Time Management audio clip
Back to the I-Beam - What Is Important to You?
If you have big goals for your life the chances are that you won’t have enough time to do them all. We need to go back to that I-Beam overtop of the Trade Towers and think about the things we would be willing to wander out, through the wind and rain, and cross for.
We need to look to our goals and decide what the highest priorities are. Knowing what those high priorities are, we can then start to work on them. That will require us to make decisions about what lower value events to sacrifice every day. We need to do this every day, over and over, for the rest of our lives. This is a key principle in living a successful life and achieving our dreams.
"But I'm tired when I get home from work . . ."
Most of us do jobs that are not physically exhausting, yet by the end of the day we feel totally spent. We don't have energy to do any of our more important goals. Why? Some call it stress, or mental exhaustion, but it is a state of mind, not a physical condition where our bodies need to recharge.
Think about the difference in how you feel when you come home from an average day at work but instead of the normal routine, you have a movie you plan to go to. All of a sudden, you're not as tired. The energy that is usually sapped in you now is back in a form of excitement because you're going out, and will see your friends, and you have an anticipation about the fun you're about to have!
Most of the time, if we can just take the next step towards the big goal we have, the energy will flow back into you and you'll get that second wind, being able to accomplish a higher priority goal. It's a MENTAL thing, not a PHYSICAL thing. We need to discipline ourselves to push through to the next step; to the higher goal, and launch ourselves into action!
Event Management and Covey's Urgent versus Important Quadrant audio clip
The Difference Between Important and Urgent
Dr. Stephen Covey refers to this in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People specifically in habit 3: Put First Things First. Here, Covey describes a framework for prioritizing work that is aimed at short-term goals, at the expense of tasks that appear not to be urgent, but are in fact very important.
The basis of Covey's prioritization method involves categorizing our activities into one of four quadrants. He separates our tasks or events into four categories: Low Importance/ Low Urgency, Low Importance/High Urgency, High Importance/High Urgency, High Importance/Low Urgency.
These four categories make up the Covey Quadrant. Most of us spend too much time on the urgent but unimportant areas. We should spend time first on the urgent, highly important activities, getting those highly urgent, highly important things done first and then spending time on the lower urgency, but highly important actions and events. There will always be a balance of all four categories, but the way we weight them will dramatically change our futures.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Finding New Sources of Income
The basic premise of gaining wealth is to spend less than you earn. Controlling spend demonstrates great stewardship of what has been provided to us. We've said before that no matter how much a person earns, we have the capacity to always spend a little more than that! We've all heard stories of movie stars and professional athletes who made millions but died paupers, or wound up in jail because they couldn't afford to pay their taxes! We MUST control what we spend.
New Sources of Income
A lot of people feel stuck in their jobs. Some are afraid to change jobs. Some people are holding out for retirement ten or fifteen years away. There are lots of ways of increasing income in our present jobs usually, and outside of our jobs, our hobbies and other interests can often open up new doors to earning more. Key to the increase is always our willingness to give. Giving our offerings over and above the 10% tithe "opens the windows of heaven." The following ideas are simply some ways that those blessings can come through the window into your life.
Many of the ideas below relate to earning extra money at a job. In Proverbs 16:3 it calls for God's people to "Commit your works unto the Lord . . ." In my experience it is usually impossible to distinguish people on that basis. I've even experienced people who felt that they didn't need to work as hard because they had a higher calling on their lives. My belief is that the correct understanding of that scripture is for us to distinguish ourselves in the workplace because of our attitudes and work ethic.
As you enter your workplace consider:
* Do you work hard and smart all the time you're being paid to be there?
* Are you thinking of ideas to make your company more successful?
* Do you help others be successful by encouraging them or lending a hand?
* When you see something wrong, do you complain or do you present a possible solution?
* Do you often volunteer to help or go the extra mile to make sure the job is done right?
* Do you avoid the attitude and expression "it's not my job!" ?
* Do you honor your boss and respect your peers, even when they may be wrong?
* Are you seeing the affirmation of these attributes in your performance reviews?
Consider those work ethic opportunities and start making them part of your daily way of working. Now look at the list below to see where those "heavenly windows" might overflow into your life.
1 Work Overtime – if your job allows overtime, consider taking advantage of it whenever possible.
2 Ask for More Money – most people NEVER negotiate their salaries after they start working. Negotiation should be done tactfully, but can make a huge difference. Note that by embracing the attitude and work ethics described above, your ability to negotiate successfully for more money will be increased dramatically!
3 Increase your Knowledge and Skill – make yourself more valuable to your current or future employer. Often your employer will pay for it.
4 Job Changes or Promotions – Don’t get stuck thinking that the job you have is the only one you can do. You have valuable skills and knowledge that others are willing to pay for. Consider other opportunities. Consider promotions. Don’t be afraid to look.
5 Hobbies can become a small business – do you have hobbies that lend themselves to a small business? Opening a business has never been easier because of the internet and many people have used a hobby to become business owners with all of the tax advantages and extra income it provides.
6 Network, Network, Network – the majority of people get new jobs because of someone they know. Personal contacts and relationships open more doors than any other activity. Networking is also a great source of knowledge and expertise. It is possibly the most powerful tool in your arsenal for moving ahead.
Six Ways to Increase Your Income (audio clip)
New Sources of Income
A lot of people feel stuck in their jobs. Some are afraid to change jobs. Some people are holding out for retirement ten or fifteen years away. There are lots of ways of increasing income in our present jobs usually, and outside of our jobs, our hobbies and other interests can often open up new doors to earning more. Key to the increase is always our willingness to give. Giving our offerings over and above the 10% tithe "opens the windows of heaven." The following ideas are simply some ways that those blessings can come through the window into your life.
Many of the ideas below relate to earning extra money at a job. In Proverbs 16:3 it calls for God's people to "Commit your works unto the Lord . . ." In my experience it is usually impossible to distinguish people on that basis. I've even experienced people who felt that they didn't need to work as hard because they had a higher calling on their lives. My belief is that the correct understanding of that scripture is for us to distinguish ourselves in the workplace because of our attitudes and work ethic.
As you enter your workplace consider:
* Do you work hard and smart all the time you're being paid to be there?
* Are you thinking of ideas to make your company more successful?
* Do you help others be successful by encouraging them or lending a hand?
* When you see something wrong, do you complain or do you present a possible solution?
* Do you often volunteer to help or go the extra mile to make sure the job is done right?
* Do you avoid the attitude and expression "it's not my job!" ?
* Do you honor your boss and respect your peers, even when they may be wrong?
* Are you seeing the affirmation of these attributes in your performance reviews?
Consider those work ethic opportunities and start making them part of your daily way of working. Now look at the list below to see where those "heavenly windows" might overflow into your life.
1 Work Overtime – if your job allows overtime, consider taking advantage of it whenever possible.
2 Ask for More Money – most people NEVER negotiate their salaries after they start working. Negotiation should be done tactfully, but can make a huge difference. Note that by embracing the attitude and work ethics described above, your ability to negotiate successfully for more money will be increased dramatically!
3 Increase your Knowledge and Skill – make yourself more valuable to your current or future employer. Often your employer will pay for it.
4 Job Changes or Promotions – Don’t get stuck thinking that the job you have is the only one you can do. You have valuable skills and knowledge that others are willing to pay for. Consider other opportunities. Consider promotions. Don’t be afraid to look.
5 Hobbies can become a small business – do you have hobbies that lend themselves to a small business? Opening a business has never been easier because of the internet and many people have used a hobby to become business owners with all of the tax advantages and extra income it provides.
6 Network, Network, Network – the majority of people get new jobs because of someone they know. Personal contacts and relationships open more doors than any other activity. Networking is also a great source of knowledge and expertise. It is possibly the most powerful tool in your arsenal for moving ahead.
Six Ways to Increase Your Income (audio clip)
Monday, November 17, 2008
Controlling What You Spend
Why is spending less than we make so hard to do? Do you just "owe it to yourself?" Is it lack of discipline? Maybe some things are really critical and can't wait?
Whatever the reason, here are some tried and true tips that will help you to get control of your finances. Some will apply more than others, but the important thing is that you START TODAY! Pick something, and do it! Even starting with something easy is better than just thinking about things and not applying them! Good intentions never got us anywhere good!
The Value of Money Management audio clip
Tracking your spend helps you see where it’s all going however, controlling it requires great discipline. Breaking old habits is extremely difficult. You MUST start with a written budget. No exceptions. You can’t control something that is not clearly defined. If it’s just a though in your head – that’s an idea, not a plan.
WRITE IT DOWN
Why is it so important to write your plan down? For the same reasons we make "to-do" lists and write down our other goals. A budget and your plans to adjust your spend down and your income up need to be written down. You need to look at them frequently, touch the paper, slide action items into your daily calendar, and check off accomplishments as you achieve them!
Written Budget audio clip
1. Cut up the credit cards – some people need to take this step first just to avoid the temptation of overspending. Others can manage spend through other methods. Think about your will power. The discipline of saving and waiting versus credit’s instant gratification can be very very hard to adopt into your lifestyle.
Cut the Credit Cards audio clip
2. Pay with cash only – going out and buying things with cash feels very different than using a card or paying with a check. Some people have paid for gasoline using one dollar bills – just to remind themselves of what they are spending every time. Paying for groceries or trips to the WaWa with cash heightens the awareness of what things cost. Maybe you’ll put back the extra bottles of Red Bull or bag of potato chips, if money is running tight.
Purchase With Cash Only audio clip
3. Only buy if it’s on the list – NEVER go to the store without a list. Think through what you need ahead of time, and if it’s not on your list don’t buy it unless it’s a true need that you just overlooked.
Shop With a List audio clip
4. Envelope System – is a variation on paying cash only. For most major expense categories take out cash for the weekly budget amount and put it in an envelope. Do this for lunches, groceries, gasoline, and other things spend on daily. When the envelope for that budget area is empty, you stop buying!
Envelope System audio clip
5. Use debit cards only – a variation on using cash but has the advantages of using a credit card. The debit card approach forces you to only spend what you have, but requires more discipline then the cash methods to use effectively.
Use Debit Cards audio clip
6. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate – everything in this world that you want is either owned or controlled by someone else. Everything is negotiable if you are willing to ask.
Negotiate Everything! audio clip
7. Routinely update your spend totals versus your budget. Make adjustments in what you spend in the "controllable" areas to reign it in at least monthly, and weekly as you first start this process. Note that some categories are not very controllable - your rent or mortgage, minimum balances on credit cards, etc. cannot be cut back easily. Other categories of spend - lunches, groceries, snacks, entertainment for example, can typically be reduced, eliminated or delayed. This requires some sacrifice but is absolutely worth it as you get control over your money and feel the peace in your life as you conquer this challenging area.
Review and Balance Your Budget audio clip
Remember: There is never a shortage of resources, only a shortage of ideas! God is a creative God, and in His image, we are a creative people. Before getting discouraged, always brainstorm other ways of solving the problem!
Whatever the reason, here are some tried and true tips that will help you to get control of your finances. Some will apply more than others, but the important thing is that you START TODAY! Pick something, and do it! Even starting with something easy is better than just thinking about things and not applying them! Good intentions never got us anywhere good!
The Value of Money Management audio clip
Tracking your spend helps you see where it’s all going however, controlling it requires great discipline. Breaking old habits is extremely difficult. You MUST start with a written budget. No exceptions. You can’t control something that is not clearly defined. If it’s just a though in your head – that’s an idea, not a plan.
WRITE IT DOWN
Why is it so important to write your plan down? For the same reasons we make "to-do" lists and write down our other goals. A budget and your plans to adjust your spend down and your income up need to be written down. You need to look at them frequently, touch the paper, slide action items into your daily calendar, and check off accomplishments as you achieve them!
Written Budget audio clip
1. Cut up the credit cards – some people need to take this step first just to avoid the temptation of overspending. Others can manage spend through other methods. Think about your will power. The discipline of saving and waiting versus credit’s instant gratification can be very very hard to adopt into your lifestyle.
Cut the Credit Cards audio clip
2. Pay with cash only – going out and buying things with cash feels very different than using a card or paying with a check. Some people have paid for gasoline using one dollar bills – just to remind themselves of what they are spending every time. Paying for groceries or trips to the WaWa with cash heightens the awareness of what things cost. Maybe you’ll put back the extra bottles of Red Bull or bag of potato chips, if money is running tight.
Purchase With Cash Only audio clip
3. Only buy if it’s on the list – NEVER go to the store without a list. Think through what you need ahead of time, and if it’s not on your list don’t buy it unless it’s a true need that you just overlooked.
Shop With a List audio clip
4. Envelope System – is a variation on paying cash only. For most major expense categories take out cash for the weekly budget amount and put it in an envelope. Do this for lunches, groceries, gasoline, and other things spend on daily. When the envelope for that budget area is empty, you stop buying!
Envelope System audio clip
5. Use debit cards only – a variation on using cash but has the advantages of using a credit card. The debit card approach forces you to only spend what you have, but requires more discipline then the cash methods to use effectively.
