by Clarence E. Stowers | May 6, 2015 | Empowerment, Encouragement, Leadership, Self-Leadership, Success
Someone once said, “time flies when your having fun.” I’d like to suggest that time flies whether you’re having fun or not. In fact, time never stops.
It seems that everyone’s busy these days. And life shows no sign of slowing down. There are an endless number of apps, books, planners, and software all designed to help us manage our time more effectively. Since life has no intention of slowing down, are your efforts effective? Or do you sometimes feel like you’re spinning your wheels?
“Time flies whether you’re having fun or not.” -CE Stowers
[shareable cite=”CE Stowers”]Time waits for no one. It flies whether you’re having fun or not.[/shareable]
Now more than ever, we seem to have more work than time to do it. Everyone has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day. So since we can’t increase the amount of time we have, we need to learn how to control our use of it.
Here are my five favorite blog posts to help you grow in the area of time management.
Why You Can’t Seem to Manage Your Time – Brandon Cox
Time management. Of all the people I know who ever focus on this concept, only a small handful are confident that they’re doing it well.
Source: Why You Can’t Seem to Manage Your Time
Time Management System – Ron Edmondson
If you aren’t doing so already, I want to encourage you to plan your week for efficiency. Every Monday (or Sunday night if you prefer), as the first thing you do, consider the week ahead.
Source: Time Management System – Ron Edmondson
3 Essentials for Time Management – Artie Davis
As you grow as a leader, your time becomes the most valued gift you can invest in others.
Source: 3 Essentials for Time Management
Top 10 Ways Leaders Waste Time – Carey Nieuwhof
When was the last time you complained about not having enough to do and more than enough time to do it in? Exactly. Almost every leader I know struggles with finding the time to get it all done. I do too. So what helps? And what hurts?
Source: Top 10 Ways Leaders Waste Time (And 10 Time Hacks to Help You) – Carey Nieuwhof
14 Tips for Time Management – Chuck Lawless
I make no claim to an expert at time management. What I am is a seminary dean, education consultant, church consultant, and local church pastor who has been forced to learn how to budget time. Here are some time management tips that have worked for me:
Source: 14 Tips for Time Management – ThomRainer.com
[shareable cite=”CE Stowers”]Everyone has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day.[/shareable]
Heartsill Wilson said,
God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it – or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it!
When you open your eyes tomorrow morning, remind yourself that it holds incredible possibilities. You can allow that day to slip away from you, or you can use it to make things happen. The choice is yours.
What other time management techniques have worked for you?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Apr 15, 2015 | Empowerment, Goals, Leadership, Self-Leadership, Vision
When is enough…enough?
Recently, I asked several people to explain to me exactly what they wanted. Guess what – NOT A SINGLE person could answer. Knowing what you want is the best way to avoid the temptation to pursue several things at the same time. That takes focus.
I’ve seen people get frustrated by their ministry, business, and careers because they know that they want something but they don’t exactly know what. The main reason people struggle professionally and personally is simply a lack of focus. This lack of focus can be costly because there is a subtle push to pursue more.
There Will Always Be a Subtle Push to Pursue More
There’s a subtle and (if you’re not careful) sinister push that we should devote more time to building our brand/platform. Although I’m a pastor, a writer, mentor, and speaker, I’m not exempt from this subtle push. A few years ago I discovered that there was a danger to my soul in pursuing more exposure, more name recognition, more money to be made from thinking, writing, and speaking about ministry issues. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up like King Solomon and lose focus.
King Solomon’s Dangerous Pursuit of More
King Solomon wrote an entire book (Ecclesiastes) on perilous pursuits and eventually paid a hefty price. He lost focus and desperately pursued several unrelated goals in a vain attempt to satisfy himself (Ecclesiastes 2:1–11). As Solomon penned these words, he was rich beyond measure, but internally empty.
He couldn’t fill the hole God placed in his heart with things or understand why he lacked contentment. Regretfully, he tried to fill that hole with his outward pursuits of more. Solomon eventually did narrow his focus, but it took him a lifetime and an entire book to do so (read Ecclesiastes. 12).
Solomon finally determined what really mattered and what he really wanted. I read somewhere: “If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.” The danger with pursuing more is that it’s limitless. Unlike Solomon, Jesus models what happens when you’re focused.
Jesus Was Focused – He Didn’t Allow Distractions or Rejection Change His Focus
While in the synagogue, Jesus spoke from Isaiah 61 about His anointing (Luke 4:18). His cruel rejection by the people of his hometown in Nazareth is highlighted to characterize Jesus’ initial teaching ministry in Galilee. Even when His audience didn’t like what He had to say (Luke 4:28, 29), He moved on to the next town to continue His work. He would not let anything drain His anointing or distract Him from His mission.
The Most Effective Tactic I Use to Stay Focused
Schedule time on your calendar to focus on the task.
After reading Jason Fried‘s book Rework, I’ve incorporated the “Alone Zone” into my work flow. If some asks if I am available, I reply, “I’m sorry, but I have another commitment at that time.”
Jesus was focused. How about you? Have you figured out what you want?
by Clarence E. Stowers | Feb 9, 2015 | Decisions, Empowerment, Encouragement, Leadership, Self-Leadership, Success
How often have you wanted to change other people so they’d be better?
Have you ever noticed it’s hard to change habitual behavior? As a pastor, leader, and life coach, my mission is to help people achieve positive change in behavior: for themselves, their family, and their leadership teams.
Research shows that successful people, who embrace change, have a strong sense of self-determination. Simply put, their mindset says, “I am doing, what I am doing because I choose to, not “I am doing what I am doing because I have to.”
Since I help people embrace and navigate change, I wrestle with the tension change brings to individuals and organizations. I hear it all the time: “I want to grow. I just don’t want to change.” How do you respond when people want to grow, but not change?
If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 26, 2015 | Accountability, Christian, Christianity, Decisions, Empowerment, Leadership
Self-confidence is one of today’s most popular subjects. Conferences, seminars, workshops, and best selling authors tell us that the key to success is to be self-confident. Consequently, we’re encouraged to live boldly, think big, and craft BHAG’s (Big Hairy Audacious Goals).
Confident people inspire confidence in others: their audience, their peers, their bosses, their customers, and their friends. And gaining the confidence of others is one of the key ways in which a self-confident person finds success. Having self-confidence is even finding its way into church life. How so? (more…)
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 19, 2015 | History, Leadership, Motivation, Servant Leadership, Success
In 1954, The Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL called Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, Jr. to serve as their pastor. He was just 25 years old.
A year after he arrived in Montgomery, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus, and King led the Montgomery bus boycott to end segregation. His decision to lead the boycott would thrust him into the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society
Leadership isn’t about having a title. Often, the strongest leaders in an organization, and in life, are those who don’t have official titles. Who gave King permission to make a difference? No one! Why:
You don’t need permission to make a difference.
King’s most powerful asset was his ability to focus on the task at hand. Focus and determination beat brains and intellect every time. You don’t necessarily have to be smarter or better educated to succeed.
Your power lies in your ability to focus on doing what is important. If you focus on the right things, and work at them often, you will achieve exceptional results.
Again, you don’t need permission to make a difference.
by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 16, 2015 | Apple/Mac, History, Leadership, Teamwork, Technology, Vision
Honestly, I do not understand why most pastors and church leaders do not leverage technology for the Glory of God. Pastors, church leaders, and faithful church attendees who see social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, and LinkedIn as evil are missing a great opportunity to reach people far from God.
Are you sitting?
Here’s something that’ll blow your mind…
Christianity was, in a very real sense, the first technologically driven religion.
Intrigued? Angry? Frustrated? Read on…
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