The Great Battle

How often do you get distracted?  How many different directions do you try to go at once?  If you are like me, there are so many different things you are interested in and that you enjoy doing that if you tried to do a little of each, you would never get good at any of them.  You know the saying, 'Jack of all trades, master of none'.  I don't know about you, but I sure feel like 'Jack' sometimes.
But there is a rather simple solution: FOCUS!  Stop bouncing from one thing to the next to the next.   Thomas Edison was once asked how he accomplished so much. He said, 'It is very simple.  You and I have eighteen hours in a day in which we may do something.  You spend that eighteen hours doing a number of different unrelated things.  I spend it doing just one thing, and some of my work is bound to amount to something.'
Living in a world that seems to have been designed by people with A.D.D. for people who have A.D.D., it's quite difficult to pick one thing to do and to stick to it, but it is not only possible, it is highly important to do so.  Remember the parable of the talents?  The master gave his three servants talents, and two of them invested (magnified) those talents and doubled them for their master.  The third buried the talent, thus wasting it.  When the master returned and found that the third had not done anything with the talent he was given, he took it away.  Matthew 25:29 'For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.'  Don't waste those talents God has given you, concentrate on them and make them more!
The only way to become an expert in your chosen field, is to CHOOSE your field, and throw yourself into it.   What it is that you truly like and want to do?  Are you also naturally talented and gifted in that area?  Do you feel like God has inspired and maybe even called you to that field?  (Remember, that you may have several different callings in life, but that doesn't mean you are called or expected to do them all at the same time!)  God has asked us to 'magnify' our callings.  Like most kids, I enjoyed playing with a magnifying glass.  And like most kids, I burned my share of insects.  Doing so, I learned a lesson that applies beautifully here.  It is not possible to burn multiple insects at the exact same time.  The light and heat of the sun have to be focused into an intense and small beam to 'magnify' that heat to the point that it can ignite and burn whatever it is focused on.  So if instead of focusing on one target, you bounce from one to the next to the next, you really don't accomplish anything (good for the longevity of the bugs, bad when applied to life's important goals).  
I am a big advocate of mastering many different skills in life, and the more I experience and learn in life, the more I can see that in order to truly master a skill, concentration is required.  You really have to learn and apply the principle or law of concentration.
A repeated theme among experts in time management and work efficiency is that it is just as important to have a 'stop doing' list as it is to have a 'to do' list (in fact, the stop doing list may be more important than the to do list). What can you sacrifice (or stop doing) in order to concentrate more fully on your chosen field?
You can win the battle of concentration, and reap the promised rewards: Matthew 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Time to go!

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.—FRANKLIN.

I really don't know many people who are not busy all day long, and looking for more time for things left undone.  We really are a busy people.  And time is a far more valuable resource than money (it's possible to make more money, but time is a completely limited resource).

Where does that leave us? Time, like money, should be managed wisely.  Both time and money should be told what to do so they don't just waste away.  It is an incredible and liberating feeling to  budget money.  Suddenly there is distinction between needs and wants, and the same monthly income that used to barely allow us to scrape by has turned into a powerful weapon that can be used to destroy debt and build wealth.  Time works in much the same way.  It is amazing how many more quality things we can accomplish in a day/week/month with just a few minutes of planning and preparation each day, then a few minutes of review and evaluation at the end of the day.

Where do I find more time?  The same way you find more money in the budget.  Time, like money, is wasted away without even realizing it when it isn't planned and evaluated.  How well did I budget my time yesterday?  Was that hour in front of the TV a good use of time?  How about checking Facebook updates 5 times?  How often do I really need to check my email every day?  When I am 'working', am I doing so without distraction so I can be efficient and effective?  Many of us are paid by the job, not by the hour, so time wasted is money wasted (and for the hourly/salary workers, wasting less time and accomplishing more WILL impress management and co-workers which equates to raises and promotions, so we are really all being paid by the job).  And the really great thing about working efficiently and getting more done is that energy levels and job satisfaction are both far higher, making you happier and more creative (which in turn makes you shine even more and opens more doors of opportunity for growth and advancement).

Control your time, control your money, control your life.  You will be amazed at how learning to control the first two will give you a greater feeling of control over the third.

My advice?

1. When planning your day, don't overdo it!  Just like the budget, you can only spread your resources out so far.  Trying to do too much in a day is just as bad as not doing enough (if not worse).  You will end up feeling guilty because you just can't physically get to everything on the list.  Instead decide what the most important 4-6 things are, and list them in order of hardest (most time consuming or challenging) to easiest.  Then, as a rule of thumb, do the hardest things first.  That's right, the HARDEST things first.  Attack and conquer those things that you know will not get done if left until late in the day.  Once the hard things are out of the way, you will FLY through everything else and get so much more done throughout the rest of the day.  
2. Start up a 'stop doing' list.  This can be just as powerful in your battle to make the most of the day as your 'to do' list.  What are those things that you have gotten into the habit of doing that are eating away your day and providing no real benefit?  Cutting these out of your daily routine will be a revolutionary change!
3. NEVER underrate the importance of exercise in your daily routine.  Your body, mind, and spirit all need this time.  And every other area of your life will suffer when this is not part of your daily and weekly routine.
4. Keep your daily planning/preparation time to under 10 minutes.  You already know your basic routine.  This planning time is to help focus on the important and help eliminate the unimportant.  Most days, 5-10 minutes is all it should take to do this.  Once a week (or every other week) you may need an extra 10-15 minutes for a more thorough evaluation of overall effectiveness and efficiency, and maybe bounce ideas off of/or seek advice from others on your routine.  An extra set of eyes and ideas can be just what is needed to break out of a rut.
5. Struggling to find time to read/learn/grow?  Try listening to motivational/inspirational books or other audio materials while you are exercising, driving, or doing other necessary/menial things.  It's like a two for one deal!  I look forward to driving now that I have started listening to great podcasts and inspirational/educational audio books.  And I get way more than exercise when I go for a run.  The miles just fly by.

