If you have read my blog for more than a few months, you know I love the Catalyst Conferences. I have spoken at the last six in a row. I’ll be speaking again at the Atlanta conference, which will be held on October 5–7, 2011.

The Atlanta conference is Catalyst’s biggest one. More than 13,000 next generation leaders will attend. It always sells out. (If you have ever been, you know why.) If you haven’t registered, you can do so between now and Friday, June 17th and get 38% off the regular ticket price. I’ll tell you how at the end of this post.

If you have never attended the Catalyst Conference, I’m sure you have heard about it. It is the premier conference for next generation Christian leaders. In a moment, I will tell you how to get a big discount.

I have been attending Catalyst since they began in Atlanta a decade ago. Thankfully, Catalyst began expanding into new markets a few years ago. On May 11–13, they will be host their first-ever conference in Dallas at Bent Tree Bible Church. It is going to be a killer experience.

Andy Stanley is one of my very favorite authors and speakers. I listen to his monthly leadership podcast and read everything he writes. Last week, we released his newest book, The Grace of God.

In case you don’t know, Andy Stanley is the founder of North Point Ministries (NPM), one of the fastest growing and most influential Christian organizations in America. Each Sunday, over 20,000 adults attend services at one of NPM’s three campuses in the Atlanta area: North Point Community Church, Browns Bridge Community Church, and Buckhead Church.

If you have never been to a Catalyst Conference, you need to go. I can’t be more direct than that. You will thank me later.

If you have been following my blog or Twitter feed for more than a month or two, you know I am an Andy Stanley fan. I believe he is one of the great communicators of our age. He always nails it in a way that makes me think, Of course! That’s exactly right.

The last two years have been challenging times to lead. We have experienced a tsunami of economic change. It has rippled through every aspect of our culture. Most of us have probably spent more time reacting that we would like.

Real leaders crave input. They read books and blogs. They listen to podcasts and CDs. And, they attend conferences. Why? Because they know that influence comes from generosity, and generosity is only possible if you have something to share.

For the past several months, I have been thinking about starting a mentoring group. As a result, I have bought several books on the topic. However, the best one I have read so far is Mentor Like Jesus by Regi Campbell. In a moment, I will tell you how to get a free copy.

Andy Stanley is one of my favorite authors. I listen to his leadership podcast religiously. We also had the privilege of publishing his new book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be [affiliate link]. In a few minutes, I’ll tell you how to get a copy FREE, along with a few other cool gifts.

A few weeks ago, Brad Lomenick interviewed me for Catalyst Podcasts. We discussed my business practices as a CEO, the future of social media, and my advice to the next generation of leaders.

This interview is now up on CatalystSpace. It is a podcast format. You can listen online, download to your computer, or download to your iPhone or iPod via iTunes. (These are all options via this link.) The interview is about 40 minutes long.

If there is one thing great leaders know, it is how to lead themselves. This is especially important in turbulent times. If you can’t lead yourself—and keep your own batteries charged—you can’t lead others.

That’s why I am attending The Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, October 7–9. In a moment, I’ll tell you how you can attend too and get an exclusive 28% discount—but only for the next 48 hours.

Andy Stanley is the founder and senior pastor of Northpoint Community Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also one of the best communicators I have ever heard. His “Leadership Podcast” is designed “to help leaders go further faster.” I can attest to the fact that it delivers on its promise.