ARTICLES BY DR. ANDY NEILLIE, CSP
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The Fit Old Dog
Introducing “The Fit Old Dog” Team
There’s something special about finding your people.
I found my people in my fitness community. For many of us, that connection begins when someone older, slower, or a little more worn-down walks through the door and chooses to show up anyway.
It happens when somebody finishes the workout and everyone else is still there cheering. And, of course, it happens whenever there’s a dog around. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned,…
Great Leaders Know When to Move to the Back of the Stage
A leadership lesson from Vince Gill and 50 years of making music
In August, I had the privilege of attending a Vince Gill concert at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. My wife and I have always appreciated Vince’s extraordinary talent, but I left that evening with something more than an appreciation for great music. I left with a powerful reminder about great leadership.
Vince is celebrating 50 years in the music business with his 50 Years From Home tour.
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Why the Best Leadership Events Feel More Like a Gathering Than a Conference
When you bring leaders together, the setting matters. The agenda matters. The speaker matters. But sometimes the most important part of the event happens before anyone steps onstage.
That was one of my biggest takeaways from a recent leadership retreat in Roanoke, Virginia, for a privately held, family-owned construction company. About 200 people gathered at the historic Hotel Roanoke for a leadership event that included a broad cross-section of the organization,
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Opportunities Find Leaders
For the past three years, I’ve been praying about what Lynn and I sometimes call our “third-third.”
The first third of life is often spent learning. The second third is spent building. Careers, businesses, families, reputations, and responsibilities fill our days. The final third raises a different question:
“Lord, what do You want us to do with what You have given us?”
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking and praying about that question.
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What My Dogs Have Taught Me About Leadership
I’ve had a lot of great leadership mentors over the years. Coaches, authors, and a handful of extraordinary bosses who shaped how I think. I’m grateful for every one of them.
But some of my best lessons have come from a different source. Four legs. A wagging tail. And zero interest in my credentials.
Here’s what our dogs have taught me.
Lesson 1: Show Up Every Single Time
Every time Lynn or I walk through the door,
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Pre-Call Planning Isn’t Just for Salespeople
When people hear the phrase “pre-call planning,” they almost always think of sales. It brings to mind a salesperson preparing for a client meeting: reviewing notes, thinking through questions, maybe even anticipating objections.
The Leader You Never Hear
Our church has a great worship band. Some of their songs have gone viral across the US. They know how to lead the congregation in worship. However, most people in our church’s auditorium never notice my friend Seth Reed.
Leadership Stability: Weight in the Right Place
In the world of leadership, we often pay attention to what everyone else can see, the presentations, the results, the visible wins. But in my experience, the real strength of a leader is usually found in places no one notices.
Avodah: Your Work Is More Than a Job
Most leaders I meet are tired. Not tired of working hard – but tired of fragmentation.
They feel pulled between performance and principles, results and relationships, ambition and integrity. They want to succeed without selling their souls in the process.
There is an ancient word that speaks directly to this tension: Avodah.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, avodah is translated three ways: work,
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