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World-changing ideas don't have to World-changing ideas don't have to be new every be new every be new every time. They just time. They just time. They just have to be have to be have to be true every time. true every time. Hi, in this video Hi, in this video I want to talk to I want to talk to I want to talk to you about the pressure you you about the pressure you you about the pressure you feel feel feel trying to say trying to say trying to say something new and something new and something new and original every original every original every time you time you time you preach. Isn't that right preach. Isn't that right preach. Isn't that right ? I felt this ? I felt this ? I felt this pressure. I mean, pressure. I mean, pressure. I mean, I've been preaching and I've been preaching and I've been preaching and speaking in public for speaking in public for speaking in public for almost 30 years. This is a almost 30 years. This is a almost 30 years. This is a pressure that pressure that pressure that many many many of us face. Well, I have of us face. Well, I have of us face. Well, I have good news. You good news. You good news. You can shed this can shed this can shed this burden, at least a burden, at least a burden, at least a little. You see, one little. You see, one little. You see, one of the biggest myths of the biggest myths of the biggest myths about creativity about creativity about creativity is that is that is that the idea you the idea you the idea you share has to be share has to be share has to be new every time. new every time. new every time. You need new You need new You need new content, new perspectives content, new perspectives , new ideas. And while , new ideas. And while , new ideas. And while fresh ideas are important and fresh ideas are important and fresh ideas are important and have their place, the have their place, the have their place, the reality is that reality is that reality is that ideas that change the ideas that change the ideas that change the world don't necessarily world don't necessarily world don't necessarily have to be new have to be new have to be new every time, but they do have to every time, but they do have to every time, but they do have to be be be true every time. true every time. true every time. So, I want to start So, I want to start So, I want to start by asking a by asking a by asking a question. If you question. If you question. If you go to a performance by a go to a performance by a go to a performance by a favorite artist, favorite artist, favorite artist, such as your such as your such as your favorite band, favorite band, favorite band, what do you hope for? what do you hope for? what do you hope for? Well, I guess you want to Well, I guess you want to Well, I guess you want to hear their greatest hear their greatest hear their greatest hits, right? No one hits, right? No one hits, right? No one wants to go to a wants to go to a wants to go to a Taylor Swift concert and not Taylor Swift concert and not Taylor Swift concert and not hear "Shake It Off" or " hear "Shake It Off" or " Blank Space." And you don't Blank Space." And you don't Blank Space." And you don't want to go to Luke want to go to Luke want to go to Luke Combs and not hear " Combs and not hear " Fast Car." You see, songs Fast Car." You see, songs Fast Car." You see, songs define artists define artists define artists and become anthems for and become anthems for and become anthems for millions of people. So millions of people. So millions of people. So imagine Taylor imagine Taylor imagine Taylor standing on stage and standing on stage and standing on stage and saying, "Oh, they've heard ' saying, "Oh, they've heard ' Blank Space' a thousand times." " Blank Space' a thousand times." " Blank Space' a thousand times." " I think I'll I think I'll I think I'll skip it today." You see, skip it today." You see, skip it today." You see, true art and true art and true art and great ideas are made to be great ideas are made to be repeated. The same goes for repeated. The same goes for you.

