Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 89 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

10 Principles to Make Wise Decisions (2)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 89 of our Trek. Yesterday we started on a new trail and visited the first 2 out of 10 waypoints along our path, which will assist us in making wise decisions. Today we continue on our trail as we explore waypoints 3-6.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Today was spent catching up with some client work while listening to training and podcast.  It is such a convenience to be able to listen and learn “on-demand” about any subject imaginable. Although I was not that great of a traditional student, exploring and learning new information through hands on training continues to fascinate me.  As Paula and I make plans to provide online training, mentoring, and coaching for entrepreneurs and small business owners, there is a lot for us to learn on how to properly set up an online membership training platform.

This week we are honored to be guests on two other podcasts.  The first one is called “Small Business Drivers” and the host is Nicky Roche, a successful Australian small business owner.  The second one is called “Journey of a Marriage” and the host is Roy Chumley.  He interviewed both Paula and I about our successful and lasting marriage.  It was an appropriate time as we are celebrating our 36th anniversary this week.  Links to both of these podcasts can be found in today’s journals or on “The Big House” section of the website.

As with any skill in life, making wise decisions comes with practice and experience.  Many times that experience is gained by making unwise decisions. The fact is that if we learn from this experience then we will make increasingly wise decisions in all areas of life.  If you agree that God is the author of wisdom, then decisions which are made in the light of God's word are stable and show wisdom.

 

Since it our desire to make wise decisions in all that we do, our 10 waypoints on this wisdom trail will help us to choose wisdom instead of folly in our decision-making.  It is time for us to break camp now as we continue on our trail of making wise decisions.  On our Trek today we begin with waypoint 3 of 10, so let’s get started. Because of my faith walk I will base our discussions of decision-making on Biblical principles.

3. Is There a Time Pressure Forcing Me To Make An Impulsive Decision?

Unless it is absolutely unavoidable do not make a decision if someone is pressuring you with a deadline or scarcity.  Scarcity and time pressure schemes are two of the most effective, and dangerous, methods that are used to try and force us into making decisions. Rarely are either reason a good reason to make a decision. In order to make a wise decision ask yourself, “Would I make this decision now if there was neither the scarcity or limited time pressure?”  If the answer is “no,” then do not fall prey to these tactics.

Proverbs 19:2, “Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.”

Proverbs 21:5, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”

Points to consider if there is time or scarcity pressures put on you to make a decision:

Never fall prey to the “once in a life time” deals and the lure of instant gratification. There will always be other opportunities to make the same decision if it is a decision that you need to make.

Don’t let the fear of missing out drive your decision. You will only miss out if you make a decision that is wrong

When in doubt, choose not to decide at this time, which is a decision itself.

 

4.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 88 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

10 Principles to Make Wise Decisions (1)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 88 of our Trek. We have just finished up exploring the 7 principles that enable you to put more life in your years. Today we are starting on a new trail, and we will be stopping by 10 waypoints along our path over the next few days, which will assist us in making wise decisions.

 

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Today is day four of our Anniversary Week #36. Today Paula and I went to Mountwood Park in West Virginia.  We started with a nice picnic, went for an hour long paddle boat ride, and then hiked about 4 miles. With temperatures in the low 70s it was perfect weather for our outing for today. It was a real blessing to get outside again to enjoy being with each other and God’s creation.

Since we work from home almost every day, one challenge with a staycation this week has been to stop after we complete some required work each morning and break for our planned activities. I have to admit that I love to work and enjoy just about everything that I have ever done in my career. This is partly due to my genetic make-up, my upbringing on the farm, and the values that were instilled in me from an early age. I would also say that a primary reason that I have loved just about every work environment is because I have chosen to like it. I enjoy learning, growing, and providing value to others.

Every day each of us is faced with numerous choices, which require us to make decisions. Our objective in producing Wisdom-Trek is not just to help you make decisions, but to teach you to make wise decisions, and to make legacy-creating decisions.

Wisdom is an attribute that we should all strive for in our lives.  As mentioned before, I personally rely on the Bible, which I consider to be God’s Word, as my basis and foundation for wisdom.

Gaining wisdom is not unlike establishing other good habits in our lives, whether those habits are eating properly, staying physically fit, or learning some new skill. We perfect those habits by properly practicing them each day. In the same manner, the more that we make wise decisions, the wiser we will become, and the easier it will be to make wise decisions in the future.

