pay attention to how we train, and when to turn people loose to lean into their own creative decision making.

Kevin

 

Most of us are in the business of “Proclaiming Something Good.”

How do we get that message out there? To our customers, our friends/family, our partners or donors?

In business, ministry and family/friends, we tend to operate in isolated silos.

Sometimes it is at a result of fear, insecurities, or worry. Other times it is because we think we can muster enough energy to do it all on our own.

We go at it alone. Isolated in a silo.

We must learn to operate in community that is outside of our normal comfort zones.

Don’t only strategize in your office.

Don’t only promote your ideas on social media. Get out and interact with real people!

Don’t only call your customers/supporters when you need something. Give to them! Make deposits into their lives.

We must vow to constantly leave the silo of our office, the silo of our emotions and venture out. 

Out & About into the great unknown with others. That’s where life is the best!

Your silo is full of great things – get out there and share the harvest with people.

We must value hitting the streets and getting out to build authentic relationships, to earn the right to be heard with customers, donors and friends.

What good news do you have to invite people into? It may be a great idea, a revolutionary product, a reconciled relationship or an invigorating ministry direction. Vow with me to leave the silo today.

Kevin

PS – Here is a great story of someone who chose to be Out & About. Not only were the lives of the supporters in the story drastically changed, this decision to operate outside of the silo changed the very course of history.