Living Life Juicy

Growing into Mastery: 3 areas of focus Mastery of any skill or topic isn't a matter of knowing a lot, having tried it a lot or even having been successful a few times. Growing into a high-level performer in anything requires all three; Education, Experience and Competency. Working on 2 out of 3 isn't bad but it doesn't mean you are prepared for all the contexts you may face. It also isn't enough to qualify you to model and lead others in the skill.  Education : A beginner knows the information.  A performer knows what's behind the information, where it comes from and what ideas contributed to the information.  A Master knows the limits of the information, where it's application stops, where it doesn't fit and what other ideas are competing with it.  Being informed and educated is crucial in developing mastery so that you understand the "why" behind the skill. It will help you become intentional in your performance and increase your flexibility when...

 Experimental Visual Blog

If Feedback is the breakfast of champions than "doing a 360" has become the "Wheaties" of feedback.  As this approach grows in popularity and use, misconceptions and confusion around this process grows . Let's explore a few of the major questions around 360 degree feedback.   What is a 360? 360 degree feedback, also known as multi-rater feedback, is any process that solicits feedback from multiple perspectives. It usually involves a survey or interview with supervisors, peers and direct reports. Often other perspectives such as customers, family and strategic partners are also sought out. The process can be as simple as requesting verbal feedback yourself or as complex as purchasing a research validated tool from a vendor.   Organizations such as Lominger, PDI and The Hay Group have developed statistically validated survey tools that are backed by extensive research. They have a rich data base of material to use in creating credible feedback reports that connect...

My grandfather was an apple farmer. His life was about keeping his trees producing apples. As a child I would visit the farm and walk in the orchards with him. As we walked Grandpa would talk about what help the trees. Things like irrigation, pruning and thinning. Not really looking to become an apple farmer myself these topics didn't hold much interest but now, as I reflect on them, they hold important truths for our journey to become whole leaders. Irrigation: All plants need to stay connected to a source of water to grow and remain productive. Apples stop developing if they loose connection to their source of water and nutrients. If the tree is cut off from the water supply, the branch is cut off from the trunk or the fruit is pulled from the tree growth stops and death starts. (ripening isn't growth it's the start fruit's decomposition). Our ideal self is the compelling reason for us to continue to grow and develop. It is our source. Our progress depends on sta...

When I first met Dave Hopkins he ran marathons, played guitar, sang and worked with Junior High students at a camp. Energy and activity poured from him. He was also a detail oriented person. This made it very easy for Dave to be critical. Often he said that it was a challenge to have a positive outlook and that "every day you choose to develop a critical spirit or a thankful spirit." It was by daily choosing to be thankful that Dave could see the world positively. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) became a part of Dave's world a few years after I met him. At first the impact on his energy and activity was minimal. As he learned to live in this new reality he continued to say "every day I choose to develop a thankful spirit rather than a critical spirit." And he did. I could see him struggle with both his disease and being critical. And I watched him choose thankfulness. As the MS progressed Dave could no longer run so he started riding a bicycle. He lost the ability t...

I received advice concerning walking with lions that relates to emotional triggers as well. "It's not the lions you see that should worry you. It's the lions you don't see." Triggers work the same way. As we become aware of situations, issues or people who are likely to push our buttons we prepare ourselves and guard against an "amygdala hijack." But how can we prepare for the ambush triggers when our guard is down? Knowing what you are feeling removes the bullet from the chamber before the trigger can be pulled. Noticing how you are feeling, good or bad, is a start but identifying what you are feeling, frustrated, content, energized, angry, etc, helps you respond intentionally in the moment. If you become aware of your feeling and identify to what event or interaction that feeling specifically relates you can better manage your emotions. Rather than fighting the urge to react you can use your best judgment to choose the behavior that increases your in...

I just spent the day with a great group of practitioners talking about creating powerful and practical programs that meet real needs. I was the facilitator but the group wisdom truly added value to the program. One exciting part for me was that our discussion was as relevant to one day program design as it was to creating an assessment approach for entire organizations. We had a great mix of people from eduction, camps/retreat centers and corporate consultants. This mix allowed for the sharing of a diverse and practical set of resources for all of us to check out. Thanks to the group for making the workshop truly work.

