Month: May 2013

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The Anatomy of Your Actions

Every day, we find ways to move about and get things done. Ordinary things like waking up to go to work in the morning, to helping your child with homework in the evening – we carefully calculate each step of our actions. When we attempt to link our true God-given purpose and mundane actions, the balancing of the two can be challenging. I believe there is an occasional need to examine the skeletal anatomy of one’s action. Let’s take a closer look shall we…

The Head of your Action
The late CBS news correspondent Andy Rooney said this and I quote, “The easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am” – end quote. I’ve often heard that ‘if you surround yourself with a crowd, behave like the crowd, talk like the crowd, you get no further from crowd!’ Advancing yourself to grow requires a head-strong decision to pursue higher learning. Until you expose yourself to something better or different, your current actions will always be kept caged in the current life you live today.

The Shoulders of your Action
“Responsibilities gravitate to the man who can shoulder them and the power to him who knows how” – Elbert Hubbard (20th Century American editor, publisher, and writer). As a mentor to a several young men and an uncle of many nieces and nephews, I often think about my decisions. These self-made decisions I make for my life can and will have some impact on their lives! This philosophy holds true to parents, grandparents and adult guardians. Workplace managers too will have to make decisions for the direction of the company – their decisions will also have an impact to motivate other workers.

The Spine of your Action
Country Star Singer and Actress Reba McEntire said this and I quote, “To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone! – end quote.” Making solid decisions has direct ties to your ethics/character profile.

The Legs of your Action
“If God breaks your leg, He’ll teach you how to limp.” African [Ghana] Proverb. This is where you carry forth your decisions and moving them into action. For example: To lead a lethargic horse, a racing jockey has to influence the behavior of the horse by the motion and movement of their legs. Here are some theories for the race jockey:

1) Leg actions are to create impulsion – when to firmly squeeze/un-squeeze onto the abdomen and flank of the horse
2) Leg actions are to lead the horse – how to slightly bend your legs on the girth to balance for speed of the horse
3) Leg actions are to ask for specific task – developing a personal code between you and the horse
4) Leg actions are to frame and reassure the horse – like how a guitar is strum, the jockey’s repetitious pattern onto the frame of the horse gives directions to go left, right, slow or fast

So by connecting all of these progressive skeletal parts, we can provide a greater sense of becoming more purposeful in our actions.

Let’s go people and do some good!

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Secret Ingredients to Launch Your Life’s Purpose!

Some people throughout their life on Earth will discover various tactical ways to bring their life’s purpose into reality. Everyday thousands of upstart businesses are birthed or commissioned for business. The first days/weeks/or months of operating in your ‘purpose’ may feel like a ‘honeymoon’ phase. Everybody will join in the celebration of your achievement, recognition and praise will soon follow, and people from unknown places will come to lend support. Then all of a sudden the strong winds of reality will set in – this is the ‘marriage’ phase of the vision. You’ll have ups and downs – yea-players versus naysayers – highs and lows – increase in revenue and decrease in sales.

Whatever you are purposed to do, these homemade ingredients will help you become an achiever!

     1.   Life Purpose Ingredient #1 – Learn from the Experts!

One movie [I believe] that perfectly demonstrates how to learn from an expert is the 1984 filming of “The Karate Kid.” This movie depicts a teenager who has a desire to become a professional martial artist. It took a level of tolerance and patience for the young teenager to achieve great results and self-fulfillment. Today, I’m going through an apprenticeship training with my mission director – learning all what I can to lead small teams on international mission tours each year. 

  1. Life Purpose Ingredient #2 – Conduct Self Assessments

From time-to-time it’s good to evaluate yourself or look inward and assess your on-going strategies. This process may prompt you to re-calibrate your goals and review the methods by which you hope to gain measurable satisfaction. Ideally, pray and ask for guidance so that your motives should always be genuine and not self-centered. 

