It's Never Too Early

Advice is great.  It helps people learn from the successes and failures of others.  It is great to learn from people that have been in your situation or have experienced what you are about to experience. 
The only problem with advice is that people usually wait too long to ask for it.  People are either in denial or they are so sure that they are the only ones in history that are facing their current issue that they are embarrassed to ask.

If you want to stay on top, if you want to be the best spouse, employee, employer, parent, friend, teacher, coach, player, anything... then you must learn to ask for advice before you need it.  It is better to ask how to have a successful marriage before having to ask how to salvage one.  It is better to ask how to stay healthy as you age rather than how to lose 100 pounds.  It is better to ask how you can better do your job rather than asking what you could have done better when you lose it.  It is better to ask how to stay out of debt than to ask how to get out of it.  My former boss and current mentor called this getting a checkup rather than an autopsy.  Perfect example!

Please understand that it is never to late to ask for help.  But it is also never too early to ask for advice.  Keep learning, growing, seeking, asking, searching, and striving.  

The Myth of Multitasking

It is cool to be a multitasker these days.  Many people have so many things to do that they feel like they need to do them all at the same time in order to finish.  Some really have too much to do while others just like to feel important.

The reality is multitasking is impossible.  The human brain cannot effectively do 2 or more tasks at the same time.   Those that are good multitaskers are actually good switchers, meaning the ability to quickly switch from one task to another.

For example, my Dad pretends like he can read the paper, watch tv, and have a conversation at the same time.  Now although it may seem like he is doing all of those at once, he is actually switching from task to task. (Which he does quite well.)

You may be someone that can talk on the phone, check your e-mail, cook dinner, and watch your kids all at the same time.  Although you may have 4 or 5 "tasks" going on, you are only doing one of them at a time.  You stop talking on the phone while you read your e-mail.  You stop watching your kids while you are browning the meat.  You let the water boil over while you are checking Facebook. 

Multitasking or "switching" is an important skill to learn as long as you remember 2 things.
1. Be Respectful - When people are involved it is important to make them feel important.  Stop everything and listen to what they have to say.  If you only have 3 minutes then tell them you only have 3 minutes.
2. Focus First - First, take time to focus on each task and complete it so you can do it to the best of your ability.  You'll be impressed with yourself when you knock out your to-do list.  Multitask the rest of your list if necessary.

(Sidenote:  Multitasking is only good when one of the tasks is mindless or takes a while to complete.  My wife reads while blow-drying her hair.  My friend listens to audiobooks while on his commute.  I check e-mail, Facebook, and Twitter while in the bathroom....oh don't even act like you don't do the same!)

80/20 Service

There are a lot of good hearted people in the world today.  As a matter of fact, I would say that over 90% of humans would help someone if they got the chance.

Unfortunately, there is an 80/20 rule when it comes to serving.  This rule says that 80% of the work will get done by 20% of the people.  This is true for churches, schools, businesses, government, and serving in general.  Well if over 90% are willing to serve but only 20% are actually serving, what is the problem?

The problem isn't THAT people don't want to serve but rather the problem is HOW people want to serve.  There are a lot of people that want to serve, IF they can do it their way.  Everyone has gifts and they want to use them.  However, if my gift is building and creating and you need me to serve in the nursery then I won't do it.

The point is this.  Everyone has gifts and talents that they need to use.  BUT sometimes it is best to serve where you're needed rather than where you want to be.  Know the goal, focus on the end result, and do your part to help the team.  Not every service and skill is needed all of the time.  So help out where you can to keep the 20% from burning out.

The Only Thing Harder Than Forgiveness....

The only thing harder than forgiveness is the alternative. 

Read that again.  Think about how true that is.

Forgiving someone can be one of the hardest things you will ever have to do.  The only thing harder than forgiveness is living your life without a friend, parent, sibling, or child that you choose not to forgive.  The only thing harder than forgiveness is carrying hatred, darkness, blame, and painful memories with you everyday of your life. 

