Marrying my Board of Directors
Born in Circleville, Ohio, in 1983, Austin Kleon’s work focuses and rambles around non-fiction and “motivational” niche. Being a millennial himself, Austin realizes the cursory attention span of the internet generation and therefore, he keeps it short and hurls doodles and illustrations frequently just to make sure that the focus stays intact. [1]. This millennial author understands himself and his culture. Regarding leadership Eve Poole commented, “What message does your working pattern send out to others?” [2]. Kleon’s message is I’m going to use my millennial skills to help a fast-paced world understand a very important message to get ahead in life. “Great stewardship” says Camacho, “is caring for the resources that belong to someone else.” [3]. In Kleon’s world you care for those resources by “stealing” them. Kleon says, “I’m a writer who draws. I make art with words and books with pictures.” [4]. Kleon is a masterful writer who knows himself, the world around him and how to use the best the world has to offer to help himself become a better writer and leader. This creative writer gifted the world with the book, “Steal Like an Artist.”
His concept is based on the idea that no creativity is original and that all ideas are stemmed from other ideas. There are ways to “steal” ideas without doing so in a negative way. Good theft means honoring, studying, crediting and transforming ideas. This is opposed to bad theft which means degrading, plagiarizing, imitating and ripping off ideas.
I think what I love most about this book is that it whole heartedly validates my creative process and everything I already believed long before I discovered this book. Even though this book is a fun read, there was one page that really struck me. In fact, it was the only page I read three times. After reading page 133, my excitement turned to seriousness because there is no way to joke about his idea of “marry well” [5].
“Marry well doesn’t just mean your life partner,” Kleon continues, “it also means who you do business with, who you befriend, who you choose to be around…a good [business] partner keeps you grounded.” [6]. After reading page 133, I thought of my Board of Directors and the many other ministries that want to partner with our counseling center. Camacho’s words echoed in my heart, “We need to see the value of things (especially the people) that are right in front of us.” [7]. I value my Board of Directors, but have I truly married them? What does it mean to marry my Board? It can mean to:
1. Invest in them emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
2. Pray for them, with them, and let them know I am taking them before the throne of grace.
3. Listen to their ideas, concerns, and victories.
4. Lead them by example and lead them well.
5. Have tough conversations with them.
6. Know their spiritual gifts, personality profile, mannerisms, and insecurities.
7. Allow them to see the real me. The good, the badly, and the ugly.
8. Hold them accountable to help strengthen our “marriage.”
9. Give them feedback to build deeper intimacy in this “marriage.”
Now I need a good book on marriage to steal all the ideas to inspire me to use them with my board members and other business partners. With the pop culture oozing every now and then with the inspirational stories of how a prodigy teenager becomes a millionaire with his side project, it’s difficult to even imagine that any ordinary person could pull it off. But the author believes otherwise. What he advices is that don’t wait for the idea. Just immerse yourself in what you love doing, internalize and build from there. And for that, don’t find it embarrassing to build up from others work. I have never thought about using a book on marriage to inspire me to “marry” my board but now, I am going to look into it and see what happens.
[1] Blake Snyder reviews Steal Like An Artist. Theusualstuff.com, November 24, 2018. Accessed March 9, 2023.
[2] Poole, Eve. Leadersmithing: Revealing the Trade Secrets of Leadership. London; New York, NY: Bloomsbury Business, 2017, 16.
[3] Tom Camacho, Mining for Gold: Developing Kingdom Leaders through Coaching London: IVP, 2019, 56.
[4] About Austin Kleon. austinkleon.com. Accessed March 9, 2023.
[5] Kleon, Austin. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative. 1st edition. New York: Workman Publishing Company, 2012, 133.
[6] ibid, 133
[7] Tom Camacho, Mining for Gold: Developing Kingdom Leaders through Coaching London: IVP, 2019, 26.
About the Author
Todd E Henley
Todd is an avid cyclist who loves watching NASCAR, photography, and playing Madden football. He is addicted to reading, eating fruits and vegetables, and drinking H2O. His passion is talking about trauma, epigenetics, chromosomes, and the brain. He has been blessed with a sensationally sweet wife and four fun creative children (one of which resides in heaven). In his free time he teaches at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and is the Founder/Executive Director of Restore Counseling Center.8 responses to “Marrying my Board of Directors”
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“Now I need a good book on marriage to steal all the ideas to inspire me to use them with my board members and other business partners.” Sounds like the beginning of your own book, Todd!
I agree, if we think about our other partnerships similarly to how we think about marriage, it could be a game changer. It brings Ephesians 5:21 to mind: “…submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Thanks for sharing!
