I recently received this birthday greeting on Facebook from my friend Christian Schwarz: “Happy birthday! Let this year become your most focused ever, full of courage for intentional neglect to get even more powerful & empowering than before.” It felt like a word...
In Mexico, something seems to go significantly wrong almost every day. Miguel was one of my hosts on a recent trip. The motor mounts on his car were shot from all the speed bumps, so he got them replaced. Then the battery light came on. The next morning, the battery...
Is there such a thing as a good meeting? My own definition of a good meeting is one that accomplishes what it’s supposed to accomplish. To lead that kind of a meeting, be sure to incorporate the steps below in your planning process. Decide on the purpose of the...
Five ways to get more done with less stress: Make a list and prioritize it. Put your priorities onto your calendar. Group similar activities together. (e.g. errands) Evaluate weekly (What worked? What didn’t work? What needs to change?) When the pressure comes—slow...
Too much to do? Confused about what to do first? Let’s run through the process of taking stock of our lives as they currently are. Start by considering existing responsibilities and important relationships. Do we have children? A spouse? Aging parents? Health...
I’ve never been much of a retreat guy, but when I was in seminary I went on a singles retreat. I was new, single, and didn’t know anybody. I decided I needed to get to know some of my classmates and attending the retreat seemed to be an easy way to do that. However,...
When you are suddenly faced with limitations, such as my leg being in a post-surgical cast, it’s amazing how fast you can reprioritize what’s really important. My first priority is to be able to walk again and to perform the basic functions of day-to-day life. My...
Here’s an exercise I use sometimes to resort my priorities. It’s like unpacking grocery sacks. Take everything you’re currently doing out of the bag and examine it. Pray and get clarity on your priorities. Then only reload those items into the bag that apply to...
