Rick Warren on...everything.

Got to have dinner at a local country club with Rick Warren and about 20 other pastors from across the country.  If you are into the evangelical pastor scene - it was pretty much a who's who.  Rick was the host and was the center of the conversation.  Here are a few of the highlights from that conversation:

ON BALANCE...

• I believe in rhythm and not balance.  John the Baptist was not balanced yet Jesus called him the greatest man that ever lived.
• Nothing great is ever accomplished by people who are always balanced.
• You need to...
  • Divert daily.
  • Withdraw weekly.
  • Abandon annually.

ON SMALL GROUPS...

• You don't need a lot of people, you just need a few friends.
• The key to a good small group is you need to do things outside of the group together.

ON STAFF DEVELOPMENT...

• Don't ask people to manage their time, ask them to manage their energy.
• Your staff needs to know that you know that their job is not their only responsibility in life.
• Trust is the most aspect of staff development.  You get people to trust you, by trusting them.

ON BUILDING CREDIBILITY AS A LEADER...

• You build credibility by being compassionate.
• You build credibility by being competent.
• You build credibility by being consistent.

Comments

[Jeff]

"You need to... Divert daily. Withdraw weekly. Abandon annually."

Did Rick go into more detail about what those mean and entail?

[jesse]

I have heard Rick share the "divert Daily, etc..." a number of different times at various places - including the last PD Gathering. Here is how I remember him explaining it: Divert Daily - divert from your normal daily routine (i.e. something fun, exercise, or recreation); withdraw weekly - be sure to take a day off and get away and stay away from your work. Literally, be sure to have a Sabbath Day rest. Abandon Annually - take a vacation and go away with your family. Again, this is how I remember it, may not be completely spot on, but that is the essence.