you. you. If you've ever If you've ever If you've ever hesitated—and I've hesitated—and I've hesitated—and I've felt that pressure—to felt that pressure—to reuse an old reuse an old reuse an old idea. "Oh, I idea. "Oh, I idea. "Oh, I already told you this already told you this already told you this 5 or 10 years ago," 5 or 10 years ago," you're not alone. Many you're not alone. Many you're not alone. Many leaders, leaders, leaders, communicators, and communicators, and communicators, and creators worry creators worry creators worry that they are repetitive that they are repetitive that they are repetitive or unoriginal or unoriginal or unoriginal . But here's the . But here's the . But here's the thing. thing. thing. When you first When you first When you first shared this shared this shared this idea, not everyone heard it idea, not everyone heard it idea, not everyone heard it . Not everyone was . Not everyone was . Not everyone was present. People were present. People were present. People were away. People were on away. People were on away. People were on vacation. Secondly, vacation. Secondly, vacation. Secondly, even those who heard it even those who heard it even those who heard it probably did not fully probably did not fully probably did not fully absorb it. And absorb it. And absorb it. And most of them, most of them, most of them, even if they have heard and even if they have heard and even if they have heard and learned it, learned it, learned it, honestly, don't honestly, don't honestly, don't remember it. That's why remember it. That's why remember it. That's why repetition is not repetition is not repetition is not just acceptable. This is kind of just acceptable. This is kind of just acceptable. This is kind of necessary. necessary. necessary. And if done And if done And if done well, well, well, reusing old reusing old reusing old ideas doesn't feel ideas doesn't feel ideas doesn't feel outdated. It outdated. It outdated. It looks conscious looks conscious looks conscious and perhaps even and perhaps even and perhaps even inspiring. So, here's why it's inspiring. So, here's why it's inspiring. So, here's why it's worth worth worth using using using some of your old some of your old some of your old ideas again. First, ideas again. First, ideas again. First, not everyone heard them the not everyone heard them the not everyone heard them the first time. first time. Secondly, not everyone was Secondly, not everyone was Secondly, not everyone was present, and even those present, and even those present, and even those who heard it don't who heard it don't who heard it don't remember it. So, remember it. So, remember it. So, let's let's let's break this down a bit. That's break this down a bit. That's break this down a bit. That's why I think you why I think you why I think you should should should reuse reuse reuse some of your old ideas some of your old ideas . First of all, not everyone . First of all, not everyone . First of all, not everyone heard it the first heard it the first heard it the first time, okay?

time, okay? No one comes No one comes every week, and those who have come every week, and those who have come every week, and those who have come don't necessarily don't necessarily don't necessarily remember. Strangely enough remember. Strangely enough remember. Strangely enough , there were people in the , there were people in the , there were people in the audience who weren't even audience who weren't even audience who weren't even listening. OK. listening. OK. Second, repetition Second, repetition Second, repetition builds trust. When builds trust. When builds trust. When you repeat your you repeat your you repeat your main ideas, you main ideas, you main ideas, you reinforce what reinforce what reinforce what you stand for. you stand for. you stand for. So, think about So, think about So, think about the leaders you the leaders you the leaders you admire the admire the admire the most. I think most. I think most. I think they are known for something they are known for something they are known for something specific. Whether it's specific. Whether it's specific. Whether it's vulnerability, vulnerability, vulnerability, discipline, discipline, discipline, innovation, or innovation, or innovation, or generosity, their generosity, their generosity, their message becomes message becomes message becomes synonymous with their synonymous with their synonymous with their name. And this name. And this name. And this consistency, consistency, consistency, even repeating even repeating even repeating the message over time, the message over time, the message over time, helps people helps people helps people remember why what remember why what remember why what they say is important they say is important they say is important and why they and why they matter to you. OK. matter to you. OK. Third, the truth is Third, the truth is Third, the truth is worth worth worth repeating. repeating. repeating. Most of us Most of us Most of us have a few have a few have a few key ideas that key ideas that key ideas that define our define our define our lives and work. lives and work. lives and work. Consider them Consider them Consider them perhaps as core perhaps as core perhaps as core themes of your themes of your themes of your leadership. If they are leadership. If they are leadership. If they are of such great of such great of such great importance, they are also importance, they are also importance, they are also worth worth worth repeating. These are repeating. These are repeating. These are truths that people truths that people truths that people need to hear again and need to hear again and need to hear again and again, because they again, because they again, because they shape how they shape how they shape how they think, live, and think, live, and think, live, and lead. And that's what lead. And that's what lead. And that's what the Gospel is about the Gospel is about , isn't it? I , isn't it? I , isn't it? I mean, it's impossible mean, it's impossible mean, it's impossible to be so to be so to be so creative without creative without creative without repeating certain repeating certain repeating certain key truths. You key truths. You key truths. You just have to just have to just have to do it. So another do it. So another do it. So another reason why you reason why you reason why you can can can use use use old ideas—new old ideas—new old ideas—new contexts bring contexts bring contexts bring new energy. An old new energy. An old new energy. An old idea, something you idea, something you idea, something you talked about a year, 5 or talked about a year, 5 or talked about a year, 5 or 15 years ago, in a new 15 years ago, in a new 15 years ago, in a new context can context can context can seem like a revelation.

