One Opportunity You Don't Want to Miss
by Cory MacNeil

As a pastor, I'm always looking to take things to the next level.  The looming question is, "what can I do to improve this situation, relationship, infrastructure, etc?  The problem is it's so easy to get caught up in progress that we fail to do one important thing.

The fact you are reading this post indicates your interest in getting the most out of life.  But when is the last time you took time to celebrate your accomplishments?  What happens is that things in motion, have a tendency to stay in motion.  While you're busy getting slimmer, wiser, savy, and more spiritual, don't miss the plot.  Take the opportunity to reflect and appreciate your hard work.

"All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy."
"All work and no play, makes Jill a dull girl."

Rainy days can be an overachiever's worst enemy or their best friend.  Why?  Because they derail progress for the day (or can).  Or, you can use them to do something you ordinarily wouldn't.

Last night I went to bed an hour early.  This morning I got up an hour late and drove the length of Lake George.  I bought a cup of coffee from Stewarts.  Once home, I walked barefoot in the yard on the wet grass.  I talked with my one remaining chicken for a few minutes.  Her name is Peaches, in case you were wondering.  I put out the recycling and trash cans.  I stood back and looked at my half- painted house from a distance.  I caught up on social media and email.  And now I'm taking a few minutes to write.

So when is the last time you ditched your routine for awhile and smelled the coffee?  It may sound ironic, but sometimes less is more.  Less sawing and a little sharpening makes for more cut wood.  It's SO easy to keep hacking with a dull ax when it only takes a little bit of time to resharpen and refocus.  This principle applies to all areas of life, not just wood chopping.

A few moments or hours of reflection can take you farther than a years worth of work.

During your downtime, you can watch your children play- study their motions, watch them swim.

Reread a small piece of your manuscript and make a few corrections.

Watch the wind make the flowers, grass and trees in your yard dance.

Study some ants on your sidewalk for twenty minutes.

Walk your yard and check out the details.

Write a poem.

Pen a love letter to your spouse.

There is a difference between working for a living and living for work.  Work is wonderful, I don't know where I'd be without it. But it's also wonderful to stand back and appreciate our work and be thankful.

How about you?  I know you work hard, and I know you want to keep moving forward.  But you exist to do more than work.  If it's been awhile since you took sometime to reflect, what better time to start than TODAY!  Better yet carve out some time in your daily routine to rest and refuel.

#31- What’s in Your Pot?

Noah Rondeau, the renowned Mayor of Cold Brook- population of 1- was a hermit known for his everlasting stews.  Those who visited him at anytime of the year were sure to be served a meal from his pot.  The only problem was you never knew what you were eating and how long it had been cooking!  Noah, you see, would simply cook whatever he could get his hands on, be it a rabbit, deer, bird or....well you get the idea.  Thus the creation of his Everlasting Stews.  Rule number one was he never started a fresh stew, he always added to the old one!  As eccentric as Noah was, he may have been onto something.  The question today is what’s in your pot?

Maybe in your quest to launch new projects and ideas, you’ve forgotten the long lost art of having a ‘work in progress’.  Some people have mastered this concept.  I know a guy who never finishes anything.  His whole life is one big ball of loose ends.  We’re not promoting that path.  Others on the other hand, never start anything, let alone finish it.  As author Dave Kraft says, “They are so afraid of making mistakes that they never make much of anything.”  Then there is a third type, someone who always has something in the pot.

Here’s a question to better help you understand this concept.  What do you do when you are bored?  If you have no work to fall back on, when you are bored, you’ll constantly attempt to be creative at a time when your creative energies are at their lowest!  We’re not talking about using work to muffle the emptiness or loneliness in your life.  We’re talking about working from your sense of fulfillment.  You realize life has meaning and you can contribute in a meaningful way.  Are you someone who works to live or someone who lives to work?

Author F.B Meyer was someone who did both.  He enjoyed his life’s work to the fullest, but it was not an escape from a life half lived, but a joy he embraced whenever time allowed.  Most of his books were written during brief intervals while waiting for trains, in a dentist’s office, during lunch, using snippets of time that would otherwise be wasted.  C.K Chesterton, a literary giant in his own right, possessed the same habit as well.  These men were masters of the Everlasting Stew.

So what’s in your pot?  Is there a meaningful project you can work on while you are waiting for fresh cascades of inspiration, or are you passing the time unproductively?  It’s your time, and you can do what you want with it.  But if your looking to pass the time in a productive manner maybe this is just the recipe you’ve been looking for.

With the advent of technology in the form of laptops (even smartphones) you can carry your work with you at all times.  Never before have we had such amazing tools at our fingertips at all times.  Imagine!  We can singlehandedly carry the libraries of the world in one hand!

