There's Nothing like Indy! (A Tribute to my family tradition that is the Indianapolis 500)

     Each Memorial Day, for 25 years I've been in the same place... hearing the same words...

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!"

The 33 Cars "Going Green"

     I've literally grown up hearing those famous words spoken over the loud speakers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, followed by 500 of the most exhilarating miles of auto racing in the world!  This year marks the 25th anniversary for what has become a tradition for the Keller family.

May 1987
     It was 1987, I was just a few days away from my 12th birthday and I had just finished my 5th grade year in school. I remember my dad coming home from work one day and asking me if I'd be interested in going to the Indy 500 with him. It sounded great and so that Memorial Day weekend, we took off in our little family motor home, drove the 2 1/2 hours to Indianapolis and spent the night in someone's yard a mile or so from the track. I still remember my dad telling me over and over again, "Don't tell your mother what you saw tonight..." as we drove past the throngs of people partying in the streets around the track.

Al Unser Sr.'s Car - I remember it like it was yesterday!

     Al Unser Sr. won his fourth race in 1987. His fourth victory represented our first in a family tradition that would forever bond my father and I. The Indianapolis 500 represents so much more than a race to me. It represents a marking of time throughout my life. It is one of a few common shared experiences I can count on each year.

Race Day... A Tradition Itself
     Though the years, we've weathered rain & shine, hot and cold, and even a tornado a few years back. Once we got rid of the motor home, we began waking up at 3:30 am and driving to Indy the morning of race day in our minivan. Dad and I always loved getting to the track early while the air was cool, the bleachers weren't crowded and we could watch the track come to life. Our tradition remains the same. Park at 21st Street and Auburn in somebody's yard. (Parking Prices have went up since we first began...) And carry our cooler full of soda, sandwiches and snacks the 1 mile walk to the track. (We tried taking ice cream one year but it didn't really work...)

     There truly is nothing like race day at Indianapolis.

The View from our Seats

     The sounds of people and police cars. Vendors calling for your attention and someone interviewing a driver over the loud speaker. The first glimpse of the track, as we crest the stairs of Paddock A, always brings tears to my eyes. I can't help but hear Jim Neighbors in my head singing, "Back home again in Indiana." 

     It always seems that each year as dad and I reach our seats, we turn, face the track, put our arms around each other and he says, "Well son, we made it. Another year..." There truly is nothing like Indy...

The Teen Years at Indy
     My Junior High and High School years at Indy, became a bit of a yearly rite of passage. What began as just my dad and I added my older brother Nick, as well. (For years Nick always went to the race with a friend who took an entire tour bus.) Race weekend became a special time of celebration we would share together as another school year ended, another birthday for me was around the corner, and our lives were moving forward. It was also during my high school years at the track that we added another member to our party...

     I remember the first year I took my high school sweetheart, Sarah. (she's now my wife, by the way...) I remember telling her that when they drop the Green Flag and you see 33 cars flying down the front straightaway at 230 MPH, it will be one of the most exhilarating experiences of your entire year! Her disbelief of that statement a few weeks before, turned to pure joy and utter amazement moments after she saw that first Green Flag fly!!! And yes, she's been hooked ever since.

Our Seats are up under the canopy. 50 Rows Up, between the start/finish line and the scoring pole on the right!

A Changing Tradition
     The race weekend tradition changed in 2002, when I moved my family to Fort Myers, Florida to start the church we now pastor, Next Level Church. Unfortunately, we launched the church on Mother's Day which was just a few weeks before race day. I remember saying to my wife upon realizing that the church would only be 4 Sunday's old on Memorial Day weekend, "Honey, what am I going to do about the race?" To which she promptly replied, "Well, you're not going... of course."

     My response to her was a solemn, "I know." The year we started our new life in Florida was the only 1 of the 25 years, that I have ever missed the Indy 500. I remember coming home from church that day and turning on the race, only to turn it right back off again. It was just too painful to watch. I made the right choice, but it was a hard one.