seem like a revelation. seem like a revelation. For example, what For example, what For example, what once seemed once seemed once seemed obvious can become obvious can become obvious can become profound when profound when profound when circumstances change circumstances change . A story you . A story you . A story you told 2 years ago told 2 years ago told 2 years ago may suddenly may suddenly may suddenly seem relevant and seem relevant and seem relevant and important today. And that's why important today. And that's why reusing ideas isn't just isn't just isn't just recycling, it's also recycling, it's also recycling, it's also rediscovery. So rediscovery. So rediscovery. So how do you use how do you use how do you use old ideas without them old ideas without them old ideas without them feeling feeling feeling outdated and outdated and outdated and boring, right? boring, right? boring, right? Or not feeling like Or not feeling like Or not feeling like you just can't come you just can't come you just can't come up with anything up with anything up with anything creative. Here are creative. Here are creative. Here are some strategies that some strategies that some strategies that will help. First, will help. First, will help. First, check check check your main your main your main team's memory. As a public team's memory. As a public team's memory. As a public speaker, I live by this and am speaker, I live by this and am speaker, I live by this and am guided by it. So, here is the guided by it. So, here is the guided by it. So, here is the technique I technique I technique I use. I'm use. I'm use. I'm just asking my just asking my just asking my immediate environment, immediate environment, immediate environment, okay? Often it's two or okay? Often it's two or three people, those who have been with three people, those who have been with three people, those who have been with me for a long time. Hey, do me for a long time. Hey, do me for a long time. Hey, do you remember when I you remember when I you remember when I talked about such and such? talked about such and such? talked about such and such? Now here is the Now here is the Now here is the truth. If they don't truth. If they don't truth. If they don't remember, no one remember, no one remember, no one will. Of course? This is a will. Of course? This is a will. Of course? This is a very quick very quick very quick reality check reality check . If . If . If the people closest to you can't the people closest to you can't the people closest to you can't remember it, remember it, remember it, you can probably safely you can probably safely you can probably safely remind them. And remind them. And remind them. And even if they even if they even if they do remember, do remember, do remember, there's usually an opportunity to there's usually an opportunity to there's usually an opportunity to revisit it revisit it revisit it with new depth.

