lifelong learner | Craig T. Owens

October 2026
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The Craig And Greg Show: The Power Of A Coach

February 22, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

Do you need to have a coach? If you answered “yes” then you’re already on the right track! If you said “no,” Greg and I would like to challenge you a little. Join us as they discuss how coaching isn’t just about correcting mistakes, it’s also about maximizing your existing skills to the highest level possible.

[0:52] Does everyone need a coach?
[2:10] Having a coach doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.
[3:48] There’s great fulfillment in helping someone reach greater success.
[5:13] Proactive coaching versus reactive coaching.
[7:19] A good coach won’t micro-manage, they will train you, and then “put you in” to play the game on your own.
[8:24] Coaches can deliver a 10,000-foot view to highlight your greatest areas of strength.
[10:14]] An outside coach approaches your situation with a fresh perspective.
[11:12] Greg discusses Michael Jordan’s best skill.
[12:38] Coaching isn’t about highlighting your negatives, it’s about maximizing your strengths.
[13:13] If a particular area makes you defensive you really need to be examining it further.
[13:55] Maximize can help coach you! Please reach out to us at Maximize Leadership.
[14:55] Greg discusses a psychology experiment.
[15:42] Not being coachable is a huge impediment for leaders.
[18:30] Good competition pushes everyone around you to be better.
[19:21] Greg shares advice from Rich Devos.
[21:45] Good coaching is proactive and reactive.
[23:13] A quote from Tom Landry on the job of a coach.
[24:17] Greg discusses the investments that were made in his life in his book Sage Advice.
[26:24] We don’t have all the answers, but we can help steer you in the right direction.

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: coachability, coaching, Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, leadership, lifelong learner, Michael Jordan, podcast, proactive, strength zone, video. Leave a Comment »

Links & Quotes

February 17, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Unforgiveness keeps our eyes on our offenders and off our God. Free yourself by forgiving those who have hurt you. You can check out this full sermon here. I have lots of new content every week, which you can check out on my YouTube channel.

“At the moment of truth, there are either reasons or results.” —Chuck Yeager

As I have shared before, I am so impressed with the He Gets Us social media campaign! Some people are still trying to figure out exactly what this campaign is. Sean McDowell and his podcast partner Scott Ray had a great conversation with Ed Stetzer about this. Check out the video!

Some people have been critical of the He Gets Us commercials that aired during the Super Bowl, but I thought they were outstanding! This is a social media outreach designed and funded by some of the most biblically-grounded, evangelistically-minded people I know. It is a social media campaign. It is not designed as a sermon (which is why there are no Bible verses shown in the commercial). The idea is to get past the barriers and misconceptions skeptics have come to believe about Jesus, and then be enticed to go to the hegetsus.com website. It is at this site that the Gospel message is introduced and visitors are given Bible verses and other materials to go deeper.

John Stonestreet wrote, “Before it was the corporate creation of greeting card companies, it was a day to remember third-century Christian martyr Valentinus of Rome.” This post is a good reminder of what Christians really should be remembering on Valentine’s Day, as well as the higher definition of love.

“The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose.” —John McEnroe

Links & Quotes

January 27, 2024 — Craig T. Owens

Peter described the ministry of Jesus as “doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil.” Historical records tell us the first Christians lived this exact same way! This clip is from our current series of sermons on prayer. I have lots of new content every week, which you can check out on my YouTube channel.

John Piper has some great advice for finding the main point of a chapter in the Book of Psalms.

Belshazzar was unknown outside the Bible for quite awhile, prompting one biblical skeptic to say, “the whole story [in the Book of Daniel] is disfigured and falsified by the author, who was neither an eye-witness of the occurrences, nor accurately acquainted with the history of them.” Once again, archeology has confirmed the historicity of both Belshazzar and Daniel.

On YouVersion I shared this on Job 1:20-22. The Old English spelling of worship is “worthship.” We worship God because He has infinitely greater worth than any other person or thing. It’s not that Job wasn’t sad about his losses, but He saw Jehovah as the One of greatest worth in spite of his earthly losses.

“Leaders are responsible for building organizations where people continually expand their capabilities to understand complexity, clarify vision, and improve shared mental models—that is, they are responsible for learning.” —Peter M. Senge, in The Fifth Discipline

Never stopping praying for your loved ones. It could be that with their very last breath they will call on Jesus as their Savior!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: archeology, Bible study, Book of Job, Christianity, church history, Daniel, historicity, intercession, John Piper, leadership, lifelong learner, Peter Senge, prayer, quotes, video, world history, worship. Leave a Comment »

How God Uses Pain

December 19, 2023 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.

