Cultivating time for creative thought.

The best conversations you will ever have are the conversations that you have with yourself.  Because of this it is very important that you target the places where you THINK (talk with yourself) the best and most creatively.  I do my best thinking when...

I'm in my office.

I love my office. I'll be honest it is nothing special, in fact it is very plain. However, it is quiet and a perfect place to sit and think about the future that God has. 

I'm mowing my lawn.

I know it sounds crazy, but I get some of my best message ideas while mowing the lawn.  For some reason, yard work has always sparked creative thinking. 

I'm driving my car.

It has been my habit for the past 10 years to drive around during my lunch break. About two or three times per week, I will jump in my car and simply drive around the area thinking, praying, and strategizing. There have been plenty of great ideas come to mind during these 30 minute drive sessions.

I'm in prayer.

There is noting like plugging into Christ's creativity.  In all of my prayer times I talk with God, allow him to talk with me, then I discuss all of those things with myself.  I love this time.

I'm reading a book.

When I read a book I generally have a pen and notebook close by.  The reason is, I can only read for a few pages before I have to stop and take notes on all the things that are flooding my mind.  Many times these thoughts have nothing to do with the book I'm reading. 

Where do you do your best thinking?  

Do you carve out time each week to simply think?  If not, what are you waiting for?  

This week, go to a coffee shop, bookstore, or hop on your riding mower and think.

You'll be glad you did.

One of the best things you can do to improve as a speaker.

One of the best things you can ever do to improve as a speaker is watch yourself speak. For the past 12 years I have allocated an hour and a half to watch and study the message I delivered that week.  There are five reasons why I think you should do the same. 

1. You see and hear the delivery of your content from the crowds perspective. 

2. You see how you used the stage. 

3. You see how you used your body to engage the crowd.

4. You see your facial features and if they worked. 

5. You see and hear any repetitive patterns of speech or movement that take away from the point or are distracting. 

There are several other things that I've done and do each week to improve at communicating that truths of scripture, but watching my messages is by far one of the best. 

For more speaking tips go to BUILD CURRICULUM and for one on one training go to COACHING. I would be honored to serve you! 

Do you love what you do?

Thomas Edison was a workaholic.  Every day he went to the office.  He worked on his inventions, had meetings with his team about what they could invent next, and thought of ways he could take what he had already invented and make them even better. 

If ever there was a man that seemed like a workaholic, it was Mr. Thomas Edison. In fact, even on his day off, he would go to the office and work.

One day his wife came to him and said, Thomas you work way to much. You take care of us. You love us. We are in need of nothing, but I fear work is all you do. Everyday you devote yourself to your inventions, even when you don't have to, you go in and work.  Tomorrow is your day off.  Thomas promise me that tomorrow you will do something that is fun, promise me you will do something that makes you smile, promise me that tomorrow you will do something that you love to do.  Promise me.

Thomas Edison, replied to his wife, Hunny you are right.  Tomorrow I will do something that is fun, tomorrow I will do something that makes me smile, tomorrow I will do what I love to do. I promise you that tomorrow, I will go to the office and work on my inventions.

Thomas Edison was one of the most successful men in United States history.  He changed the way we live. He impacted the habits of people.  Thomas Edison made the world a better place.  How?  He did what he loved.  Thomas Edison was passionate about inventing.  He loved what he did and because of it he made an impact on the world. 

Let me ask you this?  What is it that you do?  Are you passionate about it?  Is it fun?  Does it make you smile?  If you had a day that you could do anything...like Thomas Edison, is "it" what you would choose to do that day?  

Life is so short and the world is so jacked up.  Why not spend time doing what you are passionate about? Why not devote yourself to your cause (whatever it is).  Why not do what you love.  Who knows, if you do, the world just might be a little better place.

Nothing worth having is ever handed to you.

Proverbs 10:4   Lazy hands make a man poor,but diligent hands bring wealth.              

This is one of my foundational scriptures in life. I have never had anything handed to me?  I've always had to work very hard for everything I have. Anytime I've ever achieved anything worth while,  it's because I trusted God, got up and worked my tail off.

When I wanted to learn, I devoured books.

When I wanted to grow physically, I worked out for hours at a time.

When I wanted to reach more students, I visited schools, and did outreach events.

When I wanted to speak to leaders, I spoke anywhere, anytime, for anything.

When I wanted to write a book, I spent my Saturdays, alone, writing.

When I wanted to plant a church, I quit my job, built a team and planted. 

Proverbs lets us know that nothing worth having in life will ever be handed to you.  

What do you want?  

What is God calling you to do?

Roll up your sleeves and get to it! 

The best time to train your team is ____________.

A few years ago, I was traveling to a speaking engagement and I just happened to be on the same flight as an NCAA College Basketball team. As I sat there I noticed one of the coaches watching game film on his computer. While taking notes and making adjustments, he leaned across the aisle and began to break down the game film to one of his players, pointing out a few things he could have done better, some of the things he did well, and gave him a few tricks of the trade of posting up, and blocking out his opponent. 

It was really something to watch this coach in a real informal way, take advantage of the time he had to help one of his players improve. 

While watching all of this transpire, I was reminded of the way that Christ taught His team. 

Jesus often taught his disciples in the same informal way. 

Sure from time to to time he sat them down in a group and broke down some incredible teaching. However, most of the time Jesus simply took advantage of the time he had with them. Jesus taught his team while walking down the road, sitting by a well, or eating a meal together. 

Jesus showed us that the best time to teach and train is …. ANYTIME. 

Leadership and life lessons are caught more than they are taught.
From time to time it’s a great idea to train in a formal setting. However, if we don’t take advantage of the time we have eating a meal, driving in the car or watching a game, we are missing out on a great opportunity to model life and leadership to those we have been entrusted to lead.