In this conversation, Make sure that listeners can furnace the power of perspective in every aspect of their lives and how to stop delaying and start enjoying life right now. He highlights the importance of creating disappointment and discontentment for peace, joy, and fulfillment. We hope you enjoy this conversation.
SPEAKER_01Well, hey everybody, thanks for tuning in today. It's always great to um to get to introduce you to people that I've gotten to know and maybe you haven't yet. And uh many of you will know Nick Nilsson. Um you it's too bad we couldn't have had Summer on because then you would have met somebody really special. Very cool, absolutely. Yeah, next time maybe we can talk her in joining you. But uh Nick has been a longtime acquaintance and a friend for many, many years now. Uh in fact, I think my office is probably about a driver and a wedge to your office. Uh Nick was Nick serves at Lakewood. I think he served in almost every capacity except senior pastor. So what are they calling these days, Nick?
SPEAKER_03What's the what's the current they're calling me the associate pastor? I am an associate pastor here.
SPEAKER_01That's awesome. That's great. And you've been at Lakewood for how long now? 16 years. Yeah, yeah. That's 16 years. You and Native Texan. But when you lived abroad, where are you from?
SPEAKER_03I'm a Midwest kid. So I grew up in a small city called Beloit, Wisconsin, right on the border of Wisconsin and Illinois. So I grew up at Cheesehead, um, but was a Bear fan and grew up, went to college, um, gave my life to Christ. But I'm I'm born-bred Midwest kid, and then came down to Houston and moved to this great country of Texas. And my my daughter was three months old. Haven was three months, she's now 16. She was three months old when we moved here. And my son Denver, who's 12, he's a he's the only one in the fam that's true bloodborne Texan. He's born here and he loves it.
SPEAKER_01Well, Denver was in Texas for a long time, I think. Like in the old days. I mean, eastern Colorado was Texas back in the old days.
SPEAKER_03You can't throw this historical stuff on me like that. I have no idea. You're out, you're already out shooting me here.
SPEAKER_01Oh, well, I would. I mean, there's so many things I want to talk about. I I'd love to know, like, tell me what it's like. I love to hear about workplace culture. Tell me what it's like um working in the the culture at Lakewood now. And how does that compare to 16 years ago when you got here? Because a lot's changed, right?
SPEAKER_03Wow, yes. Huge question. Um, well, number one, it's I have to say it's a dream. I mean, it's an honor and privilege to serve Pastor Joel and the Osteen family. And the the story, the God story. Um, as I told you earlier, we we were just meeting with uh a team that's coming to give us some ideas on and improving our kids and we're revamping and remodeling. But I was explaining to them, they asked me some questions about well, how did this happen? How did this happen? You know, getting to know Lakewood's story, and I'm just like, this is it's a miracle. We're in the middle of a miracle, and it's a God story. And and I'm just humbled to be a part of it, to be, you know, to be written into it, to play a part of it. And my responsibility is to steward it well. And and to me, I feel like that's somewhat of our approach as a culture, as leaders. When I watch Pastor Joel, when I when I, you know, get the privilege to lead with him and making conversations and decisions and leading forward. A lot of it is just how do we steward this well with integrity, with humility? This is a God thing. Um, there's this beautiful um, you know, the value of ours of just not losing the wonder of the miracle that we get to serve and be a part of every day. Um, so that that is something that we're constantly trying. I mean, I feel like there are things, of course, that have evolved within our team culture. Um, I feel like where we are now versus where we were 16 years ago, I think some of the big differences just would be our advancements with our technology, with our team. I feel like our team communication, our team unity, um, how we're approaching certain things with utilizing technology and our platform to give as many people hope as we can. Um, I feel like those are the things that are paramount for us right now. Um, still trying to be as effective. You know, John Oson used to say the the light that shines the furthest shines the brightest at home. So, yeah, we want to utilize technology in our platform to give as many people the hope of the gospel, but especially in our own city, especially right in our own neighborhoods, what are we doing to get better at that? So um those are the things right now that I think are are so paramount for us, even more so than they were 16 years ago. But I think as far as my role and what I'm in the middle of, I just love fighting for unity. I love fighting for all the different departments and seeing us cohesively work together. Um, we have a Spanish part of who we are as a church. I like to say, like our Spanish family, um, that's led by Pastor Danilo Gloriana Montero and they're phenomenal leaders working with them, trying to see how do we how do we speak the same language but with different accents, you know, as far as our culture, as far as what we're trying to accomplish. But yeah, that that I don't know if I'm answering your question, but those those things are the first things that come to mind when I say what's paramount right now versus what it where it was 16 years ago. And I'll add one more thing. You know, Pastor Joel has evolved as a leader, as he as everybody should, right?
