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Have a vision YOU'RE excited aboutCreate a presentationInvite Folks, Have FoodHave 1 Action StepHave an Immediate On-Boarding PlanCheck Progresswww.ericbyrd.com

The system must survive youThe system must be self sustainingThe System must be spelled out step by stepThe system should have substitutesSee if you can set up the system in advance!VIP Consultingwww.ericbyrd.com

5 Details on 2021 planningHave short and long range goalsFind a resource of how to get thereProvide evidence of what the goal looks like sounds likeFind stakeholders to buy in to your visionFocus on the goal while also recognizing you may have to re-adjustwww.ericbyrd.com

So angry we're not gonna post any show notes. You're just gonna have to listen!www.ericbyrd.com

Value LifeConsider caring more about the collective than the individualChange usually happens out of necessity, pain or bothChange is necessaryChange can happen quicklyOptics actually matterwww.ericbyrd.com

The truth centers your compass - it is hard to lead people without truth, it is dangerous to make decisions based solely on feelings, thoughts, outside information. start with a value system and build your life on that.the truth is your integrity - people may not like you, they may not like your decision making, they may not like your leadership, but always be willing to give people the truth. If i care about you, the mission, the church, the organization i’m leading, i don’t always give you what you want to hear but I give you the truththe truth is power - rarely do I lead people out of my feelings but out of my power. And my power lies in my ability to be truthful. When I’m critical, when I’m loving, my power is in my words and those words are rooted in giving my team my people my family the truth.the truth is liberating - the truth rarely carries weight. A lie you have to live with until it’s dead. then you wonder how long do you have to keep it up, what happens when the truth is found out, etc.the truth has no expiration date - long after you have stopped leading people moved on, gotten fired, people will respect you - even love you because you gave them the truth. how awful would your family be if you only fed them ice cream and no meat to break down?www.ericbyrd.com

Always be kindRespect the other sideExamine the ProcessTake blame, give creditLove the Greater Goodfree gift at www.ericbyrd.comPass this along to someone/anyone that might need to hear it

VIP Consultant Eric Byrd speaks at the CFX Conference on Diversity Training For White churches.www.ericbyrd.com

VIP Consultant Eric Byrd speaks at the CFX Conference on Diversity Training For White churches.www.ericbyrd.com

What should families know as they navigate this time of education during pandemic times? Education expert Leslie Byrd tells you.www.ericbyrd.com

Eric's three sons - 2 in HS, 1 in MS - have been doing distance learning since the start of the pandemic. Hear them give perspective and insight on what students should do, what parents need to hear and how they are navigating such an interesting time as this.

LEADERS ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMESIf you think admins and teachers woke up today to make you miserable or they control the wifi in your home, you’re mistakenTEMPER YOUR EDUCATIONAL EXPECTATIONSSchools were never designed to teach students EVERYTHING.  This time in history is no differentWATCH YOUR MOUTH - ESPECIALLY AROUND YOUR STUDENTSposting/verbalizing how stupid something is does not contribute to the long term success of your studentsADVERSITY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW HOW TOUGH YOU AREHighlight the issues, how the odds are stacked against your students, then celebrate the wins reminding them how smart, resilient, strong they arePROVIDE PERSONAL AND HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF HOW PEOPLE OVERCAME ADVERSITYFaith, jobs, health challenges, physical challenges, etcREMIND STUDENTS OF ADVERSITY THEY’VE ALREADY OVERCOMEIf you did it before??....www.ericbyrd.com go to the web page to receive your free gift!

