December 28, 2011
New Year’s Relationships
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”
We’ve all heard this whether it be in networking or fundraising or business development. We scream about relationships and get excited about Facebook friends and LinkedIn contacts as if our annual bonus somehow depended on it. And then we come to the end of another year.
And instead of investing our time and efforts in simplifying our lives, we make lists of seemingly unattainable goals of losing the last 62 lbs or reading each of the latest 29 greatest business books. We love our lists of resolutions. We love our lists of hopes and almost certain failures. Somehow it makes us feel good until about January 12th when we miss our daily workout. Or maybe it’s February 4th when you realize your goal to start writing that book is somehow overtaken by the latest season of X-Factor.
Here’s a possible solution: Instead of setting yourself up for failure with well-intended scribbles, try something new. Try to live what you preach.
“It’s all about relationships.“
“I believe in community.”
“I want people to know how much I care about them. “
“I want to just be a good friend.”
Try a couple of simple steps:
- Make a simple list of 5-10 people you truly want to invest in this year.
- Schedule a call, coffee, or weekend with them now… even before the 1st rolls around.
- Set a meaningful realistic attainable and fun goal of spending time with these people.
- Enjoy the relationship!
Maybe it’s a new relationship; maybe it’s with an old friend; maybe it’s a mentor; maybe it’s a mentee, maybe it’s a college buddy; maybe a business partner. I simply care about this: be intentional about your pursuit of this person in such a way that it stretches you.
For some of you, you may have to take a couple more steps to truly be able to engage in this: limit your time (or friends) on Facebook or perhaps not join the latest craze online (pinterest!). Maybe it’s creating boundaries around your time with these relationships to protect the scarcity of time we face. Some friends of mine created a pretty cool model which might be helpful here:
S- Save- What do you want to keep doing?
T- Trash- What do you need to quit doing?
E- Edit- What do you need to change about your priorities?
P- Paste- What do you need to add?
So, STEP into 2012, make it truly about your desired priorities – the people you love – and list out your New Year’s Relationships.
November 7, 2011
Sometimes lemons don't look like lemonade. They don't come with instructions. There's no glass attached with ice and some quality garnish. And so we are tempted to sit, stare at them, and quietly pray that they will become the most delicious lemonade the world has ever experienced.
I've decided that embracing the opportunities is exciting. I do honestly believe it has been prayer which has shifted my thinking. It's dramatically transferred from "... this is my path. Period." to "Lemonade is a process..." And a process means you understand where you have come from, what you have learned, and how does it translate into today's recipe of chilled lemon refreshment.
I've challenged myself to write. I've put a couple of my most recent documents here for your viewing. I think they begin to take me back to the Christian school world, but they have also forced me to take methodological steps to adapting the recipes to the audiences I've embraced in the past. This simple exercise then translates to unique industries, and new versions of lemonade are yet to be created. For now, action is the key.
Personally, I'm continuing to focus on networking, on relationships and trust building, and on defining what is the correct next step for me. At church yesterday, we talked about Caleb (Joshua 14:10-12) who was persistent in his focus, his seeking to go deeper, and his clear commitment to the journey. He was this way for 45 years while he waited. I pray my wait isn't that long. But, I want to be known for how I treated my desert time -- and for the lemonade I made during the journey.
Article: Body Life Design Team: Foundational for each Team
Article: First Impression Factors at your Christian School
Article: Who is Setting Course?
October 5, 2011
Run...
As I sat with a friend this past Sunday night, his simple question rattled me slightly in the most positive way:
So, what's your next step?
And I sat there fumbling through a rather weak and unresolved attempt at dancing through the past, spinning to the desired future. However, truth be told, I tripped on my own feet regarding the next three weeks. The most critical time to execute is in the present. The greater the confusion about the role of the past, present, and future, the greater the paralysis of action and positive motion. Dwelling on the past successes or failures leaves you facing the wrong direction. The time chasing the "What if...?" is fearfully slothful and numbing. And submitting to goals or the future will leave many overwhelmed, awe-struck, and asking the "How...?" C. S. Lewis wrote " The present is the point at which time touches eternity." We can't remain simply focused on eternity, but rather embrace the present -- the opportunities and challenges -- but more importantly the necessitated action.
People talk about the necessity of vision and goals-- and for the most part I concur. However, I also boldly cry out without the steps of action and movement the vision and goals remain an unattainable finish line. Stop running with your head turned to the past. Quit proclaiming the greatness of the breaking the tape at the end. Start with with the left foot. Proceed to the right foot. Then actively work towards the left foot again. Celebrate the accomplishment of the next right foot.
Mud puddles, rocks, and on-coming traffic all cause us to react. But without the movement, we are left dirty, scarred, or perhaps run over in life's race.
Take a step.
September 21, 2011
Questions & Continuing
I continue to work alongside of the great organizations and people God has placed in my life. The NCATA is an adventure that continues. I've even been navigating some training for Cary at the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders -- creating an online training modular and ongoing teaching "snippets." And, I am continually challenged as I walk with Paul and Steve... two amazing brothers who want me to succeed in the pursuit of my Father's will for my life.
The questions are real: What is the next step? Where and when does the transition end? Who will be in my next phase of life? With so much I would love to do, what is my greatest contribution to an organization -- and how can I communicate that well?
"Real freedom is creative, proactive, and will take me into new territories. I am not free if my freedom is predicated on reacting to my past."
- Kenny Loggins
June 30, 2011
Reflection. Preparation. Action.
That's the summary of my past two weeks, my current state, and my intentional drive forward for the next season. With the opportunities I have had as Executive Director of the NCATA and with being a part of an amazing team in the Leadership Initiative both in the US and in Uganda, I look forward to the challenges and opportunities of the next season. Having just completed Donald Miller's book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years," I am ready to write a compelling story -- my life. |
