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Brad and I became friends a couple years ago through our mutual friend Jeff Shinabarger. (I’m starting to think Shinabarger is the Kevin Bacon game of my life.) I am very impressed by Brad’s work ethic and his ability to lead people well.
But I have to be honest, while everything in his bio looks great on a resume, my respect for Brad grew immensely at one of the Catalyst events when “All Business Brad” got up on stage and BEAT BOXED! And, since the best way to watch beat boxing is in the form of a bootleg video, I thought I would share this… (Please don’t kill me, Brad!)
So while I get pumped over humans that sound like synthesizers, most of you will probably be more excited about—and benefit from—Brad’s leadership, wisdom, and insight. I asked him to share some of his own “lightbulb” moments from early on in his career. Professionally and relationally, his straight-to-the-point insights should trigger thoughts about your current approach.
But mostly, thanks for beat boxing, Brad! You really need to expand that side of your resume.
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1. Use your 20’s to build a foundation for your 70’s. Create deep roots that will give you a foundation for when you are older. Finishing well means starting well.
2. Don’t worry about climbing the ladder. There’s no longer a ladder anyway. It’s more like one of those spiral staircases. And sometimes you are going across or down when you think you might be climbing. So don’t worry about it. Spend your 20’s learning and having life experiences. Travel, explore the world, take on projects that seem fun.
3. If your “career” path doesn’t make sense to anyone except for you, it’s okay. My 20’s: college at University of Oklahoma, wrangler on a guest ranch in Colorado, management consultant, business development officer, Magazine and media company, strategic business plan developer. WOW. That is all over the map. But God was orchestrating steps very clearly for what was next in my story. And continues to do so.
4. Be diligent and aggressive in developing your friendships and relationships. Create a core group of close friends who you want to do life with. This group may change a bit over the years, but it is imperative to find a circle of trust that you are committed to and they to you. Also, cast your net wide in terms of new relationships. Be intentional with serving others and make it your goal while in your 20’s to develop an “others first” mentality and model.
5. Figure out who you want to be, not what you want to do.Who you are is more important that what you do or where you live. Spiritually, financially, family, emotionally, relationally. Find two or three older, wise “sages” that you can learn from and count on as help.
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What are some Illuminating lessons you learned while in your twenties or are learning right now?
Which of Brad’s lessons do you find most helpful?
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We’re giving away 10 free copies of Brad’s new, awesome book,
The Catalyst Leader: 8 Essentials for Becoming a Change Maker.
Leave a comment and we’ll contact you if your name is drawn!
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Check out Brad’s website HERE. Follow Brad on Twitter HERE. Buy The Catalyst Leader HERE. Explore The Catalyst Leader website HERE.
Stay Connected
Don't leave just yet. Besides these articles, sometimes I send out extra special stuff. Don't miss out. Sign up here.
Love and Respect (Now) is a division of Love and Respect. Please be considerate.
Ugh. I spent the first part of my 20s numb and shut down. I spent the last part of my 20s trying to recover from the first part. The one thing I did right throughout is my friends. I am so grateful for them not leaving me when I was going through all the junk. It taught me how to be a friend more than anything I could have ever learned elsewhere.
My 30s have been a lot of learning. I guess the best thing I’ve learned these past few years is to be where you are. If you’re at dinner with a friend, be there. Don’t be planning your day tomorrow. Don’t be on your phone. Be at dinner with your friend. Lead where you are. Not everyone is going to have a huge sphere of influence. Figure out where your skills are going to best utilized and go to it, whether or not it brings your more influence. Help people where they are. Don’t expect them to get their stuff together before they can earn your help. Just help. Now. Christ doesn’t expect us to get it all together first. He meets us where we are. And where we are is where He will use us.
At least that’s this week’s lesson 🙂
Also, I already have a copy of the book, so take me out of the drawing 🙂
I can’t think of a better way to spend the rest of my 20’s (just turned 22 recently) continuing to build deeper, meaningful friendships with the people I know will be part of my life forever. I appreciate the advice to develop an “others first” mentality. That’s something I strive for.
Also, becoming who you want to be, not doing what you want to do. I think so much of what we do is simply an outpouring of who we are.
As I am just now getting into my 20s, this is good for me to hear! It’s easy for my generation to think, “My life will begin when I’m _______ (Out of school, married, in the job of my dreams)” but I would rather think that my life begins now! God can and will use me now just as much as he will later. I love that.