Use Debit Cards audio clip
6. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate – everything in this world that you want is either owned or controlled by someone else. Everything is negotiable if you are willing to ask.
Negotiate Everything! audio clip
7. Routinely update your spend totals versus your budget. Make adjustments in what you spend in the "controllable" areas to reign it in at least monthly, and weekly as you first start this process. Note that some categories are not very controllable - your rent or mortgage, minimum balances on credit cards, etc. cannot be cut back easily. Other categories of spend - lunches, groceries, snacks, entertainment for example, can typically be reduced, eliminated or delayed. This requires some sacrifice but is absolutely worth it as you get control over your money and feel the peace in your life as you conquer this challenging area.
Review and Balance Your Budget audio clip
Remember: There is never a shortage of resources, only a shortage of ideas! God is a creative God, and in His image, we are a creative people. Before getting discouraged, always brainstorm other ways of solving the problem!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Managing Money - Why Is It So Important?
When setting long-term goals the question of money always seems to come into play. Money too often limits the scope of our dreams and goals. Christians are called to "walk by faith" yet the scriptures are filled with teachings about money. This is confusing to some but makes perfect sense when you think about it. God wants us to be stewards of the gifts He gives us. While the love of money is the root of all evil, the use of money is a powerful vehicle that God can pour into us when He knows that we will allow it to pass through our hands to the places it needs to go. This might involve giving to church or charities or supporting widows and orphans, or maybe even investing into your BIG GOALS so that you can bless others on a much larger scale.
The Two Basic Secrets to Building Wealth
There are two essential rules that enable us to prosper financially. One is spiritual and the other very practical.
1 Tithe and Give Offerings - this enables God to "open the windows of heaven" and pour resources into our lives.
2 Spend less than you make - this is an amazingly simple concept that most people don't ever learn to do.
Why are they such hard concepts for us?
The concept of tithing the first 10% of our income is mentioned many times in the bible. It is an act of obedience, acknowledging that God is our provider and the first portion of our income goes into the storehouse where we are being fed, normally our local church. Offerings are over and above the tithe and we give obediently and in faith, knowing that all of our provision comes from an unlimited God.
The second secret seems to be simple common sense, but many, if not most people struggle with it. The easy access to credit makes the notion of saving money until we can afford something we want seem antiquated. I've often found that by waiting and saving for something that by the time you save enough up to buy it, you find that it's not quite as appealing as it initially was. Spending less than we make often means denying ourselves that instant gratification that credit encourages. That is a hard thing but not necessarily a bad thing.
Below are the audio clips from the meeting on October 26, 2008 where we discussed this. Take a listen and begin to see how these two secrets are working in your life!
Introduction to Money Management
First steps to Money Management
Tracking Our Spend
Tracking what we spend and where we spend it is a simple thing to do. It goes beyond just balancing the checkbook, but requires that we look at where every penny goes.
Try this exercise. For the next few weeks track every single thing you spend money on during the day, while you're going about your normal activities. Just jot it down in a notebook or piece of paper and track where every bit of it goes. At the end of each week, roll the spend up into categories to see where it all went. Ask yourself some hard questions. Where did I buy things you really didn't need? Where could I have cut back or gone with a less expensive option? Could I have prepared a meal versus eating out? Could I go to a matinee movie versus a prime time movie, or rented a DVD? All of these things can help you make informed decisions about where you want to curb your spending. Remember that every cent you can redirect is another step towards enabling that dream you have. Isn't it worth it?
The following is the audio clip from our meeting of October 26th:
Tracking Your Spending
Getting Out of Credit Card Debt
Credit cards are a huge issue for some people. Experts say that if you have credit card debt, the best approach is to start by cutting up the card to avoid the temptation of using it. For some people that might be the right approach. Others might have the discipline to tuck it away and not use it. So, what can you do if you're already in debt? If you have several bills and want to pay them off, how can you do it?
The first step after stopping use of the cards is to track your spending and find some extra money every month to apply to your outstanding debt. It might only be $50 or so, but it's still a big step forward! Instead of paying off the card with the highest interest rate, consider paying off the one that has the shortest time left on it. Keep paying the minimum on the other cards, but put the full $50 on the card with the shortest time left. Continue doing this month after month after month until it's paid off.
Now tackle the second card with the next shortest time left. Continue putting the $50 towards it, but now include the amount you had been paying on the first card (that you just paid off) perhaps now having $100 a month to accelerate the payment of the second card. Eventually you'll pay off this one too and you can go on to the third shortest debt, taking the $100 plus the amount of the second credit card payment and applying all of it to the third debt.
This approach will get you out of debt faster than spreading the extra money among the individual card payments. As a plus, you'll be able to see quicker results of your sacrifice as one by one the debts fall off. Eventually you'll be debt free from the chains of credit cards.
Take a listen to the excerpt from our October 26th meeting:
Accelerated Plan to Eliminate Credit Card Debt
The Two Basic Secrets to Building Wealth
There are two essential rules that enable us to prosper financially. One is spiritual and the other very practical.
1 Tithe and Give Offerings - this enables God to "open the windows of heaven" and pour resources into our lives.
2 Spend less than you make - this is an amazingly simple concept that most people don't ever learn to do.
Why are they such hard concepts for us?
The concept of tithing the first 10% of our income is mentioned many times in the bible. It is an act of obedience, acknowledging that God is our provider and the first portion of our income goes into the storehouse where we are being fed, normally our local church. Offerings are over and above the tithe and we give obediently and in faith, knowing that all of our provision comes from an unlimited God.
The second secret seems to be simple common sense, but many, if not most people struggle with it. The easy access to credit makes the notion of saving money until we can afford something we want seem antiquated. I've often found that by waiting and saving for something that by the time you save enough up to buy it, you find that it's not quite as appealing as it initially was. Spending less than we make often means denying ourselves that instant gratification that credit encourages. That is a hard thing but not necessarily a bad thing.
Below are the audio clips from the meeting on October 26, 2008 where we discussed this. Take a listen and begin to see how these two secrets are working in your life!
Introduction to Money Management
First steps to Money Management
Tracking Our Spend
Tracking what we spend and where we spend it is a simple thing to do. It goes beyond just balancing the checkbook, but requires that we look at where every penny goes.
Try this exercise. For the next few weeks track every single thing you spend money on during the day, while you're going about your normal activities. Just jot it down in a notebook or piece of paper and track where every bit of it goes. At the end of each week, roll the spend up into categories to see where it all went. Ask yourself some hard questions. Where did I buy things you really didn't need? Where could I have cut back or gone with a less expensive option? Could I have prepared a meal versus eating out? Could I go to a matinee movie versus a prime time movie, or rented a DVD? All of these things can help you make informed decisions about where you want to curb your spending. Remember that every cent you can redirect is another step towards enabling that dream you have. Isn't it worth it?
The following is the audio clip from our meeting of October 26th:
Tracking Your Spending
Getting Out of Credit Card Debt
Credit cards are a huge issue for some people. Experts say that if you have credit card debt, the best approach is to start by cutting up the card to avoid the temptation of using it. For some people that might be the right approach. Others might have the discipline to tuck it away and not use it. So, what can you do if you're already in debt? If you have several bills and want to pay them off, how can you do it?
The first step after stopping use of the cards is to track your spending and find some extra money every month to apply to your outstanding debt. It might only be $50 or so, but it's still a big step forward! Instead of paying off the card with the highest interest rate, consider paying off the one that has the shortest time left on it. Keep paying the minimum on the other cards, but put the full $50 on the card with the shortest time left. Continue doing this month after month after month until it's paid off.
Now tackle the second card with the next shortest time left. Continue putting the $50 towards it, but now include the amount you had been paying on the first card (that you just paid off) perhaps now having $100 a month to accelerate the payment of the second card. Eventually you'll pay off this one too and you can go on to the third shortest debt, taking the $100 plus the amount of the second credit card payment and applying all of it to the third debt.
This approach will get you out of debt faster than spreading the extra money among the individual card payments. As a plus, you'll be able to see quicker results of your sacrifice as one by one the debts fall off. Eventually you'll be debt free from the chains of credit cards.
Take a listen to the excerpt from our October 26th meeting:
Accelerated Plan to Eliminate Credit Card Debt
Monday, November 3, 2008
What's Wrong With Failure?
An excerpt from the October 26, 2008 meeting
Failure?
We're taught in school that things are either right or wrong. We either understood or we didn't. In most cases our parents taught us the same way and clearly the Bible is very black and white on many issues. However, even in the scriptures the way God calls for us to deal with failure is very different than how most people practice it. When we sin and fall short, God calls for us to repent, change our ways, and seek His forgiveness.
As Christians, we know that Christ paid the price for our failures on the cross at Calvary. It also says that God chooses to remember our transgressions no more, burying them in the deepest parts of the ocean, or as far as the east is from the west! Most of us however, continue to hold on to the memories of our failure and often limit ourselves by dwelling on them long after God Himself has pushed them aside.
No One Gets It Right All The Time
There has probably never been a Big Goal achieved, or a project done anywhere, anytime that didn't have a number of failures spread along the way. Even with the best forward and contingency planning, stuff is going to happen that nobody could anticipate. Things will always go wrong. This isn't some "negative" confession, just a statement of truth. If we do enough things, some percentage of them will miss the mark! Some by a little. Some by a lot!
When our plans get derailed what choices do we have? One option is to give up. Realize that we've missed it, maybe even missed God with our dream or mission. We can stop and feel bad for ourselves; maybe repent and try something else. More than likely that will fail too and the cycle will begin over again.
Successful people recognize that a failure is a place to examine and learn from. It's a time to reflect on what went wrong and creatively develop a new and better plan that will still take them to the next milestone. They bob and weave and keep on pushing towards that dream!
W. Edwards Deming is considered by many as "Father of Quality." One of the many things he gave the world was something referred to as the Continuous Improvement Cycle. It applies as much to our own lives as it does to running a business.
The Continuous Improvement Cycle
Plan - Every project or goal starts with a plan, considering the details of what must be done and how we will do it.
Do - Get started! Begin working the plan immediately.
Check - After you've begun to see the results of your actions Evaluate what impact they had. Are you on target or missing it?
Act or Adjust - Understand where your original plan "failed" and learn from it. Take that new understanding and use it to develop a new and better plan. Start the refined process all over again.
Recognize that failure is a normal, natural part of life. Everyone has failed who has ever attempted anything. You will not be the exception. The question is - will it make you stronger and smarter and more able to do it better the second time? Or will it crush you, demoralize you and cause you to quit? Don't quit! Don't think of it as failure. The bumps in the road are there to learn from and you'll avoid them next time around!
The following is an excerpt from the meeting:
Failure and the the Continuous Improvement Cycle Audio Clip
Failure?
We're taught in school that things are either right or wrong. We either understood or we didn't. In most cases our parents taught us the same way and clearly the Bible is very black and white on many issues. However, even in the scriptures the way God calls for us to deal with failure is very different than how most people practice it. When we sin and fall short, God calls for us to repent, change our ways, and seek His forgiveness.
As Christians, we know that Christ paid the price for our failures on the cross at Calvary. It also says that God chooses to remember our transgressions no more, burying them in the deepest parts of the ocean, or as far as the east is from the west! Most of us however, continue to hold on to the memories of our failure and often limit ourselves by dwelling on them long after God Himself has pushed them aside.
No One Gets It Right All The Time
There has probably never been a Big Goal achieved, or a project done anywhere, anytime that didn't have a number of failures spread along the way. Even with the best forward and contingency planning, stuff is going to happen that nobody could anticipate. Things will always go wrong. This isn't some "negative" confession, just a statement of truth. If we do enough things, some percentage of them will miss the mark! Some by a little. Some by a lot!
When our plans get derailed what choices do we have? One option is to give up. Realize that we've missed it, maybe even missed God with our dream or mission. We can stop and feel bad for ourselves; maybe repent and try something else. More than likely that will fail too and the cycle will begin over again.
Successful people recognize that a failure is a place to examine and learn from. It's a time to reflect on what went wrong and creatively develop a new and better plan that will still take them to the next milestone. They bob and weave and keep on pushing towards that dream!
W. Edwards Deming is considered by many as "Father of Quality." One of the many things he gave the world was something referred to as the Continuous Improvement Cycle. It applies as much to our own lives as it does to running a business.
The Continuous Improvement Cycle
Plan - Every project or goal starts with a plan, considering the details of what must be done and how we will do it.
Do - Get started! Begin working the plan immediately.
Check - After you've begun to see the results of your actions Evaluate what impact they had. Are you on target or missing it?
Act or Adjust - Understand where your original plan "failed" and learn from it. Take that new understanding and use it to develop a new and better plan. Start the refined process all over again.
Recognize that failure is a normal, natural part of life. Everyone has failed who has ever attempted anything. You will not be the exception. The question is - will it make you stronger and smarter and more able to do it better the second time? Or will it crush you, demoralize you and cause you to quit? Don't quit! Don't think of it as failure. The bumps in the road are there to learn from and you'll avoid them next time around!
