Podcast Summary: "The Why Of Leadership" | Jabin Chavez Leadership Podcast #059

Date: October 9, 2024
Host: Jabin Chavez
Guest: Gerald Brooks

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the foundational question in leadership: "Why do we lead?" Pastor and seasoned leader Gerald Brooks delivers an inspiring talk to volunteer leaders, focusing on the motivations behind servant leadership, the impact and influence every individual can bring, and the necessity of stepping up to fulfill one's unique role, especially within the context of Christian and value-driven leadership. Through vivid storytelling and practical analogies, Brooks challenges common misconceptions, encourages actionable steps, and underscores the intrinsic worth of every person willing to serve.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Foundational "Why" of Leadership

• Introduction of the Why: Jabin Chavez opens by framing leadership through the crucial lens of purpose:

  "Maybe the most important question we always have to ask is the why of leadership. Why are we doing what we’re doing?... The why question is everything. It is the foundation of leadership, especially value driven leadership or Christian leadership."
  [00:00] - Jabin Chavez

• Gerald Brooks’ Central Question:
  Brooks addresses feelings of inadequacy:

  "Why would God want to use you?... I’m not special... I’m just ordinary. Why would He want to use me?"
  [02:04] - Gerald Brooks

Salt and Light: Impact & Influence

• Biblical Illustration: Jesus’ call for each person to be both "salt" (impact) and "light" (influence).

  "Salt is about impact... But it doesn't matter if it’s on the table in the shaker—it has to be on the food. Light is about influence... Light always finds itself outside; it’ll get out somehow."
  [04:00] - Gerald Brooks

• Everyone is called to impact those closest to them (salt) and influence those around them (light).

Redefining Success and Leadership in Christian Terms

• Success Redefined:

  "In Christian circles, success is when someone looks at you and says, 'God used you to change my life.' It’s the greatest compliment you will ever receive this side of heaven."
  [06:45] - Gerald Brooks

• Value Beyond Visibility:
  Brooks refutes the idea that leadership is reserved for the most visible or conventionally talented:

  "Just because someone’s more visible doesn’t mean they’re more valuable. They just may be seen more. God created you, and you may not be visible, but that doesn’t mean you’re not valuable."
  [21:45] - Gerald Brooks

The Power of Every Contribution: The Rescue Story and the Church

• Illustration: Baby Jessica Rescue (1987):
  Brooks narrates the story of the nationwide effort to rescue a child trapped in a well, paralleling it with collective efforts to save "one soul" in the church.

  "How many people did it take to save one little girl? It took thousands... How many people does it take to save a soul?"
  [10:40] - Gerald Brooks

• Single Mom Church Experience:
  Detailed narrative showing how small acts—smiling, welcoming, guiding children—combine to transform lives.

  "For a soul to be saved, it took a smiling face at the front door, a caring person in the children’s department... It takes everyone."
  [14:26] - Gerald Brooks

God’s Dependence on Us

• Theological Challenge:

  "There’s things that God wants to do that He cannot do without you. God needs you. God’s waiting on you. And God’s depending on you."
  [16:50] - Gerald Brooks

• Echoes the idea that if the church abdicates leadership, unhealthy models will prevail.

Countering Myths About Leadership

• Leadership Isn’t About Position, Power, or Possessions:
  Using Mother Teresa as a counterexample, Brooks tells leaders:

  "When you become a leader, you lose the right to think about yourself."
  [18:56] - Gerald Brooks

• False Scarcity of Leadership:

  "There’s this myth only a few people can really lead. And it’s just a myth... In a physical body, all these parts are important."
  [20:37] - Gerald Brooks

Action Steps for Potential Leaders

• Don’t Wait for Perfect Circumstances:

  "If we have to wait for the day that you feel good and you feel God, how many days are you going to be able to serve? Maybe on leap year."
  [25:27] - Gerald Brooks

• Do What You’re Good At; Help Someone:

  "Whatever you’re good at, do it... You can’t help everyone, but you can help someone."
  [27:00] - Gerald Brooks

• A humorous aside about his "ass. Pastor" business card, showing credentials don’t matter—impact does.

• Don’t Depend on Recognition:

  "People may not thank you, but the truth is, when you start contributing your life to others... that’s all right."
  [28:23] - Gerald Brooks

The Analogy of the Missing Puzzle Piece

• Brooks compares every person to a unique puzzle piece, asking:

  "Are you the missing piece? God needs you, God’s waiting on you, and God’s depending on you."
  [32:03] - Gerald Brooks

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Success isn’t you possessing something. Success is you being something that changed someone’s life."
  [07:00] - Gerald Brooks
• "Leadership is about people. When you become a leader, you lose the right to think about yourself."
  [18:56] - Gerald Brooks
• "Visibility does not equate to value... God created you, and you may not be visible, but that doesn’t mean you’re not valuable."
  [21:45] - Gerald Brooks
• "You can’t wait for everything to be perfect... Don’t let your problems define you, just let them be a part of who you are."
  [27:45] - Gerald Brooks
• "Every leader just needs to decide, are you here to make a difference? Will you just make a difference?"
  [32:11] - Gerald Brooks

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–02:04 – Jabin Chavez: Framing the "Why" of Leadership & Introduction of Gerald Brooks
• 02:04–07:00 – Brooks: Why God uses "ordinary" people, the salt and light metaphor
• 07:00–10:40 – Redefining success and leadership for Christian leaders
• 10:40–14:26 – The Baby Jessica rescue story and its parallel in church community effort
• 14:26–18:56 – The church’s role in saving and supporting individuals (single mom story)
• 18:56–21:45 – Leadership as service, loss of self-focus, and God’s model vs. the world’s
• 21:45–27:45 – Myths about leadership, body analogy, and the importance of unseen contributions
• 27:45–32:03 – Practical steps, confronting excuses, humorous anecdotes, and the puzzle piece metaphor
• 32:03–End – Closing challenge: "Are you the missing piece?"

Conclusion

This episode delivers a passionate call to action for every would-be leader—reminding us that leadership is not about recognition, status, or perfect circumstances but about serving others and finding purpose in making a difference. Gerald Brooks’ message is clear: No contribution is too small, no person too ordinary, and every "puzzle piece" is essential in the bigger picture of impact.

Recommended Next Episode:
Stay tuned for next week’s follow-up Q&A between Jabin Chavez and Gerald Brooks, diving deeper into the practical outworking of these leadership concepts.