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Home » Archives for Dan Balow » Page 35

Dan Balow

How Many Would Attend a Following Conference?

By Dan Balowon June 10, 2014
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I have been to many leadership conferences and seminars and read any number of books on the subject. Leadership is everywhere.  Books, videos, seminars, audios, websites, organizations and ministries are in place to help people in all walks of life lead better.

But I have wondered if there would be as much excitement for a book or seminar that encourages faithful following? We follow Jesus, but others? Topics could be:

  • How to be a good worker
  • How to submit yourself to authority
  • Be a better team player
  • Going the extra mile because it is the right thing to do
  • Servant-following

Back to sports analogies, fans of various sports know there must be a number of leaders on any successful team. But what they usually neglect to mention is that leaders need to have followers, those who respond to the leadership.

There’s an old saying in Texas that, “If you’re riding ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it is still there.” (There is a corollary, “Always drink upstream from the herd”, but I digress)

So, leaders need followers.

To be fair, most Christian leadership conferences or books focus much on the aspect of humble “servant-leadership”, the kind of seemingly contradictory type of leadership that Christ exhibited.

But by the time all that teaching is absorbed, my guess is that our sinful, “I want to run things” nature discards the servant part and we are left with the authoritarian, “I am in charge and you do what I tell you” kind of leadership. I wonder if there are so many books on leadership because readers desperately want to be in charge.

Of course, on the flip side of this discussion are people who would like to be in charge, but desire the role simply because they can get their way and be paid more. Few are aware that they will be held responsible for those who follow them and will be judged not by their performance, but by the performance of those who they are called to lead. It is never easy to lead well. You take the good with the bad.

So why this lesson on leadership today?

Books and other media have an amazing effect on attitudes of readers. As Christian communicators, we view that as an opportunity to creatively portray things that are counter-intuitive to the world and probably to many Christ-followers as well. That’s why most Christian authors are doing what they do…to make a difference.

Honestly, throughout my life, I have personally covered all the bases…exhibiting both good leadership and poor, following people well and not-so-well.  I would guess we are all a mixed bag when it comes to these. (Or, I am the only one so conflicted and you can just ignore all this)

To conclude, let’s focus this for you.

Writing about following is difficult. Especially following a human leader.  Our natural tendency is to want our own way. But Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter ten, verse 24 addresses a core behavior with this, ”No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.”

Sure, like that will ever work.

You have an opportunity to exhibit examples of both good and bad leadership and good and bad “follower-ship” in what you write.  Even in fictional works that are not intended to cover the topic per se, you have an opportunity to portray examples of it.

In non-fiction, it is one of those topics that probably will never sell. Who wants to be a follower anyway?  We want leadership principles so we can take over!

This is probably a first, an agent suggesting authors write about something that won’t sell.  Well, it should. Maybe someone will write something really good and it will start a movement. After all, like I’ve said before, publishing is an art form, not a science and art will win when the science says it is impossible.

This was one of my periodic cathartic blog posts.  I feel much better now…thanks for asking.

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Category: Craft, Creativity, Dan, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Writing Craft

And the Winner is…ME!

By Dan Balowon June 3, 2014
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Once upon a time, a man set out on the ocean in a small boat for a three-hour tour. The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed, if not for the courage of the fearless crew (of one) the boat would have been lost. The boat landed on an uncharted island and the man was stranded, but alive. Twenty years later, a larger ship happened upon the island and noticed a beautifully built …

Read moreAnd the Winner is…ME!
Category: Career, Communication, Dan, Personal, TheologyTag: Career, Communication

Actually, The World is Pretty Big

By Dan Balowon May 27, 2014
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At one time or another, every one of us have remarked how small the world is, usually caused by meeting someone by chance and finding out that you both know a certain person, or went to school with the person, are both reading the same books, are fans of the same team, etc. But you might be surprised how a “small” view of the world can alter your entire perspective. I am not referring to a …

