The following contains excerpts from the book, Visioneering (Andy Stanley).
At our music school in Midland, Texas we believe that music is more than sound, it is relationships. The two subjects of Leadership and relationships go hand in hand, and all leadership requires Vision.
This is a book that uses Nehemiah for an outline, highlighting leadership principles derived from the Biblical account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Stanley introduces the term ‘visioneering’ in his introduction. “Visioneering = Inspiration + Conviction + Action + Determination + Completion.”
He then outlines Vision as the following: Passion, Motivation, Direction, and Purpose. “Vision evokes emotion. There is no such thing as an emotionless vision…Vision-driven people are motivated people. Find me a man or woman who lacks motivation and I’ll show you someone with little or no vision…Maybe the most practical advantage of vision is it sets a direction for our lives. It serves as a road map. In this way, vision simplifies decision making. Anything that moves us toward the realization of our vision gets a green light. Everything else is approached with caution…Vision translates into purpose…Suddenly, you matter. You matter a lot!…A vision makes you an important link between current reality and the future.”
The author differentiates between secular accomplishments and a God-given vision. “You cannot wring enough life or meaning out of secular accomplishment to satisfy your soul. The hole you are trying to fill has an eternal and spiritual dimension that only matters of eternity and spirituality can satisfy. This is why it is imperative that you discover and participate in God’s multi-faceted vision for your life. It is what you were made for. Your homespun visions- as challenging and demanding as they may be- fall short. They will always leave you wondering.”
At our music school in Midland, Texas we accept students of all creeds, and encourage them to pursue their musical growth from a wholesome and comprehensive viewpoint of life and living. We encourage, however, the reader to consider the following Biblical thoughts to find inspiration and insight.
Moral Authority
“It is the alignment between a person’s convictions and his behavior that makes his life persuasive…Moral authority is the credibility you earn by walking your talk. It is the relationship other people see between what you say and what you do, between what you claim to be and what you are. A person with moral authority is beyond reproach…Moral authority is a fragile thing. It takes a lifetime to earn. But it can be lost in a moment. And once it is lost, it is almost impossible to restore.”
We help students at our music school in Midland, Texas find and develop their passion by helping them first discover their unique strengths, then adding time-tested core conditioning and discipline to refine those uniqueness and bring them to their fullest expression. Their journey of developing their talents through patient and consistent work also has the added benefit of developing the student’s character.
“Moral authority is a reflection of a man or woman’s commitment to something outside the realm of influence and leadership. Moral authority is the result of a commitment to do what’s right. Regardless. Men and women who maintain their moral authority are not playing to the crowd. They are not driven by a desire to gain influence. Their number one concern is doing the right thing- even if doing the right thing appears to jeopardize their influence…As a leader, you must be willing to do the right thing even if it jeopardizes your vision.”
“The point is, you must maintain your moral authority at all costs. Even if it costs you your vision. You must be willing to abandon your vision if that is what’s necessary to maintain your moral authority. Vision is important. But maintaining one’s moral authority must take priority over the pursuit of a vision.”
“Moral and ethical compromises of any kind lead to the loss of moral authority.”
“Would god lead me to embrace a vision that would force me to do something he forbids?”
“Developing and maintaining moral authority requires three things: character, sacrifice, and time…Character is simply the will to do what is right, as God defines right…Generally speaking, people will not invest more in a vision than the one who originally cast the vision. In order to get others to give sacrificially, you must lead the way…Moral authority is not achieved overnight…Moral authority is developed through a proper response to circumstances, circumstances over which you have no control…Moral authority can only be achieved when your character is put to the test. Your response to these unexpected tests will determine you moral authority.”
“Moral authority is a fragile thing. It can be lost in a single decision.”
Distractions
“Life is full of distractions. Visions are often lost among the many lights on the horizon of life. Important things are sacrificed for urgent things.”
One of the many life-lessons students in our music school in Midland, Texas learn is how to focus.
“People will not understand the intensity of your focus. In our society we are not accustomed to leaders passing up good opportunities for the sake of something that is yet to be. There is a general distrust of those who are trying to do anything new or innovative, especially if they claim to be doing it for a reason other than personal gain.”
“People with impure motives question the motives of those around them. It’s called projection…The best way to silence your critics is to see your vision through to completion.”
“If God is the source of your vision, the day will come when even your harshest critics will have a difficult time explaining away what he has done through you. It is hard to argue with success. It is even more difficult to argue with divine success.”
“Like anger, fear is a form of focus. We can get so focused on what might be that we lose sing of what could and should be. Fear can cause us to begin evaluating our situation based on what bad thing might happen rather than what good thing we want to see happen.”
“In light of what God has called you to do, should a man or woman in your position retreat? When you thing of the potential good that could come from your vision, should someone in your position run away in fear of what might happen?”
“Don’t allow fear of the unknown to deter you from what God has put in your heart to do. Worse than failure is living with the regret of never having stepped out in faith to pursue your vision.”
The Inexplicable Life
“While you are consumed with the nuts and bolts of your vision, God is at work on a parallel plan that will ultimately complement and give deeper significance to the vision or visions that absorb you attention.”
“Above and beyond the achievements associated with your vision, he wants to draw people to himself. Our visions are means to a greater end.”
The End of the Line
“The end of a God-inspired vision is God.”
“Quite often men and women who lose sight of God’s involvement in their journey toward the completion of a vision begin to play god themselves.”
“I have often said that the first thing I am going to do when I get to Heaven is to ask, ‘Why me, Lord? Why did You choose a farm-boy from North Carolina to reach so many people, to have such a wonderful team of associates, and to have a part in what You were doing in the latter half of the twentieth century?’
“As I look back over the years, however, I know that my deepest feeling is one of overwhelming gratitude. I cannot take credit for whatever God has chase to accomplish through us and our ministry; only God deserves the glory, and we can never thank him enough for the great things He has done.” (Billy Graham)
The Leader’s Mandate
“Nehemiah drew a line in the sand. When someone takes a moral stand in an atmosphere of declining standards, it will appear extreme to the one whose behavior is being called to account…A similar dynamic occurs anytime a man or woman with a vision acts boldly in an effort to salvage the dream. A call for extensive change will always seem extreme to those who are comfortable with the status quo. What is considered conventional wisdom to the visionary is often viewed as radical to the people in the trenches. That’s to be expected. Visionaries see things differently.”
A successful student at our music school in Midland, Texas comes to understand that the engine that drives success is ultimately an internal decision to challenge one’s limitations, patiently and mindfully.
“Bold leadership must be vision based. Major changes must be anchored to a vision. The severity of the change must be matched by a clarity of connection to the vision.”
“As a leader, it is essential that your decisions be anchored to your vision…A call for change without the benefit of clearly defined core beliefs and behaviors is like conducting a job performance evaluation on an employee who has never received a job description.”
“Jesus knew what every visionary eventually discovers: Being nice doesn’t always get the job done. And waiting around for people to catch on by themselves can be devastation to a vision.”
The book of Nehemiah is rich with examples of great leadership, played out through the historic rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. Any Stanley used the story well to create a framework for freshly stated leadership principles, anchored in truths that are thousands of years old.
At our music school in Midland, Texas we hope to nurture within the lives of our students not only the ability to make music but also profound lessons that extend to all of life and last for a lifetime.