December 31, 2014

My top-10 reading list for 2014

Mark Twain rightly observed, ““A person who won’t read has no advantage over the one who can’t read.” That motivates me to turn some pages every day. Following the tradition I started last year, I compiled a list of ...

December 29, 2014

Review: “Deep Influence” by T.J. Addington

Recommended reading: "Deep Influence" by T.J. Addington

What leader doesn’t want to have deep influence on those around him or her? You do and I do. If we are going to make a difference in the world, we must take seriously the way in which we ...

December 26, 2014

The capacity to do more than you think

If you’ve been putting off that idea—your big project—because you don’t have time, I’ve got good news for you. You have more capacity to do that big project than you think. And the best way to unleash your hidden ...

December 24, 2014

When eternity entered the temporal

Charles Spurgeon called it the “greatest and most momentous fact which the history of the world records.” That, of course, was the moment of Christ’s birth; that one moment in time when eternity entered the temporal. God became man. ...

December 18, 2014

How to be a person of deep influence [podcast]

As you ponder next year, ask yourself: How can I be a person of deep influence? Inescapably, you’ll conclude that having lasting and resonant influence takes more than simply polishing your leadership skills and technique. You must go deeper. ...

December 15, 2014

Are toxic people lowering your elevation average?

Are toxic people lowering your elevation average? Jim Rohn once wrote, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” If true, let me ask you this: As you evaluate who you spent time ...

December 11, 2014

How to have a personal planning retreat [podcast]

How to take a personal planning retreat [podcast]

Tomorrow I’ll take a hike… Well, actually, more like a trek. I’ll be off on my annual personal planning retreat. Over the last 25 years, these times away have become more and more meaningful to me. Despite all the things ...

December 10, 2014

A Hummer in your heart

You have a Hummer in your heart. Yet, you may be forsaking it to hitch-hike on someone else’s ride. Let me explain. Last Sunday, I encouraged the congregation I am leading, as a transitional pastor, to commit to reading ...

December 8, 2014

Gift a dream in 2015

It’s not even Christmas yet, but you’ve already been given a gift. It’s that dream God has put within you—waiting to be birthed. Too often though we never get around to opening it up. There are a lot of ...

December 4, 2014

Ten habits to create a lifestyle of gratitude [podcast]

Like many Americans, I got stuffed on Thanksgiving. And like many of you, for the week leading up to it, I received a ton of emails extolling the virtues of gratitude. I didn’t read one of them. You and ...

Leary Gates | Venture coach

Turn your vision into venture. Ideas into action.