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Greetings Everyone,

I've been out of circulation for a while, but now back. It seemed like everything came crashing down and I couldn't see the top of the heap! I'm pretty well dug out now.

Anyway, I just got back from Willow Creek's Leadership Summit. It was simul-cast to 150 sites accross North America. The teaching faculty was just tremendous. There were as follows:

Session One -- Bill Hybels, Sr. Pastor Willow Creek Church, "Vision to Die For"
Session Two -- Carly Fiorina, Former HP CEO, "Tough Choices"
Session Three -- Floyd Flake, Sr. Pastor of Greater Allen A.M.E. Catherdral of New York in Queens and Presicent of Wilberforce University, "The Heat of Responsibility"
Session Four -- Marcus Buckingham, "Go Put Your Strengths to Work"
Session Five -- Michael Porter, Harvard Business Professor, "Leadership Strategy"
Session Six -- Colin Powell, "Leading at the Highest Level"
Session Seven -- John Ortberg, Sr. Pastor Menlo Park Prebyterian Church, "A Leader's Greatest Fear"
Session Eight -- Richard Curtis, International Filmmaker, "Living for the Greater Good"
Sessoin Nine -- Pres. Jimmy Carter, "Building Humanity"
Session Ten -- Bill Hybels, "Whatever You Do, Inspire Me!"

It was a great Summit. It will be broadcast around the world in cities like Singapore, Moscow, Cape Town, Kiev, Rio, Manila in the coming months. Eighty-four in all.

Outside of our own Manager Tools Conference I can't think of a better leadership conference to attend. Did any of the rest of you attend or know of people that did? Although this has conference has a religious tone to it, anyone could learn about leadership from each of the sessions.

Blessings,

Dave Baldwin

lori1's picture

I attended the simulcast in Rockwall, Texas. I've attended many of the Summit's over the years. This one was not one of my favorites, but I definitely enjoyed the Carly Fiorina interview as well as John Ortberg's message on A Leader's Greatest Fear.

I was impressed with Carly's transparency about her own insecurities as she was starting out, how she fought through those fears and how much stronger she became each time she did. I also appreciated the frank discussion about her challenges as a woman rising to the top in a man's game. I haven't read Carly's book yet - but it's next on my reading list.

Which were your favorites?

Lori

dmbaldwin's picture

Lori,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, this is my tenth Summit. Too long a story to tell here about how in 1998 I attended my first one and decided then, I'd never attend another one alone.

Although this may not have been my best Summit, it was still really really good. My favorite, outside of Hybels, was Marcus Buckingham. Can you believe that only 12% of us spend most of our work weeks playing to our strengths. :cry: What a waste. By the time I got to the product table his book was sold out, so I came home and ordered two (from Amazon), one for me and then another for my wife. We're going to take a month or two going through the book together doing the exercises, etc. I bought Carly's book as well. She was impressive!

I'm glad someone else from our Manager Tools discussion forum attended. I enjoy this forum and it has improved my leadership with my team.

Blessings,

Dave

dmbaldwin's picture

Okay, I've got an idea!

Lori and others who may have attended the Summit. Usually when we fill out evaluations -- this year by email -- there is a place to recommend future speakers. Let's recommend Mike & Mark! I think they have just as much to say as some of the Summit speakers of this year and past.

The Summit -- although a church based conference -- has marketplace speakers. M&M would be well received before the 60,000 that were there this past weekend. I have learned tons from the podcasts and disucssion forums.

Blessings,

Dave

sholden's picture
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I agree this is a great conference. I was able attend via remote broadcast two years back and I still pull out my notes every once and a while and go back through them.

Steve

lori1's picture

Good idea Dave!
I submitted their names on my feedback. :)

I really enjoyed Marcus Buckingham as well. I wasn't surprised as he is always terrific. I plan to get his "Go" book soon. Still working through "Discover Your Strengths" right now and the exericise he gave will help.
Did you see that there are a series of 6 Buckingham podcasts you can subscribe to on the summit site?

dmbaldwin's picture

I was poking around on the Willow Summit site last night, but didn't see the Buckingham podcasts. I'll have to track that down. Thanks for the heads up on that.

Blessings,

Dave