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How to get the world’s attention!

January 10, 2013 in impact, notable, ordinary with 1 Comment

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“When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.” – George Washington Carver (1864-1943)

I love this quote. Actually, I love George Washington Carver. Period.

Doing common things in an uncommon way may just be the key to being able to get the worlds attention. I think we can agree that being common won’t leave much of a mark on the world. I also think that too many of us think the only other option to being “common” is trying to be spectacular. Spectacular is too hard. Too much pressure. It can steal the joy out of trying to leave a legacy.

What if you forgot about trying to be spectacular for a little while?

What if you got excited about being uncommon, instead?

What would it change for you?

 

The two things everyone needs

November 27, 2012 in Balance, impact with 1 Comment

There are two things that every one of us needs. Now that I’m seeing these words in front of me I realize there are probably are more than two, but go with me on this one – I’m in a flow.

The two things we need are… drum roll please…

  1. Time alone
  2. Time with others

Hang with me for a minute. Most of us are good at one of these, but not so good with the other. Most of us make one of these a priority, but probably not the other.

Artists tend to be be great at the alone part. Not so great at the other people part. Artists aren’t big on the social stuff. They say what they need to say through their art. It is their expression. It is their conversation. It is also a mask behind which to hide.

There are others that tend to be great at the social thing, but stink at doing anything alone. They are validated by conversation and interaction, but don’t really like being alone with their thoughts, isolated from the noise of life. They will do almost anything to keep away from deafening silence.

To have one without the other creates an imbalance at best. One of my favorite devotional writers says it this way:

“Talent develops itself in solitude; character in the stream of life.” ~ Henry Drummond

Talent without character is grotesque display of self.  Character without talent is a life without impact.

We need both.

To have both, we need solitude and the stream of life. Time alone and time with others.

Maybe it’s time for some balance.

Stand up. Speak up. Show up.

July 19, 2012 in impact with 1 Comment

Image via workisnotajob

 

“Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person.” ~ Albert Einstein

Make a stand.

Stand up for something.

Speak up for something.

Show up for something.

Or for SOMEONE.

Give it all you’ve got. Put your heart into it. Make a difference.

You’re made of that kind of stuff, you know.

 

Why I don’t believe in “resolutions”

January 2, 2012 in change, choices, decisions, impact with 4 Comments

The New Year is a great time to reflect, make adjustments and positive improvements in our lives. The break at the holidays is a great time to set goals, plan and renew commitments. The problem I have with New Year’s “resolutions” is they are well intentioned, but very few people follow through on them for very long.

I think it’s because we don’t know what resolution means.

Webster’s dictionary defines resolution as:

  • the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones
  • the act of answering : solving
  • the act of determining

Determination. That’s what seems to be missing from most resolutions. Determination, commitment, follow-through, action, consistency – call it whatever you want, but this is what makes the difference between life-change and an abandoned list of “probably should” items. There’s a huge difference between knowing what you should do and doing it.

An actual “resolution” is a quality decision, from which there is no retreat. It is a guiding document, setting a course for the coming year or years.

It’s probably time to put some resolve in your resolutions. Perhaps we should re-visit our lists and be honest with ourselves regarding our plans to execute them.

I’m sure you gathered this by now, but I really do believe in resolutions. I believe in the real kind. That is what will change our lives.

So…

What is the one thing you are committed and resolved to do or become this year?

How will you get there?

The art of showing up…

April 27, 2011 in impact, purpose, responsibility with 7 Comments

“Wherever you are, be all there.” ~ Jim Eliott (Missionary, Minister, Martyr)

With all my heart, I’d like to ask you to “show up” today. Not just with your body, but with your heart. The world has far too many people living as if they’re not really present. Too many dads, moms, kids and workers will “clock-in” today physically, but the rest of them will be somewhere else. It will happen in houses, workplaces and churches all around the world today. Please make sure yours isn’t one of them. You’re better than that, made for more than that.

It’s time to stop the pattern of co-existing in the same room with others from whom we withhold quality time, our best ideas and unique giftings.

On behalf of Heaven and those on Earth who need your best today I’m begging you to step out from the crowd and make a difference.

Live on purpose.

Show up.

Be present.

Give your best.

Be all here today.

Make an impact.

Will you?

You are the light of the world

April 11, 2011 in artistry, encouragement, impact with 2 Comments

“To send light into the darkness of men’s hearts – such is the duty of the artist.” ~Schumann

Robert Schumann understood the power of art. The fact that he was a renowned pianist and composer isn’t what qualified him to make that statement. He qualified himself by almost missing his highest calling. In a letter to his mother, he wrote; “My whole life has been a struggle between Poetry and Prose, or call it Music and Law.” You see, He was studying law, and left the study of law for music.