Romans 8:28 assures us that God uses everything for His glory. Even our pain. Here is when I learned this painful but precious truth.

On the Leading From Alignment podcast, John Opalewski asked me about lessons I have learned from painful experiences.

Check out the full conversation John, Jim Wiegand, and I had here.
Another related video is Don’t dwell on the “What ifs”.
And you may also like two other blog posts—Don’t Quit and Learning Perseverance.

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. Like this recent post where I shared a map and an app to help with your Bible study time. ◀︎◀︎

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: empathy, interview, lesson, lifelong learner, pain, Romans, video. Leave a Comment »

The Craig And Greg Show: Good Habits Make Great Leaders

September 21, 2023 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

Automatic habits are an integral part of our everyday lives. From driving a car to the way we tie our shoes, these habits help us all the time with very little thought. Of course, habits aren’t limited to these mundane tasks, we also form them in other areas, like our leadership. As a leader, it’s important to be self-reflective of our habits and make sure they are taking us in the direction we want to go. In this episode, Greg and I discuss how cultivating the right habits will help you flourish as a leader.

[0:19] Aristotle said excellence is a matter of our habits.
[1:27] Our habits are mostly automatic—both the good and the bad habits.
[3:10] How do we keep our habits healthy during chaotic times?
[5:54] What about coping habits—should a leader use them or avoid them?
[7:15] My most beneficial leadership habit.
[9:13] Time-wasters are habits too.
[10:37] When we make changes in our habits, they should be incremental changes.
[12:17] We need to know why we want to make the change in a habit. The “why” determines the “what” and the “how.”
[15:24] How do leaders sustain their healthy habits?
[16:33] How can leaders regain their list momentum of good habits?
[19:27] Leaders need to be aware of the pull of their unintentional habits.
[22:23] How do we get our habits to serve us?
[23:30] I share two vital habits all high-performing leaders need.
[24:56] Leaders need to develop “muscle memory” to keep their healthy habits serving them.
[26:27] Greg shares some important quotes about a leader’s habits.

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, habits, leadership, lifelong learner, momentum, podcast, self-aware, self-discipline, video. 4 Comments »

The Craig And Greg Show: Are You A Micromanager?

September 7, 2023 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

If you said, “No,” are you sure? Sometimes micromanagement can come out of good intentions, or as we focus on a project, we as leaders can slide into it without even realizing it. In this episode, Greg and I discuss why micromanagement is bad for your leadership, how to identify if you’ve fallen into this trap, and, most importantly how to free yourself to soar into a place of macro-leadership.

[0:17] Greg and I break into song.
[0:38] Micromanagers stunt the growth of others in the organization.
[1:45] There is a difference between intense focus and micromanagement. How do we find those differences?
[3:44] A definitive quote about the destructive nature of micromanaging.
[6:05] Micromanagers create an unhealthy environment.
[6:47] The Craig And Greg Show audience is exceptionally intelligent!
[8:36] How do we know if we are unconsciously crossing the line into micromanagement?
[9:50] Micromanagement needs to give way to macro-leadership.
[11:16] Two more telltale phrases that micromanagers use.
[12:30] Greg helped a struggling leader break free from his micromanagement trap.
[14:07] The value of an “outsider’s” perspective can be huge!
[15:03] Greg shares some natural consequences for the entire organization of micromanagement.
[17:31] Characteristics of macro-leaders
[19:34] Greg shares two very sad stories of micromanagers who created problems in their company.
[21:50] Some final quotes to bring it home.

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, leadership, lifelong learner, micromanagement, podcast, video. Leave a Comment »

Micro-Adjustments

August 30, 2023 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.

I had a great time on the Leading From Alignment podcast with Jim Wiegand and John Opalewski.

One of the loudest, most persistent advertising messages is about speed: Take action now, get immediate results as soon as you sign up, don’t miss out, act today! Because of this sentiment that appears all around us, many people often think that any life changes they make should bring about immediate and lasting results.

I’ve often joked that I wish I had the superpower to zap myself or a friend—“<Poof!> There, you’ve got it now. You’re all set!” Unfortunately, that’s usually not how it works.

Instead, we need to be ready for a lengthy process—possibly even a lifelong process—of the Holy Spirit helping us to make the micro-adjustments that are necessary.

Check out this part of my conversation with Jim and John as we discussed this idea.

I like this line from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

The heights of great men reached and kept,

Were not attained by sudden flight,

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upwards in the night.

The Holy Spirit knows exactly where we need to change and how much we need to change. Let’s trust Him in this process. Then take some time to look back and celebrate how far the Holy Spirit has matured us so that we can be re-energized to stay in this lifelong process.