I have experienced personally that every time I focus on managing my time, an increase in money always follows.  And those are the two things that I always seem to need more of....

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.  

 Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 (verses 1-8)

Ask and ye shall....

I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store;
For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial’s hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have paid.
JESSIE B. RITTENHOUSE, “My Wage,” The Door of Dreams


Don't sell yourself short in life.  Expect more, and get more.  Expect less, and get less.  Mainly just realize that it is your expectations and petitions, not life's offerings, that determine your payment and recompense in all things.  What do you 'expect' to get from attending church on Sunday?  If you expect to be strengthened in spirit and receive the opportunity to help and serve others in the process, then I guarantee that you will get both.  Obviously there is more to it than just 'asking', there is the undeniable and unalterable element of the action of faith.  Lets turn to the bible.
James 1:5-6

 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Then in James chapter 2:

 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Ask in faith, then get to work.  Don't sit around waiting for the magical paycheck to show up in the mail.  Go out and earn that paycheck and see for your self how the action of faith precedes the miracle.

Clear Skies Ahead

A cop pulls over a car load of nuns....
Cop: "Sister, this is a 65 MPH highway -- why are you going so slow?"
Sister: "Sir, I saw a lot of signs that said 22, not 65."
Cop: "Oh sister, that`s not the speed limit, that's the name of the highway you're on!
Sister: "Oh! Silly me! Thanks for letting me know. I'll be more careful.
At this point the cop looks in the backseat where the other nuns are shaking and trembling.
Cop: "Excuse me, Sister, what's wrong with your friends back there? They're shaking something terrible."
Sister: "Oh, we just got off of highway 119." 


How often is our perception of the world the thing that keep us down?


There is something great about 'hitting a wall' or running into difficulties and challenges.  That is, there is something great about it IF we have the right mindset and attitude.  Way more often than not, when we look back at the toughest, most challenging times in our lives, we recognize those times as highly productive in transforming us into someone better and preparing us for great and exciting things.  Does that make it fun to go through challenges?  Are we more likely to seek out the difficult, life changing 'opportunities'?  Probably not, but when those opportunities unavoidably arrive, instead of cringing and whining, we can perform a self-evaluation and determine in what way (or ways) we can and will change to be better in the future.  


A sickness or injury might keep you from doing what you are used to doing (career, exercise, hobbies, etc..), but that may very well give you the opportunity to develop your mind, change your attitude, reach out to friends, neighbors and family, and magnify those God given talents that were previously 'put on the back shelf' because you were too busy with life.


Losing a job, for whatever reason, is so often the catalyst to seek out and find your true calling in life.  The 'thing' you were born to do, the thing that brings you true enjoyment and fulfillment.  Have you heard the phrase 'accidental entrepreneur'?  Losing a job has been the springboard to countless successful businesses.  


What great opportunities (hidden in the challenges) has God blessed you with?


It's going to be a great day!

Battling Giants

It's not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It's because we dare not venture that they are difficult.   Lucius Annaeus Seneca


Dare to dream, then dare to do.  Fear of the unknown is worse than the unknown, so venture out of your comfort zone and try things.


Remember the story of David and Goliath?  It took very little effort for David, a small and young 'boy' to defeat Goliath, when for many days the entire Israelite army avoided the giant for fear of defeat.  
What are your Goliath's?  

• Perhaps you have a personal relationship that needs to be repaired/restored, and instead you are letting your 'giant' pride keep you from apologizing, forgiving, and getting back to being friends.  Whether that relationship is marriage, family, or friend, the pride giant is very real.  And just as real is the 'stone' of humility and action that will defeat that giant.  Running away from a problem doesn't solve the problem, it usually makes it bigger.  In the case of personal relationships, running away instead of facing (with humility and love) your problems means losing a loved one who both could and should be a forever part of your life.  If you once loved and cared for that friend, then do so again.
• Are you stuck in your career?  And are you staying there out of a false sense of security?  While I don't suggest quitting (due to plenty of personal experience), I do suggest getting ready to quit by finding something better, or defeating those giants in your current position that are keeping you from fulfillment.  Sometimes that something better is a side business that can be grown into a full time venture that will allow you 'quit' down the road. If you are not interested in self-employment (yet..?), then maybe a lateral shift in employment or a change of venue (company, city, state..) may be what your soul is yearning for.  Do you believe God inspires you to change?  If you feel a desire for something different and/or something more from your employment/career, don't just ignore that feeling.  Embrace it, explore it, and find out why God has blessed you with that feeling.  There is something great waiting for you, so keep your eyes open be ready to go!
• Are you struggling with addiction?  If so, then you know the pain and loss that is associated with addiction, whether that addiction is chemical, physical, mental, or other.  You fear the pain and sorrow that your addiction will cause to those around you, and struggle to find an escape.  Take courage from the millions who have overcome addictions, and know that you are not alone in your struggle.  Rarely can anyone with an addiction kick it on the first, second, or even third try.  But you, and they, can overcome.  And almost without fail, recovering addicts can point to their small 'stone' that conquered the giant.  Sometimes that stone is a relationship, and often that relationship is directly with God.  Strengthen within yourself the reasons why you want to and will overcome your addiction, and never quit trying.  Keep finding new ways to remind yourself of the 'why', and focus on the positive (those reasons you will quit) instead of the negative (the addiction itself).  

Seek out your giants, and seek out your stones.  You will find that it is far easier to face your foes than it is to avoid them.  And life is so much more enjoyable without giants looming over you.

