Success Begins With Your Philosophy

So where does your life bring value?

Your philosophy (the way you think) creates your attitude, your actions & your results... and that creates your life.

“Do the thing and you shall have the power.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take for instance the transformation of Nike with there then-new ad, “Just Do It” that appeared on the scene in 1988. Nike spent a staggering $300 million on overseas advertising alone to build this mindset into culture. This advertising took the $877 million in worldwide sales to a staggering $9.2 billion in only ten years to 1998.

We have been brainwashed into the mindset of

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Egoless Clarity [A Tyro's Mindset]

Are you good at what you do? Chances are, unless you are completely new at what you are doing you have gotten good, perhaps you have even became an expert in your field. In one recent conversation with a client, he told me that after an average of 2 months most of his sales guys are 'great' at what they do and at that point are creating their own desired income. He says that it only takes a little time to learn their clients, their computer system and organizational expectations. Typically in my professional past experiences, I would say it was a 2-6 month time frame before I felt comfortable and in some cases good at what I was doing. Of course if there was previous experience in that industry then that 2-6 months could be mere weeks.

On one hand it is good… it's even great when a leader gets good at what they do or who they are. However, this can have an equal and opposite reaction that may not be beneficial to their personal leadership or their organization. When new directions and decisions need to be made the expert may be blind to new possibilities because they are an expert at what they have done. Notice the use of 'have done' as past tense. This can be the biggest setback for many seasoned veteran leaders as well as the novice leader due to the 'book knowledge' and previous wins that he has championed into his portfolio as another point on the scoreboard.

Often times the expert leader is bound to the the previous successes, she is bound to the past, and many times not open to the new and different ideas; the (un)tried.

Do you have an expert mind? Are you limited to the small closed world of an expert? Are you buckled down from the less concrete world of spacial creativity? Perhaps you need to think like a 'tyro', a beginner in learning. Tyro's have that child-like outlook on things. A child looks at a problem and thinks that some markers, mud, and G.I. Joes will fix it. They don't always think rationally. Think about a new hire, some young fresh college kid who has no experience. If you were to ask him an executive question that is too much for him to entertain you may get an answer that is not the status quo. Remember as an expert you might find yourself where the status quo only makes sense because that is what has always worked, so why shouldn't it now? Could the perception of his sub-par status quo thought actually be a new viable option, something (un)tried?

Here is the complication; your expert mind says, "this can't be done" or " this shouldn't be done." This is not beneficial to any situation. However when you begin to think like a tyro your beginner mind says, "How can this be done?" or "I wonder if this can be done?" What might you need to change in order to get your mind youth-enized? How might you get your thoughts in control so that you can think like a young tyro, a fresh college kid, child-like mindset, with new ideas and perspectives, yet maintain balance keeping your measurables and goals in perspective? Will your ego stand in the way, the ego that tells others that your success comes form your knowledge and your knowledge comes from your experience? Our ego treats us like a crooked accountant that shows a modest profit while lining his own pockets with wealth. This ego says, "because of who I am and what I have done proves that my ideas are superior." The need here is an egoless clarity.

Now the question to begin to reframe your thinking is, "How can this be done?" Can you perhaps gain an egoless clarity to the unseen?

Also be sure to read this post that deals with an egoless clarity.

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Renderings Anew - Design Leadership

Well it has been nearly 4-5 years since I worked at an architectural field and a good 2-3 years since I have done any architecture on the side. I recently picked up a consulting gig for a church in the West Valley to help them with their site development and building project. They are looking at doing a 5-7 year building project consisting of 5-7 buildings, outdoor sporting complex with football/soccer field, gymnasium, and perhaps some other great ideas. They want to do this in about three Phases all spaced 2-3 years apart.

I love working with clients that have great vision yet take a realistic approach. With my architectural background I have no problem designing the dreamsical unrealistic art but the reality is that designing things within budgets, constraints, taking into consideration other architectural design elements within the project's locale, area demographics, etc. can often paralyze clients. When sitting down at a blank piece of paper many people have a tough time conceptualizing their dreams... or facing the reality of what is doable.

I enjoy leadership that can be modest in their approach to the doable, respecting the fundamentals however allowing the 'fun' of creativity and exploration. Those leaders that understand this and 'get it' typically dream bigger, run faster, climb higher and have an unmatched aptitude for success. Their leadership is addictive and permeates those around them.

Are you dreaming today? Are you running faster than those that have held you back? Are you climbing higher? Do you have an unmatched aptitude for success? I hope the answer in the forefront of your mind is a resounding yes! If not, begin... NOW!

Attached are a couple renderings I decided to put up. Comment your thoughts, be advised these are very preliminary.

From Architecture

From Architecture

From Architecture

From Architecture

From Architecture

From Architecture

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Within Reason

Leader: "Hey guys did you finish the way I wanted?"
Them: "Well, 'within reason'!"

I get this from time to time. As a leader that is such a scary reaction phrase when assessing completion. As a worker/volunteer/intern who doesn't have a strong grasp of excellence, this creates a large gray area of unfulfilled duties, a sort of sick justification. The toughest project for a team leader is to produce the culture in which the hands have a degree or sense of self-responsibility, self-motivation. When they lack this it slowly forces the leader to micro-manage, which any good leader dreads and never wants to walk in that role, at least the good ones. There are some manager/leaders that thrive on the micro-management philosophies. Scary land.

