So we’ve all heard that your network determines your net worth, but how? I mean, you can swap business cards, “do lunch” and Facebook friend cool entrepreneurs you meet, but how do you turn connections into cash?
As an entrepreneur with my feet firmly planted in two industries, business and entertainment, I’ve had to become really great at networking to keep my business growing. I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way and also learned simple, powerful ways to bring new people into my fold and go from having a stack of meaningless business cards on my desk to a Rolodex that feeds my bottom line.
Today I’m offering you 7 modern tips for connecting. They’re modern because these philosophies and strategies are ideal for the Gen Y entrepreneur who is creative, current, and successful. They promote authenticity and ignore stuffy, formulaic approaches.
1. Passion & Enthusiasm – Without the right attitude and approach to networking, it can come off phony, needy, or salesy. Think about your business – how do you enrich the lives of the people you serve? Forget about your mission statement for a second and think about what your clients say about you – what do they love most about you and what you do? There’s no reason to feel slimy or shy when you’re providing value. We’re all drawn to people who are enthusiastic about they do. There are people out there who need what you have, and networking is a platform for you to get your product or service into the hands of the right people. See yourself as a consultant. If you sell from a place of genuinely wanting to help and empower the people you meet, you no longer need to question whether you’re tooting your own horn or coming off as obnoxious. Always come from a desire to empower people in your network, and they will use you, refer others to you, and send opportunities your way.
2. A Stellar Introduction – Have you ever been to a seminar or networking event and seen that one person who always seems to have someone chatting them up? Those people aren’t always the most interesting people in the room even though it seems that way. Those are the people who usually have really awesome introductions. A great introduction is not an elevator pitch – it’s a one line story about you that says who you are, the outcome you create, and who you serve. Consider this example: A branding consultant wants to introduce himself at an event. There are 2 ways he could introduce himself.
A: “Hi, I’m John and I’m a branding specialist.”
B: “Hey! I’m John, I show Gen Y entrepreneurs how to become rock stars in their industry using social media.”
Do we really want to hear more from introduction A? We’ve all been in a situation where we’re bored to tears listening to someone rattle off irrelevant jargon. Introduction B draws you in and creates a great conversation starter. By sharing the specific outcome you create, you demonstrate the value of your product or service. Furthermore, you plant an important seed in the mind of your listener. Perhaps they need your services or know someone who does. They can only accurately judge that if you deliver a clear, powerful introduction that draws them in.
3. Ask the right questions. – Asking the right questions can help you cut through the rubbish and get to the bottom line. Rather than asking what someone does, ask how their product or service works. Ask them how you can help them go to the next level in their business and really listen to the answer. If you ask better questions, you get better answers which position you to offer expert advice and tailor your services to the needs of those you meet
4. Complete a network evaluation. –Before you go to that next mixer or networking event, take some time to evaluate your current network and the people in it. What kind of people do you attract? What kind of relationships have you built so far? Is your network stale? Do you need to spend some time connecting with the people in your current network and offering your services there before going after new clients? With business changing so rapidly, a period as short as six months can mean a completely different need or circumstance for your ideal client. Keeping your finger on the pulse of your current network helps you network more effectively in the future. After all, you can’t provide the highest value to those you meet if you’re not fully engaged with those you already know. Invest time in building relationships – not just creating them.
5. Create a networking target list. – What type of person do you need to connect with in order to grow your business? What gaps have you observed in your network? Every entrepreneur needs a well-rounded network to maintain a thriving business and career. After you’ve done a network evaluation, it’s easier to see who you might need to add to your network. Maybe you have a lot of finance professionals but you’re missing the creative types. You might gravitate towards younger, trendy CEOs, but you know the wisdom of an industry veteran would be invaluable. Don’t be afraid to think big about the types of people who could empower you to expand your business. Whether it’s a celebrity, an industry titan, or your favorite Business author, consider what it would mean to have powerful people in your network then create a strategy to network with purpose.
6. Develop a networking strategy. – Showing up to every event you can find and swapping business cards does not a strategy make! Highly successful CEOs connect with purpose – they are clear about the type of people they want in their space, and they make it a point to seek out people who possess qualities or resources they need. A networking strategy should be written and should outline who you’d like to add to your network, why you want to add them, where they network/hang out, and how you intend to engage them once you make contact. Even if you only have prototypes of people i.e. creative types, thought leaders, techies, marketers, etc, you will be light years ahead of the average entrepreneur. As with everything else in life, clarity helps you discern the distractions from the opportunities. With a clear networking strategy, you can connect and engage with the right people who can benefit from what you do or help you increase your bottom line. Use your networking time wisely by being laser sharp in where you go and who you engage.
7. Build relationships. – You’ve probably heard that the fortune is in the follow up. Follow up is good, but relationship building is excellent. People spend money with those they know, like, and trust. You gain that trust by consistently engaging the people in your network in meaningful conversation and mutually beneficial exchanges. A simple follow up e-mail with an article is not enough anymore. If you can’t be bothered with really getting to know people and what makes them tick, you’ll struggle with developing those relationships that will mean the most to your bottom line. Jot down birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones of key people in your network and acknowledge those dates. Send handwritten thank you notes to people who have helped you or given you advice. Choose a handful people to have phone appointments or lunch with each month or each quarter. Share exciting news about your career or business. Remember that business people are people, and that means they want to feel important and be acknowledged, no matter what their title is or how successful they are. Make it a point to build relationships that last instead of fleeting communication.
