Recipe For Success

Are you looking for success?

It takes time and hard work and persistence and patience to see things succeed.

We live in a “I want in NOW” culture.  But we must remember “Good things come to those who wait.”  Overnight success is unrealistic, rare, and temporary.

Put in the work, put in the effort, put in the time, and you will see a harvest worthy of what you put into the process.

Success is not for the lazy.  It’s for the diligent.

Don’t give up!

How do you define success?  How do you get there?

Relief

The blues are what I’ve turned to, what has given me inspiration and relief in all the trials of my life.

Eric Clapton

What is relief?

Whenever I hear the word relief, I think of the “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh, what a relief it is commercial” from my childhood.

According the Webster’s dictionary relief is:

– a pleasant and relaxed feeling that someone has when something unpleasant stops or does not happen.

When did you last experience relief?

I had this feeling last Friday night when Ryan from the Geek Squad at our local Best Buy helped to locate some “lost” files on our external backup hard drive.

I was feeling stressed out, frustrated, and awful, because I thought I lost several important files when our Macbook had to be wiped clean.  I made a backup before the computer was cleaned, so I felt certain I’d be able to restore the important files back to the computer after its cleaning.  When I went to restore the files, I couldn’t locate the most important ones on the computer.

I spent several hours working on the problem.  I even woke up real early Friday morning to work on it before I started my day.  Friday night after work, I tried a few more things without success.  In a last-ditch effort, I took the machine along with the external backup hard drive to an expert (Ryan) who had me on the right path within a few minutes.

The feeling of relief that swept over me when we located the files was unbelievable.

I literally spent all night Thursday and all day Friday worrying about these files.  And within a few seconds my worries were erased and replaced with relief.

Worry is a funny thing.  It takes over like the plague.  It almost paralyzes us.  And yet, Jesus reminds us not to worry in Matthew 6:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:25, 33-34

The ultimate relief from our worries lies in trusting and resting in God’s care.  When things get crazy – when you lose the files on your computer – don’t forget to turn to God.  After all, He cares for us.

When was the last time you experienced remarkable relief?

Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I’m awake, you know?

Ernest Hemingway

I wouldn’t say my life is falling apart right now, but I have to admit that I probably could use a bit more sleep.

I was listening to the 48 Days Podcast with Dan Miller yesterday, and there was a brief statement he made that made me think about my sleep habits.  Dan said “successful people get seven to eight hours of sleep a night.”  Too many people try to go at life with less sleep, and they end up driving themselves into the ground.

I typically go to bed around 10:30PM (probably closer to 11PM), and I’m up at 4AM which means I’m only getting five to five and a half hours of sleep a night.  Based on Dan Miller’s commentary, I’m not setting myself up for success.

David says in Psalm 4:8:

“I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

We used to read this verse to our kids when they had trouble sleeping.  I don’t know about you, but I sometimes allow myself to get so busy during the day with the best intentions of accomplishing great things that I forget to give them up to God at the end of the day.  You and I need rest.  Our bodies and mind need sleep, so we can be effective during the day.  Sleep is God’s gift to us.

I’m actually writing this last night at 8:05PM.  It’s time to shut it down and head towards bed.  I can’t promise I’ll do this every night, but I think it could be a good start towards something better for me.

How much sleep do you get each night?  Why do you think sleep is an important habit?

Warranty Not Required

Don’t you wish things lasted forever?

Have you ever had something fail right after the warranty expired?

Last week, our water heater had to be replaced.  We’ve been in our house for just over 9 years which is hard to believe.  When we moved into the house everything was brand new.  It was nice knowing everything would last for a while.  Nine years later, we are starting to see things fail.  Our dishwasher has been hanging on now for over a year, and our refrigerator makes loud noises from time to time.  Nothing last forever, but I was hoping some of these appliances would last a bit longer.  The warranty has run out on these household items.

If you read my Ice Breaker post a couple of days ago, you will remember that one of my goals is to dunk a basketball again before the end of the year.  I thought this was a “stretch” goal, but I also was pretty sure it was something I could achieve.  Sunday night at the end of youth group, I was talking to one of my friends who is also a leader.  He knew about my goal, and he encouraged me to give it a try on one of the basketball hoops in our church’s gym/auditorium.  I knew dunking was out of the possibility, but I figured it would be interesting to see how high I could jump.  I stretched out for a few minutes, and I moved to the far side of the court so I could get a running approach.  I took off towards the hoop, and I took off a few feet from the basket.  As I launched myself “upward”, I struggled just to touch the rim.

