Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day
I’ve been reading, nay, freebasing (that’s the only drug term I know) leadership books, conferences, resources, consultations, seminars and symposiums for decades and decades. Like a “user,” I couldn’t get enough. If you put me in the business section of a bookstore I’m like a kid in a candy shop. I can quote John Maxwell [1] in my sleep. I saw Andy Stanley [2] at an airport, and fanboy’ed like a school girl. Yah, I had it bad.
And like many users, I remember overdosing.
This is a tough admission to a cohort of Doctor of Leadership seminarians, but it’s true. I bottomed out. I couldn’t pick up another leadership book for some time. It made me sick to my stomach. There was a long season in which about all I was able to read was my Bible and anything by Eugene Peterson. Thank you Mr. Peterson. [3]
Now, obviously…and thankfully (due to the nature of this doctoral degree), I am back on the leadership bike. Like I said, my drug references are very limited, so now I’m onto sports analogies, of which I have very few draw from as well.
My most recent fascination is with James Clear’s “Atomic Habits.” [4] It’s been on every bestselling list for years now, for good reason. It’s solid. In a blog post Clear writes that “Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour.” [5] The commonplace phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day” comes from the English playwright John Heywood, who also gave us such gems as “Out of sight, out of mind,” “Better late than never,” “The more the merrier” and “Many hands make light work.”
Thank you Mr. Heywood.
The idea behind this adage is that the construction of Rome is an example that time is needed to create something great. Clear’s riff on it adds the caveat that although it took considerable time and effort to develop the Roman Empire, it still was necessary to consistently lay bricks every hour.
This is why I appreciated Eve Pooles assertion that “Leaders are not born, they are made.” [6] Poole continues, “To me, the word ‘leadership’ itself is problematic. It feels more like title or status than an on-going activity. So I am going to call it ‘leadersmithing’, because it is about apprenticeship, craft and hours of practice.” [7] It’s this sort of contrarian approach that brought me back from the edge of my “leadership overdose.” As a matter of fact, the resource that did more than any other book in bringing me back from the edge was “The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership” by Steven B. Sample. A gold standard book that I return to often. Thank you Mr. Sample. [8]
Although I was not a fan of Poole’s “52 playing cards” motif (unfortunately, comprising the entire 2nd half of the book), I could not argue with the strong emphasis upon character and apprenticeship, as formative components of the “smithing” of leaders. “Courage, grit, determination – these character traits are the stuff of leadership when the chips are down. While confidence can be faked, character is real.” [9] These are traits that I look for both in myself and the leaders that are around me, in particular, those that are beginning in their ministry assignments (ie: apprentices). Poole says that “Apprenticeship used to be the main way you entered trade.” [10] I too have seen this in ministry circles. The majority of senior pastors that I know began as youth workers in a local church. Character was formed and forged within the heat of serving faithfully, and, in time, many were invited into larger arenas of leadership. Again, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour. Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25:11 punctuates the point, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”
The question Poole asks is “What do we know now that we wish we would have known 10 years ago?” I will take permission in expanding the timeframe to 20, 30 or 40 years ago. As I approach my 30th year of licensed and ordained ministry, I can say with certainty that I wish I would have known then what I am just beginning to know now:
Leadership takes time.
Be patient.
Be faithful.
Keep laying bricks.
Don’t give up.
And, lastly, say no to drugs.
[1]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Maxwell
[2]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Stanley
[3]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_H._Peterson
[4]. https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299/ref=zg_bs_books_sccl_4/140-5318061-9534226?psc=1
[5]. https://jamesclear.com/lay-a-brick
[6]. Poole, Eve. page 2.
[7]. Poole, Eve. page 3.
[8]. https://www.amazon.com/Contrarians-Guide-Leadership-Steven-Sample/dp/0787967076
[9]. Poole, Eve. page 47.
[10]. Poole, Eve. page 59.
About the Author
John Fehlen
John Fehlen is currently the Lead Pastor of West Salem Foursquare Church. Prior to that he served at churches in Washington and California. A graduate of Life Pacific University in San Dimas, CA in Pastoral Ministry, and Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA with a Masters in Leadership and Spirituality. He and his wife Denise have four grown children and four grandchildren. John is the author of "Don't Give Up: Encouragement for Weary Souls in Challenging Times," a book for pastoral leaders, a children's book called "The Way I See You," and the forthcoming "Leave A Mark: The Jouney of Intentional Parenting." You can connect with John on Instagram (@johnfehlen) as well as at johnfehlen.substack.com.15 responses to “Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day”
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A couple things I want to hear more about from this post:
1) Why did the playing card analogy not resonate with you?
2) What are the signs that we need to watch for when you need an intervention?
3) Does “many hands light work” also imply that it could take many leaders to mentor a new leader? This thought sort of intrigues me perhaps because I do not want it all to hinge on me, or perhaps because I can point to powerful lessons I have learned from several leaders… food for thought.
