Awesomely Awesome Non-Satire Here

Terri asks a great question after the last blog entry, with the 417 Rules of Awesomely Bold Leadership:

Maybe I am a moron, but I do not get what is being satirized in this post.  Usually I get you and love this blog.  I feel left out since I don't get it.  Can someone explain?

Terri, here's a long answer:  I just read a "leadership" book a friend gave me.  He was laughing when he handed it to me, last week, because he knew I would get a kick out of it.

It starts with a great story, typical of the genre:  Essentially, "So there I was, on the football field, and I just got my arm broken after I smashed the running back.  My coach said, "You get back in there," so I did.  I finished that game with a broken arm and 16 tackles.  It was right then and there when I learned you have to be tough to be a leader..." 

The rest of the book is loaded with anecdotes about how awesome the author was and remains and forever will be, amen.

And in the forward, essentially this, about the author:  "This man has won in high school football, won in college, won as a coach, and he wins at church, so you should be thankful he's taken the time to share his winning ways with you..." etc.

These books are largely self-congratulatory, and will make you come away saying, "Wow, that guy's quite the man!"  And -- far worse -- given their understandings of leadership, Jesus Himself would need to read them, because He clearly didn't succeed.  He was homeless, had only a small band of followers (who deserted him) and wound up lonely and then killed by the authorities. 

Ah, success! 

Few are the "leadership" books and seminars that would reinterpret leadership in light of Jesus.  (Though, I'm sure there are, out there, some redeeming ones.)  Instead, they tend to celebrate an American corporate idea of what a real man should be.  Of course, I loves me some America, and obviously, I'm a real man (hello, I play accordion) but flexing one's "success" muscles in front of a paying public?  Let's call it for what it is. It's isn't leadership.  It's an ego trip.

You can read the series (click here) -- but I can tell you, there's not one thing I've satirized that isn't echoed in the leadership materials out there.  They do it with a straight face, which is why people who've read these books can read my satire with a glint of pained recognition.

I once read an audacious book that tried to synthesize Jesus' leadership example with the typical Alpha-Guy American one.  (Hey, at least the author tried.)  One "rule" was, "Make time for everyone.  Jesus always did, etc." and another "rule" was, essentially, "Don't waste time with nobodies, you have to prioritize who's important," etc.  Okay.

It's my belief that Jesus is the Greatest Leader Ever.  But he was, by any reasonable American standard, one real big failure as CEO. 

But, overall, the books really don't tend to deal much with Jesus.  We're supposed to just presume that being an Awesomely Awesome Leader is what Jesus wants, because Jesus loves big successes in the church world, and why wouldn't He?  Right?

And if you aren't succeeding, Pastor Man?  Well, you haven't applied all the rules.  Or haven't read them all.  Or didn't subscribe to the series on CD.  Or, if you have done those things?  Well, let's face it:  You're not the man the Leader of Leaders is.  On Saturdays, while you're trying to fix your minivan?  He's golfing with Big Christian Athletes.  You're not him.  You're little you.

I say if that's "success", here's to the faithful failures;  people with true pastoral hearts, serving people God has brought across their paths, never getting book deals, never selling motivational CDs, and always aware that God humbles the proud, and exalts the humble.

Comments

[Tim]

awesome.

[Sarah]

I couldn't find an email for you, so this was the only way I knew to pass this on to you. (You don't have to post it in your comments section because it's kind off topic). There's a story about a praying dog in Japan - and that attendance at the Buddhist temple has increased because of the praying chihuahua. I thought you could write a pretty darn funny post with that. (Maybe this is what our church is missing type posts). :P Here's the link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7310993.stm

[Terri]

I get it! Thank you for helping me. I have really loved your blog the last months. I am learning to laugh at the sub-culture that I was so immersed in that until I came up/out for air, had no idea was so ridiculous. Laughter so often brings insights. Thanks again.

[Mike]

Writing about "Conan" the praying dog would fit perfect with the Awesomeness series, since Conan the Barbarian (who he was obviously named after) was totally RIPPED too. Well, i guess it was Arnold playing Conan and he is a total WINNER (in every movie!)and still ripped..

[JenniferB]

I so agree -- I just love me some hypocritical advice in the morning. I work with our children's organization at church and love it, tough as it can be sometimes. There are a few people though that I do not care to work with as they are of the "do as I say, not as I do" variety of Christian. I suppose that is part of our personal journey to Christ though -- how we lead others and/or follow the Lord's message

[Julie]

Word.

;-)

[rob smith]

In related news, Macon Speedway is having a "Faster Pastor" Night. Now that is some must see entertainment.

[nancy]

AMEN!

[Michelle Van Loon]

Everyone who has been in a church run by Awesome Leaders raise your hand.