"But you don't understand what they did!"  "But you don't understand what I they put me through!"   That is very true.  Unfortunately until you forgive, you are letting them put you through it everyday.  Until you forgive, you are choosing to carry hatred, darkness, blame, and painful memories with you everywhere you go.  Until you forgive, that relationship that you are longing for will never heal.


"How can I forgive when it hurts so much?"
How can you hold on to the pain and broken relationship when it hurts even more?

The only thing harder than forgiveness is the alternative.  Who do you need to forgive?


BTW - This quote is from the book What's So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey. Check it out from your local library.  I believe it will change your perspective.

New Job Smell

Changing jobs can be very exciting.  You get a new office, new title, new job description and new responsibilities.  You may need new clothes for your new job and new office supplies for your new desk.  Although your reputation always follows you, a job change can give you the chance to start afresh.

Beginning a new job can also be challenging.  Leaving people that you know, love, trust, and have inside jokes with and starting all over again with names, faces, personalities, buildings, rules, and culture can sometimes be a little scary as well.


Well today was the first day of my new job.  I have been teaching 7th Grade Geography for 4 years at Western Oaks Middle School and I loved every moment of it.  I worked with great students, faculty, staff and administration and will always have a place in my heart for the Western Oaks Warriors.

I  am now an Assistant Principal at Kenneth Cooper Middle School.  (I am an intern which means I have all of the rights and responsibilities of an assistant principal while maintaining teacher pay and being mentored by seasoned administrators.)  I am very excited about this new position as I will be challenged and stretched in new ways and hopefully be able to impact the lives of even more students by impacting teachers.  Although this was only my first day, I met some wonderful people that will be very fun to work with.  I am looking forward to getting to know them better and meeting the rest of the faculty, staff and students of Cooper Middle School.

A Better Way To Live

Thanks to Tim McGraw and Kris Allen, we have all heard the saying "Live like you were dying."  This saying encourages us to live life to the fullest, tell your family and friends that you love them, and make decisions as though there is no tomorrow.  I am a fan of this saying, except for the fact that we would all be broke since there would be no reason to save money.

I recently read the book A Better Way to Live by Og Mandino (one of my favorite authors).  He says that we should live like everyone else is dying.  Mandino writes:

"Beginning today, treat everyone you meet, friend or foe, loved one or stranger, as if they were going to be dead at midnight.  Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward.  Your life will never be the same again."

Now that is a challenge.  I mean I don't have a problem going sky diving, rocky mountain climbing, or going 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.  But asking me to treat every person I meet with all of the care, love, kindness, and understanding that I can muster is a different story.

Think about it though.  How do you suppose people would react if you treated them with unexpected and undeserved love and kindness?  How would your cashier, bank teller, food server, teacher, student, friend or family member feel if you stepped out of your comfort zone and talked to them as if you may be the last person that made them feel important?  Well how would you respond if someone did that to you?

So the next time you see a familiar face or meet someone, treat them as though they will be gone at midnight and make them feel important on their last day on Earth.

By the way, there are 16 other timeless principles that Og Mandino recommends to live by in his book A Better Way to Live.  It's a quick read and I recommend it.

Out In The Open

What are you broadcasting?

I heard a statement on the radio that said something like this:

"One of the best things that could happen to you is if all of your sins and secrets were broadcast on the 6 o'clock news.  This way there would be no more hiding, covering up lies, and you would be forced to deal with any issues that you are struggling with."

Best thing?  My first reaction was that sounds like one of the worst things that could happen to you.  Embarrassment, humiliation and shame are words that come to mind.  Yet after thinking about it, there is unexplainable freedom in honesty and openness.  Don't get me wrong, it is difficult and humbling.  But there is something about confessing and asking forgiveness that is life changing.  (speaking from experience...thank you Jesus!)

Now I am not suggesting that you tell everyone, every sin you have ever committed.  That is between you and God.  Rather, I am suggesting that starting today you live your life in such a way that you (and everyone you know) would be pleased with anything that shows up about you on the news, facebook, or youtube.  Starting today, make the decision to do the right thing, just because it's the right thing.  Starting today, seek help where you need it.  Starting today, lead a life that you and your family can be proud of. 

