BOBBY MCGRAW

speaker + instigator of hope

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Monday Mentions 4.20.20

My Favorite (Healthy?) Energy Drink – Zevia Energy Drink

Everybody needs a little pick-me-up from time to time, right? A lot of energy drinks contain something that triggers headaches for me. The Zevia Zero Calorie Energy Drink works great for me. It is sweetened with stevia and has a similar amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. There are several flavors available. Kola is my favorite.

Workout from Home – Whatafit Resistance Bands Set

I love working out at an actual gym, but until the current stay at home order lifts, I am committed to home workouts. The Whatafit Resistance Bands Set is a great addition to any home gym. 

My Nightly Relaxation Drink – Calm Magnesium Drink

I have found a lot of benefits by adding a magnesium supplement to my daily regime. I’ve tried a lot of capsules in the past but now really enjoy the Calm Drink Mix. I mix 2 teaspoons in a glass of water before bed each night.

An App that Helps Maintain Perspective – Day One Journaling App

I’ve found journaling to be a great way to maintain (or gain) perspective. I recommend checking out the Day One App. The app has a beautiful design, which makes it a joy to write in. It surfaces past entries, so you can revisit your memories. 

I have a template of questions I use to prompt my entries each day. Drop me a note if you’d like the template, I’d be happy to send it to you.

What would you add? Feel free to comment by clicking here.

    Monday Mentions 4.13.20

    A Great Book: The Character and Greatness of Winston Churchhill

    From Amazon:

    Winston Churchill was one of the most extraordinary leaders of the twentieth century. What enabled him to stand so steadfastly when all those around him seemed to turn back in fear? What enabled him to inspire whole nations to endure the unendurable and to achieve the unachievable when all those around him had already surrendered all hope? The Character and Greatness of Winston Churchill is a remarkable study of Churchill’s leadership skill and answers these questions and more. The result is an account that is no less inspiring today than it was three-quarters of a century ago when the great man’s shadow fell large across the world stage. According to Henry Kissinger, “Our age finds it difficult to come to grips with Churchill. The political leaders with whom we are familiar generally aspire to be superstars rather than heroes. The distinction is crucial. Superstars strive for approbation; heroes walk alone. Superstars crave consensus; heroes define themselves by the … future they see it as their task to bring about. Superstars seek success as a technique for eliciting support; heroes pursue success as the outgrowth of their inner values.” Winston Churchill was a hero.

    My Favorite Planner – The Full Focus Planner

    The Full Focus Planner has been a game-changer for me. In the past, I’ve tried to be more productive by trying the latest apps or reading more books about the subject. While some have helped, I found it was a fancy way for me to procrastinate.

    The Focus Planner helps me in a lot of ways. Here are a few:

    • The Daily Pages help me identify the most important tasks for me to complete each day.
    • The Weekly Preview helps me connect my weekly actions to my quarterly and annual goals.
    • The Quarterly Preview helps me re-evaluate my progress and move forward in a purposeful way.

    If you’re looking for a planner that will help you accomplish big things while feeling less overwhelmed, I’d encourage you to give this planner a try!

    A Custom Journal from Bibles and Rebinds

    My friend Jay of Memphis Bibles and Rebinds recently created a custom leather journal that is gorgeous. This journal is moleskin-style and is perfect for a journal, notebook, or Bible study notes.

    I loved them so much I ordered 3 of them. I am giving one away this week. In order to enter to win:

    1. Follow my account on Instagram.
    2. Like today’s corresponding post.
    3. Tag a friend in the comments of the Instagram post that you think would like this journal.

    I’ll pick a winner next Monday.

    A Quote I’m Thinking About

    If the day [Jesus] died was, in time, called ‘Good’, then maybe one day, our hardest days can be called ‘good’ too.”

    “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
    – Romans 8:28 (NASB)

    What would you add? Feel free to comment by clicking here.

      Monday Mentions 4.6.20

      A Great Book: Shackleton’s Way

      I recently listened to this book on Audible. It is fascinating to hear about Shackleton’s explorations. There are a ton of leadership takeaways as well.

      From Amazon:

      The explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton has recently become the legendary character at the center of a renewed fascination with the early days of Antarctic exploration. Though not the most renowned explorer of his day, nor even the most successful in terms of stated goals, Shackleton’s story of adventurous ambition, incredible endurance, and heroic survival against all odds is indeed the stuff of legend. And now, thanks to the detailed research and helpful insights of Morrell and Capparell, his story is also the meaty material of lessons on how to lead with authority, integrity, humor, and compassion.