[Deemus]

Thanks for expounding on that Brandt. It seems that many have forgot Jesus' advice on greatness.

"if you wish to be great, be the servant of all..."

[Jojo]

At my last church our pastor was getting his PhD in Global Transformational Leadership.

Taking on a whole Planet!

Now if THAT isn't Awesome Leadership, I don't know WHAT is!

[From Brant: That IS awesome. I feel for the people who only have a *masters* in Transforming the Globe.]

[kcillini77]

Kind of funny (or sad) that the only leadership material that I have ever come across that even comes close to emulating Jesus' leadership style is penned by a follower of Joseph Smith. The 7 Habits series (which I went through at work) struck me as somewhat countercultural with its emphasis on prioritizing others over yourself. Ultimately the goal is success, but with the emphasis on creating your own mission statement you define what that success is, and it isn't necessarily the corporate ideal.
There was a video we watched during the course where Stephen relates a story about being on his way home from a long day riding the subway. A man was sitting on the train while his kids ran wild around the train. Irritated, Stephen said to the man, "Sir, would you please control your kids." The guy looked up, weary, and said, "Oh, yeah, I'm sorry. I suppose I should keep them in line. But we just came from the hospital, and their mom passed away just hours ago. I'm in shock and I don't know what to do." His heart was immediately stirred with compassion for the man and the behavior of the kids was suddenly utterly meaningless in light of the situation. The focus on others was evident throughout the entire weeklong course, and I often found myself wondering why this can come out of someone who has bought into a wacky cult thing, but Christ-followers tend to put out the Awesomely Awesome drivel you are talking about.

[deborah]

rob smith:
do you mean the macon speedway in macon, il?

[From Brant: He does. Rob and I went to school together in Assumption, Illinois. Rob's now made it to Moweaqua, where he's a teacher. I moved to Palm Beach, so I can pay $6 for a gallon of milk.]

[Camel Rider]

Great post. The sarcasm is well used and reminds me of most of the leadership books out there. Several of my friends have worked for one of the big gurus (he uses the number 21 alot in his titles). They can't stand their work, he's a workaholic and they can't stand the constant pressure.

You should write a book :-)

[truevyne]

Who cares what the Awesomely Bold Leadership posts say. It's that fantastic picture my family looks forward to seeing!

[Nathanael]

There's a quote in Braveheart that I'll have to paraphrase since I don't know it by heart. William Wallace is speaking with the nobles upon his knighting after their victory at Stirling. They are still squabbling over titles and land and people. And the statement he makes is essentially that the nobles think the people of Scotland exist for them. But William says the nobles exist for the people. And that is the model that our Lord left us. A leader serves.

That being said, I love your Rules for Awesomely Bold Leadership. I always try to impliment them right away upon reading them. Someday I hope to be as awesomely awesome as you...someday.

[deborah]

brant,
yes, i can see that your friend, rob smith, has attained higher living status in moweaqua. that jump from assumption must've caused quite a culture shock! we here in argenta are still on the assumption level. no ripped pastors among the 3 churches in town! no leadership meetings at the casey's. you can clearly see why your blog is so important to me...gives me a taste of the good life.

[Dominique]

My definition of success has always been "in order to succeed one must learn to fail." I believe we learn so much more at failure then we often do with success. And, it takes a kind of grace to pick yourself up, dust off, and try again.

I have enjoyed your articles and am adding your blog to my website.

Dominique

[Greg]

Thanks...just thanks. Needed.

[Bob Sacamento]

Really appreciated this post. The last paragraph was especially appropo. In fact, the last paragraph was the strongest temptation to cry that this here ripped, real man leader has faced in months. (Of course, I withstood the temptation successfully, since I am a winner. A ripped winner, I should say.)

But seriously, great post.

[Catman]

I must say that I also enjoy the "Awesomely Awesome Leadership" series and have seen plenty of books out there that are written in that way. I must ask though, have you seen any Leadership books that were not written in that way? (besides the Bible).

I read "The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham" a couple of years ago and I don't remember it being it the "Awesomely Awesome" kind of genre. I will have to go back and check....

[matt mcgill]

excellent. loved it. did i ever told you about the time I broke my ankle and after scoring three touchdowns in one play i kept running to mexico and fed 1,000 orphans? thats leadership.

[M.E.]

Ack! That dog's still up there?

We want something else! We want something else! We want something else!

[nancy]

self help books for everything these days!

[Jim]

Brant,

Just came across this site. I worked at 2 megachurches for some awesomely bold visionary leaders--this series is way too funny and way too sad. Satire is a great way to expose the absurdity of the situation. I look forward to checking your blog regularly.