Keep it up!

With five chances on each hand and one unwavering aim, no boy, however poor, need despair. There is bread and success for every youth under the American flag who has energy and ability to seize his opportunity. It matters not whether the boy is born in a log-cabin or in a mansion; if he is dominated by a resolute purpose and upholds himself, neither men nor demons can keep him down.   

Orison Swett Marden (from his book 'Pushing to the Front')  

There are so many incredible opportunities in the world today!  There are even more opportunities in the United States!  Yes, I am aware of the 'recession', but I am even more aware of the thousands of millionaires who started their journey towards wealth in complete poverty during past recessions and depressions.  They did it during worse times than now, and so can you and I!  From all of my research and study into these highly successful individuals, I see a revolving theme: positive attitude through self-motivation.  How did they become self-motivated?  They sought it out in everything around them!  They read motivational and inspirational books, stories, and articles, and they did so repeatedly and regularly.  

When you meet (or hear about) someone who has achieved great business and financial success, how do you view them?  I heard a great story about caterpillars that I found to be very enlightening:

3 caterpillars were crossing a field when a beautiful, graceful butterfly flew overhead.  The first caterpillar looks at the butterfly and thinks, 'What a conceited show off!'.  The second sees the butterfly and thinks 'Sometimes I wish I could fly, he is so lucky'.  And the third caterpillar, seeing the butterfly says, 'I know that guy, he used to be just like us!  If he can fly, I can too!' 

It is so easy to look at others and complain about or rationalize away their success and your own 'failure' (and remember, failure is only failure when you don't seize the lesson it has to teach and use it as fuel for greater success).  When you look at others, do so in a positive light.  Learn great things from them, be motivated and encouraged by their success and accomplishments, because if they did it, so can you!  

How can I develop a positive attitude and be self-motivated?  READ!  Read (or listen to) great and inspiring books!  There are so many motivational books, and inspirational books available.  You know the saying, 'You are what you eat'?  Apply the following saying into your life from now on: 'You are what you read'.  You are (or become) what you read, watch, listen to and participate in.  So if you spend your time listening to, watching and reading the so called 'news', you are likely stressed out, depressed and discouraged by what is happening in the world.  If instead you read, watch and listen to inspirational, positive, and educational information you are (or soon will be) positive and self-motivated by all of the wonderful opportunities that life has to offer.  You will be amazed at the vast amount of open doors available every single day that lead to greater wealth, happiness, peace, and plenty.  

Where do I start?  Let me give you a few suggestions.  For greater financial hope and understanding, read and listen to Dave Ramsey (Total Money Makeover, Financial Peace University, etc..).  For all around self-motivation, read and listen to Zig Ziglar (and many other motivational speakers/authors).  For great career and life development, read and listen to Dan Miller (author of '48 days to the work you love').    To get serious about financial, business, and life goals and progress, try Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich, Success through a Positive Mental Attitude, etc..).   This list can go on and on, there are so many positive books out there.  Make time to read (or listen) to them, it will be the greatest investment of time that you can make for your future. 

Successful people follow successful patterns.  Sterling W. Sill (1903 - 1994)

Grasp that concept now!  Successful people follow successful patterns.  That is how they got successful!  And one of the most important patterns to follow is the development of a positive attitude.  A positive attitude is what opens your mind (and eyes) to the great opportunities that are right in front of you.

The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth

 them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous.   

Psalms 146:8 

The Healthy Temple

The only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, running down their friends, side-stepping responsibility, and pushing their luck! (author unknown)

There are so many ways to engage in healthy exercise.  Biking, running, aerobics, weight training, yoga, self-defense....the list can go on and on.  With so many options, anyone and everyone CAN find something that they enjoy, and that works great for them. What is most important is that you decide take care of the only physical asset that you have that can't be replaced: YOU!

The Two Great Commandments...to keep your 'Temple' in good repair.
Commandments may be a bit of a strong word, but since these two 'things' are so important (and WAY too often neglected), I think it works well here.
First: Eat Healthy.  Easy, right?  Okay, maybe not super easy.  Easy is drive-through, take-out, delivery, microwave meals, and just-add-water.  And to make things slightly more challenging, healthy for one person may not be healthy for another (and your body's needs today may be different than they were 10 years ago or will be in 10 years).  But eating healthy doesn't have to be hard either. Start by drinking water instead of soda.  Go for the veggies instead of the fries.  Munch on almonds instead of a candy bar.  And listen to your body.  You can train yourself to feel which foods work for you, and which foods don't.  Cutting out sugar, or at the very least, cutting way back on sugar (and foods that act like sugar) can be a revolutionary change to your overall health and energy levels, not to mention help you shave off and keep off some unwanted pounds.  How much of your 'hunger' is your body needing food, and how much of it is your addiction to food?  You might be surprised!  And often, the hunger you feel is your body needing food that is healthy (meaning food with nutritional value, minerals, vitamins, etc...)!!!!
Second:  Make exercise a regular and fun part of your life!  As stated above, there are so many ways in which you can get good exercise that there is really no good excuse for not making it an integral part of who you are.  There IS something that you will enjoy so much that you will look forward to it everyday.  Make the commitment to spend at least 30 minutes exercising, 3-4 times each week.  Try different things, and find a combination of activities that gives you a great all around workout.  Some people prefer a gym environment with work out buddies.  I love plugging in the headphones, turning on a great motivational audio book, and running early in the morning.  What a great way to start the day!  Exercise, motivation, education!  There are great DVD's out there for every type and style of work out imaginable, and before you go out and buy every one, ask your friends and neighbor's which ones they have, which ones they like/dislike (and why), and 'try it before you buy it'.  I guarantee that you will find many of your friends have many work out DVD's just sitting on the shelf unused, and will likely let you borrow them.  If you like it, they may even sell it to you cheap (or maybe even give it to you).

