#21- Mining Your Own Business

My stint in Network Marketing was short lived.  The promises made by the people  at the top of the pyramid never materialized and I sold the large inventory I’d acquired at a reduced price.  That was over twenty years ago, but I haven’t forgotten a valuable lesson I learned from that experience: mine your own business.

I had a job at the time that could have earned me more money using a fraction of the energy.  For example, I could have worked some overtime here and there.  Instead, I marketed my entire circle of family, close friends and acquaintances.  To this day, I’m unsure if some of them still trust me.  You know you are in deep waters when you attempt to make sales outside of deep relationships.  The other warning light is when you believe you can make lots of money with little or no work required.

When we work outside of our niche, we’re like the proverbial torch that is just a flame rather than a laser: we lose focus, and lack results.  Instead of cutting steel, we’re in danger of burning the house down. 

Rather than sowing the forest, we’re sometimes better off cultivating the garden in our own backyard.  A nearby friend is better than a brother far off.

Ultimately, we don’t need a new wife or a new career- we need to take better care of the ones we have.  Often, we’re ready to trade in things that still have quite a lot of life in them.  Two licks and we’re ready for a new Tootsie Pop, while the best part is in the middle.  If you’re ready to trade, did it ever occur to you that maybe God knew the extent of your needs when he met them in the first place?

So mine your own business and you just might find the fulfillment that’s been right there before your eyes the whole time.  Trust me, it will cost you dearly, but it’s a lot LESS expensive in the long run!  In the words of Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, "Whatsoever thy right hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might."

#20- The Key To Unlocking Your Dreams in 2015

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have all of the luck?  I've been there.  It's so easy to take a look around and see people finding success in areas that you are failing in.  Social media only exacerbates the problem.  Rarely do people post about their failures, all we get to see are their celebrations.

In our latest series at church entitled "Change Anything!" we've been talking about the importance of planning and reaching our goals in 2015.  This series is based on a book called "Change Anything" by Kerry Patterson and Joseph Grenny.  You can find this book on Amazon.com.  I found the book very insightful.

Early on in the series, we made the statement, based on the book, that "we don't lack willpower, we are just blind in certain areas of our lives'.  This is important to understand because willpower can only take you so far.  More than willpower, you need to have a plan and educate yourself if you're going to reach your goals.

More than a plan and personal education, you need social support.  You need to be around people who know your dream and are cheering for you.  Likewise, you may have to disassociate with people who want to sabotage your plan.  These people are easy to recognize because they say things like: "You've changed" or "You never cared before", not to mention the classic jab: "What, are you too good for us?"

Once you examine your own weaknesses and temptations, you are are ready to map out a plan.  Write down the necessary steps that have to be taken.  Come up with more than one way you are going to counter the things that tend to make you deviate from making a bee line to your goal.  For example, you may set up alarms on your cell phone to remind you of your vulnerable times.  Or, you might wear a rubber band on your wrist and snap it every time you find yourself thinking self- defeating thoughts.
While you're at it, make plans to reward yourself when you reach incremental goals.  Promise to buy yourself that new book on Friday if you've reached your goal for the week.  Rewarding and punishing yourself along the way will help you stay on track.

Sooner or later, despite your best efforts, you will fall.  Get back up again and keep on going.  Learn from your mistakes.  Take the information you've learned from your failure and use it to better refine your plan.

Change is hard work.  If you don't roll up your sleeves and get to work on your plan, you'll get rolled up in the motions of just getting by.  Don't depend on the things that have helped others, customize a plan that is going to work for you.  You don't have to run 5 miles a day like your neighbor, maybe a brisk walk every other day is a better fit.  Maybe you'll have to start out by just walking a hundred yards down the road and back.

Studies have shown that most plans work: the problem is most people never work their plan.  You don't have to be one of the 98% who make a New Years resolution and blow it by February 1st.  Find a plan that works for you and stick to it.

What happens is the snow ball effect begins to take place: your little changes add up to one big change. Again, change by the yard is hard, but change by the inch is a cinch.  

You don't have to go it alone; I've written a book to help you begin your journey called "Life Coaching: 7 Myths Keeping You From Your Best Year Yet."

In the meantime, I'd love to hear any thoughts you might have on this topic.

#19- A Recipe for Unhappiness

One of the surprises after 40 for me has been an increased appreciation of life.  When I was younger I would have told you I was happy, but in actuality my journey was one of unmet expectations: the more I achieved the more I wanted to achieve; the more I made, the more I wanted to make.  You get the idea.  Harmless, you may say: it’s human nature to be unappreciative of what we have.  Human nature, yes.  But harmless?  No.

In fact, a mindset of scarcity can lead you on a marathon in pursuit of God knows what.  It might mean the unnecessary pursuit of professional degrees: get one and you want more.  Or else, you may go through an army of mates and lose ‘the one’ in the meantime.  Other folks end up frozen to death at the top of Mount Everest in their pursuits.  However you add it up, we’re talking about the disease of MORE.  

There’s nothing sadder than the fact that some people are never satisfied with what they have, right up until their dying day!

The golden years do not come when we are retired and lacking in health.  The golden years are now.  We each have only 24 precious hours a day and it’s up to each one of us to decide how we’ll spend them.  Let’s be honest, it’s amazing how long the seasons of discontent in our lives can last if we let them.  Decide to be happy now.  Sometimes our unhappiness is the result of an endless pursuit of the unattainable.  Maybe the best time to execute your plan is today.  Don’t wait until all of the stars are perfectly aligned and all of the lights in the universe are green at the same time- it’s not going to happen!  

