The Action Defecit

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In this culture of hyper-connectivity and people-pleasing, it’s easy to find ourselves with more commitments than we are able to fulfill. It’s easy to discover that our task lists are growing more quickly than our abilities to complete or even delegate tasks. That is an Action Deficit.

action too much to do The Action Defecit

photo credit: Walt Stoneburner on Flickr

How to handle an Action Deficit

An action deficit, like a cash flow deficit, can be handled multiple ways. We can:

  1. Ignore the problem and hope it goes away (not smart)
  2. Allow the loudest priorities to control our actions
  3. Develop and carry out a plan that will lead to success

Obviously, the first plan – ignoring things – is simply unwise. But so often we actually do allow the priorities of others and their ability to be the loudest control what gets our attention. I know what both of these are like because I constantly fight the temptation to approach my own overwhelm in those ways.

There is a better way

Begin with the end in mind
Stephen Covey

The better way, though, is to be crystal clear on what is most important. In every context. Be crystal clear on what is most important in your family. Be crystal clear on what is most important in your business or to the company you work for. Be crystal clear on what is most important in your department. And your church. And in your relationships. And in your health.

OK, I get it.

Then, develop a plan to reorganize your activities put your best time towards the things that are the most important. I can’t tell you exactly what that will look like because I don’t know your specific situation. But I can tell you that knowing what is most important will help.

Finally, put the plan into action. Reorganize your schedule (I get up at 5AM most days to pray, read the Bible, and write in a journal – and I’m not a morning person). Have some frank discussions if necessary. And schedule a weekly check-in with yourself or an accountability partner to keep yourself on track.

That sounds easy

Well, yes, it does sound easy. But it’s not easy, it’s simple and straightforward but not easy. Or at least it wasn’t easy for me, and it’s still a struggle from time to time. I come back to these principles weekly, sometimes daily and wrestle them back into place. I still struggle.

Take the first step first

So, since it’s not easy, just take the first step. Then take the second.

Do you know where you are in this? Take a deep assessment of where you are and how you’re spending your time (track your time if you need to) and then compare that with what’s most important to you, your boss and customers, your family, and so on. If you like what you see, keep going. If not, take the next steps.

  • Get clear on your priorities
  • Create a plan to spend your best time on those priorities
  • Arrange your schedule and commitments
  • Check in often

The question

Can you share the story of a time when you successfully changed how you were spending your time to do what was the most important? If so, what did you do and how did you do it?

Photo credit: Walt Stoneburner

3 Questions to Simplify Leadership

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When things get crazy, we need a place of simplicity where we can regain our centers. Andy Stanley shared his “simple place” at the Chick-fil-A Leadercast in the form of three questions that help him when things get crazy.

Leadership Made Simple

  1. What are we doing?
  2. Why are we doing in?
  3. Where do I fit in?

leadership made simple 3 Questions to Simplify Leadership

If his three questions don’t work for you, I’d urge you to spend some time finding the place of simplicity where you can center yourself.

He said he wrote his out by hand out on a 3 x 5 card. If you want to print out the picture above and hang it on your wall, go for it. If you want to write it out by hand on a 3 x 5 card (or 5 x 8 if you’re feeling crazy), feel free. But write it down.

Why write it down?

I’m glad you asked. Because it’s precisely when we’re most likely to need to remember that we’re likely to forget. It’s when life is complex that it’s hard to find the place of simplicity.

But if it’s written down, you can at least find it if you go looking for it.

 

The Dangers of Reading the Bible

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Sometimes I think the Bible should come with a warning label. Now, before you go all crazy on me, I’m not arguing that reading the Bible is a bad idea. I just think maybe there should be a warning label involved.

Maybe something like.

Warning: May be hazardous to a self-centered way of life.

or

Warning: This will probably mess you up and make you into a person you wouldn’t normally be.

How reading the Bible can be hazardous

Really, at least in my mind, there are two specific dangers to reading the Bible. One of them is a real danger and the other is a comfort danger.

The real danger

It is extremely dangerous to read the Bible but refuse to allow God to transform you. To read about righteousness, justice, mercy, and generosity, yet choose to remain unrighteous, unjust, unmerciful, and stingy.

The danger is really about two things.

  • A missed transformation
  • A hardened heart

Through the Holy Spirit, the Bible is inherently transformational. God’s word is intended to conform us to the image of Christ. But if we refuse to allow it to transform us, we miss out on that transformation and the deepened relationship with God that comes through the transformation.

The greater danger, though, is having a heart that is hard towards God. It’s just not possible to continue ignoring God without hardening your heart in some way.

But just as there are dangers in refusing the transforming power of the Bible, there are dangers in embracing it. They are desirable dangers, to be sure. But they are dangers

The desirable dangers

As we read the Bible and allow it to permeate our lives, it will transform us in deeply desirable but sometimes exquisitely uncomfortable ways. It will point out areas where we have missed God’s heart. It will open our eyes and our hearts to the struggles of others. It will call us to service and humility instead of power and pride.

  • It might mess you up.
  • It might change your heart.
  • It might call you out of your comfort zone.
  • It might conform you to the image of Christ.

