This past weekend I had the privilege of going with my church on a women’s retreat. It was unlike any women’s retreat I’ve ever attended. I knew it would be good, and that’s why I dragged my large, extremely-pregnant-self up to the mountains for three days.

On the way up the mountain, my feet crossed the threshold of “slightly swollen” to bakery level. As in, they became giant loaves of risen bread dough. I also had a lovely episode with my blasted sciatic nerve. And yah, I slept in a bunk bed and needed to pee every four minutes, but you know what?

Going on that retreat was probably the best thing I’ll do this summer–besides bringing new life into the world, that is.

The theme of the weekend was leadership and I’m not exaggerating when I say that my head is literally exploding with information and inspiration from all that I learned up there. I want to share it, I really do, but like most good things it needs to simmer longer before I can synthesize it for the rest of you.

Fortunately, someone (and I wish I knew who so I could properly credit them!) wrote up a nice list that I’m pasting into my journal for future reference.

You could easily search Google for “how to be a leader” or maybe “leadership quotes” and I guarantee you won’t find anything better than this.

I hate to repost it without knowing who wrote it, but since they handed it out to approximately 400 women I’m pretty sure they won’t mind me sharing.

1. You have to make the call you’re afraid to make.

2. You have to get up earlier than you want to get up.

3. You have to give more than you get in return right away.

4. You have to care more about others than they care about you.

5. You have to feel unsure and insecure when playing it safe seems smarter.

6. You have to lead when no one else is following you yet.

7. You have to invest in yourself even though no one else is.

8. You have to grind out the details when it’s easier to shrug them off.

9. You have to deliver results when making excuses is an option.

10. You have to search for your own explanations even when you’re told to accept the “facts.”

11. You have to make mistakes and look like an idiot.

12. You have to try and fail and try again.

13. You have to run faster even though you’re out of breath.

14. You have to be kind to people who have been cruel to you.

15. You have to meet deadlines that are unreasonable and deliver results that are unparalleled.

16. You have to be accountable for your actions even when things go wrong.

17. You have to keep moving towards where you want to be no matter what’s in front of you.

Pretty good list, eh? It kinda sorta makes me a little tired thinking about it, but I’m also very inspired to work towards doing these things better!