Interview: Stephanie Lippy, Conference Manager of the Church Facilities Conference & ExpoChurch Facilities Conference & Expo (CFX) is a new event and multimedia outlet serving the House of Worship market. Our goal is to provide church volunteers and personnel with a channel for education, information and connection with others in the industry. Partnerships with other leading media brands and companies the provide products and services to the church market create a beneficial synergy for everyone involved.CFX VirtualCFX’s virtual program is an online conference platform offering learning sessions led by more than 20 industry leaders as well as opportunities for peer-to-peer connections and a chance to walk through a virtual exhibit hall featuring companies that offer products and services to help you grow your ministry.https://cfx2020-virtual.streampoint.com www.ericbyrd.com

Show Content JACK OF ALL TRADES, MASTER OF NONEThis is actually accurate.GET BETTER AT WHAT YOU DO BESTDON’T DRILL A DRY HOLEWe all have tasks we need done to be successful that may not be our strength.  Do not learn how to be better at it!  This is counterproductive.HELP - I NEED SOMEONE - HELPFind someone to do the things you can’t do wellBE GREAT, NOT PRETTY GOODReally focus on what makes you or your organization great.  Develop that!AND THE PEOPLE SAID?Ask your audience, congregation, customers, what you do really great.www.ericbyrd.com

KNOW WHO YOU AREYou’re not supposed to chase buffalo, or tigers or even whales.  You eat fish.  A lot of times we get into trouble when we forget what we’re supposed to be doingKNOW WHAT YOU WANT AND HAVE TO DO TO BE SUCCESSFULDiving headfirst into the somewhat unknown can be scary.  But if that’s the gig, embrace the fear and move on.  The fish pelicans eat do not  get out of the water and walk around.  So if you want to eat, you gotta go after themCONSIDER OPTIONSPelicans circle before they dive.  They consider, they look at options, they strike when they’re ready and when it’s a good idea.COMMIT 100%There is a difference between hobbyists and lifers.  Figure out asap which one are you because the paths will be significantly different.  I don’t know any successful people that don’t commit 100.SHAKE OFF THE MISSESIf they come up empty handed, they don’t give up.  They don’t quit.  They go head first back inSUCCESS! NOW DO IT AGAINPelicans commit, dive in head first, eat, then do it all again if they choose to, in a new location in a new pattern.

REMEMBER THE MISSIONI’m sure the family said ‘we’re going to the beach’ not i’m going to be on my phone for hours at a time….remember why you do what you do and keep doing it!EVER HEARD OF ‘DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF’? DON’T!Be careful you don’t make being busy your idol.  Story about WMC gospel choir and the sleepless nights...I learned to enjoy the experience because we were preparedBE STILL SOMETIMESBig momma used to say just be still and sit yourself down somewhere...enjoy the journey, don’t always be laser focused on results.  You might be missing out on something good and beautiful.PERSPECTIVE IS A GOOD THINGSometimes it’s good to remember your issues are simply not that bigOBSERVATION IS A VALUABLE SKILLSomebody on your team seem down lately?  Have you noticed someone has been unusually stressed?  Late?  Upset?  If you are constantly distracted or into your own agenda you will miss valuable relational time with your team.www.ericbyrd.com

tambabe faithful over a few thingslittle becomes much when put in the masters handsyou can be talented but it’s not just that. have a relationship. the choir is your allyknow your choir, know your limitations. start with easy songs, made them look good - repertoireknowing their limitations, choirmusic that can speak to everyone - corporate setting.know the pulse of the environmentknowing the heartbeat of your pastor and your congregationhow can I connect? willing to be vulnerableknow what you’re good at and what you’re not good atThings the didn’t tell me about being a minister of music bookknow how to communicate - how to get your point across in 30 seconds bookit is your ability to relate to people in an artistic wayHOW HAS CHURCH WORK CHANGED OVER YOUR CAREER?the role has changed, audio design, producer, digital environment, etc. lighting is important, sound, doing it well.much more tech savvyprepare ahead of time. plan ahead.i’m in a producer mode now.

