Annie F. Downs returns to the podcast to talk about how she got her audience fully engaged in her book launch, which led to hitting the New York Times Bestsellers List.
She unpacks how she gets her audience engaged in all her platforms, what she’s learned about podcasting and why hobbies and fun are lifelines for leaders.
Welcome to Episode 412 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
Plus, in this episode’s What I’m Thinking About segment, Carey talks about what his top 3 hobbies are, and why they’re important.
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Episode Links
World Vision
This has been an incredibly difficult season for those pastoring church congregations. Many of you—church leaders—are caring for the souls of struggling congregants only to find yourselves burnt out and in need of your own soul care.
Our partner, World Vision, is called to serve the most vulnerable around the world, but also feels called to serve the Bride of Christ. And that includes caring for YOU—shepherds of the flock.
In this FREE web series, Danielle will share rhythms and practices to help create space for God to tend to YOUR soul, and get tools you can use as you lead others.
The Church is a force for good in the world, and World Vision’s heart is for the Bride of Christ to be healthy and mobilized to be the church outside the four walls!
Sign up for the FREE web series today by going to worldvision.org/carey.
ServeHQ
ServeHQ has helped over 2,000 churches since 2015. Churches of all sizes have used them to streamline their volunteer onboarding process, run a digital or remote growth track, update their membership and assimilation experiences, and codify their leadership development flow.
ServeHQ helps churches by providing a powerful and simple-to-use online training experience, a new approach to digital messaging, and an automated step-by-step followup tool. Imagine having one tool to onboard new volunteers automatically, making sure they’re fully ready to serve quickly. And, that same tool can be reused for your membership process, your leadership development, your volunteer team communication, building an online ministry school, and more.
Their training library has over 800 video modules with quiz questions already preset and customizable for each one. You can also engage your people with videos, GIFs, images, files, and more to train and communicate more effectively in a media-rich online environment. Send video messages to individuals or groups via email or text message. Hold realtime chats in a safe, accountable space for training course discussions, volunteer team communications, or staff banter.
ServeHQ is that “one unified tool” your church needs to engage volunteers, members, and leaders.
You can save 10% off for life by using code CAREY at ServeHQ.church. Learn more and start your 14-day FREE trial today.
Conversation Links
That Sounds Fun by Annie F. Downs
Remember God by Annie F. Downs
Let’s All Be Brave by Annie F. Downs
That Sounds Fun Podcast Network
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Insights From Annie
1. Rest and Fun shouldn’t be optional for leaders
So many leaders say “I’m just too busy to rest/have fun” or “Work is my fun.” These mindsets are destructive, dangerous, and all too common. So many of us think we can’t afford to make time for fun, Annie would disagree.
She argues that fun is just as important as any other healthy discipline, and you need to make time for it. Carey agrees and points out that hobbies are absolutely critical for a leader who’s trying to live in a way today that will help them thrive tomorrow.
2. Always be watching for red flags that you’re running on empty
Annie loves her job. So, when she starts waking up with the Sunday Scaries where she isn’t excited to go into work, that’s a red flag for her to pay attention to. When she begins to see red flags, she knows that she needs to consider slowing down or taking a break.
One universal red flag that she said we all need to watch out for is whenever we have something secretive going on. Whenever you’re doing something in secret, you are past the point of healthy, and you need to tell someone about that secret activity.
3. Don’t have any hobbies? Look to your childhood
One challenge that many adults face is that they don’t have any hobbies, and they have no clue what hobbies they’d enjoy. Annie recommends that you look to your childhood to find the hobbies that you would enjoy.
For her, cross-stitching is tied to a positive childhood memory with her grandma, so that’s what she enjoys now. There is something similar in you. The question is: What hobby is it?
Quotes from Episode 412
Joy and sadness actually are better together than they are apart. They actually make each other more vibrant - @anniefdowns Click To Tweet We lack in rest and we lack in fun. - @anniefdowns Click To Tweet It's okay to have a busy season. It's a problem if that season is extended and you're living an adrenally fatiguing life. - @anniefdowns Click To Tweet When you tell me about your fun, you're telling me about your soul and how you got here. - @anniefdowns Click To Tweet Joy and sadness are better together than they are apart. They actually make each other more vibrant. - @anniefdowns Click To Tweet Life is tragic, but God is faithful. - @anniefdowns Click To Tweet If people fall in love with the people of God, they will fall in love with God. - @anniefdowns Click To Tweet Your body cannot maintain a world where you don't do things that are healthy for you. - @anniefdowns Click To Tweet Get some hobbies. Get some friends. Click To Tweet A hobby by definition requires you to focus on it, not on your day job. Click To TweetRead or Download the Transcript for Episode 412
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Read or download a free PDF transcript of this episode here.
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Next Episode: Francis Chan
Francis Chan has become convicted that division in the church is escalating and causing deep harm. He also thinks it’s tied to the desire for celebrity and influence so many leaders have. Francis also talks about racial division and his experience as an Asian-American who has been the target of discrimination.
Subscribe for free now so you won’t miss Episode 413.
