Real over Right
Savvy Saturdays - 10/3/20
Hello friends,
Greetings from Austin! 👋
Leadership is hard.
As someone who is obsessed with leadership topics, I find myself burdened by the never-ending list of expectations that I feel are implicitly expected of leaders.
The image of being a compelling, challenging, and competent leader always weighs on my mind. And especially during quarantine where many unknowns arise, the anxiety of making sure things run smoothly feels all the more real.
But recently, I’ve been listening to Craig Groeschel’s leadership podcast, and one of the phrases he mentions at the end of each episode has provided a much-needed perspective:
People would rather follow a leader that’s real, than a leader that’s right.
Real rather than right.
That statement hit hard as I noticed that recently I had started to focus on the results of my work rather than the authenticity of my actions.
Rather than being real, I was trying to be right.
Though there’s nothing wrong with trying to excel in the things one is responsible for, something is wrong when authenticity and empathy are sacrificed to uphold unrealistic expectations and images of oneself.
The reality is, everyone is human, especially leaders, and many moments I get too caught up in the idea that leaders need to have it all together.
As I’m trying to accept the advice shared by Craig, though I feel the image I built up for myself begin to fall apart, there is a comfort knowing that I don’t have to have it all together.
To be real, rather than be right.
Thanks for checking in on this week’s newsletter! 🙂
It’s been honestly tough being confronted with my stronghold of perfection, and I know I will still fight with it even with the revelations from Craig’s advice. 😬
But I’ve been super blessed by all the people who’ve listened to me as I’ve wrestled through this turmoil! The challenge to be real and open has definitely helped relieve unrelieved stress.
If y’all are going through tough times, I encourage you to take time to go to someone who will listen and help you process through the circumstances of life. To forgive and receive rest.
And if you can, please be a listening ear to your friends and those around you! It really means a lot, and you’ll be surprised by the impact you make just by being present.
Anyways, rambling aside, here are some photos from the past week:
(Catching up over Michi Ramen 🍜Food & fellowship is always my favorite time of the day👌)
(Roommate made some dope chicken katsu 🍗)
(Socially distanced worship at the UT tower 🤘)
(Learned cumin is a great flavorful spice, and made chili from scratch with it🧑🍳)
(The effects of eating good food are showing on my cheeks 🐷)
(Having a PowerPoint night to give comedic yet informative talks with the class I coordinate was fun. 😄 I’ve never laughed so hard in my life. 🤣10/10 would do it again)
With that, stay safe, keep it savvy, and I’ll see y’all in the next update 😊
Eric
Weekly Collections
Faith
“The best day was when Jesus was born, and God who formed the world took the time to walk in the world created.
The best day after that was a horrifying day when all seemed lost, and death seemed to reign true. All hope seemed gone and everything seemed to break away.
The best day after that was the resurrection, not only bringing about death to death for Himself, but promising the end of death for us.
Sin was quelled, but it still remains to wreck havoc and bring about suffering in the world.
But that is nothing compared to the promise that one day, sin will disappear. There will be no more missing the mark and there will be a day of true freedom. That is the day that we look to as a flag of hope. The promise that sin is fighting a lost battle, and we are fighting one that has been won.”
—The Still More Glorious Day | Marshall Segal
Entrepreneurship
“This title is a little misleading.
Sure, it took me 6 days to amass 3,626 sales for a total of $101,528, but like any overnight success, it was years in the making. In my case, about 7 years.”
—Six Figures in 6 days | tr.af
Productivity
Tier 1 - mission-critical
Tier 2 - very important and strategic
Tier 3 - meaningful but not vital
Tier 4 - externally initiated and lower priority
“What's urgent always screams louder than what's important”
“As a leader, you are more likely initiating more than responding.”
“As a leader, your importance is measured not by how much you do, but by how much what you do matters.”
—Four Tiers of Efficiency | Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast
Weekly Reflections
Verse of the Week
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
—2 Corinthians 2:14
Challenging Quote
"Remember that failure is an event, not a person."
—Zig Ziglar
If you guys have found the newsletter to be helpful, I would love to hear from you on what’s been good, any suggestions for improvement, and anything else you’d like to see!
Please don’t be shy to let me know and thanks in advance!