• I have a love/hate relationship with bullet point posts but that’s what I’m doing today.
• Tonight I’m speaking to a large group of Native Americans at a camp and then hanging for much of the weekend.  It should be fun and interesting.
• Project Church may take an interesting twist.  Stay tuned.
• I will also be making a change to this blog soon.
• I have some decisions to make and would appreciate prayers if you pray.
• I’ve gotten pretty good at Mario Cart on the Wii.
• I’m considering shaving my head.
• Pickles are green.
• That’s all.

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By day I’m a Training & Development Manager.  One of my favorite parts of my job are coaching fellow employees.  Recently a person asked me what practical things they could do to prepare themselves to be a manager someday. I thought I’d share my reply for anyone else who finds themselves in a similar situation.

Great question.  The fact that you asked me that question says that you’re already on the right track.  Here is a pocketful of suggestions to guide you.  This isn’t an exhaustive list but it is a good start.

1. Lead People Right Where You Are – Even when you’re not in a management position, you can still be a leader.  Leadership is nothing more than influence. Go out of your way to encourage.  Set a good example in how you work.  The key thing to remember is that managers are rarely hired because they were good at their jobs. They are hired because they can lead people.  Be a people person!
2. Be Proactive- Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you, you create them. Get involved in projects. Ask other managers if they need you to research something for them. Sign up for classes that can prepare you. Read books on leadership, business, marketing, people, etc. Make it known that you want to be a manager someday.  And find a mentor who you consider to be a great leader and ask to pick their brain on a regular basis.
3. Work Strong– Like I said before, managers aren’t simply hired because they were good at their jobs but because they can lead.  However, your reputation is built on how well you do your current job. Earning the respect of your peers and managers is crucial.  Do what you do very well today and it will pay off tomorrow.  Also, get to know the big picture of the organization.  What’s the mission? Why does the organization do what they do? How do certain departments fit into the overall strategy of the organization? Talk to the decision makers and find out.
4. Have Ideas- Many people can criticize- and most do. But few people criticize by creating.  For example, if we had a product that just wasn’t working, rather than gripe, suggest a solution, improvement, or a better idea. It may not always float but people who volunteer ideas often get much further than people who sit back and complain.

I can’t promise this will lead to a management position someday.  But if nothing else, you will make a difference today and be better for it.

Best Wishes,
Jason

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When I was a teenager, it was all about the shoes.

I once went shopping for shoes and I came across a sweet pair.  They were perfect.  They were just the right color, style, and brand.  There was only one problem.  They were a size 12.  I wear a size 13.

It’s often difficult to find the right shoes in my size but I really wanted this pair. I put them on and walked around the store seeing if I could deal with it.  I had to curl my toes a bit but in my mind, the shoes were worth it.  I figured I’d just stretch them out and they would eventually conform to my feet.  So I bought them.

After a week or so my feet were cramping and my toes were sore.  No matter how hard I tried or how bad I wanted it, my feet were not going to fit in those shoes. I had to come to the realization that the sweet pair of shoes had to go.

I needed to wear my size. My feet were at stake.

I’m learning that size matters. The truth is there are certain shoes in my life that just don’t fit. I try to make them fit but it’s only causing me unnecessary pain and discomfort.  I can either continue living in those shoes or actually go with a size that fits.

I need to wear my size.  My life is at stake.

What about you? Are there any shoes you’re wearing in life that aren’t a fit?

Something to consider…

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To close out the “Influential Books” series, I want to end by answering this question:

What 5 books would I want every human being on the planet to read in addition to the Bible?

If you’re like me, you’re on a faith journey.

Maybe you’re a doubter and need to wrestle with some questions before you can fully embrace Jesus. Maybe you’re an explorer and want to better understand who Jesus is, what he’s done, and what that means for your life.  Maybe you’re a follower of Christ and you need to get back to basics, refresh your own soul, or better understand & answer fundamental questions other people (or you) may have.

Wherever you are on your journey, I encourage you to examine these extraordinary books.  I believe they will help illuminate your thinking, broaden your understanding, and answer many of your questions.  At least, that’s what they’ve done for me.

Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis

The Reason for God - Tim Keller

Vintage Jesus - Mark Driscoll/Gerry Breshears

Soul Cravings - Erwin McManus

The Purpose-Driven Life - Rick Warren

Read books.

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3 things you should know about Blake.

1. He’s a great guy and his blog is all about awesomeness.

2. He’s a student pastor in South Carolina.

3. He won the iTunes gift card giveaway.

Go say hi and congratulate Blake.

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You may not know this, but by day I’m a Training & Development Manager.  Basically, a teacher for grown-ups (although I spend a lot of my time managing my team and steering the ship).

The cool part about this gig is staying current on books related to learning, business, communication, etc.  So today’s influential book selection is one that I’m really digging right now: Brain Rules.

This book, written by developmental molecular biologist John Medina, explores the fascinating world of the brain.  I’m learning so much going through this book and it’s having an influence not just on my job- but my life.

I thought this amazing slideshow from presentation guru Garr Reynolds really unpacked some of the main ideas of the book. But I highly recommend you get a copy for yourself and read it. Plus, it comes with a bonus DVD. Good stuff.

Enjoy!

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Starting a blog has been one of the smartest moves I’ve made.  Because of this silly piece of internet real estate, I’ve been able to refine my thinking, get to know cool people, and chronicle my journey.

And now I’ve reached a milestone. 20,000 unique visitors and many other subscribers.  Thank you all for reading Thinking in Progress. I’m still amazed that anyone would care what a dude in SoDak (South Dakota) would have to say about anything.

To say thank you, I would like to do something special. So…

I’m giving away a $15 iTunes gift card!

I know it’s not a new car but it’s still pretty cool, right?  Perhaps now you can get that album you’ve been wanting.  By the way, I’ve been digging the new Coldplay album- VIva la Vida. Highly recommend it.

To put your name in the hat, simply leave a comment below and include your name, where you live, and what you’d like to see me write more about on this blog.  That’s it.

The winner will be drawn on Friday (6/20) at noon (MST).

Thanks again for reading.

Ya’ll rock!

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This week I’ve been sharing some books that have helped shape me in one way or another. So far, I’ve shared some books on theology. But today I thought it would be fitting to share one of my favorite books as a kid.  One that taught me some important life lessons.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.

You’d think I would have learned to be a more adventurous eater by reading this book. But sadly, I’m not.  I’m actually quite picky. But there were some other lessons I gleaned from this classic that have stuck with me.

Persistence Pays Off : I have plenty of faults but one thing I am is relentless.  Like Chumbawamba sang, “I get knocked down but I get up again.” That may be the story of my life.  Sam, or Sam I am,  was a pretty tenacious character who would not give up.  That’s a great lesson for kids…and adults.

Bad Attitudes Suck : The grumpy grown-up character wastes so much time with his “poopy-butt attitude” (that’s how we say it in mi casa).  As a kid I knew I didn’t want to be THAT guy.  I’m convinced that attitude is a choice we all make.  Props to Dr. Seuss for showing me that.

Keep it Simple : The imagry, the rhythm, the word choice.  All of it comes together in this memorable and popular short story.  I later discovered that this book came about as a dare from Seuss’ editor. He challenged Seuss to write a book using less than 50 words. The result: a timeless classic.  It just goes to show you what brevity, clarity, and creativity can do.  It’s a good lesson for me today and something I am working to improve on with the help of other great books like Made to Stick.

I’m happy to continue the legacy Green Eggs and Ham by reading it to my kids.  Maybe they’ll take away similar lessons. Or perhaps they will just remember how nerdy their dad was as he tried to sound cool by reading it like Jesse Jackson on Saturday Night Live.  Either way, it’s had an influence on me and countless others.

Thanks Dr. Seuss.

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“The object isn’t to be perfect. The goal isn’t to hold back until you’ve created something beyond reproach. I believe the opposite is true. Our birthright is to fail and to fail often, but to fail in search of something bigger than we can imagine. To do anything else is to waste it all. - Seth Godin

Spot on!

Read the rest of Godin’s insightful post: Is it Worthy?

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