#94 - I AM NOT AN EXPERT

Though the tagline of this blog reads Where Inspiration Happens, up front, I’d like to let you know:

I am not an expert.

I don’t have it all together.
I don’t have all the answers.
I don’t have the secrets to success.

So why then should I care about what you have to say?!?

Well I’m glad you asked!

You should read my blog for two reasons:

1. I am a learner.

I am learning how to be an effective leader.
I am learning how to be an inspirational writer.
I am learning how to be a selfless and considerate husband.
I am learning how to interpret and apply the truths of God’s Word.

2. I am a “sharer.”

I love sharing my many mistakes.
I love sharing my frequent frustrations.
I love sharing my lessons learned.

There it is. The truth has been made known.

I am not an expert. I am a learner and I am a “sharer.”

And in 2011, I am committed to consistently share with you what I am learning in the most clear, concise and inspiring ways possible.

** I was inspired to write this post after reading this. Thanks John! **

#93 - IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOW

you can rest.
you can relax.
you can reflect.

In the Six Days that Follow

you can invest time with your spouse.
you can invest time with your children.
you can invest time with your loved ones.

In the Six Days that Follow

you can set goals.
you can dream dreams.
you can ponder your purposes.

In the Six Days that Follow

you can anticipate the New Year.
you can prepare for the New Year.
you can get excited for the New Year.

In the Six Days that Follow

much can be attempted.
much can be appreciated.
much can be accomplished.

#92 - BECAUSE HE WAS BORN

we celebrate Christmas.
we exchange gifts and presents.
we enjoy a special time with family and friends.

But more importantly…

Because He was born

My days have reason.
My years have purpose.
My life has meaning.

Because He was born

I can experience His unconditional love.
I can experience His overwhelming joy.
I can experience His perfect peace.

Because He was born

I can spend eternity with Him.
I can fulfill His purposes for my life.
I can have an intimate relationship with Him.

Because He was born

You can know Him.
You can trust Him.
You experience Him.

For without His birth there is no hope.
For without His birth there is no grace.
For without His birth there is no purpose.

I am so thankful for the birth of Jesus Christ.

Because He was born, I can have life.

This is the beauty of Christmas.

#91 - LEADERS LISTEN

to those they lead.
to those they are loved by.
to those they are loathed by.

Leaders listen

to loyal “customers.”
to other respectable leaders.
to people who hold them accountable.

Leaders listen

for potential problems.
for constructive feedback.
for possible opportunities.

Leaders listen

when it is inconvenient.
when they need to understand.
when they don’t know what to do.

Leaders listen

because they care.
because those they lead need to be heard.
because they understand that if they don’t know one else will.

In the final analysis, I am confident that, ultimately,
Leaders listen because leaders love.

It has become clear to me that
If I do not choose to love more, I will not choose to listen more.

But on the other side of the coin, I know that
As my desire to love grows, my ability to listen will improve.

So with that said, let’s commit to love and listen more this upcoming year. Whatdya’ say?

#90 - GREAT PAIN

The pain is necessary.

Muscles can grow only after they have been ripped.
Students are qualified only after they have been tested.
Adult teeth develop only after baby teeth have been pulled.
Seeds begin to produce fruit only after they have been buried.
Oranges release their juice only after they have been squeezed.
Homes are remodeled only after their older parts have been destroyed.
Babies are born only after their mothers, for many hours, have labored.
Roses produce their most satisfying scent only after they have been crushed.
Caterpillars become butterflies only after through a cocoon they have pushed.
Rubber bands provide their greatest value only after they have been stretched.
Oysters produce pearls only after a grain of sand within them has been irritated.
Gold reaches its’ highest value only after under extreme temperatures it has been heated.

I hope the point is clear.

Great pain precedes great glory.
Great pain precedes great growth.
Great pain precedes the revelation of a great God.

Therefore embrace your pain. Greatness will follow.

#89 - LEADERS TAKE OWNERSHIP

Of the vision –
Communicate it.
Communicate it again.
Communicate it some more.

Leaders Take Ownership

Of deadlines –
Make them.
Monitor them.
Meet them.

Leaders Take Ownership

Of the process –
Teach it.
Simplify it.
Duplicate it.

Leaders Take Ownership

Of the results –
When bad, adjust.
When good, celebrate.

Leaders Take Ownership

Of their gifts.
Of their calling.
Of their purpose.

Leaders Take Ownership

Of their responsibility to lead by example.
Of their responsibility to take the first step.
Of their responsibility togo where no one has gone before.

