Letters from Kamp Krusty

More Excerpts from The 417 Rules of Awesomely Bold Leadership: Lead Through Endless Talking About Leading

Rule #114:  There's only one way Leadership gets done:  Through talking about leading.

[Excerpt]

...and I'm here to tell you, that next morning I woke up with sixteen more rules and twelve more acronyms!  My publisher was thrilled to get the manuscript on-time, again.  Leadership is all about coming through in the clutch.

And you can't just "get" leadership.  You have to live it.  And how do you "live it"?  Good question, friend!

Here's how:  You travel around and talk about it.  Endlessly.  Traveling around, talking about it, writing about it, coming up with rules about it, rhyming it with other words, googling for quotes about it, putting those quotes on notecards, and updating your books with the things that you wrote on those notecards.  For years.

Am I, the Vision Coach, a true leader?  Well, friend, sometimes I can barely get out the door in the morning.  Why?  Friend, I'm pinned in by stacks of thousands of notecards.

Heck yes, I'm a leader. 

Leadership is talking about leadership.  It's like my friend, says, who met Tiger Woods:  "Simply hanging around with golfers doesn't make you a golfer."  No.  But traveling the world, yammering on about golfing, without pause, for decades?  Now you're golfing, friend!

"I 'led' D-Day, but I didn't learn about leadership until I collected 1,000 funny stories about leadership and went around telling them all over the place."

-- Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Seminar is TONIGHT, Thursday! New Time Announced! 7 p.m. ET!

Dear ___BLOG READER___ ,

Friend, is it time for you to take your leadership to the next level?

You know it is, ___BLOG___!  And tonight is your big chance!

We've changed the time:  It's now at 7 p.m. ET! 

That's to accomodate you, ___BLOG READER___ !

Go to www.shapevine.com and register!  It's free!  Join me and my facilitator, Doug Hannah.  If you can't tell whose who:  I'll be the one firmly in control.

Here's why you should be included, ___MR. B. READER___ , as we've designed a seminar just for you and the ____READER____ family!

-- We'll empower your leadership to become BOLD leadership.

-- If your leadership is already BOLD, we'll take it to AWESOMELY BOLD.

-- We'll equip you to lead not just "people", but the RIGHT people:  Other leaders of leading leaders!

-- Breakout groups!

-- We'll visualize, together, how to give a hurting world what it's been waiting for:  Your Vision Statement.

-- A PowerPoint Presentation will be Presented, equipping you through graphical motivational graphics!

-- We'll equip and empower you to enhance your Bold Leadership by using words like "equip" and "empower"!

___BLOG READER___, you are my friend, and I would hate for you to miss this one-time-only "webinar" event.  Best of all, it's free, worth every penny, and more.

Visualizing a Great Tomorrow at My Event,

The Vision Coach

You're Invited to a Leading Leadership Seminar for Leaders of Leading Leaders (TM)

Greetings _BLOG READER_ ,

_BLOG READER_, as you know,bwe need leaders like never before.  Just turn on the T.V. news, and you can see how the lack of leaders -- and, more importantly, the lack of leaders of leading leaders -- is changing America.  And I have to be honest with you, _BLOG _ , not for the better!

That's why I'm inviting you, _BLOG_, and the whole __READER__ family, to a FREE WEBINAR on April 17th!  It'll be a first-ever event of its kind!  I'll allow interaction!*  I'll teach you about the latest developments in the unchanging world of Leadership, as I show you my brand-new "Total Principles" (TM) for leaders.

That's right, _BLOG_ , I'll show you my T.P., and you'll be able to use it, right there.  You'll be able to apply my T.P. easily and smoothly to your sensitive leadership areas.

And yes, this FREE WEBINAR will feature PowerPoint.  I will demonstrate through "charts" how you can develop a vision statement, then lead your followers to follow you as they busily make your vision a reality! -- for the glory of the Kingdom, etc. etc.

And I'll host it from my very own home, __BLOG__.  It's a "virtual" visit to the my very Lair of Leadership (TM), pictured above!

It's April 17th, and it's designed personally for you, _BLOG READER_, with you in mind!  Remember Rule #25:  Go to lots of seminars and stuff.  __BLOG__, this is one of those!   

Leading Visionary Leaders of Visions of Leaders with Vision,

The Vision Coach

* -- Within reason.

More Excerpts: The 417 Rules of Awesomely Bold Leadership

Rule #95:  Win at Everything

...so there's no getting around it:  God is a winner.  Therefore, to be a Godly man, you have to win...at everything. 

Need an example?  Take me, for instance.  In football, I won in high school, and then college, and then as a coach.  I just kept winning.  And now, when it comes to church, guess what?  I win.  I won at football, now I win at church.

