An economy that is ordered around abundant infinite energy (eternal life), one that coheres to the phases of life, is called a Generative Economy. Participants in the Generative Economy seek to contribute to life, to maximize well-being, for everyone. The Generative Economy is the “household order” of the universe…of God. This is the economy portrayed in the narrative of the Kingdom of God. To be sure, the narrative conveyed by Jesus was not a religious narrative, neither was Jesus a religious figure come to establish a religion. The bible says that Jesus came to give us life and that more abundant.”

- Mitch Cowart

One of my good friends is an author, coach, missionary, pastor, home church leader and father of a beautiful tribe. Oh yeah, he also runs a successful business but is needing to spend less and less of his time there. The leadership he groomed at his company is handling most of that. In fact, that is still true despite the fact the company is doubling due to the awarding of a very large contract.

We know many great leaders, but not that many generative governors (life-producing leaders). The woman who is in the process of being handed over the management of his business was not found, she was cultivated. Everyone who meets her wonders, “Where do I find someone like that?” You don’t find them, you develop them. This owner did uncommon and beautiful things to help generate this leader that is affording him all this freedom:

He believed in her when she didn’t believe in herself
Built a leadership team around her when he previously had none
Invested in several years of leadership training even though she initially didn’t want it
Trusted her to manage things before she believed she was ready
Sent her husband and her to a life resetting Lifeplan retreat
Encouraged her to hire, train, and trust others to do the job she had always done and found much of her value in
Invited her confidence and trusted her perspective in the most troubling challenges and seasons of the business
As a condition of her last promotion, asked her to sign an agreement that she would annually take a vacation (she had never taken one)
Committed to paying a stipend to help cover the expenses of every vacation she takes

Any one of the things on that list would make him an uncommon leader. The entirety of the list is truly stunning…and incredibly rare.

Anyone who has observed this transformation over the last five years is astounded. Her life has completely changed. She would tell you so. She is a different woman, leader, mother, and wife. And many others have benefitted from the person she has become. She regularly shares her redeemed experience with other women.

Everyone wants to hire a leader like this for their team, but you can’t. These types of leaders are incredibly valuable and will likely never leave the people they work for. You can’t hire them, but you can generate them. And it will completely change their lives and yours.

This leader says that his investment in her has changed his life and helped her create, and then realize, her dreams. She now wants to run the company in a way that will allow him to go realize his.

I am a collector of redemptive stories. My 200 redemptive movie reviews on our website provide confirmation, but this one may be my favorite because it so closely reflects my own.

Consider

Are you leading your company or grooming the next generation of leaders?
Are you realizing and investing in the person you were created to be beyond your day-to-day work responsibilities?
Is one of the legacies of your leadership going to be changed lives?