The Today Counts Show James Piper, Jr.

The topic for today's show is a tricky one.  Conflicts and difficult conversations.  Probably an area most people would rather not think about but if you are a leader, there are many skills you must learn and this one is crucial.  
Jim's guest today is here to teach her proven methods.  Heather Celaya is an executive pastor at a large, multi-campus church in San Antonio, TX.  The process she uses there to manage a diverse staff across multiple areas is based on four simple guiding principles:

1.  Set clear expectations
2.  Give consistent feedback
3.  Be willing to receive feedback
4.  Address conflict quickly

That sounds easy enough, right?  Not so much.  As Heather will tell you, "people are messy".  Establishing clear expectations is required but not always understood by both parties,  feedback is a great way to affirm and praise a job well done but not all feedback you need to deliver is positive.  How do you approach that in a way that doesn't sound like a criticism?  Are you really receptive to feedback from all sides?  The people under your leadership and above you?  And that brings us to the big, big elephant in the room... addressing conflict between staff members.  Or, maybe between you and a staff member!  How do you take on these very tricky situations without collecting resignation letters as the final resolution.  That is what Jim Piper and Heather Celaya are discussing today.  Practical, necessary leadership skills!

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Today Jim brings another fantastic guest to the Today Count's Show.  Cameron Davies is a serial entrepreneur.  He is founder and CEO of Cruising Kitchens, founder and CEO of Davies Entertainment and creator of the Built For Business TV series.  That is really just a surface level description of Cameron's business activities!  He is also a proud family man and a man of faith.  
The idea that eventually lead Cameron to start Cruising Kitchens was simple; build an outdoor food court for food trucks to lease space.  That concept was hugely successful and very educational.  Through the operation of the food court business Cameron observed that many of the food trucks were poorly constructed and not properly equipped to operate as mobile kitchens.  That is when he decided he could build them better and the rest, as they say, is history.  Cruising Kitchens is now by far the largest builder of custom food trucks and mobile kitchens.  We're not talking about any old "run-of-mill" food truck here.  They have built some of the largest, most creative, unique mobile kitchens in the world and lots of them! 

This conversation between Jim and Cameron covers a lot of ground including a few very unexpected twists and turns.  By the end you'll know that Cameron is a husband, a father, a believer and a fighter who works hard to make the lives of his employees and those around him better. 

It's not hard to find Cameron Davies online but here are a few links to get you started: 

Cameron Davies on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrcamerondavies)
Cruising Kitchens (https://cruisingkitchens.com/)
Davies Entertainment (https://daviesentertainment.com/)
Built for Business TV show (https://daviesentertainment.com/tv-shows/)
PrintIt (https://justprintitsa.com/)

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In this episode of the Today Counts Show, Jim welcomes his friend and colleague, Winston Harris.  Winston is a pastor at NorthRock Church in San Antonio, Texas.  For those of you who don't know, Jim Piper is also a licensed and ordained minister.  This sets up some clear differences in perspective since Jim is a pastor from the Baby Boomer generation and Winston is a pastor from the Millennial generation.  When the subject of "work-life balance" comes up it gets pretty interesting!  
Winston shares the story of his journey through life that started with a dream of playing professional basketball and eventually leads him to a fulfilling life as a husband, pastor and father.  As you can imagine it wasn't exactly a straight line from point A to point B.  Like many of us have learned, the things that happen to you throughout your life (good and bad) seem to prepare you for what is to come.  (Hmmm... that sounds like the theme of some parable you'd read in the bible?  Maybe Pastor Jim or Pastor Winston could answer that question.)
Listen in as two friends talk about life, changes in society, faith and leadership.  Be curious.  You just might learn something!

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Welcome to the sixth and final episode of our six part series focusing on the practical lessons to be learned from the wisdom of Paul in 1 Timothy in the New Testament.  Jim Piper's commentary will guide you through the application of this biblical wisdom and help put it into context for today's leaders.  If you are not a Christian don't be turned off by the Bible's use as "source material".  Keep your mind and your heart open.   
Jim has given this episode the subtitle: "Let's Talk About Money".  In 1 Timothy chapter 6, Paul writes to Timothy about many things but Jim's focus is on the message of generosity.  Paul says to command the wealthy "to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share".  This chapter also contains the very famous line, "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil".  Don't let your pursuit of success turn into a love of money.  Stay generous and grateful and remember where your gifts and talents came from.  As Paul reminds us, "we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it".   
 
 If you don't have a Bible and you would like to read 1 Timothy 6,  you can read it online here:   https://www.biblestudytools.com/1-timothy/6.html

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This is the fifth episode of our six part series focusing on the practical lessons to be learned from the wisdom of Paul in 1 Timothy in the New Testament.  Jim Piper's commentary will guide you through the application of this biblical wisdom and help put it into context for today's leaders.  If you are not a Christian don't be turned off by the Bible's use as "source material".  Keep your mind and your heart open.   
In 1 Timothy chapter 5, Paul writes to Timothy about what Jim describes as culture.  Important values that contribute to creating a good and healthy culture.  They are mostly things that anyone would agree are good and positive yet we don't see these values that often out there in the real world.  Honor, care and protection; Jim reads Paul's words on each of these topics and discusses them in great detail.  There is so much to learn from this timeless wisdom. 
 
 If you don't have a Bible and you would like to read 1 Timothy 5,  you can read it online here:   https://www.biblestudytools.com/1-timothy/5.html

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This is the forth episode of our six part series focusing on the practical lessons to be learned from the wisdom of Paul in 1 Timothy in the New Testament.  Jim Piper's commentary will guide you through the application of this biblical wisdom and help put it into context for today's leaders.  If you are not a Christian don't be turned off by the Bible's use as "source material".  Keep your mind and your heart open.   
Within 1 Timothy chapter 4 there are 3 principles of leadership that Paul is using to teach and encourage Timothy to become a better leader.  Jim talks about each principle and expands on how they relate to today's world.  Train yourself to be more godly, be an example to the people you lead and throw yourself completely into your work.  Concepts from a 2000 year old letter that could have just as easily been written yesterday.

If you don't have a Bible and you would like to read 1 Timothy 4,  you can read it online here:   https://www.biblestudytools.com/1-timothy/4.html

Join the Lead Today Community and get our Monday Moments email!


Support the show