Winners win on the field, and in the pulpit.  They can't stop winning.  Everytime they turn around, they win. We winners win.  Quick:  What number am I thinking of?  -- wrong!  It's 31.  I just won again. 

Why did I just win again?  Because that's what winners do.  True fact:  If you look up "winner" in the dictionary, it comes from the same root word as the word "win".  That's no accident, friends.

God wins, and I didn't get into ministry to lose.  Did you get into ministry to lose?  Did you go to seminary and announce in chapel, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm here to lose at ministry, because I'm a big loser"?  I doubt you did that, and...    

Rule #221:  Jesus Wasn't Some Namby-Pamby Guy Like in those Movies

...as if Jesus was some guy who walked around, hung out with a bunch of losers, and just stood there while people beat him up.  People who think that should read their Bibles! 

Jesus was huge and ripped.  How do we know?  Remember:  He was a carpenter!  What do we know about carpenters?  Carpenters are totally jacked.  Scholars, including Dr. Josh McDowell and Dr. Joe Weider, believe Jesus could probably bench 300 more than 20 times, and squat 700 plus.  Some "pansy", huh?  Yeah, right!

Jesus was pumped.  Scholars agree, he was like Mr. T, except white.

But let's set Jesus aside:  Church life, itself, isn't for the weak-kneed!  It's like I told our "Bold S.T.U.D.S." men's group the other night:  It takes a MAN to attend our events, go to our 101 Membership Class, and read the assigned small group curriculum before a time of real intimacy and intimate sharing in a very intimate small group setting.

Think sitting and passively, unquestioningly, listening to sermons isn't manly?  Try some of my sermons, which frequently reference my motorcycle!  Who says Christians can't ride Harleys, huh?  Like to see them say that to my face! 

No.  Let me put it more bluntly, gentlemen:  I'd like to see them say that to Jesus's face.   

More Excerpts from "The 417 Rules of Awesomely Bold Leadership": The Enemy of Awesomely Awesome is Pretty Awesome

Rule #84:  The Enemy of Awesomely Awesome is "Pretty Awesome"

...and as I ascended the feared north face of K2, without climbing equipment, I couldn't help but notice:  There are some frozen dead people up here.

Friend, let me tell you something:  When you see some frozen dead people, life comes into focus.  I realized right then:  These people were pretty awesome, to make it that far.  But they were entombed in ice.  They were also deceased.

I skipped ahead -- onward, and upward! -- listening to an old speech of mine on my iPod.  And I heard myself say, right then and there:  For awesomely bold leaders, the real enemy of being truly awesomely awesome was being "pretty awesome."

To get to the peak of K2, you must be awesomely awesome.  Not pretty awesome.  Pretty awesome is the enemy of awesomely awesome.

Once, at a conference, I sat behind another speaker as he finished.  The person next to me leaned in and whispered, "That was pretty awesome."  Pretty awesome.  I shivered as I pictured that other speaker entombed in ice, and...

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Rule #401:  Awesomely Bold Leaders Know How to Breathe

...and, as I said in that infomercial, the key is breathing.

I've successfully taught awesomely bold leaders for years:  When under pressure, under stress, you must breathe.  You must inhale, then exhale, repeatedly.

How successful is it?  Friends, as my wonderful, God-fearing grandmother used to say, the proof is in the pudding!

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady employs this "in-and-out" breathing method, as does NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson and the last five U.S. Presidents, except Ronald Reagan, who no longer employs this breathing method.  What do they know that you don't?

I lack space here to explain it all.  Suffice it to say, science is confirming what Awesomely Bold Leaders in my seminars already know:  When we're under stress, our brains require oxygen.  Think of it this way:  When we're PERspiring, we must be REspiring. 

It's breathing, friends.  If you do not do this, people will not attend your conferences.  I unpack this in my new tape series...

The 417 Rules of Awesomely Bold Leadership: More Excerpts

Rule #94 -- Be Awesomely Manlier than Everyone Else

...and so there I was, and Mr. Norris wouldn't even get off the floor.  I said to him, "Chuck, it's okay.  You lost.  But stand up and be a man."  And I think he would have, but he was still unconscious. 

As I walked away, fist still smarting a bit, I thought about what has become of our culture, and how everyone's become feminized, like Oprah Winfrey, who almost picked me as a life coach one time.  And it's now affecting the church, and to fix that, we need awesomely bold people to preach week-in, week-out to pretty much the same people in the confines of our buildings.

I agree with John Piper, who wrote recently that manliness happens when "Preaching is more readily prized, " and "the fear of strong preaching is part of the effeminizing of the church, and the full range of the way God is and appears on the Bible is not known where preaching is simply casual and conversational."

