These are the notes I captured from the book Jesus, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership by Laurie Beth Jones.
5/5 stars for its reliability and ease of reading.
Purpose of Book:
To increase awareness of three strengths and to assist in mastering them all.
- Self-mastery
- Action
- Relationships
“If you haven’t been tested by fire, you don’t know who you are. If you don’t know who you are, you cannot be a leader.”
Ed Koch, popular mayor, asked people in-person “how am I doing?”
Founder of USA Today drove around asking what kind of newspaper people liked.
- Like them, Jesus regularly kept in touch with his boss.
Jesus:
- did not do some things that he could’ve, choosing instead to stick to his mission.
- believed in himself 100%.
- had internal anchors
- constantly celebrated
- exhibited ownership
- didn’t spend significant time judging others
- expressed himself
- was willing to look foolish
- “Don’t beat the donkey… Rethink your route and your mission.”
- had a passionate commitment to a cause
- asked for noble things
- saw love in control of the plan
- walked through fears
- was aware of his resources
- “Great leaders inspire others to the extent that they inspire themselves”
- prized seed over bouquet
- “How many seeds are in an apple?”
- didn’t despise the little things
Action
Jesus
- had a plan
- formed a team
- called the question
- came from left field
- branched out
- boiled it down (“Love God and neighbor”)
- was visible
- was willing to do an end run
- took the long view
- took one step at a time
- took his staff in hand
- served only the best wine
- changed the unit of measurement
- troubled himself on God’s behalf
- trained his replacements
- let it go
- turned things around
Relationships
Jesus
- gave a larger vision
- “What would your staff say is their job?”
- beheld his staff
- said yes
- was open to people and their ideas
- empowered women
- was transparent
- believed in his staff
- clearly stated benefits
- educated people
- managed from the inside out
- held people accountable
- spent time with his staff
- touched the fragile things
- kept urging them on
- had compassion for the crowds
- served them
- II Chronicles 10:7 – Be kind, please them, speak good words to them and they’ll love and follow
- defended them
- gave them authority (delegated)
- played with them
- harbored (presumed) only goodwill
- gave them something tangible to remember him by (passover/communion)
- saw them as gifts
- saw them as his greatest accomplishment
- never considered a win until everyone won