Killing Cockroaches: And Other Scattered Musings on Leadership

by Tony Morgan and Tony Morgan

Pastor and popular church culture blogger Tony Morgan once worked as a city manager, a CEO-type job with the suit and tie, corner office, the works. Despite his top-rank status, Tony s list of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805447857
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: B&H Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Leadership musings blog style

Tony Morgan's latest book, Killing Cockroaches, is something of a unique book in terms of readability. It offers a format that can be both a strength and a weakness. If you are an avid reader of blogs, or are yourself a blogger, you will find the format familiar and welcoming. If, however, you want long, drawn-out chapters with wordy exposition and endless (read: redundant) supportive detail, this book may not be for you. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Killing Cockroaches, and quickly consumed the book in two sittings. Digesting the content, however, will likely take much more time. One of the best things about the book is that it does not need to be read in a linear fashion. You can pick up the book, flip to any page and begin reading any one of the numerous insightful sections. You might rather decide to scan the table of contents, looking for all the entries relating to a particular topic. No matter what method you use to read the book, you will find a wealth of information offered in an informal, welcoming style. You get the sense that, if you were to meet Tony in person, he would be as congenial and as helpful as his writing. For me, one of the best parts about the book was the repitition of key ideas. Tony has taken his more than a decade of ministry experience, mixed it with his wealth of non-ministry related executive experience, and condensed it all down into easy to understand segments full of application and insight. Here are some of the ideas that resonated with me: * Delegate: Don't delegate tasks, but rather delegate responsibility. * Questions: In preaching, teaching, and other communications, make sure we are not just answering questions, but answering the questions being asked by people. The people not only within our church walls, but also those in the greater community in which we live. * Answers: Don't feel like you have to answer everything. Get to the point in your communication. Less is more. Leave people wanting to come back for more. * Culture: One of the best ways to connect with our community is to offer an experience they can't get anywhere else. Instead of copying the church down the street, decide who you are going to be and be it with excellence. * Systems and strategies: Not the equivalent to programs and plans--these tend to be static, unbending, and slow to change. Systems and strategies are created by implementation of vision, and fostered by the driving DNA of the church. Anyone who has a role in church leadership, from the senior pastor to the weekly volunteer would benefit from reading this book. I would suggest church staffs get together and make discussion of some of the ideas a part of their weekly staff meetings. For the record, I did my first sitting with Killing Cockroaches with the paperback graciously given to me for review purposes by B & H Books. My second sitting was done with the Kindle version. I would recommend buying either version.

10 Reasons You Should Read Killing Cockroaches By Tony Morgan

I recently finished reading an early copy of Tony Morgan's new book, Killing Cockroaches. Here are 10 reasons you should read this book....... 1) The book contains lots of Top 10 lists A few of my favorites.....10 Stupidest Leadership Mistakes I've Made, 10 Signs Your Not Ready For Change, & 10 Easy Ways to Make Church Services More Boring 2) Andy Stanley wouldn't write the foreward for a bad book 3) The foreword is sandwiched between `Enter at Your Own Risk' and `Prepare for an Adventure' 4) The book actually contains 4 easy steps for killing cockroaches 5) Tony is not your ordinary pastor Tony rejects the status quo and takes an innovative, creative, and cutting-edge approach to ministry. Naturally, that makes some in the church world a little uncomfortable. Seth Godin might even call him a "heretic". Fortunately, in today's world "heretics" have popular blogs and get their books published. 6) Tony's church is not your ordinary church Newspring Church, led by Senior Pastor Perry Noble, exists for one simple mission: To make Jesus famous, one life at a time. Perry and Tony have a passionate and strategic laser-focus on that mission and, as a result, Newspring Church is making a big impact in Anderson, SC and beyond. 7) All of the 100+ blog post-like chapters are in alphabetical order How did he do that? Also, many of the chapters are creatively titled. The titles make you want to read more. A few of my favorite titles.......Actions Speak Louder Than Advertising, Christians Sound Different, Giant Inflatable Blue Monkeys, How Would Apple Do Church?, and I'm Just Not That Interested In God 8) Tony has a great blog. This book reads like a series of blog posts. That makes for a great book. 9) This book has lots of great interviews A few of my favorites........Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, Penelope Trunk, Mark Batterson, Steven Furtick, and Craig Groeschel 10) This book is not just for church leaders Tony is in the church world, but he keeps a close eye on the strategies, marketing, branding, communications, and innovation of America's businesses. I'm in the business world, but I keep a close eye on what is happening in the church. I believe the business world and the church world still have lots to learn from each other. The "scattered musings on leadership" contained in this book are for leaders of all types.

Cockroaches bug me but Killing Cockroaches? Different story.

I love this book. It's easy to read in short bursts with profound, lasting impact. Tony has proven experience with effective leadership inside and outside the ministry environment; and he's found a way to share what he's learned in a practical, humorous and challenging way. This book helps all of us do a better job leading up, down, sideways and (most importantly) in. As you read each individual entry, you'll find yourself laughing out loud, furrowing your brow, surprised by a revelation and impacted by the weight of the privilege we have ahead of us in the church today. No matter what your role--volunteer, senior pastor, administrative assistant, ministry leader, artist, board member--this book can make you better. That is, if you have the guts to read it.

Jumpstart your leadership

Killing Cockroaches is Tony Morgan at his best. These quick snippets of wisdom allow the reader to gain a glimpse of the heart and mind of Tony. Real life examples of leaders in the trenches who are making the hard decisions of what to say `no' to are an added bonus to Tony's ideas. The book is filled with leadership principles that can be put in place immediately. Tony helps us as leaders to give some serious thought as to what we need to give our full attention to and those things that need to be delegated out to others. Written with a conversational feel, each leadership idea (which is creatively presented in alphabetical order) is enough for some serious thought and consideration. In fact, many of them could be used as leadership exercises for a staff team...something I intend to do with the staff I lead. This is a must read for any pastor or leader who wants to take his or her leadership to a higher level of effectiveness.

If You Are A Church Leader, You MUST Read This Book!

Tony has knocked it out of the park. Again. Written from a conversational style, Tony gives some incredible leadership nuggets that are so relevant to churches and leaders today. Tony is a forward thinker. A realist and a visionary and writes this book utilizing his real world experiences. You can pick it up and just start reading anywhere. It is as if the two of you are just sitting down over coffee and talking. He opens up himself and you feel so connected to where he is coming from. Now there are alot of leadership books out there, mostly written by people that have great theory but no relativity. Listen, this book is relevant NOW for any leader and any church. Tony is real, open and honest as he journeys down this conversational path leaving you feeling a similar kinship. Tony has in effect effect given us a manual, a map, and a mantra all at once. Highly unusual from any type of leadership books. Tony is a pastor's pastor. He is doing it, experiencing it and living it while writing it. And we who buy this book are privilege to join him on the journey.