The following is an excerpt from the meeting:
Failure and the the Continuous Improvement Cycle Audio Clip
Life Plan Steps - a Review
Excerpt from the October 26, 2008 Meeting
The process of building on our knowledge of who God has called us to be, and knowing the gifts that have been placed in us along with our core or governing values is the first step towards developing a "Life Plan"
Big Long-Term Goals
For many of our core values we should develop Big Long-Term Goals that stretch us but are attainable with some hard work, discipline and grace.
Milestones
For each of our Big, Long-Term goals we want to establish Milestones along the way. These are points in time where specific targets are achieved, typically spaced no more than 6 months to a year apart. Consider the example of a big goal of attaining a four-year college degree. The natural milestones in that goal plan might be June 2010 complete Freshman year, June 2011 complete Sophomore year, etc . . .
Short-Term Goals
To reach the milestones many short-term goals must be set that will enable us in smaller "bites." In the example above, perhaps a short-term goal for reaching the milestone of completing the Freshman Year would be - Pass all mid-term and final exams for the classes I'm enrolled in. Another might be to select the right classes ahead of the start of the year so that they are in alignment with the major you're enrolled in.
Actions
For every Short-Term goal there must be ACTIONS. Actions are what transfers our dreams into our realities by taking small steps every day on the path towards our Short-Term goals, leading to our Milestones, leading to our Big Long-Term goals. In the example above an action might be to earn the money to buy my school books by August 15, 2009. Another might be to establish a study schedule by September 8, 2009 to dedicate time each day for doing my classwork and preparing for exams. In every case the action steps must indicate who, what and when.
The following audio clip references our discussion and review of our Life Plans:
Life Plan Review Audio Clip
The process of building on our knowledge of who God has called us to be, and knowing the gifts that have been placed in us along with our core or governing values is the first step towards developing a "Life Plan"
Big Long-Term Goals
For many of our core values we should develop Big Long-Term Goals that stretch us but are attainable with some hard work, discipline and grace.
Milestones
For each of our Big, Long-Term goals we want to establish Milestones along the way. These are points in time where specific targets are achieved, typically spaced no more than 6 months to a year apart. Consider the example of a big goal of attaining a four-year college degree. The natural milestones in that goal plan might be June 2010 complete Freshman year, June 2011 complete Sophomore year, etc . . .
Short-Term Goals
To reach the milestones many short-term goals must be set that will enable us in smaller "bites." In the example above, perhaps a short-term goal for reaching the milestone of completing the Freshman Year would be - Pass all mid-term and final exams for the classes I'm enrolled in. Another might be to select the right classes ahead of the start of the year so that they are in alignment with the major you're enrolled in.
Actions
For every Short-Term goal there must be ACTIONS. Actions are what transfers our dreams into our realities by taking small steps every day on the path towards our Short-Term goals, leading to our Milestones, leading to our Big Long-Term goals. In the example above an action might be to earn the money to buy my school books by August 15, 2009. Another might be to establish a study schedule by September 8, 2009 to dedicate time each day for doing my classwork and preparing for exams. In every case the action steps must indicate who, what and when.
The following audio clip references our discussion and review of our Life Plans:
Life Plan Review Audio Clip
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Milestones and Short-term Goals
Milestones
Whenever looking at large long-term goals it is critical to break them up into more manageable “chunks” that conclude with milestones. Milestones are key points in any project or goal that mark a significant achievement, that are associated with a point in time. Milestones give us a clear indicator that we are either on track for achieving our ultimate goal, or we aren’t. One example of milestones could be associated with a goal of successfully completing high school or college. Every 12 months we would need to successfully complete our Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years in order to graduate! Each of those events become milestones on the road to accomplishing our long-term goal.
Milestones are used in every type of project management. Most of life revolves around goals for everything from planning a family vacation to building the next space shuttle. Too often people get swept up in fulfilling other people's goals and never consider their own, or what goals God has planned for them to achieve with the life they've been given.
Not every goal will have milestones. Typically short term goals, unless they are very complex, may not need milestones. However, milestones ALWAYS need short term goals in order to be accomplished!
Once you have determined what your long term goals are, AND WRITE THEM DOWN, you're ready to develop your milestones. Every milestone MUST have two things:
A Specific and Quantifiable (Measurable) Target. (It might help to Write a Description of what will be Accomplished)
A Specific Date When it Must Be Completed.
Go ahead now. Write out your milestones for each of your Long-Term Goals!
MIlestones, Short-Term Goals, and Actions AUDIO DISCUSSION
Short-term Goals
Every milestone will require steps to be taken to achieve them. You might need to learn new things, or gain a new skill, or make contact with someone, or perhaps raise a certain amount of money to achieve the milestone. These short-term goals are the next level or your plan to achieve your BIG goals. Your short-term actions will enable you to accomplish your Milestones.
Using the Milestones you just developed for your Long-Term goals, begin developing Short-Term Goals that will enable you to reach them! I know this is a lot of work! However, this is the best possible way for you to reach those wonderful Big Goals you know God has placed in your heart to accomplish! Now is the time to get started!
Actions
Actions are the essence of accomplishing anything! Actions translate good intentions into something tangible on an established timeframe. Actions must contain at least THREE things:
1 What must be done? __________________________________________
2 Who will do it? __________________________________________
3 When will it be done? __________________________________________
For every Short-term Goal you should have an Action Plan.
Let’s continue with developing your plan and go to work, writing out specific Actions for each of your Short-Term Goals!
Homework - Summary
1. For every BIG goal develop milestones. Write them down!
2. For every milestone, develop short-term goals.
3. For every short-term goals develop specific actions. Get very detailed and always indicate WHAT, WHO, and WHEN.
4. Begin reading Chapter 4 – time management.
Overview of the Goal Setting Process AUDIO
Future Meetings Discussion AUDIO
Reminder – this is not a philosophy course. You’ve invested a lot of time and work to get this far – the GOAL is to make your goals a reality! Developing this plan is the most critical milestone you may ever accomplish!
Whenever looking at large long-term goals it is critical to break them up into more manageable “chunks” that conclude with milestones. Milestones are key points in any project or goal that mark a significant achievement, that are associated with a point in time. Milestones give us a clear indicator that we are either on track for achieving our ultimate goal, or we aren’t. One example of milestones could be associated with a goal of successfully completing high school or college. Every 12 months we would need to successfully complete our Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years in order to graduate! Each of those events become milestones on the road to accomplishing our long-term goal.
Milestones are used in every type of project management. Most of life revolves around goals for everything from planning a family vacation to building the next space shuttle. Too often people get swept up in fulfilling other people's goals and never consider their own, or what goals God has planned for them to achieve with the life they've been given.
Not every goal will have milestones. Typically short term goals, unless they are very complex, may not need milestones. However, milestones ALWAYS need short term goals in order to be accomplished!
Once you have determined what your long term goals are, AND WRITE THEM DOWN, you're ready to develop your milestones. Every milestone MUST have two things:
A Specific and Quantifiable (Measurable) Target. (It might help to Write a Description of what will be Accomplished)
A Specific Date When it Must Be Completed.
Go ahead now. Write out your milestones for each of your Long-Term Goals!
MIlestones, Short-Term Goals, and Actions AUDIO DISCUSSION
Short-term Goals
Every milestone will require steps to be taken to achieve them. You might need to learn new things, or gain a new skill, or make contact with someone, or perhaps raise a certain amount of money to achieve the milestone. These short-term goals are the next level or your plan to achieve your BIG goals. Your short-term actions will enable you to accomplish your Milestones.
Using the Milestones you just developed for your Long-Term goals, begin developing Short-Term Goals that will enable you to reach them! I know this is a lot of work! However, this is the best possible way for you to reach those wonderful Big Goals you know God has placed in your heart to accomplish! Now is the time to get started!
Actions
Actions are the essence of accomplishing anything! Actions translate good intentions into something tangible on an established timeframe. Actions must contain at least THREE things:
1 What must be done? __________________________________________
2 Who will do it? __________________________________________
3 When will it be done? __________________________________________
For every Short-term Goal you should have an Action Plan.
Let’s continue with developing your plan and go to work, writing out specific Actions for each of your Short-Term Goals!
Homework - Summary
1. For every BIG goal develop milestones. Write them down!
2. For every milestone, develop short-term goals.
3. For every short-term goals develop specific actions. Get very detailed and always indicate WHAT, WHO, and WHEN.
4. Begin reading Chapter 4 – time management.
Overview of the Goal Setting Process AUDIO
Future Meetings Discussion AUDIO
Reminder – this is not a philosophy course. You’ve invested a lot of time and work to get this far – the GOAL is to make your goals a reality! Developing this plan is the most critical milestone you may ever accomplish!
Friday, October 3, 2008
John Goddard - Ultimate Goal Setting!
When you speak of keeping lists and setting goals, it's hard to match the amazing accomplishments of John Goddard. Today he's accomplished over 550 big goals in his lifetime, and he's still going!
The attached link is to a YouTube video where he was interviewed sometime in the late 1990's. It's only about 7 minutes long but worth a watch. It should inspire you and help you think about all the impossible possibilities that God can do in you and through you.
There's no evidence in what I've read regarding Goddard's faith, but for those who believe "all things are possible." If you choose to, I suspect with God, you would make Goddard envious of your accomplishments!
YouTube Video of John Goddard
The attached link is to a YouTube video where he was interviewed sometime in the late 1990's. It's only about 7 minutes long but worth a watch. It should inspire you and help you think about all the impossible possibilities that God can do in you and through you.
There's no evidence in what I've read regarding Goddard's faith, but for those who believe "all things are possible." If you choose to, I suspect with God, you would make Goddard envious of your accomplishments!
YouTube Video of John Goddard
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Converting your Dreams to Goals
From the September 28, 2008 Meeting
Everything great starts with a dream; a vision of what could be. Like faith, a dream is something we can see in our mind’s eye, but don’t yet have the evidence of in hand yet. Too many people stop at the dream stage and nothing happens. It becomes a “hope” or a “nice to have” that in most cases will never come to be.
Only when we convert our dreams into goals can we begin ordering our steps; the events in our lives, to reach them.
In Success Is Not An Accident, Chapter 3, Newberry covers some excellent points and practices around setting goals:
The Importance of Goal Setting – pg 57
Here’s the proof – pg 58-59
The Top Ten Reasons for Setting Goals in your Life – pg 61
Psychological Blocks to Goal Setting – pg 63
Seven Reasons People Don’t Set Goals – pg 65
Eight Rules for Highly Effective Goals – pg 66-76
1. Highly effective goals are WRITTEN
2. Highly effective goals are stated in the present tense
3. Highly effective goals are stated positively
4. Highly effective goals are consistent with your Personal Mission Statement (and Core Values)
5. Highly effective goals are specific and measurable
6. Highly effective goals are time bound
7. Highly effective goals are reasonable and challenging
8. Highly effective goals are thoroughly planned
The Goal Setting Workshop – pg 76
Eight Steps to setting goals
1. Brainstorm you dreams
2. Create your ideal lifestyle
3. Take a three-year leap
4. Convince yourself
5. Plan on Paper
6. List available resources
7. List potential obstacles
8. Identify ways to overcome obstacles
Daily Work Discussion Audio
Get it on the Calendar Audio
John Goddard Audio
Success Is Not an Accident Chapter 3 Audio
Blanchard's Research and Evaluation Audio
Everything great starts with a dream; a vision of what could be. Like faith, a dream is something we can see in our mind’s eye, but don’t yet have the evidence of in hand yet. Too many people stop at the dream stage and nothing happens. It becomes a “hope” or a “nice to have” that in most cases will never come to be.
Only when we convert our dreams into goals can we begin ordering our steps; the events in our lives, to reach them.
In Success Is Not An Accident, Chapter 3, Newberry covers some excellent points and practices around setting goals:
The Importance of Goal Setting – pg 57
Here’s the proof – pg 58-59
The Top Ten Reasons for Setting Goals in your Life – pg 61
Psychological Blocks to Goal Setting – pg 63
Seven Reasons People Don’t Set Goals – pg 65
Eight Rules for Highly Effective Goals – pg 66-76
1. Highly effective goals are WRITTEN
2. Highly effective goals are stated in the present tense
3. Highly effective goals are stated positively
4. Highly effective goals are consistent with your Personal Mission Statement (and Core Values)
5. Highly effective goals are specific and measurable
6. Highly effective goals are time bound
7. Highly effective goals are reasonable and challenging
8. Highly effective goals are thoroughly planned
The Goal Setting Workshop – pg 76
Eight Steps to setting goals
1. Brainstorm you dreams
2. Create your ideal lifestyle
3. Take a three-year leap
4. Convince yourself
5. Plan on Paper
6. List available resources
7. List potential obstacles
8. Identify ways to overcome obstacles
Daily Work Discussion Audio
Get it on the Calendar Audio
John Goddard Audio
Success Is Not an Accident Chapter 3 Audio
Blanchard's Research and Evaluation Audio
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Developing Dreams and BIG Goals
Maybe you're out of practice and haven't dreamt any wonderful dreams for a while? Maybe life has beat you down so much that you've just forgotten how? Here are some thoughts on how to begin that process again. Try it this week!
