If you are thinking of giving up …

If you think you can you can; if you think you can't you're right.
If you are going to change the world, you might as well start with changing your world.
If you want to do something, just go right ahead and DO IT.
If you want to increase your chances of succeeding in what you are doing, do it over and over again until it succeeds.
Even if you are not doing anything, I want you to know that you are destined for greatness.
So, if you are thinking of giving up, just remember, it's on record.

Unto whom shall we look?

If the farmer refuses to sow
If the fields lie bare, untilled
Unto whom shall we look?

If the rains refuse to fall
If the shoot withers and dies, thirsty
Unto whom shall we look?

If the reapers refuse to reap
If the harvest withers and rots
Unto whom shall we look?

If the miller refuses to grind
If the grain is ungrounded
Unto whom shall we look?

If the cook refuses to bake bread
If the mill is not mixed
Unto whom shall we look?

Unto whom shall we look?
Unto whom shall we look?
Unto whom shall we look?

Unto God shall we look!
Unto the creator of the heavens and the earth
Unto the Lord Our Provider, Jehovah Jaireh

Fine-tune Your Vision and Strategy to Achieve Your Goals in 2010

As the year draws to an end, there is an increasing amount of talk about redoubling our efforts towards achieving our goals: there is a lot of talk about strategy and less talk about vision.  This kind of troubles me and that is why I am writing this post.

A lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
The palmist described the word of God as a lamp to his feet and a light to his path (Psalm 119:104).  I did not clearly understand what this meant until recently when one of our pastors explained it to us during a weekly business training class.  He brought to our attention the fact that when a person is walking there are two things that he has to have a clear sight of or risk tripping.  First, he has to have a clear sight of where he is going; thus, his path.  Second, the person has to have a clear sight of where his feet is stepping; thus, his feet.  Therefore, when a person is walking he always needs illumination on his path and on his feet or risk tripping.

So, what does all this have to do with vision, strategy and goal-setting?  I am glad you asked.

Well, we have just said that when a person is walking he always needs illumination on his path and on his feet or risk tripping. In simple terms, a vision is a picture of what is ahead of you and a strategy is the roadmap to what is ahead of you.  You cannot get or reach to what is ahead of you unless you can clearly see it just as much as you cannot walk and not risk tripping unless you have clear sight of your path and feet. The illumination on the path of the man gives him a clear sight of where he is going like a good vision.  The illumination at the feet of the man gives him a clear sight of where his feet is stepping like a good strategy.  

There is need for illumination both on the man's path and at his feet or risks tripping.  Likewise, there is need for a good vision and a good strategy to guide you to where you are going or you risk tripping. Vision and strategy are both important in your life to guide you to where you are going.

Fine-tune Your Vision and Strategy to Achieve Your Goals in 2010
I have already told you that I am kind of troubled by the lot of talk about strategy and less talk about vision. Many of us believe, or have been made to believe, that when things are not working it is because we have a bad strategy – there is not enough illumination on our feet.  In a number of instances, this is true but not all the time.  Do you suppose that when you do not have a clear picture of where you want to go, you can have a clear picture of how you are going to get there?  Sometimes, things do not work because we have a blurred vision – there is not enough illumination on our path.

Think about it.

If you cannot clearly see what is ahead of you, do you suppose you can get it?  Let alone, create a roadmap to it? I do not think so.  If you cannot clearly see what is ahead of you, it is most likely that you will have a roadmap that cannot get you to it.  Howbeit, even if you can clearly see what is ahead of you, you can also have a roadmap that cannot get you to it.  If you are going to get what is ahead of you, you need both a clear picture of what is ahead of you and a clear roadmap to what is ahead of you: if you are going to get where you going in 2010, you need both a clear vision and a clear strategy.

Clear sight of where you are going and of where your feet are stepping are like a good vision and a good strategy.  A good vision represents clear sight of where you are going. A good strategy represents clear sight of where your foot is stepping. Both, a good vision and a good strategy, guide you to where you are going or you risk tripping.

