Don’t Break It: Keeping Success Growing

Posted on April 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

“It’s easy to give up and fail than to continue growing forward.”

I don’t know if there’s a quote like that where I’ve read, but this morning it just came to mind. Going through Facebook looking at the great friends and people I’ve met through the years they all have one thing in common, they’ve continued to grow and carry on with themselves. I see they’re doing so well, some are starting to have a family, others joining the army preparing to be deployed. It brings a smile on my face knowing the people I grew up with are continuing their success. As for me, something I focus myself in is to keep growing through this embarkment which I choose to take.

Visiting my family in Boston last year for Christmas, many of them I had the chance to meet for the first time since more than 8 years; it’s been a while. Having the chance to catch up on things, most already had kids. One had a new born while the other had three kids already, I’m glad to see that they’re doing well and being safe. One of my cousins’ asks “So how come you don’t have any kids?” I have a slight pause and answer her that I feel that I’m still too young to have kids at my age, although there may be some people that think the age of 23 is appropriate to have kids.  It felt as if I was left out because everyone was growing families and I was seen as the selfish one. Thing is I can choose to have kids grow a family and carry on with my life, but what I have focused in mind is too big for it. Not that it’s such a demeaning move, but I want continuous growth to succeed and  having more responsibility increases the risks of failing those goals I have set myself in.

The past years of reading John C. Maxwell, Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, Zig Ziglar, and many more books, I felt that I have gained such great knowledge from them. I want to keep continuing my success to grow. Books are a nourishment for the mind, and I plan to use it so I can grow forward.

However, sometimes it comes across that it seems so complex that after all this much of listening to these speakers and trying to come up with ideas and methods of improving myself, that I can just drop it, let go, give up and just carry on with whatever life throws at me. But reality is I just can’t, it’s not in my mind to even have it mentioned. Something I talked about in earlier post about discipline. When it’s looked at, failure is a simple task. Throwing our goals away or giving up after going through a long process being many steps far from where it was started is so easy. Compared to setting our mind straight and having this constant go looking forward to each step we make, planning our strategies and making it happen. It’s something that pops in mind at times, and perhaps it’s a bad thing but I tend to get over it and continue my path.

Has anyone ever felt like this after looking at yourself and wondered how it’d be like to “blend in” with the crowd sort to say? How is it handled when it occurs and what are your responses to those who ask you why?

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Ways To Grow: Having a Better Relationship With God

Posted on April 10, 2013 | Leave a comment

Growing up in church I never really understood how people knew so much of God. How they knew verses and people from the Bible. How their connection with God was big and how they always seem to go for more, displaying such a positive feeling, and fulfillment in their lives. Of course the new comers were easy to spot, they would always stand still, stare around the crowd, and perhaps that being because they have little knowledge on the word of God. I would be in that same position also. so how do they grow unto God mentally and spiritually? In what ways did they do to improve their growth even more?

Of course after we accept God into our lives, we feel better, but overtime it may become the usual almost going back to our old habits. Sometimes we care not to attend church ever so often because we feel demotivated to go, tends to feel like a job that we are forced to go. I understand there are things we have to get done as well, but I’ve also acknowledge that there are people who will ask them in a meaningful way why didn’t they attend church that day. It almost makes them feel like they should be ashamed and yet as stated above, it starts to feel as if we are forced to go. Instead if we are more informed about God and have greater connection with Him, worrying if we are going to church or not won’t become an issue because we always tend to want more.

Not until my late-teens/young adult life I began to have a more focused approach on the word of God. I began to ask questions and study what it meant to really have God in my life. I’ve still yet to learn, but I’m far ahead now from where I started. Not that I’m trying to be a “Jesus-freak” but I desire to have a more knowledgeable approach to God. Being used by God and having a better relationship with Him.

I’m sure there are many ways to improve ourselves in God, but I took down three qualities that have improved my relationship with Him and hopefully can improve yours’ as well.

