by Clarence E. Stowers | Nov 15, 2010 | Accountability, Communication, Empowerment, Personal, Self-Leadership, Success, Vision
You have a purpose in life. Let me repeat: You have a purpose in life! You know in your heart what’s most important to you.
What Is A Personal Vision Statement?
A personal vision statement is a preferred picture of what could be and what should be in your life. Additionally, it’s a plan for people to accomplish the goals they set. It shapes your identity and crystallizes principles which are important to you, and supplies a foundation on which to build a preferred picture of the future. In short, it communicates who you are and what you plan to accomplish. A personal vision statement can be based on your mission, goal, or your passion.
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Nov 10, 2010 | Accountability, Decisions, Empowerment, Personal, Relationships, Self-Leadership, Teamwork
To say I’m excited about mentoring a fine group of men is an understatement. In fact – I’m ECSTATIC! How often are we allowed the chance to impart and pour our lives into others? I told our men that this will be one of the most difficult assignments they’ll ever encounter. I will teach them…stretch them…develop them…train them…correct them…as they transition into fine Christian leaders in their homes, communities, and church.
(Praying for our Men of Promise. Sunday, November 7, 2010)
I crossed the burning sands of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., on March 4, 1987 @ 10:54:35pm while attending Jackson State University in Jackson, MS. While pledging* (The Men of Alpha Phi Alpha DO NOT participate in or condone any form of hazing :-D), my line (The Naughty 9) read poems that instilled hope and inspiration. The inspiration from these poems gave us the strength to reach towards the finishing line. I shared with the Men of Promise how nothing great comes without sacrifice, dedication, and hard work. Therefore, I believe this poem, “The Test of a Man” will prove beneficial to their development.
THE TEST OF A MAN
(Author Unknown)
The test of a man is the fight that he makes,
The grit that he daily shows;
The way he stands upon his feet,
And takes life’s numerous bumps and blows.
A coward can smile when there’s naught to fear.
And nothing his progress bars,
But it takes a man to stand and cheer,
While the other fellow stars.
It isn’t the victory after all
But the fight that a Brother makes.
A man when driven against the wall, still stands
erect and takes the blows of fate with his head held high,
bleeding and bruised and pale,
Is the man who will win and fate defied,
For he isn’t afraid to fail.
Question: What Scriptures, poems, or quotes get you through the day?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Oct 8, 2010 | Christian, Christianity, Empowerment, Goals, Money and Finance, Prayer, Vision
This past Sunday, I shared with our congregation how I selected 20 people to pray for who were generous, faithful, and cared about the poor, oppressed, and marginalized.
I’m praying that God would make them wealthy (multi-millionaires) so they could reach back and help the poor & permanent underclass.
Why? Jesus was/is ALWAYS on the side of the poor, oppressed, and marginalized AND someone has to speak for the voiceless. Also, it’s time for a shift of wealth into the hands of Kingdom-minded people with integrity to do the right thing!
I prayed before selecting people because they had to meet the following criteria:
- Compassionate
- Unselfish
- Have extraordinary faith
- Have a genuine concern for the poor
- A heart for empowering those who are less fortunate
This Sunday, I extended an invitation for others to join my list & WHAT A RESPONSE! If you meet the aforementioned criteria, you may want to consider getting in on this prayer. If you are selfish, lack integrity, & want to be wealthy for the sake of being wealthy, please reconsider your priorities before deciding to join.
In the meantime, the Lord wants you to get your financial house in order before the harvest comes & the hardest step is getting started!
Here’s what you can start doing NOW:
- Stop signing up for more debt!
- Save $2,500 and save in your emergency fund – pay minimum payments on all debt until you have $2,500!
- Find out which debts you owe and how much you owe
- Seek to reduce or eliminate the interest you are paying
- Calculate your debt freedom date – using the free tool @ HERE
- Pay minimum payments on all debts except the smallest one
- Attack the smallest debt with as much money as possible
- As each debt is paid off, use the freed up payment money to add to the payment of the next smallest debt.
- Repeat steps 6 thru 8 until you become debt free!!!