As someone who could dunk fairly easily four years ago, this was quite a discouragement.  It was also a reminder that my body is wearing out.  The muscles in my legs have weakened.  My limbs and ligaments have lost some of their flexibility.  My knees are a bit sore.  And my hours spend running over the past several years have greatly impaired my ability to explode vertically.  What happened to the warranty on my body?

This week, I’ve been reminded that things wear out and people get old.  It’s a fact of life.  It’s easy to get discouraged when things wear out.  I want to stay young, and I want my things to last forever.  If we dwell on the deterioration of our things and ourselves, we will sink deeper into depression.

There is an answer!

I can take care of things to help them last as long as possible, but they will ultimately break down.  I can take care of myself to keep myself strong and able, but I will eventually wear out.  This goes for you and all your things too.

The answer lies in putting our trust in God and His love.

The book of Lamentations reminds us:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23

God’s love for us never wears out.  His mercies upon us never break down or run out.  In fact, they are new every single morning.  If you’re looking for encouragement, lean into God, His love, and His Word.  Start your day with Him.

With God, we have no need for extended warranties.

What is wearing out in your life right now?  How do you stay positive when everything around you seems to be crumbling?

Great Expectations

When I was a young kid, my expectations ran high this time of the year – especially on Christmas Eve.  I was so excited to find out what presents waited for me under the Christmas tree.  I can remember laying down in front of the Christmas tree next to my brother as we looked at the tree together.  We would both wonder out loud what was under the wrapping paper.  Perhaps, we were making sure we didn’t peak.  Part of me really wanted to know, and part of me wanted to wait as long as possible to unwrap my gifts, because I didn’t want the feeling of hope and expectation to end.

When I was a teenager, I went to all four Christmas Eve services with my Dad.  I wanted to be at the Christmas Eve services to soak in the euphoria of the Christmas songs and the Christmas candle light.  I appreciated the opportunity to ride back from the eleven o’clock service together.  The ten minute drive from the church to our house was just enough time to reflect and quietly soak in the Christmas lights as we headed home together.  I liked going to the late service as it meant I was pretty tired when we arrived home.  I would fall asleep quickly after I slipped into bed.

The next morning, my expectation level rose to a crescendo as my brothers and I impatiently hurried my parents out of bed so we could open presents.  Sometimes we would eat our rice pudding first before opening gifts, but I seem to remember the rice pudding coming later more often than not.  We took turns opening our presents one at a time.  First, my youngest brother, Erik, opened a present.  Then, my brother, David, opened a present.  My turn was next followed by my parents.  We would take turns in this rotation until all the presents were unwrapped.  We took our time going through this routine.  It wasn’t rushed.  It was relished.  We expressed our appreciation for each gift.  We took pictures.  And we dreamed out loud about how we would use this new gift.  “I will enjoy reading this book by the fire at night.”  “I needed a new pair of pajamas, and these are perfect.”  “I always wanted a skillet with this kind of handle.”  “This gift will always remind me of so and so.”

Things have changed over the years.  I’m not sure if I have become callous to the season.  The build up towards Christmas used to be filled with stories of wise men, shepherds, a virgin, a carpenter, and a baby king.  And now, it seems like these stories and this build up gets too easily crowded out by a rush to finish Christmas shopping, to send out the Christmas cards, and to continue with the other things that normally occupy our schedules.  My level of expectation during this time is not always the same.  I certainly expect the time off to rest and recharge.  I like the opportunity to give gifts to my kids and to others.  And I still like driving around to look at Christmas lights after Christmas Eve services.  Yet it can be challenging to disengage from the busyness of every day life long enough to appreciate the season in the same way I once did.

Yesterday, I was eating breakfast with a good friend of mine.  He mentioned that his five-year old daughter was having trouble waiting to open the presents under the tree.  I laughed.  And we talked about how refreshing it must be to have a little one in the house during Christmas time as it provides us the opportunity to see Christmas again through the eyes of a child.

Perhaps, we need to reexamine our expectations.  And maybe, we need to look at Christmas through difference eyes – through child-like eyes.  Christmas is a time for great expectations.  It is a time to celebrate the coming of our Savior and to look ahead to His return.

“The thrill of hope – a weary world rejoices…”

We live in a world where many of us our weary from the pushes and pulls of our busy lives.  We need to the hope of our Savior.  And knowing this hope should bring us a thrill like nothing else.  It should renew our expectation for what is to come.  It should alter our perspective on Christmas.