Relax. Take a deep breath and find a place where you can be alone. Somewhere that is as quiet and peaceful as you can. Maybe it’s your prayer closet, or off somewhere by a lake or hillside. You may want to play soft music, or light some candles or arrange some flowers nearby that will scent the air and remind you of the beauty of God’s creation. Maybe your retreat is no further than your bathroom, and you can just draw a warm bath and settle in as the tension flows out of you and is replaced by a sense of inner peace and tranquility.
Close your eyes and open up your heart to your loving Father. He knows why you are here and is pleased that you are willing to once again lay your life down before Him. In Psalm 37 David say’s “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Now, try to picture yourself as you’ll be twenty years from now. Think about how you’ll feel, the important relationships in your life, where you’ll be living, your walk with the Lord, career accomplishments, places you’ll have traveled . . . begin to dream and envision what could be.
Faith
Consider how you grew in faith and your relationship with God. Look back over the past years and the path God had planned out for you. Did you follow His leading? Did you see miracles along the way? Have you shared God’s love with others, helped orphans and widows, mentored children, or led many people to a knowledge of Christ? How much have you been able to sow into the kingdom to further the gospel and expand the church? What great adventures have you seen in Him and with Him? How deeply have you felt his warm loving embrace?
Can you see how you’ve learned to forgive yourself for failings and past sin, just as He has forgiven you? Envision how you have completely forgiven others who hurt you in the past, in order to gain inner peace and enable God to have free reign in your life. Imagine what your church friends and family will be saying about you at a memorial service for you many many years from now. How is the world a better place because you were a part of it. How is the Kingdom of Heaven a fuller, richer place for your obedience, kindness, and wisdom? You have been placed into this world for a purpose, called by name by the God of creation to do great and wondrous things in His name, to prosper and lead others into a better future with great joy and fulfillment and inner peace.
Dream about your spirit-man and your faith walk and how it will be . . . now, write it down. . . .
Family
Dream about your children, or a future family, as they will be twenty years from now. They will be grown up. Can you picture them as successful, happy people who have all of the skills and attributes to live their lives building upon the things you’ve imparted to them? What kinds of things do you want them to be thankful to you for? What life-lessons have you taught them to help mold them into the people they’ve become?
Did you laugh a lot as the children were growing up. Think about the silly jokes they told and the way you kidded with them and praised them when they did little skits for you. How many times did you use a kind word or a little laughter to help them over a hard time? Did they grow up reading the comics in the newspaper with you, and were your dinner time’s wonderful opportunities to kid around and share the funny things that happened during the day? How happy were those days together as a family?
Did you get them braces? Did you home-school them or have them attend private schools? Have they become skilled musicians because you helped them with lessons and encouraged practice and positive reinforcement of their talent? Did they become great athletes, fit and successful at track or tennis or football?
Have they grown in faith with strong moral values and deep commitment to God and His church? Are they serving others with their gifts? Have they been healed of any problems and learned how to trust God as their source of all good gifts?
Are they intelligent and learning to become wise? Have you cultivated in them a love for learning and a discipline to study? Have you shown them how the world of finance and investments work so that they can prosper? Do they have goals and dreams for themselves, and can you see what they are doing to fulfill them?
Think about your spouse or a spouse that you’ll have someday, and your relationship as it will be. Are you still in love? Do they support and nurture, encouraging you to be the best you can possibly be? Look back at the special moments you’ve had over the past twenty years; the places you’ve been together, the long walks and tender conversations? Has your love making been passionate and intense and as beautiful as when you first married and fell in love? Do they go the extra mile for you to delight you, and have you done the same for them?
Can you feel the respect your spouse has for you, and pride for whom you’ve become? What things have you taught each other? How much individual space have you built into your relationship, and how has that made you grow as a person, and in trust of each other?
Describe how interested your spouse is in you, and you in them, twenty years from now. How much have you shared together about the deep things of life, core beliefs, desires, ambitions, frustrations? Think about how they’ve responded with empathy and love, when you’ve shared your heart, supporting, caring, and enabling you to grow and be successful. Consider the things you’ve openly shared with them; your dreams, your fears, the embarrassing moments, your preferences and what pleases you. Have your communications been an open book together, or have you held part of your self back to protect something? In the future, how will your dream relationship look and feel?
Have you laughed a lot together and played, free to be silly around each other, enjoying the commonalities that pull you together? Do you still cuddle and laugh at the bad jokes and puns, no matter how bad they are?
What has happened in your immediate and extended family? How close are you to them? Do you see each other often? Do you live close to them or call them frequently? How have you celebrated birthdays and Christmas, and the 4th of July each year? How much richer are their lives for what you’ve imparted to them, and how much richer is yours because of their support and love?
Dream about your family and how it could be . . . . now, write down your dream . . . .
Home
Can you picture where you’ll be living? Where is it? Is it in the city or country, or perhaps a cottage by the water? Is it a townhouse, a contemporary home or maybe a large estate with a vineyard out back? Will you have a circular driveway leading to a three-car garage with nice cars or maybe a workshop? Maybe your home will be small and cozy, and easy to take care of, or perhaps God’s call for your perfect life is free of any fixed home. Maybe you’re dream takes you to the mission field.
If you do have a home twenty years from now, what will it look like? Is there a big foyer when you enter the front door? Are there hardwood floors or Italian tile or perhaps a spiral stairway leading to a master bungalow bedroom? Do you see a big eat-in kitchen or a smaller one with a large formal dining room? Maybe you would love a double oven or a separate pantry to store all of the supplies and kitchen appliances out of sight. Do you have a large family room big enough to host many people for bible studies, or would you rather have a smaller den and a proper living room with a grand piano and a couple love seats? Are the walls decorated with original artwork or pictures of your family?
Does your master bedroom have walk in closets, a king-sized canopy bed or oriental rugs? Will your bathroom have a Jacuzzi or an oversized shower for two? When you look out the window can you see beautiful gardens, or perhaps a swimming pool? Maybe you have fruit trees or a garden, or perhaps a koi pond in your back yard.
Is there a vacation home, or a winter home in Florida or maybe in Aspen? Would you love a place at the beach for the summer, or would you prefer something in the south of France or Italy? Does your dream include a time-share in Hawaii, or a fishing hut somewhere in NY State?
Dream . . . . now, write down your thoughts of your home . . .
Career and Community
Will you be working twenty years from now? What accomplishments did you achieve in your career? Did you start a business, or work in the home, or maybe you became excellent in investing and made a fortune in real estate or the stock market?
Did you take classes to develop your work skills? What degrees did you attain over your career? Maybe you went to night school to get your Masters Degree, or perhaps you learned to speak French fluently. Did you learn accounting skills or become skilled in investing in real estate or stocks and bonds? Perhaps you learned how to breed dogs or do garden landscaping or design web pages?
Have you climbed a corporate ladder, or started the small business that you’d always wanted? What skills did you learn along the way to help you with this endeavor? When co-workers describe how you were to work with what terms do they use? Have you been tough, fair, smart, caring, driven, social, supportive, a great team leader, or perhaps a great mentor?
What was your role in the community? Were you active in your church, or in a civic association? Did your expertise in your career allow you to speak at meetings or perhaps conferences? Have you helped the homeless, or supported a great cause that you believed in either financially or by helping out physically? How gratifying was it to see the impact of your giving? Was it wonderful to see God pouring overflow into you because He knew you would be obedient with how you directed it? How many people have you mentored and helped to improve their lives and relationships? Did you help build your church up or go on mission trips to minister God’s love to others?
Dream about your church, your career and your social contributions . . . now, write down what it looks like . . .
The New You
Walk to a mirror. What do you look like in twenty years? Are you trim and fit? Are your clothes designer fashions or comfortable old friends? Picture the beautiful appearance of the person you’ve become, older but still attractive and healthy.
Have you picked up any hobbies that have brought great joy, and caused you to stretch over the years? Do you play an instrument or sing? How proficient did you become and where did you perform? How did it feel when you finished your performance and the audience applauded for you or were your talents used in church to lead others into worship of the great King? Did you enjoy the camaraderie of other musicians as you practiced? Did you become an artist and learn to blend colors and create wonderful paintings or computer generated images which captured the emotions and beauty God placed deep inside of you?
Do you have a library in your home? Have you read many books and magazines to grow your intellect? Have you used your wisdom to help others, or become wealthy? Have you learned how to fix or build things and repaired your own car or helped with skillful repairs on the widow’s home who lived down the street?
Where have you traveled to over the years and what have you seen? Have you traveled Europe, skied in the Alps, or perhaps spent summers on the Costa Brava in Spain or in the south of France. Have you walked on the Great Wall of China, or climbed Mount Washington, or perhaps taken a river cruise down the Danube River, or gone on a photo safari in the African tundra? Did you hike the entire Appellation Trail or ridden by burrow to the base of the Grand Canyon?
Did you become a proficient cook or baker and delighted people with your wonderful foods? Maybe you’ve entertained and had the finest chef’s cater those affairs, had wonderful jazz trios play for you, and had social events to share with your family and friends, or perhaps to raise money for the causes you believe in? How have you grown intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and experientially over the years?
Consider the sports you played or the distances you ran and walked. Over the years how many races did you run, or tennis matches did you play? Do you have any trophies on the desk in your office? Have sports helped you stay fit and has the social aspects of those activities brought you many new friends over the years?
Look at yourself again in your future mirror. Did you live the past years with integrity? Did you keep your word? Do people regard you as a giving person, or social, spiritual, or caring? How many people have relied upon your experience and wisdom to help them through the problems in their lives? Have you learned to love yourself? Are you self-confident and able to navigate the bumps in life’s road by yourself and through God’s grace, without a co-dependence on someone else?
Dream about the person that you’ll become . . . now write it down . . . .
Other areas?
What other things do you seen as you dream? What kinds of things have you accomplished looking back over a successful life?
Write down your responses to the questions above and consider other areas that you’ve thought about before. Ponder them and continue to imagine what your world can be like in twenty years time. Be sure to write them down and for at least a week, review them every day, adding to them or changing them. Don’t limit yourself in any way as you do this. God is huge and has placed good desires in you. And through Him and with changes in your daily activities, anything is possible. All things are possible!
Relax. Take a deep breath and find a place where you can be alone. Somewhere that is as quiet and peaceful as you can. Maybe it’s your prayer closet, or off somewhere by a lake or hillside. You may want to play soft music, or light some candles or arrange some flowers nearby that will scent the air and remind you of the beauty of God’s creation. Maybe your retreat is no further than your bathroom, and you can just draw a warm bath and settle in as the tension flows out of you and is replaced by a sense of inner peace and tranquility.
Close your eyes and open up your heart to your loving Father. He knows why you are here and is pleased that you are willing to once again lay your life down before Him. In Psalm 37 David say’s “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Now, try to picture yourself as you’ll be twenty years from now. Think about how you’ll feel, the important relationships in your life, where you’ll be living, your walk with the Lord, career accomplishments, places you’ll have traveled . . . begin to dream and envision what could be.
Faith
Consider how you grew in faith and your relationship with God. Look back over the past years and the path God had planned out for you. Did you follow His leading? Did you see miracles along the way? Have you shared God’s love with others, helped orphans and widows, mentored children, or led many people to a knowledge of Christ? How much have you been able to sow into the kingdom to further the gospel and expand the church? What great adventures have you seen in Him and with Him? How deeply have you felt his warm loving embrace?
Can you see how you’ve learned to forgive yourself for failings and past sin, just as He has forgiven you? Envision how you have completely forgiven others who hurt you in the past, in order to gain inner peace and enable God to have free reign in your life. Imagine what your church friends and family will be saying about you at a memorial service for you many many years from now. How is the world a better place because you were a part of it. How is the Kingdom of Heaven a fuller, richer place for your obedience, kindness, and wisdom? You have been placed into this world for a purpose, called by name by the God of creation to do great and wondrous things in His name, to prosper and lead others into a better future with great joy and fulfillment and inner peace.
Dream about your spirit-man and your faith walk and how it will be . . . now, write it down. . . .
Family
Dream about your children, or a future family, as they will be twenty years from now. They will be grown up. Can you picture them as successful, happy people who have all of the skills and attributes to live their lives building upon the things you’ve imparted to them? What kinds of things do you want them to be thankful to you for? What life-lessons have you taught them to help mold them into the people they’ve become?
Did you laugh a lot as the children were growing up. Think about the silly jokes they told and the way you kidded with them and praised them when they did little skits for you. How many times did you use a kind word or a little laughter to help them over a hard time? Did they grow up reading the comics in the newspaper with you, and were your dinner time’s wonderful opportunities to kid around and share the funny things that happened during the day? How happy were those days together as a family?
