My Three Words for 2012 – Basics, Focus, Strength

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Several years ago I ran across an article that spoke about the end of the year and the setting of “new year resolutions.” The author of the article was someone who I have followed every since (Chris Brogan). Chris’ blog is a business oriented blog, but his idea about the new year is to find three words that best describe your intentions in the new year and then focus some portion of everyday to those three areas.

I like that much better than some resolution that is going to be set by the wayside within just a few weeks of beginning (as has always been my habit). This year my three words are: Basics, Focus, and Strength. My plan is to accomplish something everyday that will move me forward in those areas. My end will be a life better lived for directing my attention to these three words. Thanks again to @ChrisBrogan! (His twitter handle.)

What does your new year hold for you? Are you going to make, and then break, a great sounding but meaningless set of new year’s resolutions? Maybe instead you could take a lesson from this great business mind and find your three words?

I would love it if you would share your three with me here! What do you think?

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There is this story in the Bible about building. The story speaks to the idea that if a man was going to build a tower, he would certainly need to count the cost of the building so that he would not get half way through and not have enough to finish it. He would be seen as a foolish man for doing such a thing.

For the longest time, as I thought about that story, I thought only of the price of the tower as the “cost” he was to count. While I understand that this is absolutely the primary interpretation of this passage (Luke 14:25-35, by the way) the bigger consideration might well be if he has the passion to fulfill his purpose for the tower.

No one builds things for no reason and the reason for building the tower has to be powerful enough to get the builder through all of the difficult times that will surly come through the course of the project. Even with plenty of money, the stress of building without purpose (or a half-hearted purpose) would never withstand the whole process.

In the end, building with purpose (created by your passion) is the key ingredient in helping you become successful in anything God leads you to do. So, take time to think things through and make sure that God has directed you and filled you with passion and purpose. Otherwise, when you quit halfway through, your testimony will be damaged and people’s confidence in you will be hard to repair.

Talk more later ….

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As I started 2010, I was busy in a lot of areas. I felt like all of them had value (and still do). But, what the year taught me was that I needed to simplify, get back to my root joys and live the quiet and peaceable life.

As a result of all that I have learned, I am looking forward to the new year with great anticipation. To live more simply, to love more openly, and to enjoy life rather than endure it holds a great sense of hope and appeal to me.

My prayer for you all who read and enjoy this blog is for you to know the “right” direction for your life. I love to see the light come on in a persons eyes when they know that they are living their dream. I also know the daily struggle of just making it on to the next day. The one allows us to live life and that more abundantly, the other just sets us up for failure upon failure.

Have a great Christmas holiday! Start off the new year with an excitement and commitment to living the life God made you for! Don’t stand for anything less.

Talk more later ….

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As we approach the end of 2010 and look wonderingly forward to 2011, there is only one thing that is at least reasonably certain. That one thing is that the world keeps spinning. Now I know that even that has some measurable probability of not happening, but I for one am not betting on that happening.

So, since the world keeps spinning, what should we do in the coming year?

I have three thoughts:

1. We should keep looking for ways to make life better.

Life is so often a struggle and there is so much that needs to be handled that we can easily get into ruts that don’t make life better. I once remember hearing someone say that a rut was nothing more than a grave with the ends kicked out. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like a great place to live to me. It also doesn’t sound like a place from which I can do anything to make life better for me or for anyone else. The takeaway here is “GET OUT OF THE RUT!”

2. We should make it our purpose to follow our passion.

It is passion that moves people forward. It is passion that changes lives and as Steve Jobs says, “takes a dent out of the universe.” What wakes you up in the middle of the night? What drives you to move your life forward? What would you do even if there was no money to be made? What is your passion? Make it your years goal and go after it with all the strength and courage that you can muster.

3. We should engage our maker in the process.

God’s desire for all of mankind is to live in a close personal relationship with him. You may not understand that or even care to at this time, but I am telling you the truth. If you don’t know God or you aren’t living life with him in mind, make a commitment right now to spend 2011 in search of his wisdom and knowledge. You will be very surprised what you will find. (Really WHO you will find!) I lived a lot of years without him and many more on the fringe. Neither provide purpose, direction, or passion for life. This year I am going “all-in.” Wanna come with me?

Today is December 14. There are seventeen days of life left in this year. The decisions that you make in those seventeen days may well set the course the entire new year for you. What choices will you make in these remaining days. No matter what you choose the world will keep spinning and for the most part life will carry on. If you are ready to make a difference, climb out of the rut, follow your passion, and live in fellowship with God. Your year will reflect all those things and your life will be better for it!

Talk more later ….

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As I said in yesterday’s post, I have been reading a book called “The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs.” (Affiliate Link) While it has been a great read, there is another book that I read and re-read that explains (at least for me) where my passion comes from and how I can use that passion to be successful in life, faith, and business.

