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Successful Goal Setting

December 29, 2010 in GTD, Personal Development with 0 Comments

It’s time to start making your New Year’s resolutions! Don’t let your past failures keep you from making this year the best year ever! Remember what Paul said to the Philippians 3:13- 14, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Still not convinced you can do it? Here is some advice for successful goal setting from Zig Ziglar himself!

1. Write it down
What is it that you really want to accomplish? Putting it in writing gives you a road map to follow, it allows you to keep your dreams on your mind and in front of you. This is a powerful, proven first step to reaching your goals.

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Why Change Is So Hard: Self-Control Is Exhaustible

June 7, 2010 in Leadership, Personal Development, Uncategorized with 0 Comments

By: Dan Heath

In this article for Fast Company Dan Heath suggests that self- control is an “exhaustible resource.”  Meaning that people only have so much self- control, and when that self- control is gone- it’s gone.

Since Change requires so much effort and self-control, there is a limit to how much change people are able to handle.

This makes sense to me.

I have served at churches that were going through periods of transition too quickly. Some of it was planned and some was just unfortunate circumstances.  I have seen the damage change that happens to quickly causes.

It reminds me of Ecclesiastes 3:1-15, that there is a time for everything.

Sometimes, because of zeal and ambition we try to force change when doing so can cause disaster. I’m not saying that we should not change. I am saying let’s be responsible stewards of our congregation, and show love and patience because change is hard, and requires effort. Let’s move lovingly, patiently, one step at a time. Instead of having a one year plan to turn our church around, let’s have a 5 year plan.

If our congregations are not moving at the pace we want them to, it is not a critique of our leadership, nor is an indication of a lack of commitment. The truth is we can only handle so much change.

I want to hear your stories.  Have you pushed for too much change from your congregation? What was the result of that? Is there merit for the Church in the things Dan Heath is saying?

Beating Stress

August 11, 2009 in Personal Development with 0 Comments

Stressed Stress will wreak havoc on every single one of us. Living with bad stress for an extended period of time will do horrible things to your health. You don’t have to put up with it. Understanding what stress is and learning to deal with it will give you the edge you need to remain healthy and productive.
Essentially, stress is the fight or flight reaction  innate in all of us. When confronted with a perceived threat the body begins to release chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol that give the shot of strength and speed you need to either fight your enemy, or to flee from them. Understand that your body and your mind deal with life on this very basic level.

Every time you have a task to do, a problem at home, a meeting, etc. your body sees it as a threat, so it releases these chemicals. The problem is you cannot run away from a task, nor can you beat up elders or people that go to your church. Your body will keep you in this heightened state until the issue causing the stress is resolved.
The best way to deal with stress is to resolve the issues causing the stress.
I realize that this may sound like an over simplification, but that doesn’t make it false. If you are being honest with yourself you will admit  the majority of the things bothering you right now are the tasks  you have not completed, the conflicts you have not resolved, and the decisions you have not made. All of those things fester in your mind, and eat away at your spirit and your body.
So here is how you deal with it. Make a plan, or find a system, and work it!

If you are not sure where to begin check out David Allen’s book Getting Things Done. Yes, it is a book on productivity, but this one is actually useful. It’s not just about living out your priorities, like some other productivity systems are. The problem is that just because something isn’t your priority doesn’t mean you don’t have to do it, and the longer you leave it unresolved the more stress it creates.
I wish I could write you a full summary, but since I don’t want his publishing company to come after me, I just have to tell you to read the book. Trust me you will be glad you did.