What You Leave Behind Shapes Your Tomorrow
Your history is shaping your future. Not uncontrollably, but subtley and deliberately. Has a lot to do with our choices.
We really are a motion picture. Hollywood can only touch the tip of a life's iceberg.
You're not one of those that says; "so what" are you?
A lot of people are now faced with multiple, multiple paths and crossroads. Whether it's financial, career, family or social, it all adds up to confusion. Who do you trust? How do you know how to trust? Often people just guess and hope it turns out okay. History is riddled with folks who found those guesses produced nothing but regret.
There is an opportunity to course correct or to begin again. It won't be easy and it won't be free. But when did easy and fee get you to a better future?
If you want to know the solutions, then contact me to begin the journey and learn how Epic Living can help.
A Glimpse Of A 2011 Growth Plan
As we've crossed over into a new year, and decade for that matter, I thought I would share some of what I'm planning for 2011.
The importance of having a growth plan is nothing new to you if you've read my work before. It truly is the fuel behind any vision. If you haven't embarked on this type of journey, I highly recommend you do and we can help. Click here to learn more.
The following is my vision and some bullets from my 2011 growth plan supporting it:
God’s destiny for me is to have and live an Epic Life. This life will address multiple facets of living. My life will be a motion picture that births joy and changes lives. My legacy will be built accordingly.
I see myself as an excellent husband and father. Eileen, Lauren and Grant are my most important priority. Their lives will be wonderfully impacted by my love, time and influence.
As it relates to Influence, God intends for me to lead on a large scale and stage. I will communicate encouragement, development and opportunity to people of diverse backgrounds. The marketplace is the arena in which He intends for me to have impact. I see myself expanding that influence through speaking, writing, teaching and one-to-one mentoring. I also see Epic Living as the organization focused on developing and reproducing people of influence within the public and private sector.
My physical and mental health will be strong due to the conscious choices I will make. I see a long an vibrant life ahead as God allows.
I see my finances reflecting strength, knowledge and wisdom. I will make decisions that are investor-minded versus consumer-minded.
In His church and community, I will minister to individuals and groups by the same methods above. My key focus areas are influence development and personal growth. God will also use me as source of encouragement to all I encounter.
- 30 minutes of silence to listen to God
- Two dates per month with Eileen
- Incorporate Yoga into my exercise plan
- Network on behalf of job seekers in my community
- Execute on a “stop doing list”
- Look into natural resources investments
- Complete second book
My vision and growth plan have more elements than what I've listed, but I wanted to give this to you as source of "example." I hope it will stir you.
What I Do For Health And Fitness
The following is a typical day in my life relating to my health and fitness:
- Running, strength training and Yoga (this group rotates depending on the day and goes for an hour)
- Green tea (cold), oatmeal and coffee
- Soy/Protein shake with fruit
- Omelet w/tablespoon of cheese and salsa, soy and flax tortilla chips, flavored water
- Yogurt wi/walnuts, granola, fruit (berries)
- Deep breathes (easy to forget)
- Green tea (cold), almonds
- Lean meat, spinach and/or salad, some type of complex carb, 1-2 glasses of red wine
- Dark chocolate
- Apple
OK, now that I've given you what a day in my health and fitness life looks like, I thought I would give you a list of my weaknesses. I am human after all.
- Chocolate (all varieties and applications)
- Sugar Cookies
- Apple Crisp
- Regular tortilla chips
- Egg Nog
- Pizza
I do indulge from time-to-time, but the first list is my "everyday habit."
So why do I bother? I've been given this gift of life and I want to take care of it. I also have enough years of totally disregarding my health to know it's important to not take anything for granted.
A Few Of My Favorite iPhone Apps
I've been an iPhone user for almost a year. I currently using the iPhone 4. The device has made a positive impact on my work and personal life.
The following is a list of the apps I like most:
- YouVersion – My Bible app of choice. Very functional and user-focused.
- TweetDeck – Great for my updates on Twitter and Facebook. Everything is right before your eyes.
