Are You Out For Revenge?

Ok, so my hometown team, The Arizona Cardinals, got beat last Monday night. Not just beat, but manhandled, by the San Francisco Forty Niners. It was painful to watch such a good team stifled by their competition. But honestly, I was not surprised.

Yesterday while listening to sports radio and watching the local coverage of the upcoming game, I detected something that I believe led to their loss.

One of the sports writers that cover’s the team said the team dinner, a few hours before the game, was the quietest team dinner he had ever attended. The players and the coaching staff were not their usual upbeat, loose selves.

Though they were prepared to play, they were uptight about the game. I don’t believe it was because they were afraid, or because they underestimated the importance of the game (If they won they would be the division champs and clinch a playoff berth,) I believe it was something much deeper. Something much more insidious. It was something that keeps individuals and teams from being able to do the job at hand in the manner it must be done.

So what was it? They were out for revenge!

When you watched or listened to the interviews of the players and the coaching staff leading up to the game, there was a common theme in all their interviews. They wanted to avenge their loss in the opening game of the season which was against the Forty Niners.

Every single interview I heard carried that theme. They were embarrassed because of the way they lost the first game and were bent on avenging that loss. Their desire to avenge that first embarrassing loss led to perhaps one of the worst games I have ever seen them play. They weren’t loose, upbeat, or having fun. The end result was nothing like what they expected.

So what can we learn from this? Improper motivation always leads to wrong results. The desire to settle a score, to get even, to payback for what we perceive to be a slight, is detrimental to our ability to perform at our optimum maximum potential. Revenge is a negative reaction that stems from wanting to right a wrong. Unfortunately taking revenge, only enhances the real problem, and never solves it.

Revenge is never the right motivating factor in life, in business, or in this case winning a football game. Why? Because, it is a negative reaction or response. It is very difficult to have positive results from a negative motivation. Had the Cardinal’s been able to let the first loss go, and learn from their mistakes, and focused on their strengths as a team, there may have been a different outcome to the game. Instead they let the first loss eat at them and in turn entered the game with the wrong motivation.

Many times, as individuals, we do the same thing in our lives. We allow what has happened in the past to eat at us until it causes us to become ineffective. Instead of focusing on what has happened in the past, we should let it go, learn from it, and focus on doing the best we can in the present. The Cardinal’s motivation should have been sticking to what has brought them to the cusp of division champions and letting the chips fall where they may.

In the end, trying to exact revenge on someone that has wronged or slighted you, will only lead to personal defeats in your life. Make the decision today to make sure the motives behind why you are doing what you are doing are right. Remember, embarrassing someone because they have embarrassed you, ends up backfiring on you every time.

Just at thought!

Personal Development

Life is about learning, growing, and improving. It is impossible to be as effective as you could be without constant personal development. You should be constantly seeking to improve your abilities, your knowledge, and your person.

You can be all that you were made to be. Growth or maturity takes time. It does not happen overnight. It is a process. Given the proper effort, discipline and perseverance you can develop your potential.

Personal development keys:

Don’t think you have arrived

No one has arrived to the point of maximum potential. Researchers tell us that upon the examination of Albert Einstein’s brain after his death, they discovered he had only used fifteen percent of his mental capacity. This brilliant man still had room for improvement. Think about it, eighty-five percent of his mental potential was undeveloped. With that in mind it is easy to see that human beings never truly arrive at a place of maximum potential. There is always room for improvement.

You are what you think

Solomon wrote, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” It is a true statement that you become what you think on a continual basis. People that see themselves as losers or failures actually live down to their expectations. They literally find ways to sabotage their lives. Conversely, people that see themselves as winners, in turn live up to their expectations. They find a way to win. It is important that you guard your thoughts, because your thoughts determine your actions.

Birds of like feather flock together

Your associations are important to your personal development. You tend to become like the people you associate with on a continual basis. If you want to soar with the eagles you can’t flock with the turkeys! There are some people that are toxic to your life. Their negativity is poison to themselves and those they are around. In order to become the person you want to become you must sever any relationship that pulls you down instead of building you up. Hang around positive, faith-filled, achievement oriented people, if that’s the type of person you want to become. Run with winners. Solomon said, “Walk with the wise and you will be wise.”

Try new things

In order to be successful you must be willing to take new risks. One reason many never accomplish much is because they are afraid to try anything different. Many times in order to have what you’ve never had; you’ve got to do what you’ve never done. The only thing worse than the person who fails, is the person who never tries.

Refuse to accept the status quo

To experience personal growth you must be willing to leave your comfort zone. As creatures of habit it is easy to get locked into certain patterns that are comfortable but not necessarily productive. Just because things have always been done a certain way does not mean there isn’t a better way. Look for it. Find it. All great achievers have this mindset. That’s what drove Thomas Edison to find a better way to light the world.

Keep Learning

We’ve all met people that are “know it alls.” At least they think they are. They act as though they are experts at everything, when in reality they aren’t. The longer I’ve lived the more I realize I still have a lot to learn. I like to spend time reading positive books on success and achievement. I spend time regularly listening to audio presentations of successful people. I attend seminars on subjects that interest me. Why? So, I can continue to grow as a person. The day you stop learning is the day you die!

Develop a Personal Development Plan

Nothing great is accomplished in life without a plan.  The old adage “To fail to plan is to plan to fail” is true.   Achievers spend time developing their skills, dreams, goals, aspirations, health, finances, and relationships.  Make a list of the areas of your life that need improvement.  Set aside time everyday to begin working on these areas.  Read, listen to audio teachings, attend seminars, take a webinar, join a networking group, find a mentor, for the areas you want to better yourself in.  Begin to apply what you are learning and you will begin to see major improvements in your life.

The Power of Expectation

It has been said, “You cannot rise above your current level of expectation.” What you expect, or believe is going to happen, usually does. We tend to get out of ourselves and others exactly what we expect to get.
I read sometime ago about a salesman that for several years had earned $25,000.00 per year. It didn’t matter what he did, he always earned the same amount. His company decided to give him a new territory, where the salesman before him made $100,000.00 per year. Believe it or not even though he should have and could made considerably more, he only made $25,000.00. Why? Because that is all he expected to make.
Listen to people around you, and you will hear them say things such as, “I expected that to happen.” “Nothing good ever happens for me.” I even heard one man say, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.” And, you know what? They were all right. They all got exactly what they expected.
To be a person the person you were created to be, and to achieve what you have the potential to achieve, you must begin to develop the power of positive expectation. Determine today to begin believing for good things to happen to you. Get rid of your “stinkin thinkin!” Change your attitude. Begin to expect the best in life.
Expect success. Expect to make a sale. Expect for your efforts to be fruitful. Expect others to be favorable to you. Expect to be everything you were created to be. Expect love. Expect promotion.
If you will begin to raise your level of expectation you will be surprised at what begins to happen for you. Jesus once said, “As your faith is, so be it unto you.” Nothing could be truer. You get what you expect.

A Call to Boldness

One of the great themes of scripture is that of boldness. This characteristic is what enabled many great leaders to accomplish great things.

The Bible teaches, “The righteous are as bold as a Lion.” When you think of boldness, you think of a lion. A lion represents fearlessness and power.

Boldness is having the courage to do what is required of you. It is the ability to step out and follow the vision or dream that God has placed in your heart.

Abraham was a man of courage. When God spoke to him, and called him out of the Ur of the Chaldees, to leave all he had in search of a new land, he had the courage to do so. When everyone else was looking to take it easy and enjoy his or her senior years, at 75 Abraham boldly entered a new place of life. It was the result of this boldness that caused him to become the “Father of the Faithful.”

To be bold is to be full of faith. It is important that we, as Christian leaders, be full of faith. Jesus was concerned that when he returned, he would find no faith on the earth. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. It is something that has been given to us by God. We have got to seek to see our faith grow and develop.

As you study the Bible you find varying degrees of faith. Little faith, weak faith, great faith, and so on. In the New Testament book of Act’s, we find that Barnabus was full faith, and the Holy Ghost. He was filled with confidence, courage, and boldness. God help us to be the same.

As leaders it is imperative that we be delivered from the spirit of timidity. It is impossible to truly lead from a position of fear. In order to be an effective leader, boldness is required.

The study of history bears out that effective leaders possess boldness and courage. It is the boldness of their vision, ideas and efforts that inspires others to follow them. People tend to gravitate towards bold leaders.

I believe in the day we live people are looking for bold leaders that will stand and live by the convictions of their heart.

In reading the charge that God gave Joshua, when he was faced with the awesome task of leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land, you find that the main theme was “Be strong and very courageous.” (Joshua 1) It was so important that Joshua possess a bold spirit, that God reiterated it over and over again.

It was through courage that Joshua was able to lead the people across the Jordan River. Courage is what allowed him to lead them to victory over the city of Jericho. It was courage that assisted him in dividing the land to the people. Courage is what caused them to drive out the enemies, from the land, little by little.

