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Summary:
Welcome to Launch Youniversity! This week in episode 146, David Farmer sits down for a behind-the-scenes discussion with the author, speaker, and brand consultant Jeff Henderson as he prepares to release his new book Know What You’re FOR: A Growth Strategy for Work, An Even Better Strategy for Life. Jeff is a master communicator having been recently named by Forbes Magazine as one of 20 speakers you shouldn’t miss. As always the case with Jeff, this was a lively, insightful, and informative discussion.
Since 2003, Jeff has led three of North Point Ministries churches. Prior to serving as a pastor, Jeff worked in marketing with Chick-fil-A, the Atlanta Braves, Callaway Gardens, and Lake Lanier Islands. He has helped launch several organizations including Champion Tribes, Launch Youniversity, Preaching Rocket and The FOR Company helping businesses, churches and individuals grow using the FOR strategy. Jeff’s book, Know What You’re FOR, is available at JeffHenderson.com. This episode, we talk with Jeff to learn about the process of writing this book, but also what it takes to bring a big idea to life.
Welcome to episode 146 of the Launch Youniversity Podcast.
Links + Resources:
- Know What You’re FOR Book
- Jeff Henderson
- Jeff’s Profile
- The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield
- On Writing by Stephen King
Three takeaways:
1. Get ahead of deadlines.
It’s wise to not view a deadline as the actual endpoint. As a principle, try to put a week ahead of any given deadline to complete the task. This might not always be possible, but it pays dividends in major ways. First, you’ll produce better quality content because you’re not working from a place of desperation and stress. Secondly, it communicates to those involved that you take the task at hand seriously and you are committed to the process. Finally, it provides breathing room to make any last-minute changes and sit with the work for a while. If you push early and are perhaps a bit uncomfortable on the front end, then it saves a world of stress and anxiety on the backend. This is valuable advice for everything from project management to appointments. Be a good steward of your own ideas and try your best to beat deadlines by a week.
2. Visualize your audience and write to them.
When writing a book, Pastor Mark Batterson makes a point to pray for the people who will read his words. As leaders, religious or not, we should think of the end-user and focus on engaging them effectively with our product or service. If we shift the focus from ourselves onto the consumers, then we are free to think about how we can best serve them and not be bogged down by self-imposed notions of perfectionism. By not fixating on our insecurities, we’re able to improve the quality of our offering and better help people.
3. Location, Location, Location
Often times, we underestimate the value of very basic, tangible items and circumstances in our daily workflow. One such thing is location. Location, location, location! This is not just the number one rule in real estate, but also when it comes to finding a “home” in the creative process. Having consistency in your environment communicates to your body and mind that this is a place where work gets done. Frequently, bringing an idea to fruition can feel like a long, arduous, and grueling marathon. It’s important then in those times, to have an area, space or work site routine that will enable you to feel as though you are ‘picking up the baton’ from where you left it previously.
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