That book, as you may have guessed, is God’s word. Now don’t panic, if you don’t have the same faith in God’s word that I do, just read on and see if what I have found makes sense. In the book of Psalms, the 37th Psalm, the Bible says, “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of the heart.” (v. 4)

The key to this verse is the phrase, “… and he shall give thee …” which means to appoint, ascribe, assign. In other words, for the Christian, God will appoint, ascribe, and/or assign us with certain heart desires (passions) as we delight ourselves in him. Now think about this. God is the Lord and Saviour of every Christian. He always has our best interests at heart. He wants his best for us. So, if we delight ourselves in him, it makes perfect sense that he would provide us with the passion of our lives (the desires of the heart).

When God gives us our passion, he will bring it to pass IF we are willing to commit our way unto him. The whole key here is that this commitment is that it must be one based in our trust of our God. As I read about Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Bill Strickland, James Dyson, or Rachel Ray, they all have lived at the junction of passion and personal skills. I don’t know anything about their relationship with God, but I do know that God promises to make my (your) dreams come true if you will live them with passion and follow his directions as you do (Proverbs 3:5-10).

Take some time this weekend to think about you, your life, your work, your purpose, and your passion. You can make your life worth much more than cash and things. God will help, if you will let him!

Talk more later ….

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I spent the past few days on the road. I traveled this week to Salt Lake City to preach in a Bible Conference for a good friend of mine. While the trip was quick and the pace was furious, the “air” time allowed for a good amount of thinking and planning. What I came up with is going to define my life, ministry, and business for years to come.

When I got back home and back to work yesterday, I found myself at Borders Bookstore between meetings. I was looking at business books and found one entitled “The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs.”(Affiliate Link) As I looked at the table of contents I was drawn to the second chapter which spoke about passion. The more I read the more excited I became and the more I realized how easy it is to get caught up in the moment and “sell out” your passion for what makes money.

Combining these thoughts with those I gained during my time at 35,000 feet, I realized again the need to follow your passion rather than the money. Life is too short to wake up everyday and not enjoy and rejoice in the day. Without passion for what you are doing, you are never going to know that joy and rejoicing.

Take some time this weekend and consider what you are doing in/with your life. Does what you do everyday reflect your passion or does it just make you money? All the money in the world cannot buy quiet/peace. It can give you all the excitement you could ever imagine, but it can’t take away the yearnings that we all have for our passions.

Steve Jobs left college after one semester because he did not know what he wanted in life and because he didn’t feel like he could find his passion in the classroom. His success came through times of searching for and finding his passion. I have found mine and I want you to find yours. If the world were full of people living their passions, much more would get done and the world would be a much better, much more productive, and much more innovative place.

Talk more later ….

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This weekend I have been busy with the first thoughts about my online strategy for 2011. (I posted about this process last week.) It has been an interesting exercise for me. Primarily because I hate to plan most of the time and in the few times that I have tried to plan, I got so bogged down in the planning, nothing ever got done.

This time, things are going to be different! How, you say? That’s a very good question and I hope my answer will help many others like me who struggle with this whole “creating a strategy” kind of thing. This thing breaks down into three basic thoughts:

1. I need to analyze, but I cannot “over-analyze.” I have been know to enter into the paralysis of analysis in times past. What I am doing this year is to start with a big picture strategy, but then focus on the day to day action steps that will bring me to the big picture.

2. I need to find ways to test and refine my strategy throughout the year. Much of what I have done in the past has been to simply throw stuff out there and hope that people are reading it and benefit from what they are reading. In 2011 I am going to have a way in place to test the reach of what I am doing and make adjustments throughout the year.

3. I need to make sure that I stick to the plan. Only I can make this happen. It’s all on me (or you in your case). The best laid plans may look good on paper but they are worthless if they are not executed in the real world. If I ever want to be in the place to successfully monetize my efforts, I need to be consistent and beneficial to my readers.

So, plans are taking shape and that’s a good thing. I have the remainder of this year to “test the waters” in some new areas. I can already feel a new excitement in me concerning the new year. However, nothing of value for my readers or myself will come to fruition unless I commit to bring this  new strategy to play in the new year. (The same is true for every business, church, family, or relationship.)

Success is a process, not an event. Plan well, but don’t forget to execute!

Talk more later ….

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I have heard a lot of people in my life time say something like, “I have been broke and I have had lots of money … and I much prefer the latter!” I understand the sentiment, having also been on both sides of that equation.

However, the problem that occurs in a free capitalist society like ours is that money can (and very often does) end up taking on a position of value that can actually harm the life of individuals on both sides of the spectrum. Those without money lust for what they don’t have and those with money waste it on “riotous” living.