'Within reason' could be defined as 'within the bounds of good sense or practicality'. However within bounds is still missing the mark. Later we can debunk the difference between perfection and excellence but for now lets tackle the issue of settling for mediocrity, which happens to be the lack of excellence. When 'within reason' is good enough then all of our hard work and efforts become wasted time. Now don't get me wrong, some progress could have been made, no doubt, but typically it leaves the work still to be done by someone else. This is basically the Pareto Principle, the law of the vital few. It is based off the principle of factor sparsity, basically 80% of consequences build from 20% of the causes, the vice versa is true. 80% of greatness is created by the 20%. This should help us in our future decision making in all aspects of life and ministry. It should be used by everyone of you reading this, the simple fact that you are taking time to read this implies your desire to grow as a leader or simply your boredom or infatuation of my character (that's a joke).

If you would consider yourself any sort of leader and have any sense of intelligence the Pareto Principle should be part of your daily decisions making, if it isn't yet, then this should be the next immediate change in your life. It can multiply the efficiency of your work force or ministry team(s) and your own personal life in it's effectiveness individually or corporately. The value should not be ignored but leveraged for it's powers and abilities.

The value for you as a leader is that it works as a reminder for you to focus where your efforts where it has it's greatest return, the 20%. Of all the choices you make during your day, only 20% really matters, that does 1 of 2 things for me, makes me feel like I waste a lot of time, but as a pastor/leader/creative/etc it helps me to produce more energy to the GREAT choices that are made through the 20%. I must IDENTIFY then FOCUS then MOVE, process then repeat. Leaders/pastors/creatives, hear me... when the day begins, emails, txts, phone calls, stuff, begin IDENTIFY the 20%, FOCUS on the 20%, MOVE forward on the 20%. If something has to to be skipped, slipped, ignored or not get done by all means make sure it is not of the 20%.

Jesus modeled this greatly. He spent time with the 20% that would make the most changes in a world that was new to the thought of a Messiah that would not rule as others had expected in legal authority and power. The truth is his circle of 12 was probably much smaller than 20% of his regulars.

Some thoughts:

• Have a win range. Have a look at how much win comes from each aspect of your business or ministry. Put your efforts into the 20% that give you 80% of your wins - repeatables.
• Have a product of value. Take a look at the 80% of your success and what is the 20% that is creating it. Do you have a loss leader? - sellables. (Many pastors fear the word product, this can be saved for another post, but you have a product, quit fearing the simple obvious that is helping others be intentionally successful and causing you to sit back and make excuses for your lack of)
• Team leaders. Take a look at your work force, your ministry team. How much profit comes from each leader. Reward, retain and pour into the 20% that are your top winners not your top 20% whiners, yeah I said it! - loveables. (These are your "disciples")
• Have an affiliate program. Find the top 5-20% of those who support you, or give you 80% of your support/income. Support, encourage, affirm and reward your givers - supportables.
• Advertisements. Where does your wins come from, what 20% is it that gets 80% of your word out? People, Internet, twitter, email, etc? Refine your winning processes then re-run them where you can capitalize on them - winnables.

Your biggest rational fear is those in your network, in your area where you are doing things 'within reason'. If you are a pastor admit it... admit that there is an underlying fear of competition. Then if they are tearing it up and making it work you get jealous and begin to explain how it is not of God and it's not going to succeed. The reason they are winning is because they are unreasonably focusing on their 20%. "Oh, but we don't have 20%." Bull, you do, but you are focusing all your efforts on making the 80% happy and pretty and making sure they are comfortable and have nothing to complain about. IS there a balance? SURE, everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. You are not benefiting because your focused efforts are in the wrong place.

It is always the unreasonable entity that establishes a new benchmark or new niche. They then get the opportunity to redefine success and redefine what 'within reason' means. It is also the 'within reason' entity that reestablishes the status quo of minimization and mediocrity!

As Seth Godin says,

"I guess the only choice is to be unreasonable."

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Selling the Sellable

This guy named Jesse at Buckle introduced himself to me. We talked about professionalism in the market place and taking pride in our job. He told me how once he went to P.F. Changs in Scottsdale and ordered food, a plate that he orders custom, half shrimp and half scallions, however this time it was horrible. He then ordered another plate and it was horrible too, two in a row.

He payed and left and went to the P.F. Changs in Tempe and ordered the same meal. He payed twice to get what he expected, in order to get the best that the restaurant had. He explained to them what happened and they gave him a lot of gift cards because of his efforts and how they were honored in his dedication to them and how he was willing to pay twice for what he wanted.

When he was at Buckle he stood for 15 minutes before anyone helped him then when he asked for help the girl didn't know anything about the products. A few days prior I was at Pac-Sun and they didn't know that a jacket I bought had sleeves that zipped off. The first girl was stunned and asked how did I know the sleeves zipped off, I said, "I looked at it", while I was pointing at it. She yelled to another girl and asked her if she knew that and the other girl was as shocked as the first girl.

People do not have pride in their product, in their jobs. How come?

