Today’s blog is from my good friend and long-time Advanced Coaching Alum, Jerry Peterson. Jerry is the lead pastor of First Lutheran Church of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. As a member of my Renegade Pastors Network, Jerry truly exemplifies what it means to abandon average in life and ministry. Today he has a great challenge for us with one of my favorite principles to increase your effectiveness. 

General James Van Fleet wrote,

1. Act as if it were impossible to fail. and
2. Do the thing you fear to do and you’ll have the power to do it. If you do not do the thing you fear, you will never have the power to do it.

“The Deadliest Catch” has a new season on the air. Sig Hanson’s boat has a tradition that before the fishing can begin, the green horn has to bite the head off of a herring. Just imagine the pressure from Captain Sig and crew for the greenhorn to get the job done!

In a similar way, we’ve heard the principle of “Eating the Frog.”  If you have to eat a frog (or bite the head off of a herring), rather than delaying or attempting to avoid it, get it out of the way first thing. It is motivational to do the thing that you have been avoiding.

Are you avoiding any of these things:

• Initiating a difficult conversation
• Starting a hard project
• Doing a difficult job

Rather than putting it off, decide to get it out of the way at the beginning of the day. Act on it. That way the stress and anxiety can be eliminated and you can move on to other things. Don’t allow the difficulty to cloud the rest of your life.

General Van Fleets’ powerful words mentioned above illustrate this “eat the frog” principle.  It’s amazing how when you take the first step toward that which you dread or fear, you are empowered to take the next step.  (The Red Sea did not separate for the Hebrews until the priest took the first step with the Ark of the Covenant.)

Most of my life, rather than eating the frog or doing the thing I fear, I have lived with the pain of regret. By taking no action, not only did I not feel empowered, I actually lived with a paralysis.

I challenge you today: Do the thing you fear to do and you’ll have the power to do it. If you do not do the thing you fear, you will never have the power to do it.

Your partner in ministry,

Nelson

P.S. If you would like to join me and Jerry in our commitment to abandoning average, I invite you to test drive the Renegade Pastors Network for just $1.00 for the first 60 days. Plus, you’ll get $813.20 in free bonuses and I’ll send you get a FREE copy of my book, The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life and Ministry. Click here to test drive for just $1.00! 

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.