Excel Still More

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When it comes to free time, discretionary time, we all wish we had more.  Life is busy. And obligations of our time exist in every single day of life.  From work to school to family to worship to rest, the calendar is full. But we all have moments around those events where we get to choose what to do!  Some say they do not, but that's not true. There are precious moments in every day where you get to decide what to watch, read, think, or do. 

If we aren't careful, we will waste those precious moments.  We will do things we immediately forget, things that have no value.  However, just by running our choices through one filter, one question, you and I can use that time much more wisely.  Whether the things we choose to do are unimportant, somewhat important, or very important, asking about Consumption or Remembrance will make all the difference.

- Why don't I have more free time

- How have I misused this precious time

- What are things I should consider before engaging in leisure time

- How does asking about "Consumed or Remembered" help me

- What would I do with more time to do things that resonated with my core values

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"Be the change you wish to see in the world." Do you know who said that? Most attribute it to Mahatma Gandhi.  Well, he didn't actually say that, but what he did say is amazing, and is summed up well in this popular phrase.  He created incredible change in the world by focusing on growing individually and letting that have a peaceful affect on then world. In that way, he is an incredible example.  

Did you know the best way to change an environment is to change yourself?  The best way to help others become better is to become better and show them a better way.  All of our episodes for the last year have been about you working on you!  The result:  you are different, and the people around you now are as well.  Not because you told them to listen to a podcast, but because they have seen those ideas living in you!

We would do well to stop focusing on collective issues and overlooking individual responsibilities.  If we do this correctly, we can help create a collective of morally growing people who can much more easily tackle large collective problems.  Today you will also hear from Jordan Peterson, as he discusses the need to keeping working on you, even if you really want to see global change. 

Finally, let's talk about faith.  Knowing all of these things doesn't really matter if we aren't living them in our faith.  The beautiful message of Scripture:  your change in spiritual behavior can save the souls of people around you!

- Who said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world?"

- What good is individual change when the world has such big collective problems?

- How can my personal growth be a difference maker for others?

- Why is it foolish to overlook my issues for "bigger issues?"

- How can I apply these lessons to my faith?

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Quitting can be a great idea.  If there are things in your life that do not resonate with who you want to become: quit them. If there are things that don't matter to God or your family, stop doing them.  If there are things that you know you will not ever return to, say goodby. This is actually a great way to create more time and energy for things that matter.  

However, when it comes to things that do matter to you:  stop starting over.  When it comes things you quit, but eventually find yourself returning to, stop starting over.  The energy put in to restarts could more efficiently be used on actual growth and progress!  In this episode we will look to identify some of these crucial things we need to stop walking away from.  And we will determine to see what our effort can produce if we use our energy to build on work, not rebuild abandoned structures.

- Why do I quit things and then start them up again

- How do I decide if it is the right time to quit

- What happens to my energy usage when I constantly restart

- How can that same amount of energy actually make a difference

- Faith, Friendship, Finances and Fitness:  what should I never quit again

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Christians seek first spiritual goals and the kingdom of God.  But let's not have our head in the sand:  money still matters. We need it to provide for our family.  And honestly, we need it to do a whole lot of extra great things for God and His people and the world. In centuries past, there were few opportunities to have money and save money and be rich. But we live in an amazing time for spiritual and physical blessings.  And if our hearts are right, and we make wise plans, we can honor Him every single step of the way.

It turns out, throughout the history of money management, a small list of tips are consistent for every generation.  I'd like to tell you my story, and how I learned these tips.  And also introduce to you a great book: The Richest Man In Babylon.  The seven steps in that book have the potential to change your life. 

- What is a great first step to securing your financial future

- How do people invest foolishly and lose everything

- What does it mean to "live below your means"

- Why would the Christian spend time thinking about money

- Who can help me find the right monetary path forward

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Taking initiative, doing things your way, showing personal strength - these all can be great qualities!  However, you and I have to admit something important:  we don't know everything.  In fact, we may not have the knowledge, experience or strength to solve our OWN problems! This doesn't have to be bad news.  It just means we need to learn how to Seek Wise Counsel.  Firstly, we need the humility to admit this and seek help.  Then, we must learn the process for truly getting with the right person, having the right conversation, and getting the help we need to get better.  Whether it be your marriage, faith, addictions, goals or internal battles - God has surrounded you with people who can help.  Let's talk about how to find the right people and get the right help to reach our goals this year!