If you are going to be an effective leader you must be filled with boldness. The Apostle Paul said, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind." It is time to start believing, talking and acting like this is true, because it is!

You need to be set free from the fear of men. The fear of what others might think, see of do to you. The Bible says, "The fear of man brings a snare." In other words, it binds, traps and imprisons you. David said, "The Lord is on my side, I will not fear, what can man do to me." Now, that's the sound of a courageous, bold leader.

Begin to call on the boldness and courage that God has placed in you. Square your shoulders back, raise your head, and stand tall. Realize that God is in you to do a mighty work in the world.

Several years ago the theme song for my daily radio broadcast was a song sung by Morris Chapman. It said, "Be bold, be strong, for the Lord thy God is with thee, Be bold, be strong, for the Lord thy God is with thee, Do not be afraid, do not be dismayed, For you are walking in strength and victory, You're walking in strength in a victory, For the Lord thy God is with thee."

I challenge you today to shirk off the bands of timidity and fear. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Be filled with faith and courage. Be the bold leader God has created you to be.

Polishing Your Marketability

In order to maintain your marketability it is important to keep your image polished at all times. These days of downsizing demand that you do all you can to secure your position in the workplace.

It is always imperative to stay on the cutting edge of your profession. Those that are able to do the most tasks with the most excellence are the ones that will be in demand. The ones that do just enough to get by are not.

Your future is totally in your hands. Only you can control your future. By applying the following principles you can enhance your public image. You can get noticed and stay noticed.

Polish your personal appearance.

It may sound trivial, but it is important to maintain a positive professional image. The way you dress, comb your hair, polish your shoes, carry yourself etc. all go along way in marketing yourself. If needed consult a fashion expert to assist you with dressing properly.

Constantly improve your communication skills.

Perhaps nothing is more important than your ability to communicate. Communication involves both listening and speaking. While most people are continually trying to find the right thing to say, they neglect the most important part of communicating with others, listening. The only way you can understand what someone else is saying or feeling is to listen to what they are saying. Then and only then are you truly communicating.

Whether communication is in front of a group, or is one on one, how you communicate goes a long way in determining your success or failure. Seek to be clear and concise when sharing with others. Take a specialized course in public speaking.

Develop your writing skills.

In order to increase your marketability you must constantly seek to improve your writing skills. Improper use of words, misspelled words and poor grammar, when in written form, hurt your marketability. In their book “Smart Moves,” Sam Deep and Lyle Sussman write, “Whenever you communicate you are saying three things: something about your message, something about your reader, and something about yourself. When you write clearly you’re showing that you understand the reader, you’ve thought clearly about your purpose and have expressed it well, and you’re presenting a positive image of yourself.”

Read, Read, Read!

One of the common denominators of highly successful people is the amount of reading they do. In order to polish your marketability you need to read everything you can regarding your career field. The late President, John F. Kennedy said, “Knowledge is power.” The key to knowledge is reading. Stay up to date with information that is relevant to your profession.

Stay current.

Staying current in your career field gives you a positive advantage over those that don’t. This makes you more a more valuable employee, contract worker or entrepreneur. Stay on the cutting edge of information and technology in your field of expertise. Take every course you can. Attend every seminar you can. Become an expert in your field.

Stay in touch.

Don’t unnecessarily burn bridges behind you. Always keep the door of communication open with both current and former business contacts. Send thank you notes. Call on special days. Let others know that you genuinely care about them. Offer to assist them in any way you can. Ask them to assist you when you need it. Show your gratitude when they come through for you.

Mind your manners.

It is vitally important that you remember your business etiquette. Don’t overstep boundaries that you shouldn’t step over. Treat everyone with respect. Always show courtesy to those that you seek to do business with. Be aware of your table manners. Say excuse me when you interrupt a conversation. Know and follow the protocol of the activity you are involved in. Basically treat others the way you want to be treated.

Maintain a positive attitude.

People like to be around, and do business with, those that have a good attitude. No one likes to have to deal with people that are difficult to get along with. Attitudes, like measles, are impossible to hide. By being positive, enthusiastic and optimistic in business dealings you are increasing your personal marketability.

Develop your skills.

Those whose skills are developed most are the most marketable. People who know what they are doing, and who can do it most efficiently, are always in demand. Constantly work at developing and honing your skills. Don’t be afraid to learn new things. Be adaptable. Change with the times. Stay current by keeping your skills up to date.

Develop your trustworthiness.

Be a person of your word. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Practice loyalty to your company and bosses. By being dependable you make yourself less expendable. Go above and beyond what is required of you. Volunteer for projects no one else wants, but you are qualified to do. These things can only enhance your marketability.

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An Attitude of Gratitude

Today is Thanksgiving Day.  A time we will gather with friends and love ones and enjoy a great meal and each others company.  Thanksgiving Day in the United States, is a day we have set aside to show our gratitude for all our blessings in life. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the good things that we have been privileged to enjoy.
Unfortunately, many people don’t feel they have anything to be faithful for. When you ask then what they are thankful for they have trouble putting it in words. Sadly, all they can see is the negative circumstances they find themselves in and the things they wish they had but don’t. By focusing on your circumstances and what you don’t have you lose perspective of what you do have.

The past couple of years have been tough for our family. They have had to put up with me getting hurt on the job resulting in seven surgeries on my right arm, contracting a staph infection that almost took my life, and a loss of ability to provide a steady income due to the injury and illness. However, we have all hung tough and have so much to be thankful for.

I know on this day, many that read this, make a list of things they are thankful for. If you don’t you should. Something energizing takes place when you take the time to list all the blessings in your life to be thankful for.

As I am writing this blog, I was reminded of a song we used to sing at church when I was a young child. While I may not remember all the words, I remember the gist of it. It simply said, “Count your blessings, Name them one by one, Count your blessings, See what God has done.” That’s a good idea not just one day a year but something we should practice on a daily basis!

Here’s a shortened version of my list:

• I am thankful to be alive and well.

• I am thankful to have the use of my surgically repaired arm.

• I am thankful for my wonderful wife and best friend, Holly.

• I am thankful for our wonderful children.

• I am thankful for all my friends that have stood by me and believed in me.

• I am thankful to live in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave.

• I am thankful for the dreams, desires, and abilities God has endowed me with.

• Last but not least, I am thankful for God’s love, grace, and faithfulness to me.

Perhaps you are going through a tough time, but remember while your circumstances may not be what you like someone is going through something worse. Make the decision today to make everyday a day of Thanksgiving. Being thankful is a choice you make. A common denominator of highly successful people is their attitude of gratitude. An attitude of gratitude is like a muscle, to develop it you have to work it, or you will lose it.

I received an email from Dr. Keith Johnson, the confidence coach, (http://www.theconfidencecoach.com) that gave the following list of seven questions to ask yourself daily to build your attitude of gratitude and confidence which I thought I should share with you in today’s blog post.

1. What am I most happy about in my life now?
2. What am I most excited about in my life now?
3. What am I most proud about in my life now?
4. What am I most grateful about in my life now?
5. What am I enjoying most in my life right now?
6. What am I committed to in my life right now?
7. Who do I love? Who loves me?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Reinventing Yourself

Are you unhappy with who you have become? Do you feel stuck in a rut and want to change? Do you believe it is possible to change, or have you bought into the lie that you and who you are and there is nothing you can do about it? If you answered yes to any of these questions then this blog is for you!

It is possible to change the way you are. While change takes time, effort, and may be difficult it is possible. You can become the person you have always wanted to be. You can be happy. You can be fulfilled. You can be successful.

The Bible is clear that it is possible to experience positive change. God has given us His word and His spirit in order that we can experience lasting change.

The word “repent” means to have a change of mind, a change of heart, a change of attitude, resulting in a change of actions, and a change of direction, and a change of results. Repentance is not a one-time event in the life of a Christian. It is an ongoing daily process.

According to psychologist William James “a man can change his life by changing his attitude.” This is simply another way of saying what the Apostle Paul told the Roman church, “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:1).

The word “transformation” comes from the Greek word “metamorpheo” from which we get the English word “metamorphosis”. A “metamorphosis” is a total change or “reinventing” of ones self. The common example of this is the change that happens when a caterpillar spins a cacoon and then emerges as a beautiful butterfly. Now that’s transformation!

The following principles will aid you in reinventing yourself:

Choose to change.

While this may sound elementary, you will never change until you make the decision to. Make the quality decision that from this day forward you will begin to be the person you have always dreamed of being. A quality decision is one from which you will not turn away. It is a decision of commitment to change.

Change the way you think.

To reinvent yourself you must change your thought processes. As Zig Zigler says, you must get rid of “stinkin thinkin!” They way you think determines how you act, and how you act determines what you get. Let go of the negative thoughts that have been holding you back. Replace them with the positive things God has to say about you in His word. Determine to think high thoughts. Thoughts of victory and success.