If you are tripping, first check whether it is your vision or strategy that is faulty before you do anything. If your vision is faulty, adjust both your vision and strategy accordingly.  However, if it is your strategy that is faulty, adjust your strategy accordingly and keep up with your vision.  Do not rush to assume that it is your strategy that is faulty as no matter how many times you may adjust your strategy it will not get you to where you are going if it is your vision that is faulty.

Be Inspired.

It's Not What You Are That Holds You Back…

"It's not what you are that holds you back; it's what you think you're not." – Dennis Waitley

To the extent that our self-perceptions liberate us to do things, pursue opportunities and take on challenges is to the extent we are liberated within ourselves.  Conversely, to the extent that our self-perceptions restrict us to do things, pursue opportunities and take on challenges is to the extent we are restricted within ourselves.  Our thoughts about ourselves determines what we do and what we do not do; the opportunities we pursue and the opportunities we not pursue; the challenges we take on and the challenges we do not take on. Maybe if we could only turn the negative thoughts that we have about ourselves into positive ones, we could do more, pursue more opportunities and take on more challenges to liberate ourselves more. Be Inspired.

Romans 12:2

'Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'
– Romans 12:2

The pattern of this world is to copy another person's success.  However, we are all different and we each have a unique contribution to make in this world.  And God, being all-knowing, will set us up for greatness differently – as individuals. We need to settle this matter in our minds and begin to act accordingly if we are to show the glory of God in this world.  Do not be afraid to look and be different:   think, speak and act different for that is how you are going to make your mark in this world.

Feel free to add your comments to this article below.

Be Inspired.

The World-Class Athlete Who did not Run the Race

"On your marks… get set… ready…"  

Blast!  

All the runners take off except one.  Though his  
supporters cheer him on, he remains on his  
mark, head up, watching the others go.  He
stays in the same position until the race is
finished.  

After the race, his coach runs up to him and
wearingly asks him what went wrong.  The lad  
turns to look at his coach and excitedly  
exclaims, "Coach, I've achieved my dream,  
coach!" raising his hands as if he were the
winner of the race.  The coach is dump folded  
and gives the lad a questioning stare. "Yea, I've  
made it. I've made it to the big race," the young  
athlete beams out.

It took some time for the coach to understand  
what the athlete was saying but it finally
emerged that a lot of people had told the athlete  
that they would be proud of him even if he only
qualified for the race. So, he made it his life
dream and ambition to make it into the race until  
he did.  And when had done so, it never  
occurred to him that he had to run the race – so  
he didn't.

This story may shock many of us but this is a  
typical example of how some of us have
shortchanged ourselves in life.  This may not  
true for every area of our lives but in some of  
them. The two that came to mind right now are
your purpose and your walk of faith.  

·        Your Purpose
Many of us are excited at the prospect  
of finding out what our purpose in life is.    
We have been told of all the benefits of
finding our purposes so much that it  
passes us that finding our purposes is
only the fist step of the journey; it is like  
making it to the starting point of your big
race in life.  After finding out what is  
your purpose in life you have the new  
task of pursuing it. If you just find your  
purpose and don't pursue it you're no  
different to the world-class athlete who
made it to the tracks he so desired and
prepared for but did not run the race
when the time to do so came.


·        Your Walk of Faith
Another place where people act like the
world-class athlete who did not run the
race is in their walk of faith. Many  
people have 'surrendered' their lives to
Christ but care not to live for him.  
Responding to Christ's call to salvation
and repenting from one's sinfulness is
but making it to the big race. Running
the race to win it starts with you  
changing your ways, flows into your  
involvement into Christian service,  
transcends into your work of faith.  Your  
walk of faith will lead you to a place  
where you do exploits for God when it is  
full blown. Up till this happens, you are  
like the world-class athlete who has not  
run the race.

