by Clarence E. Stowers | Jan 19, 2009 | Empowerment, Leadership, Success, Vision
As you continue on your path of success, creating a plan of action focuses your efforts and yields immediate results.
Though you may be tempted to feel overwhelmed by the task, keep in mind that planning starts with a good outline.
Simply detail the steps you must take to achieve your goals. Following a plan allows you to keep track of your accomplishments which helps motivation levels remain high.
It also allows you to articulate what you want to achieve and how to achieve it. The saying is true: "Those who fail to plan, plan to fail."
This week I will share two principles each day that will help you create a success plan for your life. If you will dedicate one week to both principles, in 5-6 weeks you'll be a different & successful person.
1. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH
When creating a plan of action, clearly state your goals. First, have a brainstorming session. Let the ideas flow without interruption or judgment. Be sure to write down whatever comes to mind. Next, tighten up the looser ideas. For instance, a more specific version of "I want to start my own business" would be "I want to own my own Cyber Cafe within 5 years." Making goals specific helps you to zero in on what you want to accomplish. Finally, start thinking about how to achieve them.
2. WRITE A PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT
Crafting a plan for success involves generating an idea of who you are and what you intend to do with your life.
Writing a mission statement will help pinpoint where you should focus your efforts. Your mission statement should clearly state the things in life that are most important to you – things that motivate you to go from one step to the next. It should also reflect goals based on these values. Your mission statement should be motivational, easy to understand, and action-oriented. It should appeal to you personally and emotionally.
So, roll up your sleeves & let the work begin!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Dec 30, 2008 | Empowerment, Other Stuff, Vision
The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to
153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of
the calendar. With two faces, Janus could look back on past
events and forward to the future.
Janus became the ancient symbol for
resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies
and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year. January 1 became the beginning of
the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that
would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.
What if I suggested that you make ONLY ONE Resolution for the upcoming year and that it will CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER? Interested?
***CREATE A NOT-TO-DO-LIST***
The idea is to list all the activities you are intentionally going to stop doing for the sake of greater productivity.
Here’s why this is important. As people succeed at work, they attract more and more assignments. It’s like they become a task magnet.
The problem is that people are a
finite resource. I don’t care how good you are, you only have so much
energy and so much time. It’s true for me. It’s true for you.
The
only way for these super-productive people to continue to grow
professionally without going crazy is periodically to decide what they
are not going to do.
Here’s how:
- Find a quiet place where you can think.
- Look at your previous month’s calendar activities. Write down anything you’re not sure really fits your current job description.
- Look at your upcoming appointments for the next month. Again, write
down things that are questionable in terms of your current job
description.
- Go through your to-do list(s) and do the same thing. Write down the questionable activities.
- You should now have a list of “not to-do candidates.” Good work! You’re almost done.
- Now go through the list and put an asterisk beside each item that
is significant enough that you want to add it to your official “Not
To-Do List.”
Let's share a few of our "not-to-do-list" items to help stimulate the thinking of others!
Here's My Not-To-Do-List (as of today)
- Spend time with people who complain, gossip, and are critical of others
- Book my own travel
- Travel by car to other cities unless they are less than one hour a way
- Read unfiltered e-mail
- Attend annual convention meetings unless there’s a compelling reason for me to be there
- Attend conferences for more than three days
- Engage in anything that hinders my ability to give the best to the greatest church in the world – Mars Hill Baptist Church of Chicago
by Clarence E. Stowers | Nov 26, 2008 | Christian, Christianity, Communication, Leadership, Preaching, Vision
What Would YOU Like To Hear Taught Next Year?
Each
year in November our team breaks away for our annual teaching calendar
planning retreat where we lay out a general idea of where we sense God
wants to take us over this next year in terms of teaching and subject
matter.
This week, we will be spending the next several hours focused on praying, planning, and brainstorming. So please pray for us!
But here's my BIG question for all of you….
What topics/subjects would YOU like to hear teaching on?
I'd
love to hear your ideas! So leave a comment! Maybe your feedback will
spark a great idea for Mars Hill or even others over this next year!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Nov 19, 2008 | Conference/Workshops, Empowerment, Events, Leadership, Vision
Guess what?
Since some of you will not be able to attend the leadership conference,
I'll keep you posted as if you were there & you'll be able to talk LIVE to me in REAL TIME!
PLEASE SEND YOURSELF A REMINDER (above box) AND JOIN ME THIS THURSDAY!
by Clarence E. Stowers | Nov 17, 2008 | Current Affairs, Empowerment, Leadership, Politics, President-Elect Obama, Race, Vision
by Clarence E. Stowers | Nov 14, 2008 | Communication, Current Affairs, Empowerment, Leadership, Vision
Thankfully, the election is over. We now have clarity about who is going to lead our country for the next four years. I have never personally witnessed such excitement and hopefulness following an election (though I acknowledge that not everyone shared that sentiment).
However, the problems still remain. The stock market continues to remain volatile. I am not sure that this is so much a response to President-Elect Obama as it is a reflection of the fact that the economic environment is still enormously turbulent.
So is the glass half empty or half full? The truth is, both.
In times like these, leaders must do two things simultaneously:
- Confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they may be.
- Retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties.
This is what author Jim Collins refers to as “The Stockdale Paradox.” In his book, Good to Great, he tells the story of Admiral James Stockdale, who was a prisoner of war for eight years during the Vietnam War.
After his release, a reporter asked Admiral Stockdale, “How in the world did you survive eight years in a prisoner of war camp?”
He replied,
I never lost faith in the end of the story. I never doubted not only that we would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event in my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade.
The reporter then asked, “Who didn’t make it out?” Admiral Stockdale replied,
Oh, that’s easy, the optimists. They were the ones who said, “We’re going to be out by Christmas.” And Christmas would come and go. Then they’d say, “We’re going to be out by Easter.” And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart.”
Collins then goes onto state that an attribute of truly great companies and great leaders is that they are able to embrace simultaneously these twin truths of their current reality and their ultimate triumph.
Questions: Are you embracing the Stockdale Paradox in your leadership? If so, how?
© 2008, Michael S. Hyatt. Used by Permission. Originally posted at www.michaelhyatt.com.
