With all your planning and goal setting for 2023, don’t forget to say NO. In fact, start the year right – say NO! so you free up time to say YES to what’s most critical.
This blog entry contains my personal LinkedIn posts for January 2 through January 22, 2022.
Be Time Aware
A key element of growth is time awareness, hence the ancient phrase “number our days.”
I cannot make my time count if I’m unaware of the time I have, and how I’m using that time.
For this coming year, let’s be intentional about numbering our days by redeeming the time! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Be conscious, be deliberate about life choices and time usage.
The Precept: Teach me to number my days so I can become wise hearted. Psalm 90.12 paraphrased by the author.
A Comment: If my approach to time usage this year is the same as last – expect the same outcomes!
Buying Back Time, For a Season
We buy back time for a specific use when we are:
1). Purpose-driven instead of event-driven
2). Pursuing what’s of greatest value in a season of life.
Last summer my wife had focused time with her older sister at a family reunion.
Her sister passed away two days after Christmas.
The same wind that pushes us back can also lift us up when we adjust our posture, hence our mindset, in our response to life opportunities. proverbsforprofessionals.net
An Observation: For my wife the “season” was a couple of days with her big sister. Those few days cannot be bought back at the next reunion.
The Precept: Colossians 4.5 echoes Psalm 90.12. We are instructed to redeem (literally to buy back) our time by behaving wisely.
A Question: What enables you to redeem time by grasping the moment?
Did You Say Something?
I’ve been thinking about the essentials of content. The content of what I say and write.
So far I’ve settled on three essentials:
1). Clear – concise, focused
2). Authentic – relatable, real
3). Impactful – challenging, inspiring
When my content lacks these three I’m likely to hear back: “Did you say something?”
To be most impactful, what we share on social media must be concise, clear, and compelling as we share from a place of deep, experiential competence in our lives. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: It’s nice to touch the head, but better to deeply engage the heart.
The Precept: Proverbs 25.2 teaches that impactful leaders are able to get right to the heart of an issue. So, share in a way that addresses root concerns.
A Question: What would you add to this list?
Start the Year Right – Say NO!
With all your planning and goal setting for 2023, don’t forget to say NO.
Remember, accomplishments are horizontal in terms of fulfillment. Get one – move to the next.
Conversely, true fulfillment is vertical, thus measured by depth of impact on your life.
Mindfulness encompasses traits such as gratitude, reverence, and humility, which make us aware of life’s true wealth. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Say NO to shallow activities and list-checking. Say YES to clarity of purpose that guides you to a fulfilled life.
The Precept: According to Proverbs 18.24, I cannot have friends if I’m not friendly. More broadly, we see returns where we are willing to invest.
A Question: Relationship building and self-care give high return. What else gives you high ROI?
Sports – For What?
I suspect most of us have never played pro sports.
Or, have a child who played professionally. Right?
But, how many parents or grandparents are convinced their child/grandchild is the greatest?
Sports are an opportunity for children and parents to spend focused time together. As grandparents, we enjoy seeing that family engagement.
Playing not to lose is very different from playing to win. Similarly, being driven by irrational fear is very different from acting with appropriate caution. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Sports add variety to a child’s life. But, it’s best if it doesn’t warp the child’s expectations for their future, or their perspective about their self-worth.
The Precept: In Proverbs 4.4 Solomon said his father taught him the value of a sound character.
A Question: What helps you keep a realistic perspective about your child or grandchild’s athletic/artistic activities?
Time to Reflect!
In 2022 I was given an introspective writing project, which will become a book for our kids.
During my career I practiced annual planning and goal setting by reviewing where I was and where I wanted to go.
Similarly, the writing project asked me to look back over the decades, review how I’ve changed, and see where I’ve grown.
My personal growth continues. I recently took a Strengths Finder. My top two strengths are as a thinker. The next three focus on execution. Think-Do, how exciting!
Being purpose-driven and mindful keeps us out of the trap of being event-driven and reactionary! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Before tearing into goal setting, step back and reflect on where you’ve been. Not just for 12 months, but over a multi-year block.
The Precept: In Ecclesiastes 12.1 Solomon encourages us to “remember” hence reflect, while we are young and can make changes that significantly change our life trajectory.
A Question: When’s the last time you extended your life reflection beyond a single, twelve-month block?
A Perfect Parent – Ha!
“My kid was arrested after a police chase!”
Thus the story I heard someone tell recently.
The catch? When he got the call he was speaking at a parenting conference!
After a trying period in life, living to share is much better than failing to learn. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Be realistic. None of us are perfect parents or grandparents. But, that doesn’t mean we are miserable failures either!
The Precept: Proverbs 22.6 teaches us that we raise children the best we know how. When they’re old they eventually get it! (my paraphrase)
A Question: If you have adult children, how comforting is that precept to you?!
What Authentic Self Means
“Authentic self” is inherently unique as each of us are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
As such, we each have a fairly narrow Circle of Influence based on that authentic self.
Conversely, our target audience will never be “everyone.”
People relate deeply to our personal story. So, build out that story in a way that’s honest and authentic. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Find your niche as an influencer. Develop a unique message. Nuture the authentic self who shares that impactful message.
The Precept: Proverbs 14.8 says the discernment to know where we are going in life is a function of our willingness to think deeply, hence reflect.
A Question: How to you avoid the trap of pursuing a goal before understanding who you truly are?
What Music Moves You?
I was a teenager in the 1960’s.
Access to music was mostly by the radio or recordings on physical media. No streaming!
I liked folk music, such as by Peter, Paul and Mary. Or, Simon and Garfunkel (e.g., The Boxer, Sound of Silence) and the Bee Gees.
Why that music? Because the songs most often told a story and people like to engage with stories.
A Question: What were/are your musical influences?
Evidence of a Growth Mindset
Ever say “I’ll do more when I’m paid more.”
Well, no you will not.
Why? Because your mindset is wrong.
The issue with income isn’t how much you make. Instead, it’s how good a steward you are of how much you make. proverbsforprofessionals.net
An Observation: With a fixed mindset “what’s required” is the cap or lid on our performance.
With a growth mindset “what’s required” is the baseline or starting point for our performance. Thus, our mindset is really critical.
The Precept: From Proverbs 10.4 we learn that being sharp/focused/decisive is a source of wealth in life.
A Question: What are some options to consider when you’re no longer motivated in a particular job?
Where Do You Relax?
It’s easy to talk about self-care.
It’s something very different to have a time and a place to relax – regularly.
I really enjoy the screened porch on our home here in the mountains. The porch faces west.
In the evenings, except in the winter, once the sun is behind the trees that run alongside the creek, I sit outside on the porch.
Often I use my cell phone to listen to music while relaxing on the porch.
It’s good to live with purpose, on purpose. But it’s equally good to relax with purpose, on purpose. proverbsforprofessionals.net
An Observation: At this stage of my life, I find that music is a relaxing way to end my day.
A Precept: Truly sunlight is sweet; it’s pleasant to behold the sun, Ecclesiastes 11.7. Thus, slow down to enjoy and reflect.
A Question: Where/how do you purposefully relax?
Sharing a Personal Brand
A personal brand reflects your true self, which is complex.
So, create a unified narrative that shares what’s most essential about you so that others understand you.
Today’s Observation: Be authentic; be coherent.
A Question: How do you define “personal brand”?
It’s good to be my authentic self, but the assumption is that my authentic self is functioning with integrity! proverbsforprofessionals.net