When I worked in retail as a young guy people would always ask me if I got payed commission because I would push products. I prided myself in becoming an expert at our products. They would be confused that I would push one thing over another and not be getting commission. I told them there are some products we sell that I believe in and some that I don't. Based off their needs, wants, desires, comfort level and money they were willing to spend I would give them the best product that met THEIR needs, not the item that paid me based off my selling skills. It should not take commission selling in order for you to want to know about your products. Just like this picture illustrates, we must make people aware of what we know and want them to know before they are willing to make a decision.
Commission sells vs. non-commission sells changes the attitude and commitment of salesmen. Most people will become experts if they get paid based off their ability to make a sell for a given product. When I was 18 I worked in direct sales for a couple years and my pay was 100% based off my ability to move product. I made $700 in a matter of two days but then could go 2 weeks without anything. In a matter of my first week working there I became an expert in product knowledge of our product. Most people learn the power of product knowledge when their lives and income depend on it.

I am not even talking about methods of selling, how to be a salesman, how to move product or anything, I am simply talking about knowing your product!

So how does this apply to pastors/creatives/leaders? What is your product? What is it that you are pushing? Are you a professional, an expert in your product? If not, why? What is your plan to get someone to be aware of what you believe then move to the decision step?

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When Tough Decisions Have To Be Made!

Many times we as leaders/creatives/pastors/etc. are faced with tough situations. The way we react to those situations highly reflects our influence in others around us. Many times we doubt ourselves to make great decisions. These three components allows us to have a confidence when making the tough decisions, the decisions that are ones we don't want to make nor ones we make lightly.

The first point is instinct. What is it that comes natural? Your instinct is that first voice you hear, the first thought that feels right. Instinct feels natural but what makes this natural strength a phenomenon is when it is combined with the Holy Spirit's ability to speak to us. When we walk openly with God then our instinct is that of God's. We must depend on God for our instinct to be that of Gods. It takes a lot of humility for one to walk in sync with God. I currently have my iCal calendering program sync 9 calendars with my Google calendar and those sync to about 5 other peoples calendars and sync to about 3 different computers and my cell phone. These calendars also sync to about three other sources. The same is true for all my contacts, my Facebook syncs everyones birthdays and anniversaries to my computer calendar then sends me updates to my phone via a message so that I don't miss a birthday. I am synced!!! It is this same way we move with God, we must be completely synced to God.

The next component we must posses is insight. W hat are things in your life you have seen, witnessed, or experienced in life that can help you in this situation? Begin to look at the details of the situation. I have learned so many things and sometimes get confused for being smart, not because I am, but because I have learned a huge art. I, many times say to those around me, learn to observe. Observing is a forgotten art that can make the difference between success and failure. Observe everything around you. Many times someone will ask me something and I will give them an answer off the top of my head and they say how did you know that? I observed, I used reductive reasoning. Reduce it down to it's simplest problem then I use logical reasoning. What makes sense, what doesn't make sense? Many times we can get the insight through the obvious factor! What insight is the situation providing you. Wisdom generates itself from insight.

The third thing is knowledge. What do you know to be true, right, honorable? Focus on those things. Many things we already have up our sleeves. There are so many things that you have learned in your life and past that can be used for present problems, present situations that have arrived.

Which ones are you lacking? What component can make you a stronger more influential person?

How to make every decision the best decision you can possibly make remember these 3 Components:

1. Instinct
2. Insight
3. Knowledge

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Modern Devotion

I wrote a blog entry for www.livetwentyten.com. Live2010 is a campaign that we are doing at Red Mountain Christian Center to help people spend 20 minutes in prayer a day and ten minutes reading their bible to read through the whole bible in 2010.

Here is a portion of that blog entry:

2010 (MMX) is a common year that started on a Friday and is the current year. In the Gregorian calendar, it is the 2010th year of the Common Era or of Anno Domini; the 10th year of the 3rd millennium and of the 21st century; and the 1st of the 2010s decade. There are a lot of interesting things happening this year, like Chevrolet releasing the Volt, a new electric car, or even greater things such as the Space Shuttle program will be retiring NASA and replacing it with Project Constellation (go read some of more 2010 changes here).

.

The first three numbers; 0’s, 1’s and 2’s. Simple numbers that almost all 2 year-olds know. This idea of 20 minutes reading and 10 minutes praying brings a few thoughts to my mind, neither of which are trying to figure out whether the proper pronunciation is twenty ten or two thousand and ten. Although I think twenty ten is correct .

.

We live in a day of technology. An ingenious software called YouVersion is celebrating their users collectively reading 1 billion minutes on their iPhones, iPods, Blackberrys, cellphones, the mobile web and the internet atwww.youversion.com with 41 translation and 22 languages, again that is 1 BILLION minutes, or 16.7 million hours, or check this out, 19 CENTURIES. What about listening to the bible in audio format in your car or on your iPod. To give you an idea I read from Genesis through Deuteronomy in as little as a few weeks listening to the bible while driving to and from work in about 15 minutes each way. People also use all kinds of bible software like Logos that Pastor Jeff, myself and others use that allows about three hours of Bible study/research in as little as a few minutes...

Go read the rest here!

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Mind The Gap

In one of my recent grad projects we had to identify several gaps within our organization. Once identified came the task of trying to figure out the root cause. After knowing the cause the next process was to lay out a plan on how to fix the initiatives. Then the final task of the project was to point out any resistance to the initiatives.

What is tough is not identifying the gaps. We are good at that. We are great at looking at the flaws of a system, item, or process, and sometimes we are even good at exploiting those gaps to help out our own cause. However most of the times we do not inventory the root cause. If we do, typically it is in a cynical approach in which we attack the cause instead of simply identifying it. The difference is simple identification is only a step to better the situation, a cynical approach helps us look better by exploiting the weaknesses or flaws, a very ego-centric approach.

