The L3 Leadership Podcast with Doug Smith

Send us a textIn this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, you’ll hear Gordon MacDonald, pastor and best-selling author, share leadership advice for every decade of your life, the importance of rest, and more!About GordonGordon MacDonald has been a pastor and author for over forty years. For many years he pastored Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts, and continues to serve as Pastor Emeritus. He has also provided leadership to influential ministries such as Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, which he served as President for three years, and World Relief, which he currently serves as Chairman. Gordon’s best-selling books include Ordering Your Private World, Mid-Course Correction, and, most recently, A Resilient Life. He also writes and serves as Editor-at-Large for Christianity Today’s Leadership Journal. When not writing, leading, or speaking at conferences, Gordon and his wife Gail can be found hiking the trails of New England.Episode Summary:Gordon’s in his 80's, so we asked him to give advice to leaders in each decade starting with the 20's.We talk a lot about leadership and ambition and the importance of rest.Gordon was one of 4 leaders chosen to walk President Bill Clinton through everything he went through in his presidency... it was fascinating to talk about that.We also talk about what leadership succession and beyond looks like.Key Takeaways:Ambition in leadership can be positive,  but it does have a spectrum that must be kept in check. It’s good to want to make a difference, but “Drivenness must be consecrated daily”.“Business brings emptiness. I always keep a sabbath.” There are no two sabbaths that are the same. It’s all about getting true rest and being renewed. If you can’t get everything done in 6 days, then you’re either doing too much or are doing it wrong. About every seven years, your dreams will get tested. This is either because you fail, or someone fails you.Right now at 81, I am most interested in raising up younger pastors and being a spiritual father to those who will go after me. For those who are looking for a spiritual father or a mentor, my advice is to start “dating”. Date your potential mentor, take them to coffee, ask them questions, see how you click and whether or not you hit it off. Don’t just ask someone to be your mentor. Take it slow and take time to develop a real relationship first. Failure always generates humility. Always take full responsibility for your mistakes. Think about what you can learn from them and what you can teach others from them. Never cover up your mistakes.

Send us a textIn this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, you’ll hear Doug Smith interview Clint Hurdle, Former Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates on the topic of transitioning well in leadership. About Clint Hurdle:Clint Hurdle is the former manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a position he held for nine seasons, earning him the title of NL Manager of the Year in 2013. Before working with the Pirates, Clint managed the Colorado Rockies and helped them achieve the 2007 National League pennant. Clint formerly played baseball for the Kansas City Royals along with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Mets and was featured in Sports Illustrated in 1978.Key Take Aways from the Interview:Clint talks about the importance of modeling positivity, faith, and character off of the ballfield and in life. What did you intentionally do to make an impact? I was intentional about listening to people and see people. I never wanted to make someone feel like they were less than I was, or that I was greater than they were. I surrounded myself with people who told me what I needed to hear, not what I wanted to hear. We are to have a “white-belt mentality”, realizing that there is always so much to learn. The message that I would leave the people of Pittsburgh with is: The best is yet to come. Clint talks about the impact that God has had in his life. There’s always going to be people who are smarter than you and have more talent than you, but you should never be outworked or be out-prepared. Transition well. I believe there is beauty in honoring the exit. So many people focus on the entrance of a new leader, but I believe that your exit is more important than your exit. When transitioning out of a leadership role, exit well and give the next person level ground to succeed.Quotes:“You model the behavior you want to instill in others.” – Clint HurdleConversation Link:https://www.clinthurdle.com/

Send us a textIn this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, you’ll hear Joel Manby talk about how to integrate love into your leadership. 4 Key Leadership Insights:1. What did I do to “get out of the pile” or get noticed as a younger leader? Certainly, the following characteristics helped: skillset, intuition, the anticipation of the next steps, but more than anything… work ethic. “I may have not been the smartest, I was the most hard-working”. “I did the very best job that I could in everything that I did.”2. What does loving people in an organization look like?There has to be processes and systems put in place to hold up your organizational values. These are systems that reward and correct according to your values and desired culture. Leading with love is not a soft thing or just a “Christian” thing. Leading with tough love is often the case. Leading with tough love means holding people accountable and having difficult conversations in order to uphold your company’s vision and values. 3. A rule of loving leadership: Praise in public, admonish in private. A simple cadence that I’ve followed when offering this tough love is: Praise them for their strengths, admonish them specifically and briefly, and put them right back on the horse. 4. Your guests will never rise above the enthusiasm and interest of your employees.About Joel Manby:Joel has been the CEO of major corporations for over 25+ years leading organizations such SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Herschend Enterprises (the largest family-owned theme park and entertainment company in the United States), Saab Automobile USA, and  Amazon’s car selling partner, which was sold to CarsDirect.com in 2001. Joel summarized these leadership principles in my book Love Works detailing how to integrate “love the verb” into the leadership ethos and philosophy of any organization. Joel is currently the non-executive Chairman of Orange, a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and distribution of student, youth, and next-generation curriculum to over 9,000 churches in 40+ countries. In addition to his duties as chairman of Orange, Joel consults and speaks on Love Works, crisis leadership lessons, and other leadership topics designed to fit the needs of an audience.Episode Links:https://joelmanby.com/Love WorksJoel’s BlogNeed a laugh? Check out Joel’s Folsom Prison parody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wCICnvRszUMore L3 Leadership Podcast Episode: l3leaderhsip.org/podcast