Throw the excuses out the window and make the choice to take care of your body.  In case you haven't figured it out yet, it is the only one you get!  Become one of the 'lucky' people out there who live a long and healthy life with little to no need for medications, insulin, by-pass surgery, emergency trips to the doctor, and so on.  You will not regret it!
Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.  Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Strength of Trees

In windstorms, when trees are close together and close to the same size, very few trees get damaged by the wind.  When those same trees are thinned out, what happens when the winds come?  Even when the wind is far weaker, many of the remaining trees are damaged or destroyed.  It is amazing how much more resilient trees are when grouped together, and the same thing is true of us.  When we group together with others who share our beliefs, goals, and values we are far less susceptible to failure and temptation.  We have others around us to help us stand up to the ‘winds’ of negativity and peer pressure.  We can and will succeed when we stand beside and support each other.  

And once there, invite others to join you, that they too may both be strengthened by and add strength to your group.

 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.   1 Thessalonians 5:11

Create your Culture

The horrible 'D' word: Discipline!  It's actually a pretty fantastic word when you add 'self' to the beginning of it, because it is through self-discipline that the most important battles in your life will be won.
My post today isn't actually centered on self-discipline, although it really is a great topic to ponder and apply to daily life.  No matter what facet of life you consider (physical, spiritual, mental) self-discipline is where results and success are planted, cultivated, and maintained.  But today, it is the culture of discipline that I would like to discuss.
The word culture has many different meanings, and can be applied to many different situations.  One great definition I found is: the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc. 
Culture, by this definition, is applicable to both an individual and to a group.  And this culture (as a quality) is developed out of concern or belief in what is good, desirable, or 'excellent'.  

• What is important to you?  
• Would your life be better if you could communicate more clearly with others?  
• Is health important to you (and if not, why not)?  
• Are you happy with your career/business/job situation?  Could (and possibly should) that situation be better?

A culture of discipline deeply effects everything in your life.  Having the discipline to obtain great training and education in a field that you love will open up doors of opportunity and fulfillment 'not available' to others.  Having the discipline to eat right and exercise regularly will both keep you out of the doctor's office (and subsequently from having to take multiple prescription medications) and increase your quality of life.  Having the discipline to speak with love and care to those you love and care for (and to others you will grow to love and care for) will hugely increase the chances that they too will love and care for you (or continue to do so).

Remember, that your culture is up to you.  And that it is both a personal culture (who you are and what you do when you are alone or independent of the group), and a group culture (the types the groups you choose to be associated with as well as those you choose to avoid)

Your Own Personal Culture of Discipline:

God designed us with an incredible capacity to do, to be and to become!  See in your mind who you can be, and why, and remember that God created you with the ability to make miraculous changes in your life.  You can lose weight (if you both need to and want to).  You can start your own hugely successful business, or transform your struggling business into a fantastic success.  You can find great peace, love and joy in life, and even share that peace with others.

 The Group Culture of Discipline:

As a business owner and employer, I have had many group culture experiences over the years and I have seen both extremes when it comes to a culture of discipline in 'my group'.  There have been times when life couldn't have been much better, which was a direct result of the great attitude and moral character of the whole group, (a wonderfully positive culture of discipline).  The individual members of the team had the discipline to show up on time, put in an honest day of work, keep their language and attitudes positive, treat others with respect (both inside and outside of the company), and encourage the same characteristics in others.  What a happy place to work!  It didn't matter if it was Friday, Monday, or even the occasional Saturday, we all enjoyed being there, and looked forward to work!  Then there were times when one or more members of the group did not have that self-discipline.  Foul language, drug/alcohol abuse, disrespect of others, disregard of company policies/rules, and bad attitudes really create havoc and quickly destroy the culture of discipline in any group.  Those who were thriving, growing, and enjoying the group dynamic, began to lose interest and any sense of fulfillment they once had.

Don't be the flat tire in your group!  And don't let the flat tire drag down the rest of the group!  Practice self-discipline in your personal life, and associate with others who do the same!  You will attract others who want to become better, and you will be attracted to groups that help you become better.  If you own or manage a business, create that culture of discipline with disciplined people who think, speak, and act with discipline.  You will need the discipline to hire those who will fit into your culture and enhance your culture.  And sometimes the more difficult task: get rid of those people who don't and won't support your culture of discipline so that they don't drag everyone else down with them.

The Success Habits

Before I get the negative feedback from the female population, let me OPENLY admit, that the same principle above applies to Home Depot/Lowes for men! (and likely to a greater degree, how many nail guns does one guy really need?!?!?!)  I can't even begin to guess how many times I have walked out of those Mega stores with a cart full of stuff that I didn't need or intend to buy.  But I also want to share my experience from the past three visits to either Home Depot or Lowes.  I walked IN, looked for what I NEEDED, didn't find what I WANTED, and walked OUT without buying ANYTHING!!!!  SUCCESS!!  And the few visits before that, I bought exactly what I went there for, and nothing else.  That feels great!  And in the last year, I haven't been to those stores more than 6 times.  Of course, living 90 miles away from the nearest Home Depot or Lowes helps (even though I drive by them weekly), but what has made the BIG difference is a change in habits, decision, and determination.  HABITS!!  Before, my habit was to go to HD and no matter what I was 'looking' for, I would check out the tool sections (power tools, hand tools, etc..), discount sections, flooring section, and everything in between before making my way to look for the paintbrush I needed.
A couple of days ago on his radio show, Dave Ramsey said 'Negative habits create problems, Positive habits create wealth'.    Simple and true!  When you are in the habit of putting things on credit cards, whether you can 'afford' it or not, you are creating a problem.  When the end of the month rolls around, and you can either pay off the credit card or buy groceries, chances are you will buy the groceries, because a minimum payment on the credit card is no big deal, right?  No big deal to pay a few extra dollars in interest for something you probably didn't need in the first place.  And 6 months later, the hundreds of dollars in interest you may end up paying could have bought way more than the groceries the first month!  That is a problem!  And so is a house, closet, garage, shed or storage unit full of JUNK that you don't need and really didn't even want.  
What are some Negative financial habits that you have?  