Did you get them braces? Did you home-school them or have them attend private schools? Have they become skilled musicians because you helped them with lessons and encouraged practice and positive reinforcement of their talent? Did they become great athletes, fit and successful at track or tennis or football?
Have they grown in faith with strong moral values and deep commitment to God and His church? Are they serving others with their gifts? Have they been healed of any problems and learned how to trust God as their source of all good gifts?
Are they intelligent and learning to become wise? Have you cultivated in them a love for learning and a discipline to study? Have you shown them how the world of finance and investments work so that they can prosper? Do they have goals and dreams for themselves, and can you see what they are doing to fulfill them?
Think about your spouse or a spouse that you’ll have someday, and your relationship as it will be. Are you still in love? Do they support and nurture, encouraging you to be the best you can possibly be? Look back at the special moments you’ve had over the past twenty years; the places you’ve been together, the long walks and tender conversations? Has your love making been passionate and intense and as beautiful as when you first married and fell in love? Do they go the extra mile for you to delight you, and have you done the same for them?
Can you feel the respect your spouse has for you, and pride for whom you’ve become? What things have you taught each other? How much individual space have you built into your relationship, and how has that made you grow as a person, and in trust of each other?
Describe how interested your spouse is in you, and you in them, twenty years from now. How much have you shared together about the deep things of life, core beliefs, desires, ambitions, frustrations? Think about how they’ve responded with empathy and love, when you’ve shared your heart, supporting, caring, and enabling you to grow and be successful. Consider the things you’ve openly shared with them; your dreams, your fears, the embarrassing moments, your preferences and what pleases you. Have your communications been an open book together, or have you held part of your self back to protect something? In the future, how will your dream relationship look and feel?
Have you laughed a lot together and played, free to be silly around each other, enjoying the commonalities that pull you together? Do you still cuddle and laugh at the bad jokes and puns, no matter how bad they are?
What has happened in your immediate and extended family? How close are you to them? Do you see each other often? Do you live close to them or call them frequently? How have you celebrated birthdays and Christmas, and the 4th of July each year? How much richer are their lives for what you’ve imparted to them, and how much richer is yours because of their support and love?
Dream about your family and how it could be . . . . now, write down your dream . . . .
Home
Can you picture where you’ll be living? Where is it? Is it in the city or country, or perhaps a cottage by the water? Is it a townhouse, a contemporary home or maybe a large estate with a vineyard out back? Will you have a circular driveway leading to a three-car garage with nice cars or maybe a workshop? Maybe your home will be small and cozy, and easy to take care of, or perhaps God’s call for your perfect life is free of any fixed home. Maybe you’re dream takes you to the mission field.
If you do have a home twenty years from now, what will it look like? Is there a big foyer when you enter the front door? Are there hardwood floors or Italian tile or perhaps a spiral stairway leading to a master bungalow bedroom? Do you see a big eat-in kitchen or a smaller one with a large formal dining room? Maybe you would love a double oven or a separate pantry to store all of the supplies and kitchen appliances out of sight. Do you have a large family room big enough to host many people for bible studies, or would you rather have a smaller den and a proper living room with a grand piano and a couple love seats? Are the walls decorated with original artwork or pictures of your family?
Does your master bedroom have walk in closets, a king-sized canopy bed or oriental rugs? Will your bathroom have a Jacuzzi or an oversized shower for two? When you look out the window can you see beautiful gardens, or perhaps a swimming pool? Maybe you have fruit trees or a garden, or perhaps a koi pond in your back yard.
Is there a vacation home, or a winter home in Florida or maybe in Aspen? Would you love a place at the beach for the summer, or would you prefer something in the south of France or Italy? Does your dream include a time-share in Hawaii, or a fishing hut somewhere in NY State?
Dream . . . . now, write down your thoughts of your home . . .
Career and Community
Will you be working twenty years from now? What accomplishments did you achieve in your career? Did you start a business, or work in the home, or maybe you became excellent in investing and made a fortune in real estate or the stock market?
Did you take classes to develop your work skills? What degrees did you attain over your career? Maybe you went to night school to get your Masters Degree, or perhaps you learned to speak French fluently. Did you learn accounting skills or become skilled in investing in real estate or stocks and bonds? Perhaps you learned how to breed dogs or do garden landscaping or design web pages?
Have you climbed a corporate ladder, or started the small business that you’d always wanted? What skills did you learn along the way to help you with this endeavor? When co-workers describe how you were to work with what terms do they use? Have you been tough, fair, smart, caring, driven, social, supportive, a great team leader, or perhaps a great mentor?
What was your role in the community? Were you active in your church, or in a civic association? Did your expertise in your career allow you to speak at meetings or perhaps conferences? Have you helped the homeless, or supported a great cause that you believed in either financially or by helping out physically? How gratifying was it to see the impact of your giving? Was it wonderful to see God pouring overflow into you because He knew you would be obedient with how you directed it? How many people have you mentored and helped to improve their lives and relationships? Did you help build your church up or go on mission trips to minister God’s love to others?
Dream about your church, your career and your social contributions . . . now, write down what it looks like . . .
The New You
Walk to a mirror. What do you look like in twenty years? Are you trim and fit? Are your clothes designer fashions or comfortable old friends? Picture the beautiful appearance of the person you’ve become, older but still attractive and healthy.
Have you picked up any hobbies that have brought great joy, and caused you to stretch over the years? Do you play an instrument or sing? How proficient did you become and where did you perform? How did it feel when you finished your performance and the audience applauded for you or were your talents used in church to lead others into worship of the great King? Did you enjoy the camaraderie of other musicians as you practiced? Did you become an artist and learn to blend colors and create wonderful paintings or computer generated images which captured the emotions and beauty God placed deep inside of you?
Do you have a library in your home? Have you read many books and magazines to grow your intellect? Have you used your wisdom to help others, or become wealthy? Have you learned how to fix or build things and repaired your own car or helped with skillful repairs on the widow’s home who lived down the street?
Where have you traveled to over the years and what have you seen? Have you traveled Europe, skied in the Alps, or perhaps spent summers on the Costa Brava in Spain or in the south of France. Have you walked on the Great Wall of China, or climbed Mount Washington, or perhaps taken a river cruise down the Danube River, or gone on a photo safari in the African tundra? Did you hike the entire Appellation Trail or ridden by burrow to the base of the Grand Canyon?
Did you become a proficient cook or baker and delighted people with your wonderful foods? Maybe you’ve entertained and had the finest chef’s cater those affairs, had wonderful jazz trios play for you, and had social events to share with your family and friends, or perhaps to raise money for the causes you believe in? How have you grown intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and experientially over the years?
Consider the sports you played or the distances you ran and walked. Over the years how many races did you run, or tennis matches did you play? Do you have any trophies on the desk in your office? Have sports helped you stay fit and has the social aspects of those activities brought you many new friends over the years?
Look at yourself again in your future mirror. Did you live the past years with integrity? Did you keep your word? Do people regard you as a giving person, or social, spiritual, or caring? How many people have relied upon your experience and wisdom to help them through the problems in their lives? Have you learned to love yourself? Are you self-confident and able to navigate the bumps in life’s road by yourself and through God’s grace, without a co-dependence on someone else?
Dream about the person that you’ll become . . . now write it down . . . .
Other areas?
What other things do you seen as you dream? What kinds of things have you accomplished looking back over a successful life?
Write down your responses to the questions above and consider other areas that you’ve thought about before. Ponder them and continue to imagine what your world can be like in twenty years time. Be sure to write them down and for at least a week, review them every day, adding to them or changing them. Don’t limit yourself in any way as you do this. God is huge and has placed good desires in you. And through Him and with changes in your daily activities, anything is possible. All things are possible!
Visions and Dreams – Getting a God View of You
September 21, 2008 Meeting Notes
They say that a person’s philosophy of life is formed before they reach the age of ten years old. Most of us by then will have developed patterns in our thinking that dictate our self-confidence, willingness to take risks, co-dependency needs, self-image and the overall limit to how successful we will allow ourselves to be.
Children who are encouraged and given positive affirmation tend to do better. Those who were given responsibility and recognition tend to have higher self-confidence levels. Children who were exposed to parental love with consistency tend to have more self-worth, while others may have stronger co-dependence needs.
With many patterns in place already by the time we reach our teen years, we tend to amplify those patterns by our choices and the responses the choices produce. The best students work harder to stay in front as the best students. Kids where the home life tends to have inconsistent love shown to them sometimes gravitate to quicker and sometimes destructive relationships in a quest to be loved. Children from homes with genuine Christian backgrounds tend to have stronger morale boundaries, and often, greater inner peace.
These patterns also form the barriers that limit our future success. If our parents worked blue-collar jobs, we gravitate in that direction. If they promoted college the children tend to get more education and gravitate towards white-collar jobs. If the family was lower middle class or upper middle class or had issues with over-eating or drinking or interacted abusively with each other, the patterns permeate our life-view and we begin to see ourselves in a modified version of what we grew up with. We desire to do better certainly, but typically not striving to move more than a notch or two up from where our parents were when we were growing up.
The phrase that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer is usually used to depict the injustices of government taxation, or the bias associated with corporate opportunities. It is an accurate statement, but the dominant problem is not the government or the job market. The greatest reason is the patterns we’ve embraced, that have created the chains which bind us, or the wings that lift us.
So how does God see you? The scriptures indicate that He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). He desires good for us and not evil. He is a loving father who gives good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11). He tells we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Nothing is impossible for those who believe and place their trust in Him (Matthew 17:20 and Luke 1:37). Christ paid the price for all of us to have salvation, a sound mind, and a healed and healthy body when He was crucified on the cross of Calvary, died and rose on the third day, sitting at the right hand of God the Father as our intercessor (Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24 and Mark 16:19)!
These are bold statements and promises. We boldly accept our salvation through faith. Why do we have more trouble with the other promises? Why do we not see what God sees? Is it sin awareness? Then repent and know that He will forgive us as many times as necessary! Is it lack of understanding of what He wants for us? Then pray and move forward, setting some goals, continuing to pray and allowing Him to steer your course.
We need to see ourselves as His children, who have access to all of His promises. We need to see ourselves as God sees us. He sees you washed in the blood of His Son. He sees you able to do all things. He sees you as an extension of Him, willing and able to reach out and love others, fulfilling the Great Commission, and prospering because you are related, through a blood covenant, to the Creator of the Universe. Nothing is impossible for you.
For most of us, our view and God’s view are very different. They shouldn’t be. He wants you to be successful. He wants you to be fulfilled and loved and loving, and prosperous enough to do anything He wants you to.
You are beautiful, and caring, and very special. You have great gifts poured into you that you’ve may have begun to utilize. You have a treasure-house in heaven that is open to you to make withdrawals that you just need to ask for. You have the wisdom of God behind you to guide your decisions and order your steps. In Him, you can do anything!
This is the truth, though it may not yet be your reality. To see it manifest in your life requires change in how you listen to His voice, and manage your life choices. Before that can happen, you must change how you see yourself. You have to change how you think.
How big is your God? How wonderful are your dreams? Walt Disney said “If you can dream it, you can do it.” We need to dream dreams, and envision how life could be years from now. Health, prosperity, joy, strong loving relationships, wisdom, social status, great philanthropy should be part of your future.
Are you ready to embark on the greatest journey in your life? Let’s begin the journey down a path that will open your eyes to who you really are, and find out where the long road of life can take you; a path that will be difficult at times and require changes in choices and habits, but if you decide to move ahead, you will never be the same.
Homework
Read through the handout on Visions and Dreams and follow the instructions to imagine what God could do with your willing life over 20 years, and write it down.
Review of Survey Audio
Visions and Dreams - God's View of You Audio
Visions and Dreams - Homework Discussion
They say that a person’s philosophy of life is formed before they reach the age of ten years old. Most of us by then will have developed patterns in our thinking that dictate our self-confidence, willingness to take risks, co-dependency needs, self-image and the overall limit to how successful we will allow ourselves to be.
Children who are encouraged and given positive affirmation tend to do better. Those who were given responsibility and recognition tend to have higher self-confidence levels. Children who were exposed to parental love with consistency tend to have more self-worth, while others may have stronger co-dependence needs.
With many patterns in place already by the time we reach our teen years, we tend to amplify those patterns by our choices and the responses the choices produce. The best students work harder to stay in front as the best students. Kids where the home life tends to have inconsistent love shown to them sometimes gravitate to quicker and sometimes destructive relationships in a quest to be loved. Children from homes with genuine Christian backgrounds tend to have stronger morale boundaries, and often, greater inner peace.
These patterns also form the barriers that limit our future success. If our parents worked blue-collar jobs, we gravitate in that direction. If they promoted college the children tend to get more education and gravitate towards white-collar jobs. If the family was lower middle class or upper middle class or had issues with over-eating or drinking or interacted abusively with each other, the patterns permeate our life-view and we begin to see ourselves in a modified version of what we grew up with. We desire to do better certainly, but typically not striving to move more than a notch or two up from where our parents were when we were growing up.