Send us a textIn this episode, you'll hear Josh Gagnon, Founder and Lead Pastor of Next Level Church in New Hampshire, share about his latest book, "It's Not Over", and why your best days are ahead of you.About Josh GagnonJoshua Gagnon is the founding and lead pastor of Next Level Church, regularly recognized as one of the fastest-growing churches in America. He is known for his uniquely authentic communication style that makes the hope found in Jesus relevant to people of every background. He and his wife, Jennifer, raise their two sons in New Hampshire.In It’s Not Over, Pastor Joshua Gagnon's recently released book, he reminds us that we were born to dream—and to dream big. In fact, our dreams have the power to shape our lives. Join Joshua in discovering the answers to these questions and many more…How does dreaming help you discover your purpose?How do you identify if a dream is even worth chasing?How do you overcome resistance, criticism and doubt?How do you pray bold prayers when you don’t feel like praying at all?How do you finish strong on the journey toward your dream?Episode Summary: None of us are born with grounded dreams. However, our past is often the shadow over our past. A God-sized dream can't be put out by discouragement.God's delays are not denials. God's delays prepare us for our destinies. Embrace the season in the shepherd's fields. Those seasons in the shepherd's field prepare us for our future in the palace. Never leave the assignment you have now, unless you can find someone to take your place.David found someone to oversee the flock before he went to slay the giant. Vision is pointless unless you have a culture that can carry it and handle it. Every leader has a vision. The key is having the culture in your staff and organization to execute that vision.Mentioned Links:Facebookjoshgagnon.comNext Level ChurchIt's Not Over by Josh GagnonJosh Gagnon Leadership Podcast

Send us a textIn this episode, you'll hear John Ortberg, Senior Pastor of Menlo Church, share why soul keeping is essential for leaders. Episode Summary: Hurry is different than business. Busyness is an outward condition of the body, having many things to do. Hurry is a condition of the soul, when we are so preoccupied with ourselves and our tasks that we are unable to truly be present.What does it look like to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life?Bring people around you to hold you accountableBe intentional with your calendarSo much of eliminating our rushing and hurry comes as a result of mastering our need to be liked, loved, and accomplished.To take care of your soul, you have to know the different parts of it and how those parts should function. Our temptations are always close to our goals and aspirations. Be willing to live with, and simply be content with, the outcomes. We certainly learn from outcomes, but we don't have to let it affect our confidence.The main thing that matters to God is the person you become. Your life to God is not a resume, it's about who you are in the end. About John Ortberg:John Ortberg is the senior pastor at Menlo Church. John’s teaching centers around how faith in Christ can impact our everyday lives with God. He has written books on spiritual formation including, The Life You’ve Always Wanted, Who is This Man?, The Me I Want To Be, Soul Keeping, All The Places To Go, and most recently I’d Like You More If You Were More Like Me. John teaches around the world at conferences and churches.John holds a Master of Divinity and a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Fuller Seminary, and has done post-graduate work at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Prior to joining Menlo Church, John served as Teaching Pastor at Chicago’s Willow Creek Community Church.Links Mentioned:Soul Keeping by John OrtbergMenlo Church

Send us a textIn this episode, you'll hear Dan Reiland, Executive Pastor of 12Stone Church, share how to lead through crisis and how to be a confident leader. Episode Summary: Dan shares how in crisis, all the people who follow you want is a little direction. As leaders, it's crucial that give direction in times of crisis.In Crisis, leaders have to listen better than they've ever listened before.There are two parts to being a confident leader:Knowing that God is with you.Developing your personal character, skills, and traits."The formula for disaster is when you don't do anything with what you find out needs to grow and change.""Self leadership is the essence of character development."Sometimes we overcomplicate coaching. It's simply listening well and knowing what words to give.To be a #2 in an organization, you have to have the ability to navigate all authority and no authority at the same time. That you have the strength to lead, but don't have to lead.My first advice to young leaders... Don't try and rise too fast! Build the thing that you've been given, and you'll get more.My second advice to young leaders... Enjoy it. Enjoy the process of growing what you've been given.About Dan Reiland:Dan Reiland is Executive Pastor at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He previously partnered with John Maxwell for 20 years, first as Executive Pastor at Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, then as Vice President of Leadership and Church Development at INJOY.Dan is best known as a leader with a pastor’s heart and a coach’s instincts. He truly loves the local church, and is described as one of the nation’s most innovative church thinkers.  His passion is developing and empowering leaders who want to grow, are willing to take risks, and enjoy the journey.Links Mentioned:Amplified Leadership by Dan ReilandThe Confident Leader by Dan Reiland12Stone ChurchJoin our Community by Becoming a Member - The first month is $1. After that, it’s just $25/month.