     By the next May, the church was strong enough that I could afford to miss a Sunday, and therefore resumed my annual sojourn to the Speedway. But now it would have to be by Airplane, not car, motor home, or minivan. 5 years ago, mom and dad retired and moved to Florida with us. But distance can't keep us from Indianapolis on race weekend. Whether by plane, train or automobile, we'll be there on Race Day.

On the Track on Race Day w/ My dad and brother

The Tradition Continues
     This year, our 25th year, marks yet another turning of the page at the race track...  For the first time, I'm bringing my son.

     My oldest son, Will, graduates from 4th grade on Friday, & therefore will be deemed a 5th grader, thus making him old enough to attend the race. (At least according to his grandpa...) And so, this year the baton will be passed to yet another generation. I can't imagine the emotion I'm sure I will feel this weekend as the Green Flag drops and I hold my son up on the back of the bleachers of the front straightaway. I remember like it was just yesterday my dad holding me there.

     I have grown up at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, seated next to my dad, watching the cars, cheering the drivers each Memorial Day.  It thrills my heart to no end to think that this year while I'm seated next to my dad, my son will be seated next to his dad watching the green flag fly. I'm sure it will be the most exhilarating moment of our year.

Happy Race Day Everybody. Here's to traditions...


 Matt Keller

The Power of Saying "NO" - A New Leadership Article by @MatthewKeller

     I was recently reminded of the power of saying "NO" in a book I'm reading called, Rework. In it, the authors, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson make the statement:

               "It's easy to say yes. Yes to another feature, yes to an overly optimistic deadline,
               yes to a mediocre design. Soon the stack of things you've said yes to grows so 
               tall you can't even see the things you should really be doing."

     When I read this, I couldn't help but think of so many leaders of church plants and churches. In our desire to build a great church and win people to our cause, too often we find ourselves saying "YES" to things we really should be saying "NO" too.

1.  Saying NO is never easy.

     I'm not going to deceive you into thinking that telling people no is fun or easy or a flippant thing in any way. Just the opposite, it's actually really hard! Especially when your church or organization is small! The last thing in the world you want is for someone to leave because you wouldn't care for their legitimately "good" idea.
   
     However, if we don't protect and fight for the purity of the culture we're trying to create in our churches, we'll end up watering down who we are to such a degree that in the end it does more harm than good.

2.  Saying NO won't make people happy.

     Inevitably, when we say no to someone's "good" idea, someone's feelings will get hurt. People won't always understand why we're making the decision we're making and some will leave mad. This is just a function of the leadership journey. As a leader, making the right decision for your organization is what you get paid to do, and it times it will come with a price.

    However, I have found that most people are pretty understanding when they know the why behind our decision. Not always, but a lot of the time. When we share our logic and heart, people can accept that and move on. It has been my experience that people don't want to be right as much as they simply want to be heard. As leaders, it's our job to listen sincerely, explain our perspective and then make the wise decision for the organization that we ultimately lead.

3.  Saying NO protects you, your family and your organization.

     As our organization has grown, my responsibility to say NO has increased significantly. Because let's face it, in a bigger organization, there's money, facilities and the perception that we could accommodate more "good" things.

     But I have had to learn the art of saying NO in order to protect my family, my schedule, my time, and my energy. Yes I'm a leader, but I'm also still a human being. And I must be wise enough to understand that I'm the only guy who can care for my wife (well, there are others, but we'd all agree, we don't want that!!!) I'm the only guy who can be dad to my 2 boys, and I'm the only guy who can show up every weekend and share life-giving, vision oriented, engaging messages that allow the Holy Spirit to change lives. 

     If I'm not prioritizing those things, then I'm not doing my job. That IS my #1 Priority.

4.  Saying NO allows you to stay focused on what you do best.

     At the end of the day, when you say NO to something "good" you position your organization, your staff and your teams to focus on the best.