Change your talk.

Get rid of all the negative self-talk. Quit saying what you can’t do and start declaring what you can and will do. Quit putting yourself down. Start believing in yourself, you ideas, and your abilities. Say with the Apostle Paul, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”

Discover your divine design.

Understanding your purpose in life is essential to reinventing yourself. You can’t be the person you were meant to be if you don’t know why you are here in the first place. You are not an accident. God has a plan for your life. Here are five questions that will help you discover your divine design:

• What are your natural gifts and talents?
• What excites or stirs you, what is your passion?
• What are your dreams and aspirations?
• What type of personality traits do you possess?
• What are your leadership skills? (Are you a manager, a doer or a visionary?)

The answers to these questions will help you discover your life mission. God will never call you to do something that He hasn’t created you to do. Your life purpose is what gives you direction, responsibility and meaning to life.

The me I see.

I heard Robert Schuller speak on the subject “The me I see is the me I’ll be.” I have never forgotten the message in the title alone. You will never rise above the person you see yourself to be. By changing your thinking, your self-talk, and discovering your divine design, you will begin to see yourself the way God sees you. Begin today to see yourself organized, attractive, diligent, reliable, happy and successful. It is a true statement, “if you can conceive it, you can achieve it!” Solomon wrote, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)

Be yourself.

So many people live frustrated, directionless and meaningless lives because they are trying to be someone they aren’t. By trying to be the person someone else wants you to be you short-circuit being the person God made you to be. Don’t allow yourself to be molded by the opinions of others. Refuse to let others try to live their lives through you. You are born an original, don’t die a copy. Your value is in your individuality. It is not in your similarities to others.

Where are you going?

What is it that you have always dreamed of accomplishing in life? In order to reinvent yourself you must have a vision of where you are going and what you intend to accomplish. Highly successful people are goal setters. A Goal is a vision or a dream with a deadline on it. It is something to aim at. As Denis Waitly says, “If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there?” Set goals that are in line with your life mission, not someone else’s!

Associate with people you desire to be like.

Your associations have much to do with your success in life. Many times it is imperative that some relationships be severed. Paul the Apostle said, “Evil communications (associations) corrupt good manners.” (I Corinthians 15:33) put an end to relationships that are a negative influence, that belittle you, that drain you of your time and energy.

On the other hand, begin to associate with people that are likeminded as you. Choose to associate with positive, honest, faith-filled people that will inspire you to greatness. Solomon also wrote, “Iron sharpeneth iron.” In other words, you become like the people you associate with. Make the decision to develop relationships with people that are successful in your field of endeavor. Run with winners!

Commit to lasting change.

Reinventing yourself won’t happen overnight. However, it will happen if you stick with it. Personal development, or personal growth, is simply the process if becoming the person you were made to be. To accomplish this you must commit to it. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted, discouraged or defeated.

Ask God to help you.

Prayer gets God involved in your life. Seek Him for guidance, strength, and the ability to change. Believe when you pray that he will not only hear you, but also that you will receive what you are asking for. Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

The road to becoming a “new you” may be long and difficult at times, but if you will stick with it you will make it. As a result, you will become a person of productivity and accomplishment.

Someone Is Looking For You

You are unique. You are important. You are qualified to touch someone’s life and make a positive difference. You have what someone else needs. It could be information. It could be a business opportunity. It could be a word of encouragement. It could be a product or service. Whatever it is, you hold the answer to someone’s questions and the solution to someone’s problems.

Try to wrap your mind around this truth. For some it’s a new if not almost foreign concept. Whether you realize it or not, you are a problem solver. Most people only spot problems. But you are different, you solve them. Someone, somewhere, is looking for what you are uniquely qualified to solve.

Everything is created to solve a problem. Everyone is created to solve a problem. Every product and service is founded on this principle. Think about this. Chefs solve hunger problems. Doctors solve health problems. Dentists solve teeth problems. Lawyers solve legal problems. Personal trainers solve exercise and fitness problems. Mechanics solve automobile problems. Teachers solve education problems. Coaches solve motivation problems. Factory workers solve production problems. Ministers solve spiritual problems. And so on. Do you get the point?

What is it that excites you? What is it that angers you? What do you see around you that you want to help change? How can you help others solve the problems they are encountering? Your answers could be an indication of the problems you are created to solve.

You can’t fix everything wrong in the world. You can’t solve every problem. You can’t answer every question. Everyone won’t need what you have to offer, but somebody does. You weren’t born to be the savior of the world. But you were born to solve some problem. This one is one of the most liberating things I’ve ever discovered. It helped me become real. It set me free from what I’ve termed “The Messiah Complex.” It enabled me to focus on what I could do to solve the problems I am qualified to solve, and from trying to solve problems I’m not qualified to solve.

What would the world be like if we could all grasp this concept? I think the world would be a better place if everyone found their place and solved the problems they are qualified to solve.

Your life purpose may not be the same as mine, but you have one, and it’s important. It’s important to you and it’s important to others. Your talents, your skills, your strengths, your interests, your passions, your experiences, are all part of what makes you qualified to be a problem solver. Why not make the decision today to use what you’ve been blessed with to help others solve the problems they are facing in life. Someone is looking for you. They are looking for what you have to offer. Find them. Help them solve their problem and they will be eternally grateful!

Achievement

There is nothing greater than the feeling of accomplishment. To set out to do something and then to do it. President Franklin Roosevelt said, “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.”

Anyone can start a project, only winners finish what they start. The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” Highly successful people are not those who know how to start a project, but rather those that know how to finish it.

The key to achievement is persistence. Persistence is the ability to stick with something until you have accomplished it. It is the ability to not quit or give up when the going gets tough. Robert Schuller says, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Persistence keeps you going in spite of the opposition, setbacks or difficulties you may face.

Determine to finish what you start. Develop your persistence muscle. Be determined to not stop until you reach your goals. As author John Mason says, “Let go of whatever makes you stop.” A dream, hard work and persistence will make you a person of achievement.

Acts of Kindness

“The days of chivalry are over” the woman said as I held the door open for her. “Perhaps they are”, I replied, “But the days of kindness aren’t”! Treat others with the same respect, dignity and courtesy you would like to receive.

Albert Schweitzer wrote, “Constant kindness can accomplish much.” As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstandings, mistrust and hostility to evaporate. It is amazing what a kind word or a kind act can do for a person.

In our society it seems that kindness has become a lost art. People live with only their own interests at heart. They constantly think only of themselves and their situations of life. Rare is the person who puts the concerns of others first.

Zig Zigler teaches that the key to becoming a success in life is in helping others become a success. If I can help you get what you want, it will help me get what I want. It is true that we reap what we sow.

In Ephesians 6:8 the Apostle Paul wrote, “Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord.” In other words, what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

When was the last time you recall someone doing something kind for you? More important, when was the last time you did something kind for someone else? An act of kindness is something you do voluntarily. It is something you want to do not just because someone asks you to do it. Look for opportunities to be kind to someone today.

" And be kind to one another." (Ephesians 4:32)

Just a thought!

Positive Thinking

All high achievers are positive thinkers. Being an optimist is essential to success in life. Believing for, and expecting the best are marks of people that accomplish great things in life.

This is true in all areas of life. Businesspeople, athletes, factory workers, homemakers, students, can all benefit from positive thinking.

Positive thinkers don’t just see things as they are now, but as they can be. They tend to be problem solvers instead of problem spotters. They see the silver lining behind the dark clouds.

Positive thinking has its origins in scripture. Solomon once wrote “as a man thinks in his heart so it is he.” Jesus said, “as your faith is so be it unto you.” The Apostle Paul declared, “be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Repentance, in its simplest definition means to have a change of mind. In other words, quit thinking thoughts that are causing you to fail, and begin instead to think positive, uplifting thoughts that will lead you to success.

Thinking in a positive manner is the result of making a conscious decision to do so. It is a skill that can be developed over time. You can train and discipline yourself to be optimistic.

Choose today to clear your mind of negative thoughts and determine to replace them with positive, faith-filled thoughts. Begin to focus on what can be, instead of what now is.

Be Kind and Considerate

Mean spirited, manipulative people seldom enjoy success over the long haul. Bullying people, acting as a dictator, forcing people to do things your way or the highway, seldom produces respect and honor in others. In fact people resent aggressive, hard to get along with, domineering personalities.

As a young man my mother told me, “You’ll catch more flies with honey that you will with vinegar.” I have never forgotten this truth. I have seen firsthand the value of treating others with kindness and being considerate of their feelings.

The quickest way to earn the respect of others is to treat them with respect. Honor others for their abilities, knowledge and opinions. Praise them for their accomplishments. Celebrate their personal victories.

People will go to the ends of the earth for you if you treat them with kindness. There is something almost magical that happens when others know they are appreciated and needed.