SPEAKER_01That's what everyone wants to hear about. Tell us this. How has Pastor evolved into a different type of leader over the years?
SPEAKER_03Well, I I've I mean, again, like I stated before, the the core things of how he leads as it relates to character, humility, integrity, those things have always been at the forefront, leading with compassion, unselfishness, um, trying to empower those of us around him to achieve greater things. Those things I feel have always been at the forefront of his leadership from my perspective. Um but I think, you know, even over the last couple of years, just this this um this this real this real strong healthy burden to maximize his influence to impact as many people as possible. Um looking looking at who we are as a church. And again, I come back to the word stewardship. Like there is this deep urgency and a healthy way to protect and to steward what God has graced this house to do. It's at an all-time high for him right now. Um, of course, with everything you read around us and the media and everything that's taking place in our culture, even church culture, I think just a deeper press to go, hey, we got to protect this with integrity, we got to steward this well, God's entrusted us with it. Um, asking himself those types of questions, what what you know, what areas can we improve? What what things can we, you know, do better at in those in those regards. So those are some big things that come to mind. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I tell you what, you interview uh 20 people from Lakewood and ask them about their pastor, and unless you get liars, it's a pretty boring day because you hear the same thing over. I'm serious, and I'm and and that's like really high flattery. I mean, you know, you it's like going to a crime scene and everybody tells you the same story about how it happened. Like, well, that was pretty boring, but it's true. Like you hear it over and over and over. And I, you know, we serve a lot of different kinds of churches, so everybody's got opinions, right? And of course I stop everybody short before anything comes up. I said, Listen, I have zero objectivity about Lakewood and Pastor Joel. Zero. Like that guy, like Bill Coach McCartney. You remember this name? He started Promise Keepers a million years ago.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_01He had a great definition of success. He said, success is when the people who know you the best love and respect you the most.
SPEAKER_03Come on.
SPEAKER_01And people are forever asking me because Joel's been a friend for a long time, long, long time, as long as I've been in Houston. And uh what's he like? What's he like? I'm like, what you see is what you get, man. There's not a 100% on stage and off stage.
SPEAKER_03So and and that again, like I said, the this the longer I've worked here and the closer I've gotten to him, the more respect that I have. And have and have, you know, it's just why I'm here.
SPEAKER_01You know, it's he's in great shape. I mean, I it his fitness is great, but I gotta say, if I gotta have a three-pointer at the buzzer, I think I'm picking you now over him. I don't know. I haven't picked him in a while, but I don't know, man.
SPEAKER_03I might I might challenge you on that. Uh I don't know if you I haven't played basketball in a long time, so I don't know if you're taking my shot over his still. He is good at tennis, though. Yeah, better take his you better take his serve over mine, I tell you that.