Send us a textIn this episode, you'll hear Doug Smith share the Vision and Values of L3 Leadership. Episode Summary: Our Vision at L3 Leadership: We Gather, Connect, and Develop Leaders - We are obsessed with helping leaders develop to their maximum potential and to maximize the impact of their leadership.It’s how we believe we’ll make our dent in the universe. 1,000 Leader Mandate - We have the vision to reach 1,000 leaders. If we’ll do this and teach them values, we could change our world. 1,000 members!Our DNA/Core ValuesLeadershipCommunityCharacterGrowthIntentionalityWhat does a leader look like after being a part of L3 Leadership?Fully known, fully loved, fully challenged.Transformed - They can tell a storyLiving IntentionallyThe 5 things we do:L3 Leadership PodcastMembershipMastermind GroupsELP/LP Leadership CollaborativesL3 One DayJoin our Community by Becoming a Member - The first month is $1. After that, it’s just $25/month.

Send us a textIn this episode, you'll hear John Nuzzo, Senior Pastor of Victory Family Church, interview Doug Smith, Founder and CEO of L3 Leadership. They discuss Doug's leadership journey and passion for leadership development.Episode Summary: Doug shares his story from drug dealer to passionate leader. John talks about the importance of making sure your passion doesn't get tainted by ego. Doug shares the purpose of L3 Leadership. Doug wants to do for others, what was done for him.Masterminds are small groups of leaders who could each other accountable. We want every L3 Member to be in a Mastermind Group where they can be fully known, fully loved, and fully challenged. We can't have people living life alone. Leaders need to be in a community. Your humility will become a magnet to more mature, more esteemed leaders.

Send us a textIn this episode, Doug Smith reflects on the top 10 lessons he's learned in his 35 years of life. Episode Summary:At 35, I’m starting to see the compounding effect of handling a lot of days well in my twenties.I’m observing what life will be like when I am 55, 60, and 65 and realizing that life is short and I had better make a difference!I’m learning the importance and power of rest for the first time in my life.I’m doubling down on the importance of family.I’m moving from leadership theory to leadership practice.God is giving me something to say. There are a lot of people talking that have nothing significant to say because they haven't put in the effort to develop themselves.At 35, I’m recognizing that life and leadership are hard and there are times I will want to give up and stop growing, but I must continue on and endure to the end.I’m more passionate about adding value to people than I’ve ever been.At 35, health and fitness are still a huge priority and what I eat is more important than it’s ever been! Leaders, take care of yourselves! Workout and eat clean.I’m most grateful to be living out my purpose.Links Mentioned:Leadership Pain by Sam ChandFamily TeamsToday Matters by John MaxwellThe Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

Send us a textEpisode Summary:In this episode, Dr. Sam Chand talks about how our leadership will only grow to the threshold of our pain.Most people don't see how seriously I take every call, email, and interview. "You never know who you are helping."What's the difference between the leader of a large organization and a small organization? Pain-tolerance is the key differentiator.Pain isn't age centric. You'll deal with pain all throughout your leadership journey. Idealism must be kept. Those who are older, don't trample on others' idealistic dreams. "Let people dream!" Regardless of age or season, "stay idealistic!"The best advice that was ever given to me is "Live long & live clean."It's important to have truth-tellers in your life. These are people that care more about keeping you out of the ditch than your opinion of them. The number one question I ask leaders is "How are you doing... really?""You'll only grow to the threshold of your pain" - Sam ChandAbout Sam Chand:Dr. Chand was named in the top-30 global Leadership Gurus list, and consults with large churches and businesses on leadership and capacity enhancing issues. He's the Founder & President of Dream Releaser Coaching and Dream Releaser Media & Publishing. Sam conducts worldwide leadership conferences and serves on the board of Beulah Heights University where he served as the President.Sam has served as a leadership consultant to many of the worlds greatest leaders such as Craig Groeschel, Bishop T.D. Jakes, and John Maxwell. Connect with Sam Chand:FacebookTwitterYouTubesamchand.comResources:Link to Sam's best-selling book Leadership PainLink to Sam's Leadership InstituteThis Episode is Sponsored By:Beratung AdvisorsHenne JewelersBabb Inc.Subscribe, Rate & Share Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review over on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Google Play.Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Be sure to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues to help us inspire other leaders to grow to their max potential. Support the show at www.patreon.com/l3leadership