How to Stop Leaders from “Dying” Young
Too many young leaders die young.
I don’t mean physical death (although we do lose too many good people to an early death), I mean a potential death. In other words, too many young leaders die on the vine because no one bothered to pick them.
I was struck by something a mentor and friend wrote recently:
The next generation’s world changers are currently working in your organization. But chances are, their talent is buried, half-realized, sitting under the weight of the routine responsibilities that you’ve heaped upon them.
For them to ever realize their potential, their only options are to A. be empowered and blessed by you at your initiative and loss, or B. make you angry by going and doing it anyway.
Yes, you’ve made a huge impact. You’ve been used mightily. But it doesn’t last forever. God’s favor works sort of like “the flavor of the month.” Even Moses had to make way for Joshua.
Calling All Leaders
He’s writing to the current leaders. The ones who are in power. The ones who have paid their dues and are calling the shots. He’s calling them out.
I cannot tell you how much this post meant to me. I’d encourage you to read it in full here. But in the meantime, I wanted to offer a practical response to this post. I wanted to do something about it.
I’m 30 years old at the time of this writing. Realistically, I have 10-15 years (although 15 may be pushing it) to do some siginificant, ground-breaking, earth-shaking work. Those are the years where I get to lead, make mistakes, figure out what works and focus on the things I’m really good at.
After 45, I hope to start passing the baton. Giving the young ones behind me the chances that the older people in my life gave me. Shifting from blazing the trail to guiding people along the path.
After reading the post I mentioned earlier, I thought, “Why not start now?” I couldn’t think of one good reason why I can’t pour everything I know about social media, ministry, church life, blogging, entrepreneurship and life in general into a few young leaders right now. This very moment. Start the process that I want to be a part of.
So that’s what I’m going to do.
The Deviant Apprenticeship Series
I’ll call it a Deviant apprenticeship program of sorts. I’m looking for one or two dedicated individuals who have a desire to learn, who are hungry to take the next step in their leadership abilities. Ideally I’d love to have people who want to focus on a career in social web and/or ministry. I want to start passing off what I know to young leaders who want to go far. Is that you?
Here’s how I look at it: I’ve started a quasi-successful blog, had the chance to speak at a few places, and planned a social media conference from scratch with the help of some amazing people. I’ve made a few mistakes along the way. I’d love to show one or two young leaders how to avoid making those same mistakes so they can go further and faster than I ever will.
If you’re interested, let me know. It won’t cost you anything other than some of your time and sacrificing the mediocrity in your life. Like I said, I’m only going to take one or two people, so if you’re interested let me know as soon as possible.
The Only Way
Don’t die young. It doesn’t have to be this opportunity, but find someone who will pour into you. Likewise, if you’re a little bit further down the road of life, don’t let your legacy die with you. Find a young one to pour into and let them go farther than you. It’s the only way.
I’m seriously so happy you did a guest post on IGE and I found this! I’m not sure what you’re looking for and the possible time commitment (I work full time), but this post is so inspiring and I’d love to learn more!
Brandi … It was truly all my pleasure!
If you’re interested in the apprenticeship, would you mind sending me a short message telling me what you do, where you want to go, how you could see this helping, etc. I’ll be in touch!
Thanks for saying this and for that matter thinking about it.
Honestly this has been one of my biggest frustrations over the past couple of years. All I have heard is you have to wait your turn like we did. Unfortunately I feel like what you said, I might “die” before I make it to “my turn”
Got your email. We’ll be in touch. Big things.
I would like some more information Justin, this was a good post, and it intrigued me. I’m a full-time grad student with a job and everything, but I would like to know a bit more!
Makella … Can you send me a quick note with your current time commitments, what you would want to get out of the apprenticeship, etc. We’ll be in touch. Thanks for the interest!
This has inspired me. Iam also a full worker, but really interested to learn from you. And I come from India.
What would you like to know?
As said before i am a full time worker currently visiting NYC, getting back to India in a couple of weeks and i volunteer in church in the videography dept. I dont have a blog with dedicated writing, photographer without a good camera, thinker without the time to jot down stuff, which i forget after sometime, always have been tweeting and sharing stuff on twitter and fb. Now i want to start something which can be a world of difference to the people around me in my country. The churches are getting to the next level but dont have the right people to get the work done. This is what i think i need to be an influence in helping them go to the next level. I want to take the lead and do it. Though i have come across your blog/site during the last month, it has blessed me with a wealth of information and i know you are a big influencer and i want to learn from you the nuances of organizing
As said before i am a full time worker currently visiting NYC, getting back to India in a couple of weeks and i volunteer in church in the videography dept. I dont have a blog with dedicated writing, photographer without a good camera, thinker without the time to jot down stuff, which i forget after sometime, always have been tweeting and sharing stuff on twitter and fb. Now i want to start something which can be a world of difference to the people around me in my country. The churches are getting to the next level but dont have the right people to get the work done. This is what i think i need to be an influence in helping them go to the next level. I want to take the lead and do it. Though i have come across your blog/site during the last month, it has blessed me with a wealth of information and i know you are a big influencer and i want to learn from you the nuances of organizing.