Schumann was qualified to make that statement because he valued art. He believed art could be a powerful influence in the hearts of men for good. He believed it, because he experienced it. He made the decision to study music after experiencing a life-changing encounter with the music of Paganini.

He understood the power of art.

So here’s the question: Do you?

Many of you claim to be artists in one form or another, yet you surrender to self-doubt more than you create. I’m concerned that many of the creators of this generation fail to see the power of their own art. I’m concerned that you don’t see the power of your own art. I’m concerned that you don’t believe in what you create. I’m concerned that you don’t know that your art can “send light into the darkness of men’s hearts…”

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand-shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” ~ Matthew 5:13-16 (The Message)

Now is your season. Now is your time.

September 14, 2010 in encouragement, impact, Inspiration with 0 Comments

Last night I ran across a friend from long ago and far away.

You have probably never heard of her. You may have heard her music, but didn’t know it.

Maybe not, too.

That doesn’t change the fact that she’s an amazing singer, songwriter and a precious ministry gift.

Her name is Carole Ford.

The words on the front page of her website spoke to me so deeply:

You are significant.
Now is your season.
It’s not too late.
God has not forgotten you.
You’re not too old, not too young, not too anything else.
Now is your time.
Don’t you dare waste another day.

Fame is fleeting and irrelevant. Passionately pursuing your calling is not. Carole has done just that – in season and out – and in the process, influenced me. Not just me, but many.

I’d like to introduce you to her and her music.

Thanks for being inspiring, Carole. You are a jewel. Oh, and thanks for the reminder:

“Nothing is ever impossible with God” Luke 1:37

Let your light shine!

May 20, 2010 in impact, The You Factor with 0 Comments

“To send light into the darkness of men’s hearts – such is the duty of the artist.”
~ Schumann

Ephesians 5:8-9 (NLT)
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

It’s time to let your light shine.

What are you waiting for?

Life is in the ordinary, not just the spectacular…

May 11, 2010 in impact, ordinary, spectacular with 0 Comments

Spectacular. We like spectacular. I think we like it too much. I think we are obsessed with it. Some of us are addicted to it. Spectacular is good, don’t get me wrong… but everything good isn’t spectacular.  In fact, most good that is to be found here on earth is far from obvious. It could even be called ordinary.

Ordinary sounds bad. But why?

We have heard sermons against it, read books about rising above it and even talked it down to each other. I think we’ve made a big mistake. Our problem here is we have confused ordinary with mediocre. Ordinary doesn’t have to equal mediocre. Mediocrity is a lack of a quality. Ordinary can only be synonymous with it if we allow ourselves to quit caring or quit living on purpose.

Webster defines ordinary as “the regular or customary condition or course of things.”

Short and sweet, “ordinary” is regular everyday life. We all have that. We all have a schedule, a routine, a way we do the things we do. Good news: that’s really OK. Ordinary life is the essence of life itself. It’s in the ordinary tasks of life that we get to practice our art, hone our skills and demonstrate loving kindness to people.

If life isn’t found in ordinary things, then why did Jesus say that giving a cup of water could have eternal value?

You have permission to conduct your life in the everyday. Nobody lives only in the spectacular peaks. If we tried to live that way, we’d spend the majority of our life dissatisfied.  We would also overlook the miraculous, which on first glance is usually disguised as ordinary.

When it comes to the people we know who have influenced us, we rarely remember the spectacular. We usually remember the way they conducted their lives between the peaks – the everyday. They are usually unaware of the times we observed them, too. The point is that we caught them being people of extraordinary character while they were doing the ordinary.

Question: Who have been the “ordinary life” influencers in your life and how did they impact you?

Leave a comment. Let us know. Start a conversation about it!

Somebody’s Watching You

March 16, 2010 in impact, leadership with 1 Comment

Know it or not, like it or not: you are being watched.

Not in the creepy, stalker way. In the “I want to learn” way.

It could be a boy learning how to be a man or deciding what marriage looks like by watching you. It could be a girl who needs to see that it’s possible to be treated well in a relationship, or wanting to see how a successful woman should carry herself by watching you. It might be the person who lives next door, or the Barista at Starbucks, or someone who works with you.

Know it or not, like it or not: you are being watched.

Your lack of awareness of the situation doesn’t make it untrue. Your lack of awareness is irrelevant. It’s happening. Probably right under your nose. Are you ready to be someone’s mentor? Your readiness may be as irrelevant as your lack of awareness. We are all leaving a legacy. It’s up to us to define that legacy. Being self-aware is good, but not nearly as good as living a life that’s worthy of notice – a life lived for the benefit of others.

What kind of example are you setting for whoever it is that’s watching? Will they find hope by observing you? Will it make them hungry to be like you, or file their observation in the “don’t be like this” bin?

Exemplify, give, demonstrate, show, teach…

Know it or not, like it or not: you are being watched.

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