Your network really does determine your net worth, but it’s not all about who you know – it’s also about who knows you and what they know about you. Using the secrets I’ve shared, your network will explode and even better, your bottom line will too.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Authenticity: The Essential Ingredient for Outrageous Success
Imagine for a moment a shiny new Mercedes...it's black so it reflects light...it's sleek...it's undeniably hot.
Looks nice huh?
Now what if the interior had candy wrappers, dirty diapers, soda cans, 3 month old food, mud, crumbs, and dust all over it?
That would be a contradiction...an obvious contrast from the shiny and clean exterior to the junky, filthy interior.
But how many of us are like this car? We spend more time cleaning and grooming our exteriors than we do our interiors.
I was speaking with a prospective member of the board of Inspired Girls, and the thing I just LOVE about this woman is her authenticity...I mean, she's so REAL. She's not afraid to be who she is, imperfections and all, and to acknowledge that in a very frank yet graceful way. To say that I have tremendous respect for her would be an understatement. And interestingly enough, her authenticity inspires the same in others.
Anyway, I was applauding her authenticity and telling her how much I appreciated that about her, and I began to consider why it was such a big deal to me. The reason is because there are so many people who struggle with being authentic. The relationship that we have with ourselves and with God is revealed in our relationships with others. When we struggle to be authentic with those around us, we can almost certainly trace the effect back to ourselves as the cause.
Part of the issue is not wanting to be seen as we are. Have you ever been in a lounge, club or restaurant that was dimly lit? You may have seen a person across the room who looked amazing, but when they stepped into the light, you saw their flaws and bordered on being indignant at the misrepresentation. We want to believe that what we see (or hear) is what we get...but too often this is not the case.
So, how do we remedy this? Well, it requires introspection and a commitment to growth. I have several framed quotes on the wall in my office and one of them says, "Love yourself unconditionally for this is how God loves you and He created you." I absolutely love it because I often need the reminder to be patient with myself. As we begin choosing to love ourselves, forgive ourselves, and believe that we should live the lives of our dreams, we find that our self-image improves as does our level of self-respect.
Albert Einstein said that problems cannot be solved on the level they were created. If you are operating at a level 2 that renders you inauthentic, your development into a person who is authentic will require change - an ascension to a higher plane. Most people can't have what they say they want because they're mastered by the fear of change. The unknown is single handedly responsible for a lack of achievement. And change, in all of its scary glory, requires commitment.
So what are we committing to? To being wrong sometimes. To making mistakes sometimes. To errors in judgment. To space to grow. To taking steps into the unknown. To jumping out of the proverbial planes in our lives. To being 100% true to the person who shows up in light rather than the person who cowers in darkness.
In my book, I talk about the importance of "safety" in relationships - safety to be honest, to communicate needs and wants, to pursue meaningful goals, and to make mistakes. Safety is rooted in being loved perfectly even though you are imperfect. In loving people as if they are what they ought to be, we help them become everything they should be. However, this level of love can only be achieved when we are able to love our imperfect selves perfectly. And so, this brings us again to the necessity of personal authenticity...because if you cannot accept and love yourself unconditionally - flaws and all - then you will be irritated at the very suggestion of having to love someone more than you love yourself.
My challenge to you is to begin (and continue) making authentic choices. Starting today. Say what you need to say - speak the truth in love. Make the decision you need to make. I can assure you that living in your truth and operating from complete authenticity and personal integrity will NOT always feel good. In fact, it will often make you uneasy...but I consider it an acquired taste. As you continue to operate authentically with yourself and others, you will find it less uncomfortable. You will attract other authentic people and create safe, healthy relationships. Over time, authenticity becomes a way of life and anything but the truth is considered unacceptable.
Every success is sweeter when achieved by the authentic you. You are more than enough.
Looks nice huh?
Now what if the interior had candy wrappers, dirty diapers, soda cans, 3 month old food, mud, crumbs, and dust all over it?
That would be a contradiction...an obvious contrast from the shiny and clean exterior to the junky, filthy interior.
But how many of us are like this car? We spend more time cleaning and grooming our exteriors than we do our interiors.
I was speaking with a prospective member of the board of Inspired Girls, and the thing I just LOVE about this woman is her authenticity...I mean, she's so REAL. She's not afraid to be who she is, imperfections and all, and to acknowledge that in a very frank yet graceful way. To say that I have tremendous respect for her would be an understatement. And interestingly enough, her authenticity inspires the same in others.
Anyway, I was applauding her authenticity and telling her how much I appreciated that about her, and I began to consider why it was such a big deal to me. The reason is because there are so many people who struggle with being authentic. The relationship that we have with ourselves and with God is revealed in our relationships with others. When we struggle to be authentic with those around us, we can almost certainly trace the effect back to ourselves as the cause.
Part of the issue is not wanting to be seen as we are. Have you ever been in a lounge, club or restaurant that was dimly lit? You may have seen a person across the room who looked amazing, but when they stepped into the light, you saw their flaws and bordered on being indignant at the misrepresentation. We want to believe that what we see (or hear) is what we get...but too often this is not the case.
