In Part Two of my book Tomorrow is a Matter of Choice, I develop an Eight-Step Action Plan that I feel is critical for anyone who desires to develop and strengthen their gifts and abilities and to achieve all that they are capable of becoming.
The third step in that plan is "Establish Your Priorities." This step is critical because it is the foundation that you build on. Given the frantic pace of life today and the countless distractions that influence us daily, it is no wonder that a majority of people haven't taken the time to establish what are the major priorities of their lives.
One of the best ways I recommend is to invest the time to go through an exercise of developing a personal mission statement and committing it to a formal written document which you review often and polish or revise as time passes.
Here are a few helpful hints on this exercise:
1. Start by asking yourself what are the things that are most important to you in this life.
2. What is it that you most want to accomplish based on the answer to the question above?
3. Keep it short and concise.
4. Start by making some brief notes and then organize those thoughts.
5. Do this over the course of several weeks and allow time to pray and reflect.
6. Do a rough draft and then revise it.
7. Once you feel comfortable with your statement, commit it to a formal typed document.
8. Use it to routinely evaluate your daily activities.
9. Every few months take time to assess how well you are progressing towards fulfillment of
your mission statement.
10. Commit to do a yearly revision if necessary because we do change with time.
"You can thoughtfully chose what you want to do, have, and be during your
life, or you can leave it to chance. The difference between chance and choice
lies largely in your level of commitment to creating the future."
- Dave Ellis
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Careful Planning
Legendary basketball coach John Wooden developed a teaching tool which helped him become the most successful coach in NCAA history. It was called "The Pyramid of Success." It was made up of fifteen building blocks and ten mortar qualities. In my opinion it is one of the best teaching tools that helps someone carefully plan how they can become successful. As a sidebar, it is one of the major components of my seminar Seeds of Success.
In the Pyramid of Success the number one block is Industriousness. It has two components - work and planning. My focus in this blog is planning. I begin with planning because careful planning has a major impact even on hard work. Careful planning multiplies the results of hard work.
Most people plan in some way. A simple "To Do" list is planning. Some over plan; they use planning as a substitute for doing.
Careful planning begins with taking the time to think about the goal or objective, the time period available to accomplish the goal and the key steps involved to take towards the goal. Focus on the good use of time and having the best tools and conditions to work in.
Being good stewards of our time and talents is important and is something God blesses.
Good planning and hard work leads to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts leads to poverty.
(Proverbs 21:5)
In the Pyramid of Success the number one block is Industriousness. It has two components - work and planning. My focus in this blog is planning. I begin with planning because careful planning has a major impact even on hard work. Careful planning multiplies the results of hard work.
Most people plan in some way. A simple "To Do" list is planning. Some over plan; they use planning as a substitute for doing.
Careful planning begins with taking the time to think about the goal or objective, the time period available to accomplish the goal and the key steps involved to take towards the goal. Focus on the good use of time and having the best tools and conditions to work in.
Being good stewards of our time and talents is important and is something God blesses.
Good planning and hard work leads to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts leads to poverty.
(Proverbs 21:5)
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Change Comes Slowly
"Anything worth while takes time." "Rome wasn't built in a day." These are two expressions that my parents quoted to me as a youngster and as I have grown older, the more I see the value of embracing the meanings behind these two statements.
There is no quick nor easy way to become successful. It is something that develops over time. It requires the gathering of the seeds of value, planting a crop (practice), making preparations and investing with hard work. Most people are not where they would like to be in life and would like to change, but seem to never succeed. One major reason is that they fail to take the long view when they approach the subject of change. This "longview" is what I just expressed earlier. Change cannot be make quickly. It requires the change of lifestyle and the forming of new habits. That can only be done slowly, day by day over the course of time. It is said that it takes thirty days of doing something without any interruption in order to form a habit. My opinion is that forty days is a better length to use because some people take longer to form a habit than others.
Many start to make changes but fail because they don't stick it out. Others fail because they attempt to do too much at one time and become discouraged. That is why planning and allowing adequate time to form a new habit is so critical.
Take time to think about an area of life where you want to become better. Write down a simple plan of how you think this will be possible. Commit to the plan and work to make it become a reality.
"The future comes one day at a time."
- Dean Acheson
There is no quick nor easy way to become successful. It is something that develops over time. It requires the gathering of the seeds of value, planting a crop (practice), making preparations and investing with hard work. Most people are not where they would like to be in life and would like to change, but seem to never succeed. One major reason is that they fail to take the long view when they approach the subject of change. This "longview" is what I just expressed earlier. Change cannot be make quickly. It requires the change of lifestyle and the forming of new habits. That can only be done slowly, day by day over the course of time. It is said that it takes thirty days of doing something without any interruption in order to form a habit. My opinion is that forty days is a better length to use because some people take longer to form a habit than others.
Many start to make changes but fail because they don't stick it out. Others fail because they attempt to do too much at one time and become discouraged. That is why planning and allowing adequate time to form a new habit is so critical.
Take time to think about an area of life where you want to become better. Write down a simple plan of how you think this will be possible. Commit to the plan and work to make it become a reality.
"The future comes one day at a time."