Leaders Take Ownership

Of their responsibility to your team.
Of their responsibility to your followers.
Of their responsibility to God.

You are a leader. Own it.

#88 - YOUR LAST CHRISTMAS EVER

The news is devastating.
You have less than one week tolive.
The reason why cannot be explained by anyone.

You are crushed.
On December 26, your life will cease to exist.

This will be your last Christmas ever.

What would you say if this was your last Christmas ever?
Where would you go if this was your last Christmas ever?
Who would you forgive if this was your last Christmas ever?
How would you express your love if this was your last Christmas ever?
What types of gifts would you give if this was your last Christmas ever?
With whom would you invest your time if this was your last Christmas ever?

Your answers to these questions reveal where your home is.
Your answers to these questions identify who really matters.
Your answers to these questions define what is really important.

So why wait?

Live as if this was your last Christmas ever and
you will very likely experience your best Christmas ever.

You won’t regret it. I promise.

#87 - SEIZE TODAY

Yesterday ended last night.
Yesterday is now in the past.
Yesterday cannot be brought back.

Seize Today.

Tomorrow is not promised.
Tomorrow brings troubles of its’ own.
Tomorrow will always seem more convenient.

Seize Today.

Today is the best day.
Today is what is before you.
Today is what you have been given.

Seize Today.

As it relates to your art – Seize Today.
As it relates to your faith – Seize Today.
As it relates to your health – Seize Today.
As it relates to your relationships – Seize Today.
As it relates to your expression of gratitude – Seize Today.
As it relates to your responsibility to make a contribution – Seize Today.

For there will come a day when, for you, there will be no tomorrow.

So in preparation for that day…Seize Today.

#86 - CONTENT YET AMBITIOUS

A challenge indeed.

To be content with your current opportunities,
yet ambitious to seek out even greater opportunities.

To be content with your current job,
yet ambitious to find employment even more congruent with your life’s purpose.

To be content with your level of faith,
yet ambitious to be a person who acts even more in accordance with what you believe.

To be content with your current social contribution,
yet ambitious to contribute at an even greater level to those in your sphere of influence.

To be content with your current relationships,
yet ambitious to develop relationships that even more deeply strengthen your character.

To be content with your current level of knowledge,
yet ambitious to become a person who is even more committed to personal development.

To be content with what you have already accomplished,
yet ambitious to complete every purpose for which you were created.

Content yet ambitious.

An easy mindset to establish. No.
A difficult mindset worth developing. Definitely.

As so eloquently stated by the late business philosopher Jim Rohn,

Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want.

Content yet ambitious – a mindset for the mature.

#85 - EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Maintaing sober judgement.
Exercising a long-term perspective.
Determining what’s really important.

This is emotional intelligence.

Understanding the Law of the Harvest.
Plant. Cultivate. Harvest.
My results will require time.

This is emotional intelligence.

Embracing the Law of Averages.
Try. Then try again. Then try again.
My persistence will improve my performance.

This is emotional intelligence.

Knowing that God is in control.
You aren’t.
My security is found in Christ.

This is emotional intelligence.

Accepting that God is love.
Always.
My circumstances (all of them) are an expression of God’s love for me.

This is emotional intelligence.

Pursue it.

#84 - UGLY IS EASY

Ugly is everywhere.

Ugly design.
Ugly results.
Ugly websites.
Ugly products.
Ugly buildings.
Ugly leadership.
Ugly relationships.
Ugly advertisements.
Ugly methods and models.
Ugly processes and practices.

Why so much ugly?

Because ugly is easy.
Because ugly is the default outcome.
Because ugly is what happens when you don’t try your best.

Beauty, on the other hand, is hard.

Beauty must be prepared.
Beauty must be cultivated.
Beauty must be developed.

Beauty requires an investment of time.

And so for the sake of all of us who despise ugly and appreciate beauty…
Please invest the time.

Thank You!

#83 - LESS IS MORE

Develop fewer relationships.
Make fewer commitments.
Choose fewer projects.
Start fewer programs.
Offer fewer options.
Own fewer things.
Have fewer goals.
Use fewer words.

Why?

So quality can improve.
So appreciation can grow.
So effectiveness can increase.

Is this true for every situation. Probably not.
Is this true for you. Probably so.

Do less. Accomplish more.

Try it.

#82 - A GIFT TO BE GIVEN

Today is the day
You must no longer drift
And pretend to ignore
What is known as your gift.

