Write it Down, Today!

There’s one thing that almost all high achievers do that the vast majority of Americans don’t.  This one thing can exponentially increase your chances of making your goals come true.  The ability to do this one thing, in and of itself, is literally a miracle…

If you have a burning desire to do something;  if you have a definable goal that you absolutely must achieve; if you want to be different from more than 90 percent of the Americans, then here’s what you need to do.  Go get a notepad.  Get a pencil.  Sit down.  Now, write down what you really want to do.  Write down that big dream I talked about in my last post.  Don’t delay – do it now.  Here’s why the act of writing down your goal is a miracle – it is in that moment that thought becomes tangible.  What was in your head now is physically written on a piece of paper for you (and anyone else) to see, hold and examine.  You have taken something from your mind and it is now manifetsted into physical being.  Some of you reading this will “get it” and realize the power in this.  Some of you won’t.  That’s o.k.   Whether your amazed by it or not, what you need to understand is that less than 10% of Americans write down goals but the vast majority of that 10% make their goals come true.  

One you’ve written it down, study it.  Absorb it.  Eat, sleep and breathe it.  Pray about it.  Make sure that it really for you.   Make sure it’s making your world and the world around you a better place.  Once you’re convinced it is, take massive action on it (Don’t forget this part.  Your goal won’t happen without action, no matter how many times you write it down).   If you get INC magazine, read the article about Joe Cirulli.  It’s the perfect example of what I’m talking about.  If you don’t get INC., he’s on the cover of the August 2008 issue.  In a few days, you’ll probably be able to read the story on the INC. website (it’s not there as of today – I checked).  His is just one more story that supports this.  He’s making a positive difference in his community.  He’s achieved his goals.  He’s living the life of his dreams (after being almost penniless).  And he started by writing down his goals.  Bam.  Another act that separtates those who do and those who just wish.  If you’re unhappy with your life, work on becoming a doer and not just a wisher…

So what are you about to write down on that piece of paper in front of you?

And…. ACTION!

Have you ever met someone that you admired for being successful?  I met a business person that I admire this week.  He’s the CEO of a well-run corporation.  I’ve read about him in business magazines.  I stood in line to meet him after I heard him speak and had a chance to talk with him for a few mintues.  In the conversation, I told him that I was impressed with his success and with all he’s accomplished – both in business and in charity.  He looked me in the eyes and said, ” Most people think that anyone who is in my position is in some way different from everyone else.  We’re not.  I have a fairly normal life outside this business.  I enjoy and don’t enjoy doing the same things as most people.  I’m not smarter than most people.  I’m certainly no genius.  The reason I’m where I am is a little a luck but most of all, I did what I thought it would take to get me here.  That’s all.”  

Bam.  It hit me like a ton of bricks.  It was again affirmed to me – we’re all basically the same, rich or poor, successful or not, tall or short, old or young.  What most differentiate those at the top from those who at the bottom are simply our actions.  Some people take huge action on their goals and dreams because they believe they can do them.  Some don’t.  I just read somewhere a great quote that went something like this:  It takes the same amount of energy to dream small or big.  Why not dream big?  While dreaming big doesn’t involve more energy, it does involve a bigger risk of failure.  But don’t stop out of fear.  Use failure as lesson, not a barrier. 

Life isn’t always fair.  Sometimes we’re dealt a bad hand and have huge obstacles to overcome.  But if action is the number one thing separating us from where we truly want to be, then what action could you take each day to get you one step closer to your big dream?

Are We Ungrateful?

I really appreciated my sweet wife, Eve’s, post this week.  It was very thought-provoking, therefore, I thought I would include her thoughts on my blog.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  It’s entitled, “I’m An Ungrateful @#*&!” (My lovely wife has a great sense of humor!). 
 
