Category Archives: Life Skills

Posted on

Protect the lead: Part II

by

Protect the Lead Part  dealt primarily with the actions of professionals in the work environment and Part II is a checklist that will help protect the spiritual and mental aspects of leadership.

A drop of dew and sunshine

1. A soft answer turns away anger

Change your tone and change the direction of the conversation. Answer others how you want to be received.

2. A leader uses knowledge in a positive way

As a leader you know things that can hurt or propel others and your organization. Use your knowledge in a positive way. Protect the lead, do not fumble information.

3. Be kind and add life

Make others around you feel good. You are adding or taking, increase the goodness and watch the seed of your good words grow.

 
4. Heed the Advice of your parents

Simply, life has continuing education course work that is never exhausted. The instructions of most parents come from a place of protection and love.

5. Save money for the good and the bad times

The righteous leader protects the monetary gains received from hard work and favor. Protect the lead by living by the principle of seed time and harvest.

6. Why sacrifice when you can pray

Leaders are inclined to sacrifice time and casual life for success. Leaders that pray can have it all, a casual life, free time and success.

 

Proverbs 15: 1-10 A soft answer turns away wrath…

 

Posted on

Protect the Lead

by

This is a sports analogy generally reserved for football but it also can be applied in Business. Generally, it is thought to be more defensive when your team is winning. Even on offense we want our teams to be conservative with their strategies and approach to the game when they are winning. I have a different philosophy on how to protect the lead. When your business is up, pour it on. Be relentless with all you do. Use your defense to blitz the quarterback. The opposing quarterback in business is represented by your biggest problem. Do not take a break from attacking and subduing whatever is attacking your business. If it is bills or production numbers, do not work with a slack hand when you are ahead.

protect the lead photo

Your offense should be even more impressive. You already know how to dominate and gain points. When your sales are up and you are covered in work figure out how to make more calls and appointments. Becoming a scoring machine and keep going for the big clients and bigger deals. Stay with your game plan, every yard is important. Look for the small deals also because they keep the sales quota going. If you need another reason add more effort just think of the third stringers that want to play. In business these are the new hires, people you may not know exist. When you get really far ahead you can rest a little and let the new hires help out some.
The Bible says in Genesis 1; 28 “And God blessed them, and God said unto them be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. This verse relates to protecting the lead because fruitful and multiply means making more of what God has given to you.

Finally, to protect the lead you have to remain patient and play smart. One fundamental way to protect the lead is to finish strong. Do not get sloppy because you have some success. You are only as good as your last play. Stay focused and make good decisions as if you are just starting the game.

Posted on

What do you do when your stuff is not working and you cannot hear God?

by

We all go through this awkward but necessary step in life. Normally, the sentiment of “my stuff is not working” is a recurring theme. This theme is a trick to get you discouraged enough that confusion creeps into your decisions. Personally, I have been here with a variety of life decisions i.e.… (Marriage relations,) business ventures, dieting options etc.) Study these steps and give your life a jump start.

1. Pray

… The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

There are more instructions in the prayer closet than the Library of Congress. When prayer is involved you can rest easy. Be patient in your prayer time. The patience allows the thoughts of the world to fade away. Then Prayer allows the thoughts of your conscious and sub conscious to be subdued. Now with these cares removed you can better assess why your stuff is not working.
2. Follow the last thing God told you.
God speaks to all of us differently but you can guarantee that He speaks to everyone. We are all His children. It is easier for those who write things down to go back and see what was said. When God speaks rest assured that you remember. You may not want to go back that far or possibly do not want to complete the assignment but after prayer you will remember what He said to you.
3. Stop running away from your problems
If you are running, you are not building. Slow down and focus on building a better you. Build new(ideas, stuff) if new construction is necessary. Sometimes we are trying to make a mansion out of rubble. Either way you cannot build a mansion on the run. It is especially hard to establish a kingdom without addressing your problem areas. The problem may be that you choose the wrong system for the current environment. If you are being sweet when the “Warrior” is necessary… change systems to fit the times. Start running towards your vision.

