4 Ingredients that Generate Intense Focus and Lead to Momentum

Yesterday I wrote about creating momentum by adding the game-changing power of intense focus. All of us hope for momentum and some of us have felt it from time to time.

What if we could learn to do the things that would produce an intense focus that leads to momentum?

Here are the key ingredients that must be present to generate intense focus that leads to momentum:

1. A compelling vision. Momentum can only begin when a compelling vision emerges and takes hold. In the case of a church-wide campaign, it is not enough to imagine starting some new groups. It isn't really enough that everyone would be challenged to attend the weekend service all 8 weeks, read the daily devotional, and be in a group that is using the study that goes along with the message. A compelling vision might be present when we can say, "This is the kind of series that we'll still be talking about 10 years from now." Or, "When people talk about this series they'll say, 'God changed the trajectory of my life in the fall of 2015."

2. Senior pastor, staff and key leaders willing to set their own interests aside for the sake of the vision. This rarely happens and it is the reason momentum is so rare. Intense focus is a group activity and it is an all-skate commitment. Surrendering the promotion of your own interests for the sake of the vision comes at a price few are willing to pay. The rewards are rich, but they come as a result of the sacrifice.

3. Extravagant investment of resources (time, talent, treasure) into the pursuit of the vision. The kind of momentum generated by intense focus is worth an extravagant investment. Momentum is never the result of a penny-pinching attitude. Generating momentum often comes at a price of going all-in, pushing everything into the middle. There is certainly a financial investment, but momentum also requires the investment of time and talent. In a zero sum calculation, every dollar spent, every hour invested, every person committed, comes at the expense of things or ministries that do not receive intense focus.

4. Determined resolve to run the whole course. Momentum is generated as the fly-wheel begins to turn faster and faster. It takes a all-in commitment over weeks and months to push the fly-wheel long enough to reach maximum velocity.

What do you think?  Have a question?  Want to argue? You can click here to jump into the conversation.

Image by Sean MacEntee

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