      A British explorer once summarized the feats of the great Antarctic explorer like this: “For a joint scientific and geographical piece of organization, give me Scott; for a winter journey, give me Wilson, for a dash to the Pole and nothing else, Amundsen; and if I am in the devil of a hole and want to get out of it, give me Shackleton every time.” His words set the tone for Shackleton’s Way, at once both a travel narrative and a handbook of the skills required for effective leadership of diverse groups, especially in times of change and crisis. Shackleton’s attempts to reach the South Pole and his two-year fight for the survival of his crew, when their ship is stranded in ice and then sunk, makes for exciting reading. Using this story as the centerpiece of their book, the authors have woven in their interpretation of his success using interviews with exceptional modern leaders such as Mike Dale, Jaguar’s former chief of North American operations, and Apollo 13 Commander James Lovell, and by offering useful advice points at the end of each chapter. For example, in the chapter entitled “The Path to Leadership,” Shackleton is shown to have been a well-read man, eager to learn and able to mix with varied company. The authors support this by noting that broadening one’s horizons and learning to see things from different perspectives will allow for greater flexibility in problem solving. U.S. Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig agrees that a level of well roundedness is vital in leaders, acknowledging that “one of my prime aims in distributing books is to get people to think outside themselves and to think broadly.”

      Morrell and Capparell’s excellent use of archival material (especially crew diaries) and their intelligent interpretation of what Shackleton’s story implies about good leaders makes this book both pleasurable and educational. Throughout the story of the explorer’s exploits, the authors have inserted summarizing subtitles that succinctly capture Shackleton’s leadership style. Occasionally, this seems a little strained; while the explorer’s progressive attitudes and actions deserve praise as leadership lessons par excellence, even some of his misjudgments are referred to with something approaching reverence. For the most part, however, the authors employ a subtle and effective hand in translating the actions of a man at the helm of a dangerous adventure into advice beneficial to leaders in all areas of life. 

      An Interesting Podcast: Unlocking Us with Brené Brown

      We all have patterned ways of managing our day-to-day anxiety, and these patterns often reflect the roles and expectations of our first families. In this episode, Brené talks about over and under-functioning in anxious times, why anxiety is contagious, and how we can cultivate a calm practice.

      A Helpful Blog Post for Inproving Livestreams

      A friend recently joked that all pastors have suddenly become televangelists. Though many churches have had the capability to stream, this crisis has accelerated churches adapting to technology. This blog post has some helpful tips to be more effective. 

      A Quote I’m Thinking About

      When this ends, may we find that we have become more like the people we wanted to be, we were called to be, we hoped to be, and may we stay that way — better for each other, because of the worst.” Laura Kelly Fanucci

      What would you add? Feel free to comment by clicking here.

        Monday Mentions 3.30.20

        A Book for Anybody that Leads: The Vision Driven Leader

        Michael Hyatt has a brand new book that releases tomorrow called The Vision Driven Leader. I was able to read an early version of the manuscript over the summer. By applying the framework outlined in the book, Sugar Hill Church was able to effectively serve more peole than we have have. 

        From Amazon:

        Vision drives everything

        It’s the essential ingredient for successful leadership. Unless you have a clear picture of where you want to lead your organization, nobody will follow you. But if your vision is compelling, people will apply their best thinking and effort to make it real, regardless of the obstacles or opposition you face.

        So how do you craft that vision? How do you get others on board? And how do you put that vision into practice at every level of your organization? In The Vision Driven Leader, New York Times bestselling author Michael Hyatt asks ten simple questions to help you:

        • craft an irresistible vision for your business
        • ensure it’s clear, inspiring, and practical
        • rally your team around the vision
        • distill it into actionable plans that drive results
        • overcome obstacles and pivot as needed

        Based on Michael’s forty years of experience as an entrepreneur and executive, backed by insights from organizational science and psychology, and illustrated by case studies and stories from multiple industries, The Vision Driven Leader reveals what difference a vision makes and how to craft one for you and your team today.

        A Great Podcast Episode on Crisis Leadership: Carey Nieuwhof’s Leadership Podcast

        Carey Nieuwhof creates fantastic content that helps leaders thrive. Carey recently released a bonus episode on his podcast that features a panel of guest who have all lead through seasons of uncertaintly well: Tricia Sciortino, Jud Wilhite, and Kevin Queen. I found this episode especially helpful with the uncertainty we are all facing these days.

        A Great Post from Jenni Catron: What to Remember When Leading through Crisis

        Jenni Catron is an incredible leader with several books. This post reminds us that we don’t have control of when crisis hits. What we DO have control over are the choices we make about how to lead through them. I’d encourage to read this post.

        A Quote I’m Thinking About

        The greatest gift that a leader gives in a crisis situation is a nonanxious presensence. — Kevin Queen

        What would you add? Feel free to comment by clicking here.

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