Leaders Who Last

When I think about the conclusion of life, the way Dave Kraft is doing it is the way I too want to be doing it too.

Mr. Kraft’s book, Leaders Who Last, is geared towards those in full-time vocational ministry.  As a husband, father, entrepreneur, lay-leader at church, and someone pursuing Jesus Christ I can see the overlap without having to be in full-time ministry.

Two key take aways from the book were the Leadership Wheel and the purpose statement.  There is a “think it through” section at the end of first portion of the book.  I stopped and spent some time there pressing my mind down on the questions, sharing the answers with my accountability partners, and putting together a solid plan of action based upon the responses.  The “think it through” section includes a deep dive into both the Leadership Wheel and the creation of a purpose statement.

A couple key quotes that I’m still thinking through:

•  ”..As a leader, your goal is to finish well – and not just to finish by yourself.”
• “Here is how I define “leader” throughout this book: A Christian leader is humble, God-dependent, team-playing servant of God who is called by God to shepherd, develop. equip, and empower a specific group of believers to accomplish an agreed-upon vision from God.”
• Dave Kraft’s purpose statement: To leave footprints in the hearts of God-hungry leaders who multiply.
• “People in leadership roles who don’t possess speaking gifts get tired, worn out, and discouraged quickly.”
• Arthur Friedman tells us “Men of genius are admired. Men of wealth are envied. Men of power are feared, but only men of character are trusted.”
• “Successful people in all walks of life; whether they are artists, inventors, scientists, or executives, never lose the spirit of a learner. They are like trees: when the trees stops growing, the fruit starts to rot.”
• “It’s not what you’ve been taught that matters. It’s how fast you can learn.”
• Warren Bennis: Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.

Conclusion: The book is solid and worth picking up whether your joe-businessman or in vocational ministry.  The first portion of the book, up to the first “thinking it though,” is worth the price price of admission. Pick it up and do the work, and it’ll be worth it for you.

For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? – Psalm 90:9-11