Laying out a plan is difficult for most people because they are not willing to cope with, or admit that the plan may include improving themselves or to point out personal weaknesses. When the plan is laid out the follow through can be a bear. Take for instance an organization that must go through downsizing. Having a plan to cut peoples jobs that you know will largely affect the families is a tough decision that is not made lightly. But because you have the bigger picture of an organization at risk of bankruptcy the plan becomes easier to follow through.

Then doing a little risk assessment and seeing who or what will become a resistance to the follow through of the plan can be pain staking. This becomes one of those conversions of, if it needs to be done then it must get done.

In London the tube has the words, "Mind The Gap" on the ground in front of all the ledges. They understand that not paying attention to the gaps can be fatal. Organizations understand that if they do not mind the gap it can be fatal as well. The bigger question and the personal application is going through the same process for your own personal life. Lets try it.

Step 1
Take a minute and try to identify some gaps in your own life. If you are serious about this you may even ask some friends that are close to you or family members to give you honest feedback. Don’t try to disagree with it, remember perspective is reality in the minds of others!

Step 2
Write these down. Now begin to try and figure out the root causes, there maybe multiple root causes. If it is others perspective then start there. Ask, ‘How might others view me?’ and see why they feel that way.

Step 3
Now make these gaps initiatives to change yourself. Begin to lay out a plan on how you can change these attributes. Remember you can’t change others, but you can change yourself. Changing yourself changes others perceptions. Make the plan simple and goal oriented so that you can measure your progress. Asking someone to hold you accountable is a great way to continue progressing forward.

Step 4
Now identify any thing that can be a resistance to your success of fulfilling the initiative (s). What are the pitfalls that can stop forward continual progress. The only difference between a stepping stone and a stumbling block is the position of your foot. Identify what could be possible stumbling blocks and then figure out how to make sure it doesn’t trip you up but instead help you by being a stepping stone to the next level.

Step 5
Repeat, repeat, repeat. Every few months repeat this whole process. Getting into the habit of personal reflection, measurement and analysis can be on of the best habits to get into. Remember habits are easier to form than to break.

Be changed and different! Mind The Gap!

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Disciplined To Be The Best

George Rathman, a charismatic chemist, felt that the purpose of bureaucracy is to compensate for incompetence and lack of discipline. He also felt that problem largely goes away when you have the right people in the first place. George was the co-founder of Amgen from back in 1980 who brought the company to $1 billion by 1996.

Jim Collins says in his book, Good to Great,

Everyone would like to be the best, but most organizations lack the discipline to figure out with egoless clarity what they can be the best at and the will to do whatever it takes to turn the potential into reality.

If you have heard me speak or heard my life story you have heard the words resonate from my lips.... "Potential." I am often teased for the over-useage of that word in my vocabulary. However lacking to recognize potential can paralyze so many people from growth and excellence. What results is mediocrity and stagnation. Neither of those are traits that draws followers, they operate as repellents. A life without discipline equals a life of unatained potential. That life can also be represented by your church/ministry/business/organization.

Jim Collins calls out two areas for discipline. An egoless clarity and the will or determination, both of these to become the BEST. I have learned that many people are afraid of being the best. Not because it is unattainable but because of the dedication and discipline that it takes. Many times it is easier to wait for the other guy to plow through the land and pave the road then glide down it picking up hints and resources.

EGOLESS CLARITY to be the BEST.
It is not wrong to figure out what you can be the best at. Make sure to also figure out what you cannot be the best at. Simplify your goals. Don't wave those goals in others faces, remember this is egoless. Jeanne Mayo teaches that many times God gives vision that needs to be shelved until the proper time. There are vision destroyers. Guys who have self-esteem issues and will doubt you and in your heart that vision may be destroyed. Shelve it and trust that God in His proper time will unveil it.

WILL TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
This doesn't mean we try until there is a roadblock. Bud Leikvoll, an instructor at Western Bible College explains roadblocks and attacks of Satan as this. "It is either a stepping stone or stumbling block." It will either make you weaker or stronger. There has to be a tenacity and drive that makes you so relentless that nothing will stand in your way.

We need to stop giving reasons for bureaucracy to exist and be disciplined in our lives. Many times the reason for a micro-manger leaders is because either they lacked discipline and are overcompensating or they had someone fail them due to lack of discipline. Change the rules or change the game.

What, if you knew you would not fail at, would you do?

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Carpe Diem - What Does Your Life Mean?

Jeff, a disbarred lawyer, on a TV show called, Community, signs up for a class at a community college that he heard was an easy ‘A’. When Professor Whitman tells the class to throw their textbooks away and simply "seize the day and live in the moment" to get an 'A', Jeff thinks he has hit the jackpot. Jeff encourages his study group to take a class that is supposed to be a breeze. This class has no tests, quizzes, papers, and appears to be no homework in the modern sense, except to ‘Carpe Diem’, Seize the day.

Professor Whitman catches on to Jeff’s carelessness and freewill desire for an ‘A’ and tells him he must ‘live life’ or face an ‘F’. Jeff begins doing all kinds of acts in front of Whitman to get caught living the moment, flying kites, dressing funny, etc. However Whitman calls him out each time. Professor Whitman finally tells him that he must,

“Live for yourself and not anyone else.”