For you, maybe it’s not a book or an entrepreneurial pursuit, maybe it’s redecorating the Dining Room or building a boat with your son or daughter.  Perhaps it’s your marriage or a relationship with someone you are trying to reach with the Gospel.    Use the otherwise wasted time in your schedules to follow these pursuits and you may be surprised.  

In the meantime, pass me some Everlasting Stew!

#30- Steer by Starlight!
by Cory MacNeil

"I do some of my best work in my sleep!"

Those words were spoken by a contractor friend of mine during a conversation we had about the challenges of building.  He explained that quite often, he simply thought about his problem before going to bed and when he woke up the answer would come to him.  This idea may sound crazy on the surface, but what if there is really some truth to it?  Is it possible to be most productive when you are least active?  We're going to talk about that in today's post.

During the past couple of weeks you've been learning about the importance of creating and illustrating a healthy culture, be it in your home, organization, club, etc.  If you attempt to create and live out a better life for you and those in the boat with you, you'll soon realize how much creativity it requires.  After all, you only have so many hours in the day, so what do you do?

What if I told you the answer is as simple as going to sleep?  Without going into all of the mumbo jumbo on this topic, your mind continues to work while you are sleeping.  However, in the age we live in, sleep is looked upon as a waste of time; something we do because we have to; it's a time when we have no choice but to forget about everything until we can get up and actively pursue our goals and dreams.  Right?

Wrong!

We truly can do some of our best work in our sleep.

Now hear me out.  What I'm talking about is not some new whimsical idea that hasn't been tested or proven.  Here's how it works.

1.  Before you go to bed, ask yourself a question.  Stick with just one question.  Once you see how effective this is, you might be tempted to ask 5, 10 or twenty questions.  You'll have plenty of time to do that in the future.  For now, focus on ONE challenge you are facing.  Write it down.  If it makes you more comfortable, call this prayer.  If you're not comfortable with that word, call it putting your subconscious to work.  If you've given up on prayer before bed time, this will show you the importance of sticking with it.  For example, you might pray: "Lord, How can I be more productive throughout my day?"

2.  Now imagine what it will look like for you to be more productive.  Maybe greater productivity looks like you waking up and being refreshed and ready to study the bible and pray before work.  Maybe being more productive looks like you having more energy for your spouse and kids at night.  Maybe being more productive looks like you assembling an energetic team that excels at coming up with new and cutting edge ideas.  Whatever you do, really take some time to think about what the solution to your problem looks like.

3.  Next, imagine how it's going to feel when you receive the answer to your question.  Imagine how it's going to feel to have your sermon finished by Wednesday or your series completed a month ahead of time.  Imagine how it's going to feel when your presence with your wife and kids grows and they realize you are engaged, not just putting in your time.  Imagine how it's going to feel to not just go through the motions on a daily basis but to live with purpose and more energy.

Before you object, give it a try for yourself.  If you choose to accept the challenge, here are a few more tips: First, keep a journal or voice recorder next to your bed.  Why?  You might receive some of your best answers in the middle of the night.  So be ready.  You'll cringe when you wake up in the morning and realize you forgot something that was totally revolutionary and fresh the night before.  Second, take time to look at your notes in the morning.  Make this a part of your launch for the day.  Reflect on what you wrote down and further research things that intrigue you.  Search the scriptures.

While you're at it, have some fun.  Wouldn't it be ironic if you discovered that what you think is one  of your most unproductive times of the day turns out to be one of your most productive?  Someone once said the only thing you can expect from God is to do the unexpected.  At the end of the day, He is more interested in us than we are in Him.  Just imagine....although you're in a rut today, you may be one night away from a life beyond your wildest dreams!

Ephesians 20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.  The Message

#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.

#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'!

#12- 4 Ways to Find Direction

Most of us have watched the guy or gal throwing the dart over their shoulder at a map.  In fact, some of us have done that ourselves.  The options were just too many or not enough, so we decided to leave our fates to chance.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Spontaneity is not a bad thing.  We make instant decisions everyday.  We don’t have to think about what toothbrush to use or what car we’ll drive to work- unless we’re Jay Leno or Billy Joel.

In the meantime, here are 4 guidelines that will help you make more informed choices.

1. Core values and beliefs: Cast these away when making an important decision and you're in big trouble!  You’ll be hounded by a fiend called regret.  Many people can trace unhappiness back to decisions that were made years ago when they forgot about their values and beliefs “just once!”.

2. Patterns:  That’s right.  What types of things have you thought about on a regular basis over the years?  What are your dreams?  Maybe, just maybe that crazy dream you’ve had is God inspired.  That’s right.  He made you and He is capable of directing your life and inspiring you.  Maybe it’s time to re-examine that dream that you put aside years ago because all of your friends said you were crazy.