What should be the balance? What should we know about money and how should we be training the next generation? I think that there are three basics to the whole discussion of money:

1. Money is not inherently bad. Everyone and every organization in the modern world needs money to survive. If you ask most non-profits what they need to maintain and/or expand their programs, nearly everyone would say, “More resources.” (Code for more volunteers and more money!)

What makes money “bad” is when it becomes the principle thing in life. When nothing else matters but the accumulation of more money and the stuff it can buy. Real balance occurs when people are willing to live in comfort while seeing their wealth as a way to give back to society as a whole. To make the world they live in better and to make the succeeding generations better prepared for the future.

2. Wealth should be the by-product of living a productive life. You know, hard work and all that goes with it! Now I am not saying that everyone has to be out in a field with a hand held hoe, growing his/her own food. What I am saying is that those looking to make their wealth by “hook or crook” should honestly rethink their position.

Long-term success comes from hard/smart work that is rewarded by a loyal customer base. To look for ways to short-cut this effort may provide short term gains, but in the end will force those practicing the short-cut to compromise integrity for money.

3. Money should allow those with it to enjoy the fruit of their labors while also finding ways to bring others along with them! If life is really so great at the top, then why would we not want to do our best to bring as many people as possible with us to the top. Microsoft as a company has produced thousands of millionaires, just as has Walmart. Many ordinary people have been given incredible advantages in life because the founders of these companies sought not only their well-being, but also that of their employees.

While every corporation can be found to have shortcomings in some areas, the ones that hold the greatest value to me are those that do the most for those who work hard and give back the most to back.

Life indeed is more than money. As you strive to build your own success, don’t forget to take time to stop and smell the roses once in a while. Look up and see that the most important element in this world are its people and their relationships with God and each other!

Work hard, be rewarded, but don’t make money the principle thing! Money always wins in those cases and you will always loose way more than you gain.

Talk more later …

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You know one of the craziest things that I have done in a long time was to begin to cut back on all my “social networking” stuff. I get new “follow” notices from Twitter everyday, new “friend” requests from Facebook everyday, and many other similar requests on a regular basis. Yet, like so many of them, these folks always seem to have something that they want me to buy, buy into, or otherwise spend my money on.

I am a capitalist and understand the power of the internet to provide the “average person” with  a worldwide audience, but I guess I am getting tired of feeling like the only reason someone “likes” me is because they have something to sell.

I love invention, innovation, creative thinking, and want to encourage people with thoughts like that to express themselves in every way. So here is what I have decided to do:

1. I am going to give away my thoughts, knowledge, and any wisdom I encounter for FREE!
2. If I happen to come across a product or service that I like AND use I will put it on my blog and IF you want to know about it, I will share my experiences. If after you hear about what I have experienced, you decide to order it, I will make an affiliate commission.
3. I am going to live by the advice I got reading the book Rework. Two things really stuck out to me: (1) I am going to scratch my own itch. That means I am going to follow my passions and then let you in on what I learn along the way. (2) I am going to be small by choice. I have come to the conclusion in my life that being truly free means that I cannot be “big.” So, if you are looking for a guy who “has it all” you will need to look elsewhere. I will only have what I need/want and that will be purposefully less than most.

I love being online and talking with all my friends around the world, but what intrigues me most is having a close-knit group (that could number in the 100′s) who love to spend time with each other and share life’s important truths. If you are tired of all the noise and want a quiet place to think, talk, and even rest … this might just be the place!

Talk more later ….

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I was asked the question this week, “What do you love to do?” The question was asked as a thought to consider when looking at my business. What do I really love to do? What part, if any, does that love have to do with my business, the way that I run it, or how I am moving it toward the future?

All good questions … but not many good answers (at least for me). You see, I know what I love to do. I am a teacher and love to train. The problem arises when I look at  what seems to be “selling” in teaching and training these days. It all seems to be “flash in the pan” stuff that doesn’t really make us business owners as much as it makes “guru dependent.”

I recently created a twitter account. I went out to find business people to get to know. In the first 24 hours 185 people “followed” me. Wow, that was pretty cool. Now my twitter feed is full of 185 people trying to sell me their stuff (or the guru they are affiliated with). There is no real conversation, no real connecting, just “buy my stuff.”

To me real business success comes when one person that I coach and mentor “gets it.” When the lights come on and they begin to not only gain success for themselves but find ways to pass the principles of that success on to those who follow them. At that time I can be a third party verifier of his knowledge as I move on to coach and mentor someone new. One by one, person to person, success to success. Connected in real ways to those who I work with.

Sort of the old story of the tortoise and the hare don’t you think. See, I love to teach, coach, and mentor. To really connect with people on a personal level. If I am going to do what I love, I cannot get caught up in the “buy my stuff” crowd. My twitter account is smaller now but I am connecting with the people who are left. I don’t know where this will all go, but I am doing what I love. Are you?

Talk more later ….

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