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.
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.
Write 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.
The 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.
“Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end.” Nelson Mandela
In life we all encounter difficulties that bring us to the edge of our patience. It is here that we find what our true character consists of. Into every life problems fall, some people scream, some people run away and others just give up. All of these options are viable but will not aide you in accomplishing your life’s dreams. Let nothing break your spirit to win and nothing taint you will to live life to your satisfaction. I would rather be cold and free than warm and entrapped. Free your mind from your troubles and you will find a solution.
The axe of life is sharp and seems that it is designed to bring all humans down. We are made blunt and hard to with stand the difficulties of this world. The axe that cuts at us is designed to drive us closer to our true purpose and the Father who fashioned us.
Why does Mandela choose the word sinner? I believe he chose this word to signify that we all have fallen short of the Glory of God but we can rise above any self-inflicted challenge. Seeing your short side does not define your character it shows you what to work on. Pull yourself together face life head on and never back down.
Arm yourself with Hope
Hope is focusing on something that you do not yet see. Hope is an armor that can deflect the axe of life’s problems. You have to pick up hope and hold it. To pick it up requires positive confessions and a positive mental attitude. Mandela teaches that hope is focused on the fact that you “will rise even in the end”. Have patience and “You shall rise in the End”.
Keep trying, never give up, you shall arise
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. Nelson Mandela
Fear is ever present especially in the life of a leader. Fear has a thousand tongues and no hands. You will hear voices and think thoughts that come to disrupt your confidence. Confidence comes from knowing that you are on the right path and doing the right thing. If you are doing the right thing and on the right path the only other element for success is time. Patience knows that fear is along for the ride but ignores all the chatter.
Courageous people seem to walk in a zone of no fear. One popular saying that was turned into a brand is called “NO Fear”. The only reason that people of courage appear to have conquered fear is that they have accepted the fact that fear accompanies all achievement. Courageous people live out loud and their courage talks more than any fear.
Winston Churchill is quoted as saying, “Courage is the first of the human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all the others.”
You can be nothing without first demonstrating courage. It takes courage to learn how to walk and talk when you are an infant. And it takes courage to walk and talk about your vision when you are mature. And it definitely takes courage to tackle another major project when you are old. Dominate fear and you will dominate life.
Maya Angelou said, “Courage is the most important of all virtues, because without it we can’t practice any other virtue with consistency.”
How will you use courage to dominate fear?
This is a sports analogy generally reserved for football but it also can be applied to your Business game plan. 
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 game plan 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 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 it is time to protect the lead and 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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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”
