#130 - A VERY IMPORTANT WORD

Three letters. One syllable. Many implications.

Try.

Try the idea.
Try the dream.
Try the endeavor.
Try the experience.
Try the opportunity.

What if it works?
What if it goes viral?
What if it helps others?
What if it solves a problem?
What if it makes an impact?
What if it changes the world?

You’ll never know unless you try.

The bad news: Everything you try will not turn out great.
The good news: Everything that turned out great began with someone who decided to try.

Start your process of becoming great today.

Try.

#129 - FAILURE

Failure stinks.

It hurts.
It’s costly.
It’s demoralizing.
It’s embarrassing.

But after 28 years of failing, I can also say this about failure:

Failure has matured me.
Failure has developed me.
Failure has prepared me.
Failure has enlightened me.
Failure has toughened me.
Failure has humbled me.
Failure has relaxed me.
Failure has inspired me.

Failure has blessed me.

It has been the reason for every positive improvement.
It has been the catalyst for every positive adjustment.
It has been the motivation for every positive change.

Failure has transformed my life…for the better.

So if failure had such a positive impact on my life, why do I despise it?

Well the truth is, for the many compelling benefits listed above…

I shouldn’t despise failure.
I shouldn’t regret failure.
I shouldn’t avoid failure.

And neither should you.

#128 - TODAY IS NOT THAT DAY

Today will not be the day that you quit.

Whether you believe it or not…

Your victory is on the horizon.
Your opportunity is around the corner.
Your breakthrough is closer than you think.

Today will not be the day that you quit.

I know you are growing weary but…

Your assignment deserves one more attempt.
Your purpose deserves one more push.
Your dreams deserve one more day.

Today will not be the day that you quit.

Give it one more shot.
Make another attempt.
Try again. Try again. Try again.

Today will not be the day that you quit.

Now, if things don’t eventually work out there may come

that day when you quit.
that day when you give up.
that day when you throw in the towel.

And that OK.

But…

Today’s not that day.

#127 - WHO WILL YOU OFFEND?

The truth is offensive.

And whether you like it or not, there will be many occasions that, as you pursue your life purposes and dreams, you will be required to stand for the truth.

The reality is, when you do stand for truth, people will be offended.

People will be turned off.
People will be uncomfortable.
People will have their beliefs challenged.

You will be offensive.

And being offensive is not easy.

We want to be liked.
We want to be accepted.
We want to be appreciated.

But many times,

The truth is not liked.
The truth is not accepted.
The truth is not appreciated.

So how can we stand for what is true in light of our desire to not be offensive?

Well, we must realize that the issue is not whether or not we will be offensive.

But the more important question to ask is, who will we offend?

In standing for the truth will we offend people?
Or in not standing for the truth will we offend God?

It is my sincere prayer that we have the courage to offend people with our boldness rather than to offend God with our cowardice.

The progress of our communities, nation and our world depends on it.

#126 - DREAM BIGGER

Small dreams don’t change lives.
Small dreams don’t leave a mark.
Small dreams don’t inspire anyone.

Dream Bigger.

Small dreams don’t fulfill you.
Small dreams don’t re-write history.
Small dreams don’t develop your greatness.

Dream Bigger.

Up until this point you have not considered bigger dreams.
Up until this point you have been content with the status quo.
Up until this point you have satisfied yourself with small ambitions.

Dream Bigger.

Your influence can be deeper than you think.
Your ideas can spread farther than you think.
Your movement can be bigger than you think.

Dream Bigger.

Your art can have a wider audience than you think.
Your work can have a greater impact than you think.
Your passions can inspire more people than you think.

Dream Bigger.

Or suffer the alternative: A life marked by purposes unfulfilled.

This will not be my story.

Please don’t let it be yours.

#125 - SOULPRINT BY MARK BATTERSON

Here is one of my favorite quotes from Mark Batterson’s latest book, Soulprint :

At the end of the day, God isn’t going to ask, “Why weren’t you more like Billy Graham or Mother Teresa?” He won’t even ask, “Why weren’t you more like David?” God is going to ask, “Why weren’t you more like you?”

This quote was refreshing to me because I have a lot of heroes.

People who I admire.
People who I am inspired by.
People who I desire to model my life after.