“God is quiet because He is not in control of the ship” Janetta Spencer

4. Change under the New Captains orders

When you get your bearings and {understand what stuff works} it is time to change under the new Captain’s orders. We want to say “God is the captain of my soul”. If God is the captain of your soul then change your thinking to align with His words. If you relinquish the control and can be led by the Spirit all the decisions are easy.

You have to learn how to make the right decisions to avoid getting to the place where you say, “What do you do when your stuff is not working and you cannot hear God.”

6. Be Patient now and in the future


There is a time period to truly understand what God said. Some messages will come to you instantly and most messages are seeds that take time to grow. Rather the seed is waiting for us to grow.

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.James 5:7 

Some blessings seem take time even after the evidence appears just like the corn stalk is green and pretty for a long time before the vegetable appears. If there is no tangible sprouts or fruit after several sowing seasons go back to step one and fervently pray. No time is wasted following God because even if you made a misstep He will reward you.
If your stuff is not working the issue is either lack of patience or lack of proper hearing and both can be solved in your prayer room. After you pray then go out and perform. God is faithful and the world is waiting to see if you believe in the seeds you have sown with your mouth and your actions. When you follow God, Pray, Act and exhibit patience then “Your stuff will work and you will continue to hear God”

Posted on

How to do a lot of things at one time

by

info@mikolji.comWrite it all down
Write all of your project and to-do things down on paper. I say this over and over and over again. Electronic notation in your phone or on your pad is fine also but set frequent reminders. Even set a reminder to review your list. Write down small things in a consistent visible place and you will have a better chance of completing them. If your list are large it is okay because at least you will not forget anything. Write down the major and the insignificant because the insignificant will cloud your brain at the most inopportune time. Remember to keep a consistent place for you list: sticky notes and little pieces of paper get lost. Finally, date all of your list.
Attack the hard stuff first
This is difficult to me because I like volume. I always try to do a lot of projects at the same time. So sometimes I will do the little things to prepare for the big thing. And what always happens is the big thing gets pushed to the next day. Do not procrastinate, Procrastination leads to bad karma. Sometimes the hard stuff needs a list of its own. This is quite aright and possibly preferable because another list will cause you to do it right. The premise of this step is to attack the hard stuff, do not wade in gently: you may get cold feet.
Let nothing wait
Are you ready to dominate, than stop waiting? Sure patience is a virtue but writing an action list requires action. Keep moving forward. Do not be proud of your to-do list, be proud of the action it inspired. Phone calls are the easiest, just take the first hour of the day and call everyone including the people that you know will not answer early. This will promote proactive action and most people will feel obligated to talk with you the second time around. Patience takes action and waiting takes time. Don’t waste time.

Posted on

How to choose a Super Bowl quarterback: Leader

by

super bowlThe NFL had a great introduction segment to Super Bowl XLVIII. Written on a chalk board was the saying I WILL and each player had an opportunity to write in the blank a statement for the ages. At the end of this brief segment they gave us the voices of both quarterbacks. After I heard both leaders I promptly asked my children, who were not watching at this point, a question. Which quarterback would you rather have leading your team, the one who said, “I WILL, Compete my butt off”, or the one who said, “I WILL, Play the best 60 minutes of football in my life.” Both of them said individually and independently that they would prefer the leader that made the second comment.
Before I revealed the answer I asked them why they made this choice. The answers were profound. They said the “Compete my butt off” answer meant that this leader would rise to the level of his opponent. Whatever effort the other team put out, is what he would give back. The second leader that said, “I WILL, Play the best 60 minutes of football in my life.” Meant that this leader would give everything he had and more. They said he would determine his own fate with his actions and effort.
These answers were so profound because Denver Broncos Quarterback Peyton Manning said the first statement and that is exactly the effort we saw. The future Hall of Fame leader competed and let the other team determine his fate. Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson on the other hand gave the performance of his lifetime. Making passes that seamed far above his 2nd year skill level. His decisions in this game were masterful, knowing when to run, when to move and when to be patient in the pocket. His leadership effected the whole team and every Seattle Seahawk seemed to play the Best 60 minutes of football in life.
We respect the efforts and accomplishment of those who compete their butts off. When you have one chance to lead your team to big dreams think like Super Bowl Champion Russell Wilson. Before your next big test or meeting say:

