{"id":1060,"date":"2013-08-11T12:29:21","date_gmt":"2013-08-11T12:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=1060"},"modified":"2013-08-15T09:01:24","modified_gmt":"2013-08-15T09:01:24","slug":"7-lessons-from-starting-a-professional-book-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/7-lessons-from-starting-a-professional-book-club\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Lessons From Starting a Professional Book Club"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- Facebook Like Button v1.9.6 BEGIN [http:\/\/blog.bottomlessinc.com] -->\n<iframe src=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Finspiredtoeducate.net%2Finspiredtoeducate%2F7-lessons-from-starting-a-professional-book-club%2F&amp;layout=standard&amp;show_faces=false&amp;width=450&amp;action=like&amp;colorscheme=light\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowTransparency=\"true\" style=\"border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height: 30px; align: left; margin: 2px 0px 2px 0px\"><\/iframe>\n<!-- Facebook Like Button END -->\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/discussion.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1061\" title=\"discussion\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/discussion.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/discussion.jpg 500w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/discussion-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When I graduated from college and started work as a professional software developer, I still thirsted to grow my mind in knowledge of my faith.\u00a0\u00a0 University of South Florida (USF) had a pretty cool campus ministry culture. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0So, I kept going back to my old weekly bible study on campus.\u00a0\u00a0 The leaders of the bible study kept the discussion lively and fun.\u00a0\u00a0 We prayed, we laughed, and grew together. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Many of us would hangout late into the evening playing pool or games after the study.\u00a0 We were blessed with an awesome core of friends.\u00a0\u00a0 I thank God for this experience.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It was through this little book club that I met a very special young lady named Sarah.\u00a0 Through this bible study, God introduced me to Sarah who would become my wife.<\/p>\n<p>There is a hidden treasure of starting a book club.\u00a0\u00a0 In general, book clubs can create positive change in communities by creating social, fun, and focused discussion forums around the ideas of a book.\u00a0\u00a0 As a teaching tool for communities, it\u2019s an awesome way to build relationships with other team members and help each other grow.\u00a0\u00a0 In turn, it grows the community.<\/p>\n<p>I started paying attention to book clubs more closely when I was warmly invited by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MatthewWinner\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew Winner<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/jenniferlagarde\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer Lagarde<\/a> from the &#8220;LevelUpBC.&#8221; \u00a0 \u00a0Members of this book club believe that games can have a positive impact on changing the world and learning.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To learn more about this book club, please <a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=96\" target=\"_blank\">visit my blog post here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In a professional context, my team leader and I started wondering if we could energize our work culture by learning from cultures of other companies.\u00a0 Inspired by the \u201cLevelUpBC\u201d and previous bible study experiences, I recommended that we start a weekly book club around Dave Ramsey\u2019s book, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/product-reviews\/1451617852\/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1\" target=\"_blank\">EntreLeadership<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0This experience has been such a blessing.\u00a0\u00a0 The relationships and friendships that we have formed through the book club have been so enriching.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few quick lessons that I have cherished from the book club:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lessons from a conductor:\u00a0 Have you noticed that conductors of orchestra\u2019s don\u2019t make a sound?\u00a0 Benjamin Zander , director of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra , shares that great musical direction comes from focusing on growth of the orchestra members.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHe(the conductor) depends for his power on his ability to make other people powerful.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ted.com\/speakers\/benjamin_zander.html\" target=\"_blank\">Check out his powerful TED talk here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>You can\u2019t push a rope.\u00a0 You can only pull it.\u00a0 Likewise, you can\u2019t push your organization to greatness.\u00a0\u00a0 Great organizations are built from steady and consistent actions of coaching, teaching, and focused professional will.