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!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, February 09, 2009
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.”
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.”
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