“Sounds like the beginning of your own book, Todd!” Jennifer, I have never even thought about that BUT I love it…it’s a brilliant idea. I will start working on this soon and I will make sure I give you the credit for the idea!😊
You pulled out a very good point about generational dynamics and approaches when conveying a message. I’m planning on writing a book, along with other things, to design a solution for my NPO. I’ve entertained some unconventional thoughts about how to make it that includes cartoons, drawings, visuals, and stories to help make dense material and ideas more digestible and understandable. Who says I can’t do that? Your post was really validating Todd!
Amazing Adam, I would love to hear ONE of your unconventional thoughts to help make dense material and ideas more digestible and understandable. I’ll be on the edge of my seat until you post it!
I also really enjoyed your post and how you took “marriage” piece of it into your own life and work. I realize how important it must be to your non-profit to surround yourself with all the right stakeholders! Especially in the work you do. I agree with the above statements that you may have something other non-profits could benefit from. I’ve seen non-profits implode when the “wrong fit” people were in place. Notice I didn’t say “wrong” people, but those that just aren’t the right fit for whatever reason, and this doesn’t mean those that oppose or bring about concerns, I think it has to do with motivation and intention behind their functioning and your outline seems like an amazing way you can “mentor” or marry your board! I am curious on how #7 works for you? Vulnerability in leaders is amazing, but just so hard to do and I am curious if you’ve felt supported through the good, the bad and the ugly?
Hey Joyful Jana! Thank you sooo much for your question. One of my interns just asked me a similar question 2 days ago. In fact, I get this question often simply because with clients, my congregation, friends, family, anyone who knows me, or doesn’t know have heard me share vulnerably about my marriage, children, leadership, failures, sins, insecurities, mistakes, lies, and so on.
In my field, psychotherapists are not suppose to be vulnerable but I’ll give you the answer I give everyone. For me it’s a calling to change the world and I strongly believe the Lord has His hand upon me to multiply our counseling centers throughout the U.S. and overseas. For us to bring deep healing to traumatic places, the leader (me) will need to be as vulnerable as the body needs oxygen.
Since I truly understand who I am in Christ and I am content with where I am in my struggle to be Christ-like, I always feel supported by the ONE and now after years of being real with people, it’s something everyone just expects. Yes I get support from others but even if I didn’t, I would still share the good, the bad, the ugly, and the reprehensible!
Hi Todd,
I don’t think I met you in Cape Town.
I am in DLGP01.
My name is Kristy Newport LMFT. I have been in private practice the past 10 years. I would love to know more about where you work and serve.
I enjoyed your post on Steal Like an Artist! great summary!
I will be noting your future blogs as we are in the same field!
You mentioned book(s) on marriage. What marriage books do you like best? The Relationship Cure has been a good one for me/my clients. Gottman puts out good stuff.
I would love to know what your NPO is! Would you mind sharing? I am researching the questions that Jesus asked and finding how they 1) Challenge, 2) are a catalyst for Change, 3) and promote Connection.
May God bless all that you are/ and all that you are doing to bring healing for others!
VanDeKolks-Body Keeps the Score….I have written my blog on this one. You will get this book next year! Long wait…it’s coming! 😉
Hello Kristy! thanks for taking your precious time to actually read my blog! I am in Coatesville, PA, and just over a year ago founded Restore Counseling Center. Presently I serve as the Executive Director. We are committed to helping people heal from neurological, emotionally, and spiritual trauma. Basically, we focus on molestation, adultery, rape, domestic abuse, grief, or any overwhelming traumatic experience that changes the nervous system and body.
I am familiar with the Relationship Cure but have not read it. Since you mentioned it, I will definitely place it on my list. I am quite familiar with Mr. Gottman. Have you gone through any of his training to become certified?
One of my favorite books on marriage is “How We Love” So many told me about this book before I read it and they were right. It did change my life and approach to helping couples. My wife and I are about to read “Fierce Marriage” This is another one people told me about.
If my NPO doesn’t change it will be, “Men who have sexual brokenness challenges desperately need help from the church to heal.”
I love how your NPO ends with “Connection” I’m looking forward to reading it!
I have read The Body Keeps The Score 6 times. All our interns and counselors receive this book as a gift from me. Janina Fisher worked with van Der Kolk and her book is just as deep and phenomenal. I highly recommend it, “Healing The Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors.” And the international best seller by Gabor Mate, “When the Body Says No” is a book on my summer reading list. I’m hearing great things about it.
I’m definitely gonna check out your blog on the Body keeps the Score. Thanks Kristy for connecting. It’s gonna be a blessing learning from one another.