“Be kind one to another.”(Ephesians 4:32)

What Is Important to Me?

All of us have different priorities in life. Some value a foreign sports car, others a big home, others an important title or position. What are your priorities? When was the last time you even thought about what is really important to you?

Making a list of your personal priorities can be an interesting and rewarding thing to do. It can help you get your life in order, increase personal success and make you feel better about yourself.

A sample list of priorities could be, 1) Serving God, 2) Spending time with your family, 3.) Your career, 4.) Having a hobby, 5.) Reading, 6.) Going back to school, 7.) Exercise, 8.) Eating right and so on. You get the picture!

By compiling a list of your personal priorities you are able to determine what is truly important to you. You are also able to gauge how much time you spend in each area and make adjustments as necessary.

Making a list forces you to be all you can be. It also protects you from the demands and expectations of others.


“Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.”(Matthew 6:33)

Keys to Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is a much-needed ingredient for personal success. It is an inner passion that drives a person forward. Personal motivation comes from enthusiasm. Being enthusiastic about your project inspires others to become involved in what you're doing.

The ability to become, and stay enthused about a given project, vision, or idea, energizes a person. It causes a person to be motivated to action. It is a proven fact that people who are enthusiastic about what they are doing get more done. They are more productive because they enjoy what they are doing.

Being enthusiastic does not mean that you won't face difficult times. The fact is, regardless of what you are doing or desiring to do, you will face obstacles and adversity. Enthusiasm keeps you going in tough times.

The word enthusiasm comes from the Greek roots " en" and "theos" and means "God within." It is a fire, a passion within. Real enthusiasm is not something you "put on" and "take off" to fit the occasion. It is a way of life.

The following seven keys will help you be more enthusiastic.

Have a clear vision of where you are going and what you want to accomplish.

It is impossible to become or stay motivated without a vision. King Solomon wrote, "Without a vision, the people perish." Enthusiastic people are those who know where they are going and how they are going to get there.

Be totally committed to your vision.

Commitment to your vision is essential to enthusiasm. Many people fail in life, not because they don't have a vision, but because they are not committed to it. Robert Schuller says, "Irrevocable commitments that offer no loopholes, no bail-out provisions, and no parachute clauses, will extract incredible productivity and performance.

Focus on the end result everyday.

Stephen Covey says that one of the habits no successful people is "they begin with the end insight." It is easy to become distracted by the everyday problems and obstacles of life. Losing focus of the end result will frustrate you can cause you to lose enthusiasm. When you see your enthusiasm starting to wane, refocus on what you want to accomplish and where you're going.

See it accomplished in your mind’s eye.

Train yourself to see the job finished, by faith, before it actually is. Visualize how things will be when the project is finished. Strong faith, belief that what you're doing will be successful, is vital to being enthusiastic.

Talk about it.

Verbalize your vision. Notice that enthusiastic people usually talk lower and faster than people whom aren't. Become animated and passionate about your vision.

Go on a crusade.

What is your mission in life? If you could accomplish anything in the world, what would it be? Now, determine to do it. MADD was born out of a tragedy. A mother whose child was killed by a drunk driver used the tragedy as a springboard to launch a crusade against drunk driving. Her enthusiasm has motivated thousands of others to become involved in putting a stop to drunk driving. Untold numbers of lives have been saved because of her enthusiasm.

Hang around other enthusiastic people.

Enthusiasm is contagious. It rubs off on the others. Hanging around excited people helps to ignite your passion. Get away from negative people. Start associating with people that are successful. Allow their enthusiasm to inspire you.

Turning Negatives Into Positives

High achievers have the ability to turn negative situations into positive ones. They have the knack when given a lemon to make lemonade. Regardless of how difficult the circumstances are they are able to turn them into stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks.

Life is filled with negatives. They cannot be escaped. Everyone goes through difficulties from time to time. However, those who refuse to be defeated by adversity are the ones that enjoy success in life.

Robert Schuller says, “Tough times never last but tough people do.” A friend of mine says, “When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping!” Being tough, in this sense of the word, means not giving up or stopping short of what you are striving to accomplish.

The following suggestions will give you some ideas for turning negatives into positives.

Expect the best.
You get what you expect. This is true both in the positive and the negative. Jesus said, “As your faith is so be it unto you.” Quit expecting the worse. Don’t borrow trouble. Determine to look for and anticipate the best.

Get a different perspective.
Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. At times you have to step away from the problem and look at it from a different angle. Ask others close to you what they see. Get their input as to what to do about the current condition. Taking a break from the situation can give you a whole new outlook.

Ask questions.
When writing a story a good investigative reporter always asks Who? What? Why? Where? When? and How? Asking these same questions about your situation gives you great insight not only into the problem you are faced with, but also into what caused it, and how to turn it around.

Failure isn’t final.
It is one thing to fail it is another to see yourself as a failure. Failure is not an event it is an attitude. Just because you have blown it doesn’t mean you’re finished. By not giving up or losing heart you are able to turn your negatives into a positive. I like to look at my times of failure as learning experiences. Every time I try something and fail I have simply discovered something that didn't work. I am constatly seeking to find ways to improve what I am doing. Babe Ruth was the strike out king of baseball. But he never quit swinging. His failure isn't final attitude led him to become the home run king of baseball. So you've failed. Big deal! Get up and keep trying. Success is just around the corner!

Change the way you speak.
According to Solomon, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Your words have power. People that talk failure, struggle and negative situations all the time, experience exactly what they are speaking. Much of what happens to people is the result of self-fulfilling prophecies. Choose to begin to speak positively about your situation. Begin to declare what can be not what can’t be. Jesus taught, “A good man out of the good treasures of his heart brings forth that which is good. An evil man out of the evil treasures of his heart brings forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” What you say has an impact on what you experience.

Staying On Track

When I was a young man I loved going to my grandfather’s house in Oklahoma. He had a huge ranch, probably about 10,000 acres, and raised cattle and grew alfalfa, as well as other things. It was a lot of fun for a young man because there was so much to explore and so much to do. One day when he was going out to one of the fields to prepare it for planting alfalfa, he asked if I wanted to help him. I jumped at the chance because that meant maybe he was going to let me drive the tractor.

When we got out to the field he began the task of plowing the soil to prepare it for planting. I watched in awe as he expertly handled that big tractor. When we looked behind us we could see the straight as an arrow rows that he had plowed. After what seemed like an eternity he ask me if I wanted to try. With pride I jumped behind the wheel of the tractor and away we went. When we looked behind us the rows were as crooked as if a snake had plowed them.

It was then that I learned a life-lesson I have never forgotten. My grandfather told me the reason the rows I plowed were not as straight as his, was not because I couldn’t drive the tractor right, but rather because I was focusing on the wrong thing. You see when I drove the tractor I was constantly looking behind me to admire what I had done. He taught me the secret to plowing a straight row was to find something on the horizon to aim at and to stay focused on it. He taught me you can’t plow a straight row if you are constantly looking back. So I did what he told me to do. I picked a tree or a fence post on the far end of the field and never took my eyes off of it. When I finished my first row we looked back and the row I had plowed was as straight as any he had plowed.

This is the way it is in all areas of life. You cannot arrive at your destination if you get off course. Far too many never see their goals fulfilled because they lose focus of where they are going and what they want to accomplish. They allow circumstances and people to distract them from their main objectives. They constantly look back at what they’ve done or could have done differently.

Track stars understand the necessity of keeping their eyes on the finish line. One of the first things you learn when you begin to run track is to look straight ahead. You learn to not look around at what the other runners are doing. Why? Because doing so will distract you, slow you down, and cause you to get off course. By focusing on the finish line, you are putting yourself in position to win the race.

What are you aiming at? What goals do you want to achieve? What do you want to accomplish? How is your focus? Are you on track or are you off track? By learning to stay on track you can be assured that you will reach your destination if you don’t quit!

Here are some keys to help you stay "On Track."

1. Focus. Great achievers have the ability to focus and stay focused on their goals. They have the ability to block out things that would destroy their focus ability. To succeed you must learn to concentrate on what you are doing until. Don’t break your focus until you have reached your goals.

2. Beware of distractions. There are all kind of seemingly important things vying for your attention. Everything from phone calls, unexpected visitors, honey-do lists, and even emergencies can distract you from your objectives if you allow them to.

3. Don’t be easily discouraged. Another deterrent to staying on track is discouragement. Setbacks, criticism, unexpected circumstances, can all produce discouragement. To be successful you must learn to stay encouraged. Keep the end result in mind. By focusing on the joy of accomplishment you are able to ward off discouragement.

4. Commit to the long haul. Far too many give up to soon because of delays in reaching their goals. You must remember that in most things there is no overnight success. There are many delays on the road to accomplishment. Don’t allow yourself to give up because of delays.