  • Purposely learning
  • Be with people who know
  • Improve areas needed

First most, when we want to have a better connection/relationship with God we have to understand that we need to be informed about his teachings. Not that we should know the basics, but rather we have to have the need to always learn more about Him. We can’t just accept God into our lives and expect Him to use us in ways without having capable knowledge about Him. I’ve been one of those people that have always knew the Adam & Eve stories and Noah’s Ark growing up, but I never understood how these members in our church were touched or how they had great visions to share with us. I found out as we further read into the word of God, we start to have a better understanding of how God uses people, and as you continue to understand these events you become aware that when you want to have a deeper relationship with God, it vastly improves. It’s not an overnight result, more of a day after day event.

Being with people who are fulfilled with the word of God brings you closer than with those who have no knowledge about Him do. Why do they bring you closer to Him? Because they share insights with you and help you become a better person. Kind of like with that saying that states if you want to become something you’re interested in, be with those that are in the same field. Same applies to here as well. Not that I’m saying abandon your friends right now and find new people, rather cherish and spend much time possible with those that know the gospel. I have great friends I grew up, the amount of time we spent together is endless, but I have learned that when I speak to them about God, they are not informed. I want to improve my relationship with God, so what I do is find people that know His word. It might sound like a meaningful approach, but it’s a way I see it in order to improve our connection. And of course I know we can all find a balance between the two.

The third quality I’d like to share is that as we are learning more and having a better relationship with God, we should value what we’ve learned and look for areas that are needed for improvement. What I mean by this is I’m asking myself “What are my weaknesses that are needed to be improved for having a better relationship with Him?” I know I have weaknesses that are still needed to be improved. What I do is try calling them out and plan on ways to improve them. There are some people that may not be very good at casting a prayer or translating a message from the Bible. And then there are those of the complete opposite where they can say a prayer, up to 30 minutes or so, it’s to be acknowledge and valued. It’s such a great quality they’ve gained, it should be used for even bigger growth.

The three qualities I’ve described are what I use to improve my relationship with God. Over time it’s really helped me and hope it can help you as well. It’s played such a role in my life that, as I continue to understand the gospel clearly, it’s become such value to me. I understand there are other ways that help people improve as well when i spoke with other people in the same situation, and what are those features? What helps you bring you to that level where you have a better relationship with Him?

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Disciplining Ourselves: What Does It Take

Posted on April 2, 2013 | Leave a comment

Is discipline really that hard for us? If we apply it within ourselves can we be capable of getting used to it that it no longer becomes discipline? I’ve read many stories of people being well disciplined to complete a goal they had set. Is it beneficial for us or bad? If it is, what ways help you stay disciplined?

According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, discipline is punishment, obsolete: instruction, field of study or a training that molds, perfects the mental or moral character.

As kids we are often disciplined because we are confused we don’t know what we are doing and as a way to better understand it, we often result in being disciplined from mom and dad. The same method transitions into our adult lives, not by our parents, but within ourselves. When we want to reach new heights we have to understand that discipline has to be applied, its a key of series. A great quote I heard was motivation keeps you going, but discipline helps you grow.

I’ve always loved sports being involved in programs after school such as soccer and basketball. At first it was very difficult. Getting up in the morning, going out to jog for 30 minutes, coming back to eat breakfast, and do strength training few hours afterwards. I didn’t want to do it, but time after time I kept putting it in my head that I have to. There’s no if’s or but’s just go out there and practice. Allen Iverson quotes, “Practice? We’re talking about practice.” I just didn’t desire getting up that early. Disciplining myself however has really helped. People I’ve met and close friends would all ask how am I capable of waking up so early to run? I just tell them I got used to it. The results that year was the best and all leaded to one thing, disciplining myself.

Now that I’m getting into my young adult life, I find it difficult finding ways to stay disciplined, as a way of being consistent. I desire to start a new project, something that I have visioned for, but the lack of committing myself and focusing towards it fades away through time. Anyone else relating with the same issue?