\u00a0\u00a0 Great organizations are born from humble leaders.\u00a0\u00a0 Great leaders help their teams become successful and give the team the praise.\u00a0\u00a0 Dave Ramsey also believes that God has a powerful role in growing your community.\u00a0\u00a0 We should be open to letting Him grow it.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Simon Sinek: How great leaders and teachers inspire action?\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=267\" target=\"_blank\">Start with Why<\/a>: Great leaders help their organizations understand why they exist.\u00a0\u00a0 What is your organizations purpose and mission?\u00a0\u00a0 Can we connect our daily work into that mission?<\/li>\n<li>The Wheel of Life: This is a great teaching on balancing all aspects of your life. \u00a0 Business leaders are often pulled in multiple directions at the same time. \u00a0 How do you balance your work life, your spiritual life, and family life? \u00a0 Check out Chris LoCurto\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/chrislocurto.com\/zig-ziglars-wheel-of-life\" target=\"_blank\">great post on this topic<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.daveramsey.com\/entreleadership\/podcast\" target=\"_blank\">How to build unity<\/a>?\u00a0This podcast provides teachings to improve communication and unity in your organization.<\/li>\n<li>If you\u2019re going to grow a new venture, non-profit, or company, don\u2019t go into debt.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.daveramsey.com\/entreleadership\/podcast\" target=\"_blank\">Building a platform to help market your organization<\/a>. \u00a0 Check out the show with <a href=\"http:\/\/michaelhyatt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Michael Hyatt<\/a>. \u00a0 He provides solid coaching on leadership and <a href=\"http:\/\/michaelhyatt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">getting noticed in the world of social media<\/a>. \u00a0 He also teaches why genuine social connections can help you achieve the mission of your organization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>So.. What&#8217;s next for the EntreLeadership book club? \u00a0Our team has moved to our next book &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.jimcollins.com\/article_topics\/articles\/good-to-great.html\">Good to Great&#8221; by Jim Collins<\/a>. \u00a0 I hope to post additional lessons from this book soon.<\/div>\n<p>We love to hear from our readers.\u00a0\u00a0 To keep the conversation going, what books are inspiring you?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Top Posts From Dr. Sarah Rosario<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Organization Before Innovation\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=82\" target=\"_blank\">Organization Before Innovation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"How to Avoid The Technology Trap\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=729\" target=\"_blank\">How to avoid the technology trap<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Growing Young Scientists\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=916\" target=\"_blank\">Growing Young Scientists<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Teaching with purpose\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=756\" target=\"_blank\">Teaching with purpose<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Photo Credit &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/50254246@N00\/3385144016\/in\/photolist-6a8Ko1-6a8Kr9-6Gafcb-6MnPds-75hA5X-bDrVpM-ePUJ8a-dkGUFg-8FeWAn-dvwG18-bqwZZh-7FLMyY-9PvnwQ-aArHv7-9iEXLe-8TF2e2-8ZKKWR-9ezCZ7-e187Qf-cq8sgd-9wo2R3-bUS8T8-9gBYGS-7HVFNu-8e6Qx1-bDrUYR-9iEBxV-9RmZzA-aArGzy-aAoZmn-aArGs9-aAoYn6-9iEwsn-8T7D2s-dkGUJc-9wM4gh-fanNsd-fa8y7k-9wJ5A4-7TY68i-7U2jNC-7U2jT5-7TY6ee-7TY6cz-7U2jUy-7U2jPU-cKqFH7-cKqF2C-7N2wut-dHyQb4-dHEeNA\" target=\"_blank\">See the following link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<!-- Facebook Like Button v1.9.6 BEGIN [http:\/\/blog.bottomlessinc.com] -->\n<iframe src=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Finspiredtoeducate.net%2Finspiredtoeducate%2F7-lessons-from-starting-a-professional-book-club%2F&amp;layout=standard&amp;show_faces=false&amp;width=450&amp;action=like&amp;colorscheme=light\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowTransparency=\"true\" style=\"border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height: 30px; align: left; margin: 2px 0px 2px 0px\"><\/iframe>\n<!-- Facebook Like Button END -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; When I graduated from college and started work as a professional software developer, I still thirsted to grow my mind in knowledge of my faith.\u00a0\u00a0 University of South Florida (USF) had a pretty cool campus ministry culture. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0So, I kept going back to my old weekly bible study on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1060"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1060"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1060\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1063,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1060\/revisions\/1063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}