My piece of advice would be, don’t feel like you need to be defined or discouraged by your job. I graduated from college to find myself in a mail room for 2 and a half years. It has been super discouraging to feel like paper is my life. I had a “light bulb” moment and realized that this shouldn’t define me and that I’m still in my 20’s and have plenty of opportunity to grow and find jobs where my heart will thrive. I actually quit my job and will be spending the summer in a job that I love and am passionate about. I love what Brad said here: “But God was orchestrating steps very clearly for what was next in my story. And continues to do so.” Preach it, brother. We are still taught that you go to college to form a career. You get that job and you stay in that career for life. And if you don’t stay in that path, then it feels like failure. But if you have a passion for something and you’re not doing that, then find a way to do it, even if that means quitting an entry level job in a global organization that could have built a decent career for you (that story to be continued). And as cliche as this sounds, having faith has been a HUGE PART of getting me through my 20’s. Quitting my full-time mail job to work one summer doing what I love is something I wouldn’t be able to have done if I didn’t have faith and if I didn’t have confidence in myself and in God’s abilities to provide.
Love Brad’s #3! My life feels all over the place, too, but I’m slowly learning that that’s exactly what makes the places I’m at in life more fun and interesting. Learning sign language in college (not in a classroom!), working on an island with some unique souls, traipsing around Europe with friends. ALL of it has been by God’s guidance, but He’s certainly made room for surprising adventures.
this is such a GREAT post and as with the LRN message- i truly pray and hope it spreads like wildfire to our generation and the next.
i spent my early 20s distant from God and in rebellion. i spent the 2nd half of my 20s doing life in an abusive relationship. i’m in my early 30s and this message really does apply to regardless of age. there comes a point when we spiral down and find grace and start over. it’s never too late. i don’t have it all figured out but heck if i knew then what i know now, i’d get tell my 20 year old self to get it together. i can’t so i’m telling my 30-ish-year-old self that!
This is a very encouraging post as I am just in my mid twenties, and am very excited at what the lord is working on in my life right now.
The point that hit home with me was #4 being diligent about friendships, everywhere i am turning right now the Lord has been bring up the point of being intentional with my friendships.
I love Brad’s post! It is SO real and true!!! Points 4 and 5 are my faves! Community, serving and being a person of integrity are some of my passions!!!! Those are qualities that are close to the heart of God. I am blessed to be in a local church where our culture is centered around those things.
My 20s taught me that God is beyond faithful! There were countless times where I needed Him to show up and provide. I doubted and He showed up anyway. He loves me and wants good for me. I just need to trust in His ways and His timing.
I also learned that community is SO necessary! It is the way God designed us. We are not meant to go through life alone and struggling. He wants us to encourage, teach, sharpen and build up one another. We are to be open with each other and stay loyal in good times and bad times. We stay not easily offended and teachable and receive correction. Community is not always easy but it is always worth it.
I am very excited about this book! I know that it will be an invaluable resource in my life and countless others!!! Feel free to pick me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
I greatly appreciated this post today. I have been quite frustrated lately by friends (not my very closest ones, thankfully; see point #4:) calling me out on what I’m doing with my life and assuming that MY life-path should look and progress like THEIRS are… (“normally”) But for the past year, God has been leading me in crazy, new and different directions–through life circumstances and new desires/burdens He’s giving. It’s demanding alot of courage and trust in Him, so it’s frustrating when friends demean and misunderstand choices I am making both out of necessity and in faith.
This time of my life has been/is a combination of Brad’s points #3 and #5… not only am I learning not to care what others think of my life (as long as God is pleased with it), but the past year or two has also been the most revealing of undiscovered facets of my heart, personality and desires.
I think it’s very important for all of us 20-somethings to abandon ourselves to whatever God wants us to do, whether it’s part of “the plan” or not, whether it looks crazy to us and everyone else or not. And I love the advice [Joy’s oft-repeated mantra] to find some Sages to help and counsel you…that’s one I should work on.
Turning 23 next month and to be frank, growing up has been a scary thing for me! I’m learning to come into my own and figure out who I am in these times. Brad’s little lessons are hitting home for me. I’m a College graduate who is now pursuing a career, investing in important relationships and trying to figure out how to best utilize my 20’s. I hope I can enjoy and accomplish in these times! God be with me! Lol 🙂
Amazingly helpful. Lovely reminder of how important and critical is this season of life I’m living. It is encouraging that I can continue to freely sacrifice to set up a greater foundation in just the beginning of my twenties, rather than later.
Thank you!
I’m expectant of God’s goodness to come!
We are so often defined by our jobs and I love his point that if your career path only makes sense to you, it’s ok! God can use each experience and position later on in our lives. Thanks for the reminder to be investing more in our friendships and character than our “position” in life.
Using my time now to prepare for the future is a great reminder (point #1)! I know so many times I just focus on what’s right in front of me, and don’t think enough about how every decision I make today affects who I will be tomorrow (Lord willing I live to see tomorrow).