There are several ways I remember I kept myself disciplined. It started out with a push. I tried looking for someone with the same mindset as myself. Hearing their experiences motivated me which is also key. I needed that one person to push me so I can get a head start and continue. Kind of like when a small boy is learning to start to ride a bike. The father pushes him and the child will start to get a feeling for it. The same went with me. After entering that lifestyle I grabbed great knowledge of what I will be dealing with. Part of that push to continue forward with disciplining myself, I felt that I needed to be motivated as well. Why motivation? Because I know the outcome will be greater. If I wasn’t motivated at the time, any discipline wouldn’t have happened nor any of the hard work I did.

As I come to conclude this post, just think about any of the projects you’ve compromised in the past. If you are starting a new project/goal, will the methods of disciplining yourself be the same as previously? How do you keep yourself on the correct path without falling over or where would you begin with disciplining yourself?

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Worship with Joy: Should We Keep Up

Posted on March 29, 2013 | Leave a comment

Playing music since childhood I remember the first time I grabbed a pair of drum sticks and worked hard putting effort to become a drum musician. Looking through all these tapes and cassettes, I would play along-side them and be so very passionate about it. Not only was my mind set to play well but at the same time use it to worship. And I’ve acknowledged that God and music go hand and hand. How powerful it becomes and influential to people it gets. When we put our passion when we play music, it becomes more than just music. It becomes into a sensation people feel, stress is relieved, depression is no more, and we keep our focus onto God. Even with a single instrument when half the worship team may have missed that day of service, it can be tough, but I’ve seen how powerful that one instrument can get. However, some churches I’ve witnessed the way they worship is strict-ed. Why is that?

Visiting a pastor in Ohio, he invited me to his church on a Sunday. Coming early in, I’ve got the chance to meet their congregation and musicians. When church started I felt surprised. Their way of worshiping is through old hymns and not new contemporary music that attract youth and people all together. I asked why wouldn’t he have their worship team play new contemporary music, since there’s so many great songs out there. He answered it’s the way they play and best to worship God. They’re used to it and they rather not change the lifestyle their used to. But, of course we all eventually come to a change, not only for the youth, but also for new people that want to experience a different way to worship God.

I asked several musicians as well and they responded the same. Even though they were playing these hymns, it’d be much better if they put much effort into it. When they were worshipping, most looked like they were bored, not interested, lets see what time we get out of here, and with that way of attitude it not only affects them but the crowd as well. They won’t have a feel for the music and it’s all going to seem very boring. I know not every church enjoys screaming and shouting moving all over, but we have to recognize that when we play music, it’s a great deal in how we get our congregation motivated and starving for more. It’s what nourishes the mind if you can put it that way.

After witnessing their methods of worshipping music, I’m not against their ways, but I just wonder why won’t they change the way they play? Spectating many young people there, it’d be much better playing music that these young people are attracted to. Are they well informed about the music? Any knowledge in where they can start?

After I came back home from my trip to Ohio, I emailed their pastor some songs that would be pretty simple to learn yet have great tune to it. I wanted to get him up to date with the music.

So have you ever been part of a worship team that is strict in their music or have you been in that congregation? Knowing that perhaps you’d know a great deal of music to worship to, do you think not changing the way we worship would affect the youth ministry? Any experiences being part of it?

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Path to Victory

“What is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory- victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road my be; for without victory, there is no survival.” -Winston Churchill

I love this quote from Mr. Churchill. When we have that mentality to win, there should be no alternatives for it. No matter the circumstances we must keep focus on one thing and it’s our path to victory.

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Posted on March 23, 2013 in Business, Church, Starting a Business

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Pre-Plan: Mission Statement

Posted on March 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

During this pre-planning phase I understand building a great business plan and mission statement is important. How do we set this?  How long should mission statements be? I understand that two keys should be included in the mission statement and that is what are my skills/abilities, and lastly, what do I value.