For it dwells deep inside
The depths of your heart
And it longs to see daylight.
It desires to become art.

Because when it’s delivered
It will serve. It will bless.
Every person it touches.
You can expect nothing less.

So in closing I pray
By this truth you’ll be driven:
Within you exists
A gift to be given.

#81 - I DON'T KNOW

I don’t know…

who will join me in my mission.
who will end up turning their backs on me.
who will be inspired and motivated by my work.

I don’t know…

what tomorrow will bring.
what people really think about me.
what opportunities will come my way next.

I don’t know…

where I will be living a year from now.
where the financing for my ideas will come from.
where my dreams and assignments will ultimately take me.

I don’t know…

when I will feel a sense of completion.
when I will see my desires come to fruition.
when I will hear the words, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

I don’t know…

why I was given this burden.
why my path couldn’t be more “normal.”
why the process of personal growth is so painful.

I don’t know…

how I will find the time to do it all.
how I will determine what to do and what not to do.
how I will accomplish every purpose for which I was created.

There’s so much I don’t know.

But for the first time in my life, I can with confidence say,

I don’t know, and that’s OK.

#80 - YOUR NEED TO COMPARE

We all know that someone
who seems further along.
They have just what we want
And it all seems so wrong.

They’re doing the things
That we wish to do
And they’re living the dream
That we wanted to.

So we say to ourselves:
It’s not fair. It’s not right.
I’ve worked just as hard.
Am I out of God’s sight?

Have they really done anything
To have it so good?
I’m more deserving
Is this not understood?

Why it is how it is
I really can’t say.
But there’s one thing I know
That I want to convey.

If you wish to move forward
Don’t complain it’s unfair.
Instead set yourself free
From your need to compare.

#79 - YOUR DOMINANT DESIRE

You must identify it.

For from it your…

Drive will be birthed.
Decisions will be made.
Duties will be established.
Disciplines will be chosen.
Destination will be determined.

Your dominant desire is powerful.

It will wake you up in the morning.
It will follow you throughout the day.
It will be the last thing you think about at night.

Ultimately, your dominant desire will consume you.

With that in mind, the wise question to ask yourself is…
When attained, will my dominant desire truly satisfy me?

If so, your dominant desire will bless you.
If not, your dominant desire will curse you.

Choose it wisely.

#78 - PUSH THROUGH

The pull of procrastination.
The lie that says it’s not worth it.
The fact that no one can help you.
The fatigue that is weighing you down.
The temptation to quit before you’re completed.
The distraction that prevents you from being focused.
The weight of the responsibility that you have been given.

Push Through.

On the other side of your wall lies:

Completion. Significance. Relief.
Peace of mind. Achievement. Joy.
Accomplishment. Satisfaction. Rest.

Behind every breakthrough is someone who decided to push through.

Push Through.

#77 - YOUR PURPOSE WITHIN

On the day you were born
Inside you was placed
A significant purpose
That can’t be erased.

Whether you know it or not
This purpose is real.
And until you pursue it
Great joy you won’t feel.

Now you’re probably thinking
That sounds good if it’s true
But with my stack of bills
I just wanna’ get through.

And I hear what you’re saying
Times are indeed hard.
But your purpose within
You really must guard.

Because the truth is
What’s really at stake
Is not your fulfillment
But your chance to make

A significant impact.
You will serve. You will give.
Many lives will be touched.
By the life that you live.

So why can’t you quit
On your purpose within?
Because if you did
The truth is…it’d be sin.

#76 - LEADERS SACRIFICE

Their time.
Their energy.
Their money.

Obviously.

Their agenda.
Their emotions.
Their expectations.

Pretty Obvious.

Their ideals.
Their preferences.
Their convenience.

Not so obvious.

Their comfort.
Their reputation.
Their life.

This I wasn’t aware of.

But as a developing leader the lesson I am learning is this:

I must consistently “give up” so that others can continually “go up.”

I’m up for the challenge. Are you?

#75 - LEADERS LOVE PEOPLE

In spite of their faults.
In spite of their bad habits.
In spite of their shortcomings.

Leaders Love People

Even when they disrupt.
Even when they disappoint.
Even when they distance themselves.

Leaders Love People

Especially when they’re hurting.
Especially when they’re helpless.
Especially when they’re hopeless.

Leaders Love People

Unmistakably.
Unconditionally.
Unapologetically.

Leaders Love People

Because people don’t care how much you know,
until they know how much you love…them.

To lead is to love. Period.