Posts Tagged ‘InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’
Maureen Flavin – The Woman Who Saved D-Day By Alec Hill
Doing a Routine Job Well, Maureen Flavin Changed History I don’t often read obituaries, but the following caption caught my eye: “She (Maureen Flavin) helped save General Eisenhower’s invasion from potential disaster.” When Irishwoman Maureen Flavin passed away at the ripe old age of 100 last month, she was remembered for actions taken on her 21st birthday –…
Read MorePush and Pull of Career Transitions By Alec Hill
Insights from Career Transitions Early in my career, I worked for a refugee resettlement agency. I learned about “push” and “pull” factors impacting migration patterns in that role. Political, economic, or religious forces push people out of a country – think South Sudan. And they are pulled into another country either by its welcome –…
Read MoreMy Top 10 Books of the Year By Alec Hill
Books That Will Inspire the Leader in You Years ago, I committed to reading books rather than working on airplanes. Why? Because reading is vital for leaders. It provides wisdom, sharpens judgment, bolsters public speaking, and connects us with others. “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” ~ Harry Truman With that…
Read MoreReversible Decisions By Alec Hill
One-Way vs. Two-Way Door Decisions When the chair of my church’s board asked: “Is this a one-way or a two-way door decision?” my ears perked up. Asking him to explain the concept, he replied that his employer – Amazon – always uses this language. He defined the terms as follows: Why is this distinction important?…
Read MoreUsing Power Poorly By Alec Hill
By Underutilizing Their Power, Passive Leaders Cause Serious Harm Much ink has been spilled on leaders who abuse their positional power. Subordinates are bullied, shady dealings abound, and egos run rampant. But there is another misuse of power that can be just as lethal. Though less notorious, passive leaders also cause real damage. When acting…
Read MoreMy Bout with Anxiety by Alec Hill
Empathy for Those with Anxiety and Mental Health Issues It started with a low potassium count, and anxiety followed. The imbalance showed up on a blood test during my annual physical exam. The solution seemed simple enough – take supplements. But, for whatever reason, that didn’t work. What ensued – waking up abruptly in the…
Read MoreFinding Gold in Manure By Alec Hill
Sometimes You Have to Dig Deep to Find Gold! People lose gold wedding rings in various locations – garbage disposals, bathroom sinks, and, yes, toilets. Suffice it to say. It is not a pleasant experience digging through refuse to find the gold. But we do so because the ring is of such great value. Similarly,…
Read MoreThe Accidental Mentor By Alec Hill
Five Lessons Learned by Becoming a Mentor The path to becoming a mentor can be accidental. In 2016, I faced a challenging situation. Following a bone marrow transplant, my long-term disability benefits were running out. Given my illness, I still needed six more months of living in quasi-isolation and could not return to the job…
Read MoreDifferent Perspectives on Time By Alec Hill
Each Generation Views Time Differently Most young adults see the future and time as having a long trajectory. Looking ahead to a seemingly endless time horizon, they prize having novel experiences, meeting new people, and learning new things. Priorities include exploration and achievement. By contrast, those of us who are older tend to live more…
Read MoreWonder By Alec Hill
We all need wonder in our lives. Wonder makes us gasp, causing us to say, “oh my.” It may be experienced while walking on a shoreline, watching a newborn enter the world, or listening to incredible music. As ministry leaders, we sense wonder when our mission is fleshed out before our eyes. This may…
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