Chances are really good that you are planning a New Year’s resolution and are either testing it out by getting a jump start on your life change, or glorying in the waning moments of putting it off until the very last minute. This year I want to think of something big! Oftentimes we choose small, incremental changes, but why not make this years resolution something memorable, noticeable and impactful? Something that people would notice and admire as a real change. Yes, it may take risk on my part to choose something bold. However, better to try something significant and fail, than be successful at something of only minor consequence.

I am not necessarily looking for something of biblical proportion, but the Bible is full of stories of drastic turnarounds. Saul goes from enemy number one to champion number one. Gideon goes from cowardly in hiding to a great leading general. Nehemiah goes from cup bearer and wine taster to leading a massive effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in the face of major opposition. While none of these things came to be in a single year and I am not anticipating a personal change of this magnitude, it gives me hope and a frame of reference for what is possible. They all started somewhere, making a commitment to the change. Most of the time these changes were the result of an outside stimulus or challenge. So let this be your challenge and this year, why not think big?!

Update: I have resolved to become a better leader when it comes to magnifying the impacts of others. I have consistently been good at challenging others, setting tough goals and establishing a lofty vision worth attaining. However, I have only known to lead the people around me as I would personally lead towards these goals, which was as if I was leading the project myself. In order to be a better magnifier, I will need to be more focused on leading the person and not as much on leading the project. This will involve more subtle changes, like letting others express their opinions first, allowing others to facilitate critical discussions (this will be especially tough in light of my love of whiteboards!) and asking more questions. This is indeed a big challenge because it will force me to lead differently as well as if effective, have a major impact on the world around me, by magnifying those around me.