Hi I’m Wayne Pederson with Lessons for Leaders.

Life in leadership is full of surprises.

Like the guy that a few years ago was so challenging to work with is now one of my best friends...and a close ministry colleague.

The guy I went running with in a rainstorm 10 years ago is now one of my most trusted colleagues.

And a really good friend I used to see almost every day for 25 years, I now hardly ever see. But when we do see each other, we pick right up where we left off.

Now, before I break into singing “Friends” by Michael W. Smith, let me say that such friendships are vitally important to our leadership. The investments we make in people yields dividends for years and decades to come.

I even have a guy I call my 2 a.m. friend. One day when I was facing a huge challenge, he said; “Call me, even if it`s 2 a.m., call me.”

Do you have any 2 a.m. friends?

Proverbs says: “The pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.”