Listen To Who?

While planning for an upcoming conference with 2 top-notch youth leaders, the question came up: If you had an hour and could pick the brain of anyone in youth ministry, who would it be? We came up with a couple of people, some you may know.  I think that that question should always be easy to answer for any leader (it may not be a youth person).  We should always be looking to grow, always looking to models/mentors that are further down the track than we are. 

You never know when you are going to get the opportunity to pick someone's brain that could bring significant wisdom to your life, and that is why we should be ready when it happens. Nothing is worse than having an opportunity that goes unprofitable.  

When I was younger, I reached a point when I yearned for perspective/wisdom that I wasn't available in the context where I worked. You know what I did? I chased it down from as many sources as possible. For example, when I wanted to learn how I could run a staff meeting differently I called a large church lead pastor.  I told him I'd buy him lunch if I could pick his brain for a half-hour.  He said yes and I gained invaluable perspective.  My point? You can't sit and wait around for good advice to hit you in the face. Really, you've got to look at the mirror, ask what you want to grow in, consider who is strong where you are weak and then find a way to pick their brain.  So-who are you going to listen to?