“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you;” Isaiah 66:13
I’ve received so much encouragement since I shared a couple weeks ago about our upcoming adoption of a little boy from Ethiopia. So many people want to know what they can do to help. We’re working through budgets, documents, and details now, but above all I’m asking for prayer. Every night as I lay down, I am overwhelmed with the realization that I have a son across the world in Africa. I don’t know who he is yet, but I know he’s there. And whatever terrible situation occurs (death of parents, family unable to feed their children, abandonment) to cause him to be an orphan, it is likely happening now.
Orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Pete Wilson, in his book Plan B, says “The greatest of all illusions is the illusion of control.” As a mother, I’ve always intended to put my children’s well-being in God’s hands. But the truth is, from pregnancy on, I’ve felt responsible for feeding them, protecting them, and loving them. I’ve been under the illusion of control when it comes to my family. Now, as we follow a very God-directed plan to adopt from Africa, there is no more illusion that I can protect all my children. As I pray each night for our son, I truly put my child in God’s care.
So tonight as you tuck your children into bed, I’d love for you to say a prayer for a little boy in Ethiopia who is resting in the hands of God.
Recently Google estimated that the same amount of content that was created from the beginning of time until 2003 is now created every 2 days. Hard to comprehend. Maybe just as difficult to understand is the dramatic impact on the process of delivering content in such a fast-paced, crowded space. Yet for those with established platforms and a great message, a new opportunity is emerging.
Dr. Tim Elmore (President, Growing Leaders) recognized that opportunity. A published author with 25 books, speaking engagements in prestigious universities and organizations across the country, and a large following of those dedicated to student leadership, Dr. Elmore had two requirements: 1) Publish a new book with a time-sensitive message in 6 months. 2) Retain ownership of his intellectual property – in this case, the book copy, the graphics, the charts and the message as a whole. For Tim, the ability to get an urgent message to his audience in a short time was paramount. And owning IP would allow him to alter that content as necessary to provide additional resources in multiple formats, to quickly respond to reader feedback.
When we began working with Tim in February, it was obvious that traditional publishing would not meet his needs. It was time to charter a new course. We set to work forming a dream team – publicists, marketers, creatives, techies. With this team, we:
defined the brand
reviewed the content and selected delivery networks
refined the message – graphics, editorial, titling, video promo (above)
and released the book – from concept to release – in 6 months. Unheard of by traditional standards.
This week, Generation iY released and officially marked a milestone. The sprint to release this book is done. The evolution of delivering content in a new world – with new rules – has just begun.
Who else do you know that has recognized the opportunity to write their own rules?
There’s only one thing worse than a bad plan….a good plan with bad implementation.
I’m a planner. I value not only the plan, but the process of defining strategy and setting expectations. Unfortunately, too many good plans get a bad rap. No matter how good the plan is, without adequate support – time, priority and financial – it will fail. If you’re able to sweep the failure aside and move on, good for you, but in most cases the consequences of losing extend well beyond the obvious failure, including:
1. Risk Aversion – For every failed plan, you’re less likely to take the risk necessary to achieve success in the future.
2. Misdirected Blame – Once a plan fails, we’re most likely to blame the plan, not the execution. I’ve sat with many clients who say, “We tried that. It didn’t work.” Many times I’m certain that it wasn’t the idea that was wrong. But most of these good plans will never get another chance.
3. Loser Syndrome – Teams or individuals that lose start to experience a loser mentality. In my first years in marketing, I was part of a brilliant team. Strangely, this team of successful people was collectively a failure. Looking back, I realize that the team had experienced too many losses to ever win. We had loser syndrome.
Unfortunately, these consequences follow losses in all areas of life…from major boardroom initiatives to the simple parenting strategies that lack follow through.
Don’t give up on planning and trying new things. But before implementing the next plan, evaluate the investment you’re prepared to make. When a plan isn’t successful but you know you gave it all you’ve got, there’s much to be learned. When it fails due to poor execution, there is much more to be lost than you may realize.
Have you experienced any of these (or other) consequences of a failed plan?
There are an estimated 147 million orphans in the world.
Last fall I shared that God was asking me for full submission. Submit my plans, submit my tendency to control. I didn’t know what, but I knew something was coming.
Now I know…we’re going to Africa, to Ethiopia. Actually, we’ll be going twice next year. On the second trip, we’ll be bringing home a new family member….our son.
Believe me, I can tell you all the reasons this makes no sense. In my conversations with God, I tried to use my analytics, my persuasion, even my ability to negotiate. It’s funny how skills that are so highly valued in the business world are so totally useless with the Lord.
I told him surely he’d rather ask this of my great stay-at-home mom friends. He told me that he didn’t ask to use Aaron, he asked Moses to go.
I told him that it wouldn’t be smart…think of all the unknowns. What if this had a negative impact on my two beautiful, happy, healthy girls? As a parent, it wouldn’t be responsible. He told me that he asked Abraham to lay everything on the altar…even his children.
So I can tell you all the reasons this makes no sense, but I can tell you one reason that it does….God asked us to. So we’re going. We’re scared. We’re excited. We’re humbled that God would use us in this way. Above all, we’re not in control, and it’s so much better that way.
During a make-up break (for Maurilio) at our photo shoot
Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better…
There’s nothing like the reward…and work…of launching new initiatives. Two years ago Maurilio and I had the privilege of launching a literary agency. Our relationships with publishers, mega-church pastors, ministry leaders and authors made it a natural fit. Combine that with our marketing and technology expertise, and we were able to offer what few agents could – investment in the full publishing process, from pitch to retail.
Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, it did.
Earlier this year, I met Tami Heim. What started as casual introduction soon developed into dreaming about possibilities. The changing world of publishing offered an opportunity to do what we at The A Group do best – adapt, implement and fill the gap. From content delivery to social media strategy, today’s ministry and author brands find a complex landscape with fragmented expertise. Combining Tami’s 360 degree view of retail and publishing with our experience in book marketing and technology brought a comprehensive option to manage and grow brands.
Today we are officially announcing the launch of our Brand Development division at The A Group. Approaching content delivery from the perspective of long-term brand development, we can guide authors to the unique opportunities in today’s publishing environment.
One look at Tami’s resume and you’ll note her extensive experience, from Chief Publishing Officer at Thomas Nelson to President of Borders Books. But even more impressive might be her heart. I recently explained it this way, “I can’t tell you the last time I met someone who truly approaches every situation desiring a win for all involved.” I’m blessed to call her mentor, friend, and now…officially…partner.
What opportunities have you found in an environment of change?
I was so happy to receive a special “All About Mom” paper from my oldest daughter, age 6. She’d filled in words to describe me. It went something like this (italics indicate her additions).
“My Mother is the most wonderful Mom in the world!
Her favorite food is fruit.
She is as pretty as a rose.
She weights 115 lbs. and is 5.5 feet tall.
I think Mom looks funny when she dances.
I know she’s really angry when she doesn’t get her way.”
This kid knows me way too well. Possibly with the exception of the 115 lbs. Last time I checked, it was…ahem…116.
What have your kids said lately that caught you off guard?
Shannon Litton is Partner in The A Group, Brand Development. She works as a
publishing agent, brand manager and marketing consultant. Her most important
titles are “wife” to Joel and “mom” to
four children – ages 7, 4, 2 and 1 (the two youngest adopted in 2011
from Ethiopia). In her spare time, she sleeps. Read more…