5. Make on course adjustments. When NASA launches a spacecraft to travel to a particular destination, whether it is the moon or a planet, in order for it to reach it’s destination there must be constant course adjustments made. Being off just a few centimeters can cause the craft to miss its destination by thousands of miles. So it is with all of life. In order to successfully reach your goals and objectives you must make constant adjustments to your goals, plans and thinking, to get where you want to go.

The I Am Messiah Syndrome

I was once caught up in what I call the "I Am Messiah" syndrome. I was of the opinion that if something had to be done; I had to do it in order for it to be right. If there were problems that had to be solved, I had to solve them. As a result I ran myself ragged trying to do things that I wasn't qualified to do. Fortunately, I woke up one day and realize that I was not "all knowing" or "all powerful!" I not only couldn't do everything, I wasn't required to.

Unfortunately, I meet a lot of people caught up in the same rat race. They are on the same treadmill that I was on. Always busy but never really accomplishing anything. Always on the go but never going anywhere. This is a fundamental reason why so many people burnout or fizzle out before their time.

The "I am Messiah" syndrome causes people to never fully maximize their potential. It keeps them limited in their accomplishments. As a result they fail to build relationships with people that could lighten their load and help them become more contented in life.

Here are some thoughts I have on breaking free from the "I Am Messiah" syndrome:

Know your limitations.

You can only be one place at a time. You can only do one thing at a time. You'll only be able to do so much. You cannot "save" the world. Go with your gifting and skills. Quit trying to do things you don’t know how to do. For instance, if you are good at fixing computers it doesn’t mean you are good at fixing automobiles. If your car needs repairs you are better off finding someone who is skilled in that area than to try to do it yourself.

Know your strengths and weaknesses.

Admit it, there are some things you're good at, and there are other things that you're not so good at. Capitalize on your strengths. Develop them. Hone your skills. Become the best you can be, as the person you were created to be.

Network with others.

Find people who are strong where you're weak, and enlist their assistance. Two are better than one. Get people involved in your life. It is amazing how quick people are to assist you, if you only ask. You also need to learn how to delegate tasks to others and then allow them to do them.

Recognize that you don't know everything.

This is essential to lifetime success. People who are know it all's, have trouble learning, adapting, and excelling in life. Life is an ongoing learning experience. Allow those that are experts in areas you aren’t, teach, train, and mentor you.

Learn to say no.

Quit trying to do everything others want you to do. Set guidelines for the type of assignments you will and will not accept. Only agree to do those things that you know you can get done and can do your best. Don’t allow yourself to be caught up in trying to please others by taking on responsibilities you aren’t qualified to do or don’t have the time to do.

Realize you can't save the world.

You can only do so much to affect positive change in the world. If everyone would simply do what they can do to make the world a better place to live, how much better we all would be.

Don't compare yourselves to others.

One reason so many people get caught up doing things they are not qualified to do is because they are trying to keep up with those around them. Unfortunately, this will lead only to frustration. The fact of the matter is you may not have the same qualifications, desires, and vision that others have. Be the person God created you to be.

Be A Person Of Value

Be A Person Of Value

Albert Einstein wrote, “Try not to become a man of success, rather try to become a person of value.” In our society many are selling themselves short simply by trying to succeed at any cost. While success is the by-product of vision, goal-setting, planning, action and determination, it should not be your ultimate goal. You must not get caught up in the web of trying to be a success so others will think you are great.

Jesus said, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?” Your soul is your mind, your will and your emotions. I have met countless numbers of people in my life who have experienced mental breakdowns, a loss of proper desires, and emotional breakdowns because they chased success instead of letting it follow them.

It is startling to finally reach the top of the ladder only to realize it’s propped against the wrong wall. Your life does not consist of the abundance of things you possess. When you die you will not be remembered for what you owned as much as for who you were.

A person of value not only has worth but also adds worth or value to others. There are many ways you can add value to those around you. Here are a few. Compliment someone that does a good job. Smile at others and make eye contact when you talk to them. Encourage others in the pursuit of their dreams. Find a need someone has and meet it. Place value on others by listening to their ideas. Always treat others the way you would want to be treated.

Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” In order to be the person you were created to become, your life must be founded on right and moral principles. Show me a person with no values and I will show you a failure.

In order to leave a positive lasting legacy you must seek to be a person of character. Seek to live a life based on principles and values. Be a person that makes the difference in the lives of others. Live a life that exemplifies the life of Christ in all you do. In other words be a servant. Zig Zigler says, “If you help others get what they want you will get what you want.”

To Your Success!

Do You Need Some Change?

Do you ever find yourself questioning why you are doing what you are doing? Has life lost its luster? Do you ever feel like for some reason you have gotten off track and don’t know how it happened? Does it feel like your life is stuck on a treadmill? That you’re always busy but never getting anywhere?

If you’re like me, and you probably are, you’ve asked yourself these and other questions similar to these hundreds of times, and your answer is a big fat “YES!” Now the question is, “So what are you going to do about it?” You can either give in and settle for less than what is possible, or you can make the decision to do whatever it takes to break out of the mundane existence you find yourself in.

From time to time we all find ourselves in some sort of rut. It’s easy to get in a rut without even realizing it. You know you are in a rut when what used to be fun and was a challenge has become ritualistic and boring. Someone has rightly said, “A rut is nothing more than a grave with both ends kicked out of it.” It is existing instead of excelling at what you were created for.

It is important to examine our lives from time to time, in order to discover the rituals, habits, or ruts that we have developed. Especially the ones that are making us miserable. Plato is quoted as saying, “The life which is unexamined is not worth living.”

Notice what the Bible says about examining your life. “But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” (Galatians 6:4) Taking personal inventory of your life, and examining yourself, is not always a fun process. But, it is vitally important so you can make adjustments that lead to greater success and productivity.

Right now, in our world, with the economic crisis that is getting so much press, individuals, businesses, and organizations are having to examine their practices as to what is working or not working. They are having to take a long hard look at what is necessary and what is unnecessary as to their projects, their spending, and their work force. Then they have to make the changes necessary to succeed in the face of failure.

One of the keys to success is the ability to adapt. To make the necessary on course adjustments that will get you to where you want to go. When NASA launches a spacecraft or satellite into orbit, there are countless numbers of adjustments that have to be made along the way in order to get them in the proper orbital pattern. So it is with all of life. If you don’t make the necessary adjustments along the way you’ll miss your destination (goals) by miles.

My challenge to you today is to set aside some time and ask yourself the hard questions. Make the time to examine all areas of your life; Your attitude, your life purpose, your gifts and talents, your passion, your dreams, your spending habits, your work habits etc. Then make the decision to make the necessary adjustments and changes that will lead to personal success and productivity. “If what you are doing isn’t working, then you need to change what you are doing!”

To your success!

How to Have a Great Day

Far too many people are caught up in reliving their yesterdays or fantasizing about their futures, but few are living in and enjoying the now. Several years ago I spoke on the subject, “The curse of yesterday and tomorrow.” I spoke about the fact that if all you think about are your yesterdays or your tomorrows, and then it becomes a curse to your today.

Today is the most important day of your life. Your destiny is determined by what you do today. The attitudes and ideas you have today will help to determine your successes tomorrow.

Author J.J. Turner writes:

Today is the day of Action.
Today is when the battle shall be won.
Today is yesterdays tomorrow.
Today is all you have.
Today is the time for winning.
Today you will take a step toward your goal.
Today must not be wasted.
Today is under your management.
What will you do with today?

If you are going to experience great success then you must learn to live in the present. You must quit just dreaming about tomorrow and reminiscing about yesterday. Determine to live today with all the gusto you can muster.

Determine that nothing is going to keep you from having a great day today. Nothing is going to keep you from recognizing the opportunities that each day presents you with.

Believe That Something Good is Going to Happen Today

Having a positive mindset determines the course of your life. Jesus said, “As your faith is so be it unto you.” In other words what you believe is what you will receive. This is true in both a negative and a positive sense. If you start your day with a negative mindset, expecting the worse, then that is what you are going to experience. Conversely, if you start the day with a positive attitude, expecting the best, then that is what you will enjoy.

Make the decision to begin looking for and believing for the best in your life every day. Begin to say to yourself “something good is going to happen for me today.” Repeat it often until it becomes a part of how you really feel.

Begin Each Day With Prayer

Prayer is simply spending time communing with God. It is what gets God involved in your circumstances. As my mom used to tell me, “Things go better with prayer.”

The Bible is full of teachings as to the power of prayer. Jesus said these things about prayer, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) He further said, “Hitherto have you ask nothing in my name, ask and you shall receive that you joy may be full.” (John 16:24) “What things you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them.” (Mark 11:24)

Organize Your Day

Much time is wasted by people who don’t take the time to plan their days. As someone has so rightly said, “Time is money.” Start each day with a list of prioritized things that must be accomplished. Learn to manage your time so as to get the most out of each day.