I also like point #4 oftentimes I get so busy and focused on what I need to do that I don’t make time for those meaningful relationships that are so vital for fellowship and community.
Great reminders! Thanks!
So I’m going to be 30 this October and it has been a very sobering thought. I’ve always been the type of person that is quiet and stays out of trouble, as best I can, but I agree with these 5 things. They all go hand in hand and one is certainly not more important than another. The one thing that I have found in my life to keep me stable spiritually and personally would be my family and friends. If it weren’t for me being in a family that God has called into the ministry one way or another, and having friends that are spiritually strong, I don’t know where I would be right now. The other thing is that when I became a senior in high school I tried so hard to figure out what I wanted to be in life, but now I’ve learned that it isn’t my plans that are important, but God’s plan and Will for my life. This was probably the hardest lesson I’ve learned so far in my life. I’ve spent years fighting God and trying to do what I want. Now I’ve decided to just sit back and enjoy the ride that God has planned for me and try to not stress over who I will spend the rest of my life with and what I will be doing with the rest of my life. The most important thing is to be serving God and others in whatever way you can to your best ability and continue being a living testimony of what God has done in your life thus far. That doesn’t mean being in ministry or trying to be rich or famous or well liked by everyone. None of that matters in life because we were created in God’s image to be in a relationship with Him. That is the first and most important relationship we will have in our life. Anyway I’m done preaching. I’m sure I could ramble on more but I’ve written plenty I believe.
In my 20’s I learned the importance of community, along with the work and intentionality it takes to build it. I wish that I had spent more energy in my 20’s working on Brad’s fifth point, instead of being in a holding pattern of figuring out what I was suppose to do vocationally.
I read Brad’s book last week, I would highly recommend it. If I were fortunate enough to win a copy, I have several friends to whom I want to gift the book.
I’m nearing the end of my 20s, the tipping point of sliding into 30 in a few years. Who I am now is not at all who I thought I would be at 21. Mistakes have been made which in turn, have created triumphs that I never would have experienced had life gone the way that I thought it ought.
Brad’s last point is one that I’ve been learning. You can check off everything on your to-do list and still be a miserable person who is saddled with insecurity. It’s the “being” that outlives the “doing.”
This is so much in line with the things that have been on my heart and mind lately. Now that I’m into my late 20s, I’m finding more and more that I wish I had had resources like this a few years ago! Finally hearing that “it’s okay if you don’t have it all figured out” has helped me so much in being able to discover what God has ahead for me and not feel like I’m doing something wrong in the process. I also love point #4 – being intentional about the core people you have with you to do life is so essential, and I’m starting to learn how to build that base.
Thanks for this, Brad!
I am closer to the end of my twenties, but I have learned all of Brad’s lessons. And I constantly see how we need to let go of fear, expectations, and just live. Take each step forward and don’t worry about when the next chapter will begin. I have to focus on what I know now and sometimes that is a small piece of the journey. No one really prepares you for the years following high school and college, but this has been the time I have grown the most, even through all of the challenges, and I wouldn’t change it. It has shaped me and helped me become who I was created to be.
I’m into my 30’s and still learning some of those lessons- especially the one about my career path not making sense. Sometimes I feel like I should be more advanced in my career than what I am, but I realize that where I am now is just part of the whole picture of where God will take me.
I’m 24, and I feel like I’m going through what some call a “quarterlife crisis”. I’m in college, I’m trying to figure out what I’m doing, where I’m going in life, am I happy, who can I trust, who are my friends, why do I feel so lost… it’s all overwhelming. Many people I was once close to are no longer in my life and it’s bothering me. I’m trying to find employment and my finances are waning. I went through a heartbreak not too long ago. I’m questioning everything and nothing makes much sense. I’m really just trying to find my way.
These are great thoughts! I will be turning 21 in a couple of months, so this is definitely relevant for the right now for me. The main “illuminating lesson” that I’ve learned so far is that things won’t go as planned, and that’s okay. Having changed majors from what I always thought I wanted to be was a change I never expected, but it’s been a good change. Of Brad’s “illumination lessons” 1 and 5 stand-out the most. Definitely something that takes time and consideration of who I want to be and the type of foundation that will build. Great article! The book sounds great too!
Ashley Rawsthorne thinks...
Since I am just now in my 20s I’m realizing that it’s never to early to start. Who says I have to wait until after college graduation to do something great? Great leaders start when they are young. What better time than the college years!? Brad’s point about finding out who you want to be rather than what I want to do really resonated with me. This is something I’ve found to be true in my own life. The day I started giving my worries about my future to God… big things started happening. In the long run, who I am is MUCH more important than what I want to do with the rest of my life. THAT is what matters.
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