If you would like to watch this full interview on the Leading From Alignment podcast, please go here.

I’ll be sharing more clips from this interview soon, so please stay tuned. My book Shepherd Leadership: The Metrics That Really Matter is available in print or ebook, and in audiobook through either Audible or Apple.

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Holy Spirit, interview, Leading From Alignment, lifelong learner, maturity, personal growth, poem, poetry, shepherd leadership, spiritual growth, video. Leave a Comment »

The Craig And Greg Show: Ignorance And Arrogance

August 24, 2023 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the audio-only version of this podcast by clicking on the player below, or scroll down to watch the video.

Periodically, Greg and I like to revisit the topic of leadership builders and killers. In this episode, you get two leadership killers, as we tackle the two-headed monster of ignorance and arrogance.

[0:25] The two-headed monster that kills leadership potential.
[2:06] We are accepting bribes for our silence 😂
[2:23] Why are leaders held back by their ignorance?
[4:34] What happens when the followers sense that the leader above them is ignorant?
[6:22] What about when the leader admits a need for help?
[7:47] The toxicity of arrogance.
[9:32] Coachability is fed by humility. This is the leader’s litmus test.
[12:01] Our transparent leadership lessons are immensely helpful to our teammates.
[15:24] Greg shares a quote about this two-headed monster.
[17:35] We each share our personal examples of overcoming this monster.
[19:50] Sadly, many people who need the most help won’t seek it for themselves.
[21:07] If leaders are going to kill this two-headed monster, they have to stop talking and start listening.
[22:00] Know-it-alls are hard to cheer for, so successful leaders will have to eat some crow.

Check out this episode and subscribe on YouTube so you can watch all of the upcoming episodes. You can also listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: arrogance, Craig And Greg Show, Greg Heeres, humility, ignorance, leadership, lifelong learner, podcast, self-aware, video. 3 Comments »

Links & Quotes

July 1, 2023 — Craig T. Owens

Some of our best lessons are learned in difficult places, so let’s not be too quick to rush in and soften the blow for someone who has taken a tumble. Check out the full conversation I had with my podcast partner Greg. And be sure to check out all of my videos on my YouTube channel.

“A champion is one who gets up when he can’t.” —Jack Dempsey

Once again, archeological finds in Israel confirm the historicity of the biblical accounts of the kings of Judah and Israel. John Stonestreet shares some of the most recent finds. Jewish archeologist Nelson Gluek states, “It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference.”

“The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.” —Jonas Salk

Scott Hubbard writes, “Stepping into leadership means stepping into mistakes, regrets, and many small but stinging failures. And surviving in leadership, I am learning, means stepping upward on those mistakes—owning them, learning from them, and having the stability in Christ to keep leading after them.” Read more about how leaders can fail well.

J. Warner Wallace addresses the claim that all religions are true or are essentially the same.

“The Scriptures represent the Holy Spirit, not only as moving, and occasionally influencing, the saints, but as dwelling in them as His temple, His proper abode, and everlasting dwelling-place. And He is represented as being there so united to the faculties of the soul, that He becomes there a principle or spring of a new nature and life.” —Jonathan Edwards

A Leader’s Commitment To Lifelong Learning

June 28, 2023 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.

Bruce Barton said, “When you’re through changing, you’re through!” I think the same thing could be said about a leader’s learning—when you think you’ve learned it all, your leadership is beginning to crumble.

I never want to get to the place where I think I have “arrived” as a leader, but I want to be humble enough to admit that there are so many things I have yet to learn. Jesus reminded us, “Every student of the Scriptures who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom” (Matthew 13:52 CEV).

“New and old treasures” tells me that there’s some good stuff we need to protect, and also some good stuff we haven’t yet learned.

A mark of a godly leader is his commitment to being a lifelong learner.

Here are three new things the Holy Spirit has recently taught me:

Acts 6:3 says, “Choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.”

My lesson: The résumé for those that are to be placed in ministry leadership positions should include servant-heartedness, Christlike character, wise experience for the task, and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

“This Moses whom they disowned…is the one God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer” (Acts 7:35).

My lesson: When God calls someone His leader, it doesn’t matter if the world calls them disowned. It’s not about popularity with men, but faithfulness to God.

Notice the plural pronoun “they” in 1 Kings 11:33.

My lesson: When King Solomon sinned, he then gave license to the people to follow his example. As the leader goes, so go the people.

I hope you are learning new things every day. In fact, feel free to share in the comments something new you’ve learned.

This is part 73 in my series on godly leadership. You can check out all of my posts in this series by clicking here.

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