Recently not so long ago I stepped into a local mechanic shop for a minor maintenance and this shop is very small. As you step in you’re in the front office, and as you see behind the front desk person is a door that leads directly into the work area. So as I setted up everything with the person taking my information I took a look at their small laminated paper that is their vision statement located on the far right corner of the office. It stated “To be the best of the best.”

So what’s wrong with this? I think it’s a little too broad. Best of the best in what and where and even in how? I commented on that and he told me that it was part of their goal. A goal? Maybe it’d be more helpful if we can narrow it down a bit and specifically state how they’re gonna get there. I gave him some helpful insights: Lets start out firstly being the best within these few blocks or this street. Once you become a great recommended shop from the area, it’s now a great time to start putting goals on becoming the best in town. From being the best in town, now we can focus on becoming best in state. Being best in state to best in country. Sounds like a hard way correct? I know it can be accomplished if we stay motivated to it. That’s also what mission statements are; to look back and help us stay motivated and on task. When we are lost and overwhelmed on what we were suppose to be doing in the first place, we should look back at our mission statement because that’s what we do. Nothing more, nothing less. Next I think it should include what skills I bring into my services. What do I have to offer that customers will feel satisfied. Skills that aren’t part of the service shouldn’t be mentioned.

Getting back to what was first mentioned, what do you guys include in your vision statements? How long do you think it should be and should we put a lot of time into it? Are you motivated time to time looking back at it?

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Sticking Together: Ways to Bond (cont.)

Posted on March 7, 2013 | Leave a comment

As we have learned in the previous post about the ways to have a better bond with your team-members. Today lets finish up on the last three keys of these seven key series I wanted to share with you.

  • Focus on Them: It’s important that you focus on them and not most of the time on yourself. As part of being a good leader, you want your team to be the best they can and you must pull your attention to them guiding them in the correct direction. When you focus on them, you are growing and becoming better together.
  • Believe: You must believe in them that any project or goals can get accomplished. When you believe in them they become motivated and influence in getting things done. Not only does the business improve but the culture as well. The atmosphere is better and everyone is staying positive.
  • Offer Direction: I believe this is one of the strong keys to having greater bond with your team. When you guide them on the correct path, you are building their trust in you and confidently in the end, they will also guide someone else. There can always be bumps and bruises, but the outcome of guiding someone is always remarkable. When spectating a father guiding his son for the first time to ride a bike, you see how the father feels proud and overjoyed. That’s the same feeling we have when we guide, with that little bit of direction we have drawn them the map of where to go.

That wraps up the seven keys of what I believe are vital to helping create a better bond with you and your team.

  • Knowing Yourself
  • Communicating with Openness
  • Sharing your Vision
  • Getting on their Level
  • Focusing on Them
  • Believing
  • Offering Direction

In what ways have any of these keys helped? Are there examples you know of that the outcome was great? Have in thought to remember to apply these when you’re in need of creating a better culture and make it part of your strategies of business making decisions. I hope to see improvement in your business or organization if it’s slacking in making great connections within one another.

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Sticking Together: Ways to Bond

Posted on March 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

In business or in an organization we must all have great connection with one another, without it, a leader or employer creates a setting in which it becomes dark, not trustworthy and team members not communicating effectively with one another. We have to get on a more personal level with them. I would like to share with you seven keys that can help build this long lasting relationship between you and your team. I will explain the first four today, and the last keys for Thursday.