While the Bible, other literature, and information we study do not address every decision that we will face each day specifically, there are principles in the Bible and elsewhere that help us to foster a wise decision-making matrix within our lives. The question that we are all faced with is what should we do when the Bible doesn’t seem to speak directly to the situations we face and the decisions we need to make?

On our Trek today and for the next few days, we will stop by 10 waypoints that will help us to make wise decisions when there are not clear commands, guidelines, or direction. Because of my faith walk, I will base our discussions of decision-making on Biblical principles. If you happen to have a different basis for your value system, these points will still apply to your decision-making process.

Our first waypoint question is:

1. What are the principles that should form my decision-making matrix?

We first need to understand where wisdom ultimately comes from. Although there are many wise individuals from whom we can glean practical sage advice, when you look for the basis of this wisdom, it is rooted in the Bible. God has blessed certain individuals with the gift of presenting this wisdom in ways that help us to understand it better.  Based on this premise,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 87 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It Is the Life in Your Years That Count

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 87 of our Trek. This week we are exploring the 7 principles that will enable you to put more life in your years. We are equating these principles to our hiking trails. So far we have explored trails 1-4, and today we will finish up with trails 5-7. Each day of life is a new trek. Let us always make the most of it.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Today is our actual anniversary and day three of our Anniversary Week #36. Today we visited Blennerhassett Island and Mansion, which is across the river in Parkersburg, West Virginia. We have talked about visiting for years, and now we finally did.

Paula and I are working on being more intentional in living life fully by taking action on our plans, instead of just making it a someday plan. After 36 wonderful years together, we realize just how fast the years slip by and taking actions on our plans must be done intentionally. The day was beautiful – in the mid-70s and sunny. It was such an enjoyable and relaxing day.

We also learned a bit more about the pioneer history of the Mid-Ohio Valley, which happened about the same time as my ancestors traveled to and settled in Marietta. We toured the museum, and then took a paddle wheel boat to the island where we spent about three hours touring the mansion and grounds. Thank you for sharing this special day with us. Tomorrow we plan to go over to Mountwood State Park, which is about 30 miles from us, for a picnic and hiking.

As we venture out to explore three new trails today, don’t just listen to this podcast but apply these principles to each day. Remember that it is the life in your years that count.  Regardless of what your life has been in the past, it is what you make of your life from this point forward that will make a positive impact on your world. This is what God thought about the Prostitute Rahab in James letter to the Jews in Chapter 2 verses 25-26, "Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works."

Believe in someone or something; don’t give up on your faith.

· Trust Yourself

In times of stress and challenge, we all question our choices. We can read and research more available information than any one library could house in less time than ever before. As more information is downloaded, our beliefs are clouded and we can become lost in a sea of information, looking for the “right” knowledge to move forward. The reality is each of us possesses an insight that we can harness. That little voice inside that some call “intuition.” In the midst of doubt, trust yourself to know how to take the next step, know that if you can find your inner comfort and listen closely, your choices will enhance your journey in ways that will nourish and strengthen your beliefs. As a Christ follower, I believe this comes from God’s Spirit that is integrated within me.

· Pray Daily — Talk to God

Prayer requires no planning, no funding and no fear. I personally believe in a loving and living God, but you may not share my belief. Open your heart and speak your mind to the power you believe in, whether you call it God or not. There is no right or wrong way to do it. Just do it. Tell Him your joys and your sorrows, your plans and your worries. You are welcome from day one. There is no special club card required. Pray like your life depends on it.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 86 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It Is the Life in Your Years That Count

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 86 of our Trek. Yesterday we began our exploration of the 7 principles in order to put more life in your years. We are equating these principles to our hiking trails. We explored the first two trails yesterday, so today we will continue on our exploration of additional trails.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Today is day two of our Anniversary Week #36. For many years I certainly did not focus on how important it is to celebrate these special moments of life, so three years ago I committed to make the week of our anniversary a special time. Since we are going on a cruise the first week of November this year, we decided to make this year’s anniversary week a staycation where we would relax and take some day trips.

Today we did have some work to take care of (the joys of entrepreneurship), but it was scaled back a bit. We went for a nice walk, had a special dinner at home alone, and enjoyed watching a movie. Although I am a bit too focused on business most of the time, I am working at taking the time to pause, reflect on what is truly important, and enjoy taking time to enjoy the special moments of life.

