From Emojis to Disciples: Unveiling the Transformative Force of Empathy and Commitment - Your Champions Brew

In a world filled with those who are merely interested, let us be the ones who embody the spirit of the pig.

Happy Friday, Brew Nation!?

Grab your favorite coffee cup, sit back, relax, and get ready to sip on some enriching and thought-provoking content that will equip you to thrive in all areas of your life:

• Love Forever – So, Hey there, emoji enthusiasts! Let's dive into the world of emojis and their hidden meanings. ????

Imagine this: someone asks you how you're doing, but instead of words, they want your response in an emoji. ?? What would your emoji be today? ??♂?

Emojis have become a significant part of our digital communication, allowing us to express a range of emotions. Did you know that your most frequently used emojis are conveniently displayed on the left side of your iPhone keyboard? Go ahead, take a quick peek. What are your last few emojis? Mine were: ???????

While emojis can be fun, they may also serve as a disguise for our true emotions. Behind those smiling faces, there may be hidden struggles that we can't see. Someone might give us a thumbs up, but deep down, they could be dealing with financial challenges, difficult relationships, or the loss of a loved one. ??

As leaders, it's crucial for us to be mindful of the unseen emojis in people's lives. We must cultivate empathy within our hearts, allowing us to see beyond the surface and perceive the unspoken struggles of those we encounter. ????

This week let's challenge ourselves to be vessels of compassion. Extend a listening ear, offer a comforting touch, and show a caring heart to those who are hurting. Let's be the ones who provide words of encouragement, acts of kindness, and the support that truly makes a difference.

So, I ask you again, what's your emoji today, really?! Share it with us and let's embrace the power of understanding and compassion. ????

• Develop others – Imagine, if you will, if Jesus were to hire a consulting company to help him to select his twelve disciples.? After a 3-day visit where those consultants interviewed each of the disciples, the consultant composes a memorandum which reads as follows:

To: Jesus Son of Joseph, Woodcrafters Shop, Nazareth

From: Growing Disciples Management Consultants, Jerusalem:

Subject: Staff Aptitude evaluation

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for management systems in your new organization.? All of them have now taken our tests, and we have not only reviewed the results, but have also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.

It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education, and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking.? They do not have the team concept.? We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper.? Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership.? The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty.? Thomas demonstrated a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale.? We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau.? James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus definitely have radical leadings, and they both register a high score on the manic-depressive scale.

One of the candidates, however, shows great potential.? He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places.? He is highly motivated, ambitious, and innovative.? We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man.? All the other profiles are self-explanatory.? We wish you every success in your new venture.

Sincerely,

Growing Disciple Consultants

(This story was from a book I recently finished titled, Overcoming Walls to Witnessing).?

For me, the takeaway from this story is that we, as leaders, need to recognize that ordinary people have the power to do Uncommon things.? Me must equip them, inspire them, and encourage them to grow toward the person that God calls them to be.? Also, we need to understand that each of us has flaws, no doubt, but that should not keep us from making a difference in the lives of those we touch.

• Read More –We are working our way through The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, another John Maxwell classic sure to equip you and inspire you to uncommon leadership! I look forward to walking through it with you, Brew Nation!? This week, I will dive into Chapter 3.? I hope you will get a copy and read along with me.

Quality #3 – Commitment

It Separates Doers from Dreamers

Let's have some fun with commitment! ????

Imagine a delicious breakfast of ham and eggs. In this analogy, the chicken represents someone who is merely interested in the process, while the pig symbolizes true commitment. ????

The chicken, though involved in the creation of the meal, remains relatively unaffected. It contributes the eggs, but it's not fully invested in the outcome. It's more of a doer, interested in the process but not truly committed. ??

On the other hand, we have the pig. The pig is the star of the show, wholeheartedly dedicated to the breakfast feast. It offers its very essence—the ham. The pig embodies true commitment, going all-in to make the meal happen. ??

Generally, when you are truly committed to a cause, there is sacrifice on the other side.? Another great example of commitment was that of Michelangelo and his painting of the Sistine chapel:

In his early thirties, Michelangelo was summoned to Rome by Pope Julius II to sculpt a magnificent tomb, but was then asked to work on a painting project instead.? At first, Michelangelo wanted to refuse, having no desire to paint a dozen figures on the ceiling of a small chapel in the Vatican.? His passion was sculpture.? He reluctantly accepted the assignment.? But once he accepted the assignment, he committed himself to it, expanding the process from a simple depiction of the twelve apostles to include more then four hundred figures and nice scenes from the book f Genesis!? It took him for years and he paid a great price.? The work permanently damaged his eyesight, and he was worn down at 37 years old.? His commitment was far-reaching, though.? His talent created the potential, but without commitment, his influence would have been minimal.? When asked why he worked so diligently on a dark corner of the Sistine Chapel that no one would ever see, Michelangelo’s simple reply was, “God will see.”

When it comes to leadership, former pro basketball player Bill Bradley summed up commitment like this, “Just remember that if you’re not working at your game to the utmost of your ability, there will be someone out there somewhere with equal ability who is working at it.? And one day you’ll play each other, and he’ll have the advantage.”

So, let's ask ourselves: Are we content with being the chicken, merely interested in the process? Or are we ready to be the pig, embracing true commitment and giving our all to create something extraordinary? The choice is ours. ??

Next week: Communication

Quote of the week: ???“Integrity is what you do when no one is watching.? It’s doing the right thing all the time, even when it works to your disadvantage.? It’s keeping your word even when it hurts.” – Tony Dungy

What You Need to Do:

Call to Action:? So, are you ready to step up and be the pig in your pursuits, embracing true commitment and giving your all to create something extraordinary? If you're seeking guidance and support on your commitment journey, don't hesitate to reach out to me as your coach.? Set up a free call today.

It’s an honor to be your trusted “Friday Coffee Guy”.? Each week, I’m excited to provide yet another round of curated content that I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, or thinking over. The purpose of the Champions Brew is to inspire, equip and encourage you to become the uncommon leader you were designed to be. I am so grateful for your decision to invest a few moments with me! I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with someone who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe ! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.

Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!

P.S. - Are you a podcast fan?? Maybe the Uncommon Leader podcast is for you.? ??Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast?? Do you have a story to tell?? Email me [email protected] and let’s have a chat and set something up!!