     There's something freeing about the word NO. Unfortunately, far too many leaders use it far too infrequently.


Application:  

     If you HAD to identify 3 things that you MUST say no to, what would they be? In the next 24 hours,  do the hard but right thing and say NO to them. In the end, you know you'll feel better about it!

Just a thought,

Matt Keller

From Leading Followers to Leading Leaders

An important shift that takes place along the leadership journey is the move from

Leading Followers to Leading Leaders.

In the early stages of a new company, organization or church the emphasis is on leading followers. Just getting people to show up, fill a slot and be present is success.

However, as an organization grows, so must a leader's emphasis and priority shift from a "Whosoever Will" mentality to a "We need you exactly to..." mentality.

Here are a few things I've learned about making this all important mindset shift as a leader:

1.  Start seeing the Organization differently.

     In order for you to change your perspective from leading followers to leading leaders, you have to begin to see the organization you're leading from a different perspective. It's a little like parenting. At every phase of parenting I have this moment where I look at my child and think, "Wow, when did they get so big?!?" 

     And the same thing is true of our organizations. There comes a moment where we have to step back and see that the organization we're leading is bigger now. And bigger is not better or worse, it's just different. A bigger child requires different things from their parent. And a bigger organization requires different things from it's leader.

2.  Start seeing People differently.

     As an organization grows, a leader must change their perspective on the people who fill the leadership seats. Good hearted, well-intentioned people only go so far when it comes to leading at a higher level. If someone is good hearted and insufficiently skilled, they'll hold an organization back.

     As a leader, its your job to keep your eyes open for those people in your organization who have the skills and potential to lead at a higher level.

     It will also be necessary to move good-hearted, well-intentioned people who lack the skills and capacity to lead at a higher level into new seats on the bus that better fit their skill set. I believe this is one of the most difficult decisions a leader must make. But it's also one of the most important to the long-term health of the organization.

3.  Start seeing Yourself differently.

     As an organization grows, a leader must begin to see themselves differently as well. With more at stake, a leader must know and understand the role they're required to play and be willing to face their own insecurities and fears for the sake of the good of the organization.

     Leading at a higher level requires boldness, confidence and clarity that leading a smaller organization does not. The leader who is unwilling to see themselves through a new lens will struggle to lead well as the organization grows.

At the end of the day, developing the ability to lead leaders not just followers will set up our organizations for success long-term, and it all has to do with changing the way we see.

Just a Leadership Thought...

Matt Keller

Do you buy the book? A 90 second leadership challenge for the rest of us...

I've had an interesting observation recently at events where I've been speaking...

Surprisingly few people buy the books.

First, a couple confessions:

1.  I'm an avid reader. I read 4 to 6 books at a time, in different categories, and with different reasons in mind. Therefore, I'm always on the lookout for new content that I can get my hands on. I subscribe to the idea that, "The more you put in, the more sticks and the more you have to give later." I'm a teacher. It's just who I am.

2.  I'm an author. I am willing at this point, to concede the fact that at several of these events recently I've had one of the books that's available for sale.

Now back to the question:

Why are so many people moved in a teaching session, and yet so few want to add to their learning beyond the event?

A Few Possible Answers:

1.  They think they've already learned all the author has to share.

2.  They aren't willing to commit to extending their learning.

3.  They weren't really that impacted by what was taught in to begin with.

4.  They have the wrong perspective. 

One of my leadership Buzzwords is Teachability. It's something that I've made a life's purpose; To be teachable. It's something I think there's just too little of in leadership circles.

I am convinced that so often, we attend a conference, leadership event, a class, or even just a church service and something inside us wells up right at the moment where we're challenged to change. However, instead of leaning in to change, we actually lean out just far enough for us to miss the opportunity to become something greater in our life or leadership.