Look for Opportunities to Use Your Skills and Abilities

God has created you with certain talents and abilities that make you unique and important. There is nothing more fulfilling than doing what you were made to do and using the talents that God has blessed you with. On any given day you will encounter many opportunities to use what God has given you. Be who God made you to be not what others want you to be.

Have a Positive Attitude

It is very important that you maintain the proper perspective if you are going to enjoy the winning life. Many have said that attitude is more important that aptitude when it comes to being successful. While aptitude is important without a positive attitude it is powerless. Having a positive attitude is a prerequisite for using what you know in a productive manner.

Your attitude determines how far and how high you will go in life. We have all met extremely talented and brilliant people that are not accomplishing their dreams because of a poor attitude. On the other hand, we’ve all met less talented and less brilliant people that are accomplish great things because they have an upbeat positive attitude. The attitude you possess is your choice. Make the decision to start each day with a positive outlook and high expectations.

Practice Acts of Kindness

When I was in the Boy Scouts as a young man we were expected to do a good deed for someone everyday. That was part of our motto as Boy Scouts. I still remember the positive feeling I had every time I did something nice for someone else. While most of my deeds of kindness were not a big deal, it was a nice feeling to see how good you made the other person feel.
I have paid peoples meal tabs without them knowing who did it. I have paid toll for the people in the vehicle behind me for no reason at all. I’ve paid for the groceries of people in line ahead of me just because I wanted too. Now, none of these things are to brag on myself, but to simply illustrate what I am talking about. Try it and see if you don’t get the same feelings of joy that I’ve experienced. If you want to have a great day, help someone else have a great day!

Live Each Day As if It's Your Last

Enjoy each moment. Enjoy the company of others. Learn to appreciate the sunshine, the flowers blooms, the bird’s songs, and everything else that you come in contact with. Make each moment count. Do the things that will bring lasting results, things that will benefit and promote others. If you are going to experience success in life then you are going to have to begin to live in the now. Oh by the way, Have A Great Day!

Manage Yourself, Lead Others

In order to be successful in any arena of life, you must put into practice the principles that promote success. You will never be an “accidental” success. Success comes as a result of putting the right principles into operation on purpose.

You cannot lead others if you cannot manage yourself. It is imperative that anyone in a leadership role learn to manage their thinking, their actions, their words, their time, their relationships, and their emotions. In other words, leaders are people who take charge of their own lives, before they try to lead others.

Your Thinking

How you think has an affect on every area of your life. Positive thinking leads to self-motivation, which in turn leads to productivity. Negative thinking leads to self de-motivation, which leads to a lack of productivity. The way you think not only affects you it also affects those around you.

We are a result of the way we think. The Bible says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Everything we are and everything we accomplish is affected by how we think. We determine our destiny by what we allow our minds to dwell on.

Your Actions

In order to be successful as a leader you must be a person of action. What we think or believe is in the end of little consequence if we are not people of action. The only thing of real consequence is what we do. The Bible teaches us over and over again that we are to be doers not hearers only.

Ask yourself these questions. Is what I am doing taking me in the direction I want to go? Are my actions causing me to be productive? Is what I am doing the right thing to do? If you answered no to these questions, you need to reevaluate what you are doing.

Your Words

Your words carry the power to create or destroy. Never underestimate the value or importance of the words you speak. People tend to go in the direction of their dominate thoughts and what they talk about all the time.

You can find out if a person is negative or positive by just listening to what they talk about all of the time. Jesus said, “a good man out of the good treasures of his heart brings forth that which is good, an evil man out of the evil treasures of his heart brings forth that which is evil, for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

In order to enjoy success in leading others you must watch what you say. Learn to speak more complimentary and less critical. Speak more positively and less negatively. Speak motivating words instead of de-motivating words.

Your Time

You will either control time or it will control you. By properly managing your time you insure that tasks will be accomplished. You will get more done. You will enjoy success.

Avoid time wasters. Guard your time. Once it is gone it cannot be reclaimed. Determine to spend your time on things, and with people that are relevant to your productivity. Beware of distractions.

Your Relationships

Relationships are important. It is impossible to be productive without proper relationships. In order to be a successful leader one must learn to manage their relationships. They must learn how to develop, sustain, and strengthen their relationships.

Some relationships are draining and unproductive. There are some people that sap you of your energy and creativity. Successful leaders understand the necessity of cutting off or ending such relationships.

Choose to associate with positive upbeat people. People that will encourage, enhance and edify you. Get around people that celebrate you, and away from people that just tolerate you.

Your Emotions

Your emotions have much to do with how you respond or react to a given situation. Negative emotions such as anger, frustration and impatience are detrimental to success in leading others. Positive emotions such as sensitivity, understanding and patience are helpful in leading others.

As leaders it is important to develop an even emotional keel. One must learn to not allow themselves to get too high or too low emotionally. Championship athletes and teams understand the emotional balance. Determine to live on an even keel. Take control of your emotions.

Personal Development: Be All You Can Be

Life is about learning, growing, and improving. It is impossible to be as effective as you could be without constant personal development. You should be constantly seeking to improve your abilities, your knowledge, and your person.

You can be all that you were made to be. Growth or maturity takes time. It does not happen overnight. It is a process. Given the proper effort, discipline and perseverance you can develop your potential.

Keys for Personal Development:

Don’t think you have arrived.

No one has arrived to the point of maximum potential. Researchers tell us that upon the examination of Albert Einstein’s brain after his death, they discovered he had only used fifteen percent of his mental capacity. This brilliant man still had room for improvement. Think about it, eighty-five percent of his mental potential was undeveloped. With that in mind it is easy to see that human beings never truly arrive at a place of maximum potential. There is always room for improvement.

You are what you think.

Solomon wrote, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” It is a true statement that you become what you think on a continual basis. People that see themselves as losers or failures actually live down to their expectations. They literally find ways to sabotage their lives. Conversely, people that see themselves as winners, in turn live up to their expectations. They find a way to win. It is important that you guard your thoughts, because your thoughts determine your actions.


Birds of like feather flock together.

Your associations are important to your personal development. You tend to become like the people you associate with on a continual basis. If you want to soar with the eagles you can’t flock with the turkeys! There are some people that are toxic to your life. Their negativity is poison to themselves and those they are around. In order to become the person you want to become you must sever any relationship that pulls you down instead of building you up. Hang around positive, faith-filled, achievement oriented people, if that’s the type of person you want to become. Run with winners. Solomon said, “Walk with the wise and you will be wise.”

Don’t be afraid to try new things.

In order to be successful you must be willing to take new risks. One reason many never accomplish much is because they are afraid to try anything different. Many times in order to have what you’ve never had; you’ve got to do what you’ve never done. The only thing worse than the person who fails, is the person who never tries.

Refuse to accept the status quo, as the way things have to be.

To experience personal growth you must be willing to leave your comfort zone. As creatures of habit it is easy to get locked into certain patterns that are comfortable but not necessarily productive. Just because things have always been done a certain way does not mean there isn’t a better way. Look for it. Find it. All great achievers have this mindset. That’s what drove Thomas Edison to find a better way to light the world.

Keep Learning.

We’ve all met people that are “know it alls.” At least they think they are. They act as though they are experts at everything, when in reality they aren’t. The longer I’ve lived the more I realize I still have a lot to learn. I like to spend time reading positive books on success and achievement. I spend time regularly listening to audio presentations of successful people. I attend seminars on subjects that interest me. Why? So, I can continue to grow as a person. The day you stop learning is the day you die!

Success in Life is Like Growing a Garden (Part Two)

If you haven't read yesterdays blog you will need to as it is part one of this blog.

Sixth, I learned the value of constant, consistent, effort. After I had planted my garden I had to work it every day. There were pests I had to keep a way. There were weeds I had to pull. I had to water it. I had to fertilize it. You will never accomplish anything in life if you are inconsistent in your efforts. The easiest thing in the world is to start a project. The hardest is to finish it. I love watching marathon runners in the Olympics. There are hundreds of runners that start the race. While there is only one person that can take the gold medal, it is considered a personal victory just to finish the race. The runners have to pace themselves so they don’t burn out to soon. They have to push themselves. They have to be consistent and keep plodding ahead if they intend to cross the finish line. So it is with all of life. Anyone can start a project. Winners finish! Are you a starter or a finisher? The Bible says, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8) Determine today to finish what you start through constant, consistent, effort.

Seventh, I learned the value of being patient. We live in a microwave society. We want everything and we want it right now! Everywhere you go you find quick oil changes, fast food restaurants, clothes tailored while you wait. Instant gratification is what we seem to be after. However, sometimes what you want takes time. For quite a while after I planted my garden it didn’t look to me like anything was happening. There were times I wanted to run out and pull the seeds out to see if they were working. But my dad said, “Just wait. Give it time. They’re working.” It was days before there was anything that resembled a plant poking its head through the soil. It was months before it was full grown and ready to be harvested. It was during this process I learned a lot about patience. Between the time the seed is planted and the time the crop is harvested is a lot of time. The Bible teaches us “Be not lazy, but follower of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12) Are you patient or is that something you need to work on? Like my dad said, “If it’s worth having, it’s worth waiting on. Be patient!

