Category Archives: Planning

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Protect the Lead

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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.

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15 days to Jump Start you New Year

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As we age our shapes and our egos take a beating because of our habits.  Healthy living becomes an important part of our lives.  For me one of my revolving New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight, eat healthier and exercise more.  This year I am going to start early and I challenge you to join with me.  During the holidays season there will be amble opportunities to turn to bad habits.  We have to use these moments to define our healthy future.

 

  1. Stretch and Meditate

Every morning for 30 minutes warm up your mind and body

 

  1. Use breakfast as a healthy launch pad

Eat more fruits and grains

Take your vitamins

Prepare a healthy lunch at home- Saves calories and money

  1. Work out or find a heart rat raising activity

Add another 45 minute workout

If working out is not your thing PLAN smart activities

  • Walking the mall
  • Riding a bicycle
  • Dancing with the children
  • Working in the Yard (like I will do today… yeah pine straw)

Now here is where I will seem to go off message.  Eat what you would like after the second daily workout.  Just eat in moderation.  Have a healthy snack at night and you will meet your goals.  Life is full of good things to eat and fun ways to maintain your health.  Combine the two facets of life and your soul will have harmony.

My goal is to lose 5 pounds in 20 days.  What is your goal?

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False Alarm, Good Drill: Plan for the unexpected

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How prepared are you for when there is no power coming to you? The other day when our power went out, it was a few minutes before dark and we were settling in for the evening. At first we were content to wait 45 minutes for the power company to kick in to high gear and get the lights back on and then reality set in.   Now it is time to break in to action. Locate the flashlights and check for batteries.  Light candles, no locate candles then light them.  Now, I have to run outside and fire up the generator and locate the cords to power our lives.  Finally, we are ready to plug-in and have a mini-campout.  As soon as we do all of this and the evening turns completely dark, the power comes back on.

False Alarm, Good Drill

After going through all of these actions only and not using the tools I was a relieved.  Then I began to reflect on other areas of my life and I wondered did I have drills for simple things in life that more than likely will happen.  I needed to plan for the unexpected.  Could I set up some drills like the grade-school fire drills to have my family better prepared for calamity?

Could we use this as leadership lesson?  Sure.  Here are a few things leaders can do to be prepared for calamity.

  1. Make a list of likely challenges that will arise

What if you as a leader have to step away for an extended amount of time?  Is your organization or family ready for this?  If there is a flood or storm coming towards you, how long do you need to secure vital documents and essentials to start over?

2.  Be honest about your ability to overcome catastrophe

If you do not already have the tools to help during a crisis, acquire them.  Look at your situation honestly and make the necessary adjustments.  A lot of tools and plans are already in place if you assess them properly and put them in your survival plan

3.  Run the drill as if the event is actually happening

During the power outage, the only reason that we so calmly pulled out all of the things necessary to survive is that we had done this before.  There are a lot of things that have never happened in your organizations or in life but have a high possibility of occurring. Plan for the unexpected.  Identify these things and prepare a drill.  This is like having a will, having a business succession plan or writing who to call in an emergency on the inside of your wallet.

 

 

Tell me about some of your False alarms that were good drills.

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Smart goals promote Clear Vision

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/angietorres/Clear Vision and Smart Goals are paramount to cultivating Patient Leadership. Why practice goal setting if you are not going to use them. This is an argument of the person stuck in procrastination. There are three reasons to set goals even if you never strike out and accomplish them.

1. At least you have a clear vision

When you talk with many people they have fuzzy vision but, smart goals elevate you to clear vision status. With a clear vision statement those around you will have a chance to help you grow. We must use the brain trust that God makes available to us before more will be added. I wrote about creative vision in a previous article about Martin Scorsese.

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he

Proverbs 29:18

2. Smart Goals inspire others

Some of your goals are simply to inspire others to change their unconscious mind. They inspire others to create their own clear vision statement. In many cases those around you look to you for Patient Leadership.