with new depth. with new depth. The second thing you should The second thing you should The second thing you should do is update the do is update the do is update the "packaging". "packaging". Reusing an old Reusing an old idea does not mean reproducing it idea does not mean reproducing it idea does not mean reproducing it verbatim verbatim verbatim . Think of . Think of . Think of it as a gift. You it as a gift. You it as a gift. You can wrap can wrap can wrap it in different paper, it in different paper, it in different paper, tie it with a fresh tie it with a fresh tie it with a fresh ribbon, although ribbon, although ribbon, although it will it will it will remain the same inside. remain the same inside. remain the same inside. So, you can So, you can So, you can change the details in the change the details in the change the details in the story. Don't lie, story. Don't lie, story. Don't lie, but, you know, you can but, you know, you can but, you know, you can tell it tell it tell it in more detail, from a different in more detail, from a different in more detail, from a different angle or with a different angle or with a different angle or with a different purpose. You can change purpose. You can change purpose. You can change the analogy, but the analogy, but the analogy, but keep, you know, the keep, you know, the keep, you know, the basic idea basic idea basic idea the same. Or you the same. Or you the same. Or you can change can change can change the format. You used to the format. You used to the format. You used to tell it as a tell it as a tell it as a story, but now it's like a story, but now it's like a story, but now it's like a bulleted list or bulleted list or bulleted list or something like that. something like that. something like that. For example, an idea For example, an idea For example, an idea you pitched in a you pitched in a you pitched in a speech could become a speech could become a speech could become a blog post, blog post, blog post, then a then a then a podcast episode, and then a podcast episode, and then a podcast episode, and then a tweet. I mean tweet. I mean , you can , you can , you can use things use things use things in different formats all the time. in different formats all the time. in different formats all the time. The third thing you can The third thing you can The third thing you can do is do is do is tie your idea tie your idea tie your idea to a current event. to a current event. to a current event. One of the best One of the best One of the best ways to breathe ways to breathe ways to breathe life into an old idea life into an old idea is to connect it to something is to connect it to something is to connect it to something that's happening that's happening that's happening now. Maybe there's now. Maybe there's now. Maybe there's a trend, crisis, a trend, crisis, a trend, crisis, or something that's emerged in the or something that's emerged in the or something that's emerged in the last few years last few years last few years that feels that feels that feels particularly relevant.

particularly relevant. particularly relevant. So when you So when you So when you tie your tie your tie your key message key message key message to something that's to something that's to something that's unfolding in unfolding in unfolding in real time, it real time, it real time, it suddenly takes on suddenly takes on suddenly takes on urgency and urgency and urgency and relevance. Another relevance. Another relevance. Another thing you can thing you can thing you can do is add a do is add a do is add a new level of new level of new level of understanding. So understanding. So understanding. So think about it this way. think about it this way. think about it this way. Every time you Every time you Every time you return to an idea, return to an idea, return to an idea, add something new. add something new. add something new. Maybe it's a story Maybe it's a story Maybe it's a story you haven't you haven't you haven't told yet, new told yet, new told yet, new research, or a research, or a research, or a renewed perspective renewed perspective renewed perspective you've gained you've gained you've gained since you first since you first since you first shared it. In shared it. In shared it. In other words, the other words, the other words, the main idea main idea main idea remains, but you remains, but you remains, but you have grown, and your growth is have grown, and your growth is have grown, and your growth is noticeable. It's like noticeable. It's like noticeable. It's like layers of cake. You layers of cake. You layers of cake. You build on what's build on what's build on what's already good, but make already good, but make already good, but make it richer and a little more it richer and a little more it richer and a little more enjoyable. Another enjoyable. Another enjoyable. Another thing you can thing you can thing you can do is present do is present do is present it with new energy. it with new energy. it with new energy. No matter how brilliant No matter how brilliant No matter how brilliant your idea is, it will your idea is, it will your idea is, it will fail if you fail if you fail if you yourself are bored. If you yourself are bored. If you yourself are bored. If you say, "Here we are again for the say, "Here we are again for the say, "Here we are again for the 75th time." Well, 75th time." Well, 75th time." Well, no one will listen no one will listen . If you . If you . If you come back to a come back to a come back to a concept and think it's concept and think it's concept and think it's worth repeating worth repeating , just add energy to it , just add energy to it , just add energy to it . You know, . You know, . You know, pretend this is the first time pretend this is the first time pretend this is the first time you're sharing this you're sharing this you're sharing this truth. Just truth. Just truth. Just give it out, okay? And give it out, okay? And give it out, okay? And people will pick up on your people will pick up on your people will pick up on your enthusiasm. People enthusiasm. People enthusiasm. People will listen will listen will listen not because it's something not because it's something not because it's something new, but because it new, but because it new, but because it feels alive.