- Dean Acheson
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Seeds Are Lessons Learned
If you are open-minded and pay attention, one of the places you will find "seeds for success" is in the lessons of life. All around us, everyday we are exposed to valuable lessons if we will but take the time to open our eyes and note what is playing out in front of us. It might be a simple action of someone doing a task in a way that we never thought about and from that example we learn. It might be a comment or an observation from someone that reminds and helps us gain a better understanding regarding a subject which we have been struggling with.
In many cases, we learn from negative experiences. Wise are those who learn from their mistakes. We also can learn from ordinary events of life, things that happen to us every day. So much of the ordinary can teach us if we are careful to observe.
Sadly some people never learn. They maintain a closed mind to anything new or different. They go on practicing bad habits and reaping the consequences. There are others who fall into a routine and never give much attention to the lessons that could be learned. There is so much available for us to learn.
Set aside some time to think about how God has ordered your life and in how many ways He provides lessons for you. Begin to list some things you learn and from what source they have come. Then encourage other to watch for opportunities to learn.
"Every happening, great or small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the
art of life is to get the message."
- Malcolm Muggeridge
In many cases, we learn from negative experiences. Wise are those who learn from their mistakes. We also can learn from ordinary events of life, things that happen to us every day. So much of the ordinary can teach us if we are careful to observe.
Sadly some people never learn. They maintain a closed mind to anything new or different. They go on practicing bad habits and reaping the consequences. There are others who fall into a routine and never give much attention to the lessons that could be learned. There is so much available for us to learn.
Set aside some time to think about how God has ordered your life and in how many ways He provides lessons for you. Begin to list some things you learn and from what source they have come. Then encourage other to watch for opportunities to learn.
"Every happening, great or small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the
art of life is to get the message."
- Malcolm Muggeridge
Friday, April 20, 2012
Teachability
One of the greatest needs in society today is for people to become more teachable. This is a quality that is lacking in many. Our culture is taking a great toll on the lives of many of our young who are being influenced by unreal settings like television sitcoms or most movies. It amazes me how arrogant, self-sufficient and self-centered many of the "heros" are in our entertainment arena. So much emphasis placed on "I did it myself" and "I don't need anyone else" attitudes.
Another problem with most of our entertainment today is that it presents unrealistic accomplishments with little need for the process of learning, practice and significant time required to accomplish.
In the real world success comes to those who are open to learning from others through the channels of books, educational settings or personal mentoring. Developing an attitude of teachability is critical to success. We never outgrow the need to have an attitude that is teachable and a willingness to learn from others.
One way to test your teachability is try something that is new for you. This will require help and advice from others. In many cases it will humble you a bit but will also demonstrate your need for assistance.
"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser."
- Proverbs 9:9
Another problem with most of our entertainment today is that it presents unrealistic accomplishments with little need for the process of learning, practice and significant time required to accomplish.
In the real world success comes to those who are open to learning from others through the channels of books, educational settings or personal mentoring. Developing an attitude of teachability is critical to success. We never outgrow the need to have an attitude that is teachable and a willingness to learn from others.
One way to test your teachability is try something that is new for you. This will require help and advice from others. In many cases it will humble you a bit but will also demonstrate your need for assistance.
"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser."
- Proverbs 9:9
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Check It Out
As an avid reader I am always on the lookout for really valuable books which offer "good seeds" that will help me and others learn and grow. Recently I came across a book entitled Lit! A Christian Guide To Reading Books by Tony Reinke that serves this purpose and I encourage you to obtain a copy for yourself.
The author explains the purpose and objective of his book with the following description:
"My book is for any Christian who wants to read books, and read them well. This book
covers a wide range of topics: why we should read books in the first place, how to
choose the best books, how to find time to read books, and how to find joy - not drudgery -
in the pages of books."
Reinke's book is divided into two parts with six chapters in part one and nine chapters in part two. There are two especially outstanding chapters in Part One: chapter three Savoring Books in an Eye-Candy Culture, and How a Biblical Worldview Equips Us to Benefit from Books in chapter four. In Part Two, chapter eight, How to Read a Book, and chapter ten, Too Busy to Read, are well worth the purchase of the book.
The bottom line is that all fifteen chapters (many are short) are all excellent and make this a book worth owning. It is available in both book and e-book format. I hope you purchase the hard copy in order to mark meaningful comments for yourself and to complement your library.
Remember, it's the books you read, the people you meet, the thoughts you have, and the choices you make that will determine who you are becoming.
The author explains the purpose and objective of his book with the following description:
"My book is for any Christian who wants to read books, and read them well. This book
covers a wide range of topics: why we should read books in the first place, how to
choose the best books, how to find time to read books, and how to find joy - not drudgery -
in the pages of books."
Reinke's book is divided into two parts with six chapters in part one and nine chapters in part two. There are two especially outstanding chapters in Part One: chapter three Savoring Books in an Eye-Candy Culture, and How a Biblical Worldview Equips Us to Benefit from Books in chapter four. In Part Two, chapter eight, How to Read a Book, and chapter ten, Too Busy to Read, are well worth the purchase of the book.
The bottom line is that all fifteen chapters (many are short) are all excellent and make this a book worth owning. It is available in both book and e-book format. I hope you purchase the hard copy in order to mark meaningful comments for yourself and to complement your library.
Remember, it's the books you read, the people you meet, the thoughts you have, and the choices you make that will determine who you are becoming.
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