Jeff gets upset and challenges his professor saying, “Have you seen the amount of work I am putting into this?” as he is trying to live the moment that he is setting up. Whitman then asks him,

“What do you mean, what does your life mean? How long does it take you in the morning to make it look like you have bed head? How many sports jacket combos did it take you trying on to finally find the one that says, ‘I don’t care’? Seize that day, go running naked in a hail storm, kiss a girl in the middle of a day, go fly a kite, BUT DO IT FOR YOURSELF or you won’t just fail my class you will fail life.”

Jeff is so caught up with himself that he doesn’t know how to live the moment and seize the day. He is so preoccupied with his image and stature that he bypasses formalities to gain free opportunities. I know so many people like this in the professional business world as well as the church community and many times even myself. What is unfortunate are the people who follow these self-absorbed individuals blowing them up and puffing their small egos and in a sick way justifies their inability to live for the moment.

So how do you live the moment:

1. Be Authentic_ You can’t be a sell out. You have got to be the real deal. There are enough Guchi impostors out there and not enough Rembrandts. I remember back in the day my posse and me loved to sport ‘Folexs’, you remember, fake Rolex watches. We were big time because we had a $10 watch that looked like a couple grand. Zane Anderson said, “pumped up people always leak but built up people take the city.
2. Be Excellent_ Quit settling for mediocrity. There is more competition for mediocrity then for excellence. Don’t focus on perfection, focus on excellence. Matthew E. May said, “Imperfection drives innovation.” Don’t allow your imperfection to compete for your excellence.
3. Be Direct_ Don’t beat around the bush. Stop weaseling around people to get where you want. The chief cause of failure is exchanging what you want most for what you want at the moment. Soon everything you go through will be seen as nothing more than preparation for the next step. However, the more you scheme for opportunities the sooner you deflate.
4. Seize the Moment_ How sad it is when we devalue real life while gambling our energies on the facade of what could be. You must be focused because there is a point where talent is meaningless or at least minimized if not accompanied by concentration. Take the opportunity, seize it and don’t let go!

What do you mean, what does your life mean? Seize that day, BUT DO IT FOR YOURSELF or you will fail life.

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Sense of Overwhleming Remains Insurmounted

As I have eluded to in previous posts as well as particular Twitters I began my Masters this week in residency at Evangel University, Springfield, MO. I am realizing the difference between the work load and knowledge level when I received my AA in Architectural Design & CAD as well as my BA in Pastoral Ministries to a Masters level education. That coupled with the experience of being a hybrid experience, (Hybrid means, I fly out twice a year for a week of classes, professor introductions, class introductions, etc.) then the rest is distance study at home makes this a very overwhelming jump start.

Though this still is insurmountable in my mind I am very excited for what it will bring. When I look at the assignments, like the ones listed below, I see so many opportunities for growth as an individual but also for the organization that I am a part of.

Some of Term 1 Assignments:

• About a dozen or more books to read this term
• Forum discussions
  
• Assessments
  
• Projects
  
• Case Studies
• Presentations
• Empirical Journal Article Reviews
  

So what do I want out of it, why am I doing this?

My goals are that the abilities I gain will be directly reflective in the different organizations and followers that God will allow me to lead.
That both the individuals around me as well as the organization would practice proper 'kaizen' in every way, simply meaning continual improvement.

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Social Networking and The Need to Know

The idea that your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends is sometimes a very interesting concept. How many people (person B) on Twitter or Facebook randomly show up on another friends network (person A) friend list and you KNOW they probably have zero connections? Maybe there are connections through the need to know. Here are my thoughts on some possible possibilities: 1. My friend 'A' came on my network and began seeing who is my influencers and found friend 'B'. Or friend 'B' came on my network and found friend 'A'. Or the 3rd reason, and I think more unlikely would be the randomness of me and friend 'A' stumbling on the same person. Now granted some leaders show up on ALL the networks because of their pull and popularity. Some however are in the shadows and for me a random blog led to an interesting article that linked to a poll that led to a Twitter that linked to a Youtube where a comment talked about a website that had a guest speaker who used an illustration that mentioned friend 'B'.

Now what is the point of this? To bash on people 'A' that they went through someones network and clicked and added all their friends? Clearly not. There are enough friends to go around! It is more the psyche of OUR need to KNOW! Social Networking has put complete strangers in each others own living rooms that may live hundreds or thousands of miles away. Social Networking has made our walls in our minds become a glass house so that random people can see in. Social Networking has made people of different economic classes sit down at the same table in a coffee shop for inspiration. Now of course none of these may have happened literally, but they happen ideologically, I can hear your heart, thoughts, opinions, hates, likes, tastes, etc as if we sat for a Vente (as if that really means anything other than a marketing tool) at a little table in a quaint coffee shop preferably not $tarbux (I don't like drinking muddy water & spend $6)!

When you look at tribal behavior in history, life lessons were taught by taking a young boy out and he had to kill a large threatening big game animal and live on his own in the land for 3 days then he entered manhood and learned what it 'took' to be a man. As time has gone on, writing and language was developed and then written down. Then electronics and video screens and computers. Now here we are where we have computers with social networks with complete profiles that give more information than our own friends know. Just last night I saw a young teen girl who sent out a message for all her friends to text her and gave out her cell phone publicly. I must interject myself and say this, be careful, be safe. Know your audience, there are people that don't deserve to live in society that are preying on people's Social Networks. Back to topic, because of this technology it has allowed the stories and life lessons to be shared with multitudes. Our need to know drives us to the place to know. Networking is the easiest 'place'. So if I want to get deep in a subject I will find friends who are there and see what are they sharing and who do they know who they get their information. This comes down to an internal argument whether we take it personal or take it as a compliment or even indifferent. I have chosen the indifference approach, it works well.