My friend, I won't dance around all girly-like like that and mince words.  I'll say it, my way:  The church has become too feminized, and the way to rectify it is to make the church sit down, be quiet, and passively listen to awesome people like me.

There's simply nothing manlier than not being able to respond, to just sit there and take it.  Women?  They have "conversations".  But men?   That's not us.  We sit down in large numbers, in rows, audience-style, listen, and quietly accept.  Why?  We're men.  That's what we do.

Case in point:  On the manly blog I linked to, no one is allowed to leave a public comment.  No one.  Boldness?  Hell, yeah.  And that's right, I just cussed, like John Wayne in "Rio Lobo" before he shot that one guy, and we need more John Wayne's shooting from the Biblical hip with the Winchester of truth from the pulpit of...something...western-y.

Let's make this simple:  Here's a Manliness Quotient list of activities, from Manliest to Girliest:

1)  Me, boldly leading you, a leading leader of visionary leaders.

2)  You, listening quietly to me boldly leading you.

3) You, teaching conversationally, among people who know you, who are allowed to challenge, ask, clarify, and teach you, too.

Friend, be a man, stand up, and do number 2.

Awesomely Bold Leadership: Announcing the Conference

Announcing Leader-Feeder '07.  THE Conference for Awesomely Bold Leaders of Visionary Leaders of Leading Leaders!

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a

Dear Awesomely Bold Friend,

Consider this my personal invitation to LeaderFeeder '07, The Leading Conference that Feeds Leading Feeders of Feeding Leaders.

Prepare to maximize your dynamic team with the dynamic skills that maximize your dynamic management.  And enjoy a dynamic boxed lunch.

We've got a raft of dynamic speakers, including dynamically rich Christian businessmen like Truett Cathy, plus dynamically military Army general guys, some women, and Peyton Manning, whom, you know, we're not sure, exactly, where he is, spiritually, but is just pretty awesome. 

Dynamic workshops?  Check, my friend.  We've got 'em.  Ken Blanchard will hit home with a must for busy church leaders trapped with low-level people demands:  "One-Minute Grief Counseling".  Robbie Knievel will inspire:  "Daredevil Leadership:  Avoid Getting Racked Atop the Motorbike of Adversity".   

And, since we're cutting-edge, we'll find some internet-guy to do something like, "YouTube and Leadership in the 21st Century".   It'll make sense after we get it fleshed out.

Friend, can I count on you to be at LeaderFeeder '07?  You WILL learn how to lead.  Picture thousands of bold leading leaders, in dynamic lock-step, taking notes, in tandem, with matching LeaderFeeder notepads, before being herded off into numbered lunch areas on the hall floor.

Are you ready to lead, feeder?  Or are you ready to feed, leader?  Only you can answer that question, my friend, and only after a dizzing array of speakers, drawn seemingly randomly, but mainly from the sports world.

All participants will receive the LeaderFeeder Scheduling Tool, packed handsomely in our dynamic LeaderFeederTrapperKeeper.

Awesomely Boldly,

The Vision Coach

P.S. -- Register before October and you'll be included in Friday night's VIP soiree with former Globetrotter Curly Neal.

Yet More Sneak Peeks: Awesomely Bold Leadership Excerpts

Rule #240  Awesomely Bold Leadership is Based on Unchanging Principles. 

Rule #241  But You Still Need to Buy My Updated Versions

(excerpt) ...so I reluctantly agreed that yes, I kind of resemble William Wallace.

The point is this:  The 417 Rules are unchanging, though history.  Winston Churchill had the rules down cold.  Josef Stalin knew most of them, but missed the ones about not intentionally starving everyone to death (#49-#52.)  The point is, the principles have never, ever changed.

...but you still need to be buy some stuff.  That's why we call our new CD series the Cutting Edge Leadership Training Academy for Leadership.  When you find yourself with one of those unplanned, scary moments of non-driven silence, don't sweat it:  You can listen to these CDs, and stay on the evolutionary edge of these principles that don't change. 

And it's all packaged in a convenient, never-ending, unceasing, format, arriving like clockwork in your mailbox for the rest of your life.  Remember:  Awesomely Bold Leaders never stop learning, and I'm always just one step ahead of you.

Rule #242:  Truly Awesomely Bold Leaders are Always One Step Ahead

Rule #414:  Awesomely Bold Leaders do Not Steal My Vignettes and Put Their Names in Them Like They Were the Ones Who Did It

(excerpt) ...so I was effectively trapped, and had to listen to the other speakers.

So let's set the record straight:  That wasn't him in the story, it was me.  And I didn't turn and say that to Nelson Mandela, it was Desmond Tutu.

My friend, please know this:  Awesomely Bold Leaders tell stories -- preferably sports stories -- to make their points.  Like my dear friend Joe Gibbs told me:  "God loves people, people love sports.  God loves sporting people, and sports people love a God who loves His sports, people." 