Is brilliance within our grasp? There seem to be paths to brilliance for us; executive coaching, life coaching, personal coaching, performance improvement programs, etc. I'm pretty sure that the self-help section of the bookstore is still the largest. I googled "self-help" and got close to 25 million hits. Are these the same thing as "becoming brilliant?" I'm not sure. It's about becoming something. Often it seems to be about "becoming dependent." Not that that's the intent of all the authors, coaches and consultants but people who seek these resources often look for the "silver bullet" that will launch them toward success and happiness. They look for an easy external fix. At the first sign of difficulty we blame that failed approach and, since it is external, we need not take any responsibility for it's failure. We then can easily move to the next disconnected approach to improvement. If we experience any hint of success w...

I’ve been fascinated by the word “brilliant” for a while now. Where I might have said “That’s great,” I noticed my friends from across the Atlantic would say “That’s brilliant!” Is it just a different word choice or their accent that caught my ear? I think it might be more than that. Brilliance points us to several, rich images. In this one word we think of light, shining and vivid, excellence and intelligence. To be brilliant is to be a shining example that stands out from the rest of the world. It is to be a model of excellence; to set the highest standard for intelligence and performance. Wow! I want that. I want to be a person who stands out like that. I want to become brilliant. But, with all that tarnishes my image, can I reach that level? What steps can I really take on the path toward becoming brilliant?

Directed initiatives; activities where the facilitator pre-determines the lesson outcomes and directs the debriefing discussion toward those ends. When time is limited this approach can offer an effective way to help people gain a certain level of understanding of a topic or concept. For this approach I would recommend using your own experience working with initiatives rather than looking for a book. For each initiative ask yourself what themes tend to consistently present themselves and ask yourself where and what the bible has to say about those issues. Brainstorm themes and outcomes with other staff/facilitators to create your own personalized activity resource with your own debrief outlines. I did this every summer with my Challenge Course staff. It is a great way to access everyone’s talent and experience and it encourages increased staff buy in. (I have a creative process activity outline in my book Experiential Youth Ministry Handbook that I use). Directed Initiatives off...

A famine swept across the land after the war. Food was scarce and people were scared. An out of work soldier making his way back to his home town stopped at a village. He went from door to door seeking shelter and food but with such limited resources the people of the village sadly turned him away saying “There is nothing to spare here.” And “You best move on. We don’t even have enough food for ourselves.” Thinking quickly, the solder replied “No need for me to continue on today. I am tired and I have all I need.” This intrigued the people of the village. From their homes they watched as he began to unload his pack and set up a neat little camp. He gathered some fire wood, water and, without the villagers noticing, a medium size stone the he snuck back into his pack. The soldier started a small cooking fire and filled a good sized pot with some of the water he collected. When he placed the pot over the fire the villagers’ curiosity overcame their suspicion and a few of them a...

Something hit me for the first time yesterday. While preparing a study about Shalom (peace) using Jeremiah 29:11 I look up the Hebrew word for hope - ‏תִּקְוָה‎ (hope - literal a cord as an attachment). The word picture is of a rope that attaches to something stable. In climbing we call this an anchor or protection. Hope is about being anchored. But to what? What opened up to me is the process of Shalom. God knows his plans for us. He has literally seen those plans fulfilled. These are good and prosperous plans for our future. Hope anchors us to those promises. As we hold on to thisattachmentt we live shalom (a deep peace,sensee of well being) in the midst of what evercircumstancess we currently findourselvess.

I have had the privilege of leading a critical concerns course (8 hour pre-conference session) for the Youthworkers Conventions in Austin and Anaheim. While standing and leading for that extended period of time exhausts me and wreaks havoc on my knees, I love the longer format. We can really dive into what's behind experience and how it teaches. That's my critical concern; that we go underneath the surface of activity and get to how God can use us in the process of changing lives through this type of interaction. There are always several participants who come looking for a list of fun activities that teach. There is nothing wrong with that. You can get that from several great books that are out there (look for the latest by Jim Cain or Chris Calvert and Dick Hammond among others). My desire is that we challenge ourselves to look deeper; to look at why this stuff works and how it can be used intentionally in many different contexts and situations. I also want leaders and teacher...

The convention experience is so different when it's in your home town. When I travel to other cities for the convention I meet lots of new people but it can still be a bit lonely. Most of the people I know at the convention are working it and don't have much hang out time. This past weekend I enjoyed being able to sit down with several good friends for an extended period of time. I was reminded that I have had the privilege to be impacted by some great men and women and have been able to "sponge" great insights and wisdom from them. Former bosses, former staff members and friends have all added so much to my life. I enjoyed being able to catch up and thank them but even better was being able to dream about the future and where God is taking us.