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MOL Take 1

This week begins the start of a two year intensive passage of a lifelong journey. A journey that I hope takes me to the depths of knowledge in an area that is close to my heart. Leadership. I know many enjoy this subject and seek out every book that talks about leadership, I do as well. I decided about two years ago to pursue a Masters degree in Leadership for many reasons. The main reason is to truly help identify at the core a subject that is in essence elusive, maybe like bigfoot. Leadership is in no means definitive, Stogdill (1974, p. 259) concluded that "there are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept" (Yukl 2010). Another main reason to seek this passage is to help others who struggle. I think there are enough people on the 'edge' of work/ministry/life as a leader and they have not a clue of their next step. One more negative moment and they are going to their boss/pastor/wife and throwing in the towel.

I am starting off with three classes this semester, 3 credit hours each as well as a couple 1 hour projects. The classes and books are listed below (the 2-year program is divided up into four themes):

Theme 1: Foundations of Leadership
MOL 501 Foundations of Leadership:

• Leadership in Organizations (Yukl, 2010)
• Leadership Brand: Developing Customer-Focused Leaders to Driver Performance & Building Lasting Value (Ulrich & Smallwood, 2007)
• Leading At A Higher Level (Blanchard 2007)

MOL 527 Communications for Effective Leadership

• Management Communication: A Case Analysis Approach (O'Rourke 2007)

MOL 550 The Effective Organization

• Quality & Performance Excellence: Management, Organization, and Strategy (Evans 2008)
• 2009-2010 Baldridge National Quality Program Criteria for Performance Excellence (U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology 2008)
• Good to Great (Collins 2001)
• How the Mighty Fall (Collins 2009)
  

...read more on "MOL Take 1"!

OMG, Is He Really Wearing a Twikini?!?

So do you got Twitter and want a better way to use it on your phone but your not one of the little rich kids that owns an iPhone (fine I admit it, I am jealous)? Are you like me and you have to settle for a lame Windows Mobile phone (the worst OS for phones, it's almost as effective as smoke signals, except you can't take pictures with smoke signals). There is a great solution to bring the power of Twitter to your WinMo OS phone. So I was told about about this snazzy little app called Twikini by my buddy @natefellman, the name is the funniest part, so is how they got it (video below). Here are some of the features that I loved!

• It is FAST!
  

• Simple, uncluttered, and customizable user interface.

• Post tweets using a full screen editor. Optionally, set your location (either manually, using GPS coordinates, or geocoding) along with your status updates. (Screenshot)

• Send and receive Direct Messages.

• Twitpic integration to post photos with your status updates. Select existing photos or click new ones from your device's camera. When reading tweets, view Twitpics inline (without having to open a separate browser). (Screenshot)

• Read status updates just like browsing a web page. Quickly reply, retweet, favorite, or email other people's tweets. (Screenshot 1, Screenshot 2)

• Windows Media Player integration. Automatically tweet the song and artist you're listening to. See a realtime feed of other people using it on Twitter.

• URL shortening services including Bit.ly, TinyURL and Digg.

...read more on "OMG, Is He Really Wearing a Twikini?!?"!

Spiritual ADHD Part 4

Part 4 of a 4 part series called Spiritual ADHD. It is comparing the struggles and experiences of a person who has ADHD with what those struggles may be like for Christians if they happened to have Spiritual ADHD.

The four struggles of a person that we will focus on these few weeks are:

• Spiritually Drifting Off
  
• Spiritually Tuned Out
  
• Spiritually Impulsivity
  
• Spiritual Hyperactivity

[Hyperactivity]

Hyperactivity is defined as being abnormally or extremely active. Think about it when it comes to our praxology of worship, the way we 'practice/live out what we believe'. We do so much doing when it comes to our personal lives that we fail to be about our relationship with God. We attend service, sing worship, participate in Fine Arts, be in the worship bands, work in audio/video, lift our hands in worship, pray in front of others, and that’s just church ‘stuff’, then there is playing sports, going to school, movies, shopping, etc.

The area of discussion is addressing the idea that many of us ‘know’ so much about God and Christianity but many fail to ‘do’!

James 1:22-25 - 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

Here are a couple thoughts to consider:

There is a positive hyperactivity. Vs. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. “But be doers” means to “show yourselves to be.” This phrase is in the “present middle imperative,” ‘present tense’, which means it is a kind of action. James says we are to keep doing what it says. We can read a lot of different books, but they do not demand anything of us. Reading a cookbook does not demand you bake a cake or a three course meal. But to the Christian that reads the bible with a teachable, trainable heart, there is a calling by the Holy Spirit of God to respond to His truth.

There is also a negative hyperactivity. Vs 23-24 - 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. The illustration James gives us is a casual, haphazard approach to looking at something, just a glance. This person looks at something but does not observe cannot recall what they have seen. This is a careless ‘busy/hyperactivity’ person. A careless person makes mistakes. If a bomb technician working on the wiring to disable a bomb were hyperactive and not focused he could make his whole day go bad. It is also true for us to be careless and casual with God’s Word. That casualness is similar to hyperactivity. We read but don't follow through, we ‘know’ but fail to ‘do’.