And though I think it is very healthy to have heroes, if I’m not careful, I know that, in an attempt to be like them, I can forget to be myself.

Mark Batterson’s quote reminded me that when all is said and done, my Creator is not going to judge my life on how closely I patterned my life after my heroes, but on how closely I got to becoming the person I was originally created to be.

What we need to remember is this: We must be ourselves.

Why?

Because I’m the only one who can be me.
And you’re the only one who can be you.

What a shame it would be if we breathed our last breath having never given the world the gift of…us.

#124 - HOW TO GET IT ALL DONE

We all have so many…

bills to pay.
people to call.
plans to make.
emails to return.
goals to achieve.
ideas to act upon.
questions to answer.
projects to complete.
commitments to follow through on.

We all have so many things to do.

How do I suggest that we can get it all done?

Make a list of ONE.

ONE important thing to do.

Just ONE.

Then do it.

I dare you to ignore the other things you feel like you need to get done.
I dare you to allow yourself to focus on only ONE thing.
I dare you to make your life that simple.

A new proverb must motivate us all…

A list of one is quickly done.

#123 - GRATEFUL

for my wife who loves me.
for my Savior who saved me.
for my failures which teach me.
for my mentors who inspire me.
for my books which educate me.
for my team who serves with me.
for my family who encourages me.
for my purpose which motivates me.
for my friends who celebrate with me.
for my talents that, when used, satisfy me.
for my opportunities to serve which fulfill me.

I have so much to be grateful for.

And something tells me, you have much to be grateful for as well.

Let’s just be sure not to wait until next Thanksgiving to invest the time to reflect upon all that we have been blessed with.  Let’s be grateful…today.

#122 - IF YOU'RE NERVOUS

it’s because you care.
it’s because you’re excited.
it’s because you’re anxious.
it’s because you want to do well.
it’s because excellence is important to you.

If you’re nervous…

it’s because new is scary.
it’s because expectations are high.
it’s because people will be watching.

If you’re nervous, it might just be because you understand that the opportunity that you are about to take advantage of is going to change your life, for the better, forever.

It’s ok to be nervous.

Just don’t let your nerves prevent you from doing the very thing you were created to do.

With courage, go.

#121 - FOR THE LONG HAUL

I’m in this for the long haul.

My art.
My work.
My projects.
My ministry.
My marriage.
My purposes.

Each endeavor will be pursued with a long-term mindset.

I’m not interested in…

short-term gain.
short-term impact.
short-term influence.

I’m not interested in…

temporary progress.
temporary satisfaction.
temporary recognition.

I will not be a one-hit wonder.
I will not build that which rises fast but falls even faster.
I will not compromise long-term success for short-term gain.

I will finish well.

My legacy is more important than my life.
My ending is more important than my beginning.
My impact after I’m dead is more important than my impact while I’m alive.

I will no longer overestimate what I can accomplish in 5 years and underestimate what I can accomplish in 25 years.

Planting seeds will be my focus.
A sustainable pace will be my aim.
Faithfulness to the process will be my desire.

I’m in this for the long haul.

Will you join me in committing to your dreams and purposes for the long haul?

#120 - LEADERS LEARN

in

by listening.  by reading.  by following.
by doing.  by comparing.  by sharing.
by teaching.  by modeling. by trying.

Leaders learn.

because they are aware of their weaknesses.
because they desire to improve upon their strengths.
because they aspire to be the very best at what they do.

Leaders learn.

from other leaders.
from their peers.
from their followers.

Leaders learn.

from their mistakes.
from their successes.
from their failures.

Leaders learn.

so that they always have value to add.
so that they remain worthy of being followed.
so that they can lead from a position of strength.

Leaders learn.

Because, they are absolutely convinced that, at the end of the day,

If you are not growing, you are dying.

As an aspiring and developing leader, do you have a plan for personal growth and development?

#119 - IN REGARDS TO OUR ABILITY

“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” – Genesis 41:16

We cannot do it all.

As we pursue every dream, purpose and assignment within us, we will find that there are many things that we just cannot do on our own.  And many times, not only can we not do them on our own, but even others will not be able to help us.

We cannot meet every need.
We cannot have every answer.
We cannot be all things to all people.

We cannot do it all.