I WILL, Play the best 60 minutes of _(insert your vocation vision)___ in my life.

Posted on

Your Laughter does not affect my Christian soul

by

 

You can laugh at me but it will not hurt me.My son gave this title without any more instructions.  After thinking about it I knew what it meant inside but putting it into words was a little more difficult. Daily we all battle something or some thought that nags us.  The thought that keeps pulling you down or worse just putting you down. Well those of us who are Christian have an answer that can stop this negativity in its tracks.

In the book “Patience to Dominate” there is a principle called “Unflappable, I shall not be moved.  This reflects the attitude of Christian towards any negative situation, especially ill-willed laughter. Stand firm and know that God is there to protect you.

Job 8:20-22

King James Version (KJV)

20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:

21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

 

Dreams and goals are met with obstacles and these obstacles are primarily in your head. It is not over until you have the last laugh.

Abraham (in Genesis 21) named his son Isaac which means “he laughs”. But this reflects Abraham and Sarah’s unbelieving laugh at the promise of God. Do not laugh at the promises of God or you could cause delay in the blessing coming for you. Focus on the goodness inside of you and the unlimited goodness in the Father.

 

Job 5:22

At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth

Luke 6:20-22

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh

Psalm 64:10

10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

 

It is demonstrated in these scriptures that God already knows that you will be laughed at in your life time.  You can turn this into good and literally laugh at destruction and not be afraid of the antagonizer. Get it together the blessing is coming your way. Use your patience to overcome. Confessions have power so let’s use them and say, “Your Laughter does not affect my Christian soul!”

What is something or someone you wish to use the statement against?

Posted on

Are you conscious of His favor?

by

Raise your consciousness and increase your joy. We are responsible for our joy. Knowing where joy comes from and how to keep it is explained in this Psalm.
Psalm 97:11
Amplified Bible (AMP)
11 Light is sown for the [uncompromisingly] righteous and strewn along their pathway, and joy for the upright in heart [the irrepressible joy which comes from consciousness of His favor and protection].
This one passage by itself encompasses a lifetime of wisdom. It shows God’s preparation for you and me. It states that, “light is sown”, this means it was plant or created for the righteous. And then it is thrown along our pathway. So even when we are in a place of darkness God shines light on us. Those with an upright heart receive joy along the path.

The type of joy we receive is “IRREPRESSIBLE” (it cannot be pushed down). There is nothing or no one that can steal your joy. This joy comes from you and I being conscious or fixing our mind on God’s favor and protection. All paths in life have darkness but, with the right mind set we can live every day in His glorious light.

My daughter wrote this:

Be delighted with yourself. You have to have an upright or a happy spirit for God to give you gladness.

Posted on

Trust God: Why worry

by

Why worry: trust God. This is the week of big test this week, get your head up. This is the week you should look forward to not be anxious about.

Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine  are still greater.

Albert  Einstein

Remember (in my best Australian accent) “No worries mate”. I wrote a post on “Trust your training” (click here).  Worry has a place but it is not with you.

1 Peter 7 says, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you”

 

This is a great instruction, master this thought pattern and you are well down the path of peace and patience.  Every single anxious thought can be redirected to God and He will handle it.  That test in school, God will handle it. That big client with even bigger demands, God says cast that on me.

So how do we move our problems to God court? There is one more scripture that answers this.

Philippians 4 verse 6:      Be careful for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.