feels alive. feels alive. Another thing you Another thing you Another thing you can do is can do is can do is track what track what track what triggers the response. So triggers the response. So triggers the response. So pay attention to the pay attention to the pay attention to the moments when your moments when your moments when your ideas make ideas make ideas make an impression. Sometimes you an impression. Sometimes you an impression. Sometimes you deliver deliver deliver a message or a message or a message or give a give a give a speech and you just speech and you just speech and you just realize, “Wow, this realize, “Wow, this realize, “Wow, this really works,” and really works,” and really works,” and often it comes as often it comes as often it comes as a surprise, right? a surprise, right? a surprise, right? It seemed to really hit the It seemed to really hit the It seemed to really hit the mark. mark. mark. Take note of this Take note of this Take note of this after the after the after the performance. So if a performance. So if a performance. So if a certain phrase, story, certain phrase, story, certain phrase, story, or principle consistently works or principle consistently works or principle consistently works , make a , make a , make a note of it. These become note of it. These become note of it. These become your “hits,” your “hits,” your “hits,” ideas worth ideas worth ideas worth repeating. repeating. repeating. Keep Keep Keep improving them and improving them and improving them and looking for new ways looking for new ways looking for new ways to share them. But to share them. But to share them. But you know you've you know you've you know you've stumbled upon something stumbled upon something stumbled upon something worthwhile because it worthwhile because it worthwhile because it really connected with really connected with really connected with people. That's the people. That's the people. That's the risk. If you risk. If you risk. If you don't do this, you don't do this, you don't do this, you risk risk risk missing the missing the missing the most important thing. One of the most important thing. One of the most important thing. One of the biggest mistakes biggest mistakes biggest mistakes leaders make is not leaders make is not leaders make is not abusing their abusing their abusing their ideas. This is their ideas. This is their ideas. This is their insufficient insufficient insufficient coverage. So what coverage. So what coverage. So what seems seems seems excessive to you is that you excessive to you is that you excessive to you is that you remember everything you've ever remember everything you've ever remember everything you've ever said, said, said, right? It might be right? It might be right? It might be exactly what someone exactly what someone exactly what someone needs to hear. needs to hear. needs to hear. In fact, most In fact, most In fact, most people need to people need to people need to hear something several hear something several hear something several times before they times before they times before they truly absorb it.

truly absorb it. truly absorb it. So think about So think about So think about your own path. your own path. your own path. How many times did you How many times did you How many times did you have to hear a have to hear a have to hear a powerful truth before powerful truth before powerful truth before it finally “ it finally “ clicked”? Perhaps clicked”? Perhaps clicked”? Perhaps you have known for a long time you have known for a long time you have known for a long time that you shouldn't spend that you shouldn't spend that you shouldn't spend more than you more than you more than you earn, but you earn, but you earn, but you did it anyway. And did it anyway. And did it anyway. And then you heard it then you heard it then you heard it again, looked at your again, looked at your again, looked at your credit credit credit card bill, and suddenly your card bill, and suddenly your card bill, and suddenly your mind cleared up. mind cleared up. mind cleared up. Good. From a Good. From a Good. From a communicator's perspective, communicator's perspective, communicator's perspective, repetition is not a repetition is not a repetition is not a sign of laziness. This is a sign of laziness. This is a sign of laziness. This is a sign of leadership. sign of leadership. sign of leadership. See, that's the See, that's the See, that's the truth. Great truth. Great truth. Great leaders are not afraid leaders are not afraid leaders are not afraid to repeat themselves because to repeat themselves because to repeat themselves because they know one thing. they know one thing. they know one thing. An idea does not become successful An idea does not become successful An idea does not become successful the moment it is voiced the moment it is voiced . It becomes successful . It becomes successful . It becomes successful when it is when it is when it is memorable. So memorable. So memorable. So take action. You have permission. take action. You have permission. take action. You have permission. Share your Share your Share your best ideas in best ideas in best ideas in fresh and fresh and fresh and creative creative creative ways over and over again ways over and over again ways over and over again . Feel free . Feel free . Feel free to tell the same to tell the same to tell the same story. Maybe not story. Maybe not story. Maybe not every week, but you every week, but you every week, but you should do it. You should do it. You should do it. You want to repeat want to repeat want to repeat this. You want to get this. You want to get this. You want to get this from the archive. Teach the same this from the archive. Teach the same this from the archive. Teach the same principle. principle. principle. Speak in a new way, Speak in a new way, Speak in a new way, but don't stop. but don't stop. but don't stop. Because the truth is, Because the truth is, Because the truth is, your best ideas your best ideas your best ideas are not outdated. are not outdated. are not outdated. Maybe they're just Maybe they're just Maybe they're just out of time. Do you see out of time. Do you see out of time. Do you see this transition? Your this transition? Your this transition? Your job is to bring job is to bring job is to bring eternal truths to the eternal truths to the eternal truths to the environment where you environment where you environment where you preach.