Are you pursuing your purpose?  Are you
growing in your walk of faith? The world-class  
athlete lived the rest of his life regretting that he  
had missed his opportunity to run his big race.  
Are you running yours?

Be Inspired.

Run with Purpose

When God created you, He did so with a specific purpose in mind.  Find out what it is. Ask Him what it is. See what it is, write it down and run with it. "I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim)" Paul writes in one of his letters to the Corinthians. In other words, he was saying "I run with a definite aim" or "I run with purpose." My exhortation to you this week is make it your business to find your purpose and run with it. In other words,  Run with purpose.

"LIFE IS MORE THAN FOOD, AND THE BODY MORE THAN CLOTHES." (LUKE 12:23)

Jesus assured us that God will always see to it that our
daily needs are met. We need not worry of what we
will eat, what we will drink or what we will wear.
God will supply all our needs. He is the God who
feeds the birds of the air – that neither reap nor sow
and have neither storeroom nor barn – and dresses the
grass of the field – which neither labours nor spins.
This same God will always supply us with
something to eat, something to drink and something
to wear. Just you dare to believe God’s word.

What’s Your Unique Area of Competence? I Know Mine. Do You Know Yours?

Let's keep it simple this week… Yes?

Unique Area of Competence – the one thing an individual is really good at doing.

My Unique Area of Competence – the one thing I am really good at doing, which is clear, concise writing.

Your Unique Area of Competence – the one thing you are really good at doing, which is…

What's Your Unique Area of Competence?  I Know Mine. Do You Know Yours?

If

1.
If you say that you are not like your "friend," one way or another you are telling a lie.

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Proverbs 13:20

2.
If you are thinking of giving up, just remember it's on record.

You yourselves are our letters … known and read by everybody.

2 Corinthians 3:2

3.
If you are going to change the world, you might as well start with changing your world.

… first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Matthew 7:5

4.
If you think you can you can; if you think you can't you're right.

"… we certainly can do it."

Numbers 13:31
5.
If you plan to do something, just go right ahead and DO IT.

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Proverbs 14:13

6.
If you want to increase your chances of succeeding in what you are doing, do it over and over again – until it succeeds.

Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or both will do equally well.

Ecclesiastes 11:6

Just do it!

When people around you expect very little of you, it is difficult to acquire and maintain a healthy self-confidence. Most likely you play it safe and avoid challenges for fear of failing. Without the experience of success and failures, you will not be able to learn from these experiences and grow as a person, will not realize your potential. Instead, your example will confirm society’s prejudice that you are incompetent and helpless.

Adopted from a speech by Dr. Adolf Ratzka (2007).

Wanna Stay Ahead in Your Game? Give Eddie’s 8-Step Goal Review System a Try…

Eddie’s Goal Review System is simple. You can use it to review all your goals at once or each of your goals one at a time. If you do not have a lot of time in your hands right now, you can begin to think through the whole process by looking at the questions that I ask under each step.

Step #1: State your original goal

What is it that you set out to do in the first place?

Be as precisely as you can. Writing it down. Look back at the day that you set your goal and say, ‘When I set this goal, this is what I am/was aiming for.’

Step #2: Measure the progress that you have made on your goal

What are the things that you have done and you believe have moved you a step closer to the achievement of that which you set out to do?

If you are writing a book, out of the number of chapters that you expect to write, how many chapters have you written so far? In whatever it is that you are doing or are supposed to have done, how far have you gone?

Step #3: State your current position

What’s your position in relation to what you should have accomplished by now?

You can either be on target, off target or above target. Knowing your current position will help you decide what you need to do next.

Step#4: Outline the obstacles that have been keeping you from your goal

What are the things that have held you back from the pursuit and achievement of that which you set out to do?

List all the things that you believe would make the pursuit of your goal easier if you had these things. These may be the lack of certain material possessions, the lack of emotional support of your peers or anything that comes to mind.

Step #5: Outline the things that have been driving you closer to your goals

What are the things that have propelled you forward towards the pursuit and achievement of that which you set out to do?

