Podcast Summary: Jabin Chavez Leadership Podcast

Episode: How To Grow Your Influence | #058
Host: Jabin Chavez
Date: October 2, 2024

Overview

This episode focuses on practical and spiritual strategies for leaders to expand their influence within their organizations, churches, and personal spheres. Jabin Chavez—a pastor and experienced organizational leader—shares actionable principles and personal stories, emphasizing that anyone can grow their world if they're intentional, generous, and committed to growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Foundation: Generosity & Breaking the Poverty Mindset

• Start with Generosity: Jabin insists that expanding influence begins by cultivating a generous spirit and breaking free from a scarcity mindset.

  • Biblical Example: He recounts the story of Jacob transforming from a “taker” to a “giver” (00:05).
  • “You don’t pray it out. You don’t read your way out of it... You give your way out of lack and poverty.” (Jabin, 06:20)

• Misconceptions Among Leaders: Many want success and influence but don’t cultivate a generous nature.

  • “You cannot grow past your level of generosity. You can’t.” (Jabin, 10:12)

• Personal Testimony:

  • “The testimony of the giver is always the same: ‘We’re so blessed.’” (Jabin, 13:10)
  • The stingy, regardless of wealth, always feel they can’t afford to give.

• Ouch Offering: Jabin recalls a “leadership lesson” with Chad Veach about giving an “ouch offering”—an amount that truly feels sacrificial (15:40).

2. Follow the Favor

• Recognize and Pursue Opportunity:
  • “If you find favor, I’d follow that. I’d follow the favor.” (19:15)
• Balancing Commitment and Openness:
  • Jabin warns not to rashly quit on relationships or responsibilities but encourages leaders to notice where doors are opening.
• Anecdotes:
  • Story about being invited to lunch with Brian Houston and preaching at Hillsong Sydney demonstrates the need to act when opportunity knocks (20:22).
  • “Because you don’t look at that guy and go, ‘Well, let me check the calendar. Let me pray about it.’ ... you follow the favor. You say yes.” (22:05)
• Craig Groeschel’s Wisdom: Focus on surrendering the day to God and then working hard through the opportunities that come (25:10).
• Disposition Matters:
  • “Favor requires a favorable disposition. Don’t be difficult.” (26:54)
  • Adopts a default "yes" posture toward opportunities unless God says otherwise.

3. Grow Your Gift

• Talent Isn’t Enough:
  • Shout out to John Maxwell’s book Talent is Never Enough.
  • Real growth comes from developing and stretching your God-given gifts (30:00).
• Hard Work and Adaptability:
  • Example of athletes (Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Steph Curry) who pair talent with relentless development.
• Staying Relevant:
  • “The world is changing—I need to be growing.” (32:40)
  • If you grow faster than the world changes, you’ll always be relevant.
• Practical Communication Tips for Preachers: (36:00)
  • Preach shorter unless you're world-class.
  • Find inspiration in other communicators and heroes.
  • Watch yourself, critique, and refine everything—from delivery to details like how you dress.

4. Leveling Up Communication

• Talk Up, Not Down:
  • Engage others with interest and respect; avoid entitlement (42:05).
• Be Conversational & Well-Rounded:
  • Know basics of current events, sports, economy to connect in conversations.
• Three Communication Lenses:
  • Father: Show honor, respect, learn to engage with those above you.
    • “You never rebuke up, ever. You never correct upwards, ever.” (52:30)
  • Brother: Learn peer-to-peer communication, avoid being preachy.
    • “Some guys only lead, they don’t know how to talk.” (53:42)
  • Son: Encourage, mentor, give wisdom gently, but avoid oversharing your own struggles.

5. People Skills, Character, and Longevity

• Influence is best sustained through consistency and wisely stewarding relationships.

• “These things are built over years and decades, and they can be broken in seconds. So we got to take these things very serious, very seriously.” (56:55)

• Reminder: Leadership isn’t just spiritual—it's about people (spirit, soul, and body).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We're born looking like our parents, but we'll die looking like our decisions." (Jabin, 09:25)
• “Big faith, a big spirit, a big mentality... will require big generosity.” (Jabin, 10:32)
• “It’s not about equal giving. It’s about equal sacrifice. But do you really sacrifice?” (Jabin referencing Chad Veach, 16:10)
• “Live like it’s yes unless God says no.” (Jabin, 27:20)
• “The world is changing. I need to be growing.” (Jabin, 32:40)
• “If you grow faster than the world is changing, always have a relevant voice.” (Jabin, 33:10)
• “People will start to know you, like you, trust you...” (Jabin on people skills, 56:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 — Introduction and episode theme; overview of growing influence
• 03:15 — The importance of doing what God called you to do
• 06:20 — Breaking poverty mentality; giving as the antidote
• 10:00 — “The world of the generous gets larger and larger...” (Proverbs 11 principle)
• 13:10 — Giver vs. stingy mindsets explained
• 15:40 — “Ouch offering” and sacrificial giving story
• 19:15 — “Follow the favor”—Jabin introduces the principle
• 20:22 — Brian Houston & Hillsong Sydney opportunity anecdote
• 22:05 — Affirming opportunities with a “yes” disposition
• 25:10 — Craig Groeschel’s daily practice
• 26:54 — Favorable disposition & flexibility
• 30:00 — Growing your gift; “Talent is Never Enough” discussion
• 36:00 — Three ways to improve preaching & self-critique
• 42:05 — Communication: talking up to people with respect
• 52:30 — How to communicate with fathers, brothers, and sons
• 56:55 — The lasting nature of influence and trust

Final Thoughts

Jabin Chavez delivers practical, honest, and spiritually grounded advice on how any leader can expand their influence. Through a blend of biblical references, personal stories, actionable tips, and memorable quotes, the episode equips leaders to cultivate generosity, recognize and seize opportunities, develop their skills, and effectively communicate with all kinds of people. If you want to make your leadership world larger, this episode is a must-listen and a blueprint for growth.