4 Lessons For Pressure Times

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These last few weeks have been...interesting for me at work: My three main areas of pastoral oversight (building & maintenance, IT and tech arts) were director-less (vacation, surgery, other ministry responsibilities), many of our pastoral team were involved in testifying in a court case, thus increasing my pastoral load, and our worship pastor is on vacation and asked me to oversee worship for two weekends and during the week (never a burden though). Plus, one of our pastors is in long-term recuperation from surgery, and we have divided up his responsibilities among us.

I am not complaining, but rather grateful for the way the Lord "built" me: type-A, task-oriented, driven, etc. This has helped me "get 'er done" during this time (it's not over yet, although our building supervisor is back and our tech arts manager is able to focus more on tech arts). But, now some of our team are on vacation or ministering elsewhere, so here we go again... Stressed and tired, but not complaining.

Here are four lessons that I have learned during the last few weeks:

• Maintain my disciplines: Every morning I have my devotion time, run several miles, read, and have coffee with my wife. I maintain my eating habits. I pray. These are my anchors. Neglecting them would only destabilize the rest of my day. Lesson: maintain my disciplines!

• Plan for disruptions: Being a "list-checker" guy, I get easily frustrated when a project I am working on takes longer than I anticipated, especially when a higher priority problem needs an immediate solution. If I anticipate taking more time than I expect a project to take, I am surprised and encouraged when it goes quicker than planned. Lesson: plan for disruptions!

• Use my tools: My iPhone and MacBook Pro have been invaluable to me, helping me keep up with the multiple responsibilities I have needed to cover. Lesson: Use my tools!

• Remember people: No matter how mundane or "task-oriented" a project is, I still interact with people. I needed to keep my stress-level in check and my people-response skills strong. I am an encourager, seeking to serve, rather than a fixer who is being bothered by people. I have made sure that I have taken time to invest into the lives of those I usually invest in. Lesson: remember people!

I have survived to face another day (or rather face another evening: I have a board of trustees meeting next). I am still going strong (although the late evenings are "vegetable times" - and I'm not referring to what I eat). My family still likes being around me (although my daughter thinks my humor is sub-par). Lessons learned!

Question: What are some lessons that you have learned in your times of high stress or heavy work?

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Stay Hungry

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This evening I am watching "The Next Food Network Star" on The Food Network with my wife. In this episode, the contestants are paired-up, and using an assigned ingredient each, they are required to prepare an individual dish and a collaborative dish with their partner.

It makes for some creative and interesting work. What caught my attention though, was an advertisement for the Food Network's recently launched sister network, "The Cooking Chanel". The advertisement described the new network, and ended with the phrase Stay Hungry.

As I considered those words, I found myself thinking that I was hungry to create. I haven't produced any music for a while, the only writing I am doing is this Blog, and I haven't had a chance to do any impromptu "stand up". The business of life has reared its ugly head and crowded out my time for imagination. And for now, there's not much I can do about it. So I am hungry to create.

Even as I go on my daily run (one of my favorite creative times), I find myself praying, making to-do lists, and generally solving the problems that I am dealing with at work. Yes, I am hungry to create.

Missing a meal keeps me hungry. Missing a time to be creative makes me hungry (to create). I need to find ways to maintain that hunger. I need to stay hungry.

Question: What do you do to stay hungry to create? Share your thoughts below in comments.

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Self-Evaluation: 3 Requirements

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Every Wednesday at our weekly staff meeting, I end with a Leadership Minute. Here I offer a quick leadership principle or thought that will hopefully help all of us attending to become better leaders.

Today I shared the importance of self-evaluation. Although this is a great exercise for leaders, it is also great exercise for creatives. Many times we creatives are either afraid of self-evaluation, or we are much too hard on ourselves when we do hold up the mirror, because we are not looking at ourselves, but rather at our work - our creations.

Here is what self-evaluation requires:

• Honesty - about your weaknesses and your strengths: it's easy to identify weaknesses; it's OK to also be honest about your strengths
• Clarity - about your vision and purpose: evaluate yourself in light of your passion and calling
• Discipline - you must do it: make self-evaluation a regular part of your life

Reading an article you've written, listening to a song you've recorded, or looking at a picture you've painted is sometimes hard to do. Most creatives are never satisfied, but that's what drives them. 

Regular self-evaluation is healthy, and doing so can make us not only better leaders, but more creative creatives.

Question: What is one strength that you posses in your creativity? Share your thoughts below in comments.

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3 Ideas For Creativity

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A friend of mine sent an email to myself and some colleagues describing his hospital visit to a mutual friend. My friend owns SYZYGY Media, a graphic arts company, and his creativity is evident in everything he does, including the descriptive email mentioned above.

I responded to his email that he ought to be a blogger. His creative gifts could go a long way in his expression of ideas through his writing.

As I thought about this, these ideas surfaced in my mind:

• Creative people are not limited to one medium of expression
• Don't be afraid to express yourself creatively in new and perhaps unfamiliar ways
• New avenues of creativity await those who will step out of the familiar

Question: What is one way you could express yourself this week that is different from your normal medium of expression? What are your next steps? Share your thoughts below in comments.

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The Graduation Moment!

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Last evening our daughter graduated! We sat high up in Constitution Hall in Washington, DC and heard the name Elisha Michelle Lewis called, and with great pride watched her walk across the stage and receive her high school diploma.

Seeking to leverage technology and preserve the moment, my wife Elaine shot photos with our digital camera and zoom lens, while I recorded the moment with the 12mail app on my iPhone. OK, we were teary-eyed, but that didn't stop us from capturing the moment.

Anyway, not much of an inspirational Blog post or encouragement in creativity, but there you have it: The Graduation Moment!


The Moment... on 12seconds.tv