Now, list all the things that you believe have made the pursuit of your goal easier or less impossible.

Step #6: State the strategy that you are going to take towards your goals

In the light of the obstacles that you have faced and the things that have propelled you forward what is your action plan?

Come up with an action plan. Carefully consider the things that are to your advantage and decide what you are going to do to see to it that you achieve your goal. While you are at it, keep in mind the obstacles that you have to overcome as this will help you keep it real. However, if there’s nothing to your advantage in relation to any particular goal of yours do not hesitate to drop that goal.

Step #7: Restate your goal or set a new goal

From this point forth, what are you setting out to do?

What is your goal? Is it still the one you set at the beginning of the year or you have made some changes to cater for the things that have either been holding you back or propelling you forward?

Step #8: State and date the outcomes that you want to see

What do you expect to see and [by] when?

Mark down all the milestones and achievements that you want to see as you pursue your goal. These can also be used as signposts to your progress at every step of your journey to doing whatever it is that you set out to do.

Be inspired.

How TO Prove That You Can – in 39 words!

“I Can. I Can. I Can.”

Sure, prove it to me.

If you are capable of doing what you claim to be able to do, it should not be hard for me to figure that out.

You just do it!

Really, do you have faith in your abilities?

Last time, I closed my article with these few thoughts: Are you ready to save the day? Are you confident enough to say, “I can do it!” where no one cares to ask you? Can you offer a solution to the problem when everyone has long given up on the situation because they cannot see any possible solution in sight? Do you have faith in your abilities?

Today I want to ask you, “Really, do you have faith in your abilities?”

You know, faith in your abilities is demonstrated by your actions. If you just say that you have faith in your abilities and do nothing to change the situation, you are no different to the person that does not have faith in their abilities: You both do nothing to change the situation.

If you have faith in your abilities, you will do something to change the situations.

Consider the following situations that people once looked at and saw as situations that could not be changed.

1878-“Electric lights are unworthy of serious attention.”
1901-“No possible combination can be united into a practical machine by which men shall fly.”
1926-(from a scientist) “This foolish idea of shooting at the moon is basically impossible.”
1930-(another scientist) “To harness the energy locked up in matter is impossible.”

Well, there are people that had faith in their abilities and did something to change these situations; they came up with solutions to the problems that people faced because of these situations. They saved the day.

Are you ready to save the day? Will you be the one who will do something that will change the situation? Will you be the one who will come up with the solutions to the problems that people faced because of the situation? Really, do you have faith in your abilities?

Do you have faith in your abilities?

Are you confident enough to say, “I can do it!” where no one cares to ask you?

Can you offer a solution to the problem when everyone has long given up on the situation because they cannot see any possible solution in sight?

Yes? No? Maybe?

It depends?!

I am writing this article after much reflection on David’s encounter with Goliath. While David did defeated Goliath in battle and killed him, none of the people around him had any expectation that he could do it. In fact, when he proposed that he wanted to do it, the people around him tried to stop him. His brothers were the first to discourage him. They rose up and tried to size him down:

When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle." - 1 Samuel 17:28

They could not see how David could possibly provide them with the solution to the problem. The crisis that was before them was something that was beyond them:

Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.

Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other." On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. - 1 Samuel 17:1-11,16

It was hard for his brothers, or anyone else, to think that David could rescue them from the situation. Saul wanted to dismiss David thinking that he was incompetent:

Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth." - 1 Samuel 17:33

This only prompted David to produce his “credentials”:

But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you." - I Samuel 17:34-37

David’s “credentials” impressed Saul and he left it all in David’s hands. He did what he knew best to do: he slew the giant. David saved the day.

Are you ready to save the day? Are you confident enough to say, “I can do it!” where no one cares to ask you? Can you offer a solution to the problem when everyone has long given up on the situation because they cannot see any possible solution in sight? Do you have faith in your abilities?