3. Habits: Similar to patterns but different.  This has more to do with your wiring.  Nobody knows you like you know yourself.  For example, why apply for a job that requires getting up at 4 a.m if you know that you HATE getting up.  Don’t deceive yourself with the idea that the money will outweigh the discomfort.  Ignore your habits or wiring and you may be in for some trouble.

4. Friends and family:  O.k, there are a couple of groups who have unique insights into your life other than yourself.  Why?  Because they’ve lived with you or known you for a long time.  Sometimes one of the best things you can do is ask someone’s opinion who is close to you.  Better yet ask a number of people who know you well.

It all boils down to character.  All characters are a bundle of strengths and weaknesses.  

The bible says: “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”  Proverbs 20: 7.  Remember the well- written novel you read or the movie you watched.  After awhile you got so you could predict what any given character was going to do.  Why?  Because our characteristics are the seed bed for our behaviors.  

Please feel free to share your thoughts on this topic.

#9- The Meaning of Waiting

You waited and waited and the letter finally arrived.  You opened it quickly and read only to find out that you would have to wait again!  Fun stuff, right?  Not really.  The truth is, few people enjoy waiting.  

A friend of mine right now has a child who is ill.  They've waited and waited for answers and they're still waiting.  Chances are they'll be waiting a long time.

In time, we realize life is a cycle of ebb and flow, abundance and scarcity, health and illness, feast and famine.  Introduce physics to the equation and everything has a tendency to want to come apart!  Plug one hole in the proverbial dyke and there are two more.  Eventually you run out of fingers and duct tape.

So what is the meaning of waiting?  Why are we always anticipating something before it happens?

It's a question many have pondered but few have answered.  Maybe the answer is waiting with meaning.  Again, the waiting game keeps repeating itself, so why fight it?  Instead, we can decide to man our stations and put our shoulders into the load.

Ponder the weather too much and you'll never plant.  Wait for the boom and it will be too late.  You want to get to where the ball is going to be, not where it's already been.

Anyone who will leverage this principle of waiting with meaning will reap aplenty.

Is your problem a financial one?  Get to work- inactivity is not going to help.  Relational?  Get out from under your covers and get out of your apartment.  Better yet, go for a run!

Something happens when we take action in a determined direction.

In fact, there's never a good time to worry.  Plan?  Yes!  Pray?  Absolutely!  But while you're praying, put on your overalls.  If you have the power to do something good, do it.

Please be sure to comment and let us know what you're waiting for and how you're passing the time while doing so.

#8- Tis’ the Season to be Blue?

It’s that time of year again.  The radio stations are playing Christmas music and the marketing world is tuning up to deliver their grand symphony for the year.  For some, this season brings great joy- others feel down.  Regardless of your station in life at this time of the year, here is a helpful lesson.

An upbeat guy that I know once made the following statement: “Whenever I feel depressed, I get off the couch and do something.  I’m dead serious!  That’s what he said.

Profound right?

I know, but it resonated with me deeply.  Reflect back on times when you were depressed and chances are they were times of very little personal activity.  This mentality is reflected when we hear sayings like: “The economy is depressed.  Or, the job market, etc.”  The idea is that not much of anything is going on.

I’m not suggesting that you get overly busy just to forget about how you really feel.  That's a recipe for work-a-holicism.  What I am suggesting is that you make a plan to move forward.

For example, maybe you’re depressed because you’ve put a major decision in your life on hold.  Or, maybe you’ve procrastinated about painting your son or daughter’s bedroom.  You know you’d like it to look better but tomorrow’s another day.  Maybe you’ve taken too long to execute a loan that will lower an interest rate.  A dream deferred makes the heart grow sick.

Taking action just might be what it takes to dislodge the log jam in your river of life.  So get out of the snowbank and get to work.  Before you know it you’ll be burning your couch.

#7- Two Way Street

Years ago, I made the mistake of going the wrong way on a One Way street.  Worse yet, a cop watched me do it!  To make matters even worse, he ticketed me and I had to pay a fine.  Why?  All because of a SMALL mistake.

It’s amazing what one small move can cost you.  Maybe it’s a little over eating or a little hard earned money with the hope of a large return or a little pornography.  In situations like these, we tell ourselves we’re only making a small investment and there is only the potential for a small loss such as a little extra weight or a little extra work or a little guilt.  With experience we learn that nothing could be further from the truth.

A little bit goes a long way!

At the same time, the principle works for good too!  A little exercise over a period of time yields higher levels of energy.  A little money invested over a period of time can yield nice returns.  And a little self control can lead to a better self image and healthier relationships.  