• Are you addicted to your credit card?  If you have a credit card and use it, you are probably addicted to it.  Even if you 'pay it off' every month, you are creating a huge potential problem.  It only takes a small emergency for that credit card balance to rocket out of control, and cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest.   'I need it for emergencies' isn't even a good rationalization.  What we NEED for emergencies is CASH!  Make your new habit to not even have a credit card (bank/debit cards can do pretty much everything a credit card can, without a bill or negative interest).  Instead of the credit card, your real habit should be to ALWAYS have an emergency cash fund:  Never less than $1000! (and build it up to at least 3-6 months of expenses)  
• Are you in the habit of spending everything you make every month with nothing left over? 'But we just don't make enough to cover our expenses and needs, and still have anything left over'.  That was my excuse for years!  What that really means is, I am avoiding a budget at all costs!  Or, I need the 6000 channel cable/satellite package and the netflix account and the multiple DVD rentals from Blockbuster and I need to eat out several times a week and, and, and..... and these are NEEDS, not WANTS!  The Habit we need to have, is the BUDGET.  Budgeting is telling your money where to go, instead of wondering where it went.  What do you really need, and what can you accomplish with the money you 'save' instead of blowing it on the junk?  With a budget, you can see the light at the end of the debt tunnel, and what a beautiful light it is!  
• Do you continue to buy the newest car, or worse yet, lease one?  Even if you pay cash for the newest car, you still take the biggest hit in depreciation as soon as you drive it off the lot! And if you are leasing the car, you lose money all the way through the process without anything to show for it at the end (except for the next leased car..YAY!)  Any time you buy something on credit, what that really means is that you bought something that you can't afford, so obviously it is a great idea to pay even more for it, right? New Habit: Pay cash or don't buy it.  Buy and drive a beater until you can save up for a nicer, but still used, car/truck/SUV (there are lots of reliable beaters out there, and even if it breaks down, you didn't lose much because you didn't pay much!)

 We have all rationalized and justified our way into these holes, but will we stay there or get out?  And when we do get out, will we stay out?  You may need a mentor, adviser, coach, or program to help you start to adopt new habits, but it WILL be worth every bit of effort you put into making those changes.  And when those positive habits become YOUR habits, you won't ever want to go back.  In fact, you will wonder how in the world you ever got by without them!

The Habits of wealthy people are what made the vast majority of them wealthy.  And those same habits can make you and I wealthy.  And when we are wealthy, we can serve both God and his children with much greater force, love, and with the greatest asset of all: Time!

Commitment and Honor

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh  Genesis 2:24


I often wonder why some married couples seem to be a beautiful extension of the couple they were when they first began dating (happy, excited, in love, optimistic about their future together) while others seem to undergo an almost instant change to quite the opposite within days or weeks (if not minutes) after being married.  I have been so hugely blessed in my life to continue strong in the first category.  I am still awestruck at the beauty of my wife! 5 kids and just shy of 13 years after marriage she continues to amaze and inspire me.  She makes me want to be a better person.  I am not bragging or exaggerating here.  I don't feel like I have all the answers and solutions.  I admit humbly and sincerely that I have been blessed immensely with a great wife and a wonderful family.  I do strongly believe that there are some very clear and distinct reasons that we have not only maintained our love and friendship, but indeed both love and friendship have grown and flourished since we were married.  And I know that these are Godly principles that can be applied to any and every marriage, relationship (family or otherwise), and friendship to achieve similar and even greater results!  Honor your friendships and relationships, and you will receive honor from them.

1.  Friends and Partners.  Why is it that so many people quit being friends after they get married?  It's like they cannot fathom being friends and partners.  And you can see the trends and results in both marriages and business partnerships.  WAY too often they end quickly with no shred of friendship remaining.  Friends first, friends always, is so important in marriage.  True friends will always be there and keep your best interest in mind, and your spouse not only can be, but should be your best friend.  Always put them first on your list, in your heart.  And friendship will support, not tear apart, your marriage.  
2. Commitment.  This can be a scary word for both men and women (for different reasons generally).  But commitment is a wonderful concept and an even better reality when it is an integral part of your relationships.  It turns a casual friend or acquaintance into a partner and an ally.  I heard a great statement about commitment that really helps put it into perspective:  When problems arise, if you are committed you look for a solution to the problems; if you are not committed you look for an escape from the problems. Be committed, seek for solutions and not escapes or excuses.  Marriage is a chance to become true allies, true friends, truly happy!  
3. Cultivate!  I am a poor gardener.  Not because I don't know how to garden, but because I don't garden.  I don't tend to the garden, fertilize, water, weed, and generally care for those plants that I want to grow while keeping the unwanted plants away!  But symbolically, I am a good marriage gardener, and so should you be!  Don't allow contention into your marriage, and when it tries to become rooted, don't just ignore it, DESTROY IT!  Go out of your way to 'say something nice or don't say anything at all'.  "Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment." — Benjamin Franklin  And sometimes you may need to point out that you are 'not saying anything at all' because you want to destroy contention; you want to nourish love not hate.  Water your marriage with compliments, flirting, dating, love notes, gifts, and smiles!  Seek out the 'weeds' daily that are hurting your relationships and remove them.  Hold hands, open doors, give praise and share gratitude.  These seemingly small gestures are great fertilizer for a happy marriage.
4. Share.  One of the biggest divisions in a marriage or business partnership is that of finances.  Generally, either accounts and income are kept separate or all the 'bills' and budgeting is dumped on either the husband or the wife.  And with the dumping of the budgeting responsibilities blame and shame are too often included. 'Where did you spend all our money?'  'Why can't you get the budget under control?'  Separate accounts and income are just as destructive to a relationship, if not more so.  'My money' and 'your money' should never exist in a marriage:  they shall be one..!  You cannot be one and separate at the same time.  You cannot serve God and mammon.  One of the greatest ways to become one, is to share equally in matters of budgeting and finances, regardless of who makes the money or who makes more money.  You are one, all money is shared as are all bills, debts, investments, and plans.  If not, then you are not 'one'. 