Quote:

"Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy."
–Norman Vincent Peale

Go For What You WANT Without Reservations

In today’s article I am going to share with you 3 principles for going for what you want without reservations – and getting it. You can find the story I refer to in my illustrations in 2 Kings 2:1-11.

Principle 1: Decide what you want
This is very important. Even if you do not tell it to anyone, be sure that you know what it is that you want. Elisha wanted to be Elisha’s successor and was able to articulate it very clearly.

Principle 2: Position yourself to get what you want
Run after what you want; gather the resources, find the people, learn the skill, create the time, do whatever it takes for you to get what you want. Elisha was ready to follow Elijah wherever he was going because he knew that that was the only way that he could get the mantle of leadership that was on Elijah.

Principle 3: Ignore the voices…
… no matter how loud they become. There are voices of discouragement everywhere. You must choose to ignore these voices and go for what you want anyway. Elijah repeatedly instructed Elisha to stay but he followed him. The other prophets could have disrupted his attention but he answered them, “Do not speak of it.”

I sincerely believe that everything that everything that you may ever want is within your reach. Decide what you want, position yourself to get what you want and ignore the voices. Elisha followed these steps and got what he wanted. You, too, can get anything that you may ever want by followingthese steps.

Be Inspired.

Life is a jouney

Life is a journey. Like for all other jounies, your life must lead to a predetermined destination, which you see when you look in a specific direction and will only reach after travelling the distance.

2010 is Yours…Set Your Life in Motion… and Here’s How

2010 is yours!

Every day you have an opportunity to take yet another step towards your aspirations. There are 365 days in every year. How many steps can you take towards your aspirations this year? How many of your aspirations can you pursue this year?

Truly, 2010 is yours! There are countless steps that can you take towards your aspirations this year and you can pursue a lot of of your aspirations this year.

Set Your Life in Motion

If you will not set your life in motion, nobody else will.

Only you can!

You can start the journey to your dreams. You can start the journey to your dream job… your dream house… your dream lifestyle… your dream ANYTHING. Today!

Here’s how

• Name what you want

• Be passionate about what you want

• Do everything you can to get what you want

• If you do not get it the first time, keep going for it. NEVER QUIT!

Be Inspired.

Yes, You Deserve It!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s the start of yet another year and I hope that you have almost finished setting your goals for 2010. 

Goal setting can be a daunting task, especially when you get to that point when you have to consider the amount of money that you need in order for you to do everything that you want. You may discover that you do not have enough money for everything that you want, nor do you have a way of making the difference over the year.

In this case the most logical thing for you to do is to cut back on your goals. This usually involves doing away with those goals that you think are “unnecessary and expensive.” Very often the “unnecessary and expensive” goals are goals that create you a better quality of life.

You may believe that it is okay for you to achieve a host of other things, like getting a university degree, paying all your bills on time, paying your children’s school fees and reading 100 self-help books, and not create a better quality of life for yourself.

It is unnecessary and it is too expensive you may reason with yourself.

Well, that the goals that create you a better quality of life are expensive may be true but that they are unnecessary may not be true.

Everybody deserves a better quality of life – and you are no exception.

Getting a university degree, paying all your bills on time, paying your children’s school fees and reading 100 self-help books are worthwhile goals and so is living a better quality of life.

Living a better quality of life is not the acquisition of knowledge about or that promises a better life, like getting a university degree. Rather, it is choosing a more luxurious lifestyle for yourself.

Creating a better quality of life for yourself will improve your self confidence, improve your standard of living and enable you to enjoy life more.

A better quality of life is also a demonstration of self-love to the world. Well, not in a bad sense but a good one. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbours as much as we love ourselves. You can only desire a better quality of life for others when you have a better quality of life. People have something to ask for from you when they see you living a better quality of life with time.

Pursue whatever goal you feel necessary for you to pursue in 2010, but not on the expense of a better quality of life. Achieving a better quality of life must be as important to you as achieving all these other things. You deserve it.