June 24, 2013 Focus Point

June 24, 2013
Focus Point

Before You Speak, THINK

I recently read a story of a father playing with his young daughter in the yard. The father picked up a dandelion that had gone to seed and turned into a white puff, and asked his daughter to blow on it. Sure enough all of the little seeds blew everywhere and they laughed together at how easy it was for them to scatter in a hundred different directions. Then the father asked her to go pick them all back up. She looked at her father as if he were crazy, and said "I don't know where they are!" Then the father taught an important lesson about the tongue. He told her that once we let words go out of our mouths, they are like the scattered seeds; we cannot get them back, no matter how hard we try.

This weeks message is to inspire our hearts in relation to the words that we use. Is what you say True? Withholding information, misleading others with our words, or a lie of course, takes a person away from truth not toward it. Does what you say Help others by lifting and building them? Is your communication Inspiring? Does it breath belief and encouragement into the lives of others? Is it Necessary, or best left unsaid? And finally is it Kind?

I believe that we can help create the environment around us by the words that we use and the tones which we choose. One day you will be only a memory for some people, do your best to make it a good one.

This week let's THINK. Is my communication:

True?

Helpful?
Inspiring?
Necessary?
Kind?

June 17, 2013 Focus Point

June 17, 2013
Focus Point

Fear Cannot Stop You If You Don't Let It!

In life it sure seems like the ugly fear thing really has its place and tries hard to slow us down or stop us. But it only has power over our decisions if we allow the fear to turn into a power that starts to control the way we think and what we do.

In Denis Waitley's book Seeds of Greatness he shares from a study done by The University of Michigan about fear. The study shows that 60% of our fears are unwarranted, 20% have already happened, 10% are so petty that they don't really effect us. Of the remaining 10%, only 4-5% are real and justifiable and even half of those are things that we cannot control, so only 2% are relevant. I believe this information can offer a perspective that will help each of us push through our fears to accomplish the great and wonderful things that we hold in our hearts.

Fear can be the thief of your goals in life if you let it. More people lose their drive, sense of urgency, and positive feeling for life because of fear than anything else. Moving forward, upward, and onward does not mean that you have no fear but rather that your pursuits are more important to you than whatever fear you are feeling at the time.

I believe that Purpose, Discipline and Initiative will make all of the difference in how you handle fears in life. Your purpose will give you a direction to travel, and help you clear distractions and stay focused on the most important parts in your life. Discipline will help you to accomplish the small but important tasks that lead to greater success, and uniquely enough action actually reduces fear as well. Having initiative will give you the energy to move more quickly and therefore accomplish more each day. Ideas are born of initiative, success in life moves forward because of initiative.

This week lets you and I push through the fear and become unstoppable.

June 10, 2013 Focus Point

June 10, 2013
Focus Point

Encouragement is the Oxygen of the Soul.

Everything that we do in life we are working with people. Family, community, non-profit organizations, our work or profession, church, and so forth. By understanding people and what the fuel is that drives them, we will be more successful in working with them. I believe that encompassed in helping people to feel encouragement is also the expectation that we set for them and the environment that we help to create for them.

Your expectation and feeling that you have towards people will make all of the difference in the whole experience. People will rise to the expectation that others place in them. If your expectation is low, they will rise only to that level, if your expectation is high then they will rise to that level as well. Like a rubber band each of us are more productive and useful when we are stretched. Remember the old saying? "Treat people not as they are but as they can become." Sometimes a task at hand or a goal that is set may take you outside of your comfort zone, but many worthwhile achievements do in fact take you outside of your comfort zone but are still completely within your capabilities.

Environment is all about helping people to feel and to be their best. Regardless of the part you have within your organization, you can help to shape, mold, and create an environment that encourages growth. Listening to new ideas, positive thinking and talking, (to include staying away from the gossip game), and the willingness to accept change.

Encouragement is the fuel that will drive your life, your work, and any organization that you are a part. It is the oxygen that will breath life into everyone you work with and the tasks that you pursue. It's the choice that you make to look at the glass as half full rather then half empty. It is a skill that is learned as much as an attitude that is held.

This week let's you and I offer Encouragement to others.

Remember. Whatever it takes you can learn!

June 3, 2013 Focus Point

June 3, 2013
Focus Point

Knowing, Growing, Sowing.

Knowing is about understanding what direction you are going in life and if it is in harmony with where you would like to go, and if not what necessary adjustments do you need to make. To discover your purpose you need to grow in your self awareness. Meaning, you are able to identify what you enjoy doing the most and become aware of any changes needed. So knowing is to Know your Purpose in Life, and once you know what your purpose is, you will find your place in life. This sort of direction will lead you to the kind of life you were "born to love" as Bruce Wilkinson teaches.

Growing is quite simply improving on a consistent basis in the areas of interest. As Maxwell teaches in his book The 15 Laws of Growth: To become a better person you need to grow in your character. To become a better spouse or parent you need to grow in your relationships. To advance in your career you need to grow in your skills. To achieve your financial goals you need to grow in your knowledge about how money works. To enrich your soul you need to grow spiritually.

When you think of growing, think in terms of Growing to Your Maximum Potential. Part of what expert Jim Rohn taught was to always be a student. Whether at a seminar, in church, at lunch with a friend, reading a book, even listening to the lyrics of a song, look for the lessons that are worthy of your attention. Be a constant student. The good news here is that anyone can grow and we can start at anytime. The bad news is it will require new ideas to think about and new habits to act on. Grow everyday, your inner soul will thank you.

Sowing is about what you do for others. There are many who suffer from ill health, tough relationships, trouble in their finances, and so forth. There are opportunities everyday to sow seeds of good and service in the lives of others. Sometimes you may feel that your service is small and makes no difference, but we all know the impact of a smile or a well directed compliment. The New Testament teaches that whatever we sow, we shall also reap. The trick is to help others not for our own benefit, but with the proper intention to add value to them. Sowing Seeds in the Lives of Others.

This week let's Know, Grow, and Sow! Because it works and it's worth it.