I’ve tried to write this post four different times and I just can’t seem to do it. I either want to write a ton of personal stories that no one would find interesting or I go to the other extreme of writing too little for fear of hurting someone’s feelings. Katrina was a game changer for so many. On this day, I am remembering the storm that wrecked countless lives. I am also remembering the opportunity it provided. Things will never be the same. So many memories from relief work to raising my kids in post-Katrina NOLA. I will never be the same. Praying today for those of you still…
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Wait to Worry
This is a new idea for me, but one that I am starting to cling to. Wait to worry. I have even passed it on, in a recent coaching opportunity. Things were not going well for this person, but there was nothing they could do. In the near future, there would be things they could do. However, right now, all they could do would be to worry. That’s no good. I gently but firmly encouraged, “Wait to worry.” I had to repeat it a few times, as I do for myself. Being a planner, I lean towards worry myself, even if there is nothing I can do. If you can’t…
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God Can Take It
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.” ~ Ps 22:1-2 In reading the Psalms this month, I have come across some great passages. I love the honesty of David here. He holds nothing back in chapter 22. He tells God exactly how he is feeling. It is as if he believes God is a real person. He is talking to God like he is a real person. Guess what? God is real. Though he is…
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Best Evernote Post Ever: 57 Ways To Use Evernote
If you don’t know by now, I love Evernote. After all, it is my most useful productivity tool. I use it for ideas, task management, and, of course, to remember everything. From time to time, I run across people who have tried it but are struggling to figure out how to really use Evernote. They realize how valuable it could be for them, but they just can’t quite integrate it into their life. I ran across a post from Craig Jarrow titled 57 Things to Keep in Evernote. What a great list! I use many of these myself and never even realized it. I got some new ideas as well. Check it…
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Raising Kids to be Entrepreneurs
Is it possible to raise my kids to be entrepreneurs? This is the question I asked myself recently. I believe the answer is “yes” and I want to be intentional with it. As all good parents, my wife and I want to set them up to be successful in life. Teaching them entrepreneurial skills would be a great first step. No, this is not just about money. Yes, play is important. In fact, as homeschool kids, mine get to play a lot. My primary motivation here is figuring out a way to stimulate their creativity. It is fascinating to me that from a young age I can already see their…
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Rest, Work and Relationships
These 3 areas of life are important to your productivity. They will propel you forward or hold you back if you let any one of them take priority over the others. If you rest too much, you may have time for relationships, but you will not be able to provide for your own needs. Not to mention the impending cycle of depression that will then keep you from working. You do not want to go down this road! If you spend too much time on relationships, at the expense of work or rest, again you are headed somewhere you don’t want to go. I do not know anyone who has…
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Worship with Your Work
What is worship? I’m not going off of any special definition. Essentially worship is anything we do that brings God glory, anything that lifts up the name of Jesus. I want to suggest we begin to worship with our work. Whether we are creating something amazing, running a report, taking out the trash or whatever you do during your workday, you can choose to enter into worship while you work. Decide to make it about God. Decide to do it for Him. Do you like what you are doing? Do you hate it? Are you thinking about making a change? Or do you plan to keep it up for as…
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Productive Creativity: Helping Creatives Manage Time and Create with Excellence
Creativity has always been a high value for me. I would not put myself on the super creative end when matched up against all creatives on the planet. However, I do love to create and am absolutely captivated by the creativity of others. So why a post on “Creativity” in the “Productivity” category of my blog? Those two don’t go together. They are opposites. Or are they? I actually believe everyone is made to create. Sometimes we are discouraged from creativity. Some other values stamp out the creativity bone in us. I do not believe productivity is the culprit though. Productivity is about efficiently using your time to accomplish the…