So, how do we remedy this? Well, it requires introspection and a commitment to growth. I have several framed quotes on the wall in my office and one of them says, "Love yourself unconditionally for this is how God loves you and He created you." I absolutely love it because I often need the reminder to be patient with myself. As we begin choosing to love ourselves, forgive ourselves, and believe that we should live the lives of our dreams, we find that our self-image improves as does our level of self-respect.
Albert Einstein said that problems cannot be solved on the level they were created. If you are operating at a level 2 that renders you inauthentic, your development into a person who is authentic will require change - an ascension to a higher plane. Most people can't have what they say they want because they're mastered by the fear of change. The unknown is single handedly responsible for a lack of achievement. And change, in all of its scary glory, requires commitment.
So what are we committing to? To being wrong sometimes. To making mistakes sometimes. To errors in judgment. To space to grow. To taking steps into the unknown. To jumping out of the proverbial planes in our lives. To being 100% true to the person who shows up in light rather than the person who cowers in darkness.
In my book, I talk about the importance of "safety" in relationships - safety to be honest, to communicate needs and wants, to pursue meaningful goals, and to make mistakes. Safety is rooted in being loved perfectly even though you are imperfect. In loving people as if they are what they ought to be, we help them become everything they should be. However, this level of love can only be achieved when we are able to love our imperfect selves perfectly. And so, this brings us again to the necessity of personal authenticity...because if you cannot accept and love yourself unconditionally - flaws and all - then you will be irritated at the very suggestion of having to love someone more than you love yourself.
My challenge to you is to begin (and continue) making authentic choices. Starting today. Say what you need to say - speak the truth in love. Make the decision you need to make. I can assure you that living in your truth and operating from complete authenticity and personal integrity will NOT always feel good. In fact, it will often make you uneasy...but I consider it an acquired taste. As you continue to operate authentically with yourself and others, you will find it less uncomfortable. You will attract other authentic people and create safe, healthy relationships. Over time, authenticity becomes a way of life and anything but the truth is considered unacceptable.
Every success is sweeter when achieved by the authentic you. You are more than enough.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Your life is not on layaway!
It's time out for living for tomorrow when today is staring us in the face! None of us can add an hour to our lives by worrying, and each day has enough trouble of its own. The past and future are mental constructs - the only thing that truly exists is THIS moment. There are no words to communicate how profound and important this is. If you are one of those people waiting for "when" to come, PLEASE let that go in 2010. You can not spend your life waiting for "when" or holding out for some undisclosed time in the future. You have an infinite number of gifts and resources around you NOW...enjoy them! Seriously, what are you waiting for?
I know that we all have goals that we'd like to achieve, and we have things that we're expecting. I totally understand the need to plan for the future...I'm the QUEEN of planning and organizing. There's nothing wrong with having hope today for the fruition of plans made for tomorrow. However, it's not healthy for us to neglect our gifts, talents, and blessings with the anticipation that the future will somehow present a better "time" to employ those things than right now. God did not put your life on layaway!!! You're supposed to be loving the people around you...RIGHT NOW. You're supposed to be using your gifts...RIGHT NOW. You're supposed to be living out loud...RIGHT NOW. Not later. Not tomorrow. Not when you get yourself "together"....RIGHT NOW. Believe me when I tell you that if you are holding out, you are doing a disservice to yourself and to the world.
Having a vision for our future that differs from our current circumstances can be inspiring and exciting, but it can also keep us from fully committing to our present placement. We may become aware that this is happening when we notice our thoughts about the future distracting us from our participation in the moment. We may find upon searching our hearts that we are waiting for some future time or situation in order to self-actualize. This would be like a flower planted in North Dakota putting off blooming because it would prefer to do so in Illinois.
There are no guarantees in this life, so when we hold back we do so at the risk of never fully blossoming. This present moment always offers us the ground in which we can take root and open our hearts now. What this means is that we live fully, wherever we are, not hesitating because conditions are not perfect, or we might end up moving, or we haven't found our life partner. This can be scary, because we might feel that we are giving up our cherished dreams if we do not agree to wait for them. But this notion that we have to hold back our life force now in order to find happiness later doesn't really make sense. What might really be happening is that we are afraid to embrace this moment, and ourselves, just exactly as we are right now. This constitutes a tendency to hold back from fully loving ourselves and those around us, as we are, where we are.
We have a habit of presenting life with a set of conditions—ifs and whens that must be fulfilled before we will say yes to the gift of our lives. Now is the time for each of us to bloom where we are planted, overriding our tendency to hold back. Now is the time to say yes, to be brave and commit fully to ourselves and the love in our lives, because until we do no one else will. Now is the time to be vulnerable, unfolding delicately yet fully into the space in which we find ourselves.
Tomorrow is not promised. If someone loves you today, love them back! If you have a delicious meal today, savor it! If you have an inspiration today, act on it! If you want to achieve something, do it! Sometimes the very blessings we hope to receive in the future are in front of us in the present. We dig unnecessary holes for ourselves pushing people and things away with hopes that the future will yield some magical transformation of perfection. There is no such thing as the perfect time to do something and there never will be. The perfect time is always NOW.
Later.
I know that we all have goals that we'd like to achieve, and we have things that we're expecting. I totally understand the need to plan for the future...I'm the QUEEN of planning and organizing. There's nothing wrong with having hope today for the fruition of plans made for tomorrow. However, it's not healthy for us to neglect our gifts, talents, and blessings with the anticipation that the future will somehow present a better "time" to employ those things than right now. God did not put your life on layaway!!! You're supposed to be loving the people around you...RIGHT NOW. You're supposed to be using your gifts...RIGHT NOW. You're supposed to be living out loud...RIGHT NOW. Not later. Not tomorrow. Not when you get yourself "together"....RIGHT NOW. Believe me when I tell you that if you are holding out, you are doing a disservice to yourself and to the world.
Having a vision for our future that differs from our current circumstances can be inspiring and exciting, but it can also keep us from fully committing to our present placement. We may become aware that this is happening when we notice our thoughts about the future distracting us from our participation in the moment. We may find upon searching our hearts that we are waiting for some future time or situation in order to self-actualize. This would be like a flower planted in North Dakota putting off blooming because it would prefer to do so in Illinois.
There are no guarantees in this life, so when we hold back we do so at the risk of never fully blossoming. This present moment always offers us the ground in which we can take root and open our hearts now. What this means is that we live fully, wherever we are, not hesitating because conditions are not perfect, or we might end up moving, or we haven't found our life partner. This can be scary, because we might feel that we are giving up our cherished dreams if we do not agree to wait for them. But this notion that we have to hold back our life force now in order to find happiness later doesn't really make sense. What might really be happening is that we are afraid to embrace this moment, and ourselves, just exactly as we are right now. This constitutes a tendency to hold back from fully loving ourselves and those around us, as we are, where we are.
We have a habit of presenting life with a set of conditions—ifs and whens that must be fulfilled before we will say yes to the gift of our lives. Now is the time for each of us to bloom where we are planted, overriding our tendency to hold back. Now is the time to say yes, to be brave and commit fully to ourselves and the love in our lives, because until we do no one else will. Now is the time to be vulnerable, unfolding delicately yet fully into the space in which we find ourselves.
Tomorrow is not promised. If someone loves you today, love them back! If you have a delicious meal today, savor it! If you have an inspiration today, act on it! If you want to achieve something, do it! Sometimes the very blessings we hope to receive in the future are in front of us in the present. We dig unnecessary holes for ourselves pushing people and things away with hopes that the future will yield some magical transformation of perfection. There is no such thing as the perfect time to do something and there never will be. The perfect time is always NOW.
Later.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
5 Simple Steps to Success
Quick note: My blog format is changing. I'll share one blog every week on Wednesdays and periodic special blogs featuring radio show updates, career updates, quick Inspired Living tips and more. Enjoy! :-)
Now on to our regularly scheduled blog...
Sometimes the thought of being wildly successful and having it all can be overwhelming. Between your current life and the life you're headed to are all the things that have to be done.
Today, I'm sharing 5 simple ways to consistently be successful, even when you're facing challenges.
Remember that PERSISTENCE is one of the most important traits you can develop in your Inspired Life. The race doesn't go to the swift so no matter what, stay on your course. You WILL reap a tremendous reward if you stay focused and continue press forward.
1. Purpose & Desire - What are you after and why? What is your vision for your life and why do you want it? I'm always saying that if you have a big enough WHY the HOW will reveal itself. So, how big is your WHY - what do you want out of life and what will you do with it once you get it?
2. Plan - How do you intend to get to the top? You need a PLAN! I cannot stress this enough. The difference between a lot of talented or smart people and the people who are actually successful is a PLAN. You don't have to be the most intelligent or savvy person in the world to create a plan and carry it out, but you will enjoy success far beyond that of the average person if you'll simply clarify what you want and then create a specific plan for how you intend to attain it.
3. Focus - Eliminate anything and anyone that serves to distract you from your goals. People will tell you that you're crazy or that you can't do it - but 99.9% of the time, those are people who are AVERAGE and BROKE! Don't allow people to cast their shadows over your life. Their self-assigned limitations are not your boundaries! Your are unstoppable and as you step into your destiny, no one can stop you from being, doing, and having the very best in life. It's up to you to decide that you're worth it and to choose success. After all, it's just as easy to choose to be successful as it is to choose to be mediocre. If you ask successful people WHY they're successful, they can often cite the things they do differently but if you ask WHY they choose to be successful - they can only say, "Because I wanted to!" It's that simple - they choose success and so they become successful. And right now, in this moment, you are successful. Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal - and because you are here, engaged in the process of going to the next level and living on purpose, you are a success!
4. People - Align yourself with people and groups who share your vision and mission and can help you achieve your goals. As tempting as it is to do it all yourself, you can get to the next level faster and easier if you'll connect with others who understand and support what you're doing. Replace any naysayers with people who are successful and are also capable of congratulating your success. There is magic in partnership when 2 or more people share a common goal and work towards it. Your relationships will help or hinder you on your path so cultivate healthy relationships that yield mutual benefit.
5. Act - The best plan in the world doesn't work unless you do. EVERY SINGLE DAY you should be taking actions that move you to closer to the attainment of your vision for your life. Your plan should outline the steps the take. Without action, the rest means nothing. Visualization can't take the place of specific, focused action. Nothing will take the place of your tenacity, will, drive, and motivation. Find things that inspire you and motivate you - people, places, things, and ideas. Have specific places to turn when your motivation lags. The fire of your desire needs to be white hot! Stay plugged in to sources of power that keep you accountable for your results.
Get out there and play big! You are a vessel of energy and possibility - be your best self and apply you knowledge. Choose to show up and play full out every day and watch your life yield BIG results.
To your Inspired Life,
Lisa
Now on to our regularly scheduled blog...
Sometimes the thought of being wildly successful and having it all can be overwhelming. Between your current life and the life you're headed to are all the things that have to be done.
Today, I'm sharing 5 simple ways to consistently be successful, even when you're facing challenges.
Remember that PERSISTENCE is one of the most important traits you can develop in your Inspired Life. The race doesn't go to the swift so no matter what, stay on your course. You WILL reap a tremendous reward if you stay focused and continue press forward.
1. Purpose & Desire - What are you after and why? What is your vision for your life and why do you want it? I'm always saying that if you have a big enough WHY the HOW will reveal itself. So, how big is your WHY - what do you want out of life and what will you do with it once you get it?
2. Plan - How do you intend to get to the top? You need a PLAN! I cannot stress this enough. The difference between a lot of talented or smart people and the people who are actually successful is a PLAN. You don't have to be the most intelligent or savvy person in the world to create a plan and carry it out, but you will enjoy success far beyond that of the average person if you'll simply clarify what you want and then create a specific plan for how you intend to attain it.
3. Focus - Eliminate anything and anyone that serves to distract you from your goals. People will tell you that you're crazy or that you can't do it - but 99.9% of the time, those are people who are AVERAGE and BROKE! Don't allow people to cast their shadows over your life. Their self-assigned limitations are not your boundaries! Your are unstoppable and as you step into your destiny, no one can stop you from being, doing, and having the very best in life. It's up to you to decide that you're worth it and to choose success. After all, it's just as easy to choose to be successful as it is to choose to be mediocre. If you ask successful people WHY they're successful, they can often cite the things they do differently but if you ask WHY they choose to be successful - they can only say, "Because I wanted to!" It's that simple - they choose success and so they become successful. And right now, in this moment, you are successful. Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal - and because you are here, engaged in the process of going to the next level and living on purpose, you are a success!
4. People - Align yourself with people and groups who share your vision and mission and can help you achieve your goals. As tempting as it is to do it all yourself, you can get to the next level faster and easier if you'll connect with others who understand and support what you're doing. Replace any naysayers with people who are successful and are also capable of congratulating your success. There is magic in partnership when 2 or more people share a common goal and work towards it. Your relationships will help or hinder you on your path so cultivate healthy relationships that yield mutual benefit.
5. Act - The best plan in the world doesn't work unless you do. EVERY SINGLE DAY you should be taking actions that move you to closer to the attainment of your vision for your life. Your plan should outline the steps the take. Without action, the rest means nothing. Visualization can't take the place of specific, focused action. Nothing will take the place of your tenacity, will, drive, and motivation. Find things that inspire you and motivate you - people, places, things, and ideas. Have specific places to turn when your motivation lags. The fire of your desire needs to be white hot! Stay plugged in to sources of power that keep you accountable for your results.
Get out there and play big! You are a vessel of energy and possibility - be your best self and apply you knowledge. Choose to show up and play full out every day and watch your life yield BIG results.
To your Inspired Life,
Lisa
Friday, February 26, 2010
Moving to Higher Ground
Take off the weight and sprint to your destiny!
Are you moving to higher ground in your life? Let me let you in on a secret: You’re going to have to do things you don’t want to do as you move to higher ground. Those things can include making tough decisions, leaving old ways and people behind, conquering fear, and more.
As we move to higher ground, there will be movement! Things will change, people will come and go, and our lives will evolve. Most folks hate change with a passion. We wish things could stay the same forever, and when we see something we want, we wish with everything in us that that thing would come into our lives and stay forever. Few things - VERY few things - are meant to be in your life forever. I mean, you could count them on hand!
Your comfort level with shifts and changes is directly proportionate to the level of your faith. With unwavering trust in God, there is no question about whether the so-called trials and challenges in your life are to your benefit. Why? Because allthings work together for the good of those who love God. So if you love God, He is perfecting everything that concerns you. Everybody who steps into your life is not meant to be there indefinitely. Again, few things are meant to be permanent. God is the cornerstone, the foundation, the very oxygen of a prosperous life, so everything else is truly optional. Because of His permanence, our peace, happiness, contentment, and success will largely reflect our ability to relate to God in an intimate way. So now we're looking at your relationship with God - are you spending time with Him? Are you talking to Him daily in candid ways about yourself and your life? God rewards honesty and transparency with tender, unconditional love and grace.
If God takes something from you, it's because he has something else for you. If God takes something good from you, it's because he has something great for you. If we delight ourselves in Him, we are given the desires of our hearts - that's a promise, not a guess. And the fabulous part about that is that God is not wishy washy like some of us are...we can rest with the expectation of His fulfillment of every promise He makes. What a wonderful joy!
It's easier to have mediocre faith and to spend countless hours stressed out over matters rather than to exercise that faith muscle. It takes strength to believe - to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God's got your back, and that there is absolutely nothing that can happen that will disturb that. This is why the faith muscle needs constant exercise - it atrophies quickly. To have complete trust in God and His plan is perhaps the greatest demonstration of wisdom. If we took time to truly reflect on the depth and width of God's love, His loving kindness, the incessant blessings, the daily renewed mercies, how could we possibly doubt for a moment that anything other than supernatural blessing would be placed upon our lives as an inescapable covering? He is faithful, and perhaps amidst our human nature, it's difficult to fathom or appreciate that He loves us enough to show up every time, in spite of how we behave. There is no greater love than the one God has for you.
Remember that not everything and everybody can go with you to higher ground. Think about what it feels like trying to carry a 50 lb box up a steep flight of stairs. It’s heavy and once you get up the stairs and put the box down, you feel like you ran a mile even though you only covered a few feet of distance. What would be a better choice? There’s an elevator on every floor of your life. You’ve got to carry your own weight, but there are some people and things you need to put on the elevator of life because God is the conductor of the elevator. If God intends for that person or situation to be in your life at the next level, it will arrive on the elevator by God’s will and that person’s choice or the movement of the situation. Trying to force things to happen is like carrying excessive weight up the stairs. Crying over the past and insisting things be other than what they are is staring woefully hoping the elevator opens on the next level while you’re supposed to be sprinting to the next set of stairs to go to even higher ground.
You’ve got miles to cover on your journey, and you can’t afford to have unnecessary baggage and weight on you. When you are saddled with unnecessary weight in your life, you can not run your race with patience. You are like an Olympic sprinter, running towards your destiny. Imagine arriving to your destiny late, tired, and frustrated because you didn’t completely trust God’s motion in your life. Your destiny is too important for you to be behind God’s timing because of a person or situation that slowed you down! Don’t let people delay your arrival to your destiny.
God is a god of motion. You say you want God to show up in your life? Well get very comfortable with change because that's the first thing that will happen when He shows up. He will take people, places, and things from you - will you trust that there is no error on God's part? In His infinite brilliance, there is no limitation or lack nor is there any foul timing. His plan is perfect, and our submission to that plan is where we get freed up to be, do, and have the abundance He intends for us. Keep an open palm so that you can receive all the things God has for you. Let go of the things God is trying to take from you so He can replace them with something better. Remember that good is the enemy of great! The world will not stop revolving if you let go, but God's appearance in your life will make your world look radically different. If you open your hands, know that some things will be taken away - there will be motion. However other things - anointed things - will begin to flow in, and you can trust in the divine appointment of those things. Don't get in God's way! Run your race, climb your stairs, move to higher ground! Without faith, it's impossible to please God. And ironically, with faith, nothing is impossible for us.
That which has made you free will in the end make you glad also.
Inspired Journaling Prompt: Write about what the next level in your life looks like – who’s there, what’s around you, what does a typical day in that life look like. Now consider what will need to change, how you will need to grow, and who will need to change roles in order for your life to get to that next level.
Inspired Action: Begin packing for your move! Do something this week that will move you closer to the next level – save more money, get an extra workout in, spend a little more time at the office – take eager steps towards your destiny this week…and remember, no baggage!
Are you moving to higher ground in your life? Let me let you in on a secret: You’re going to have to do things you don’t want to do as you move to higher ground. Those things can include making tough decisions, leaving old ways and people behind, conquering fear, and more.
As we move to higher ground, there will be movement! Things will change, people will come and go, and our lives will evolve. Most folks hate change with a passion. We wish things could stay the same forever, and when we see something we want, we wish with everything in us that that thing would come into our lives and stay forever. Few things - VERY few things - are meant to be in your life forever. I mean, you could count them on hand!
Your comfort level with shifts and changes is directly proportionate to the level of your faith. With unwavering trust in God, there is no question about whether the so-called trials and challenges in your life are to your benefit. Why? Because allthings work together for the good of those who love God. So if you love God, He is perfecting everything that concerns you. Everybody who steps into your life is not meant to be there indefinitely. Again, few things are meant to be permanent. God is the cornerstone, the foundation, the very oxygen of a prosperous life, so everything else is truly optional. Because of His permanence, our peace, happiness, contentment, and success will largely reflect our ability to relate to God in an intimate way. So now we're looking at your relationship with God - are you spending time with Him? Are you talking to Him daily in candid ways about yourself and your life? God rewards honesty and transparency with tender, unconditional love and grace.
If God takes something from you, it's because he has something else for you. If God takes something good from you, it's because he has something great for you. If we delight ourselves in Him, we are given the desires of our hearts - that's a promise, not a guess. And the fabulous part about that is that God is not wishy washy like some of us are...we can rest with the expectation of His fulfillment of every promise He makes. What a wonderful joy!
It's easier to have mediocre faith and to spend countless hours stressed out over matters rather than to exercise that faith muscle. It takes strength to believe - to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God's got your back, and that there is absolutely nothing that can happen that will disturb that. This is why the faith muscle needs constant exercise - it atrophies quickly. To have complete trust in God and His plan is perhaps the greatest demonstration of wisdom. If we took time to truly reflect on the depth and width of God's love, His loving kindness, the incessant blessings, the daily renewed mercies, how could we possibly doubt for a moment that anything other than supernatural blessing would be placed upon our lives as an inescapable covering? He is faithful, and perhaps amidst our human nature, it's difficult to fathom or appreciate that He loves us enough to show up every time, in spite of how we behave. There is no greater love than the one God has for you.
Remember that not everything and everybody can go with you to higher ground. Think about what it feels like trying to carry a 50 lb box up a steep flight of stairs. It’s heavy and once you get up the stairs and put the box down, you feel like you ran a mile even though you only covered a few feet of distance. What would be a better choice? There’s an elevator on every floor of your life. You’ve got to carry your own weight, but there are some people and things you need to put on the elevator of life because God is the conductor of the elevator. If God intends for that person or situation to be in your life at the next level, it will arrive on the elevator by God’s will and that person’s choice or the movement of the situation. Trying to force things to happen is like carrying excessive weight up the stairs. Crying over the past and insisting things be other than what they are is staring woefully hoping the elevator opens on the next level while you’re supposed to be sprinting to the next set of stairs to go to even higher ground.
You’ve got miles to cover on your journey, and you can’t afford to have unnecessary baggage and weight on you. When you are saddled with unnecessary weight in your life, you can not run your race with patience. You are like an Olympic sprinter, running towards your destiny. Imagine arriving to your destiny late, tired, and frustrated because you didn’t completely trust God’s motion in your life. Your destiny is too important for you to be behind God’s timing because of a person or situation that slowed you down! Don’t let people delay your arrival to your destiny.
God is a god of motion. You say you want God to show up in your life? Well get very comfortable with change because that's the first thing that will happen when He shows up. He will take people, places, and things from you - will you trust that there is no error on God's part? In His infinite brilliance, there is no limitation or lack nor is there any foul timing. His plan is perfect, and our submission to that plan is where we get freed up to be, do, and have the abundance He intends for us. Keep an open palm so that you can receive all the things God has for you. Let go of the things God is trying to take from you so He can replace them with something better. Remember that good is the enemy of great! The world will not stop revolving if you let go, but God's appearance in your life will make your world look radically different. If you open your hands, know that some things will be taken away - there will be motion. However other things - anointed things - will begin to flow in, and you can trust in the divine appointment of those things. Don't get in God's way! Run your race, climb your stairs, move to higher ground! Without faith, it's impossible to please God. And ironically, with faith, nothing is impossible for us.
That which has made you free will in the end make you glad also.
Inspired Journaling Prompt: Write about what the next level in your life looks like – who’s there, what’s around you, what does a typical day in that life look like. Now consider what will need to change, how you will need to grow, and who will need to change roles in order for your life to get to that next level.
Inspired Action: Begin packing for your move! Do something this week that will move you closer to the next level – save more money, get an extra workout in, spend a little more time at the office – take eager steps towards your destiny this week…and remember, no baggage!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Moving Through Sad Times
We’ve all dealt with sad times – whether it be the end of a relationship, the death of a friend, or a missed opportunity. Unfortunately, sad times are an inevitable part of our lives. The best thing we can do is find healthy ways to move through sad times and use them as inspiration to press on and live well.
This week, we’re discussing how you can process sadness and move on to brighter days. There are 4 important things for an inspired person to remember when sad times visit.
Acknowledge circumstances. Ignoring tough times doesn’t make them go away; in fact, pretending things away often makes them worse. No matter how difficult, find the courage to face the sad time head on and resolve to move past it with the help of friends, family, and God.
Candidly express your feelings. Be completely honest with yourself and God about where you are. Express all feelings, not just those that seem justified or noble. You’re a human being, and you’re entitled to feel a wide range of emotions. The key is to feel every emotion yet not act on them. Instead, you’ll want to find healthy facilitative ways to release any negative emotions such as journaling, exercising, and prayer.
Have faith that this too shall pass. One of my favorite quotes says that no winter lasts forever and no spring skips its turn. Remember that sad times are temporary and that heartbreak does eventually heal with time. God doesn’t like seeing His children in pain so remember that God loves you no matter what and He’s on your side.
Be patient with yourself. Healing is a process that takes time. As adults, we often want to breeze past hurt feelings and resentments and “get over it”. However, dealing with emotions improperly can cause major issues in our relationships with others and ourselves. Your healing may not be linear; you may find yourself revisiting various stages as you move forward. That’s totally ok. Allow yourself to cry, be angry, be sad, and feel hope rise again.
Inspired Journaling Prompt: Journal about a sad topic and a healthy way to process your sadness. Although sadness is not a fun topic, assessing how you process sadness can help you in the present and the future. Are you suppressing sadness about anything that’s happened recently? Spend time writing candidly about your feelings and how you can resolve them.
Inspired Action: When you find yourself disappointed or upset this week, do something that will move you closer to a solution and something that will feed your spirit. Remember that your emotions need attention like every other important thing in your life.
This week, we’re discussing how you can process sadness and move on to brighter days. There are 4 important things for an inspired person to remember when sad times visit.
Acknowledge circumstances. Ignoring tough times doesn’t make them go away; in fact, pretending things away often makes them worse. No matter how difficult, find the courage to face the sad time head on and resolve to move past it with the help of friends, family, and God.
Candidly express your feelings. Be completely honest with yourself and God about where you are. Express all feelings, not just those that seem justified or noble. You’re a human being, and you’re entitled to feel a wide range of emotions. The key is to feel every emotion yet not act on them. Instead, you’ll want to find healthy facilitative ways to release any negative emotions such as journaling, exercising, and prayer.
Have faith that this too shall pass. One of my favorite quotes says that no winter lasts forever and no spring skips its turn. Remember that sad times are temporary and that heartbreak does eventually heal with time. God doesn’t like seeing His children in pain so remember that God loves you no matter what and He’s on your side.
Be patient with yourself. Healing is a process that takes time. As adults, we often want to breeze past hurt feelings and resentments and “get over it”. However, dealing with emotions improperly can cause major issues in our relationships with others and ourselves. Your healing may not be linear; you may find yourself revisiting various stages as you move forward. That’s totally ok. Allow yourself to cry, be angry, be sad, and feel hope rise again.
Inspired Journaling Prompt: Journal about a sad topic and a healthy way to process your sadness. Although sadness is not a fun topic, assessing how you process sadness can help you in the present and the future. Are you suppressing sadness about anything that’s happened recently? Spend time writing candidly about your feelings and how you can resolve them.
Inspired Action: When you find yourself disappointed or upset this week, do something that will move you closer to a solution and something that will feed your spirit. Remember that your emotions need attention like every other important thing in your life.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tired? Pace yourself!
Are you tired? Do you feel confident and focused? Do you feel exhausted and overwhelmed? So often we find ourselves in going in so many different directions, and as we experience burnout, our emotions begin to play tricks on us. We wonder if we’re on the right path or if we’re even fit to accomplish all of our goals. The call to be excellent and to make an effort at a meaningful life can leave us spent sometimes. I remember a time when I felt spiritually weighed down for a day or 2 and couldn't understand why. I realized I had to get still so I could hear God. When I did, He said to me, "My child, you are simply weary. Rest for a while, and I will give you strength to continue pressing toward the mark. You are on the right path; you're just tired, and that's ok." I began to weep silently because that's what it was. I was simply tired and in need of mental rest. And the more profound thing was that it was perfectly fine. So many of us make outrageous demands on our bodies and minds - as if we’re robots running on batteries who should never need to be replenished and rejuvenated. We often feel guilty or frustrated with our need for rest, play, and rejuvenation. We say things like "The clock doesn't stop" or "Gotta keep moving.", but this point of view does not serve the greater good of our lives. It's ok for some of the things on our to-do lists to be unchecked! The world won't end if we take breaks. This attitude of pressing forward while ignoring pain and fatigue is a nod to spiritual suicide. We are spiritual beings having a human experience; to ignore that the spirit needs rest is to set one's self up for a fall. We all have competing interests and obligations, but we need to be healthy and rested in order to function at optimal levels.
It’s ok to be tired! I know people need you, and I know you have responsibilities and bills, and children and significant others and parents and siblings and school and work and church and community work and personal goals and weight loss goals and personal goals and things that simply have to be done, but be kind and nurturing to yourself. Give yourself mental and emotional rest. This morning I was reading Proverbs, and one of the abiding themes with wisdom is pacing...pacing one's self, pacing the acquisition of material things, pacing relationships, pacing important decisions. Pace yourself! You don't have to win the race tomorrow. All you can do is all you can do and that is enough. Do your best; it isn't necessary to overextend yourself.
Rest when you need to and trust that by honoring your own needs, you are demonstrating self-love which will in turn increase your ability to love others, serve others, and give to others. Treat yourself the way you would your very best friend because you are truly all you have. God has not given you a burning desire to succeed and be prosperous for you to be burnt out! God's protective Hand is guiding you, and His timing is impeccable. He loves you more than you can even comprehend. Be tired, rest, and then begin again with joy, peace, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Inspiration Journal: In what ways have you been overextending yourself lately? Are you pacing yourself or do you feel frantically out of control? Is it time for you to begin delegating tasks that someone else could do? Spend time writing about the pace of your life and how you can be sure you are giving yourself the attention you deserve.
Inspired Action: Spend 45 minutes today on YOU! Do something totally self-indulgent – take a long walk alone and clear your head, buy yourself a new pair of shoes, hire a babysitter and get a massage, head to the beach and enjoy the majesty of the ocean.
It’s ok to be tired! I know people need you, and I know you have responsibilities and bills, and children and significant others and parents and siblings and school and work and church and community work and personal goals and weight loss goals and personal goals and things that simply have to be done, but be kind and nurturing to yourself. Give yourself mental and emotional rest. This morning I was reading Proverbs, and one of the abiding themes with wisdom is pacing...pacing one's self, pacing the acquisition of material things, pacing relationships, pacing important decisions. Pace yourself! You don't have to win the race tomorrow. All you can do is all you can do and that is enough. Do your best; it isn't necessary to overextend yourself.
Rest when you need to and trust that by honoring your own needs, you are demonstrating self-love which will in turn increase your ability to love others, serve others, and give to others. Treat yourself the way you would your very best friend because you are truly all you have. God has not given you a burning desire to succeed and be prosperous for you to be burnt out! God's protective Hand is guiding you, and His timing is impeccable. He loves you more than you can even comprehend. Be tired, rest, and then begin again with joy, peace, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Inspiration Journal: In what ways have you been overextending yourself lately? Are you pacing yourself or do you feel frantically out of control? Is it time for you to begin delegating tasks that someone else could do? Spend time writing about the pace of your life and how you can be sure you are giving yourself the attention you deserve.
Inspired Action: Spend 45 minutes today on YOU! Do something totally self-indulgent – take a long walk alone and clear your head, buy yourself a new pair of shoes, hire a babysitter and get a massage, head to the beach and enjoy the majesty of the ocean.
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