THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022, MAVERICKS - CONTINUED

 THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022 MAVERICKS - CONTINUED

All this week I’ve written about mavericks:

According to an online dictionary, a maverick is defined as “an unorthodox or independent-minded person”

Some synonyms are:

individualist · nonconformist · free spirit · unorthodox person · unconventional person · original · trendsetter · bohemian · eccentric · outsider · rebel · dissenter · dissident · disruptor

And, today, I’m going to cut down the idea of a maverick!!!  (Time out Karen - you’ve spent three days telling how great mavericks/entrepreneurs are and now you are going the other way?  Say it isn’t so!!!)

ENTREPRENEURS AS CEOS.

Entrepreneurs (maybe a more business-like term for a maverick) are independent-minded - free-spirited - unconventional people - BUT - Chief Executive Officers (CEO) are consensus-minded, team-minded, corporate-minded - not independent-minded.  

Companies, enterprises, and organizations need leadership - and most mavericks are not necessarily good leaders - other than leading themselves.  If an entrepreneur becomes successful, they need (my term) to surround themselves with finance experts, accounting experts, and operational experts.  They (CEO) might have the vision, but the vision needs to be translated into action.  

Many years ago I was the Dean of the College of Business and Information Systems at Dakota State University.  Yes, I (with four others) did sit down and created a curriculum literally on a napkin.  The program was new, the mission of the university was new - and we thought outside the box and we DID it!!!  When the program became successful I became the manager, the director, and the dean and Chief Executive Officer of the program.  That probably wasn’t a good fit for me.  

Creative people can be good managers but need to realize that managing is different than creating ideas and blueprints.

From: Entrepreneur vs. CEO: Understanding the Difference Can Save Your Business | HuffPost Impact

A phenomenon that I have been watching for as long as I can remember is entrepreneurs who think they can magically transform themselves into CEOs purely because they started a business.

Well, brace yourself. Because the hard cold truth is that most entrepreneurs simply do not encompass the skill set. Unfortunately, it is this one mistake that destroys more businesses than any other.

And, in most cases, big-time corporate CEOs are not entrepreneurs.

*****

Now - to the real reason for my writing this week.  

Romans 12:2 (yes, you’ve seen that before):

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Transformation is an individual action (at least in my opinion).  God works within me to transform me.  (And He/She/It/The Force) acts in you to transform you.  

In that spiritual/religious world, there is the concept “Dare to be a Daniel”.  If you remember Daniel, he was a Jewish man exiled to Babylon.  He was in training to be a leader in Babylon.  But, he refused to eat the rich (and non-Kosher) foods that were set in front of him.  And, on a diet of vegetables, he flourished.  He was in the lion’s den and survived, and later was known as a person who had God’s ear when interpreting dreams and visions.

Being a Daniel is somehow to be different - not conforming to the expectations but living authentic lives.  

*****

Can you be independent and a maverick and be Godly?  Maybe, It depends on how independent you really are.  Can you conform to the world and be Godly?  Maybe, it also depends on how “stuck” in your ways you are.  “This is the way we’ve always done this”, Don’t make waves, Don’t rock the boat.  There are times and places you must be transformed and live as such.

So, let LOVE WIN!!!

Karen

April 21, 2022

(And a story.  As a kid, I went exploring with a neighbor boy.  We found an area with large hanging vines and you could grab ahold of the vine and swing out over the edge of the hill.  Obviously, there had been others there, but for us, it was the first time.  I learned something about myself that day (that I have never shared).  I was the creative one.  I suggested we could pull the vine to one side or the other side and swing-out.  We could do some different things with the vine.  BUT - I was the first to suggest options, but I let my friend try it out first!  I didn’t think it was dangerous but letting him go first seemed the best.  I could suggest, but not lead.

Over the years, I’ve learned to be a leader and I think I can lead.  But, I’ve also liked being a bit of a maverick and getting outside my comfort zone.  Waiting for the Lord might be good, but like Peter (the “impetuous” one) - I’m ready to jump out of the boat and walk on the water, I’m ready to slice off the ear of the high priest’s servant.  I find I like the creativity of writing my blogs, of doing some arty type stuff.  

I know some talk of “left-brain” or “right-brain”.  I was a double major - mathematics and history - and they seem to be incongruent.  

I guess God loved Peter, and I know that God loves me!!!)