Can You Really Make An Impact On Someone's Life?

Every day we are presented with an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. In that very moment, we wait for the “nudge”, we look for the “opening”, sometimes it passes us by and we wonder what could have happened if we would have done something. However every now and then we take the leap of faith and are amazed at what happens when we choose to make a difference. As you begin to ponder all you can do to make a difference, I want to share a few stories with you and will let you come to your own conclusion.  In our company, we encourage our members to give $100 to people when the “nudge” comes.  The stories we have heard over the years never cease to amaze us.

What if we told you $100 has ultimately impacted over 10 million people (and we are probably being way too conservative). Paul Young, author of the The Shack and Crossroads, has one of the most incredible stories I have ever heard. Paul Young has the ability to literally change the way you look at the world, your own life and what you believe. However you have to wonder after you listen to his story if all of his successes and influence would have ever happened without the generosity of one individual who thought he would attempt to make a difference on one evening.

Click here to listen this incredible story – http://bit.ly/1thfuvE

If that story is not enough to get you thinking about what is possible, watch the following video that we recently came across:

Click here to watch -

http://youtu.be/VumKim-tWIk?list=PLEb3ThbkPrFYcsA7NXKOk4DhT_MQpNAjw

You have a choice every day to use your time, talent and/or treasure to make a meaningful impact on those around you. Your spouse, your family members, your employees, the person standing behind you in line at the coffee shop are all in need of something, you could be the catalyst that allows them to find the peace and freedom in this world they are starved for, that we are all starved for.

Romans 12:4-8

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

We have all been given different abilities, talents and treasure. It is our responsibility to leverage those gifts to serve those that are in our circles of influence.

We can all make a difference.

During this holiday season, I challenge you think differently and listen for the “nudge” to see if  $100 can make a difference.

To learn more go to www.whatcould100dollarsbuyyou.com

Soul Care, Coaching Capacity, Continual Growth

Go to Scripture is Psalm 143:8 – 12. In fact this is a daily source of surrender, assurance, calibration, strength and alignment with the Creator, Savior and Holy Spirit… And a go to Scripture any time in my life that I find myself weary, tapped, in a funk, etc…Have found this to be an incredible source of strength, assurance and PEACE! (Mentor had recommended this to me a decade ago as X-factor impact of prayer of Jabez). Interestingly have encountered many members who also suffer from this paradigm… And have pointed them this direction (among others). Soul Care… Daily quiet time with the creator and sustainer of the universe is HUGE! Have increasingly tried to be more attentive and seeking of the Holy Spirit throughout the day. Couple great resources have read recently include The God I Never Knew by Robert Morris (Holy Spirit as Helper and Friend - perspectives I'd really never had) and Ortberg's newest book called Soul Keeping (great wisdom from John and his mentor Dallas Willard). I also set aside a half day of Solitude each month to get "off grid". Can't tell you how difficult this sometimes is (the evil one doesn't like this behavior)-have found I really have to block out time and lock it up with great intentionality as the temptation to "bump it" for something “more important” (really?) is very high.

Sort of all speaks to keeping priorities, priorities… Balance time with wife/family… Attentiveness to health (our 3 dogs take me for a run 3-4 times weekly)… Willard's quotes from Soul Keeping has been convicting… “What matters is not the accomplishments you achieve; what matters is the person you become”  and to “Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life". (This book was given to me by a member after Summit and it greatly helped me navigate a late spring/summer funk).

A Good Coach

A Coach will help you discover your priorities, define a road-map, then move you toward that reality. Coaches help draw out from the individual the best solution. A Coach may already have drawn their conclusions and perhaps possible solutions. They discipline themselves to wait to give their advice until they have discussed the possibilities with you. Before a coach shares their insights, they ask questions like, “what do you think are your options are at this point?” Coaching often starts with an objective person who can listen in order to soundboard a variety of options. Then they talk through each option to a favorable conclusion. Once a discovery, declaration, or conclusion is determined, a good coach will help guide and define an actionable plan. A coach will ask...

• When will you take action?

• What’s holding you back?

• What help do you need?

• When will you be finished?

• What's the win worth to you?

A coach will help you respond to these question, count the cost, and focus your response. Then a coach knows how to get you unstuck and moving in the right direction! A coach reminds you that what motivates you moves you!

A Good Coach helps you pay attention to your priorities!

A Great Coach will walk with you until those priorities become a reality! A Great Coach will help you see your dream become a reality!

I'm so thankful for my great coaches and their impact in my life!

So, here's my question... who's your coach?

Results and Outcomes

Hard to argue that the RESULTS and OUTCOMES derived in our lives are a function of the ACTIONS we take...and that our actions are a function of the PRIORITIES we establish and place in our lives… And that the priorities we create and establish are a function of our ATTITUDES and BELIEFS … And that those attitudes and beliefs are derived from our FEELINGS and THOUGHTS… And those feelings and thoughts are a direct reflection of the condition of our HEART and SOUL. It's an undeniable correlation that the results and outcomes we achieve in life are a function at a core level of the condition and health of our heart and soul. A troubled soul stimulates sour feelings and thoughts resulting in poorer than normal attitudes that create a negative chain reaction in priorities, actions and ultimately results.

We're encouraged with timeless wisdom of the ages to guard our hearts above all else as everything we do flows from it (it's the wellspring of life). And we are also instructed by a wise character from the Old Testament name Samuel who insightfully observed that "people look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

As you contemplate the results and outcomes in your life, perhaps there is a heart and soul issue at work. What is at the core of the results you are achieving? Do your priorities reflect a desire to guard your heart and care for the wellspring of your life ("everything" flows from it)? Are you creating space and margin in your life to enable a healthy heart or is your schedule so busy that care of the core seems ivory tower or unimportant? Or maybe life for you is compartmentalized (things on Sunday are completely separate from things Monday through Friday)? Are you consistently surrounding yourself with competent, high-trust people who share your values and priorities in life and business? People who can be a source of encouragement and soul care?

As Dallas Willard stated, "what matters is not the accomplishments you achieve; what matters is the person you become." Start at the heart.