I’ve decided to surround myself with people who give me permission to dream.

I’ve been in staff meetings before where the leader will share a big vision for a new initiative.

And I’ve seen staff members roll their eyes.
And immediately share their abridged version of 7 reasons this might not work.
Or subtly point out to everyone how much work this is going to add to their already full plate.
(By the way, who ever said a full plate was a bad thing? I usually like to go back for seconds myself!)

Well, we don’t hire eye rolling cry babies at Elevation.
We just don’t.

I like to get in a room with staff members who burst into flames with just a drop of vision gasoline.

There’s no room for wet wood in this fireplace.

I like to be around people who’s first response to a God-idea is 1 Samuel 14:7:
“Do all that you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
This verse is like an ever present caption bubble coming from the mouths of every one of our staff members and team leaders.

You know who else says this to me all the time?
My wife.
She gives me permission to dream all the time, by her responses to me, both verbally and non verbally.
A lot of wives have grounded their husbands from dreaming.
This is bad, bad news for everyone.

(By the way, my wife and my staff give me permission to dream freely, but they also have permission to speak freely if I’m being an idiot, or being short sighted, or getting off prompt. This is equally important.)

I also like spending time with other leaders who, through their leadership approach and way of seeing the world, give me permission to dream in my own context.
Perry’s blog today is a permission slip for every leader who reads it: to set audacious goals, speak them, pray your guts out, work your butt off, and give God the glory when it comes to pass, or try again if it doesn’t.

We all need permission to dream.

Check this verse out.

Permission granted. Go dream.