We cannot change people.
We cannot make people do what we want them to do.
We cannot make people believe what we want them to believe.

We cannot do it all.

We cannot come up with every idea.
We cannot create every opportunity.
We cannot predict what is going to happen.

We cannot do it all but……

God can.

God hears what we do not hear.
God knows what we do not know.
God anticipates what we do not anticipate.

God can.

God provides when we cannot provide.
God encourages when we cannot encourage.
God makes a way when we cannot make a way.

God can.

God opens the doors that we cannot open.
God changes the people that we cannot change.
God makes possible what we cannot make possible.

Simply stated: God can do what we cannot.

And that should encourage us all.

#118 - DON'T GET AHEAD OF YOURSELF

Things are in motion.
Progress is being made.
Goals are being accomplished.

Don’t get ahead of yourself.

Your message is spreading.
Your influence is increasing.
Your skills are developing.

Don’t get ahead of yourself.

Though you are not yet where you want to be,
you are no longer where you once were.

And that is reason to celebrate.

Don’t get ahead of yourself.

Be faithful with the opportunities in front of you.
Embrace those whom you currently serve.
Delight in today.

Don’t get ahead of yourself.

You are on track.
You are on your way.
You are right where you need to be.

Don’t get ahead of yourself.

The lesson we must all learn is this:

We are not yet where we want to be because we are not yet who we need to be.

God forbid our accolades ever overshadow our values.
God forbid our achievements ever outweigh our integrity.
God forbid our accomplishments ever surpass our character.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Would you join me in embracing the process of becoming?

#117 - SIMPLE IS BETTER

Simple can be taught.
Simple can be learned.
Simple can be repeated.
Simple can be executed.
Simple can be embraced.
Simple can be duplicated.
Simple can be understood.
Simple can be appreciated.

Simple is better.

Why?

Well because…

Simple is…simple.

Where in your work, relationships, business or other endeavors would you benefit from simplifying?

#116 - IN REGARDS TO REMEMBERING

The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. Genesis 40:23

Who have you forgotten?

Who has helped you?
Who has supported you?
Who has been there for you?

Yet you have not remembered them.

Who has sacrificed for you?
Who has come through for you?
Who has been a blessing to you?

Yet you have not appreciated them.

Who has taught you?
Who has listened to you?
Who has went the extra mile for you?

Yet you have not thanked them.

On this day…Remember them. Appreciate them. Thank them.

Simply stated: Remember those you have forgotten.

For wouldn’t you want others to do the same for you?

#115 - EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS

To dream. To plan. To execute.

And then to experience results far beyond your expectations.

What a joy.

To believe. To prepare. To deliver.

And then to enjoy an outcome far better than what you could imagine.

What a blessing.

Though there will be days when you fall short.
Though there will be days when goals are not achieved.
Though there will be days when expectations are unmet.

Every so often, you will experience days when the hard work and commitment you have put into your art will deliver a result far greater than what you could ever conceive.

Those are glorious days.

And for you, those days are coming.

Anticipate them.

#113 - DREAMS DO COME TRUE

Goals are met.
Visions come to pass.
Purposes are fulfilled.

Dreams do come true.

Though they start off as ideas.
Though they begin in obscurity.
Though they seem, at first, impossible.

Dreams do come true. 

In spite of the criticisms they receive.
In spite of the obstacles they encounter.
In spite of the difficulties they experience.

Dreams do come true.

For the poor. For the rich. And for everyone in between.

Dreams do come true.

They did for Walt Disney.
They did for Mother Theresa.
They did for Martin Luther King Jr.

Dreams do come true.

Dream them. Embrace them. Believe in them.

Dreams do come true.

All you have to do is…pursue them.

#112 - A CONSISTENT MESSAGE

A consistent message is powerful.

It can transcend an era.
It can overcome opposition.
It can move the heart’s of men.

A consistent message is necessary.

For steady growth.
For improved results.
For forward progress.

A consistent message is influential.

It can guide a family.
It can transform a community.
It can impact a city.
It can unite a country.
It can change the world.

A consistent message is key.

To seeing your dream come to pass.
To seeing your purpose fulfilled.
To seeing your destiny realized.

But…

Before a message can be consistently communicated,
it must be clearly defined.

Have you defined the message that you will dedicate your life to spreading?