Gallup Poll made a research and surveyed 10,000 people.  They asked these 2 questions: “What leader has the most positive influence in your daily life?” and “Can you list 3 words that best describe what this person contributes to your life?”

The second reason given was COMPASSION.

Around 10 million people were surveyed and responded by saying, “My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person.”

These same people agreed with this statement:

• are significantly more likely to stay with their organization
• have much more engaged customers
• are substantially more productive
• produce more profitability for the organization

It validates my hunch that while I’d like to become like the leaders I look up to, the truth is, I can’t. Why? I’m not them… and they’re not me.

I’ve fallen into this trap over and over and over and over again. I’d like to be like Steve. I want to be like Joey. I desire to be like Manny or Ferdie. Or maybe like Jun.

He made me who I am because He knew exactly what He has planned for me with the skills, abilities and quirks that I have.

Being secure with who God’s made you to be is key to being the leader God wants you to be. If He wanted you to be the leader you’re admiring, then He would’ve made you that person.

“If you spend your life trying to be good at everything, you will never be great at anything.” – Tom Rath

While Pastor Joey was out for an international trip, in one of our Fort Staff Meetings, we talked about the lessons that can be learned from Aaron and Hur.  While Joshua and the Israelites were fighting the Amalekites, Moses, Aaron and Hur went on a mountain.

The Bible says that while Moses’ arms were raised, the Israelites were winning.  When he would grow tired and put them down, they would lose.

So Aaron and Hur devised a plan.

Exodus 17:12  says, “When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.”

As a result, they won.

We wanted to be Aarons and Hurs to Pastor Joey and wanted to encourage him when he came back from his trip.  Thus, we came up with this video which was the spark that birthed the idea to Pastor Steve’s birthday video.

(click here to watch Pastor Steve’s birthday video)

We all are a ’second man’ to someone.  Learning to encouraging and ‘raising the arms’ of your leader is critical to see your team win any battle.