Lastly, there is a perfect hyperactivity. James 1:25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. The word “looks” in verse 23 speaks of casualness (κατανοέω [katanoeo /kat·an·o·eh·o/] translates as “to perceive, remark, observe, understand.”), but in verse 25 speaks of a discipline to commitment (παρακύπτω [parakupto /par·ak·oop·to/] translates as “to look carefully into, inspect curiously// of one who would become acquainted with something.”). Our purpose in the Christian life should be to be conformed to the example and image of Christ. When we come to the Word of God it should be something we are diligent in, pursuing the truth, and ultimately desiring to discipline our lives by. We must study it carefully and let it be applied in our lives to not miss any details. James calls God’s Word “the perfect law of liberty.” So what James is speaking of is God’s Word or law is perfect, complete and it brings liberty, through the death of Christ we have freedom!

Question: Are you so hyperactive and busy for God that we forget to be about God?

...read more on "Spiritual ADHD Part 4"!

Spiritual ADHD Part 3

Part 3 of a 4 week series called Spiritual ADHD. It is comparing the struggles and experiences of a person who has ADHD with what those struggles may be like for Christians if they happened to have Spiritual ADHD.

The four struggles of a person that we will focus on these few weeks are:

• Spiritually Drifting Off
  
• Spiritually Tuned Out
  
• Spiritually Impulsivity
  
• Spiritual Hyperactivity

[Impulsivity]

I feel that out of this whole series this is 2nd most largest issue that most people struggle with, Hyperactivity is No. 1. What happens when we are so impulsive and forget to seek God in our daily decisions and seeking his will for our life? If we are impulsive we are headed for danger. We try and figure out our own will and decisions instead of letting God decide.

Joshua 1:7-9 – 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. NKJV

A few thoughts to consider:

"Be strong and courageous, that you may 'observe to do...'" what's this mean? Observation takes complete focus. Even in it's definition, observation is to observe something carefully in order to GAIN information. When we are strong we gain muscle, when we are courageous we gain powerful confidence.

Our impulsivity can cause us to make our own decisions! Impulsivity defines those with a lack of self control. To be impulsive means that you have little or no control to make a rational decisions based on your needs versus wants. When you display impulsive behaviors, it shows that you have a lack of patience and overall you are driven by what you want, not what you need.

Do we process our choices through prayer, meditation, spending time in the bible? Are we driven by what we want or by what God wants? It needs to always leave our mouth, we need to talk about it. How do we keep speaking about it? By meditating on it day and night, again that we may "observe to do" according to all that is in it. Luke 11:28 - But He said, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" NKJV

Information without application equals knowledge without impact. – George Barna

Question: Are you so impulsive in your day to day decisions that you forget what God thinks?

...read more on "Spiritual ADHD Part 3"!

Spiritual ADHD Part 2

Part 2 of a 4 part series called Spiritual ADHD. It is comparing the struggles and experiences of a person who has ADHD with what those struggles may be like for Christians if they happened to have Spiritual ADHD.

The four struggles of a person that we will focus on these few weeks are:

• Spiritually Drifting Off
  
• Spiritually Tuned Out
  
• Spiritually Impulsive
  
• Spiritual Hyperactivity

[Tuned Out]

Those of us who struggle with ADHD find it normal that we will tune out people intentionally and even unintentionally. How might this affect us when we do it spiritually with God can affect the balance in our life. We must be tuned in, so this begs the natural question, are you tuned out?

Little Sammy, a young boy lying in the temple in 1 Samuel 3:1-11, was awakened 3 times by whom he thought was to be the priest Eli. Each time Eli would instruct him to go back to bed because he was dreaming. Eli realizes that it was God calling Sammy so he told him go back to bed and the next time you are called reply, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening."

If we are not tuned into God's voice and there are distractions we may never hear God speaking to us or we need a reaction from God like he did to Paul when he knocked him on his butt blind for three days.

If your not tuned in you need to get tuned in. There are several easy/elementary ways that God speaks to us:

• Through, Ephesians 4:11-12, the 5-fold ministry of the church, apostles, prophets [not counting Joseph Smith or any of his cronies], evangelists, pastors and teachers.
• Through the bible: Psalm 119:105
• Through the Holy Spirit: Romans 8:16, Acts 10:19
  
• Through our conscience: Romans 9:1

The biggest issue is watching out for costly distractions. In the New Testament one of the Jesus types is him as a shepherd. In John 10:3-4, it talks about the shepherd opens the gate for the sheep and calls them out by name and the sheep know his voice. When distractions happen they can be costly, even deadly. If the sheep doesn't hear the shepherds voice he could be killed by wolves.

John 8:47 says, "He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to him."

Question: Are you so tuned out that you can't hear the voice of God?

...read more on "Spiritual ADHD Part 2"!

Spiritual ADHD Part 1

Just started a 4 week series called Spiritual ADHD. It is comparing the struggles and experiences of a person who has ADHD with what those struggles may be like for Christians if they happened to have Spiritual ADHD. Make sure to click on the link to read the rest of this post!

ADHD Mind from Shaun Mayfield on Vimeo.