  • Knowing yourself: Take a minute to sit back and reflect on yourself. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What’s needed to be improved? Something I would recommend is to talk with your team one on one, and let them give you feedback on what they think they see in you is needed to be improved upon. Most employers/leaders I’ve seen have refused this. They won’t mention nor perhaps will they ever. Because of the title they hold, it signifies they know what they’re doing and every aspect of themselves is perfect. I disagree, if we get to know ourselves on a more better standard we can easily connect with other members. Thus creating a bond to an extent.
  • Communicate with Openness: I believe we have to be open and sincere at the way we speak with others. If there’s a project going on and you feel a disagreement of some sort, it’s best to say it because in the end the results could’ve turned out better, and due to not being open about it, you’ve decided to stick back. We also have to be sincere and not so shallow.
  • Share your Vision: Your team has to have the same understanding of what your vision is. Where are they going with this? Are they getting anywhere? When we stick to vision, goals are achieved quicker and our team becomes stronger connecting with one another.
  • Get on their Level: When you communicate with them, communicate in terms that they can understand clearly. For example, lets say the way we communicate on a one through ten scale is an eight. Their number would be a five, so we’d have to lower ourselves that same number so they can have a clear thorough understanding of what is trying to be said. If we communicate with them on terms that we’re still at an eight, they become lost and tasks become relatively complicated. I believe also that we have to get on a level that is more deeper to them. Interests they do is an excellent example. If you tell them if they’ve seen the new gear exclusively for hunting that just been released, some if not most wouldn’t know squat. They would just ride along the train and pretend they know what you’re talking about, waiting when you’re about to leave so they can carry on. Instead how about a football game. Talk about how bad the game was yesterday allows them to fully engage you on their terms and at the same time it creates a great bond.

Take a look back and apply it to yourself. Do you have a great bond with your team-members? Do you see someone else that may need improvement to bond with their team? The team may be bonded together, but may not so much with you. How can you tell? Hope these first four keys help if you are struggling to bond with people in your setting or are seeing someone else in this situation.

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Connecting

“The stronger the relationship and connection between individuals, the more likely the follower will want to help the leader.”

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Posted on March 3, 2013 in Business

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Opening Up: Churches Welcoming All

Posted on February 25, 2013 | 3 comments

Over past years of visiting churches, I’ve witness different type of cultures many have. One thing most have in common is that we all have open arms to people who want to accept God into their lives. However, many can be judgmental towards these newcomers and not take notice that they may be offending him or her. We all have to show them that they chose the right thing to have God into their lives, and they are welcomed to participate in church activities as they keep attending. We have to keep growing them so they can be educated and at the same time improve themselves within. When we grow our members, we become a strong bond under God that the you can see how great and enthusiastic the culture is.

Waking up early on a Sunday morning, the radio being turned on, a preacher is preaching. He’s discussing what is proper and what is not. Arguing the fact that you should repent if you’re not doing the right thing. That things like not having desire to attend church is an act of the devil and you are a ridiculous sinner. I come to thought of why are we so judgmental towards one another? We all attend church, shouldn’t they be proud we already go to church? Judging that when we get to church and not praise Him a certain way is not acceptable, I don’t agree. When we come to church and worship, people have different ways how they worship Him. We don’t come to church to be judged, if we want to be judged go outside of church. We come inside to take all the weight off our backs, be influenced and motivated, making sure that we believe the rest of the week will be a blessed and prosperous week. They want to be around people who will care for them and guide them in life.

What I’ve seen is that when a newcomer is attending, most members don’t greet them right away. They have the leader mention them, and that’s where everyone will stand up to do so. I think they should’ve been greeted and welcomed the first time he stepped foot in the church. It’s a odd feeling coming into a church, everyone staring at you as you make your way to getting seated. It’s a matter of comforting them as they enter the building we are all part of God’s children. Guidance should be the first step. What do they know about God so far? Are they informed with the teachings of the bible? We must find what weak strengths they have and improve them so they can keep fulfilling themselves with God at the same time they can improve those around them as well. It’s a big discussion about how we approach newcomers. I believe most of them are sensitive, and like a new born baby, they will capture anything from the start. How can we improve our new members without offending them or making it seem as if we are being hard on them? How quick should they join in on our activities? We have to remember that these newcomers are coming with the mentality of the outside world, teaching them more about the word of God will improve the way they think.

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