My friend, that's truer now than ever.

Let me tell you a little something:  There once was a little boy, named Orenthal James, who could barely walk.  But he grew up and amazed his doctors by becoming one of the greatest running backs the NFL has ever seen.  His name?  You may know him better by...O.J.   Yes:  O.J. Simpson.

Inspiring?  Absolutely.  Yes, he did wind up killing some people, but that's irrelevant.  You were inspired, and I just told you that story.  Do that and then close the deal in prayer.

More Sneak Peeks: Awesomely Bold Leadership Excerpts

Rule #13:  Awesomely Bold Leaders Recognize that ALL People Have Gifts and Talents.  Free Them to Use Their Gifts and Talents to Follow You.

...and I realized that ministry is a lot like football. 

As "quarterback" of my church, I have to get the right signals from the Visionary on the Sidelines.  And that's not hard, because I'm also the Visionary on the Sidelines, calling the plays.  But the point is that ministry is like football.

And it's also like Ultimate Fighting.  But it's not like speed skating.  It's definitely not like figure skating, but it IS like running a marathon, but it's not like one of those "race-walking" marathons, which are kind of...questionable.  It's like high-stakes poker, but not really like euchre.

Every few months, I get away to Alaska for a Poker Night with other awesomely bold leaders of leading leaders of visionary leaders.  We play a game of poker before heading out into the night to hunt with our bare hands.  One night, as I was choking an elk, I realized:  I might be able to do this, but most people can't.  They need the tools to do their job -- to follow me.

You must recognize:  You may be remarkably talented, magnetic, well-muscled, and forward-thinking.  But others have talents, too.  Empower them to use their talents to follow you, as...

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Rule #398:  Awesomely Bold Leaders Know How to "Get Through"

...when there I was, overlooking the great battlefield of Gettysburg, just 142 years, almost to the month, after that great battle.  I thought about Abraham Lincoln, and how he boldly led his army of slaves to victory on this battlefield.  I thought about leadership. 

Then I thought about me, and how I met Arnold Palmer once.

You know what Arnold said to me?  "Excuse me, but I'm trying to get through here," he said.  Right there, Arnold Palmer, winner of 18 majors, summed up leadership.  "I'm trying to get through here" --

I'm trying to lead, and in order to lead, I've got to get through here.  So here are The Three Questions of Leadership, you must ask yourself: 

1) In your leadership, where's "here"? 

2) Where are you? 

3) And where am I? 

Can you answer all three?  Leaders of leading leaders can.  My prayer is that you'll be able to answer all three, my friend, and...

The 417 Rules of Awesomely Bold Leadership

Excerpts from my new book:

Rule #31  Awesomely Bold Leaders Lead Authentically

...and, gentlemen, there's no getting around it:  To awesomely, boldy lead in an authentic way, you must be authentically awesome.  There's no room for deception.

This occurred to me as I was out flying MiG's with my Saturday morning Leaders' Bible Study and Adventure Group:  Leaders must be true-blue.  Your followers can see right through you if you are not truly, deeply, honestly, as awesome as your leadership.

Search your heart.

That morning, as I buzzed the homes of the men who oppose me on the Elder Board, I could see the look in their eyes.  We may quibble over budget issues, but -- never forget this -- they knew I wasn't just posing as a bold leader.  I am a bold leader, through and through.  It's important to be authentic, and...

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Rule #112  Awesomely Bold Leaders Lead the Leading Leaders of Visionary Leaders

...so gentlemen, you can't get around this. 

The other day, while I was dead-lifting 635 pounds, I remembered a time I led a group of men up Kilimanjaro, where I introduced them to my good friend, Norman Schwarzkopf.

Norman looked at me, his eyes moist.  "Thank you," he said.  "For taking the time to lead me.  I lead everyone, but you're the only one who led me, and I'm one of the leading leaders of visionary leaders.  Thank you."  He tried to hug me.

It' was right then, when I realized you can't be distracted by everyone who's clamoring for your time.    Be like Jesus, who Himself chose only proven leaders, like Peter.  Jesus knew His time was limited.  He didn't have time to "mess", as the kids say.  And neither do you.   Don't let teenage guys with problems distract you, or some guys who want you to go fishing.   Pick proven leaders.

And in this day and age, in today's churches, it's not enough to only lead leaders.  It's not enough to lead leaders of other leaders.  You must prioritize:  You must lead only the leading leaders of other visionary leaders. 

Remember:  Without your visionary leadership, with the leadership of leading leaders of visionaries, the people will perish. 

And then recall #16:  If your people perish, you will not be selected to facilitate a break-out group at my next satellite seminar.