You CAN do this!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Sep 9, 2010 | Christian, Computers, Conference/Workshops, Empowerment, Events, Leadership, Technology
The NINES is an online conference worth attending!
The NINES is a totally online conference and gathering for church leaders that will happen today, September 9, 2010 @ 10:30AM (CST). I attended the conference last year and it was brilliant – no seriously, it was brilliant!! The format is that each leader speaking at the conference is given six minutes to give their thoughts on the conference theme – this year the theme is “Game Changers.”
Here are some answers to some commonly asked questions (from the Q&A page of the NINES website)!
I know it’s short notice, but, trust me: YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! Registration is free, but you can also register and get lots of good stuff.
See you online @ The NINES!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Sep 3, 2010 | Current Affairs, Decisions, Empowerment, Family, Goals, Money and Finance
For the past two weeks, I’ve shared the importance of reaching out to expand your network of trusted advisors. Included in the mix are: 1) A Personal Banker or Branch Manager; 2) Mortgage Broker, 3) A Fee-Based Financial Planner; 4) An Insurance Agent, 5) A Certified Public Accountant (CPA); and 6) A “Proven” Real Estate Agent.
In my opinion you should have them on speed dial if you desire to build wealth and leave a lasting legacy. Your aim should be to develop a team that understands your financial goals and advise with a human touch. Today, I’d like you to consider adding a seventh and final financial friend:
An Estate Planning Attorney
I Don’t Have Enough Money…
Wrong! People often think of estate planning, wills, and trusts as tools and services for the wealthy. Not so! Why? The laws governing wills and trusts affect the wealthy, middle-class, and the working class. Additionally, there’s a lot of confusion surrounding wills and trusts. People, they are not synonymous. “A will controls your assets in your individual name when you die, but a trust is used to hold your assets during your lifetime,” according to Vicki Lee Parker, writer for Black Enterprise Magazine.
As a pastor of a thriving church, I can’t tell you how many family fights I had to mediate because no one took the time to consult an estate planning attorney. Today, many siblings and relatives do not speak because no one took time to plan accordingly. Since each state has different laws regarding inheritance, your estate shouldn’t be left to the state or do-it-yourself wills. “An estate planning attorney can help you set up a trust that offers more flexibility and control over how your assets are managed after you die,” says Steve Hartnett, an estate planning attorney in San Diego and associate director of education at the American Academy of Estate Planing.
I Confess…
As I conclude this series, I want inform you that I practice what I preach. I have six of the seven financial friends on speed dial and I’m currently interviewing estate planning attorneys. I plan to make my decison by the end of September and will keep you posted. Thanks for reading and reflecting on my blog posts and my prayers are with you as you assemble your team!
Did I miss anyone? Who do you have on your team that I missed?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Sep 2, 2010 | Current Affairs, Decisions, Empowerment, Goals, Money and Finance
When it comes to getting ahead financially, it pays to have a trusted circle of advisers to lean on. For the past two weeks, I’ve shared the necessity of expanding your network of friends to include a few financial friends. These friends will help guide you to reach your financial goals. You can think of these friends as your personal board of directors or your dream team. Today, I’d like to suggest a sixth financial friend:
A “Proven” Real Estate Agent
The recent economic downturn forced many agents out of business looking to make a quick buck. If you intend to build wealth and leave a legacy, gone are the days when you can call your novice cousin, uncle, or high school friend to help your purchase or sale property. Times have changed and with so much uncertainty in the real estate market, it’s important to have a proven agent in your network who has the expertise to help you achieve your property ownership goals.
Who Should I Call?
“Take some time to find an agent who knows the market you are interested in and has experience in the specific type of deals you want to make,” says Vicki Lee Parker, writer for Black Enterprise Magazine. Before deciding which agents to interview, do your homework! The top agent in your city may not be the best choice for marketing your particular home. Your choice should depend on which agent is most successful in attracting buyers to homes similar to yours in price and amenities. Some agents specialize in luxury homes, some in downtown condos, and some in a particular subdivision or price point. To optimize your selling success, choose an agent who is successful in selling homes similar to yours. Check out these questions before you list your home.
Do you have a “proven” real estate agent on speed dial?