In truth, all of those things are desirable. But they are not always comfortable. In fact, I dare say that they are seldom comfortable – at least in the moment.

This happens to me too

Before you think that I just float through life on a magic carpet of ease and joy like some minor deity from mythology, I have to tell you that reading the Bible does this to me too. Sometimes I try to fight God’s word and harden my heart. Other times I’m open to what he’s saying and then he really messes me up.

Many times I hear his word and don’t know what to do with it except bring it back to him, ask him for guidance, and wait. Wait for guidance. Wait for provision. Wait for his timing. Wait for him to do the deep, transformational work in my heart.

Here’s an excerpt from one of my recent journal entries.

For some reason I can’t get the image of babies and small children scavenging food in war-torn areas of the world. When I see my kids playing I can’t help but think that if Katherine and I died, I would want somebody to take care of them.

As best I can, I trust God to do that. At the same time, I can’t help but wonder if we are part of his plan to help care for somebody else’s abandoned or orphaned child. Or if there’s some way he wants us to support another person in doing the same.

It is just really heavy on my heart these last couple days. Lord, what would you have me do with this?

Let’s bring it down to the ground level

So, here’s the question: Are there places where you’re refusing to let the Bible conform you to God’s will?

If so, what are you going to do about it today?

Attention Debt

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We must budget our attention in the say way we budget our time and our money. If we don’t, we will find ourselves in continual attention debt, always struggling to give the least attention to the greatest number of things and always falling short.

attentiondebt Attention Debt

My Secret Sauce for Learning

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A few days ago I put up a post about the success secrets of top performers. One of the things leaders and top performers do, almost without exception, is to continue learning and reading. While I don’t know everything, there are ways I learn without sacrificing family time.

Note: I wasn’t sure I was even going to write this post but I changed my mind after talking with a woman at church about reading and learning. Our conversation offered her some valuable tips so I thought maybe you’d be interested too.

Stick around to the end because I also have some suggestions of things you can do this week to take the first step. If you’re not sure how to take the next step, send me a note.

how i learn My Secret Sauce for Learning

How I learn without sacrificing family time

Always be learning. Never stop. Ever.
Bryan Entzminger

There are a few things I do to learn as much as I can as quickly as I am able. Some people might disagree with my approach. Some people have different learning styles. This is just what works for me. If it doesn’t work for you, keep trying until you get it right. Learning is important.

Take advantage of dead time

One of the best ‘dead time’ tools is…a phone with reading materials available….
transformingleader.org

Let’s face it, we have a lot going on and are usually juggling priorities and managing expectations. I don’t want to sacrifice family time to read. But at the same time, there are almost always spaces of uncommitted time in our calendars. I’d suggest you do two things: set aside specific time for learning (yes, plan to learn) and also take advantage of those little spaces by always having something available to read.

I make time for learning by getting up early in the morning (usually 5AM) and go through a morning routine that allows me to clear my mind, get set for the day, and spend some time praying and journaling.

I also take advantage of small blocks of time. For example, I find that some of my best time to read paper books are while my wife is getting ready for bed. But where this “dead time” really takes off is on my commute.

Your rolling university

I have a 30 minute commute each way every day and I take advantage of that “dead time.” If you have a commute I’d suggest that you turn off the sports talk and listen to something that will feed your intellectual growth.

When I’m on my way to work I listen to two things: audio books and podcasts. But that’s not all of it – I have a secret sauce. I know that we think faster than we speak (think about it, when was the last time your mind wandered while listening to somebody talk) so I kick it up a notch.

I listen to audio books on my iPad at double speed and I listen to podcasts at triple speed using an app called Downcast (a very good investment at $1.99). In both cases I find that speakers are generally understandable and neither app makes them sound like chipmunks.

Read the short version

Sometimes I don’t have the time to read an entire book. And, frankly, many books on business and personal development could be summarized in 3-5 pages without losing anything but the stories.

Because of that I’m a huge fan of summaries like the ones provided by GetAbstract and Actionable Books. While these don’t give the full depth of a book, they offer highlights and insights very quickly. I find them invaluable when I’m trying to gain a high level understanding of a new concept.

Now, about you

I’ve shared three things I do to learn quickly and continuously. Do you have any tips or tricks to share with the rest of us?

Take the next step

Which one of the following will you do in the next week?

Let us all know what you’ll be doing by leaving a comment. And check back to let us know how it’s going.

And, if you’ve found this post valuable, I’d really appreciate a tweet or share.

Photo credit: aheram

What Missions are About

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What do you think missions are about?

  • Construction projects
  • Financial aid
  • Medical assistance
  • Helping the poor

20130501 055730 What Missions are About

Those are all good things – and they are often the context for missions. But ultimately, missions are about two things: God and people. They are about giving God glory by doing what he has for us to do and sharing what he’s given us. They are about allowing him to transform the lives of people – “us” and “them” together as “we.”

It can be easy to think that we, as “Americans” can, and ought to, fix the world. But in reality, we only do good when we humbly carry God’s hope with us, relying on him to accomplish his will.

And when we do that we are transformed too.