Eighth, I learned that when the fruit is ripe you have to pick it or it will rot. Once my seeds had become plants, and the plants produced fruit, it was time to harvest. The first day of harvest was one of the most exciting days of my life to that point. I was able to pick tomatoes, and cucumbers, and carrots, and radishes. I will never forget that first meal using produce that I had grown. I had a sense of pride. A sense of accomplishment. I had set out to do something and through a lot of effort and patience I had succeeded. This is the way it is in all of life.

Ninth, I learned that what I had produced didn’t really bring me joy until I shared it with others. The looks of joy on my families face when they were able to partake of what I had grown still make me smile today. Nothing is more satisfying than to be able to share with others what you have been blessed with. The Bible teaches us that we are blessed to be a blessing. God has never blessed us with anything for us to just hoard to ourselves. Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” You see when I started this project I wasn’t just thinking about what I was going to be able to enjoy. I started with the idea of sharing it with others. Some I sold and made a profit on so I could do again. Others I gave a way to others so they could enjoy.

Tenth, the last thing I learned is very important to remember. Once you have successfully completed one project you have to start a new one. The joy of successfully growing a garden didn’t last a long time. After a while the vegetables and fruit were all eaten. The plants and vines had withered and died. If I wanted to enjoy a harvest the next year I had to start all over again, only this time with knowledge and wisdom. Never forget, accomplishment is an ongoing endeavor. Success is not a destination it is a journey. Celebrate your victories but don’t dwell there too long. There’s another battle waiting to be fought.

To the growth of your life, your business, your family, your health, your finances!

Success in Life is Like Growing a Garden

As a young man growing up in East Texas I tried my hand at gardening. I had a vision of a garden that would produce vegetables my family could enjoy as well being able to sell what we couldn’t eat for a profit. I had seen others grow productive gardens so I believed it was possible for me to do the same thing. I sat down with my father and together we came up with a plan for making my vision a reality. With money I earned from my paper route I bought all kinds of tomato plants and different kinds of packages of seed of vegetables I wanted to grow. My father borrowed a friend’s rotor tiller and we spent a few hours preparing the soil for the garden. Then we proceeded to plant the seeds and tomato plants. Every day I worked in that garden. I made sure it was watered, fertilized, and weeded. I put up a scarecrow to keep the birds away. I got sunburned and developed blisters on my hands. It was hard work, working in the heat and all, but I knew it would be worth it if I didn’t quit. In the end, not only did I receive a harvest for my hard work, I learned some valuable lessons that have stayed with me my entire life.

First of all, I learned the importance of having a vision of what you want to accomplish. Everything around you, whether it’s the house you live in, the car you drive, the clothes you wear, the job you work, or the church you attend, started as a vision in someone’s mind. We are limited, not by our abilities, but by our vision or lack thereof. Helen Keller, who was both blind and death, once said, “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.” She’s right. Vision is what inspires us to do what we do. It is what motivates us to action. It is what gets us up in the morning. Former CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch, says “Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” I meet a lot of people that are just running in circles never going anywhere. Why? Because they don’t have a vision of where they want to go and what they want to accomplish. Do you have a vision of what you want to accomplish? If not, you need one, if you are going to win in life.

Second, I believed it was possible for me to grow a productive garden. I had seen others, with no more talent than me, grow luscious bountiful produce. My dad encouraged me. He told me he believed I could do it. His encouragement helped to strengthen my belief. If your vision, whatever it is, is going to become a reality you have to believe it with all your heart. A strong belief in what is going to be, keeps you going when the going gets tough. I’ll have to admit, there were times I didn’t want to work in that garden. There were all kinds of obstacles I had to overcome. The sun was too hot, at first I couldn’t see the results of my labor, I was tired, my muscles ached, my hands were blistered, my friends were going swimming or playing baseball and I couldn’t join them because I had responsibilities. But my belief in my vision and in the finished product kept me going when I wanted to quit. During this process I learned if you have a strong enough belief you can accomplish whatever you want. Jesus taught, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.” Do you believe in your vision? No I mean do you REALLY believe in your vision?

Third, I learned the value of planning and preparation. Everyone enjoys the end result, the finished product, but few want to go through the planning and preparation stage of a project. My father taught me that if I wanted to be successful gardener it was important to “Plan my work and work my plan.” I wanted to just run out and plant some seed. But, he told me I needed to sit down and plan out exactly what I wanted. I had to figure out what I wanted to grow, where I wanted to plant the seeds, how deep to till the soil, what kind of fertilizer I would need, what the watering schedule was going to be, etc. So, we took out a piece of paper and proceeded to make a plan of action. We plotted out everything necessary for me to grow the garden. We made a list of everything I needed. We even went so far as to draw out a diagram of what would be planted where. Remember what Jesus taught about planning? He said, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.” (Luke 14:28) Planning and preparation always precede productivity. Do you have a plan of action for making your vision a reality? “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now” says Alan Lakein. If you want it you have to plan it!

Fourth, I learned the value of working smart and working hard work. I like to say, “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” In life you can’t have positive results without positive effort. I learned if you have a vision, believe in what you are doing, make proper plans and preparation, and work hard you can accomplish anything you want. When you are doing something you believe in, I learned that work can be fun. Somebody wrote a book one time entitled, “Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow.” This gardening thing was fun for me. I enjoyed working the garden because I knew in the end I was going to be able to enjoy the fruit of my labor. Thomas Edison once said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Are you working smart and hard at what you want to accomplish? If not, why not? Contrary to what some would have you believe, nothing is handed to you on a silver platter. If you want it you have to work for it!

Fifth, I learned that if you want a harvest you have to plant seeds. This is a principle that is talked about all through the Bible. It is the law of sowing and reaping. It is the fundamental principle that all of life is built on. In the natural we call it the law of cause and effect. I learned if I wanted to reap watermelons I had to plant watermelon seeds. If I wanted carrots I had to plant carrot seeds. And so on. I couldn’t plant radish seeds expecting to get carrots. I had to put in the ground exactly what I wanted to put on my plate! Before I could reap the benefits of my garden I had to sow the right seeds and the right effort. What kind of seeds are sowing in your life?

Parts six through ten tomorrow!

What You Need In A Friend

Henry Ford once said, “My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” Your personal associations are key to your success in life. The fact is you become like the people you associate with. Like begets like.

Negative people will drain you of your purpose, energy, time, confidence, action, and productivity. Negative, complaining, faultfinding people are toxic to your success. Most people would never dream of ingesting something poisonous into their physical body, however they are quick to associate with others that are poisonous to their future. Make the decision today to get rid of the toxic people in your life.

Determine to associate with winners. King Solomon wrote, “Iron sharpens iron.” In other words by associating with positive, productive, successful people you are sharpening your own ability for success.

Make friends with those who challenge you to be better than you presently are. A friend is someone who helps you bridge the gaps between loneliness and fellowship, frustration and confidence, despair and hope, meaninglessness and purpose, setbacks and successes. He is your friend who pushes you to be the best you can be.

Seven Qualities of Goal Setters

Did you know if you are a goal setter you are more likely to be successful then if you aren’t? While we all know the need for and value of setting goals, few people actually practice setting goals. According to some studies, only ten percent of Americans take the time to write out their goals. Of you are a goal setter, you are in the top ten percent of the American population.

Goals are important because they give direction to your life. They give you something to aim at. Something to live for. They are what give legs to dreams. Jim Tenney said, “The primary purpose of goal setting is to pull change in the direction you have chosen—one which fits your expertise and overall plan.”

John R. Noe said, “Losers always concentrate on activities, but high achievers concentrate on planning and making every moment count in their efforts to reach progressively higher goals.” As John Condray writes, happiness, wealth and success are by-products of goal setting, they cannot be the goal themselves.”

As Christian’s it is important that we set goals in life in line with God’s purpose for out lives. Goal setting is a very scriptural principle. The Apostle Paul was a goal setter. In Philippians 3:13 he wrote, “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark (goal) for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

The characteristics of goal setters:

They know what they want to achieve. Goal setters are clear about their purpose, their vision and their objectives. They know exactly what they want to accomplish. They take the time to write out in detail every goal they intend to accomplish.

They are focused on what they want to achieve. High achievers understand the importance of staying focused on their objectives. They realize the necessity of not being distracted form what they are attempting to accomplish. In order to succeed in life you must do what God told the great leader of Israel, Joshua, in Joshua 1:7, “Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left that you may prosper wherever you go.” In other words God was saying don’t allow yourself to be distracted by what’s going on around you. Stay focused on what I’ve called you to do.