SPEAKER_01Well, I I wanted to have you on, and we could talk about a million things for a million hours, but I was particularly anytime I've talked to Nick, when you took, how are you doing? I'm living the dream. Living the dream, baby. I'm like, so guess what the title of Nick's new book is? You can live the dream. And I was so taken by the title. And and frankly, uh Nick, I'd just love for you to tell like like how this, like every time I've written a book, I just finished one, it's coming out in the fall. And and let's go. I have I have seven children. I've never gone through labor and delivery, right? But I've watched it a lot. And I think having a book is pretty close. It's just, it better be something deep within you to go through what you got to go through to get it out. So, what was the deep thing in you that made you say, This has got to get out of me? I gotta get this to other people.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Well, I felt, you know, I felt like this this desire to write a book and release a book had always kind of been lingering in me and in my heart. And you see your peers, you know, write books and put books out. And I've always just, I just never wanted to write a book to write a book, right? Like I feel like there's enough, there's so many great authors and minds and leaders and pastors putting books out. I just have I've always, by the grace of God, I just always resisted when I felt like I was stepping out and doing it for the wrong motive. And in the in the end of 2021, I really felt this desire and this impression, like God saying, green light, like it's time to go. There are things in you, there are things that you know, you there's messages, there's there's things you need to put out there and just start writing. So at the beginning of 2021, I locked myself away on different book retreats throughout the year. And I just didn't had no publisher, had no, I just said, I just need to write this, I need to get this out, what's in me. And like you said, I kept hearing young adults around me and certain individuals around me saying, I'm living a dream. You know, it's this commonly used cultural cliche, right? That's an Instagram caption that's usually of a great vacation spot or like the dream car or you know, something that encompasses joy, peace, contentment. And to me, I'm I always thought, you know, when you follow Jesus, you don't have to wait for those things to experience joy, peace, satisfaction, contentment, fulfillment. You can live the dream right now. You don't have to wait until you attain these things or reach a certain relational status, you know, or get through this challenge before you can experience joy, you can experience happiness. It just really is about your perspective. So if you can shift your perspective, then you can experience and begin to see things from God's perspective, see this situation through his lens, and you can start experiencing the peace that he intended you. And nothing has to change. You know, you don't have to wait to live the dream. You can change your perspective and you can live it now.
SPEAKER_01And that's and so it's really a that's kind of your story, though, right? I mean, didn't that part of who you have become over the years? Walk me through how this message was born in your own life.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. So I was a big football, I mean, sports guy. My dad was my football coach growing up. I didn't grow up in church, so really had no church context. We went to church on Easter. You know, that was that was basically it. My parents were divorced when I was three, um, and just walked through some unhealthy things in our home life. Um, my dad struggled with different things, but he tried his best. You know, my parents tried their best with what they were given. But when I reached high school, my focus was football, you know, get good grades, play football, party. That was basically like my my, you know, my goals in life and what consume me. And the summer before my senior year, a friend of mine invited me to a church summer camp. And he was, he was like the only believer that I knew of in the school, invited me for some odd reason. I said yes. Uh, I think he because he said there was pretty girls there and we were gonna have some fun playing basketball and stuff. I'm like, I'm in, count me in, I'll be there. So we go, have a great time, but there was one, there's one service. I'll never forget it. June 18th, 1998. God just gripped my heart. I don't remember the sermon. I don't remember what happened in the service. I just remember responding to give my life to Jesus and saying yes to him. Um, repeated the salvation prayer, accept the Christ. Two days later, got water baptized there. And my life was just radically changed at this retreat. Came home now with obviously a different perspective on life, a different perspective. You know, it you know, obviously that's Jesus introduces us and offers us this ability to possess a whole new perspective of our lives that provides hope and possibility and purpose and contentment. And I found that. And my parents didn't quite understand it, but I went into football that fall of my senior year with like this deep passion now that I had this purpose and football was my purpose now for God, and this is what God had called me to do. And I would had already, you know, been on you know college visits and had verbally committed to the Michigan State to play football. And this is when Nick Saban was the head coach. And I, you know, was preparing, ready to do that third game of the season. I played running back, uh, tore my ACL. And at that point in my life, it was, you know, I had just given my life to Christ, you know, four months before this. So here I, in my mind, I walked away from partying, walked away from all these things, was following Jesus, new perspective on my life, on my purpose on football. And in a moment now it's gone. So as a young believer, I'm sitting on this football field and