We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Logan Lee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Logan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?
I was raised by a single mom. Coming from a place of abandonment and a sense that I was on my own, it seemed like every day, I lived with a sense of emotional survival.
One of the things my mom did was modeling resiliency and endurance. I learned early on that goal-setting, vision, and risk-taking were not just encouraged, but necessary.
As I grew up, I dreamed big – And learned how to work hard and be consistent. Showing up when others wouldn’t, giving more even when I was tired, and simply outlasting when many people would want to quit. My mom exemplified this in her 35 year career in nursing, and as a single parent of two children, without a support system, and on a limited budget. She rarely, if ever missed work, church, or other commitments.
Ultimately, I learned this: Grit, while crucial to being an entrepreneur, is not enough. You must possess a long endurance that allows you to sustain momentum long enough to see results!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a pastorprenuer – OK, so that’s not really a word. Basically, I am a Social Entrepreneur – Someone that is focused on creating innovative solutions to solve social and spiritual problems.
I founded Ignite LA Church Group to be a place where anyone can be transformed by the person of Jesus. We are a community of many people scattered across Los Angeles, who also gather every Sunday in West LA. In addition to our worship services, we actively engage in finding out how we can help bring transformation to our city socially through pop-up events, and other active engagement.
The U.S. Surgeon General has called Loneliness the great epidemic in our society today. Many people, particularly under 40 report not feeling a sense of purpose, or having a community of people that they can do life with, and feel loved, valued and a part of something beyond themselves. We believe that the Gospel (the person and the story of Jesus) has the power to unite, heal, and transform people’s lives, and our city.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
People need to be reminded of the vision, the direction constantly. It is very common to lose sight of the purpose of why we do what we do. The how can be figured out, as the why and the what are kept alive.
When I show my team that they are highly valued for who they are – Not just what they do for the organization – They rally around the vision in a very exciting way.
Steve Jobs was right: The best performing people don’t have to be managed. They are self-managing. Once a culture has been built, it must be sustained; and the right people will act as gatekeepers to “guard” and protect the uniqueness of the group, while still being open to others who share the same values.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Social Media truly has been the best resource to grow our community. Instagram in particular has shown people who we are, and been a window into allowing them to “come and see” each week. The key is to be authentic, and honest, and let the rest speak for itself.
People will choose what they want to engage with – Our job is just to allow our ads and content to portray who we really are, above the rest of the noise in our culture.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ignitelachurch.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loganlee.la/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTCs78f5kroGMGKCsRq6jA
- Other: Ignite LA Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ignitelachurch/
Image Credits
Photos by Logan Lee, and Stephen Hilton.