outliers book review

 

Outliers: The Story of Success

by Malcolm Gladwell

Here is a book that I picked up at save-on because I heard that his last book, Blink, was amazing.  It was on sale, so I decided to get a copy.  I read this book over the weekend.  I honestly could not put it down.  This is a book if you like looking at why some people are more successful than others.  I appreciate this book, and what the author brings to the subject of success.  

An outlier is not something you hear ever in conversation.  An outlier is someone who is a master at what they do.  When Gladwell describes an outlier names like Bill Gates, The Beatles, and other successful people.  He looks at what is common in all these successful people and draws his conclusion.  

I would recommend this book.  It was an easy read.  Once you pick it up you won’t want to put it down till it is finished.

Did you know?

 

 

I just watched this cool video on Alan Hirsch’s blog.  I wonder what this will mean for the world, for the church, for youth ministry?

lessons from the top 100 in the states?

Here is an interesting article at , http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Ed-Stetzer-Outreach-100&ac=true

A interesting look at how the top 100 fastest growing churches in are doing it. A few interesting insights are: digital connections, multi-sites, church for all ages, and being intentional with 20 somethings. All these are so important for the church in North America to grow. I was just handed some stats from canada recently and I seemed to have misplaced it…oh well, It was saying that the age group 19-30 is at the greatest risk for not going to church. The sad thing about this generation, which I am apart of, do not see the relevance in church. Honestly, I do not think they will be back either when they have kids. I have thoughts on this and will be posting on all four areas laid out by ed stetzer in this article.

The 5 dysfunctions of a team

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable (Hardcover)

by Patrick M. Lencioni

I have this goal right now to read at least one leadership book a month to not only improve my sweet leadership skills (joking).  Honestly there were books during seminary that I really wanted to read but never had the chance.   So, here is the first book.

The book is laid out in a easy to read narrative story of a team or fable.  Lencoini states five main dysfunctions of a team which are, absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, inattention to results.  Lencoini’s main point is that individuals can easily excel on their own, but being apart of  a great team is a rare thing that takes lots of work and dealing with those stated dysfunctions.  The question is how often do people feel apart of a team.  Maybe the question isn’t how often do people feel apart of a team, but feel apart of a great team.  A team that is full of trust, conflict, commitment, accountability, and results.  When I think about a team that has all of those things I think about the early Church.

As a youth director at a Church, I think that all these things make a team strong and more functional.  I always think about those teams that I have been on, and the ones that make me want to excel as an individual, and those that make me realize that I am apart of a team.  Team work is a delicate thing, and it takes time to create.   It also is hard work with sometime little results until we see that link in the team missing, and I realize the team that we have become.