The phrase that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer is usually used to depict the injustices of government taxation, or the bias associated with corporate opportunities. It is an accurate statement, but the dominant problem is not the government or the job market. The greatest reason is the patterns we’ve embraced, that have created the chains which bind us, or the wings that lift us.
So how does God see you? The scriptures indicate that He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). He desires good for us and not evil. He is a loving father who gives good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11). He tells we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Nothing is impossible for those who believe and place their trust in Him (Matthew 17:20 and Luke 1:37). Christ paid the price for all of us to have salvation, a sound mind, and a healed and healthy body when He was crucified on the cross of Calvary, died and rose on the third day, sitting at the right hand of God the Father as our intercessor (Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24 and Mark 16:19)!
These are bold statements and promises. We boldly accept our salvation through faith. Why do we have more trouble with the other promises? Why do we not see what God sees? Is it sin awareness? Then repent and know that He will forgive us as many times as necessary! Is it lack of understanding of what He wants for us? Then pray and move forward, setting some goals, continuing to pray and allowing Him to steer your course.
We need to see ourselves as His children, who have access to all of His promises. We need to see ourselves as God sees us. He sees you washed in the blood of His Son. He sees you able to do all things. He sees you as an extension of Him, willing and able to reach out and love others, fulfilling the Great Commission, and prospering because you are related, through a blood covenant, to the Creator of the Universe. Nothing is impossible for you.
For most of us, our view and God’s view are very different. They shouldn’t be. He wants you to be successful. He wants you to be fulfilled and loved and loving, and prosperous enough to do anything He wants you to.
You are beautiful, and caring, and very special. You have great gifts poured into you that you’ve may have begun to utilize. You have a treasure-house in heaven that is open to you to make withdrawals that you just need to ask for. You have the wisdom of God behind you to guide your decisions and order your steps. In Him, you can do anything!
This is the truth, though it may not yet be your reality. To see it manifest in your life requires change in how you listen to His voice, and manage your life choices. Before that can happen, you must change how you see yourself. You have to change how you think.
How big is your God? How wonderful are your dreams? Walt Disney said “If you can dream it, you can do it.” We need to dream dreams, and envision how life could be years from now. Health, prosperity, joy, strong loving relationships, wisdom, social status, great philanthropy should be part of your future.
Are you ready to embark on the greatest journey in your life? Let’s begin the journey down a path that will open your eyes to who you really are, and find out where the long road of life can take you; a path that will be difficult at times and require changes in choices and habits, but if you decide to move ahead, you will never be the same.
Homework
Read through the handout on Visions and Dreams and follow the instructions to imagine what God could do with your willing life over 20 years, and write it down.
Review of Survey Audio
Visions and Dreams - God's View of You Audio
Visions and Dreams - Homework Discussion
Friday, September 19, 2008
Why Change? Finding Your Burning Platform
The difference between people who just dream and people who succeed begins with a DECISION. The world is filled with dreamers and philosophers but many are not very successful as people or Christians. James 2:26 says that "faith without works is dead." Faith being the visualization of things to come; a belief in something not yet manifest. Yet, without works and action, our faith is dead or useless.
God has created each of us here for a purpose. He has placed gifts and talents in each person to be used to bless Him and others. He has given and inspired dreams and visions in everyone but without "works" and action to use our gifts and move towards our dreams, they are simply unused talents; pleasant thoughts.
The Burning Platform
There seems to be two motivations for people to change. The best motivation is when we look to a brighter future and that desire drives us to set goals and take steps to get there. Most of the motivational books key in on this approach. Understand what really matters to you, dream great dreams and set long-term goals, and then bring it down to daily actions to get you there. This motivation and approach works if people follow through, however complacency and old habits can often delay or derail successful adoption of the new and better life-patterns.
The stronger motivation is sometimes referred to as "the burning platform." The concept is that when you're standing on a burning platform, a crisis burning all around you, a great sense of urgency motivates you to do something and to put your passion and heart into the decision. This is exemplified by the drug addict who hits bottom, finds themselves in the hospital after an overdose and finally takes stock of their lives to make a change. They may decide to accept Christ, or to check into a rehab center, or perhaps move to a new town where their dealers and peers won't influence them. It is why so many people change direction after a major life event; the death of a loved one, a divorce, job loss, or a medical crisis.
Perhaps the most successful people use both motivators to propel them forward? When you look at your life, what are the things that are destructive to you? What are the areas that cause you to fail to get promoted in your job, or to avoid exercise, or stop you from learning new things? Where are the destructive relationships with people who appear as friends, but who encourage you to do things that can hurt you? What choices are you making daily or weekly that cause you to fall, hurt others around you or put them at risk?
The bible refers to our decisions as either life or death. Proverbs 13:14 says "The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." In Proverbs 14:27 it says "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Proverbs 18:21 says "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." The speaks powerfully to how the words we speak influences how we think and perceive things, and how that choice brings life or death into our lives.
Can you write down the things in your life that are causing you to stumble? Can you write down the relationships that are unhealthy, and sometimes cause you to fall or do things you regret? Are there places you go or things you do, web sites you visit, or television shows you watch that are taking you down a path of high risk, or even death?
Write them down on a sheet of paper.
Next to each one write some notes describing the impact of those choices on you. Write down what you believe could be the possible outcomes if you continue down that path.
Maybe you're dealing with pornography or you find too much comfort in medications, or alcohol. Maybe you have friends who are leading you down un-Godly paths. What impact are your current choices having on your body, your mind, your self esteem?
Are you a workaholic? Are you balancing your obligations to your employer with that of your family, the body of Christ or other activities that fulfill your core values and life-mission?
Write down your list. Make it as long or short as it needs to be and then write down the possible long-range impacts of those things. If the road you're taking with those choices is wrong, write down where it might be taking you.
This list is now your burning platform. Keep it with you and pull it out once a day to consider the choice(s) you have to make that day. Let your burning platform motivate you and instill the "Fear of the Lord" into you, the "fountain of life." It will not only cause you to depart from the snares of death, it will propel you towards the life you love!
“Changing Your Course” by the Blanchards
In the book Changing your Course, the Blanchards say the first step in “living the life you love” is to make a DECISION. The following ideas come from their book:
“What are your dreams? What do you want?
You can’t change what you see in your rear-view mirror. The road ahead is based on the CHOICES you make. All Decisions have consequences (and no decision is a decision).
The following audio clips are from the 3% Club meeting of Sunday, September 14, 2008:
AUDIO: Why Only 3%?
AUDIO: Review of Core Values and Mission Statements
AUDIO: Living the Life You Love and the Burning Platform
AUDIO: Homework and the Surveys Discussion
God has created each of us here for a purpose. He has placed gifts and talents in each person to be used to bless Him and others. He has given and inspired dreams and visions in everyone but without "works" and action to use our gifts and move towards our dreams, they are simply unused talents; pleasant thoughts.
The Burning Platform
There seems to be two motivations for people to change. The best motivation is when we look to a brighter future and that desire drives us to set goals and take steps to get there. Most of the motivational books key in on this approach. Understand what really matters to you, dream great dreams and set long-term goals, and then bring it down to daily actions to get you there. This motivation and approach works if people follow through, however complacency and old habits can often delay or derail successful adoption of the new and better life-patterns.
The stronger motivation is sometimes referred to as "the burning platform." The concept is that when you're standing on a burning platform, a crisis burning all around you, a great sense of urgency motivates you to do something and to put your passion and heart into the decision. This is exemplified by the drug addict who hits bottom, finds themselves in the hospital after an overdose and finally takes stock of their lives to make a change. They may decide to accept Christ, or to check into a rehab center, or perhaps move to a new town where their dealers and peers won't influence them. It is why so many people change direction after a major life event; the death of a loved one, a divorce, job loss, or a medical crisis.
Perhaps the most successful people use both motivators to propel them forward? When you look at your life, what are the things that are destructive to you? What are the areas that cause you to fail to get promoted in your job, or to avoid exercise, or stop you from learning new things? Where are the destructive relationships with people who appear as friends, but who encourage you to do things that can hurt you? What choices are you making daily or weekly that cause you to fall, hurt others around you or put them at risk?
The bible refers to our decisions as either life or death. Proverbs 13:14 says "The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." In Proverbs 14:27 it says "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Proverbs 18:21 says "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." The speaks powerfully to how the words we speak influences how we think and perceive things, and how that choice brings life or death into our lives.
Can you write down the things in your life that are causing you to stumble? Can you write down the relationships that are unhealthy, and sometimes cause you to fall or do things you regret? Are there places you go or things you do, web sites you visit, or television shows you watch that are taking you down a path of high risk, or even death?
Write them down on a sheet of paper.
Next to each one write some notes describing the impact of those choices on you. Write down what you believe could be the possible outcomes if you continue down that path.
Maybe you're dealing with pornography or you find too much comfort in medications, or alcohol. Maybe you have friends who are leading you down un-Godly paths. What impact are your current choices having on your body, your mind, your self esteem?
Are you a workaholic? Are you balancing your obligations to your employer with that of your family, the body of Christ or other activities that fulfill your core values and life-mission?
Write down your list. Make it as long or short as it needs to be and then write down the possible long-range impacts of those things. If the road you're taking with those choices is wrong, write down where it might be taking you.
This list is now your burning platform. Keep it with you and pull it out once a day to consider the choice(s) you have to make that day. Let your burning platform motivate you and instill the "Fear of the Lord" into you, the "fountain of life." It will not only cause you to depart from the snares of death, it will propel you towards the life you love!
“Changing Your Course” by the Blanchards
In the book Changing your Course, the Blanchards say the first step in “living the life you love” is to make a DECISION. The following ideas come from their book:
“What are your dreams? What do you want?
You can’t change what you see in your rear-view mirror. The road ahead is based on the CHOICES you make. All Decisions have consequences (and no decision is a decision).
The following audio clips are from the 3% Club meeting of Sunday, September 14, 2008:
AUDIO: Why Only 3%?
AUDIO: Review of Core Values and Mission Statements
AUDIO: Living the Life You Love and the Burning Platform
AUDIO: Homework and the Surveys Discussion
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Mission Statements and Core Values
In the August 31st meeting of the New 3% Club we discussed Mission Statements and Core (Governing) Values. The audio clips of the session are linked below.
Everyone agreed that this process was forcing us to be very introspective as we sought to identify and understand what our purpose was in this world. Most people spend their lives being swept along by circumstance and chance. They become very good at reacting to those things but often do little to anticipate and avoid them. As Christians, we might look at those events as opportunities to "exercise our faith," and certainly they are! How much better is it though, to recognize the path God has destined for us and to prayerfully make the twists and turns guided by His hand at evert step! That is a goal worth pursuing!
Core (Governing) Values
This first step is to determine what your Core Values are and write down what they are and what they mean to you. The examples from Hyrum Smith's book "The 10 Laws" contain many samples that will help you through this process. You still have to personalize them, to make them yours.
With a clear foundation of Core Values, and with a Mission Statement it is possible to dream and consider what the fulfillment of those values could look like in 15 or 20 years. Will your children attend an ivy league college? Will your family grow stronger and closer? Will your physical condition and appearance improve over time? Will you start a missions outreach in a remote land? Will you be living where you are now? Will much of your time be spent in ministry? Will you have a family retreat at the beach? Will you simplify your life with less material obligations? What are your dreams?
Remember that when you're on God's path for your life ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! "All things" is BIG. "All things" is probably more than you can even dream right now, but try, and start moving along that ever-clearing pathway.
Please continue to refine your Values and Mission Statement, and begin to dream again. God gives men Visions and Dreams. Seek Him to know yours!
The following are the audio clips from our Sunday August 31st session:
Mission Statements Discussion Audio
Core (Governing) Values with the Hyrum Smith Clip Audio
Homework for Next Meeting (Sept 14th) Audio
Please note that there is no meeting next week (first Sunday). The next meeting will be Sept 14th, at 8AM.
Everyone agreed that this process was forcing us to be very introspective as we sought to identify and understand what our purpose was in this world. Most people spend their lives being swept along by circumstance and chance. They become very good at reacting to those things but often do little to anticipate and avoid them. As Christians, we might look at those events as opportunities to "exercise our faith," and certainly they are! How much better is it though, to recognize the path God has destined for us and to prayerfully make the twists and turns guided by His hand at evert step! That is a goal worth pursuing!
Core (Governing) Values
This first step is to determine what your Core Values are and write down what they are and what they mean to you. The examples from Hyrum Smith's book "The 10 Laws" contain many samples that will help you through this process. You still have to personalize them, to make them yours.
With a clear foundation of Core Values, and with a Mission Statement it is possible to dream and consider what the fulfillment of those values could look like in 15 or 20 years. Will your children attend an ivy league college? Will your family grow stronger and closer? Will your physical condition and appearance improve over time? Will you start a missions outreach in a remote land? Will you be living where you are now? Will much of your time be spent in ministry? Will you have a family retreat at the beach? Will you simplify your life with less material obligations? What are your dreams?
