leader after implementing RehearsalMix and ChartBuilder , was that I could now spend my freed-up time to further develop my team .
WEDNESDAYS ARE FOR WEEKLYS " Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before ." ~ Franz Kafka
Batching is a popular productivity hack . The basic idea is that you batch all similar types of work , such as phone calls , emails , blog writing etc . and carry them out together at set times . This helps heaps with time management and with focus . In our perfect week , Wednesdays are our contact day for meetings .
This is the day to sit down with the extended staff team and review and plan our current services . Maybe you sit down ( or stand up ) across teams , or you need to schedule time with crucial volunteers . I found setting aside a day , or at least a half-day , for these types of meetings to be super helpful . I was able to plan for them , not reach meeting fatigue or risk the temptation of using that day for another task .
THURSDAYS ARE FOR TAILORING " It always seems impossible until it ' s done ." - Nelson Mandela
It feels crazy to admit this but , what I ' m about to suggest you can do in just a Thursday used to take me 90 % of my working week !
Thursday is the day I take my setlist and tailor it for my Church Service . I start with the setlist and open it up in Playback . Playback is a multitrack player for live performance and believe me when I say it ' s incredible ! I ' ve been a fan of using tracks in worship for years , in fact , I first used Ableton Live some ten years ago . I ' ve spent countless hours watching and creating tutorials on the subject and I consider myself more than proficient inside the software . Now , my eight-year-old son can set up Playback quicker than I can on Ableton . Imagine planning services across multiple campuses with varying levels of volunteers and vocal ranges and you ' ll appreciate the added complexities .
Playback just works ! I can access any 1 of 12,000 songs right from the device , transpose to any of the twelve keys , edit my arrangement , and decide on the instrument mix all intuitively . I can link songs , crossfade to an ambient pad ( with or without clicks ) and even send multiple outputs to the sound desk all from an iPhone or iPad .
With all that time saved , I can also afford to take on other production elements such as lyrics , motion backgrounds and lights . I can even search the expansive collection of Sounds by MultiTracks . com to find the perfect guitar tone or easy-to-play song specific keyboard patch . By the time Thursday evening rehearsal is done , we ' ve completed a full-service walkthrough and have a perfectly tailored plan .
FRIDAYS ARE FOR FUTURE " Do something today that your future self will thank you for ." - Sean Patrick Flanery
I love perfect week Fridays . Since utilizing the combination of RehearsalMix , ChartBuilder , Playback and Playback Rentals , I spend Fridays looking beyond the coming Sunday . I can use them to song write , dream up new teambuilding events , search for new songs or just make the space to be creative . I can use them to audition new team members , incidentally , still using RehearsalMix to allow the candidate to prepare and showcase their musicality . Friday is the kind of day I naively dreamt the entire week of a worship pastor would be like .
It ' s because of ' Future Fridays ' I first experimented with technology in worship , learned basic piano , and taught myself how to program a lighting desk . Maybe for you , it ' s developing your leadership gift , broadening your musical knowledge , taking vocal lessons , or learning how to handcraft the perfect latte .
SATURDAYS ARE FOR SABBATH " Divert Daily , Withdraw Weekly and Abandon Annually ." — Rick Warren
MultiTracks . com was born out of the experience of our Founder Phillip Edwards , as he spent hours each Saturday evening building his set and preparing for Sunday . Thanks to him and the whole team here at MultiTracks . com , you don ' t need to . In fact , the perfect week involves the perfect sabbath day off . For me , that ' s a day being a fully present husband and father .
SUNDAYS ARE FOR SERVICE " Easy like Sunday morning !" - Lionel Richie
Walking out of my house on a Sunday feels like I ' m stepping down the player ' s tunnel at Wembley Stadium . It ' s match day , I ' m fully prepared and super focused on my day . I ' ve done all the hard work to ensure today has a purpose , but I ' m not scared to divert from that game plan . My application of choice , Playback , allows me to rearrange , loop or live reorder at the touch of a button . I can lead with the confidence that its most significant feature is stability , and I know my team is also confident and fully prepared . I ' m secure in the fact that I ' m equipped to lead both the service and my team well .
Tim Hughes draws parallels between the worship leader and the consummate dinner host . The ideal host excels at serving their guests while still participating in the meal themselves . It would be weird for the host to encourage the guests to eat alone stating , " It ' s ok , I ' ll eat by myself later once you ' ve gone .” The perfect week not only sets me up for success , but it means I have less to worry or think about as I lead . I ' m free to worship and focus on what God is doing , ready to respond and pivot at any moment .
Finally , I spend a little time reflecting on the day . Not too much that it consumes me , and not too small that I don ' t learn . I ' ve learned , the hard way , not to let a Sunday service define my worth or dictate my week . That goes for good and those less than perfect !
Kristian Ponsford Director of Products & Market Development at MultiTracks . com , and he is passionate about helping worship leaders lead worship well .
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