 Commit to your friendship, share in the cultivation and responsibilities!  And watch the garden of joy and enjoyment grow in your relationships!

To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you're wrong admit it;
Whenever you're right shut up. - Ogden Nash.

What a great opportunity!

Yes, that is the Washington Memorial in D.C., and yes, those are real people 'scaling' the exterior of the structure! (lucky!)  I took this photo last year shortly after an earthquake struck portions of the east coast.  Structural engineers were hired to inspect the tower for damage, and they had to visually inspect every square inch.  I thought to myself 'Those guys are so lucky to be able to scale the Washington Memorial!'  Really, how many people can honestly say 'I repelled from the Washington Memorial'?  To the best of my knowledge, that is not one of the tourist attractions in our nation's capitol.  In fact, I am fairly certain that you would be quickly escorted to '3 hots and a cot' for even attempting to do so. Yet those few engineers were given that rare and unique opportunity, and even got paid to do it!

I read a statement several months ago given by Winston Churchill about optimism (and being quite the optimist, I rather liked the statement).  He said: "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" 


That is so true.  Now regarding the optimist/pessimist divide, I want to be sure to point out that people are not inherently either.  You are not born optimistic or pessimistic.  Both are attitudes that are learned by practice and more practice.  So practice being optimistic, and you WILL become great at it!  Great musicians became great by...playing music!  Great runners became great by.....running!  And you can become a great optimist by...practicing optimism!

When an optimist gets laid off (downsized, let go, fired, or any one of the other great terms used for booted to the curb), he/she does not say 'Why does everything bad always happen to me?'  Instead the optimist is grateful for the opportunity to advance to the next level in another great company or venture!  And having an optimistic attitude creates the environment in which that great opportunity will be found.  I had a wonderful experience (series of experiences) over 10 years ago.  I was blessed to be let go from a great job I had, where I had contributed to much growth and success for the company where I worked.  3 days later I started another great job where I learned some awesome skills that provided for our family for much of the past 10 years.  Less than a week into that new job, my appendix ruptured giving me a great opportunity to rest for a month or so (which is not easy for a get up and go kind of guy).  When I was finally able to get out and work again, I did so with great zeal and excitement!  And a month into it the owner called a surprise company meeting early one morning.  He gave us all (10-12 guys) the opportunity to, as he put it, 'work at Burger King' through the winter months until construction picked back up in the spring!  I was literally overjoyed at that news!  And I really mean that!  I got home that day and excitedly announced to my wife that I had been laid off (she was 8 months pregnant with our 2nd child, and we were in the middle of having our mobile home moved out to some property we had just purchased).  And the next day, I got a business license, a ladder, a compressor, and printed up some business cards.  By the end of the day I had multiple jobs line up and hired 8 of my previous co-workers and we ran hard for over two years before I sold the business and moved on to other ventures.  That truly was a great blessing!

See the opportunity in every difficulty instead of the difficulties in every opportunity.  Great things are in your future, starting now!

What does your sign say?

Intro-humor: A priest & pastor are standing by the side of the road with a sign that reads, "The End is Near! Turn around before it's too late!" They hold up the sign to each passing car. "Leave us alone you religious nuts!" yelled the first driver as he sped by. From around the curve they heard screeching tires & a big splash. "Do you think," said one clergy to the other, "we should put up a sign that says 'Bridge Out' instead?"

Clearly communicating is tough! We all have messages that we try to get across, but all too often what we try to say isn't what other people actually hear.  And as easy as it is to blame the listener for not listening (which may occasionally be true), chances are what you said, or the sign you were holding up, did not convey with clarity or accuracy what you wanted others to understand.

Think in terms of a foreign language.  We all have experiences with people who speak a foreign language (and often when we are the ones speaking the foreign language).  No matter how slow or loud you talk, if the other person does not speak the same language (or speak it very well), you will have a very hard time communicating.  Hand gestures and theatrics can only go so far! (although such things can be fun and entertaining)  

Much the same principle applies to communicating with people in your native tongue!  Everyone has different backgrounds, upbringing, education styles/levels, cultural complexities, and numerous other factors that will change how they both speak to, and understand what is said by, others.  So more than likely what needs to change is your 'sign', and not your audiences ability to understand your message.  Go out of your way to make your message clear, and present it in a way that others can both understand it and benefit from it.  And maybe then, they won't end up in the river!

Lift me up!

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.  John Quincy Adams

We all have some level of leadership within us, and the great thing is that we don't need a title to go along with it.  Are you a parent?  A teacher?  A friend?  A mentor?  A neighbor?  A volunteer?  Do you interact with others even occasionally? (it's kind of difficult to go through life without at least some interaction with others...)  If you answered yes to at least one of these questions, then you are some form of leader, and have the potential to lead others to great heights or down steep and slippery slopes.  Remember that you are a leader and that you can inspire others to dream, learn and do more!  And when you inspire others to be more, you become more too!  So get out there and inspire someone!  

