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Issachar Time Video: Are You Ready?

This week’s Issachar time produced the following video on Social Networking’s impact on organizations. Enjoy, and have a great weekend.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsLTqUjZm8Q

A leader’s job is to think.

What do you do with all the links, attachments, articles and book recommendations you receive from colleagues on a weekly, if not daily, basis? Stopping to read them as they arrive totally disrupts my workflow. But deleting them because I’m overwhelmed may cause me to miss some really good insights. New habit: During the week I simply file all this good stuff into an @Reading folder in Outlook or Evernote. Here’s some theology that is shaping a new practice for me: I believe that God may be speaking through my friends when they send me great links or ideas. I simply need some focused time to quickly sift through it all and see what trends emerge.

On Friday mornings I have begun booking what I call “Issachar Time” into my schedule. It’s a half-day devoted to reading, learning, thinking, dreaming and making connections. The goal is not to produce, but to make some sense of life’s river that is constantly flowing around me. This protected space allows two of my top five strengths (context and learning) to kick into overdrive. The term Issachar Time comes from the story of Israel’s King David and his mighty men that helped him form and lead an amazingly fruitful kingdom. “Of Issachar,” we are told, “men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…. (1 Chronicles 12:32). Ultimately I pray this practice leads to deeper understanding and the wisdom to know what to do.

How do you set aside time to learn from others?

By Ken

Dr. Ken Cochrum (DMin, Bethel University) is Vice President of Global Digital Strategies at Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) in Orlando, Florida. An avid cyclist and aspiring guitarist, he also holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas and a Masters of Arts in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. He recently co-founded Indigitous.org, a movement passionate about connecting people to Jesus using digital strategies. He previously served as vice president of Cru’s student-led movements worldwide. He and his wife Ann spent 13 years in East Asia where they raised their two children. Ken blogs regularly at www.onleadingwell.com.

2 replies on “Issachar Time Video: Are You Ready?”

I love this, Ken. Thoughts like these feed 3 of my top 5 strengths (strategic, ideation and input). Please keep sharing what you learn!

Good word Ken … I like the idea of an Issachar time definitely prompts innovation and insight rather than just the management of information.

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