The other day I was complaining because I don’t have a garbage disposal. Due to the fact we live on land outside the city, we have a septic tank and our builder discouraged installing a disposal for risk of clogging up the tank. But, while I was fishing out pieces of half-eaten food from the drain that my kids accidentally put in the kitchen sink, I told my husband that was it. I had it. I’m purchasing a disposal despite the warning. My thought process and words went something like, “This is barbaric and I refuse to live with out this modern common kitchen appliance.” In other words, the inconvenience was unacceptable. It was time my kitchen had a disposal. Fast forward a few weeks. A team of more than 20 volunteers from my church community, Cross Point, has spent the past week in the Dominican Republic assisting in building a worship and feeding center. Each year, the volunteers arrive in a small village on the Island just outside Santiago to work in the blistering heat day after day, hour after hour, cement bucket after cement bucket, digging trenches, pouring concrete and laying block. When each day’s work is done, they make their way over to the barrio of “Heja Del Ciamito” – a dorm that doesn’t always have water or electricity, I imagine exhausted yet fulfilled to say the least. We’ve been praying for this team and, fortunately, during this trip can keep up with their ventures via the mission blog.  I’ve been blown away while reading the updates written by Anne Jackson. Most of you know Anne and her amazing and inspiring posts. She’s an incredible gifted and published writer, a down-to-earth communicator, and has an unwavering heart for missions. Anne is also the newest addition to our church staff family. I have had the privilege of getting to know her over the past few weeks. (Anne has one of the top blogs in Christian Leadership – so check her out here and you’ll be blessed as a result). Here are some of Anne’s observations while in the DR:

“i never can seem to translate what is in my head after visiting a slum. a true third-world slum. the sights and smells and naked babies and starved dogs and sweat and raw sewage and shacks and the most impacting thing – hope.”

Then, Anne posed this question:

How can we consistently show those in developed, consumer-driven countries that places like this exist? That, although, these places need clean water, sanitation, food and medical care, we need their hope, simplicity, community, and generosity.”

How did I feel after reading her profound observations poignantly worded? My mixed emotions included hope, despair, sadness, joy, helplessness, thankfulness, encouragement, discouragement, but more than anything, I realized how UNGRATEFUL I can be. This reminder of how most of the world lives, suffers, and fights to simply stay alive with unyielding hope and faith, is yet another awakening for this unthankful, unappreciative consumer. It’s a privilege to serve in a mission-focused church and an absolute honor to serve along side volunteers whose goal is to reach those outside of Christ and to serve those living outside in the slums of the earth. I vow never to complain about the lack of a kitchen luxury again. I will be eternally thankful each time I reach my hand down the drain and fetch those nasty, stinky, leftovers. Rather than complaining, I promise to give thanks to God and give thanks for people, like our servants in the mission field, who venture out of their comfort zone and risk everything but in the process gain EVERYTHING!

Are You Nice to Your Spouse???

Whereas you love your spouse deeply;

Whereas your spouse deeply loves you;

Whereas your happiness is increased when your marriage is of high quality;

Whereas the quality of your marriage is highly influenced by how you treat one another;

Whereas how you treat your spouse is a daily decision;

Then…

Shouldn’t you be nicer to your spouse than anyone else?

The Art of Compromise

If you’re not very good at compromising, you’re missing out on opportunities to strengthen relationships and to make your world better than it is today. Compromise can better your relationships because it shows others that you consider their side important. It assures them you take their feelings seriously. In business, if you’ve ever closed a big money deal, you know the importance of the “give and take” in negotiations. Most deals wouldn’t be done without some compromise from both sides.

Compromise is generally a good and productive thing. However, there are things you shouldn’t compromise. Hold fast to your morals and principles. Don’t compromise your core values. Your values determine your daily actions and how you conduct your life. Don’t change who you are to satisfy someone else if you have to lower your morals to do so. No deal is worth that. The goal in compromise is to create a win-win situation. Everyone should get something of value out of the deal. But how can you get value by compromising your core values? Are you currently in a situation like this?