Thanks for the great questions Jennifer.
1) Why did the playing card analogy not resonate with you?
As I glance at the other replies I’ve gotten thus far, I see that it didn’t resonate with a few others as well, so there’s safety in numbers! What I find with these kinds of learning/communication devices is that they try too hard. And I know this as a communicator myself, when I’ve attempted to make a correlation or be “clever” – it smacks of over-reach. That’s how the playing cards deal felt.
2) What are the signs that we need to watch for when you need an intervention?
I had to read this question a few times to make sure I was understanding it. At first I took it playfully, as if it was in reference to a possible DRUG addiction! But I actually think you may be referring to the addiction to leadership resources. If that’s true, then here’s how are some signs to watch for:
• If I read these kinds of books more than my Bible.
• If I quote John Maxwell more than Jesus.
• If I find myself trying to fix problems more with structural adjustments than Spirit empowerment.
3) Does “many hands light work” also imply that it could take many leaders to mentor a new leader?
Yes! Hillary had it right “it does take a village!” One of the great joys of my parenting life has been to watch how my grown children have been mentored by other trusted followers of Jesus, and have built off of the foundation that their mom and I have sought to develop. Many hands does make light work!
I like all these answers, but especially number 2 which, was actually a tongue-in-cheek question, (and a cautionary tale about humor on blog posts!) yet you offer some really good rules of thumb to keep in mind as we navigate this academic journey.
Deep down I kinda thought you might have been “tongue-in-cheek.”
My sixth, and favorite, Love Language is “sarcasm.”
🙂
Hi John, I too was not a fan of the cards. I did copy and paste them so I could reference them if I needed them (not that I see that ever happening).
Still, I love your comments and Poole’s about it takes time.
My base line is learning leadership in ROTC and then 23 years in the Army. We are not kinder or gentler in the Army and in general, it is “MY way or the highway.” But everyone starts somewhere and I found there is a tremendous relevance of the “apprentice” in the beginning ranks for young officers.
At age 22 you can be suddenly signed for 5 million dollars worth of equipment and about 12-20 soldiers, as I was. And yes, if your are found liable for breakage, you do pay for anything broken.
While ROTC programs strive to give a feeling for the “real” Army, we generally learn from our crusty old Platoon Sergeants on how to ‘Run” things, and from our Executive Officer and Commander on how to “Lead” things. Young 2nd Lieutenants are apprentices to those with experience.
Back to the book….I enjoyed reading Chapter 2, How do Leaders Learn? I think military officers live in a constant state of Fight and Fight. Somewhere, Flight got lost. Potentially this keeps us sharp, survival is an important theme in our business, but in my declining years I see how the combative approach to life (a the hammer), makes it hard for families to be around us.
Sigh…and then their is actual battle and loss of life. That is another tangent for another time and a few brews.
Thanks for your comments…Shalom…Russ
Russell, you had me at “a few brews.” I think Oxford might have what we’re looking for!
I appreciated your insights from a military perspective. This is a level of understanding that I simply do not have, yet am grateful for those that are able to provide that texture and experience.
I think back to my youth pastoring years, and to youth pastors that have served with me in local churches and think of that role as the ROTC of congregational life. It’s such a learning, growing, making mistakes, adjusting, and trying again season. Not that it is in any way “less than” or “not yet real ministry” – but it is a training ground of sorts that gives much needed experience and “on the job” learning for more and more responsibility to come.
Who coined the phrase, “It’s all a matter of perspective”? That’s what your post is giving me – a healthy dose of perspective. I’m such an impatient person by nature so basically everything takes longer than I want it to. Planting a church, cultivating deep friendships, starting a new ministry to parents, potty-training my kids (ok, that one is ancient history but it took forever). To make matters worse, the French mentality is to take a loooooong time to do anything, change anything, make any significant decision. We hear regularly some version of, “You American cowboys, stop rushing into things. We need to slow down and reflect on this in order to do it well.” So the perspective that your post gives me is actually an optimistic one. I can be hopeful that even when things seem to be moving slowly, if bricks are being laid one-by-one, something is still being constructed. Thanks for the encouragement!
Kim,
As I read your reply I couldn’t help but be reminded of an old preaching illustration that I’ve used a few times:
“Two stonecutters were working on the Westminster Abbey in England. When asked what they were doing one replied: “I’m cutting stone.” the other said, “I’m building a cathedral!”
It’s all a matter of perspective, isn’t it?
There’s a number of images you provided that I could comment on – especially regarding other cultures and their pace of life. For example, we had a young girl from South Africa at our house for dinner (soup), and she let her soup sit there for some time until it cooled, then slowly ate it. Our family started right in, and kept burning our mouths. She finally said, “Why are you in such a hurry? Let it cool. Don’t be in a rush to eat!” She was right, and yet we still eat FAST!