  1. Life Purpose Ingredient #3 – Have a Preparedness Plan

At all times, be prepared to face various obstacles along the way. Stephen King, an American author of contemporary horror/science fiction was quoted saying “there’s no harm in hoping for the best as long as you’re prepared for the worst.” In all business affairs that I invest into, I try to look beyond ‘today’ and ask myself ‘what if.’ In the final report of the National Commission on 9/11 Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, the committee was quoted saying that our very own intelligence agencies ‘lacked imagination.’ Who could’ve imaged such a terrible plot that unfolded the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001? I didn’t mean too negative on this ingredient, but you get the point…  

  1. Life Purpose Ingredient #4 – Focus on the People

Be a great listener – Move away from focusing on ‘self’ and draw closer to the interest of ‘people.’ Successful businesses constantly read through individual market studies, consumer behaviors and buying trends, and focus groups. This vital assessment is compiled to deliver the best product or service to a targeted audience.  

  1. Life Purpose Ingredient #5 – Become a Servant Leader

A person who has a vision or purpose to do something requires constructive responses and reaction from others. Relationship building is necessary for your life’s purpose to flourish. The benefit of leadership growth comes from serving others. One of the best examples of this comes from Super Storm Sandy that occurred in the fall of 2012. After many New England communities suffered tremendous storm damage, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie led the way in making sure adequate life-saving resources reached his constituents. He was able to orchestrate and implement the local and state emergency management teams to provide relief and medical assistance to those in need. He also requested help from the Federal government and large-based corporations to participate by donating, sending in-kind items, and mobilizing heavy transport equipment and machinery to clear and correct thoroughfares within effected communities. He was fully interlaced within the purpose of his life to do well by his fellow man.

So by using these ingredients, you too can see your life’s purpose expand beyond your own dreams!

Let’s go people and do some good!

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The Benefits of Dreaming Big Dreams!

Promoting a Big Dream of yours is a good thing…but are you sure the ‘big dream’ will turn out to be good for you and others? Will the outcome of your ‘big dream’ produce an impact you hope for?

As you put in motion for your “Big Dream” to become a reality, I’m certain it’ll change your life! I’ve been reading a book entitled “Exponential” written by Dave and Jon Ferguson – two brothers planting church ministries throughout Chicago. The book is based on creating an idea and turning it into a movement. In this book, the brothers shares four ways how Big Dreams will change us:

    1.   Big Dreams Change your Questions

The size of your dream will come with a different set of debatable questions. For example, let’s say you have a small dream to grow a vegetable garden in the back of your home. Some set of questions might be: (1) Do I have enough space to grow several kinds of vegetables? (2) How much time will I need to tend a garden? (3) Can I build a protecting fence to distract animals from eating my produce? Sounds simple huh?

Now what if you have a large dream to develop a farm and grow vegetables for an entire community? A different set of questions might be: (1) Do I have the funding capital or should I apply for a loan to put together my dream farm? (2) How much land should I acquire and what kind of farming equipment should I possess? (3) How many people will I need to hire to tend my farm?

[Me] Your Big Dreams requires the right set of questions to gain the right set of answers. 

  1. Big Dreams Change your Prayers

The greater the dream you have, the greater need to depend on God for further answers. I found that when you pray, you should be specific in what you desire as long as it is in the Will of God. As your dream moves into reality, it’s good to remain humble prior, during, and after the process.

[Me] Your Big Dream requires the essential ingredients of fasting and constant praying.

The closer you draw near to God will give you strength to carry on. 

  1. Big Dreams Change Others 

The brothers write that ‘big dreams are contagious.’ Big dreams generate excitement, and they attract those who want to follow your example and step out in faith. I often see many examples of Mother/Fathers working in their business profession and later find their children eventually all grown up working in the same or similar occupation!

I’m also encouraged to see some of my friends who several years ago told me of their big dreams and now they have followed their desire to make it come into reality! You see a determination in their spirit to stay focus and build on their success.

[Me] Your Big Dream requires steadfast commitment to see it all the way through – it then encourages others to mimic or use your effective game plan.

  1. Big Dreams Change You 

In the book, Dave Ferguson stated that your big dream defines your identity, your relationship with God, and your relationships with those in your close circle. He also mentioned that our dreams are often too small and we need to dream dreams that match the hearts of our teachers, leaders or mentors. Our ultimate teacher [God] definitely has big dreams for you – if you believe He lives within you, trust your heart and follow His transformation methods to dream Big!

[Me] Your Big Dream demands your attention; it will help you to grow and achieve even more!

Let’s go people and do some good!