As I think again about Christmas, I wonder what expectations Mary had as she journeyed with Joseph to Bethlehem.  I wonder about the expectations of the wise men as they traveled from afar in hopes of finding a great king.  I wonder what the shepherds were thinking as they left their fields and headed into Bethlehem to follow the instructions of the angels.  Were they scared?  Maybe.  Were they anxious?  I wonder.  Were they excited?  I bet.

May we all healthy expectations as we head celebrate Christmas and look to the year ahead!

What are your expectations for this holiday season?  What are you expecting in the year ahead?

7 Steps To Becoming A Professional Speaker

If you are like me, you probably never seriously considered the possibility of becoming a professional speaker.

In addition to my role as an operations manager at a construction company in the Philadelphia area, I consider myself to be a writer. Notice, I said writer and not speaker. I joined Toastmasters in May to help me advance in my job by improving my overall presentation skills. And I secretly hoped it would help me with my writing career.

A few months ago, I received an email from my alma mater, Grove City College, that changed my perspective. My school contacted me about a speaking opportunity this coming February. I get to talk to students about leadership and delegation. What an opportunity! Because of this request, I have recently started to see myself as a speaker.

And I would like to challenge you to start thinking of yourself the same way. You are a speaker, and you have something to say!

Saying that you are a speaker and actually becoming a professional speaker are two different things. In the pursuit of learning more on this topic, I conducted some research which I’d like to share with you today.  In today’s post, I will help you identify some of the steps you will need to consider in order to become a professional speaker. And I hope you will start thinking a little differently about the possibility of making this a reality for you.

Let’s get started!

7 Steps To Becoming A Professional Speaker

1. You need to start thinking of yourself as a speaker.  You must grasp the fact that you have something to say. This is a mindset shift you must go through in order to become a professional speaker.
2. You must find your niche.  Business coach, speaker, and author, Jane Atkinson refers to this as “picking a lane.” She recommends choosing “a topic area to focus on, based on your expertise.” Don’t waffle around from one thing to the next. Finding your passion or area of interest is essential to building your speaking career. As a speaker in this area, you will be known as a subject matter expert, so it’s important you do your research and know your stuff.
3. Practice and keep learning. Take advantage of every opportunity to speak. Pay attention to the feedback you receive as a result of these opportunities. And listen and learn from other speakers and the evaluations they receive. Sign up for speaker conferences. Conferences like The SCORRE Conference are great venues for improving your speaking. Volunteer for speaking opportunities at your job, at your church, and in your community. Each of these opportunities will prepare you to become a professional speaker.
4. Set up your business. This sounds scary, but it doesn’t have to be. If you want to launch your speaking business more quickly, you will most likely need to invest time and money to get things off the ground. If you are okay with things moving more slowly, start by setting up a speaking blog or website. Create a landing page on Facebook or another social media platform. You may even want to consider setting up an LLC for your speaking business. Set up a checking account. Print business cards. According to Jane Atkinson, “it takes 3 years to launch a professional speaking career.” If you are serious about becoming a professional speaker, you need to get started now.
5. Build your network. Use your social media platforms to connect with others. Change your profile description to include speaker. Attend conferences, and build relationships with attendees, organizers, and speakers. Get involved in community organizations like your local chamber of commerce. Hand out your business cards. And go to lunch with others. Social media expert and speaker, Chris Brogan, says “showing up at conferences and having decent conversations with people makes it a bit easier to start speaking at events, because then people come to realize and appreciate the kinds of things you’re about, and might want to know more about your ability to speak on stage.” It may take some work, but your network will pay big dividends in the successful launch of your professional speaking career.
6. Market yourself and your speaking business. Many of us don’t like to talk about ourselves, but this is essential to establish ourselves as a speaker. Shoot video of yourself speaking. Post the video on your website, and send it out to potential customers. Speakers want to make big money, but speaking for free may be required for a while to show off your talents and to help you gain credentials in the speaking circuit.
7. Just do it! Speak! You will never become a professional speaker if you don’t take the leap, open your mouth, and share with others. It’s a scary proposition for many of us, but we are all in the right place. Toastmasters can be the launching pad for sending your speaking career into orbit.

According to Forbes, speakers like Chris Widener have built their speaking fees up to $20,000 per talk. You may not make this kind of money ever or for a very long time. Or you may strike it rich as a result of your speaking. Regardless, you have something to say, and becoming a professional speaker is a great way to say it to the world.

What are you waiting for?

If you are already a professional speaker, what steps did you take to get where you are?

If you are thinking about becoming a professional speaker, what is the next step you need to take?

In Times Of Uncertainty

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.  Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:5-8

I don’t know what you are facing these days, but we can all use this simple reminder.

Where does our hope come from? 

Our hope comes from Him!

What storm or uncertainty are you facing in your life?