DON’T STOPIt’s hard to stay motivated sometimes, especially now.  It might be exhausting when you feel like you’re the only one carrying the weight.  But don’t stop grinding, don’t stop believing, hold on to that feeling.  Remind yourself why you got in teh game in the first place.  Remember the initial spark you had which prompted you to get in the game in teh first place.  Go back to that place.  That will help during the dark timesGIRD YOURSELF WITH TRUTH NOT FEARThe truth is you are probably prepared, best-equipped and qualified to lead in the season you are currently in.  You may not be able to answer every question right now, but there is a reason you are in the position you are in.  Fear can paralyze you unnecessarily.  DON’T RECREATE THE WHEEL - RESOURCE YOURSELF PodcastsBooksBlogsFriends & FamilyReferralsBELIEVE YOU ARE REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSYou must believe in you.  Want the game winning shot.  If you don’t believe in you, why would your team?TRUST YOUR TEAMMATESYou don’t have to do it alone if you have spent time cultivating a functioning teamAsk your team for help when appropriate, to divide up tasksTell your team why you’re engaged in the activity and how it will fulfill the missionThink the best of others (story of the reverb on live stream)Thank your teammates for their work, support, love, Reward them with funHUMILITY AND CONFIDENCE IS A TENSION WORTH HAVINGBe humble enough to be a human being and not a machine, but display confidence you are necessary for the team to be successfulSELF-EVALUATEDon’t spend time working on the things you don’t do well.  Spend time finding people to fill the gaps in your leadership.  Gift of administration, relational, hospitality, etcREWINDRepeat steps 1-7.  Leadership success is on-going.

THEY MAY ACTUALLY HAVE ONESeek opinions from ‘qualified’ sources - people that have done what you are doing but doing it better, bigger, larger, faster, etc.That opinion may or may not be unbiased and helpfulOPINIONS ARE LIKE ASKING FOR ADVICEBe careful asking the people you lead for advice, for you might give the impression you can’t lead and set the standard for the teamINSTEAD, ASK THE WEATHERWhat’s the temperature of the team?  Individually ask ‘how’s the environment?’ do you know the mission of the team?  Am I serving you well?  If you were in charge what would be INSTEAD, ASK FOR PRAYERAsk for support, ask for prayer.  Displays you take leadership seriously, you need help from God, proves you don’t have all the answersOPINIONS DO NOT EQUAL DIRECTIONI may get a million opinions, while they may inform a decision they very well may not move the organization forward.  Ex.  your opinion may be dinner was awful.  I walk away taking that information personally, execution of the dinner may have been bad, food not fresh, etc.  But I may not know you’re a vegetarian.  Any meat dinner is not going to go well.  So you may spend energy getting a million opinions but they may or may not give you what you need to to lead well.  Give the school Covid example

PRAY FOR DIRECTIONThis is hard in every single way.  It’s turned political when it didn’t have to be, and acknowledge that, to serve God’s people with excellence, you need direction….SETTLE ON THE FINAL PRODUCTAre you totally online?  Are you doing a hybrid of online and some sort of modified in-person worship?  Just in person?  Whatever it is settle on the medium with your leadership and try to blow that up as best as it can beDO AS MUCH ADVANCE PLANNING AS POSSIBLESelect music as far enough in advance as you can.When appropriate make sure your team is aware of sermon series or why certain selections are being made, how this will serve your people at this particular time, why the music is done in this way, etc.ENCOURAGE AT HOME INDIVIDUAL PRACTICEMake sure your team can and knows how to access the musicCreate demos or use online resources for demo/tutorialsYOU’VE GOT A FRIEND!There is software/online resources that fill a band out if you don’t have one!I would much rather have music done well that is NOT a distraction than do worship music with a singer and an acoustic guitar if it is NOT done well.  Do what sounds good, what is not a distraction.  Psalm 33:3 - Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.IT WILL LIVE FOREVER!!!Whatever you do, do it as best you can because - if you’re doing it online - it is FOREVER!!It is a living commercial for your church.  Fortunately/unfortunately it must LOOK good, SOUND good, BE good and IS good.  If not, they’ll move some place where they get it right.