So what about you? When was the last time you "bought the book" or "took the step" or "made the change?" Are you willing to lean in or are you more likely to lean out?

Just a thought...

Matt Keller

Follow the Leader:: A Life Lesson...

     In Leadership, people follow the leader far more than they follow a vision statement, strategy, or bottom line.

     When it comes to leading our organizations, are vision statements, flow charts, spreadsheets and strategies important? Yes, but at the end of the day, what too few executives fail to remember is that...

People Follow People!!!

     Which challenges every one of us who are in a leadership position with 3 questions:

1.  Am I a Leader people can Trust?

     Let's be honest for a second...

           Can your team trust you? Does your team really believe that you have their best interest and the best interest of the organization in mind when you're making leadership decisions? Or do they know that we're secretly in it for our own gain?

            People follow people they can trust. After all, if they take a paycheck from you, then on some level they're trusting the well-being of their family to you. Leadership is a trust. And people follow people they can trust.

2.  Am I a Leader people can Know?

     In our day and age, it's not enough for people to just follow a vision statement or a set of company core values, people want to know the leader they're willingly following. And here in lies the risk.

We must risk being vulnerable. 

     As leaders, we must risk opening up and letting people in. The people we lead want to know us. How we think, what we're feeling, how we process information and how we make decisions. The more our people can know us, the more likely they will be to follow our leadership.

3.  Am I a Leader people can Emulate?

     At the end of the day, people want to follow someone that they want to be like. Of course every person wants to be unique in their personality, their style, etc. But...

When it comes to who we are on the inside, everyone of us are looking for people to emulate. 

     And let's be honest, none of us will follow long-term, someone that we don't want to be like on the inside.
     When we get to know someone more deeply and don't like what we see, over time, we'll begin to pull away from that person. So the challenge for us as leaders is this: Am I living my life and leading in such a way that people will want to emulate what they see? At the end of the day, people follow leaders they can emulate.

     As leaders, we don't have to know everything, but we must know ourselves, because people will follow us far more than they follow our vision statement, strategy, or bottom line.

 Application Question: How am I doing at leading myself well?

6 Reasons I'm Excited about Prayer & Fasting Today!

On the 1st Monday of every month, we, at Next Level Church, dedicate the entire day to prayer & fasting. It's our way of recalibrating our hearts with the Lord and giving God the first work day of the month. (More Info Here)

I'm especially excited to pray today for a number of reasons. I hope you'll dedicate all or some portion of today to spending some time with God as we begin the month of May together.

6 Reasons Why I'm Excited to pray today:

1.  Prayer changes things. I really believe that what the Bible says is true. In I Chrionicles 7:14 it says that, "If my people will humble themselves and pray... I will hear from Heaven and heal their land." Let's believe for God to heal our land today.

2.  Prayer recallibrates my heart. Over the course of a month, my heart can drift off of what is most important to the heart of God. I'm excited to hit the reset button today by fasting and praying.

3.  Fasting causes me to turn my hunger for earthly food on God. When I skip a meal or two, I get hungry. And when I do, it becomes a tangible reminder for me to focus my heart, attention and affection on God.

4.  I love seeing a new month as a clean slate. Prayer and Fasting day is a reminder that the Bible says that, "God's mercies are new every morning." God is truly faithful and I'm reminded of that when we pray.

5.  I love knowing I'm not alone. It's so energizing for me to think of dozens and even hundreds of Next Levelites who are all praying across Southwest Florida in a unified way. I love that! There's strength in numbers, especially when we pray.

6.  Praying makes me want to be more like Jesus. When I set my heart on things above rather than things of earth, I have this overwhelming desire to be like Jesus all over again. Prayer and Fasting Day propel me to be like Jesus.

So whether you've fasted in the past, or have never fasted and prayed before in your life. I want to strongly encourage you to take some time, set it aside and focus on God today.

I promise you, you won't regret it.

Thanks for praying with us today,

Pastor Matt