So what’s on your horizon right now?  Are you planting with purpose or hiding, hoping and hurting?  There was a man in the bible called Lot who decided to live in a wicked city because it was just a ‘little one’.  Years later, his family was a mess and all of them nearly lost their lives.  Why?  Because of something he considered little.  

I haven’t been ticketed for going down a One Way street in years, but that doesn’t mean I’ve been a perfect driver.  The fact is, I just haven’t been caught.  People drive, text and die everyday.  One beer and a car can be a recipe for manslaughter.

Likewise, a little bit can do a whole lot of good.  So, are you going to use self- control today and discipline or are you going to just wing it and hope.  At the end of the day, the choice is yours.  Life is a Two Way Street.  You just have to decide which direction you're going to travel in.

#6- Dress for Success (Part 2)

Last week, we talked about the importance of making outward choices that accurately reflect what is going on inside.  I confessed that my wife does most of my clothes shopping.  The good news is you can look good for free!  It has to be that way to level the playing field.

Let me explain further.  You see, inner beauty trumps outer beauty every time!  Remember the last time you apologized for being ugly with someone?  You apologized because the thoughts you were having affected your behavior.  

Try it today!  You see, what we wear is a reflection of what’s in our wardrobe.  For example, when people see us wearing an attractive shirt, it’s an indication that there is more where that came from.  Likewise, when we display attractive attitudes and actions, they rightly assume there is more where that came from.  There is a difference between a smile and a frown.  

People are experts at reading body language.  Why?  Because when they watch your body language, they intuitively know what is going on in the inside- especially if they've behaved the same way as you in the past.  One example is when people constantly avoid making eye contact with you while talking.

Finally, I’m not sad that my wife shops for my clothes these days.  However, I am glad that I’ve come to realize the importance of making sound choices when perusing my personal wardrobe.

Some simple guidelines:

1. Dress to impress.
2. Dress for success.  Dress for the job you want tomorrow, not the one you have today.
3. Dress your age.  Childish attitudes thoughts and behaviors are unattractive on an adult.

#3- Can You Learn to be Happy?

Have you ever trained a puppy?  For some, this question brings back good memories.  For others, images of wet carpet spots or puddled floors appear.  But with any amount of persistence, Fido or Fifi learned to go outside.  Why?  Because he learned to.  It's that simple.

Some people are convinced they will never learn- especially if they are a bit older.  You hear them say things like: "I can't remember anything".  With a mind set like that, they are RIGHT!  You have to believe that you can or you won't.

Think back on learning to drive, or the time you learned how to search the web, or how to ride a unicycle (o.k, a unicycle is pushing it- but if you can learn to ride one of those things then Mars is the limit!).  The point is, nobody learns overnight.  Learning takes time and persistence and sometimes nothing short of fire in your belly.  In fact, a lot of the times, learning requires ONE STEP forward and TWO STEPS back.  You will have good days and.....well, you get the idea.

But believe it or not, you can learn to be happy regardless of what happens to come your way.  Difficult circumstances, health issues, or changes in finances or marital status do not have to be the end of your world.  Instead, they can be gauges to show you how well you are performing on your newest course.  This may sound harsh- I know- but it's the truth.

Life's too short to be unhappy.  And I promise you this, nothing in this world can provide you ultimate happiness- not a million dollars, or perfect health, or a stock photo marriage.  In fact, all of these things have the potential to make you UNHAPPY!

How then do we reach the heights of joy?  One move at a time.  Sometimes we fall and sometimes we stand tall.  So don't let the mindset of defeat set in- seize the day!  Give up and go up today!

#2- Are You Stuck?

Anyone who has ever skied, has had the pleasure of having the chair lift hum to a stop. There you are dangling above the trees while you should be swishing down the slopes with your friends. Which begs the question: “Have you ever been stuck?” Not just on a chair lift, but in general: relationally, work wise, financially?

I have, so I know how you’re feeling. In fact, just last winter I was stuck more than I knew. So I did what some people do. I told someone.

The person I told was kind and generous and he even offered to meet with me every month or so to help me move forward. The results have been phenomenal!!

Should you choose to get unstuck, it doesn’t have to be expensive. I’ve given gifts to the person who helps me, but it’s not always necessary. Perhaps someone in your inner circle or the circle of a friend could help you out. Perhaps they just have a lot of experience or they are actually an expert in their field. You could even get a book or DVD from the library to get you started for FREE! As someone once said: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear!”

Why not start today? In the words of pastor/teacher Andy Stanley: “A mentor will help you go further faster! So don’t wait to learn and get burned. Pick up the phone today or send the email. Who knows, one day soon you may find yourself sitting in the Lodge around a crackling fire with your friends sharing some Hot Chocolate and talking about some of the amazing developments in your life!  Walk through the door.