Remember that when you're on God's path for your life ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! "All things" is BIG. "All things" is probably more than you can even dream right now, but try, and start moving along that ever-clearing pathway.
Please continue to refine your Values and Mission Statement, and begin to dream again. God gives men Visions and Dreams. Seek Him to know yours!
The following are the audio clips from our Sunday August 31st session:
Mission Statements Discussion Audio
Core (Governing) Values with the Hyrum Smith Clip Audio
Homework for Next Meeting (Sept 14th) Audio
Please note that there is no meeting next week (first Sunday). The next meeting will be Sept 14th, at 8AM.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
August 24, 2008 Meeting
Though summer took it's toll on attendance, we had a good meeting that focused on developing our Personal Mission Statements and learning about Core or Governing Values! If you couldn't make the meeting, the audio clips are included below.
Personal Mission Statements
Personal mission statements require us to define and write down what our key roles are in all aspects of our life: employee, spouse, caregiver, church member, teacher, team leader. . . we all have different roles. We define what our role should be in those areas or what our role will become as we begin working to improve. We try to foresee what our role will be like as we want it to be years from now.
Will our mission statements change?
Over time we'll continue to grow and to learn. God will move us through seasons in our walk with Him. Although our core values probably never change, our roles and the mission may change over years of growth.
Governing or Core Values
Every person is born with an individual personality, gifts, talents and values that are somehow imparted into us. We hone our personalities, use the gifts, and develop the talents but typically our values remain fairly constant. We grow in our understanding of them, and once we recognize what they are and what they really mean to us, we seek goals that will fulfill them. Benjamin Franklin carried his throughout his life and every week focused on one of them in order to keep his "internal compass" always pointed towards them. It brought him success and inner peace throughout his life.
Homework
1 Complete your Personal Mission Statement - write it down. Think about your roles as you want them to be, not necessarily as they are.
2 Read the handouts on Governing Values from the Franklin Covey system. Take notes so that you fully grasp the concepts.
3 Begin developing your Governing Values. Form a list of things you are willing to cross the "I-Beam" for! Then write down what that value means to you in your own words.
Audio from the August 24th meeting:
Discussion about Personal Mission Statements
Governing Values with excerpts from Hyrum Smith's training
Homework discussion and close
Note: Although the main text for our study is Newberry's "Success Is Not An Accident," we'll draw heavily from the Franklin Covey time management process. To learn more about Franklin Covey or Franklin Quest the following books are recommended: Time Management, An Introduction to the Franklin System - Richard I Winwood, and The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management - Hyrum W Smith. The latter is still in print, however both can be found on Amazon. They cover Governing Values very well along with a lot of other great practical applications for life management.
Personal Mission Statements
Personal mission statements require us to define and write down what our key roles are in all aspects of our life: employee, spouse, caregiver, church member, teacher, team leader. . . we all have different roles. We define what our role should be in those areas or what our role will become as we begin working to improve. We try to foresee what our role will be like as we want it to be years from now.
Will our mission statements change?
Over time we'll continue to grow and to learn. God will move us through seasons in our walk with Him. Although our core values probably never change, our roles and the mission may change over years of growth.
Governing or Core Values
Every person is born with an individual personality, gifts, talents and values that are somehow imparted into us. We hone our personalities, use the gifts, and develop the talents but typically our values remain fairly constant. We grow in our understanding of them, and once we recognize what they are and what they really mean to us, we seek goals that will fulfill them. Benjamin Franklin carried his throughout his life and every week focused on one of them in order to keep his "internal compass" always pointed towards them. It brought him success and inner peace throughout his life.
Homework
1 Complete your Personal Mission Statement - write it down. Think about your roles as you want them to be, not necessarily as they are.
2 Read the handouts on Governing Values from the Franklin Covey system. Take notes so that you fully grasp the concepts.
3 Begin developing your Governing Values. Form a list of things you are willing to cross the "I-Beam" for! Then write down what that value means to you in your own words.
Audio from the August 24th meeting:
Discussion about Personal Mission Statements
Governing Values with excerpts from Hyrum Smith's training
Homework discussion and close
Note: Although the main text for our study is Newberry's "Success Is Not An Accident," we'll draw heavily from the Franklin Covey time management process. To learn more about Franklin Covey or Franklin Quest the following books are recommended: Time Management, An Introduction to the Franklin System - Richard I Winwood, and The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management - Hyrum W Smith. The latter is still in print, however both can be found on Amazon. They cover Governing Values very well along with a lot of other great practical applications for life management.
Friday, August 22, 2008
The August 17th Session
During the August 17th meeting there was some great discussion about Chapter 2 on the topic of how each of us defines "success." If you watch nightly television or look at the adds on billboards, newspapers, or internet pop-ups we are presented with Madison Avenue or Hollywood's version of what success should look like. Most of those things will never truly satisfy us or give us the inner peace we desire in fulfilling what God has called us to do. Our call is to be comforters, not comfortable! For each of us that role will be different, unique, and special.
Why is it so important for you to understand and define what success means to you?
There are probably lots of good reasons, but I believe the most important one is so you can fulfill the purpose of God in your life. No one else can do that, and unless you know what it is, and choose to do it, no one else will.
This Sunday's class will focus on reviewing the work you've done to create your own personal mission statement. If you're not done yet, get going! The next month will be hard because you are going to look deeper into your heart than you ever have before. It will be uncomfortable and awkward and maybe even depressing as you prayerfully understand more of what God has placed inside of you to be and to do.
Don't give up! This will be the hard part, but it leads to the joy of renewing your dreams, setting goals and beginning to re-order your daily activities to achieve them!
Don't worry about making it perfect! The road we're on is a journey and we'll get smarter and modify our course along the way. Although the gifts, talents and values inside of you may not drastically change, our knowledge of them will continue to increase and be molded by His hand as he refines us.
Write it down! This will not work if it's only a mental exercise! YOU HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN! It's a little more work, but it gives you a far greater understanding of what you believe.
If you missed the session on Sunday, the following are the audio tracks for the meeting. Please click on the link's below, take a listen to them, make notes, and keep pressing on!
Thoughts on Chapter 2
Your Definition of Success
Personal Mission Statement Worksheet
Homework Assignment
Closing Prayer
Why is it so important for you to understand and define what success means to you?
There are probably lots of good reasons, but I believe the most important one is so you can fulfill the purpose of God in your life. No one else can do that, and unless you know what it is, and choose to do it, no one else will.
This Sunday's class will focus on reviewing the work you've done to create your own personal mission statement. If you're not done yet, get going! The next month will be hard because you are going to look deeper into your heart than you ever have before. It will be uncomfortable and awkward and maybe even depressing as you prayerfully understand more of what God has placed inside of you to be and to do.
Don't give up! This will be the hard part, but it leads to the joy of renewing your dreams, setting goals and beginning to re-order your daily activities to achieve them!
Don't worry about making it perfect! The road we're on is a journey and we'll get smarter and modify our course along the way. Although the gifts, talents and values inside of you may not drastically change, our knowledge of them will continue to increase and be molded by His hand as he refines us.
Write it down! This will not work if it's only a mental exercise! YOU HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN! It's a little more work, but it gives you a far greater understanding of what you believe.
If you missed the session on Sunday, the following are the audio tracks for the meeting. Please click on the link's below, take a listen to them, make notes, and keep pressing on!
Thoughts on Chapter 2
Your Definition of Success
Personal Mission Statement Worksheet
Homework Assignment
Closing Prayer
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Digging Through the Walls
Everyone struggles as we try to look inward and better understand ourselves. When looking deeper to discern the things God has placed in you - your gifts, talents, and values, it is hard to decouple our unlimited potential from our past failures. If you’re wrestling with this, you’re normal!
In John 15: 2 Jesus says "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” The chapter goes on to say that this pruning process is healthy and normal to enable the branch to bear fruit. Jesus is the vine, and God the Father is the Vine Dresser, who works with us to trim away the aspects of our lives that are not producing fruit.
In Ezekiel 8, Ezekiel experiences a visitation by a strange “appearance of a man,” with fire and glowing metal. He is taken from place to place and the stranger reveals to him the sins of Israel. Initially Ezekiel is shown an external view, clearly visible to anyone who would look. Then he is taken to the entrance to the court and shown a hole in the wall. He is told to dig through the wall and when he does, he finds an entrance. Ezekiel goes through and is shown even greater abominations than before.
The example in Ezekiel gave him a deep understanding of the call on his life. The idea of “digging” to gain entrance can equally apply to our challenge of understanding the call on our lives. It should be uncomfortable. It should be hard. If it’s not, we’re probably not digging deep enough.
Remember
- Spend time with God and let Him show you where to dig.
- Know that the past is in your rear-view mirror and if you’ve repented of your failures and sins, through Christ, God has forgiven and forgotten them. You need to also.
-Try to think about life as you did when you were eleven, when the world was simple and you didn’t know what you couldn’t do yet. The world is still simple.
Over the next few weeks as we start to define our mission in this world, and look to understand what our core values are, don’t be discouraged. You’re not writing the final chapter of your life, only the next one. Our goal is to begin looking forward and adjusting our daily activities to make our future better than our past. We want to take lots and lots of little steps that will lead us to the milestones and dreams God has placed in us.
Don’t give up! God’s best for you is just getting started!
In John 15: 2 Jesus says "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” The chapter goes on to say that this pruning process is healthy and normal to enable the branch to bear fruit. Jesus is the vine, and God the Father is the Vine Dresser, who works with us to trim away the aspects of our lives that are not producing fruit.
In Ezekiel 8, Ezekiel experiences a visitation by a strange “appearance of a man,” with fire and glowing metal. He is taken from place to place and the stranger reveals to him the sins of Israel. Initially Ezekiel is shown an external view, clearly visible to anyone who would look. Then he is taken to the entrance to the court and shown a hole in the wall. He is told to dig through the wall and when he does, he finds an entrance. Ezekiel goes through and is shown even greater abominations than before.
The example in Ezekiel gave him a deep understanding of the call on his life. The idea of “digging” to gain entrance can equally apply to our challenge of understanding the call on our lives. It should be uncomfortable. It should be hard. If it’s not, we’re probably not digging deep enough.
Remember
- Spend time with God and let Him show you where to dig.
- Know that the past is in your rear-view mirror and if you’ve repented of your failures and sins, through Christ, God has forgiven and forgotten them. You need to also.
-Try to think about life as you did when you were eleven, when the world was simple and you didn’t know what you couldn’t do yet. The world is still simple.
Over the next few weeks as we start to define our mission in this world, and look to understand what our core values are, don’t be discouraged. You’re not writing the final chapter of your life, only the next one. Our goal is to begin looking forward and adjusting our daily activities to make our future better than our past. We want to take lots and lots of little steps that will lead us to the milestones and dreams God has placed in us.
Don’t give up! God’s best for you is just getting started!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Passion
Isn’t it interesting that in many circles the term “passion” seems to have a negative connotation? Passion sometimes infers a lack of control, or recklessness.
Yet the greatest sacrifice of all time is often referred to as the “Passion of the Christ!” The example of Christ’s death on the cross creates images of His suffering and the agony of His death. Most of us think of that sacrifice as the “passion” He shared as an element of His human-ness. While true, I think the greater passion was in His love for mankind; that His love was so great, so pure, so intense, that He would willingly allow Himself to be humiliated, bruised, and finally crucified, when He had the power to easily save Himself. I believe that love for us was the real “passion” of the Christ.
God has called us to be a passionate people. He desires us to be “on fire” to serve Him and do His will with our very lives. The scriptures speak to the passion Christ showed in the temple when he overturned the tables of the money-changers (Matthew 21:12). They tell the story of how He wept when he learned of Lazarus’ death (John 11:35). He was a great orator who captured the hearts and minds of the people He spoke to, everywhere He went. All of these speak to a man who was passionate and compelling and purposeful.
Here are a few great quotations:
“A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.”
- John Maxwell (American Author)
“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.”
- Hebbel (German Poet 1813-1863)
“Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.”
- Angela Monet
How passionate are you?
Can you still hear “the music” in your life?
How passionate is your walk with God?
Are you still “on fire” for the gospel and fulfilling the Great Commission?
Are you still on fire for your family? Your job? Your lifestyle? The place you live? The friends you associate with?
Do you still have a passion for LIFE?
When our passion fades, our dreams die. Today, choose to dream again. Search the heart of God and find the thing He has called you to do. Then grab onto that dream with both fists. Embrace it will all your heart, all of your mind and all of your physical being. Let your passion to change and become all that God has called you to ignite the fire within!
It’s time to choose to live again.
Yet the greatest sacrifice of all time is often referred to as the “Passion of the Christ!” The example of Christ’s death on the cross creates images of His suffering and the agony of His death. Most of us think of that sacrifice as the “passion” He shared as an element of His human-ness. While true, I think the greater passion was in His love for mankind; that His love was so great, so pure, so intense, that He would willingly allow Himself to be humiliated, bruised, and finally crucified, when He had the power to easily save Himself. I believe that love for us was the real “passion” of the Christ.