3. Writing smart goals removes doubt

When you are ready, you do not have to take the time to write your goals. This slows procrastination and increases success rates. Procrastination arises with doubt and fear. Planning combats fear and promotes peak performance.

How have you used Patient Leadership to promote your vision statement?

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How to plan a world class weekend vacation

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No matter what your situation you need to recharge your batteries and divert your attention from the everyday drama that is your life. This can be accomplished with a spectacular weekend vacation. We have done this twice this Spring/Summer and each time we have returned refreshed and revitalized. If you are looking to change your perspective and be a better world citizen pack your bags and get ready to have a rock-n-roll good time.

1. Pick a vacation destination that is dense with the type of fun you and your family enjoy
Go somewhere that you are compelled to partake in the activities you enjoy so that your mind is focused on having fun. Remember you only have a short time activities at your fingertips are essential. We went to the beach and stayed at a location that touted itself as the most fun you can have at the beaches like building a sand castle and other fun things. It lived up to its billing. There were non-stop partying on the beaches and family fun activities to give the parents a break.

2. Plan your down time
It is good to have a lot of family fun but one core benefit of vacation is that your rest is not encumbered with thoughts of the drudgery of everyday life. I wrote a post about how to plan that can add some help. Whether you plan a great afternoon nap or you sleep in and order room service is up to you. At the beach we opted for a relaxing afternoon nap with the sounds of the ocean soothing our souls. When we went to the city for some urban action we chose to sleep in and got a huge omelet with all the trimmings.

3. Treat yourself like royalty
Here you must think about how would your vacation feel if you were royalty? For the majority of us we spend our life figuring out how to make all the pieces work and how to pay for them responsibly. Vacation is the one time you can plan to let your guard down. Save a little for these excursions and then blow it out. When we were in the city we stayed in a world class hotel and caught a concert in the park then went to two different hangouts all in one night. “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Ps 24:1) Splurge a little on God’s creation, YOU, and happiness will be found.

Maximum enjoyment does not need a lot of time but it does require you to tap into your royalty. Pack your bags and prepare to have a magnificent time whether you choose the Magic Kingdom or the Gulf Coast.

How do you enjoy a weekend vacation?

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Operate in your gift

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In Genesis 2v8 the Bible it states “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it”. This is how you should live your life. You are given a gift that will make your life simple. There is very little hard work if you operate in the particular realm where God placed you. You will have to put forth effort but it will not seem laborious to you. With many ways to start a business venture the most feasible and effective direction for that business is an avenue that operates in your natural gift. Find the thing you enjoy and have a high aptitude towards and develop that talent. Proverbs 18v16 states “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” Only think on the talents and business ventures that will propel you forward while operating in your gift.

What is an example of you operating in your gift?

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Do not spend too much time in the Middle

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This topic seems a little counterintuitive to the usual topics we explore but it is just as important. Many days while I am practicing patience I realize action is necessary. The beginning starts with an event or a decision and the end is result whether positive or negative. The middle is where the fun occurs and where you can get lost.

Courtesy of My Free Mickey


1. Stay with the rational decision you made in the beginning
You should make a decision early and stick with it. Every time that you waiver on a decision it is tough for those involved with you to continue to respect your decisions. It is also an area where time is consumed. Reclaim your time by making up your mind.
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways

2. The middle is where the fun occurs
Always look for opportunities to have fun. Frequently, fun involves work and it can make for some odd kinds of diversion but in all you do enjoy yourself. If you are building a business take heart in the little enjoyments that happen day-to-day. Be thankful for the life you are given and the blessings that surround you.

3. No one really wants to go on vacation, we want to BE on vacation
This is the sentiment that comes from the kids, “Are we there yet?” By continuing to point to the future without really believing there is one is disingenuous. Get where you going as fast as possible so that you can enjoy the results of your labor. Make no excuses work as if your life depended on it. Fix your mistakes and make no apologies for your success. Enjoy your time in the sun.

How are you going to get out of the middle?

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What to do while you wait

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The following is an opening for a chapter in my upcoming book, let me know what you think. The statement, “Occupy until I come,” is taken directly from the bible. The quote from Luke 19, verse 12 and 13, is “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” Patient ability describes what to do while obtaining patience. This chapter gives examples of human nature while pursuing dominance. The entire passage from Luke is used to demonstrate the rewards of occupying (performing transactions repeatedly) while gaining Patient Ability. This principle contains examples and vivid illustrations of patience. Most motivational books are “rah-rah” cheering books; there are certain aspects of upbeat encouragement throughout this principle. The main premise of Patient Ability is to demonstrate that in any worthwhile journey, there are aspects of continued endurance that propel you to success. This principle gives practical advice for lasting victory. Separate phases are outlined for gaining ability while building a crescendo to dominating life.
Patient Ability is the principle in which we must take a self test and determine our valuable attributes. One must honestly dig deep into what makes himself tick. This is the point where we take off the gloves. You must pull back the veil. There are plenty of things you may be good at doing; however, in order to reach your ultimate goals, you must uncover your true, great talent and develop it. You must determine your limitations. What should you do while being patient? We all want to hunt; however, knowing how to gather is a very important aspect of increasing your ability. The real impact makers know how to gather people, resources, and energy.

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Patience does not avoid hard work, it prepares for it

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• Schedule the things that will help you achieve your plan first
• Make a schedule and keep it

8/4/11 5:57AM (original writting)

Preparation is one of the pillars of patience because it is what to do in the interim. Preparation has many forms and differs from planning because now words take action. Use mental preparation to form pictures of success and what it looks like for your particular project. These mental sessions cause wonderful thoughts of glory that can sustain you in gaps between tangible results. Thinking will also give you opportunity to navigate around potential challenges. The path of patience chooses purposes that exceed its current comfort level. The problematic work is primarily in your belief system. Belief in a dream dictates effort towards that end. In the middle are challenging steps that give the end a smooth appearance. I often write terrific list that if accomplished would put me in the over achievers Hall of Fame. These list frequently fall victim to excuses and later I become angry at my apathy. To overcome this I force myself to perform the prepared list. Never once have I completed a list without extreme satisfaction. Hard things are not hard if you are prepared properly. Maybe better said, “The prepared mind does not perceive the difficult challenge.”

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Bullets in your Gun

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I was playing Nerf Tag in the yard with my son and the competiton was fairly even. I was given the gun that has 20 shot capacity and he chose the gun that has an 18 shot capacity but also has extra clips. After the we shot all of our rounds he proceeded to load another clip. Since mine does not take clips I had to pick up mine off the ground. When we returned to the game I had only a few bullets and he had an entire clip. I figured that I was a sitting duck with his obvious advantage but as I began to fire he returned no Nerf darts. He was disappointed in the outcome so as we sat and reloaded and looked at his gun we determined that the darts were loaded incorrectly. And I told him that he needed to know his weapon and be sure he had bullets in his gun. This reminded me of a principle that I had written for the study series “21 Days of Patience” below is an excerpt of this principle.

Bullets in your gun
• Be prepared for all that you know is coming
• Load your memory with useful information
• Have all of the things in your control accomplished
• Stack the Deck

The saying “luck favors the prepared” is true but could be altered to “the prepared find favor”. Once you understand your goals in life, it is time to prepare for you mission which is filled with tests and trials. If your goal is some athletic endeavor  at least two areas for which you must ready your self, physical fitness and the technical training. There is no sense in saying, “I do not know how to get there”. Stack the deck in your favor by training. If your goal is to spend more quality time with your family then remove some of the hindrances television, cellular phones and show up with family friendly plans that do not involve massive amounts of money and energy from you. Anything new requires new information to load into the human computer. Nominal goals oblige you to obtain information so that the deck is stacked in your favor. I watch my son read and re-read the video game manual and then watch him dominate that realm. Whenever we get a new appliance or toy I try to read the manual in its entirety including the legal. This store of information comes in handy almost every time. The deck is now stacked in my favor because less operating stress is awesome, less break down is awesome and more of life looking the way it was planned is totally awesome.

The prepared find favor.