I'm just like, what in the world? Why is this happening? You know, it was like the one thing in my life as a little boy that I dreamt about doing is in a moment here, you know, temporarily taken away and pushed pause on. So long story short, William, I went through rehab, but while rehabbing, being away from the football field, I just began to pray. And it was in that season of my life where God just began to open my eyes and give me the desire to pastor. And the desire grew and grew and grew. The opportunity to go to Michigan State was still on the table, as well as others, but just felt like pursuing ministry was what God wanted me to do. And had I not gotten hurt and had God not pushed pause on that, I would have never stepped into my purpose. And so now I look back and what you know, what obviously was a massive, you know, painful season for my, you know, as a for an early believer, actually was the very thing that propelled me into my destiny. And so now I see obstacles with a unique perspective because I I look back on my life and I go, had not had that not happened, I wouldn't be where I where I am today. I wouldn't be doing the very thing I was created to do. That's what I wanted to do, but that wasn't what I was made to do. And so, you know, obviously this message about perspective and and trying to see not the good things, but sometimes the hard things, the things you didn't expect, your marriage not working out, you not getting that job, your kid not serving Christ, you battling that sickness, these things are difficult, but we can choose to have the right perspective in spite of them and still see, all right, God's gonna somehow work this for good. God can use this to propel me to my destiny. There's opportunity hidden within every obstacle. It's just how you know, are we gonna choose to see those things and believe those things when we're going through it? So, yeah, that's and there's there's other stories that I have throughout that I've wrote about in the book that that really exemplify those.
SPEAKER_00Compensation is a critical component of building a great team and retaining your staff members. Talk to our team today about our customized compensation solutions or visit Vanderblumen.com slash compensation to learn more.
SPEAKER_01Well, and I it it feels to me like each chapter is sort of a module in uh a different a different aspect of living the dream, right? So I could talk about let's pick one. I I've heard you talk about how service can change things. Walk us through walk us through that. Uh it's a because a great chat. By the way, yeah. Next book I write, can you title all the chapters for me? Because they're pretty good, pretty good chapters.
SPEAKER_03You want me you want me to you want me to tell you that? I want you to just do that for me if you want. Okay, chap chapter one is Drowning Worms, which is a hilarious story. You'll have to get the book to read it. It's about me and my son going fishing for the first time. Hilarious. It really again, another story that opened me up to wow, perspective is everything. Uh, chapter two, power of letting go. Another funny story. My first time riding a mini bike. Didn't let go, and it went south for me. Um, chapter three, progress over perfection, celebrating the good on the way to great. A lot of times we're we we find ourselves in discontent seasons because we don't we're not growing, but I talk about learning to celebrate good on the way to great. Do it afraid, chapter four. Don't let fear keep you from stepping out. Um, God trees, discover your prepared blessings. I talk about sometimes we're, you know, don't want to step into new seasons because we don't feel like we're prepared, or there are things I just talk about things being prepared already for you before you even get there. Um, dream team. I love this chapter, William. This one's about your relationships, your environment, your team. You know, you need healthy people around you, where you put yourself, the environment you're in. This is that that you can't get you can't get there alone. We know this. Uh, the power of consistency, finding your miracle in the mundane. Uh, favor follows you. Chapter eight, heaven has your back. Chapter nine, you have nothing to prove. Chapter 10, live within the margins. Another one that I love. That'll speak to leaders and pastors. That that was a big one for me. That came from a deep place in my life and experience. And chapter 12, power moves, and chapter 13, the dream awaits. Tell me what the power move is. The power move to me is it's finding significance and serving other people. And we live in a culture where leadership, um, as you know, William, is often expressed. Um, you know, look at my authority top down. Like I'm gonna flex my muscles. And uh for me, it's a chapter that I just unpacked that finding true significance. Significance is found in serving other people. I mean, it's it's what Jesus showed us. I mean, think about this. One of the stories, Jesus' last moments with his disciples, he gathers them together. It's just his business meeting. This is his plan. Like, guys, gather around. Here's the vision. This is what here's what we're gonna do. This is how we're gonna change the world. And he doesn't throw out the PowerPoint four steps on how to build the church, or you know, three keys. Those things are all great. I love steps, I love strategy. But he washes their feet and he and he says, Go do this to each other. This is how you're gonna make an indelible impact and difference in the world. It's serving others. If you and this is just after he said, I've given you all the like Jesus, God gave me all authority, and this is how I'm expressing my authority. I'm gonna serve. And I just feel the greatest expression of our authority as leaders is found in serving. It's found in the ability, how can I empower someone? How can I lift someone, encourage someone, um, protect someone, you know, care for someone, just how do I serve? That's the genesis of the power moves. So good.