Bloom because you can...

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

Proverbs 24:10

This poppy 'resides' in our front yard.  And not because we planted it there, or because we have encouraged it to stay.  In fact, very little actually grows in our yard, including grass!  Our yard seems to be a death sentence to all things green, except dandelions and this poppy (and a rhubarb plant that I planted to prove that things just don't grow in our yard...and it too pops up every year).  I don't know a whole lot about plants or gardening, nor can I explain why this particular plant only blossoms once a year while looking like an unwanted weed the rest of the year.  In the winter, the plant appears to die off completely, and on several occasions I have made considerable effort to completely remove the plant, roots and all.  Yet every year, it pops back up and produces these beautiful blossoms.  

I have decided that this plant lives on because it wants to live.  It knows what it is capable of accomplishing, and will not settle for less.  Regardless of the unfavorable conditions, adversity, and the cruel 'gardener' who keeps cutting it down, this plant continues to not only survive, but thrive and produce beauty.

There is a great lesson for all of us in this poppy's success.  Adversity IS NOT a reason to fail.  Adversity instead makes our success all the more incredible.  No matter what the world hands you; no matter what others say, think, imply, or expect of you; No matter what you have or have not accomplished in the past, BLOOM because you can!  There is a truth that is both essential to our eternal progressions and undeniable: You are a child of God, and as His child you not only can, but should Bloom!

'How can I do that' you ask? 

Try the following, then let me know about your incredible success!  Your success story will be a great strength and beacon of HOPE to others (including myself!).

The 'I am' List

Prepare an 'I am...' list.  The purpose of this list is to remind yourself of who you really are AND who you really can be.  Society and outside pressures often tell us who we are, and when you hear something enough you begin to believe it.  The 'I am' list is a great tool to 're-write' who you are from the inside out!  I have used this in the past, and I still use this today.  I have known many great leaders and mentors who use this type of technique to make those changes in their lives that most would consider impossible.  I will give some examples of what you can put on this list, then explain how to put this list to use.  Think in terms of personal, family, spiritual, and business/career.  What are your strengths, and how can they be improved upon?  What are your 'future' strengths (what pessimists might call weaknesses)?  

• I am... a loving husband and father.  I lead my family in kindness, gentleness, and patience.  I am a Man of God, and as such I work everyday to learn His will for me, and make changes in myself to become who he wants me to be.  
• I am... an inspired leader, who leads with a positive attitude and by example.  I maintain my hope and vision by reading GREAT books and associating with positive people who lift me up and inspire me to be GREAT!  And I do my part to inspire and lift up others EVERY DAY.
• I am... HIGHLY self-motivated to succeed in all worthy endeavors (spiritual, financial, family, personal, etc..).  I know I can accomplish great things, and I know I have friends, family, and most importantly God on my side.

There are so many things you can put on this list, it could be PAGES long, but I suggest you keep it to a few short sentences.  Put those things that are most important to you, and that you most want to be/become.  This list both can, and SHOULD, change every few weeks or months as needed to reflect the 'new' you and the new challenges in your life.  You can write this on a small card, or into your planner, or put it right into your smart-phone/i-pad.  Here is the 'how' of the list: Read this list to yourself every morning when you first get up and going, and every night before you lay down.  You may even want to record yourself reading that list and listen to it several times a day (wear headphones if you don't want to attract too much attention, but realize that people will notice the changes you are making in your life!)  And visualize yourself BEING those traits on your list, because that is WHO YOU ARE!  Carry this list with you and read it several times throughout the day, and I promise: You will start to become who you tell yourself you are, instead of who 'the world' tries to convince you that you are.  And you are AWESOME!

WARNING! HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS!

It is nearly impossible to see such excitement and enthusiasm and not start to feel the same way!  This is our 2nd child (she is now 10, so this was a few years ago), and still she can let her energy flow out and lead others along.  I guarantee that you know people like this.  Wherever they go, people begin to act and feel like they do!  That can be either a great experience or a brick wall, depending on how they feel at any given moment.  I get to travel a bit, and meet new people almost every day.  I met a lady yesterday who was everything that the above picture is NOT! There was no enthusiasm, no positive attitude, no HOPE, no silver lining.  In fact, I can best describe her attitude as a Black Hole of Despair!  I gave a bit of counsel, shared some hope and humor got some smiles on her face, and then....CRASH!  She fired up the black hole again and all was lost! (and she did so ACTING and TALKING as if she was continuing the positive conversation I had begun, OUCH!)
 
When was the last time you smiled BECAUSE you wanted to be happy, instead of waiting to smile UNTIL you were happy?  When was the last time you shared your excitement and enthusiasm with others BECAUSE you wanted to be motivated, instead of waiting to be hit in the head by the club of motivation? By the way, the only real and lasting motivation is SELF-Motivation, and self-motivation comes from....wait for it...wait for it....YOURSELF!  Smile to BE happy!  Laugh to BE joyful!  Pray to BE spiritual!  Start doing and being what you want to do and be, and don't wait for the in-existent fairy of good fortune to visit you in the land of make believe and magically turn you into the YOU you want to be.

