Do you sometimes find yourself making undercover punk moves in your ministry? Growing up in the hood we considered “punks” to be the kids who claimed to be one thing–rough, tough and all that stuff– but when it came down to the ‘get down’ they got scared and chickened out. You know the ones who on the day of a big fight stayed home sick from school or had their mom walk them to the bus stop? Don’t get me wrong, I was not a fighter, not for really, but when my back was against the wall—I didn’t chicken out! This week, though, I almost did!
Last year I made a public declaration that 2012 was going to be a positioning year for my ministry. To solidify my claim, I stole away for a few days, hooked up with one of my expansion buddies and together we crafted my 2012 positioning plan. OMG! I came back from my trip infused, excited, and ready to take action. Following my carefully outlined roadmap, I ran into a few detours but there was nothing that I couldn’t work around. This week something happened.
Out of nowhere—I got scared! What if this really happens? What if my plan truly succeeds? What if it doesn’t happen? What if I fail publically? Lord, did you really call ME to do THIS? Did I hear you correctly? I found myself acting like Moses by doubting my ability to reach the people I am called to serve; then like Elijah after a tremendous victorious I felt overwhelmed with fear and vulnerability; and then like Paul, I felt plagued by circumstances that rendered me weak and no matter what I tried I couldn’t seem to make it go away. So I decided that I was going to schedule a day to stop think about everything. I’d rework my plan by writing out (for the third or fourth time) my goals, objectives, and strategies for 2012. I was going to simply start again!
Sounds like a pretty good plan of action doesn’t it? That’s what makes it an “undercover punk move”. On the surface it looks like your making strategic progress toward your goals. To the average person you look productive, wise, and even methodical. But you are NOT the average person! YOU ARE A LEADER! Leaders make bold, courageous, yet uncomfortable moves. It’s on days like the one I had earlier this week that we as leaders learn what we’re really made of. When face to face with the choice to play big or go home what will you decide?
I decided to play big. Rather than doing work I had already completed or tucking away in my room and reading the latest leadership book, listening to another sermon, talking about my BIG dreams or getting on a soap box about what my colleagues are doing—I rolled up my sleeves and took my next step. Notice that I didn’t say that I completed all the tasks before me, nor did I slay a HUGE giant that was impeding my expansion progress. Nope. I simply took the required next step—which for me was making an uncomfortable phone call. Was I afraid? Yes. But I did it anyway. That’s what leaders do; even in fear we move forward until our faith overcomes our fear.
Where have you allowed fear to cause you to make “undercover punk moves” in your ministry? What are your “undercover punk moves”? I want to challenge you this weekend to take 30 minutes to evaluate your progress. Here are my 7 Steps to Exposing and Eliminating the Undercover Punk in You:
- Make a BOLD and public declaration. – Say it aloud in a crowd (even if it’s 2 or 3)! Professing your BIG goals make them powerful and holds you accountable.
- Create a strategic your plan of action. – You CANNOT expand without a plan.
- Check your progress. Where are you along your journey? – Are you following your plan?
- Identify where you have been hiding out rather than stepping up?– Keep it real, in what ways have you been behaving like an “undercover punk” (hiding out when you should be stepping up)?
- Know your signature “undercover punk moves”. List the things you do that look progress, but are really not.
- Identify your next step? – Ask yourself, what one thing do you need to do right now to move forward.
- Take the step! – Stop talking and thinking—just DO it!
Ready to expand your ministry? Join Janice Johnson at her next Road to Expansion Live Event in Atlanta, GA on March 30th. Click here to register.