I look forward to opening the email from Church Leaders Intelligence Report every time it shows up in my in-box. There are often fun facts and tidbits that I can pug into messages. It is worth subscribing to IMHO.
Laws of Lifetime Personal Growth 
At what age did you stop growing taller? The average age when the human body stops getting taller is debatable, but it’s generally between the ages of 16 and 21.
As children we grew year after year, sometimes in spurts, sometimes imperceptibly, but our bodies were always growing. The growth of a leader can be similar. At times, it may feel like the wheels are spinning and no headway is being made. In other seasons, new breakthroughs and victories are clear indicators of a growth spurt. To grow consistently, the key is to manage your daily agenda.
I wish I could pass along an easier solution or secret formula for leadership growth, but daily discipline makes all the difference between growth and stagnation.
Adapted from Laws of Lifetime Personal Growth by John Maxwell, Leadership Wired Vol. 10, Issue 6
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Cohabitaters
Cohabiters are ambivalent about marriage: 44% want to marry while 41% say they aren’t sure.
Pew Research 7/1/07
China Booms
The National Bureau of Statistics reports China’s annual economic growth chalked up its 5th straight year of double-digit growth and will soon overtake Germany as the 3rd biggest economy in the world.
USA Today 7/19/07
Mentoring
Mentoring is worthwhile for both the mentee and mentor, finds a Sun Microsystems analysis. Mentoring was least effective for its highest-performing employees, but workers whose performance was in the bottom 20% raised their salary grade 4.75 points on a 5-point scale. The mentor can draw things out of the lower performer who may not be sure where he is going or what he needs to do. Higher performers tend to build their own support networks.
Incentive 7/07
Young Church Attenders
For teens who attend church often, sexual activity is delayed from the national average of 16.5 years until 17, while nominal evangelicals begin at 16.2 years. Teens with good life prospects and a strong sense of the future – kids with economic and educational ambitions – tend to avoid risky behavior such as drugs and early sex. Without those prospects, the temptation is strong to live for the moment. Teens require a community that supports their good choices, especially in times of testing and personal crisis. Kids who are embedded in a social network with shared norms are more likely to abide by them.
Cleveland Plain Dealer 7/31/07
Church and Family Life
Americans who attend religious services at least once a week are far more likely to say their family life is “very important” to them than non-attenders. The ratio is 96% to 75%, a 21-point difference.
Emerging Trends 9/01
Kids More Pious
Though Gallup polls dating to the ’50s say young adults are less likely to attend services or say religion is very important in their lives, clergy of all stripes are seeing a small wave of young adults who are more pious than their parents.
USA Today 7/8/07
Teen Spending Power
Teen spending power (ages 12-17) approached $190 billion in ’06. At just under 10% of the US population, teens work and tend to spend their earnings on themselves. Teens also exert significant influence over family spending — estimates suggest they will influence $150 billion of purchases in ’07.
PerformanceInsider 8/16/07
Homeschoolers Lead
The ’06 ACT scores for home-schooled students averaged 22.4 vs. the national average composite of 21.1. Homeschoolers have outscored the national average since ’96, when testing officials started tracking them.
WorldNetDaily 8/8/07
Education Pays
Average annual ’05 earnings of workers 18 and older with an advanced degree was $79,946 vs. $54,689 for those with bachelor’s degrees, $29,448 for a high school diploma and $19,915 without a high school diploma.
Census Bureau News & Facts 8-13-07
Most Prestigious
Firefighters, scientists and teachers are seen as the most prestigious occupations by U.S. adults, while bankers, actors and real estate agents are the least prestigious occupations, according to an annual Harris Poll. Clergy ranked number eight.
PWB 8/10/07
This American Life
Americans are living longer, but not as long as people in 41 other countries. For decades, the U.S. has been slipping in international life expectancy rankings, as other countries improve health care, nutrition and lifestyles. Countries that surpass the U.S. include Japan and most of Europe, as well as Jordan, Guam and the Cayman Islands. A baby born in the U.S. in ’04 will live an average of 77.9 years. That ranks 42nd, down from 11th in ’87. Andorra, a tiny country between France and Spain, has the longest life expectancy, at 83.5. Swaziland has the shortest, at 34.1.
AP 8/11/07
Right or Wrong?
A ChristianNet.com survey finds 49% of Christians say drinking small amounts of alcohol is ok, provided they don’t become drunk. Many say consuming alcoholic beverages for relaxation or a social gathering is acceptable. 39% agree it is wrong to drink alcohol for any reason. 12% are unsure. Only 24% of believers feel it is acceptable to consume beer.
One News Now 8/16/07
Boomer Laughs
Marketers have to be careful about using humor when targeting older Boomer consumers. They still like a good laugh, but prefer humor that is more self-deprecating and gentle, vs. humor that relies on belittling someone or something, or is in your face.
Boomer Project 7/12/07
Delivering “Wow” Service
Andre Harris, director of national customer service for 120 shopping centers reveals, five steps for delivering “wow” service. Hear: Find out what customers want, need, expect and value, and respond to that 100% of the time. Hire: Customer orientation is a core competency. Train: Give attention to such detailed behaviors as how to interact and engage with each customer group. Measure: Use secret shoppers, as well as using both customer and employee satisfaction surveys. Reward: Recognize the “Wow” stars monthly with cash awards. Let peers and customers nominate the stars.
1 To 1 Media 8/6/07
Service Wins
A recent Harris Interactive customer service study finds 88% of shoppers believe a company with solid customer service is “more enticing” than one with “the hottest, most innovative product offerings.” Just 12% prize a hot, innovative product over one backed by superior service. Also, customer service experiences drive much of the word of mouth on which many consumers base their purchase decisions. 90% of respondents noted that, on average, they tell at least 1 person about their unfavorable customer service issues; 85% tell multiple people. For favorable experiences: 88% share their positive ones with at least 1 person and 81% share them with several.
1 to 1 Media 8/20/07
The Church Leaders Intelligence Report is compiled and edited by Gary D. Foster. He may be contacted by email.