Ok, so I haven't been too faithful in blogging. Instead of shooting for a practical format to discuss experiential methodology I think I'll just record my thoughts on life and living and see what you all think about it. I've spent most of the day exploring e-learning. I've never been a big fan of this approach but my thoughts are changing. Using the current social networking technology along with streaming video and some other interactive stuff could be promising. This combination of technology and connection can never replace experience and personal contact but it could encourage it and create opportunities for accountability, encouragement and input.

Water The Sound The sound of water can be healing too. I write this as I sit by a sculpted fountain at a monastery in Valyermo, CA. The sound of water trickling down the structure and gently flowing over the stepped tiles is soothing. In it I hear the gentle voice of a mother as she sings a comforting lullaby to a frightened child. That voice of love and compassion allows the child to look away from the fear into the open embrace of a caring parent. Like a frightened boy there are things that my brain and my heart are clinging to that unnerve me. These worries distract me and keep from seeing the face of the One who sings my lullaby. My brain darts from one concern to the next like the child searching the shadows for the monsters that lurk there. My energy and my attention are focused on finding the monsters. The lullaby voice cuts through the dark shadows and draws my eyes from the shadow to the shining eyes of the singer. The soothing sound of the gently trickling water qu...

There is something healing about water. It's touch, it's sound, its taste, even it's different looks. The Need Food we can live without for as long as a month. Without water we are dead in three days. What we call sustenance, the solid food, we crave and feel uncomfortable without in just a few hours even though it's weeks before the need becomes perilous. Our bodies and minds lie to us about our needs. Our stomachs growl and our minds wander to our favorite dishes. We allow ourselves to become a slave to appetite. We crave food long before we need it. Water is different. Working in the outdoors, I often have to remind people to drink. Dehydration accounts for the majority of discomfort when people spend time outside. We barely notice as our bodies start to dry out. There are signs of the growing need for water but they are subtle and often overlooked. A slight headache is ignored or passed off as "too much sun." Crankiness and fatigue are confused with a bad ...

In the "Diving In" post I posed a question about manipulation. Yes, I know it's a loaded word and people have strong feelings about possibly being involved in manipulation. I use the word in the most neutral sense; to handle something or to use it on purpose. If we put ourselves out there as teachers, leaders and/or pastors we, hopefully, use our words, time, resources and environment on purpose. When we choose one word over another, one song over others, candles verses lamps, chairs versed sofas; we are manipulating the situation to reinforce what we are teaching or where we are leading people. We influence people. If we are not concerned about this power our position gives us we end up teaching people unintended lessons and leading people to unplanned destinations. I wanted to start this adventure into experiential methods with a kind of "pre-flight warning." We make choices about how we teach and lead and those choices have consequences. Be careful. ...

Of the three components in Praxis, reflection is the most difficult for most people to apply. In the constant hustle of our culture, reflection can seem like a waste of time. Can ministries function without paying attention to the role of reflection? Sure they can, but these programs are missing out on a huge potential for depth and power. Reflection is the piece that involves the individual in ministry. Reflection encourages a student or staff person to consider how he or she can personalize the teaching so that it directly transforms his or her life. So what is reflection? Reflection is allowing the space and time for an experience to impact a person. It's that simple. The difficult part is trusting the silence and open space. Having faith that it will be effective. This part is scary for a leader. While someone is reflecting there are few, if any, indications that anything is going on. We are tempted to fill in the void with more action or to go on to the next concept to be lear...

To much of life is spent waiting to dive in. The unknown that lurks under the surface keeps us from plunging in. Well this blog is that plunge for me. Some friends have encouraged me to set up a blog page that explores the experiential stuff that I talk about all the time and that my book, "The Experiential Youth Ministry Handbook," looks at. My hope is to create a place where thoughful, honest people (with a good sense of humor and grace) can join this expedition into how individuals learn and grow, how groups learn and grow and how community can be explored and developed intentionally. It should be a wild ride with lots of passion and good natured debate. Here's something to chew on. If you are a teacher, pastor, manager or leader you are a manipulator. In these roles we manipulate the room by how we set it up and how we arrange the lights. We choose where and when our programs occure. We can control the energy in the room by how we choose to sequence activities and les...