Video Above: Experience the inside process of a mind on ADHD when a simple task like thinking of a persons name that you are related to... you know something really easy. Daily repetitious thoughts are tough enough but when we really got to think this is what happens in our minds.

The four struggles of a person that we will focus on the next few weeks are:

• Spiritually Drifting Off
  
• Spiritually Tuned Out
  
• Spiritually Impulsive
  
• Spiritual Hyperactivity

[Drifting Off]
What happens when we drift off spiritually and lose track of what we believe and drift out of our race that we are running? In Greek, the word for drift as it's found in Hebrews 2:1 talks about a leaking bucket, that we are slowly leaking out what God has put into us.

The next couple of verses talk about the reason we are not to drift is because of what we have 'heard', which is in Hebrews 1. It talks about who Christ is, that he is God in all His majesty, that he is heir to all things, maker of all things, express image of God, he upholds all things, he forgave us of all our sins by dying and after that was seated at the right hand of God. He is higher than all the angels.

Hebrews 2:3 talks about salvation being spoke by those who have believed. If you jump to Hebrews 11 it is the chapter of faith heroes who are those that have spoke in the past, then chapter 12 begins with saying that now all those who have spoken are no longer speaking but are now cheering us on so that we don't DRIFT. That is powerful, they no longer have a voice for speaking of faith but now they are screaming your name out, saying you can make it, keep fighting, keep running, keep up the endurance!

Don't be a drifter, do not leak. God has the task of filling us and we must be careful to allow Him to patch us up as we become leaky vessels. I am cheering you on, all those that have believed that are in heaven are cheering you on as a cloud of witnesses. Run, don't grow weary, don't tire out, don't drift into other lanes. Don't get disqualified.

...read more on "Spiritual ADHD Part 1"!

Do You Have Justified Grace?

When was the last time you received forgiveness from a person because of something you did that wasn't right? When was the last time you sought God for forgiveness for a mistake? When was the last time someone gave you grace for something that they could of been upset for?

Let me ask you, have you justified that grace? Read on to understand...

Ephesians 2:4-9 gives us a great glimpse into God and how he sees grace. Sometimes the favor of grace is unfair to some, it upsets settled humans notions about merit, about what is deserved. Think about the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. His brother was so upset because why would his brother misuse his inheritance. Then you have another parable in Matthew 20 of a man who hires three guys, one early in the morning, one in the mid-afternoon and one late in the day, an hour before the bell. He then pays them all the same wages and of course the guys who have been there all day complain. The man applied grace and the others were jealous.

So what does this have to do with a justified grace? I have a sister who has been troubled since she was 13 around the time when she first ran away. She had a tough life that she chose, doing and using drugs, writing fraudulent checks, stealing from family members including myself, irreplaceable items. At the age of 22 my mom bought her a brand new surround sound system for her room. Did she deserve it? NO. Grace was applied. This would have been justified grace had my sister, who did not deserve it, made my mom thankful for giving it to her. Did she? No, she pawned it off for money to use for who knows what.

So how does our grace become justified? When God forgives us we justify it by living from that point on as if the sin never happened in the past, just-if-I'd (justified) never sinned in the first place. Not being held down by regrets but living in the continual state of 'potential'. Unjustified grace is when we receive it and act like we never did. Romans 6:1-2 says, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

In life application... you talk behind someone's back and ask for forgiveness, then they forgive you, then you go on and talk behind their back again. Be a trophy of Grace, something God can be proud of, one to put in the display case. As Paul said, follow me as I follow Christ. He was the 'worst of sinners' but through his Justified Grace became a trophy of grace.

Do You Have Justified Grace?

...read more on "Do You Have Justified Grace?"!

Process [or] Product

It occurred to me as I was observing the monotonous project out back in our backyard at the joy over the process. We have been in our house almost 8 years and finally are doing our backyard landscaping. It is quite the project and I will put up pictures of 'before' and 'after' as soon as we finish. Our yard is about 5000 square feet and just under 3000 square feet of that is sod. This has been such a large project that I even took an entire week off vacation to work on it and at least 5 or so solid weekends and are finally just getting to the end results. I am anticipating the finished product very much which caused me to think about this idea:

What is better, the process or the finished product?

So many times in our life/ministry/business we are so caught up with the finished product and focus so closely only on the details to accomplish the finale that we over look the entire process. Take my backyard for instance, I have spent so much time with my wife and my daughter Amberlyn in this project. If I failed to see the process I would fail to recognize the moments of life. When finished, I will have the product, my beautiful backyard, for years to come, but I will only experience the process once. Because I have stepped back to recognize the process I think how boring will life be when the yard is done, I only get to sit in it and relax, no more hard working process (that was kinda a joke, I really can't wait to enjoy grass instead of a dustbowl)!

For many of you leaders/pastors, think about that student or person that you are working with that has life issues. Is not the process as beautiful as the finished person? Is not your life of dismay, the process of refining, as great as the finished product. I live with no regrets because my mistakes (the process) are what helps me become who God has called me to be (the product).

You know what experiencing the process allows? Breath, yes just a fresh breath of air. Simply you can breathe a sigh of relief that there doesn't have to be so much pressure only for the end. Sure there are time restraints and delivery dates and presentations but the process is beautiful. Enjoy the beauty!

Take a moment, breathe, experience the process, let the product build, but enjoy the moments at hand.

...read more on "Process [or] Product"!