They believe they can accomplish what they set out to do. Faith is essential to success in any area of life. The word “faith” has been defined as “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) I like to say it like this, “It is the inner image of the finished product. It is seeing things as they can be instead of as they presently are.” You must believe that what you want to accomplish, can and will be accomplished. You must also believe in your God-given ability to do it.

They are passionate about what they want to achieve. High achievers either, “Do what they love or love what they do.” You can tell when a person is passionate about what they want. You can hear it in their voice and see it in their eyes. Passion is that thing which consumes you. That thing you think, talk and do all the time. Goal setters get excited when they begin to tell others about what they intend to accomplish.

They act in the face of fear. Goal setters learn to overcome the fears that hold the average person back. In order to succeed one must overcome all fears that limit or hinder them from acting on their goals. The primary way to overcome fear is to face what you are afraid of head on. Take action in spite of the fear and you will see it vanish.

They learn from their life experiences. Goal setters recognize the fact that they don’t always do everything right. They re aware they don’t know everything they need to know about what they are striving to accomplish. Although goal setters make many mistakes and experience many failures along the way, they know that failure isn’t final. High achievers learn from their mistakes as well as their successes and go on.

They possess a never quit mindset. According to B.C. Forbes, “To succeed, we must have the will to succeed, we must have the stamina, determination, backbone, persistence, self-reliance and faith.” The great business tycoon John D. Rockefeller once said, “I do not think there is any quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of persistence. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.” Goal setters have the uncanny ability to not quit, regardless of the pressure to do so. They understand, “The rewards for those who persists, far exceeds the pain that precedes the victory.”

Someone Is Looking For You

You are unique. You are important. You are qualified to touch someone’s life and make a positive difference. You have what someone else needs. It could be information. It could be a business opportunity. It could be a word of encouragement. It could be a product or service. Whatever it is, you hold the answer to someone’s questions and the solution to someone’s problems.

Try to wrap your mind around this truth. For some it’s a new if not almost foreign concept. Whether you realize it or not, you are a problem solver. Most people only spot problems. But you are different you solve them. Someone, somewhere, is looking for what you are uniquely qualified to solve.

Everything is created to solve a problem. Everyone is created to solve a problem. Every product and service is founded on this principle. Think about this. Chefs solve hunger problems. Doctors solve health problems. Dentists solve teeth problems. Lawyers solve legal problems. Personal trainers solve exercise and fitness problems. Mechanics solve automobile problems. Teachers solve education problems. Coaches solve motivation problems. Factory workers solve production problems. Ministers solve spiritual problems. And so on. Do you get the point?

What is it that excites you? What is it that angers you? What do you see around you that you want to help change? How can you help others solve the problems they are encountering? Your answers could be an indication of the problems you are created to solve.

You can’t fix everything wrong in the world. You can’t solve every problem. You can’t answer every question. Everyone won’t need what you have to offer, but somebody does. You weren’t born to be the savior of the world. But you were born to solve some problem. This one is one of the most liberating things I’ve ever discovered. It helped me become real. It set me free from what I’ve termed “The Messiah Complex.” It enabled me to focus on what I could do to solve the problems I am qualified to solve, and from trying to solve problems I’m not qualified to solve.

What would the world be like if we could all grasp this concept? I think the world would be a better place if everyone found their place and solved the problems they are qualified to solve.

Your life purpose may not be the same as mine, but you have one, and it’s important. It’s important to you and it’s important to others. Your talents, your skills, your strengths, your interests, your passions, your experiences, are all part of what makes you qualified to be a problem solver. Why not make the decision today to use what you’ve been blessed with to help others solve the problems they are facing in life. Someone is looking for you. They are looking for what you have to offer. Find them. Help them solve their problem and they will be eternally grateful!

My challenge to you today is, BE A PROBLEM SOLVER NOT JUST A PROBLEM SPOTTER!

Take Responsibility

Personal responsibility is a characteristic lacking in many. Ever since the Garden of Eden, when Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent for their disobedience, humans have been playing the blame game. Rather than accept personal responsibility for their lives they would rather pass the buck to others for the place they find themselves.

The fact is the sooner you accept personal responsibility, the sooner you begin to excel in life. All high achievers have learned the value of accepting personal responsibility. They understand “If its to be, its up to me.”

You are the only person that can determine your future. It is your responsibility to be happy, to be proactive rather than reactive, to step out and do something about your situation in life.

I am responsible for the person I am today as well as the person I am becoming.

While there are many things that have an impact on who I am and who I become, ultimately if I am going to be a better person than I am right now, it’s up to me. As Robert Schuller says, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” Change will only happen in my life when I make the decision for it to. Regardless of how others try to influence me to be all I can be, it is my responsibility to do so.

I am responsible for my choices and my actions.

Flip Wilson made a fortune with, and popularized the saying, “The devil made me do it!” While that may be a funny line, it is far from the truth. In reality no one can make me do anything I don’t want to do. To blame others for where I am in life is simply to make excuses for my lack of making the right choices and doing the right things. I am where I am in life today as a result of my decisions and actions of yesterday.

I am responsible for my attitude.

Did you know attitudes like measles are evident to everyone around you? How you view life and the perspective you have of life is solely dependant on you and you alone. If you want to you can be an up person in a down world. I’ve heard people say when they have a bad attitude, “I guess I got up on the wrong side of the bed.” With the disposition they display most of us wish they had never gotten up! The good news however is you don’t have to have a bad attitude and be a pain in everyone’s neck. Recognize you are in control of your attitude, no one else. Choose to be more optimistic and pleasing in your relationships with others.

I am responsible for the attitude I bring to my work.

A lot of people bring their home problems with them to work. As a result of their personal frustrations, anger and disillusions of their home life, they are not as effective as they could be. I have found that people that get ahead in life have developed the knack for compartmentalizing their life. They have learned to focus on the task at hand and to give it their all. Determine to leave your home problems where they belong, at home. After all stewing and worrying all day about the problems you are facing will not change them at all. So make the decision to come to work with a good, positive, upbeat attitude.

I am responsible for my relationships.

As stated at the beginning of this chapter, ever since the Garden of Eden mankind has played the blame game. After all, it’s easier to blame others or circumstances for trouble in relationships, then it is to take a good hard look at ourselves and then admit that we aren’t perfect. My mother told me along time ago, “It takes two too tango.” In other words relationships are a two way street. If I am going to develop and maintain good relationships, whether it the family or at work, I am going to have to do my part to make them work. That means I may have to make some changes in how I treat others and how I expect to be treated. Usually if there is a breakdown in a relationship it is because someone failed act responsibly and do there part to make it work.

I am responsible for the quality of my communication.

Communication is the bedrock of success in all areas of life. Perhaps no other culprit is as destructive as a lack of communication. Communication involves more than just talking on your part. It involves listening, empathizing, and understanding what the other party is saying. While we must seek to be understood and to understand during the communication process, we must also be cognizant of how we say things. So what we say, and how we say it, are equally important. Our volume, tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions are all part of the communication process. I must seek to be kind, considerate and understanding of the person or persons I am communicating with.

I am responsible for my happiness.

Since I am in control of my life, I can be happy regardless of what’s going on in my life, if I choose too. As with many things, happiness is an attitude. As a Christian I can be happy because I have the joy of the Lord inside me. Happiness does not come from what I have or don’t have, it comes from knowing who I am, what my purpose in life is, and in doing what I was created to do.

I am responsible for my financial situation.

My financial condition is a direct result of my financial literacy, work habits and personal discipline. While there are times when bad things happen to good people and as a result they face a financial setback, for the most part people struggle financially because they don’t have a good grasp of how money works. They don’t understand the need for financial planning, setting financial goals, learning to invest, paying their bills on time, and saving for the future. If I want to become financially free, where I don’t work for money but instead money works for me, then I must seek to become financially literate.

I am responsible for my mistakes.

Any mistake I have ever made was of my own volition. I either did what I knew better than to do or didn’t know what to do in the first place. Even if I followed the advice of others or allowed them to pressure me to do something I wasn’t comfortable with, ultimately I am responsible for my actions. The sooner you recognize that you are responsible for the mistakes you’ve made in life the sooner you can do something to change the. Now let me say right here, don’t allow yourself to get bogged down in great sorrow for the mistakes you’ve made, and for goodness sakes, don’t hold a perpetual pity party because of them. Learn from them, let them go, forgive yourself and get on with your life.

I am responsible for my personal success.

No matter how much someone else may want to see you succeed in life, no matter how much they encourage and motivate you, no matter how much they try to help you, only you can make the decision to be successful. If I am going to be successful I am going to have to do the right things the right way in a consistent manner. I am going to have to set goals, make plans, work hard and not quit if I want to have success in life. Success belongs to everyone but not everyone will enjoy it because they aren’t willing to do what it takes to have it.