Columns

Enjoy Time to Enjoy

We take the time to “do” things all the time. Most of us either forgot or never knew that the word “enjoy” can be used in place of many action verbs. A politician can “enjoy” time in office just how I can “enjoy” a cup of coffee. Is life something we “live” or something we “enjoy”?

That is what time off is for—enjoyment. It’s not just about resting from what we “do” day in and out. Time off can reinforce our perspective that life isn’t just for living, but enjoying. It is an opportunity to practice how to enjoy.  · · · →

Standard
Columns

Patience Is Your Evidence

We are indicted or acquitted by society, not for evidence or truth, but for our reactions. A calm, upbeat answer will get the most dangerous people off the hook with friends and enemies alike. In many ways, its unfair—or is it?

Society falls apart when the masses go hysterical over petty matters. We get polarized and divided over non-essentials and non-issues and things that really don’t matter. That is a real threat to society. So, proving to not go hysterical when facing the heat makes society like you. It’s not always good, but it’s a reality you can muster.  · · · →

Standard
Columns

Head Always Up

Lasting growth can’t happen without a generator. To progress, you must maintain a positive posture in the face of the highest rejection, and then keep going. When your happiness depends on results, your results will spiral. Actually, your results depend on your happiness, so you must keep your happiness independent of results.

This wisdom goes back to Genesis, when God gave the first business advice. He told Cain that if you do well, your work will be accepted, but if not, be careful because sin is waiting to catch you. That’s why the successful keep their heads up no matter what.  · · · →

Standard
Columns

Hope in Confidence

All relations require boldness. A friend may be hurting, but you see no evidence. A business client may need something, but you see no evidence. In this, you hear a calm voice telling you, “Suggest,” or, “Wait,” or, “Patience.” The voice isn’t lying, but believing requires confidence.

When in need, we don’t send honest signals. Sad people look angry. Lonely people look arrogant. Arrogant people seem humble. Confused people act bossy. Insecure people perform like rock stars; many are.

It takes blind trust to see the evidence, perhaps a little experience can help us be certain. Confidence opens up hope.  · · · →

Standard
Columns

Walk Right In

The next doorway to cross through is easy; just head on in. Getting there was the hard part. Once you’re inside, get right to work. But, don’t let the threshold seem more difficult than it is. Just one step—that’s all you need.

Seasonal changes are like this. What we got used to retrained our habits. Over years, we re-learned a way to work and survive and thrive, but then comes this change for what we strove for all along. You wouldn’t drive your car through your living room. So, open the car door, then the house door, then enter.  · · · →

Standard
Columns

Be Bold, Be Yourself

Depending on how much time one spent in school, being bold can seem like not being yourself. As much as we can learn from the focused intensity of a classroom, the price is an acceptance to unnecessary control. When you make the decisions that lead to a thriving, vibrant life, it will always run contrary to classroom conditioning. So, when you step out into the boldness you will need to make and keep your business and family, it may seem a little fake; it’s not.

Being your bold, honest self goes as a package. Enslaved thinking is the real fakery.  · · · →

Standard
Columns

Your Own Universe

Inside every moment is a universe unto itself. Our mind time can empower us or cripple us—and it usually is the source of our power or brokenness. The sneaky part is whether our mind time contains ourselves or others.

Life should be about others; our mind time should not be. When other people live in your mind, you are not taking responsibility. When we spend our time thinking about others, we never have the mind to consider others—it’s different. Obsessing about other people invades their universe and neglects our own. Tending to your own universe is utterly selfless.  · · · →

Standard
Columns

Write for Work

Whenever you write anything, make it your best. Review your words and mull over them. You don’t need to do this in all of your conversation or memorandum. But, when you craft an idea with words, use that as exercise. It will keep you from falling into the trap of thinking that you’re better than others, merely because you have a fat vocabulary.

You can view words as a way to always grow or as a way to dominate. Don’t fall for the trap of superiority. Just always learn to express yourself. Then, you’ll slice through difficult situations with ease.  · · · →

Standard
Columns

Vibe Always

The most powerful thing you can do for everything in your life is emotional. Some things may be more powerful, but they are not for everything in your life. But, if you want to do one thing to improve everything in your life, then it will be to have emotionally good vibes—always.

We don’t need loads of hyperactive energy or so-called “positivity”; just make sure your emotions net a positive at all times. When a thought derails you, abandon it no matter what! Positive emotions mean you are always “more happy”. Then, like airplanes lift, you will always rise.  · · · →

Standard
Columns

When to Act

Patience is not the same as ambivalence. Action comes into play after patience has been exhausted. So in a sense, patience is a threat. When someone is being patient with you, action is in the making if you don’t improve.

Action has repercussions. People will retaliate against your own action; patient people will act against your inaction. But the longer you act patiently, the stronger your position. So when you act, act with patience. Then, your position will keep growing stronger. Patience tells when to act: when the road stretches on with patience both behind and in front of you.  · · · →

Standard
Columns

Vibe Only

The most important thing you can do is vibe. Thinking happy thoughts all by yourself will do more to change the world than a thousand invitations from the UN. And, that only makes sense if you think about great marketing for a terrible product.

Your contact with people is only as good as you yourself. If you are toxic, then you will be poison to anyone you come across. But, the smell of something sweet can carry through a breeze for miles. If you simply be a truly uplifting person, people will build a road through mountains to find you.  · · · →

Standard
Columns

Go Ghetto, Go Get ‘Em

There’s a reason nice guys finish last. It can be good to be nice, but niceness is not the only part of a well-balanced character. The will to jump for cash is frowned upon by many moral-minded “better-thans”. So much evil is done in the name of so-called “virtue”. Even the desire to be a good person often cloaks a feeling of superiority.

So, that hesitancy to leap at the chance to make money—was it really, purely virtue? Or, was it a way to feel holier than others while staying inside the comfort zone? Earning money is also virtuous.  · · · →

Standard
Columns

Keeping the Honesty

It’s easy to cross the line of deception quickly. When someone makes a promise, then breaks it with a smile, that’s what we call a “clue”. One of the greatest dangers is people who seem to care, while their constant recommendation is to waste time; mealtime is an all time favorite.

Jesus taught his disciples by working together in daily life and chores. Of course they ate together, but how much time do church-goers work together versus eat together? They say they work for some Great Commission; how’s that going? Is it daily chores or wasted chatter as a clue?  · · · →

Standard
Columns

Critique Construct

By definition, criticism cannot be constructive when its motivated by disappointment. Three “nevers” can guide you: Never object to mistakes you knew about before hand, but waited until after failure to care about. Never offer a critique without focusing on a clear and helpful path forward. Never used the phrase “that’s on you”.

If you can’t say anything good, don’t say anything at all. When you point the finger, at least three of your own point straight back at you. We all have plenty of blame to go around. That’s why leaders with winning teams find only solutions, never blame.  · · · →

Standard