So, let’s head out today and explore some additional trails on how to live each day to the fullest because in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. We should fill our life with joy each day, as the Apostle Paul reminded the Church in Philippi in Chapter 4 verse 4, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again — rejoice!”

Today we will explore trails three and four.

3.   Leave your mark. You only have one chance at each day. Make it count.

· Personal Growth

Leaving your mark starts with knowing yourself. The ability to leave your mark also requires you to know what your mark is all about. Personal growth can begin with taking time to outline your intentions and desires in this life. Ask yourself who you are, who are you really, what is your living legacy today, and what will it be when you die? Your thoughts become your actions and your actions are what leave your mark in this world. Spend time in personal growth and understand your life’s focus.

 

· Find Your Voice

It’s okay to talk to yourself. Journaling is a great way to have a discussion with yourself about what is upsetting you and what matters to you. It is also a great way to find your voice, understand what you stand for and how you want to make an impact on the world. Another critical piece of finding your voice is telling others about your ideas and insights. Remain open to constructive feedback and practice non-judgmental behavior when others don’t see your point of view or disagree with you. Life is full of diversity — there is room enough for everyone’s voice. Don’t forget to circle back and reread your journal entries. We all come up with exceptional and very exciting ideas, but they can fade away if they are not cultivated. Returning to read your past journal entries can rekindle an idea whose time is now!

 

· Give Back

Be someone’s sunshine! People need to seek sunshine and strength from others during their darkest times. One of the best ways to live your legacy each day is to give back to the world. A few ideas that might fit your journey are praying for others, being a mentor, or volunteering. Legacy building does not require financial resources. It requires time invested in others. If you have the capability to invest financially, mentor, volunteer, and pray,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 85 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It Is the Life in Your Years That Count

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 85 of our Trek. Yesterday we finished our Trek through 10 waypoints, which contained practical wisdom on when it is best not to speak or to at least keep our speaking to a minimum. Saying 10 wise words is so much more effective than saying 100 words without substance. For the next few days, we will explore 7 principles in order to put more life in our years.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. I am creating the journal for today’s podcast on our trip back home to The Big House. This morning we worshipped at Center Point Baptist Church in Lancaster, Ohio, where one of my nephews Eli Chamberlain was ordained into the ministry today. Afterwards we had a meal and fellowship with Eli and his wife Alyssa, her parents, my brother Martin and his wife Wanda (Eli’s parents), and five of their seven children and their families. It was a great blessing to be with family once again and to celebrate life.

After that time of celebration, Paula and I kicked off our anniversary week of activities. Since Hocking Hills State Park was nearby, we went on a nice trek this afternoon and hiked from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls and back. A total hike of about six miles, some parts of it were very challenging. It is the most beautiful state park in Ohio with thick woods, steep rolling hills, two small waterfalls, and a stream flowing through the gorge. The day was beautiful, and we had a great time enjoying God’s creation, talking, and spending time together outdoors.

As I mature and grow wiser, I am realizing how important these times together outside of our daily routine are. My encouragement to younger couples is don’t be so wrapped up in living life that you put off or miss these special moments. You don’t have to spend much, if any money, to create great adventures together. It is not about spending money to go to an event; it is about spending time together loving life.

As we head out on our Wisdom-Trek for today, the previous statements tie into the seven trails that we will explore over the next few days. We will explore how to live each day to the fullest because in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

Jesus desires us to live a life that is lived with abundance, a life lived fully. This is not in reference to material abundances but internal abundance through Him. He does not want us to be robbed of the joy that is found in Him. In John 10:10 Jesus proclaimed, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Today we will explore the first two trails.

1. Your attitude is a choice. You are in control. Create a positive attitude.

You might say,"Yes, I hear you Guthrie, but how can you choose a positive attitude each moment of each day?" As with anything worthwhile, it will not be easy. It takes consistent persistence to create this habit. Here are three tips that may help.