God has called us to be a passionate people. He desires us to be “on fire” to serve Him and do His will with our very lives. The scriptures speak to the passion Christ showed in the temple when he overturned the tables of the money-changers (Matthew 21:12). They tell the story of how He wept when he learned of Lazarus’ death (John 11:35). He was a great orator who captured the hearts and minds of the people He spoke to, everywhere He went. All of these speak to a man who was passionate and compelling and purposeful.
Here are a few great quotations:
“A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.”
- John Maxwell (American Author)
“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.”
- Hebbel (German Poet 1813-1863)
“Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.”
- Angela Monet
How passionate are you?
Can you still hear “the music” in your life?
How passionate is your walk with God?
Are you still “on fire” for the gospel and fulfilling the Great Commission?
Are you still on fire for your family? Your job? Your lifestyle? The place you live? The friends you associate with?
Do you still have a passion for LIFE?
When our passion fades, our dreams die. Today, choose to dream again. Search the heart of God and find the thing He has called you to do. Then grab onto that dream with both fists. Embrace it will all your heart, all of your mind and all of your physical being. Let your passion to change and become all that God has called you to ignite the fire within!
It’s time to choose to live again.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Audio Tracks for Week 1
The following links are the audio tracks for our first session. The quality is not great but with some new gear, following weeks will be better! The important thing now is to GET STARTED! Making the time to need to read, pray and think about the subjects we're covering is not easy. It is the first of many changes you'll desire to make as you see the power of knowing more clearly what your purpose in this world is, and where your dreams and goals are leading you. This may be the most exciting journey you've ever embarked upon!
The first file includes the introduction and overview of the course.
This second file covers our discussion around discovering your talents and gifts, and why it's so important to understand and pursue them.
The last file below describes the homework assignment that's due this Sunday morning. Take a listen and get to work! Amen!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The Power of Personal Responsibility
I just received this email from Mac Anderson, Founder of Simple Truths, a company that creates motivational books and videos. It directly relates to what we’ve started talking about, so I thought I’d share it with you. I hope you enjoy it.
Allan
From Mac Anderson:
Something magic happens when we accept personal responsibility for our behavior and our results.
But, it's not easy, because it's human nature to "pass the buck". I (Mac) know there have been times in my life when my business was struggling where I found myself blaming others, blaming the economy, blaming this, blaming that! But as I've gotten older (and a little wiser) when things go wrong in my business, or my life, I can always find the culprit...in the mirror.
In every instance, it always comes back to choices I've made in my life that put me exactly where I am today. I have to say, that this one "tweak" in my attitude may sound like a little thing, but it has made a big difference in my life.
What does all this have to do with change? Plenty!
As a manager, one of the most important things you can do in times of change is to get your people to understand how their taking personal responsibility, their recognizing problems as opportunities, will not only help the company, but will help them as individuals. In other words, sell the idea of...what's in it for them?
Authors B.J. Gallagher and Steve Ventura wrote a great little book about achieving success through personal accountability titled: Who Are "They" Anyway? I like their list showing how each individual in the company can benefit by adopting a "personal accountability attitude":
You have more control over your destiny
You become an active contributor rather than a passive observer
Others look to you for leadership
You gain the reputation as a problem solver
You enhance your career opportunities
You enjoy the satisfaction that comes from getting things done...the power of positive doing
You experience less anger, frustration and helplessness - all leading to better physical health
You realize a positive spillover effect into your personal life at home
According to Gallagher and Ventura, the most important words of personal responsibility are as follows:
The 10 most important words:
I won't wait for others to take the first step.
The 9 most important words:
If it is to be, it's up to me.
The 8 most important words:
If not me, who? If not now, when?
The 7 most important words:
Let me take a shot at it.
The 6 most important words:
I will not pass the buck.
The 5 most important words:
You can count on me.
The 4 most important words:
It IS my job!
The 3 most important words:
Just do it!
The 2 most important words:
I will.
The most important word:
Me
Frank Tyger said it best...
"YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON MANY THINGS, BUT MOSTLY YOURSELF."
Allan
From Mac Anderson:
Something magic happens when we accept personal responsibility for our behavior and our results.
But, it's not easy, because it's human nature to "pass the buck". I (Mac) know there have been times in my life when my business was struggling where I found myself blaming others, blaming the economy, blaming this, blaming that! But as I've gotten older (and a little wiser) when things go wrong in my business, or my life, I can always find the culprit...in the mirror.
In every instance, it always comes back to choices I've made in my life that put me exactly where I am today. I have to say, that this one "tweak" in my attitude may sound like a little thing, but it has made a big difference in my life.
What does all this have to do with change? Plenty!
As a manager, one of the most important things you can do in times of change is to get your people to understand how their taking personal responsibility, their recognizing problems as opportunities, will not only help the company, but will help them as individuals. In other words, sell the idea of...what's in it for them?
Authors B.J. Gallagher and Steve Ventura wrote a great little book about achieving success through personal accountability titled: Who Are "They" Anyway? I like their list showing how each individual in the company can benefit by adopting a "personal accountability attitude":
You have more control over your destiny
You become an active contributor rather than a passive observer
Others look to you for leadership
You gain the reputation as a problem solver
You enhance your career opportunities
You enjoy the satisfaction that comes from getting things done...the power of positive doing
You experience less anger, frustration and helplessness - all leading to better physical health
You realize a positive spillover effect into your personal life at home
According to Gallagher and Ventura, the most important words of personal responsibility are as follows:
The 10 most important words:
I won't wait for others to take the first step.
The 9 most important words:
If it is to be, it's up to me.
The 8 most important words:
If not me, who? If not now, when?
The 7 most important words:
Let me take a shot at it.
The 6 most important words:
I will not pass the buck.
The 5 most important words:
You can count on me.
The 4 most important words:
It IS my job!
The 3 most important words:
Just do it!
The 2 most important words:
I will.
The most important word:
Me
Frank Tyger said it best...
"YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON MANY THINGS, BUT MOSTLY YOURSELF."
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
New 3% Club Calendar
The New 3% Club - Knowing and Fulfilling Your Purpose
Date Agenda (Subject to adjustment)
July 27 Course overview, Discussion of gifts (spiritual and natural), Dreams
Aug 3 NO MEETING
Aug 10 Choose Success (lesson 1 with homework review)
Aug 17 Choose who you want to become (lesson 2 with homework review)
Aug 24 Core Values - What are they? What are yours?
Aug 31 Core Values - What do yours mean to you?
Sept 7 NO MEETING
Sept 14 Why Change? What is your burning platform?
Sept 21 What are your dreams? What has God placed in your heart?
Sept 28 Research and Evaluation of your Dreams
Oct 5 NO MEETING
Oct 12 Setting your long-term goals
Oct 19 Milestones and short- term goals
Oct 26 Developing new patterns - incorporating your goals into your daily schedule
Nov 2 NO MEETING
Nov 9 Time Management
Nov 16 Maintaining your goals and self-motivation
Launching the New 3% Club
Greetings!
This week we kicked off the first session of what I'll call the "New 3% Club." Knowing and fulfilling God's purpose for your life. The sound of that just didn't roll off the tongue, so apologies if I condense it to the former, but I promise you the latter will be at the heart of our time together.
Below are the two documents that I distributed on Sunday. Note that this week is a "buy" week and we'll not have a meeting in order to allow people to continue ministering at the Detention Center. I mentioned to the group Sunday that originally I'd looked at this as a 3 month commitment, but with the current schedule plan of taking off the first Sunday each month, we'll be meeting through November.
I hope by now everyone has started thinking about your personal goals for this time together. This series of meetings and the associated work that you do will change your life. The amount of change and success that you enjoy depends entirely up to you! During these weeks together, we'll begin developing a strong understanding of what God put inside of us. What are our gifts and talents? What are the most important things in our lives - our core values? And what would we like to do with those gifts, talents and values?
If that all seems a bit daunting, don't worry! We'll step through the process together and help each other along the way.
Note, if you know anyone else who had interest in getting involved with this, there is still time to do so. Please encourage them!
We're still awaiting the books to arrive, and I'll be in contact with you as soon as they become available. Hopefully SOON! I left a message with Pastor Ernie to see what he could find out about the order and expect a good report shortly!
I'll give you a few things to consider as we await the books, just to help start you thinking. The first chapter in the book Success is Not an Accident is entitled "Choose Success" and tells us that being successful in any area, requires us to make a decision. We must choose to be successful. To do that we must first understand and define what "success" means to us. Every one of us will have different thoughts and understanding of what success means. For one person it might be landing a good job at a local restaurant busing tables. For someone else it might be getting a promotion to a management position. For a third person it might be getting to the place financially that they can retire comfortably. The interesting thing is that what you consider successful today, will probably change as time goes on. Eventually we'll be working to develop long range goals in areas associated with your core values. This will allow you to see how a progression of smaller "successes" will lead to accomplishment of much bigger long term goals. Today getting that job at Denny's busing tables sounds great, being promoted in five years to a management position is wonderful, and eventually having enough financial resources to retire comfortably might be a good long term goal.
Newberry talks a lot about YOU taking responsibility for your choices - your past, your present, and your future. He tells us to eliminate excuses; to take them out of our vocabulary! He encourages each of us to become a doer - refuse to be a victim.
In the homework section he asks us to:
1. Write out your personal definitions of success and failure.
2. Draw a line down the center of a paper and on the left write down everything in your life that you can control. On the right, all the things you have no control over.
3. Write out 20 of your positive characteristics.
4. Write out 20 o your past accomplishments.
5. Write out 20 of your greatest blessings.
6. Write out 20 blessings you expect to be grateful for 9 years from now.
7. Describe your ideal day in detail, from the moment you wake up until you drift off to sleep. Include as many emotion-provoking details as possible.
Get started! We don't have the books yet, but let's make a decision for that to be the first excuse we eliminate from stopping us from knowing God's purpose and plan for us! AMEN!
This week we kicked off the first session of what I'll call the "New 3% Club." Knowing and fulfilling God's purpose for your life. The sound of that just didn't roll off the tongue, so apologies if I condense it to the former, but I promise you the latter will be at the heart of our time together.
Below are the two documents that I distributed on Sunday. Note that this week is a "buy" week and we'll not have a meeting in order to allow people to continue ministering at the Detention Center. I mentioned to the group Sunday that originally I'd looked at this as a 3 month commitment, but with the current schedule plan of taking off the first Sunday each month, we'll be meeting through November.
I hope by now everyone has started thinking about your personal goals for this time together. This series of meetings and the associated work that you do will change your life. The amount of change and success that you enjoy depends entirely up to you! During these weeks together, we'll begin developing a strong understanding of what God put inside of us. What are our gifts and talents? What are the most important things in our lives - our core values? And what would we like to do with those gifts, talents and values?
If that all seems a bit daunting, don't worry! We'll step through the process together and help each other along the way.
Note, if you know anyone else who had interest in getting involved with this, there is still time to do so. Please encourage them!
We're still awaiting the books to arrive, and I'll be in contact with you as soon as they become available. Hopefully SOON! I left a message with Pastor Ernie to see what he could find out about the order and expect a good report shortly!
I'll give you a few things to consider as we await the books, just to help start you thinking. The first chapter in the book Success is Not an Accident is entitled "Choose Success" and tells us that being successful in any area, requires us to make a decision. We must choose to be successful. To do that we must first understand and define what "success" means to us. Every one of us will have different thoughts and understanding of what success means. For one person it might be landing a good job at a local restaurant busing tables. For someone else it might be getting a promotion to a management position. For a third person it might be getting to the place financially that they can retire comfortably. The interesting thing is that what you consider successful today, will probably change as time goes on. Eventually we'll be working to develop long range goals in areas associated with your core values. This will allow you to see how a progression of smaller "successes" will lead to accomplishment of much bigger long term goals. Today getting that job at Denny's busing tables sounds great, being promoted in five years to a management position is wonderful, and eventually having enough financial resources to retire comfortably might be a good long term goal.
Newberry talks a lot about YOU taking responsibility for your choices - your past, your present, and your future. He tells us to eliminate excuses; to take them out of our vocabulary! He encourages each of us to become a doer - refuse to be a victim.
In the homework section he asks us to:
1. Write out your personal definitions of success and failure.
2. Draw a line down the center of a paper and on the left write down everything in your life that you can control. On the right, all the things you have no control over.
3. Write out 20 of your positive characteristics.
4. Write out 20 o your past accomplishments.
5. Write out 20 of your greatest blessings.
6. Write out 20 blessings you expect to be grateful for 9 years from now.
7. Describe your ideal day in detail, from the moment you wake up until you drift off to sleep. Include as many emotion-provoking details as possible.
Get started! We don't have the books yet, but let's make a decision for that to be the first excuse we eliminate from stopping us from knowing God's purpose and plan for us! AMEN!
Monday, July 28, 2008
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