We love dreamers and visionaries. We revere the people who never, ever, ever give up but persevere and despite all the obstacles manage to turn that dream into reality. There could not be a better time in history for people like this. Dream. Run with it. Make it happen. But, in the words of the poet Langston Hughes, what happens to a dream that languishes for decades? What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Still Strong Those words reminded me of the stillborn dream of Caleb in the Old Testament. There is no better example of an ambitious and determined dreamer. Most often we…

He sat down, paused before he spoke and then said, “It’s too much for me to give thanks. I cannot be thankful for this.  I will never be thankful for this.” He and his wife had lost their son and someone with the best intentions had quoted Paul’s instructions to the church in Thessalonika, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Then was not the time to say, “Paul did not say be thankful for everything – but thankful in everything.”  Yet, that is what I thought about for days afterwards.  Paul says, literally, eucharisteo, in everything and in every…

One of the most watched events of 2012 was Nik Wallenda’s tightrope walk across Niagara Falls.  In doing so, he became the first man ever to walk directly over the Falls. If you saw it you may remember the mist obscured image of his dropping to one knee, fist-pumping and running to the end of the rope into the arms of his family.  It was a great moment of personal victory. I’ve not seen any leadership books so far based on his feat.  Why not a best-seller titled “Five Keys For Taking An Organization Across Niagara Falls”?  I suspect everyone knows the personal skills and appetite for risk required to…

When I worked with Bob Buford, I asked him how he had become so successful in the cable television business. His quick response was they had concentrated on being a dominant supplier to a specialized niche. That meant his company was not the only game in town but was so good at what they did that people thought of them first. They occupied the mental box marketers call “top of mind.” While winning this space may not eliminate competition, it makes it harder for others to win away your customers. For decades nonprofits have occupied a similar box in the minds of private foundations and donors. I remember well an…

The test of a long life is staying vital and not drifting.  Few of the leaders of Israel were able to be good for the long run.  They eventually gave in to deceit, drift or the ever present temptation to worship other gods.  There were many strong starts but scarcely any that endured. They became isolated from challenges to their whims and foolish choices. They were seduced by power and surrounded by liars and sycophants. The circle of trusted friends grew smaller and the ring of influencers with vested interests grew larger. Living longer only increased the odds of ending badly. It’s a question for some of us as well. …