In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and Barnabas Piper talk with Michael Kelley, the director of discipleship at LifeWay Christian Resources and author of two books - Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal and Boring. Michael started as an editor at Lifeway and now leads a large team developing numerous projects every month, so the conversation covers his growth as a leader and many of the lessons he has learned along the way. It's a lively, fun conversation, and typical of Michael's writing gift, he draws out some wonderful leadership lessons from unexpected places.

BEST QUOTES

“To explain something simply you have to really know it.”

“Children are such reflections of our leadership, good and bad.”

“When I get mad my kids I am mad at them for being me.”

“I learn a lot from my kids about what it means to relate to God innocently and purely.”

“It would be really good if you started practicing walking-around-leadership.”

“One of the challenges of being around great leaders is to not just be a leader imitator.”

“Imitating is a way we fool ourselves into thinking we’re learning.”

“When you elevate a leader to a new position one of the things you need to do is protect them from themselves.”

“For every one of the things on your calendar, who else can do it?”

“What are the things only you can do?”

“When you walk into the house you’re always bringing something with you whether you recognize it or not.”

“The best thing you can bring into the home is a general sense of calm and peace.”

“Leadership and responsibility is a gift that feels like a burden.”

“The world is run by tired men and fatigue is the price of leadership.”

“The leader is the first one through the door and often times that is the guy who gets shot.”

“The long way is the crucible that the Lord puts you into.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Boring: Finding an Extraordinary God in an Ordinary Life

Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal

MichaelKelley.co

Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones