Time change and time zones...

I know that time zones have to be there and I understand the reason for daylight savings time, but both can be a pain. Today is just a pet peeve day - you can look at it as a failure if you want.  

Daylight savings time messes me up more than just the two times it changes each year. I remember the changes this way: Spring forward and Fall back, so that's not the problem for me. Really, even the Spring forward, when we lose an hour of sleep, is not a big deal. The Fall part is what bugs me (I kinda like the extra hour sleep, that night, though). The days, this time of year, get shorter anyway, and then you add to this fact that the time change causes the sunrise to be an hour earlier and sunset follows that same path. This makes for a sunset at 4:45 in the afternoon - it's not even evening yet! You feel like you should get in the bed around 6:00 PM! That's the part that bugs me. 

Time zones are the next thing. We can't all live on the same clock because day would be night and night would be day depending on where you lived and that would be impossible to live with, but I still don't like them. I travel some and most of my customers are in the Eastern time zone, while I'm in the Central. Some of my customers are in the Mountain and Pacific, which makes things even more confusing. When I travel, I use my calendar on my iPhone and iPad and MacBook Pro (I actually use Calengoo - really good App when you have multiple calendars to combine). 

The problem is that I set the appointment in EST, while living in CST, and then when I travel, my phone automatically adjusts to the place I travel to and the time change adjusts the calendar to the different zone. I know there are ways to fix this, but after years of travel I still confuse myself and get frustrated.  So I have decided that I will just go to my appointments whenever I feel like it and my customers will have to be satisfied with the time I arrive. I am going to start living on island time - if you've ever been to an island, you fully understand the concept - set an appointment time but just show up when you feel like it!

Lessons Learned: Stop bring stressed out about time. 

Thoughts: Have you ever missed an appointment because of time zones?

What are you doing? (say it with a sarcastic tone)

I've said before that I like organization and I like the details of life. It drives me crazy to see someone planning something and not think through their plan or look ahead to see what the next step should be. One little missed detail can mess up the entire event being planned, just like one missed ingredient can ruin a meal or cake. We have to pay attention to what we are doing both now and to what's coming up down the road, so we can be effective in what we do.

I have plans for most all that I do. I put my business trips together with details for each hour I'm gone, so I use all the time I can, as wisely as possible. I put a personal budget together with year-out projections and set money aside in several different accounts (emergency, birthday, medical, kid's clothing, etc.) so I'm ahead of the plan for what's coming up during the year. I organize my cold calling and what I have to do for work each day. I plan what I will say in an upcoming meeting. I pack my suitcases two days ahead of a trip. I write out the details for any church function that I'm responsible to handle. I set out a plan for when we do what event on vacation. Call me OCD if you like.

Here's my fail with this. I'm not really flexible with what's going on, so if I get stuck in a traffic jam or if I get a call to say the meeting will start late, I get frustrated and bothered. I also forget that God has a better plan for the time I have each day and that He may be protecting me from something that I can't see ahead to.  I sometimes forget that the financial emergencies of life that eat up all of my budgets and leave me in a bind are to draw me closer to Him, so I can trust Him for His provision and see Him take care of the expense that I didn't see or couldn't plan for.

I still think it's important to be organized and on top of details, but I have to realize that God's plans are much higher than mine. 

Lessons Learned: Be as organized as possible, but trust the Lord for the details. He’s the great organizer, not you anyway...

Thoughts: What details have you been frustrated by lately? 

Christmas is a comin’ and the goose is getting fat...sorry PETA...

This is from an old song/poem and every year I feel like I can start saying/singing this earlier and earlier. I don’t eat goose, but I understand the concept of getting fat during this time of year - hopefully I’m not headed for the slaughter though - again, sorry PETA. It seems like right after Valentine’s day, the Christmas sales and emails begin. I love Christmas and the true meaning of the season. Christmas is a tremendous season, however I think it’s way too commercialized now, but that’s another subject.

Since we are at the Thanksgiving season, I think this is a fine time to start thinking about Christmas. On the Friday after Thanksgiving my family puts up the Christmas trees and all the decorations around he house. We are not extreme with this, but we enjoy the season and all the things that go along with it. We even enjoy all of the silly movies that come along with this season - think Hallmark channel...you know what I mean. 

As we look forward to Christmas, we can enjoy all of the family get-togethers, the Church programs and functions, the work Christmas parties and the extra time with family, but don’t forget, even in this early part, to remember the true meaning of Christmas. God sent His Son to be born so that we could see salvation after He lived His life and died to be the final sacrifice for our sins. 

Be thankful as we finish the Thanksgiving season and look forward to Christmas coming soon.

Lessons Learned: Enjoy the season, but don’t forget the real reason.

Thoughts: How much of your Christmas list is finished already?

Amazed, grateful and in awe...

First of all, I’m amazed that God would love me the way He has and does! Why would I possibly deserve His love and grace in my life. That the Creator of the universe would send His Son to die for me and that He put me in a home that allowed me to hear the Gospel is truly amazing. The other part of that amazing, is that God not only saves us, but wants to be a regular part of our lives. He actually cares about my every need and wants me to share those needs with Him. That’s truly AMAZING!!!