Let’s face it, when we wait to celebrate later when there’s more time, we often miss out. In reality, our children will never be this old again; we’ll never pass exactly this way, and today’s date will only be a historical event come tomorrow.  The only thing we have right now is the PRESENT!

So, what will you do with your present today?  Are you going to continue looking forward to the future and miss out on now?  Why not make the choice to savor what you do have?  Enjoy the now.  It’s like a friend of mine once said: “Wherever you are, be all there!” 

Wherever you are, I hope and pray that you will make the most of today.  Rejoice now, don’t wait until you’ve got IT altogether, whatever IT may be.  Sit and have a cup of coffee with your spouse- the dirty laundry will still be there ten minutes from now.  Take an extra long walk.  Spend some time looking at old photo albums.  Take a nap.  You get the idea: most of us are over achievers who just need to take it easy once in awhile.  When's the last time you went for a joy ride without an actual destination in mind?  Sometimes making the most of today means taking it easy.

Please be sure to comment if this post has resonated with you  today!

#18- One Powerful Word To Put In Your Toolbox in 2015!

In his excellent book EntreLeadership, author Dave Ramsey tells the story of interviewing a billionaire.  Dave's interest was piqued when his wealthy friend suggested a book that everyone seeking wealth should read.  You can only imagine how excited Dave was and instantly let down when the billionaire suggested he read 'The Tortoise and the Hare!

Let's face it, we live in a world of instant gratification.  It should come as no surprise that people want wealth and health without work.  When we are willing to work, we still want QUICK results.  The headlines confirm the rush: "Earn $10,000.00 a month in thirty days" and "Lose 10 pounds in less than a week!".  The overall idea is that change comes easy and with little effort.

The one word that will help us achieve our goals and dreams is PERSISTENCE.  Incorporate this one word into your life, and your chances of success will skyrocket!  Solomon said: "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked shall fall into mischief (Proverb 24:16).

We can never reach the finish line unless we get back up again every time we fall and keep on plugging along.  Everyday, we have the opportunity to work SMART and HARD.  Some people don't want to hear that, but that's o.k.  What have you started recently and left unfinished?

An amazing thing begins to happen when we keep showing up: the harder we work, the luckier we get.  Why not give your poorly attended monthly get together another 6 months?  You paid for the Weight Watchers plan, why not start using it again?  You said "I do!", so why not keep doing?

Maybe it's time to dust yourself off and get back into the race.  While you're at it, be sure to reread 'The Tortoise and the Hare'!

#17- How Can I Change?

One day I woke up and I was 40 years old and slightly overweight.  O.K- I had a gut.  You know things have gotten bad when you step on the scale and it says, “One at a time please!”  Looking around, I learned I wasn’t the only one.  If you’re a guy with a paunch it appears that you’re hitting par for the course.  Suddenly, I was a long way from looking like the guy who ran track and played football in High School.

Thus, began the sit-up experiment: taking small steps to accomplish a large goal.  For the last month -or so- I’ve done 20 sit-ups every morning.  That’s it!  No more, no less.  Just 20 sit-ups during the morning hours.  It doesn't sound like much but thats over 600 a month.  The principle of taking small steps can carry over to every goal you set out to accomplish.

A couple of months later, I’m not there yet, but I'm making progress.  My core strength is returning and I have a greater desire to be active.  Why?  Because I’ve tackled a large change project by taking small, repeated actions.  Change by the yard is hard- change by the inch is a cinch!

Why not take a small step today?  Order the course you’ve looked forward to taking.  Read that new book.  Walk around the block.  Tell someone what area you’re working on in your life and create some accountability.  Go back to school.  Set up an automatic withdrawal with your employer and have twenty dollars a week taken out for your savings account.  A journey of ten thousand miles begins with the first step

Have fun accomplishing your goals while you’re at it!  Chances are you’ll enjoy the journey more than you can imagine and maybe, just maybe, you’ll reach your goal.  Do not despise the day of small things.  Time flies when you're having fun.  

We'd love to hear from you if you've found this post helpful.  What little steps are you taking to reach your goals in 2015?

#16- Go Further Faster!

Happy New Year!  It’s here.  My newest book on Life Coaching, that is.  The book is called ‘Life Coaching: 7 Myths Keeping You From Your Best Year Yet.’  Despite the title, this is not a self-help book- not that they are bad things- it’s more like a ‘Survival Box’ to help you keep going when the going gets tough should you begin your own personal journey with the help of a coach.

My own journey began earlier this past year when I was encouraged by a pastor/friend to find a personal mentor.  I didn’t have to look long, and the results have been nothing short of fantastic!

How about you?  Are you currently being helped by someone who has more experience than you in your particular vocation or interests?  Do you meet regularly?  Has there been fruit?  Some statistics state that 98% of all New Years Resolutions dissolve within two weeks!  But it doesn’t have to be that way.  A good coach or mentor can make all the difference in the world, especially when it boils down to perseverance and endurance.  Are you struggling?  Commit to meeting regularly with someone who can help you achieve your goals.

You see, the problem is that when it comes to change, we will meet resistance from every direction.  That’s why change takes more than just will power.  You need help!  And the more help the better.  When you decide to change, there are more forces working against you than you could ever imagine.  James, the brother of Jesus wrote: “My brethren, count it all joy, when you fall into diverse temptations. James 1:2”  That means there are times when we are under pressure from every direction!

The good news is that pressure can be the means used to transform something.  In this case, the object is your faith, not you.  That’s important to remember.  The stronger your faith is, the stronger you will be.  

So what are you waiting for.  You can get off and stay off the path of least resistance for good!  Start today and make 2015 your best year yet.  Find a coach and get ready for some amazing results.

2 Timothy 2:3-4 says: “When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders.  The Message