But the primary image that I took from your reply is that of parenting. Oh my, oh my. Parenting. Should be called “Parent-Smithing.” It is, in the words of, Eugene Peterson (but I’m fairly certain he got it from Friedrich Nietzsche), a “long obedience in the same direction.” One has to take the long view when parenting. It’s one brick at a time. As parents, we are building a human cathedral.
Sure do appreciate your thoughtfulness Kim. I find you to be a great balance of intellect and sensitivity.
I’m with you John….not a fan of the second half of the book’s layout. A bit too scattered for my linear tendencies. A lot of Poole’s book contained statements or short paragraphs on a topic…and then off to the next thing. So when she said, “Leaders are made, not born” I THINK I agree with some parts of that statement, but certainly not others. I believe everyone can improve their leadership, but not everyone can be ‘made’ into an effective leader…it’s just not in some people, just like being a Children’s Pastor or office administrator is simply not in me–definitely NOT in me! When we start to include spiritual gifts in the mix, we could definitely say that some leaders are ‘born of the Spirit’ in ways that others are not. I would have appreciated the book more fully if Poole quantified and unpacked some of her assertions and statements, many of which were pithy and truthful, but not fully engaged with. What do you think? Am I being too hard on her?
Well, Scott, for starters, I don’t think you’re being “too hard on her,” especially from a doctoral level of engagement. I think it behooves us to utilize critical thinking in our assessments of the work.
I too, think she didn’t develop her assertions well, and perhaps (if I was advising her), she could have taken the entire 2nd half of the book to do so, rather than shifting into a Poker Game. Oh well.
The role of the Spirit is so vital in spiritual development, not to mention human development, and leadership enhancement. Yes, leaders can be made, but as a follower of Jesus, I have to take into consideration spiritual gifts, temperament, calling, equipping, and empowerment. I recall sitting with a frustrated senior pastor, and under, what I believe was, the leading of the Spirit, I boldly said to him: “Perhaps you are not supposed to be a pastor.” It was as if a huge weight fell off of him. He admitted being in a role he was not designed for, but doing it out of a sense of obligation. Now he is in the police force and loving it!
John, in a discussion with some friends this week, someone used the phrase “consistency instead of intensity.” That may be a quote from Clear’s book, Atomic Habits. I haven’t read it yet. But I hope to do so, maybe in 2.4 years. I like your Rome reference. Laying bricks every day. Consistency.
By the way, I also got a bit lost in the 52 card motif. That being said, the apprentice model needs to continue to be in the “how leaders (and pastors, and ministry leaders, and other leaders) are trained in their craft. This is what I am focusing on more these days — instituting an “apprentice” (we actually are using the term residency, which I know can be a bit different) approach to training church planters in our group (presbytery) of churches.
Travis, I have read Clear’s book twice and listened to it on Audible after that. It’s THAT GOOD. If you can sneak it in before 2.4 years I would strongly encourage it! 🙂
The primary thought in Poole’s work (52 cards motif aside) is apprenticeship. No question. And that I love, and am working actively to better integrate into every level of leadership and serving at our church. One success story we are currently basking in is that after stewarding an older pastoral staff member to his retirement (after 40 years of ministry service), we were able to free up the finances to do a series of moves internally. Our youth pastor of 13 years (a tenure of which is nearly unheard of!) was shifted to an Associate Pastor position, and the youth pastorate was given to a young man that had been a part of the youth ministry since 6th grade. He was the natural choice for the position because of his faithfulness, calling, etc. but primarily because of the degree of apprenticeship that had developed his ministry chops.
I am so proud of how we did what we did. From honoring long and fruitful ministry service, to advancing a faithful minister to more responsibility to given a shot to a young gun.
Blessings on your residency, and church planting efforts!
Hey John! I love reading your posts man! You are so inspirational and authentic! Thank you. Hey when you “bottomed out” in your journey, how did that prepare you to be a stronger leader? What was the most significant lesson you learned while you were out in the bottom?
As I was reading your post and comments, I started to form the thought: What if we treated each developing leader we were mentoring as a ‘youth ministry apprentice’?
I think one of the reasons youth pastors have the kind of ministry trajectory they do is because they are given full pastoral leadership over a group, and those who are apprenticing under them have a wide range of opportunities all at once. However, many developing leaders are given one or two things to do, and while they learn some ministry practices, they aren’t baptized into the depth and breadth of ministry principles like we were in youth ministry. I wonder if there is a way to manufacture this kind of ‘templating’ in ministry development?
Something I need to develop further, but food for thought.
Let’s “workshop” this idea. Perhaps a future “Collaborate” event/seminar could develop this further.
As if we don’t have other things to do!
Ha!