Barnabas File

“I haven’t failed.  I’ve just found a thousand ways not to make a lightbulb.”—Thomas Edison   In  The Career Game Loop , author Jessica Lindl reminds us that failure is a necessary part of personal and professional growth.  She writes, “For great achievers in games and in life, failure isn’t something to fear. Failure isn’t an endpoint, and it isn’t a reflection of who they are.”  She makes these points:   First, failure is inevitable. When you try something that you (or no one else) has ever done, you can expect that you won’t be successful the first time.  One of the things that holds back innovation (especially in churches) is the idea that something needs to be perfect the first time out of the box. Let’s give each other a bit or grace and freedom to make mistakes.   Second, failure is data.  Something is a failure only if you fail to learn from it.  When something doesn’t work, it still provides da...

Each of us wants to give our best in the places where we serve, but have we given adequate attention to developing the skills needed to succeed?   In her book  The Career Game Loop , author Jessica Lindl suggests two types of fundamental skills to consider in employing someone:   technical skills  and  durable skills.   Technical skills would be understanding new software, new coding language, or new tools.  For those not in the gaming industry, these might be effective oral communication or basic computer skills. Often these are specific to a particular industry or type of work.  Durable skills include adaptability, resilience, and emotional intelligence.  These are valuable in any context.   Lindl writes, “These abilities often get mislabeled as  soft skills , suggesting that they possess less power or import than technical skills.  But the reality is that durable skills take us farther, faster, ...

Several decades ago, Richard Bolles wrote  What Color is Your Parachute?  on identifying and pursuing your career goals.  In some ways,  The Career Game Loop  is “parachute” for a new generation.   Author Jessica Lindl’s background is in computer gaming.  Her book applies the process of gaming to the world of career discernment, development, and achievement.  Even if you are not a gamer, you will appreciate the approach (and learn a lot about gaming along the way).  Lindl recognizes that one’s career path is no longer linear and provides a new model to take its place.   The process is basically four stages:  choose quest, level up, job hunt, and job craft.  There are echoes of Joseph Campbell’s “hero’s journey” because that is what good games are all about.  Lindl develops each stage in depth with not only personal stories but examples of gaming development.   There’s a lot to absorb...

This is not a book you just read and put away.     Remove, Replace, and Restart: The Essential Maintenance Manual for Your Engine for Success   by Christian Greiser provides a model of development for people who find themselves at a professional turning point.     The author states, “This book is for leaders and managers who would approach a coaching session with questions and a search for clarity.”    Given our current culture, such a book is certainly needed.   We are indeed in the era of “the great re-evaluation.”  Many leaders, especially young and median adults, are taking a fresh look at their vocational situation.  A number of clergy find themselves in that situation as well.   For the author, “success” if more than climbing the organizational ladder.  Success means “taking active steps to avoid burnout and to maintain a balanced life.”  This goes beyond professional competency to embracing physi...

A friend once said, “The only one who wants change is a wet baby.”  From personal experience, I know that is not true.  A pre-potty trained child would often rather run around with a full diaper than have it changed!  I think it is safe to say that few of us really desire change, not matter what our age. Sometimes change is thrust upon us, but very often we have control over whether we will change or “make a change” or not.  So how do you know then it is time for change?  Let me address first personal change and, in the next blog, organizational change.  What are some signs that we need to make changes in our lives? Perhaps the most common motivation for change is fear. Some would question that this is an effective motivator, but fear of loss or impending death can be very motivational even if negative in nature.  When a person is told by his or her physician that some life style changes are in order to avoid incapacity or death, only the fo...

Once upon a time a person found a job (or position, if you wish) in a particular company and stayed in that system (hopefully with some promotions) for forty plus years then retired.   I think it is pretty evident that is no longer the reality in which we live.   Most people change not only their jobs but their careers several times in their lifespan, and the frequency of this is increasing. The number of career changes one can expect is unclear and some of this is based on definitions but the figures generally range from three andseven times in one’s lifespan .  By my personal estimate, I have had five careers—U.S. Army officer, campus minister (in three locations), denominational administrator (in two different settings), educator, and life coach.  Granted that I would consider most of these under the overall theme of Christian ministry, the responsibilities, preparation, knowledge, and skills for each is different enough to classify each of these as diffe...