- What should I do if my ideas aren't working?

- What does the Bible say about Wise Counsel?

- How should I choose to approach when I need help?

- Why are talking and listening skills crucial to a good outcome?

- Is counseling productive if I don't follow the recommendations?

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So far in this season we have made some big decisions on who we want to become.  We have selected some lofty goals that will take all year to reach.  We have even figured out how to break that progress down into months, weeks and days.  But it is worth noting: unless those goals align with your core values, they aren't worth the effort.  Have you ever accomplished something big, only to feel like it didn't matter like you thought it would?  Have you ever abandoned a goal because it just didn't seem important anymore?  Well, there is a reason for those outcomes.  Once we identify our core values, and make sure to only pursue life goals that serve them, everything changes!  The drive to accomplish them never diminishes.  Because we know that it is about more than doing a thing; it is about becoming exactly who you want to be.  It is about goals that honor your values, and there is nothing quite as fulfilling as accomplishing those!  

- Why do I sometimes abandon my goals?

- Why do I sometimes feel accomplishments don't pay off?

- What are my core values?  What matters most to me in this life?

- Can I cut out some things I am pursuing that do not serve those values?

- How does getting this right make hard work easy and stress free and rewarding?

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We kicked off season two with an episode on January 6th - Building Your Ladders.  You were encouraged to think BIG! To come up with awesome ideas of who you would like to become, and then identify big year long goals that would certainly prove that progress.  We talked about how you break that down into ladder rungs, monthly rungs, and work you way through the year.   However, many have tried that approach and failed.  Why?  In short, because they are losing weeks while trying to win the month.  If you learn how to Win the Week, using daily momentum and progress, to work toward greater goals, then you will be unstoppable!  God has set up a beautiful seven day cadence for your life.  Listen in to learn how to use that to your advantage, maximizing time usage by working daily frogs and highlights on a weekly cycle.

- How do I reach monthly checkpoints with no stress

- Why do so many people fail to reach their yearly goals

- What is so special about a single week

- How has God set me up for success in a seven day cycle

- Why is frog eating and daily highlighting crucial to winning the week

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Welcome to Season 2!  Last year we collected 82 episodes designed to help you grow in faith, deepen relationships and get the most out of the life God has given you.  Now, we head into this New Year ready to use all of that experience to reach new heights!  Firstly, you have to decide who you want to become.  What does a better you look like?  Secondly, you must be specific, in terms of a goal to reach that proves that commitment.  Then, you pray for God to provide the pieces that you need to get there.  Finally, if you can build a successful, stress free, month of progress, and repeat 12 times:  you will be standing on that new and higher platform by year's end!  Let's discuss how all of that works, and get moving into a beautiful year to Excel Still More!

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This is the last episode of season 1.  We started on January 24th and today is October 31st.  I hope you've grown and feel stronger and more hopeful.  We will return, Lord willing, on Monday, January 6th, for season 2!  But there are two important months in between now and then.  There will be lots of obstacles to growth with the holidays and various activities.  You may not take huge steps upward in your walk, but let's not fall victim to the opposite:  losing ground.  So many people hit the pause button on progress during the holidays, and it amounts to incredible setbacks and mistakes.  Then, in January, the resolutions are more about digging out of a recently dug hole, than actually reaching new heights.  We can put together a much better plan!  

- How to hold your ground in November and December

- Are we supposed to "Just Get Better" or "Hold Our Ground"

- Why do people suffer setbacks during the holiday season

- What is the right attitude for standing firm from now until the new year

- How can we show people who we have become and are becoming

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

We are all learning all the time.  Spiritually, we learn when we study, when we worship, when we have discussions, or when we listen to podcasts.  Does it ever feel like information overload?  Maybe we think we should be learning less, since implementing it all seems so daunting. Well, there's a much better strategy than that!  Learning and listening and reading stores up information in your mind you can pull from later.  But how can you get all of that working for you?  Simple: Just Pick One!  Choosing one concept or idea or passage or principle for the day, or for a given situation, will make all the difference in the world!  You can go through several things in a day, but one at a time, and only one per situation.  Let's discuss how to do this and how journaling can help!

- How do I process all the things I am learning

- How can I put knowledge into action when it seems overwhelming

- What is the best strategy going back to The One Thing

- How can I Just Pick One lesson and really grow in it

- How can daily journalling help me focus in on one thing at a time