What Do You See?

Have you ever noticed that once you learn something new, you start seeing things “hidden” in plain sight? Maybe you took a photography class and suddenly noticed lighting and angles everywhere. Or, like me, you started working in a construction company and began spotting crown molding, foundation cracks, or whether a door was hung straight. The truth is, we tend to see what we’re trained to see—what we’ve learned to value.

As church leaders, we long for Jesus to open our eyes. He often asked, “Do you have eyes to see?” (Mark 8:18). He knew that spiritual growth begins when our perspective shifts.

Leading a church can be incredibly fulfilling, but it can also be discouraging, confusing, and even paralyzing. Sometimes it’s not about needing more strength or more information - it’s about learning to see things differently.

The same is true of leadership. Your mindset - how you view challenges, feedback, effort, and growth - shapes how you lead your church. A growth mindset is the belief that God-given abilities and wisdom can be developed over time. Difficulties aren’t just obstacles - they’re opportunities to see God work.

That’s why this book is framed as a journey. A shepherd’s journey. Like tending a flock through changing seasons, leading a church requires attentiveness, adaptability, and trust in the process. You won’t arrive overnight. But with each step - each shift in perspective - you grow stronger, wiser, and more effective as a follower of Christ and in your calling.

This journey includes ten key strategies to help you cultivate a growth mindset:

• Embrace challenges instead of avoiding them.

• Learn from criticism instead of taking it personally.

• Celebrate effort, not just outcomes.

• Set learning goals that lead to continuous improvement.

• Reflect on experiences to grow from them.

• Set realistic expectations to avoid burnout.

• Practice self-compassion to maintain resilience.

• Surround yourself with growth-minded people.

• Stay humble and be ready to pivot when needed.

Each chapter includes practical exercises to help you grow—not just in theory, but in practice. Because leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about walking with God, learning along the way, and helping others do the same.

Each chapter includes practical exercises to help you apply what you’re learning—not just in theory, but in real ministry. Because shepherds don’t lead from the sidelines. They walk with the flock. Step by step.

These mindset strategies won’t develop just by reading about them. (See: The Illusion of Knowing.) Growth happens through intentional practice. Choose one strategy, focus on applying it, and build from there. Small, consistent efforts lead to lasting change.

Paul told Timothy to “meditate on these things… that your progress may be evident to all” (1 Timothy 4:15). That’s a growth mindset in biblical terms: visible, intentional progress rooted in God’s truth.

Welcome to the journey.