Didn't See It Coming

I've followed Carey Nieuwhof for sometime now, am a regular reader of his blog and listener to his podcast and have had opportunity to hear him at conferences.  I have read 2 of his previous releases and was very excited for the opportunity to review his newest book due out in September.

What I wasn't ready for (not a play on the title) was how much I could relate to much of the content within the book.  Whether at current or having lived through it, Carey is dead on to state that you don't see these issues coming.  Perhaps it's cynicism or burnout, often they slip in to part of your daily life and you may miss the signs.

I love the honesty Carey uses and his implementation of personal stories backs up the need for pastors of all ages to be on watch for these 7 struggles (issues) and not believe it won't happen to you.  Further Carey uses scripture in proper context and not to prove a point, which is missing in some modern writings.

Even if by chance you never face all 7 issues, you will face at least one.  I would say all pastors (leaders really) should get a hold of this book to help you not only watch for the issues, but avoid them as well.  Honestly I can't stress it enough, this conversation is so important in church leadership and not many are having it.  Do yourself a favour and be ready, the wisdom here can also be applicable with friends who are walking through the hard moments outlined within.

*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  These are my personal thoughts.

This book is brilliant. Covering seven of life’s challenges – cynicism, compromise, disconnection, irrelevance, pride, burnout and emptiness – Carey Nieuwhof writes in a warm, engaging style while pulling no punches.

Be warned – this book might cut close to the bone. I found a couple of the chapters quite unnerving. Carey offers sound insights as he addresses the challenges, mixing principles with engaging stories and suggestions. He writes in a way that is practical and grounded.

A few of my favourites:
“Most cynics are former optimists.”
“Knowledge often brings sorrow because the more you know, the more you see life for what it really is.”
“You project past failures on to new situations.”
“When you close your heart to people, you close your heart to God.”
“Pride is in many ways, the master sin.”
“Perhaps the most disturbing part of my burnout was the loss of hope.”
“Figuring out how to live today, so you will thrive tomorrow.”

I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of thirty, and to those who are younger and hope to learn before they make their mistakes.

I have been living my vocation as a Catholic Priest for 43 years and have read numerous books in the course of my on-going efforts to be current and authentic. I'm not sure however that I've ever read a book that I found so easy to read in style but at the same time so challenging to read. In Didn't See it Coming, the author, Carey Nieuwhof, has quite simply been able to find the challenges, share the experiences and present some steps we can take to overcome some very significant barriers to good leadership and healthy living.
If you want to understand some of the issues that can quite literally creep up on you and be given insights into how to avoid them or, at least, mitigate their impact in your life, then reading this book will be one of the best things you can do for your health and your leadership.

I am convinced that Carey Nieuwhof's new book is going to be revolutionary for leaders who read it. As I read through the review copy provided to me by #netgalley, I couldn't stop highlighting and taking notes.

For those unfamiliar with Carey, he is a Canadian pastor, podcaster and leadership guru. I have followed his work for the past two years regularly - listening to his podcast, reading to his blog and gleaning a lot of information surrounding leadership.

His book takes that training to the next level. In this book, Carey presents 7 challenges common to leaders that we often "don't see coming." In each section, he explains the issue, gives some warning signs, and then gives some incredibly practical tools to meet those challenges head-on. Carey's insights are simple but also incredibly deep and convicting. His sections - particularly on cynicism and pride - hit home for me.

I also deeply appreciated the fact that Carey shared so much personal insight. Many leaders write books on these topics with principles from leadership, psychology and the Bible. Carey does that - but also includes his own personal stories and anecdotes. His vulnerability is what truly makes this book impactful.

I have been talking about this book to so many leaders and friends! I will be recommending it to any and everyone in leadership!

A fan of leadership podcasts, Carey Nieuwhof has always been a favorite ranking up there with my favorite Andy Stanley. As a 40 something working wife and mother with a role in organizational leadership, the title alone caught my attention. This is a must read for the reader struggling to pace their race and always looking to the next thing.

"Didn't See It Coming: Overcoming the Seven Greatest Challenges That No One Expects and Everyone Experiences" provides a depth of wisdom and insight that can only be born from experience and for that reason it reads with a voice of relatable authenticity.

For many leaders the challenge is not about showing up every day, but rather the toll of the daily grind and how it eats at different aspects of our soul. Often the decay is a gradual one, unidentifiable at first by ourselves or those closest to us. Eventually though, the damage becomes apparent.

In "Didn't See It Coming", Nieuwhof works to reach the reader, to grab our attention and point out the warning signs before we've become a victim of our own doing. This is a book to be read more than once - it's the book you loan out, it's the book you gift to others who just don't see it coming.

I hadn't heard of this author before but I'm so glad I discovered him, this book is great with lots of relatable personal experiences. I've now tracked down his podcast and can't wait to read more!