Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/Information-Demanded.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/Information-Demanded.html Today’s “information age” workforces, especially those who have entered within the last ten years, want to be a part of something that has lasting value. In order to insure this value is met, they feel a need to understand why they are doing what they are asked to do. They want to feel they can contribute to shaping the company’s path. They want to participate in the planning of the organizations future. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/Making-Companies-Thrive-Today.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/Making-Companies-Thrive-Today.html I’m an observer and I read a lot. Why would a pastor care about such things? Frankly, some days I miss the business world and so thinking about it keeps me connected. Plus, much of my ministry is to people who live in this world every day, so keeping up with it makes me a better minister to them. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/10-Things-I-Hate-In-Leadership.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/10-Things-I-Hate-In-Leadership.html There are some things in leadership that drive me bananas. Maybe you have your own list, but this is mine. Here are 10 things I hate (or don’t like very much) in leading or following people: http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/3-Basic-Needs-of-a-Healthy-Organization.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/3-Basic-Needs-of-a-Healthy-Organization.html Someone shared an article with me by Raymond P. Rood entitled “How Then Should Organizations Live”. In the article Rood makes the point that every organization has three basic needs. They are growth, maintenance, and development. For an organization to thrive it must do all three well. Yesterday at our all day staff retreat we expanded our thoughts on these three needs as they relate to the life of our church and each individual area in which we serve. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/Dont-Quit-Planning-During-Uncertain-Times.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/Dont-Quit-Planning-During-Uncertain-Times.html The wise person will always plan for change and through change. The leader’s role needs to be one of keeping the organization true to the overall mission and vision of the organization while at the same time always being aware of changes on the horizon which could enhance or threaten the organization’s success in the future and, in the end, steering the organization through those changes. Plans today must be much more adaptable and flexible to change and more inclusive of others and their opinions if they will succeed; but plans must be made that serve to move the organization forward. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/8-Ways-To-Know-Its-Time-To-Quit.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/8-Ways-To-Know-Its-Time-To-Quit.html Please understand. I’m not a quitter. I believe, however, that the times described above are not always to be viewed as negative experiences. Sometimes God uses the difficult experiences of life to draw us to Him and to open our eyes to the next opportunity He has for us. I would have never made some of the moves I’ve made in life that I know now were of God had it not been for my miserable situation at the time. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/10-Goals-Yet-to-Be-Realized.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/10-Goals-Yet-to-Be-Realized.html I’m a dreamer. I always want to do more with life. I believe dreams are a healthy way to stretch the mind, keep a person growing, and even stay emotionally healthy. (“Where there is not vision, the people perish.”) On a recent plane ride I jotted down ten goals that I still have for my life. God willing, I’m going to spend my life dreaming they come true! http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/10-Principles-Ive-Learned-in-Life.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/10-Principles-Ive-Learned-in-Life.html My life has changed. In the past few years I’ve transitioned to someone who invests in others and I have people who actually seek my advice. I know that sounds egotistical (which would not be unusual for me), but I don’t mean it that way at all. It’s just that at almost 45 years of age, with a wealth of practical experience; including many negative experiences, I am at a mid-life stage where I have learned some things and, because I believe so strongly in sharing experiences, people sometimes seek out mine. Looking back over my life I now think often, “I wish I had known then what I know now”. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/10-Steps-to-Recover-from-Failure-or-Loss.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/10-Steps-to-Recover-from-Failure-or-Loss.html Sometimes life throws curves at us that take the wind from our sail. If we aren’t careful we can allow the injury to haunt us for life; never regaining what we have lost. Have you lost a job recently? Have you had a business failure? Did you suffer from divorce? Has the person you trusted the most hurt you the deepest? http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/Guest-Post-From-Nateedmondsoncom.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/5202/Guest-Post-From-Nateedmondsoncom.html I don’t want to publicly criticize anyone in particular, so I’m going to try and be careful with this explanation, but the reason I started thinking about this whole “God thing” idea is because of a recent use of the phrase that I thought seemed a little skeptical. There was an event that had been planned for months and about a week or so before a few details hadn’t been worked out yet. Thankfully everything ended up working out and the event was a success. After the event was underway and all systems were functional one of the leaders of this event made the statement, “man.. it’s just really a God thing. We had a lot of last minute details fall through on us and I’m just so pleased God worked everything out to his glory..”