Next, I’m grateful! There are so many things in my life that I don’t deserve and I have been blessed beyond any possible measure. I am grateful for my family. I have an incredible Wife and four wonderful children that are a gift from the Lord. I have a tremendous church to be involved in. I have been given ministry opportunities that are a blessing. I have a great home to live in and nice vehicles to drive. I have a good job (I know others that are not in that position right now). I have friends that put up with me. I am very GRATEFUL!!!

Finally, I’m in awe! I already listed all the things that amaze me and some of the many things I’m grateful for, but I’m in awe of one unbelievable thing in my life. God never gives up on me. He is always faithful to me. Every time I fail, He picks me up and whenever I choose to sin, He forgives me. God loves me so much, that He takes me in His arms and comforts me as I struggle with failure. I am so grateful that I can fail and that He forgives me.

Lessons Learned: Always be amazed, grateful and in awe of what you have and who you are.

Thoughts: What have you been grateful for today?

Choose your thankfulness...

We all have choices in life. We can choose to be happy. We can choose to be upset. We can choose to be kind to others. We can choose to cut someone off when we drive. We can choose to say things that will impact others and encourage them. We can choose to say things that aren’t true and hurt others. The choices we make impact us and those around us daily.

We can also choose to be thankful. I think that thankfulness is an attitude and a choice, not just something we do once a year in November. I think, that people, that are truly grateful are grateful all year round. I think that being thankful is hard and takes constant effort to ensure you express your gratitude to others. I think that thankfulness is a choice and we either choose to be thankful or we don’t. It’s not natural, but it’s incredibly valuable to you and to the ones you thank.

In saying all that, I think that we should be thankful for everything we have, not just the positives in life. We’re all grateful for the good things that occur each day and week. We are grateful as we look back on a year of good things that have occurred and we take time to express that to others and to the Lord, but we forget the “bad” things. I think the “bad” things come to us for a reason and God wants us to be grateful for them and the lessons we learn from them too. We need to look at the positives within the negatives and find what we should be thankful for with them too.

Finally, just be thankful! Make it a lifestyle and not just a happenstance...

Lessons Learned: God is good - Always!!!

Thoughts: Have you said thanks for the tough things that happened this year?

Thanks...I mean it...

I notice a couple of things about thankfulness that seem odd to me...

Lots of folks are not thankful. I see nice things done for people all the time and yet the people who received the act of kindness seem to think they deserve it. This would not be completely odd in a young child, but it’s really strange with an adult. Why would someone not say thanks for a kindness done to or for them? Have we trained people to expect everything as an entitlement? Do people truly believe that they owe nothing to others? To those who have helped them?

It is amazing to me that people do not say thanks. I would rather thank someone twice to be sure they heard it than leave it alone and say nothing. Not everyone expects thanks and they shouldn't, but it encourages the one who gave, when they are thanked for the thing they did. We should look at thankfulness as a ministry and know that we impact others by being grateful. Giving is better than receiving so we should give thanks.

On the other hand, lots of folks say thanks, but don't mean it. They say it in passing, as if they feel obliged to do so. They feel like a cosmic force pushes them to say the word “thanks.” Sometimes people say thanks just to get credit or look good to others. They will say thanks in front of a group or certain individuals so that those people think well of them. This is not effective and, usually people see through it, so it hurts rather than helps. 

One of the points of being thankful is understanding that something was done for you that you didn’t deserve, and another, is to be a blessing to the one who was kind to you. 

Lessons Learned: Be thankful...and mean it. 

Thoughts: When was the last time you took someone aside and truly thanked them?

Admit your mistakes...

Most people, not only hate failure, but they hate admitting their failures even more. I can't say that I'm at a point where I truly enthusiastically embrace failure or desire to fail everyday, but I have learned to deal with it as it happens and to learn from it. There are tons of valuable lessons to be learned from every mistake we make, whether it was on purpose or by accident. 

I went to Walmart last week, where I had too pick up a couple of items and I had three experiences where someone failed and didn't want to admit it.

1. I came up to a line to pay for my items and a lady quickly cut in front of me as she saw me approach the line. She had nothing in her hands and no buggy. I had only two items. She was trying to save a spot for her husband, who had a cartful of stuff and was 20 feet behind her. She made no apology and I let her stay in front of me, without saying anything. Her husband saw my two items and what she had done and quickly told me to go ahead because I had so few things to pay for. He got a glare and I'm sure he has a nice sofa to sleep on tonight. She failed, but didn't admit it or let it go. I thanked them as i left the checkout, for allowing me to go ahead of them. He smiled and she glared.
2. I pulled out of my parking spot and began to head down the lane. As I slowly moved along, a man speedily backed out right in front of me and I beeped so I wouldn't get hit and, hopefully would cause him to stop. He didn't stop, but I got out of the way alright. He waved at me, as if to say thanks for letting me out. He, very likely, knew he was in the wrong, but tried to pass it off instead of admitting his wrong.   
3. I pulled out onto the road and was driving along and a young guy turned left directly in front of me. He saw me, but turned his head pretending that he was looking at something else and didn't face me. I see this all the time while driving - people cut you off and then look away with the hope you don't get mad at them or act like they did nothing wrong. They react to their guilt by ignoring the problem, instead of facing you and waving in apology. 