preach. preach. Preachers, I know Preachers, I know Preachers, I know how important it is to how important it is to how important it is to keep your sermons keep your sermons keep your sermons fresh and fresh and fresh and relevant. relevant. relevant. Think about it this way. Think about it this way. Think about it this way. The truth is, your The truth is, your The truth is, your "hits" aren't old. "hits" aren't old. "hits" aren't old. They're kind of They're kind of They're kind of timeless, aren't they? These are timeless, aren't they? These are timeless, aren't they? These are eternal truths that you eternal truths that you eternal truths that you can proclaim at can proclaim at can proclaim at any time. And I any time. And I any time. And I know that for a know that for a know that for a preacher, it can preacher, it can preacher, it can be very difficult. be very difficult. be very difficult. But I have something that I But I have something that I But I have something that I hope will hope will hope will help you. To help you. To help you. To help, I help, I help, I have prepared a 10-step have prepared a 10-step sermon cheat sheet. Over sermon cheat sheet. Over decades of decades of decades of preaching, I have preaching, I have preaching, I have simplified my simplified my simplified my preparation into a series of preparation into a series of preparation into a series of steps and reminders steps and reminders steps and reminders that help me that help me that help me make sermons make sermons make sermons interesting, interesting, interesting, relevant, and relevant, and relevant, and memorable. And that's what will memorable. And that's what will memorable. And that's what will allow you allow you allow you to present them in a fresh to present them in a fresh to present them in a fresh way, because if you way, because if you way, because if you just copy and just copy and just copy and paste, it gets paste, it gets paste, it gets a little boring. So I a little boring. So I a little boring. So I offer you a series of offer you a series of offer you a series of 10 simple tips with 10 simple tips with 10 simple tips with very specific very specific very specific examples that you examples that you examples that you can can can use use use this Sunday. So if this Sunday. So if this Sunday. So if you are interested, you can you are interested, you can you are interested, you can use this use this use this every week. You can every week. You can every week. You can join over join over join over 30,000 leaders who are already 30,000 leaders who are already 30,000 leaders who are already using it. You using it. You using it. You can change your can change your can change your sermons sermons sermons by visiting preachingcheat.com by visiting preachingcheat.com , and get your , and get your , and get your copy absolutely copy absolutely copy absolutely free. It's free. It's free. It's just preachingcheat.com and just preachingcheat.com and just preachingcheat.com and you can instantly you can instantly you can instantly download your download your download your copy of the sermon cheat sheet copy of the sermon cheat sheet copy of the sermon cheat sheet . So . So . So remember: while remember: while remember: while fresh ideas are important— fresh ideas are important— yes, you need to yes, you need to yes, you need to bring new ideas, bring new ideas, bring new ideas, new content, new new content, new new content, new perspectives. The reality is that perspectives. The reality is that perspectives. The reality is that ideas that ideas that ideas that change the world don't change the world don't change the world don't necessarily have to necessarily have to necessarily have to be new every time.

be new every time. be new every time. They must be They must be They must be true every time.