J.R. Briggs

Coach. Consultant. Speaker.
Author of 'The Art of Asking Better Questions.'
World class dispenser of dad jokes.
I help leaders succeed.

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

The dimensions of your life expand or shrink in proportion to the questions you ask.

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

I just returned from a week of teaching at Friends University in Wichita in the Masters of Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership program. It was my tenth year in a row and I loved it once again.
It was soul-filling to teach on an important topic (how we're formed through struggle, hardship, and suffering) alongside some amazing faculty and dear friends, interact with such engaging students, spend time with long-time friends, eat amazing Lebanese food, and visit some of my favorite places, including the Keeper of the Plains, Elderslie Farm, and Eighth Day Books (my favorite bookstore in the world). And this year I brought along my friend, pastor, and Kairos Partnerships spiritual director/coach Doug Moister.
Wichita, you did it again. Another fantastic week.

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

"Ministry flows out of being. In other words, we cannot export what we have not first imported."
— Eldership and the Mission of God

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

God, what's the invitation you have for me today?

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

For perspective, Steinbeck was writing 'The Grapes of Wrath' at the time.

Whatever you're working on, keep going.

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

Character is more important than expertise. Are you after information—or are you in formation?

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

There are several strategic ways to waste your life: live for yourself, engage in meaningless distractions, be chronically overwhelmed, fear failure, do everything on your own, be busy but not productive. Avoid them like the plague.

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

You don't rise to the occasion; you default to your level of training. The military knows this. Olympic athletes know this. The best leaders know this. Training takes you farther than trying.

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

A group of people being held accountable by nobody ought not be trusted by anybody.

Accountability is not punishment; it's a gift.

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

Waibo kia pătai ana, be kaba ui te kaba.

“Let the questioning continue, the ability of the person is in asking questions.”
-Māori proverb

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

A Prayer of Letting Go.

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

"so I pray them all."
(ht: Miriam Swanson)

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

"Picture me with my ground teeth stalking joy - fully armed too, as it's a highly dangerous quest."

-Flannery O'Connor

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

There are many different ways people walk into a room. Some waddle, some stroll, some saunter. Others shuffle, and still others glide gracefully.

If there’s one thing the craft of writing does it’s this: it helps you pay better attention to the world.

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

Some things are just too important to share online.

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

How can you be braver in those areas?

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

Are you leading, or just managing?

[MLB @MLB]

Philadelphia, you were amazing 🔔 #AllStarGame

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

As a baseball fan, attending last night's MLB's Home Run Derby in my home ballpark was an unbelievable experience, thanks to the kindness of friends.

It was a beautiful night, the atmosphere was electric, the seats were amazing (right field, 7 rows back), there was a ton of action (131 total HRs), spent time with good friends, and watched the competition go down to the final swing (bummer for Schwarbs, but hats off to Jordan Walker. He deserved it.)

We didn't catch any balls, but a fan three seats down did, as well as my friend sitting two rows behind me (who caught two of them and let me take a pic).
What a fantastic experience.

Can't wait to watch the All Star Game tonight.

[J.R. Briggs @jr_briggs]

The best poem you'll read this month.