· Wake Up and Pause

Each day when you open your eyes you have a choice. Choosing the path of a positive mindset empowers you to move through the day with a sense of joy, even on the bleakest of days. Love yourself and be thankful. Find one thing that is positive about waking up. It could be the mere fact that you did. Each day choose to be positive about the day ahead. You are exchanging a day of your life for what you fill those 24 hours with, so make it positive.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 84 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Learn to Shut Up (Part 2)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 84 of our Trek. Yesterday and today we are stopping by 10 clearings on our trail and studying practical applications for our lives in order to gain wisdom and incorporate the discernment needed to know when to speak and when not to. To let you in on a little secret, when it comes to talking less is more. When it is necessary to speak, what you say and how you say it are also very important.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We had a very pleasant trip driving up. The weather was nice, and the traffic was not too heavy. As I am creating the journal for this podcast, Paula is driving which allows me to take advantage of the time in the car. We will switch off at our half way point, so that I can drive part of the way. We met Paula’s sister Lois on the way up and Mom Jarvis will be spending a couple of weeks with her. Paula and I have several day trip activities planned for this next week as it is our 36th wedding anniversary week. We are looking forward to a little time away from our usual workload and routine to enjoy some focused time together.

Yesterday on our Trek, we came to an understanding of just how difficult it is to control our tongue. As mentioned in James 3:7-8, "All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."  It has been over 2,000 years since this was written, and still we have not come up with an effective way to tame the tongue.

As part of our Trek, we are focusing on 10 waypoints or clearings that will at least help to minimize the potential negative impact that our tongues may have. Unless you are a ventriloquist it all boils down to the fact that we need to think before opening our mouths to speak. We will continue on to clearing #3 today, and for each of these points we need to know to say "keep your mouth shut when…"

Clearing #3 – You want to gossip.

When you want to say something negative about someone behind their back, don’t. Just don’t. There is almost never a good reason to do this. It makes you look petty, childish and mean-spirited. It might get back to the person you’re slandering. Never gossip, and if someone does something truly terrible, that will significantly harm someone or an organization, you might need to discuss it.  If you are in an appropriate position, discuss it with that person privately first . If it is unresolved then discuss it with an appropriate person to decide what course of action to take.

Clearing #4 – The details of a plan or deal are not complete.

Look to that old adage "Never count your chickens before they’re hatched," or "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."  If you’re making plans for some big activity, or making a deal of some kind, never announce it until the crucial details are worked out, or the paperwork is complete. You’ll feel embarrassed or stupid if things fall through.

Clearing #5 – You’re mad or upset with a person or situation.

When someone annoys you, don’t respond right away, as you are likely to blow up and/or say something you will regret. And, you can’t take it back. A word spoken cannot be unspoken. Even if you apologize, people will not forget. You’re weak when you’re angry. Don’t act in a moment of weakness. Even if they’re wrong and you’re right, you won’t come out of it looking good.

Clearing #6 – You have had too much to drink.

While I do not drink alcohol myself, I know that most people do. It’s really hard to keep your mouth shut when you’re dr...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 83 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Learn to Shut Up (Part 1)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 83 of our Trek. Yesterday we determined that all of the magic happens between our comfort zone and the danger zone, which is call the learning zone. In order to gain wisdom, one of the most important habits we need to learn is to know when to not talk, or as I like to refer to it cure the dreaded disease called "diarrhea of the mouth."

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As we come to the end of another day, we have much to be thankful for. We had a good day of work, a positive eye exam, and a small group of friends over for dinner as we celebrate a major victory and blessing in the life of a close friend who has come through a major trial over the past 19 months. Although the trail ahead for our friend still has many twists, turns, steep climbs, and precarious slopes in the next few weeks and months, our celebration together this evening had us praising God for his leading during these many months.

Many of the outcomes of our trek of life are determined by the choices that we make each day. While we cannot always control the path that lies in front of us, as we take one step at a time, we can make choices that will help us to navigate through trails successfully. As we take each step, we can learn the lessons which each new trail brings to us.

One of the most difficult areas of our life to control consistently is the use of our tongue. We need to learn when to keep our mouth closed. Have you ever been with a group of people that you respect and you find yourself saying something completely out of place?  Have you ever spoken to a loved one or associate in a way that cuts them to the core, and as soon as it comes out of your mouth you think to yourself, "How foolish it was to say such hurtful words!"?  Our words can lift someone to the heights of heaven or plunge them into the very depths of hell.