Lessons Learned: When we make a mistake or fail, just admit it and move on, being sure to make it right to the best of our ability. 

Thoughts: Did you cut someone off today? 

Guy and the Bozos...

I was able to attend a leadership seminar where Guy Kawasaki shared some insights about business. It was very helpful and he was dead on target with his approach to business and growing companies. He had several points that were simple and gave direction for how to move a business forward.

I like these types of events because they are motivating and they give me principles that can help me in my daily work. I also like them because, sometimes I can apply them to my life personally and to ministry, that I may be involved with. In today’s case, he reminded us not to let the bozos get us down and he gave several examples, in business where people thought the next great idea or invention was a waste of time - Yahoo, the telephone, the computer, etc.

This made me think about my life. I am not perfect and I fail a bunch, thus my entire premise for this blog. I do things the way I believe they should be done and I try to give my best. Sometimes that’s not good enough and sometimes people talk behind my back with their own ideas. I don’t get hurt by that, because they are the bozos in my life. Once in awhile they even say something to me directly, telling me how I have done the wrong thing or done it the wrong way.

One example of this is in ministry. I work in several areas of my church and try my best to help our Pastor and the ministry with the gifts God has given me. One of my favorite areas is our annual Mission’s Conference every February. We do a lot that week and it takes me, literally, hundreds of hours in preparation and detail to get all the work done, set up and orchestrate all the segments of the week. I don’t try and do it for the praise (sure I get selfish once in awhile), but I really put a bunch of work into it.

Last year, I remember someone (they were well meaning, I think) came up to me near the end of the week and told me several items I did wrong and ways they would do it to make it better. I took he advice (I have actually asked them to help this year), but inside, I thought “Why didn’t you come to me and help me at the beginning?” “Why didn’t you put any work into this week other than the criticism?” I could have taken the thoughts and become discouraged, but instead, I realized they were being a bozo at that moment and I just finished the week to the best of my ability.

Lessons Learned: Don’t let the bozos get you down. They will take your plans, ideas and work, and discourage you from moving forward. (Credit to Guy Kawasaki)

Thoughts: Have you been a bozo to someone this week?

First napkin experience...

Recently I was in a restaurant on another business trip in Texas and went out to eat for supper. When I sat down there was a napkin folded neatly around my silverware neatly placed and ready for me. It's nice to walk into a restaurant and have it already set up for your meal, so I was impressed. 

I ordered my Coke Zero with lemon and lime (this is the only way to have it) and also ordered my meal. As I was eating, I realized that I needed some extra napkins (I'm a sloppy eater), so I asked the waiter for a couple more. This is where the story changes. The napkins that he brought we're the little drink napkins that you put under your Coke Zero with lemon and lime. Those napkins are just about useless! They generally fall apart when you use them and really aren't that good under your Coke Zero with lemon and lime.  This was not the first time this had happened to me at a restaurant. 

These are some thoughts that came to mind as I was looking at the useless napkins:

Are first impressions the only impressions we need to make, or does our character shine through even more effectively when we consistently have the same attitude of excellence? Are we, as people in life and in business, supposed to just do our best at first? Are we to focus on the initial impression so much that we forget about all the other details? Should we just hook people by the outward show or should we have that true intrinsic desire to do our absolute best all the way through? 

Lessons learned: Think about how deep our principles run and how important the little things are along the way.

Thoughts: Do you give people a first napkin experience all the time?

Compliance and the donut shop...

I was talking to my sales team last week about what motivates people. The lowest common denominator that motivates each of us is simply compliance. DO IT OR ELSE! Our parents used it. Lots of bosses use it. Many people use it with their friends. We use it. Compliance motivates us to just obey. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s important to obey and be in line with what you should be doing, but sometimes we get demotivated by obeying for obedience sake. We have to take it to the next level.

We have to change our attitudes to do right because it’s right, not just to comply with the authority figure in our lives. We shouldn't serve the Lord, just because we think that others want us to. We should do it because we want to and we know it’s right and that it will please the Lord. We often hear a good preacher say what he does and then we emulate it because he said we should.  It truly may be a good thing to do, but it should be done for more than “just because.” it should be a want to inside of us.

I want my children to comply to my authority in their lives and my boss wants me to comply to his authority on the job, but as a leader we should help those that follow us understand why it’s a good idea to obey the commands we give. If we take a few minutes to give a simple explanation of the importance of the compliance item, we will go a lot further than just saying “DO IT, BECAUSE I SAID SO!”

Lessons Learned: Lead with leadership and not just the “I said so” attitude.

Thoughts: Do you like donuts? (has nothing to do with my thoughts today - I just like donuts)