A Simple Message

I try to read as much as I can. This is something I've grown into since college. I can count on one hand how many complete books I read while in college. But now I feel like I'm addicted to books. I have about 10 on the floor next to my bed, 7 on my night stand, and 30 in my bookcase next to my bed. As I was flipping through several of them tonight, I came across something much more valuable. It was the little notes one of my daughters leaves for me. She will leave them for me on my pillow, on the stairs up to my bed, in my bag I carry to work, and any other place she feels like. As I was rereading them tonight something jumped out at me. Her message is very simple. Each and every note had the same thing, XOXOXOX written in different sizes and going different directions, written on the envelope and in the envelope, and sometimes even written on the note card within the envelope.

Here is the thing I take from this that most of the books I read don't get in the hundreds of pages between the covers. If you want to get your message across to someone, say it as simply as possible, in as many ways as possible, and as many times as possible. It's funny how we as adults can't seem to always understand this. I know for myself I'm always looking for a new and better way to do whatever it is I'm trying to do. The problem with this, though, is I do it without mastering any of the previous things learned. But as I read about great coaches, entrepreneurs, teachers, and anyone deemed successful they all seem to have this one philosophy in common: Get really good at a few things and do them over and over and over again. I once heard this described as boring consistency. I know it doesn't sound that exciting, but it wins championships, makes millions, and inspires students to the highest level of achievement.

So either my daughter is brilliant or she understands her dad just needs things repeated a few more times or maybe its a little of both. Think about this as you try to make a difference in this world. Are you confusing people with the clutter of your message or are you consistent and clear with your vision of excellence? What if today, just one more person bought into your vision and that had a ripple effect that began to change the world?

Change

In his book The Mentor Leader, Tony Dungy writes, "In order to become an effective mentor leader, in whatever setting it is important to take a look inside yourself. Identify what drives and motivates you, the areas in which you're naturally gifted, and the areas that are more challenging and thus will take more self-application to conquer. The ability to take and honest look at yourself and examine who you are -- what makes you tick, what makes you do the things you do -- is a mark of maturity for a mentor leader."

Taking time to pause and look at my life is one thing I don't do a bunch of and when I do I don't feel very good at it. Yet, it is the one thing that improves my weakest areas the most. If you talk to anyone who is an expert at their craft, such as an athlete, musician, teacher, or doctor the one thing they do is reflect on their skills. So why is this so hard to do? I think it is because change is hard. Maintaining status quo is easy. I honestly can say I like change it's the process that I have a hard time with.

I heard Dr. Del Tackett once say, "You cannot gaze upon the face of God and not be changed." To me, this is the ultimate way of reflection. How does my life compare to the great Cornerstone? You can also see this same line of thinking in Romans 12:2. (I recommend you looking this up even if you aren't one who reads the Bible.) The question I have started asking myself is "In what way can I be better tomorrow than I was today?" My immaturity usually comes out and I think I have it already figured out. Then something comes along and verifies that I don't.

So what areas do I strive to become better at? First a follower of Christ, second a husband and father, and last in my professional career. My first step in doing this is searching out those people who exhibit the characteristics in their life that I want and get to know them and secondly setting aside time everyday to simply reflect and meditate. I guess I can wrap it up with these two questions, 1) What's the one thing you want to get better at? and 2) How do you plan on doing just that?

Beginning of My Thoughts

I try to read as much as possible. As I'm reading I am usually impacted in some way that affects the way I view the world in some way. I believe that if one's thinking stays stagnant, their impact on this world diminishes. I try to share my thinking with as many people as possible, but I thought this would be a good way to formalize it in a way that I and others, that are interested, could refer back to. I tend to read multiple books at one time and it usually takes me a while to actually finish something. I try to call it multi-tasking, but those that know me best call it easily distractable. Enjoy and if you have any great suggestions on a good read please let me know, however, I am not a huge fan of fiction.