Would you be proud if your every move was made public?  

 

What Is Your Brand?

What do Kleenex, Daisy Duke, iPods, Scotch tape and Ziploc baggies have in common?  They are revolutionary.  Not only did they make a great product but their brand name is the first thing that comes to mind. Think about it.  When you need to blow your nose what do you ask for?  When you see someone with short shorts what are they wearing?  If you see someone with headphones in what are they listening to?  If you need to wrap a present what type of tape do you need?  If you need to keep some food fresh what type of baggie do you put it in?  Even though there are all types of tissue, shorts, Mp3 players, tape, and baggies, these are always the brands that come to mind.

What about your brand?  What comes to the mind of others when they hear your name?  When someone sees a random act of kindness do they think "That was a (your name) move".  When someone hears words of encouragement and inspiration do they think "That sounds like something (your name) would say".

Your name and reputation is your brand and your actions are your product.  What do you want people to think of when they hear your name?  What are you going to do about it?

Going Green

In 2010, its cool to be Green.  Green meaning that you reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Green meaning that you are considerate of the environment when making decisions. 

I have heard this thousands of times but I never really took it too seriously.  I have always liked the idea of going green, but to be honest I thought it was too much of a hassle and cost too much money.

After spending a week in the "Greenest" country in the world (Costa Rica), I now have a better idea of what going green means.  It means always using real plates, cups, & silverware (never disposable).  It means using any leftover, untouched food in the next meal or the next day.  It means taking colder showers so they don't last as long.  It means buying more locally grown food and supplies.  It means donating unwanted goods or clothing to families in need or any local charity or even selling them at garage sales.  It means not wasting water while you're brushing your teeth or shaving.  It means only flushing the toilet once each day (just kidding). 

Going green doesn't require you to buy a hybrid car or install solar panels and windmills in your home.  It doesn't mean bathing in rivers or being a vegan.  It doesn't mean that you have to spend more money on less stuff.  All of these things are good but sometimes these giant leaps by a few can scare off small steps by many.  Going green simply means being good stewards of the Earth that God allows us to live on.  Whatever you decide to do, I hope you will do your part to leave this Earth better than you found it. 

28 Things I Learned in Costa Rica

My wife and I just returned from a mission trip in the mountains Costa Rica.  We served at Camp Roblealto with 5 other families through Pine Cove ONE:8 Trips.  Here are a few of the many things that I learned.

1.  Volcanoes are indescribably beautiful.
2.  Daily rain makes everything greener.
3.  A smile is multilingual. 
4.  Beans and Rice are good at every meal when you're hungry.
5.  There is not a good way to take a cold shower.
6.  I'm so thankful for the plumbing and sewage system in the USA.
7.  A 5 year old boy is a 5 year old boy, no matter what country or culture.
8.  Justin Bieber is somehow a global icon.
9.  You can communicate a lot through hand gestures and body language.
10.  My way is the best way for me, but not others.
11.  God's grace is needed around the world.
12.  I have way to many clothes and shoes.
13.  Being wasteful is disrespectful.
14.  A handmade gift means more than a store-bought gift.
15.  You grow closer to the people that share your struggles.
16.  I rely on my plans too much and God's plans too little.
17.  Costa Rican coffee is delicious.
18.  It is better to experience the rainforest in the trees than on the ground.
19.  There is freedom in going a week without looking in the mirror.
20.  I need to learn how to do more with less rather than less with more.
21.  There are more important things that I should be doing than watching TV.
22.  Facebook is revolutionary!

23.  Kids can impact the lives of others just as well as adults.
24.  Religion keeps a lot of people from experiencing God.
25.  Singing praise songs in 2 languages is better than in one.
26.  Serving is a great way to break down cultural and language barriers.
27.  Saying hello is much easier than saying goodbye.
28.  God answers prayer in all languages and is active in all cultures.