Business Leadership

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.

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.

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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By the time our week in Kenya was drawing to a close, I realized something important: the most enduring leadership lessons of the trip didn’t just come from the animals.

They came from the people. And from the hours spent sitting still.

Much of our time at Ol Pejeta followed a predictable rhythm, early morning drives, shared meals, afternoon rest, evening outings. But some of the most meaningful moments happened when nothing was scheduled at all.

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Earlier this month, my wife and I had the privilege of walking a portion of the Buen Camino through Portugal and northern Spain, following a pilgrimage path that people of faith have walked for more than 1,000 years.