Psalms 32:11

 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Liberty (and the crashing kite)

I spent a few weeks just outside of Washington DC last year on a work assignment, and decided to spend a day seeing the sights of our Nation's capital before heading back home to Montana.  On the side of the Robert Taft Memorial Bell Tower, was the above inscription (Liberty has been the key to our progress in the past and is the key to our progress in the future.  If we can preserve liberty in all its essentials there is no limit to the future of the American People).  Compared to the Washington and Lincoln memorials, the Robert Taft memorial is a bit obscure and off the beaten path (it's tucked in the trees between the capitol building and Union Station), and you don't hear an awful lot about Senator Robert Taft, but I found this statement to be rather profound and insightful.
Liberty, which can also be referred to as freedom (of choice, of religion, of government), has so many levels and meanings.  How well I remember being 18 years old, and wanting freedom to mean I could do whatever I wanted and be happy as a result.  Yet, the more I did what I thought I wanted, the less 'free' and happy I felt.  In a struggle to be 'free' from God, commandments, rules, guidelines, and restrictions, I had really missed the bus completely.  I was like a kite wanting to be free from the string, altogether unable to understand that it was the string that was allowing me to fly!  And like a kite cut free from the string, I was doomed to fall to the ground.
So what is Liberty?  How can we be truly free?
When God created this earth (what, you mean it wasn't a big bang and evolution?), and put plant and animal life upon it, He did so with a plan.  And a central part of that plan was Free Agency (the ability and responsibility to choose) for His children.
So like Peter Parker (spiderman), we have a great power bestowed upon us and a great responsibility.  The power to choose for ourselves what we will do every day, how we will act, how we will treat others, and whether we will strive to change for the better.  But it gets a bit tricky (of course, can't be too simple or it might not be fun!).  Since we 'choose' what we will do, we also accept the consequences of those choices (whether good or bad).  And our Nation was set up after a similar manner.  The laws governing our Nation, our States, and our local communities give us choices.  The law says, don't steal, don't kill, don't make fun of President Obama (some of these are easier to follow than others...) and if you CHOOSE to obey the laws, chances are you will not see a negative consequence.  However, if you decide that freedom to choose (liberty) gives you the right to take the life of another (or his car, wallet, etc..) then you also choose to loose other freedoms/liberties.  Like freedom to go to work in the morning.  Or freedom to travel, collect guns, be a professional snowboarder, or any number of other things that you cannot do from behind bars.
Now that example was a bit more extreme than most of us will likely encounter personally (but if you have been there, you know how real that loss can be).  Even the 'little' choices we make can have a huge impact on our future!  Choose to use vulgar, offensive language and soon you have a hard time thinking happy and positive things! And just try sincerely communicating with God when your mind is filled with vulgarity, it's worse that trying to make a phone call after dropping your cell phone into a port-a-potty that should have been emptied weeks earlier!  Choose to 'steal' time from your employer, or complain constantly about how much you hate your job, and you will likely find that either you don't have a job to complain about (or steal time or anything else) from or you wonder why your peers are getting promotions, raises and bonuses and you are not!  The choices we make, make us who we are!
Now the BEST part is, WE CAN CHANGE!  We can change who we are by beginning to make better choices.  We perform regular self-inspections, and pick out those areas that we need to change or improve, and begin to make different choices to become who we truly want to be.  We can become who God wants us to be.  And luckily, we are never too young or too old to make wonderful changes in our lives!

A little Liberty Math for you:  Liberty + Bad choices = less liberty!   Liberty + Good Choices = More Liberty!

 '...if we can preserve liberty in all its essentials there is no limit to the future...'

Failure IS Success!

Failure is Success.  And sometimes success is failure.  Let me explain what I mean.
Often in life you will experience what many consider to be failure.  You don't accomplish what you set out to accomplish.  You start a business and it doesn't take off the way you hoped it would.  You start a new job and realize that you have no idea what you are doing.  You take a class and fail miserably.  The list can go on and on, but to avoid sending you into a spiral of doom remembering all of your failed attempts in life, I will purposely leave my list short.
For me, as long as I grow, learn, and change for the better, failure is success.  I succeed in finding a better way to do something, I succeed in avoiding stupid mistakes in the future, I succeed in knowing how not to do something the next time.  The only time a failure is a failure is when I give up and give in.  I am not a failure, and neither are you, we simply gained invaluable life experience and knowledge, and will use that to forever better our lives.
And looked at from that perspective, without the emotion and drama, Failure really does become Success.
What is Success?
According to Wikipedia:

Success may refer to:

• a level of social status
• achievement of an objective (goal)
• the opposite of failure   

Instead of the opposite of failure, I declare it to be a positive result of failure.  I maintain as an ongoing goal that I will learn from my mistakes.  Pause what I am doing, review the outcome of my decisions, determine what worked and what didn't, and course correct for the next round.  And so, even in 'failure', I succeed.

Let me give you a couple of 'Clayisms' regarding success and failure:

1.  Success and Failure are Choices we make. (I will write more on this in a future post)

2.  Both success and Failure should be motivation to succeed (or continue to succeed).

What!?!  When I fail to accomplish a goal, I get competitive with myself!  I have a very competitive nature when it comes to many things, and I don't like to lose.  In fact, I don't know many people who do like to lose.  One of my daughters cannot go on with life when she gets beat on a video game by her siblings, while another tries harder and channels that loss to fuel her competitive nature so she can win the next game.  When channeled properly, I believe that being competitive is a great attitude to have.   I used to love playing basketball.  I used to love to go up against the best players in the league!  And when they would out maneuver me, I would use that as fuel to push harder, try harder, and in all cases, win!  I actually believe that they were likely better players than I was, but my competitive determination to win ruled the day!  The same concept applies, or can be applied, to any and every situation.  Don't let so called 'failure' stop you in your tracks.  Throw that failure into the competitive furnace, and let it fuel your success!  

What would have happened to the Israelites if Moses had given up after any one of the 'failed' attempts to convince Pharaoh to let them go?  God sent us here to learn, and 'failures' are a great learning experience and an even better springboard to much greater future success!