The first statement “Be careful for nothing”, means do not worry stop concerning yourself with the cares of this world.  The way to cast your cares on Him is through prayer and supplication.  God hears your prayers so give Him thanks for meeting your every need.

The final portion of this scripture finishes with a promise we all hope to experience.

 

Philippians 4 verse 7:  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

Have a great week and “Don’t worry, BE Happy”

Posted on

Civil Rights Movement: Stop Violence with the gun and with the tongue

by

 

 the Dream lives

This was my first year going to the Dr. Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast in Birmingham, Alabama to support the Civil Rights Movement.  I have no clue to the reason of why I did not attend this wonderful event.  My son William V wanted to go and was pleased to get up early.  I asked why he wanted to go and he said, “so I can be with you dad.”

 

When we walked in we heard the wonderful voices of the choir that transformed the convention center into a Baptist Church. This 27thh Annual event lived up to the high standards of the SCLC.  The first thing that was evident is that this was a celebration of the past triumphs of Dr. King and the people of the Civil Rights movement and boost towards the future of possibilities.

The Keynote speaker was Dr. Charles Steele, SCLC President and CEO, his presence demanded attention.  His commitment to the organization and people of all creeds showed in the first few sentences of his speech.  He mentioned “Birmingham to Bethlehem” which is a campaign to bring nonviolence to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. He said he was in a meeting where a Palestinian man thanked him for holding the banner of nonviolence because, before their encounter the man did not realize that there was an alternative to violent conflict resolution.

Mr. Steele also mentions a “Poor Peoples Campaign “in Paris, France due to the overwhelming unemployment in that country.   This interests me because I set and marched with the original leader of the Poor Peoples Campaign, Hosea Williams.  Mr. Williams was a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement and to watch him work was masterful. His network of dignitaries and homeless was immense.  I think the SCLC should involve Jay Z and Kanye West as well as the down trodden.

 

In his meeting with President Gorbachev, Mr. Steele said the President asked him, “If the Dream was realized,” I just want you to pause there and ask that question that yourself.  If Yes, then celebrate and get back to work. And if No, just get back to work.

 

He told of his fundraising prowess and how he steered the organization to receive 20 million dollars in a 3 year period which led to the erection of a new office building.  It also set a secure foundation for the SCLC’s future in the Civil Rights Movement. This is a long way from the days of Dr. Fred Shuttlesworth. I wrote a post “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.” When Dr. Steele met Roland Martin, CNN analyst, Mr. Martin congratulated him and said “the building is good, but what are you doing for the people?” This question adds to the question from President Gorbachev and should make all of us who live the Dream focus on actions.

 

I have a more definitive answer to why I have not attended the Unity Breakfast.  The answer is that I was enjoying the Dream and now I need to help others fight for their Dream.

 

How will you help the Civil Rights Movement? How are you helping others achieve the dream?

Posted on

Make God Mighty

by

God is Beautiful

Make God Mighty sounds weird just saying it. God is mighty all by Himself, why would He need you or me to help Him be mighty?

Luke 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

 

American Heritage Dictionary

Might:  Having or showing great power, skill strength or force

 

God always possesses the might to make all things possible and He will show this power when we invite Him into our lives.

 

3 ways we can make God mighty

  1. Act like He is watching

If all of your actions are done with the knowledge that the Father is watching then you will be more in line with the Father’s will.  Others will see your love walk and know that you serve a Mighty God. You make God Mighty when you are in His Will.

2.  Speak His word in every situation

Speaking His word is easy in the morning, at night and when we go to church. But when someone wrongly accuses you and it causes you to defend your honor unnecessarily? We need to speak the word of God more in these situations.

3.  Walk in the Might of God

This differs from acting like he is watching and speaking His word because walking in His word requires faith not obedience. Walk in His might and you will get up early to work on your craft. And when you began to walk out on faith the mighty God will show you another level of His ability.

 

How will you make God Mighty?