- Facebook – Allows me to stay connected to my Facebook account wherever I am.
- Milebug – Great app for keeping track of all of those business miles.
- Gist – A tool that consolidates news from the people I follow on various social networks.
- CNBC – All the financial news and information I need. Bloomberg is good too.
- Entrepreneur – The app from Entrepreneur Magazine. Great to have access to interesting articles when I'm not in front of my notebook computer.
- Cor.Kz – This app keeps track of the wines I love and has a great database for search needs.
- Nutrition Menu – An app for keeping track of what I eat and the nutritional value.
- Nke+ GPS – A great tool for my running. Keeps me informed on my time, distance and the routes I take.
- iFitness – An app that has helped my fitness plan in spades. A very interactive app.
- ESPN ScoreCenter – This app lets me stay updated on the scores and stats of the teams I follow.
- Pandora – A good app that has help me find music that I had forgotten.
I'm sure I could list more, but these are the ones that stand out. By the way, the phone calling is much improved over the 3Gs version.
Viva La Vida and Power
This video is from a song by Coldplay. Maybe you've heard it before. But have you had the chance to read the lyrics? Take a look:
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
One thought occurred to me this morning (very early); what if power is best understood once its been lost. Maybe when you're powerless you gain the sweet awareness of what it all meant. Sounds like the writer of Viva La Vida understood this.
In our time humilty is something we say we admire, but rarely do we want to actually, authenically, live it out. There's still a bit of mental stigma with the whole idea. Not many messages out there about letting someone or something else go first. Sadly, we often crave to be number one and in-turn crave power.
What if power is a wild beast that can only be handled by people who understand its ferrious nature and all the dangers accordingly? What if power is subtle and can sneak up on you after you've stop paying attention?
Here are some points to consider around power:
- Don't be fooled by all the treasure power can bring. It can go as fast as it came.
- More organizations should require all managers to take a class/workshop on power. I conduct these, so I am ready.
- Power can be a great tool to help.
- Power in the hands of arrogant and reckless people creates chaos.
- Learn humility.
A Book About Acting Up In The Workplace
I found a book that you should check-out. Acting Up Brings Everyone Down is a book by Nick McCormick of Be Good Ventures. The book is a short read, but is packed with wit, irony and useful workplace tips.
When I began reviewing the book, I couldn't help but think back to my days in the corporate world. The irony was inescapable. Nick does a good job at finding situations and anecdotes that breed a sense of relating. I especially like the 3rd chapter, Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire. Sincere lying is an art form in some corporate halls.
The tips are also not to be overlooked. Nick gives the reader no-nonsense help without resorting to worn out motivational techniques. It's the stuff we no we should do, and shouldn't do.
Maybe Acting Up Brings Everyone Down will help us get back to some basics.
Aspiring To What’s Not Really There
Very easy these days to want success, fame and fortune. I mean who wouldn't want that? When the economy is not performing like we want or we're knocking on the door of landing a prized client, it kind of justifies our pursuit. An understandable discontent to be sure.
But it's an illusion. Think of it like a golden carrot that's always one step out of our reach. And just like a drug, we keep coming back for more. We always find an excuse for what we know deep down is true.
In my experience what we aspire to should be Real and within our reach. That implies that we can aspire to the wrong things. And the wrong things create a question of trustworthiness.
Can you be trusted with the vision given to you? Can you be trusted with the aspiration that comes along with?
The following are some tough questions to ask as you consider:
- Are you involved in things bigger than yourself?
- Can you be content even when nothing seems to break your way?
- Do you have a desire to find your limits?
- If you died today, what and how big would the void be?
- Do you have to "take" in-order to win?
- What charms you?
- Is there anyone besides God who knows all of your secrets?
- If you have attained some level of success, fame and fortune, could you walk away from it?
- If everyone you knew, and loved, recommended you give up, could you continue the journey anyway?
- Have you rejected comfort?
Moving Forward In An Uncertain World
Providing Stability In An Unstable World