Read moreActually, The World is Pretty Big
Category: Book Business, Branding, Dan, Get Published, Marketing, Platform, The Publishing Life, Trends, Writing CraftTag: publishing, The Publishing Life

The Seminar Test: A Simple Way to Discover if You Have a Viable Idea

By Dan Balowon May 20, 2014
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Today we are going to explore something I devised as a way to evaluate an opinion or approach to a particular issue. I came up with this method of determining message validity after years of hearing opinions expressed in media, business and even in the church. For lack of something more compelling, I title this method, The Seminar Test. The concept is simple. Take any strategy, opinion or approach …

Read moreThe Seminar Test: A Simple Way to Discover if You Have a Viable Idea
Category: Career, Creativity, Dan, Marketing, Writing CraftTag: Career, Marketing, Writing Craft

Myths of The Author Platform

By Dan Balowon May 13, 2014
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There are three myths about “Author Platform” that I want to address today.  Since I started my publishing career in marketing, I’ve seen the issue from a number of different angles and hopefully today’s post will be helpful. Myth #1 Author platform is a new issue in the last few years created by the use of social media.   There has never been a time when author platform was not important to …

Read moreMyths of The Author Platform
Category: Branding, Career, Dan, Get Published, Marketing, PlatformTag: Career, Marketing, Platform

The Paranoid’s Guide to Things That Are Out to Get You

By Dan Balowon May 6, 2014
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This is the second in a three-part series on attitudes, specifically for people in publishing, but probably applicable to just about anyone. Two months ago I addressed the issue of pessimism. Today, we’ll talk about the first cousin of pessimism…fear. If a book were to be written about fear, it would be the titled something along the lines of this blog-post. It would be a short volume with dozens …

Read moreThe Paranoid’s Guide to Things That Are Out to Get You
Category: Book Business, Career, Dan, TheologyTag: Career, Fear

Grace is Amazing, But Hard to Explain

By Dan Balowon April 29, 2014
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I am not a Bible theologian, so today’s blog is pushing me way out on the plank over the pitching seas of exegetical danger, so I apologize for offending those with seminary degrees and those who are infinitely better qualified to write on this subject.  As a friend stated in regard to another situation, I am indeed hanging heavy weights on thin threads. I believe that one of the most difficult …

Read moreGrace is Amazing, But Hard to Explain
Category: Dan, Personal, TheologyTag: Christian, Grace, Theology

Generally Speaking, Think of Someone in Particular

By Dan Balowon April 22, 2014
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  Any mode of communication requires an audience to justify itself.  Even someone shouting on a street corner will have someone hear them, if even in passing. An audience of one only goes so far. While everyone talks to themselves, if you do it too much, you will end up talking to a psychiatrist.  However, there are benefits of talking to yourself. Comedian George Carlin once said, “The …

Read moreGenerally Speaking, Think of Someone in Particular
Category: Branding, Communication, Dan, Platform, Writing CraftTag: Audience, Communication

Stories in Hiding Places

By Dan Balowon April 15, 2014
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Since I blog on Tuesdays and the next April 15 to fall on a Tuesday is not for another eleven years, I felt like I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. Corrie ten Boom was born on this date in 1892 and died on this date in 1983.  If Evangelicals were in the habit of naming saints, she would be among them. For those unaware of this great Christian woman, she and her family helped many Jews escape the …

Read moreStories in Hiding Places
Category: Book Review, Christian, Dan, Faith, Personal, Writing CraftTag: Book Review, Faith, publishing, Reading

What About Medium Stuff?

By Dan Balowon April 8, 2014
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Today I stand in support of medium stuff. There is no argument that big important things deserve our undivided attention. There seems to be some disagreement over small stuff…do we sweat it or not? According to the Stan Jantz and Bruce Bickel’s book, God is in the Small Stuff, we probably need to be paying close attention to those things. I am concerned with those things in the middle…the medium …

Read moreWhat About Medium Stuff?
Category: Book Business, Career, Dan, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, publishing, The Publishing Life
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