When a phrase comes to your attention from three different sources all within a 24-hour period, it might be wise to pay attention! The phrase Audience of One appeared in a sermon podcast in the morning and two separate books on different topics in the afternoon. Discussing the Sermon on the Mount, Ortberg discusses how we can take positive experiences in our life and “use [those] to win other people’s approval and to “feed [our] own ego.” Sharing stories of God’s success when people chase their dreams (or a lion as Benaiah did), Mark Batterson regales the ripple effect of living out a God-inspired dream. Finally, in the Messiah Method, Zigarelli examines the underlying elements of the on-field success of two intercollegiate soccer teams. Three different perspectives all emerging into one common theme: an Audience of One.

Approaching the concept from three different perspectives, each communicator offers a unique route to the same principle that where we place our focus matters in the journey to a flourishing life. When we choose to center our focus on an Audience of One, we provide ourselves with a tool to align all aspects of our lives. Just as an organization thrives when all members are working towards the same mission and the same vision, when we align our focus on the One who knit us in our mother’s womb rather than allowing it to be blurred by the distractions of this world, we flourish spiritually, personally, and professionally.

Now, I don’t know about you, but attempting to focus on an Audience of One is difficult. This world beckons me to align my priorities with what it values, even when these are admirable goals to aspire to; but if my focus in not on God first, then the Enemy twists a virtue into a sin. Let’s take some examples from my life and see if you can visualize a similar scenario in yours. Wanting to have a magnificent class, I work diligently to research engaging teaching strategies. Desiring to go above and beyond for my students, one day I bring an item to class that I think a student will appreciate. Longing to be an independent person, I refuse the assistance of a colleague with the timing on a test. Each of these examples are virtuous goals to aspire to as long as the focus remains on serving others; however, it is a simple blurring of my focus that transforms these virtues into the sin of pride.

Pride departs us from what we learn in Matthew 6 and has us arriving at what Ortberg calls “approval addiction.” Rather than focusing on strategies that will engage learners to be curious about course content, I move towards desiring their approval so that maybe student evaluation scores will improve. Thinking I deserve a pat on the back for remembering to bring in a small container of disinfectant wipes for one of the special needs students in our class to help him feel more comfortable, he opens his backpack to retrieve a gigantic, supersize dispenser to let me know my idea was not an original! (Plus, his smelled better too).

Whether it’s a professor in a classroom, an athlete on the field, or an entrepreneur chasing their dreams, the important factor relates to motivation. What is our purpose and who are we focused on? If our focus is in the right place, as with Messiah’s soccer program, athletes have a “clear framing of their purpose’ which allows them to ‘approach competition as an act of worship,’ and use it as “an opportunity to steward the gifts that God has entrusted to them.” Playing for an Audience of One becomes not only a priority but a part of the organizational culture and even seeps into the language on campus.

With a proper focus on Him, God will use our talents and gifts to bless others and to find significance for ourselves. Perhaps you have experiences you would like to share in the comments below when your focus strayed to the approval of others rather than the Audience of One.

References:

Batterson, M. (2016). Chase the lion: If your dream doesn’t scare you, it’s too small. Multnomah.

Ortberg, J. (Pastor). (2018, January 7). Forget yourself: Audience of one. [Audio podcast]. https://menlo.church/mountainview/message/audience-of-one

Zigarelli, M.A. (2011). The Messiah method: The seven disciplines of the winningest college soccer program in America. Xulon Press.