SPEAKER_01That's so good. Well, I I know uh we're airing this a little before the launch, but books can launch in August 8th, something like that August 8th.
SPEAKER_03Absolutely. August 8th.
SPEAKER_01So here in Houston, there is nothing to do but be inside in August. So everyone in Houston needs to sit inside and read. Yes. Oh, because you don't want to go outside, you just die. You know, that's not a power move in Houston in August. Oh, so but but uh I assume Amazon, is there a website besides that you should go to?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, you you can go to nicknelson.com. Nick Nielsen and get Nick Nielsen.com will give you all the all the spaces that the book is going to be available. I mean, everywhere books are sold, you can find it. Amazon, Target, Books Million, Barnes and Noble, all those, but you can just go to my website and get information. Because I will say on there, if if you're a team leader, pastor, coach, you know, business owner, I've already had people ask me in my space um for for pre-order bulk orders for their team. They want to read it through as a group. And on my website, you can find an email there where you can email a point person from my our my publishing team that will give them a discounted rate if they pre-order a bulk order for their team. I think it's a great team exercise for teams, um, businesses, whatever wherever you find yourself in as a leader. I think it's a great book to read and discuss, talk about. I think there's some things that I think would help team culture. Like you said, power moves, some of these other chapters I think can can really be helpful.
SPEAKER_01Well, and and those of you who are just meeting Nick for the first time, the title might be Associate Pastor, but he leads massive size teams. So uh if he's taking a team through it or suggesting it, it's worth listening to. And uh I don't know, man. I'm still taking you for the three-pointer. I don't know. I you know, past in good shape. Now, my Adrian, my wife, sees him on the tennis court from time to time, says, and probably don't want to mess with him out there because he you don't he's got it going on.
SPEAKER_03He can play some tennis. Uh oh, yeah. I I try to athletically keep up, but he just there's just no chance I have out there. Play like like I would look like with you out in the golf course, just absolutely no chance.
SPEAKER_01Well, I I look forward to having you back on when you're uh telling us how well this book's done and how you're starting the second one, and we'll get summer on, and then people will really start listening. And uh you know, I just thank you. You you got a busy, busy life, and to take time out to visit with us is really really a treat. So thank you, Nick, for making time for us and uh best wishes with the book launch.
SPEAKER_03Thank you, William. I appreciate you having me on.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and and those of you who are regular listeners know this is when I start to ramble about. If you want the links in the show notes and all that, just go to Vandercast.com. It give us the email address. We will not beat you up with Ginsu knife orders and you know, but wait, there's more, just the show notes and the highlights, that sort of thing. And uh, you know, tune in next time for another visit with uh one of my friends that maybe you know, maybe you don't, but is serving Team Jesus so we can get this whole movement going farther and faster. Thanks for being here today.
SPEAKER_00Thanks for listening to the Vanderblemen Leadership Podcast. At Vanderblumen, we help Christian organizations build their best teams through hiring, succession, compensation, and diversity consulting services. Visit our website, Vanderblemen.com to learn more, and subscribe to our Vanderblemen Leadership Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts to keep up with our newest episodes. Thanks for listening.