On Public Speaking…

When I was seven years old, I had some thoughts of becoming a pastor.  My Sunday school teacher used to refer to me as the little evangelist.  My Dad is a pastor.  I like to help people.  I like to encourage people.  And there is part of me that may have thought preaching was pretty cool.

When I was nine or ten years old, I was convinced I would be an actor when I grew up.  After all, I played a lead role in a church musical when I was in third grade.  Then I directed and acted in a play in the fourth grade.

In junior high and high school, I excelled at the saxophone.  My freshmen year, I earned first chair honors beating out upperclassmen who expected to have top honors.  I enjoyed being in the spotlight when I had the opportunity for solos.

My interests turned to engineering, and I put my ambitions for being in the spotlight aside.  In fact, I did my best to stay out of the “public eye” as much as possible.  Part of it was an attempt at humility, and part of it was a growing discomfort for speaking in public.

Despite this, I had different opportunities to speak in front of an audience – at church, at work, at graduate school.  My speaking opportunities weren’t flawless, but I received many compliments and words of encouragement to keep going.

My writing over the past few years has caused me to rethink the whole public speaking thing.  This is part of the reason I joined Toastmasters earlier this year.  Since joining Toastmasters, I’ve had the opportunity to speak at my job, and I’ve been asked to speak at my college in February.

I believe I have something to say – something worth sharing.  And speaking in public may be one way to share.

What if speaking was a direction I should pursue?

This is a question I have started wrestling with more recently.  I think it would be an opportunity to stretch myself.  I think it would also provide an opportunity to encourage others to stretch.

What do you think?  Would you be interested in hearing me speak?

When was the last time you spoke in public?  Tell me about it in the comments.

What Happened To Your Childhood Dreams?

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

What happened to your childhood dreams?

When I was a kid, I was an entrepreneur and a salesperson.  I sold all kinds of things door to door in my neighborhood – greeting cards, gift wrap, newspapers, and hoagies.  I made money providing lawn and snow removal service up and down my street.  I had dreams of starting a company that did this or that.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped selling, and I stopped dreaming these dreams.  Part of it was my perceived responsibility to provide for my family.  And part of it was a fear of failure.  My first job out of college left me somewhat sour to the path of the entrepreneur.  I worked long hours and saw promises broken when one of the business partners decided to make decisions apart from the other partner that led to the destruction of the company.

Ever since, I have been content to work for a large company.  I have grown in my career and even flourished over time.  I am happy with my job, and it seems to be the right fit at least for now.

More recently, I have had the desire to create something.  Writing and speaking has become a way to fulfill this desire.  I create almost daily here on the blog through my writing, and I am in the midst of creating with my voice through speaking opportunities at my local Toastmasters International club and beyond.

It’s good to have dreams, and it’s good to find ways to be creative.  Don’t let the pressures and pulls of life take you away from dreaming.

What dreams did you have when you were a kid?  What happened to those dreams?  Are any of these dreams still alive?

The Blessing of Friends

The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it.

The movie tells the story of George Bailey.  After a series of events, he ends up staying in his hometown of Bedford Falls despite his desire to spread his wings and travel the world.  As the head of the Baily Building and Loan, George helps countless townspeople as they seek to own their own homes.

SPOILER ALERT:

About half way through the movie, George falls on tough times when his crazy uncle loses $8,000 of cash that was supposed to be deposited in the bank.  The loss sends George into a panic as he processes the potential prison sentence he may face for misappropriating funds.  At one point, George contemplates taking his own life.

Things start to change when George’s guardian angel, Clarence, steps in to help.  Through a creative approach, he shows George what the world might look like if he had never been born.  George begins to realize how much he cherishes his life.

When he finally comes to his senses, he returns home with a new attitude.  Upon arriving home, the townspeople flood his house with financial gifts to offset the lost $8,000.

Clarence leaves George with a copy of Tom Sawyer with a note inside that reads:

Dear George-:

Remember no man is a failure who has friends.

Thanks for the wings!

Love,

Clarence

I love this movie!

Yesterday, I was reminded of this truth in my own life.  I celebrated a birthday yesterday.  I’d like to say it was my 29th birthday (but it was really my 43rd birthday).

You may recall that I am a huge numbers guy.  I love to count things.  For some reason, I started counting the number of birthday wishes I received yesterday.  When I went to bed last night, I counted over 150 different people who wished me Happy Birthday!

I don’t state this to brag.  I mention it to reflect my appreciation for friends in my life.  I am blessed beyond measure by so many wonderful friendships.  Thank you!

How have you been blessed by your friends?