On our trails today and tomorrow, we will first explore just how difficult but important it is to control our tongues, and then weave in 10 practical suggestions on when it is best just to shut up.  As mentioned from Day 0 of the Wisdom-Trek podcast, as a Christ follower, much of the wisdom that I have gained throughout my life comes from God’s Word, the Bible. It has much to say about how important it is to choose our words wisely and to limit our words to those that are helpful to others. Christ's half-brother James wrote several paragraphs about how difficult it really is to control our tongues, in his letter to the Jews that were scattered across the Roman Empire. In Chapter 3 verses 1-12 he wrote,

"Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.  Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 82 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Where the Magic Happens

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 82 of our Trek, and now that we know and understand that we need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable, we will expand this concept so that our legacy building will be strengthened and enhanced.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and today finds us making some preparations and finishing up details here as we will be heading back to Marietta and The Big House on Saturday for another three week stay.  In addition to more renovating work that I hope to complete while we are there, we have several other activities planned.

We have a nephew that is getting ordained on Sunday in Lancaster, Ohio, Tuesday is our 36th wedding anniversary for which we have several relaxing day trips planned, and Saturday will be my 59th birthday. Also, I will be speaking at the church we used to attend on September 6th and 13th, and the annual Sternwheel festival is held on the weekend of September 12th. The fireworks display they have at the festival every year is the best we have ever seen, and it draws a lot of people to our small town. It is quite magical.  It will be a busy but enjoyable three weeks, and we are looking forward to it.

As we begin our journey today, we want to continue on the same trail from yesterday but venture out of our comfort zone. When we leave our zone of comfort, although it may appear to be intimidating and less secure, most of the time it proves beneficial for us and our long term growth because outside of our comfort zone is where the magic happens. When we force ourselves outside this comfort zone it allows us to stretch and grow to become all that God has destined us to be.

There are actually three zones where you can live.  However, only one of these zones is optimal for your life in that it will have the most positive impact and allow you to grow and flourish.

Let’s explore these three zones of life in detail.

1. The Comfort Zone

Your comfort zone is a psychological place where you feel safe and in control. You experience low-anxiety, and you’re using a limited set of behaviors. This means you’re not growing or developing any new skills. Essentially you’re stuck on autopilot, and you’re just going through the motions. Clearly this is not the place that fosters growth. It’s in our comfort zone that we feel safe and secure. It’s the zone of routine and the place where we do those things we find safe, comfortable, easy and familiar.

The comfort zone is a place where nothing particularly challenging happens.

Growing up on an apple orchard, I can certainly relate to this quote from Will Rogers,

Scientists have researched the role anxiety plays in performance. They have found that too little anxiety results in poor performance while increasing anxiety increases performance. At the other extreme, too much anxiety reduces performance. The findings from this research show that if we want to maximize our performance, we need to be in a state of optimal anxiety.  Take a look at the visual bell curve example of this below.

The optimal level of anxiety then is found in the learning zone, just outside the comfort zone, but before heading into the danger zone.

Although it may not be very evident, there are significant dangers that lurk in the comfort zone.

Denis Waitley puts it this way, “Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing."

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 81 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 81 of our Trek, and now that we have traveled the 6 trails of overcoming mediocrity, we are in the position to excel at a greater pace on our path as we create and build on our living legacy.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Today has been a busy but productive day, and we were able to make some headway on a couple of projects.  We did receive some very good news about a friend that has been going through an extended time of trial, and we are very thankful for that. As we learn additional details and with his permission, I may be able to share his story on a future treks.

The trails of life can be unknown and unpredictable at times. We need to understand that life is not always how we would like it to be, but it is always how it is.  We may become very uncomfortable with the paths that we travel, so we need to choose to enjoy those journeys even in less than ideal conditions. Change makes all of us a bit uncomfortable, even if the outcome of that change is beneficial long term. As our global community rapidly changes, as we eluded to yesterday, we must learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.  That is the trail that we will travel together today.

This inspiring principle is actually taken from the Navy SEALS as one of their mantras is "Get comfortable being uncomfortable." Why is this so important? In your businesses and in your life, if you want to learn, grow, and succeed, you will have to go through a process of being uncomfortable to achieve growth. Anyone familiar with farming knows that in order to have a crop, the original seed is destroyed through the growth process.  Also Jesus confirms this principle in John 12:24, "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels — a plentiful harvest of new lives."

Let’s look at three practical examples:

If you want to be physically fit, if you want to be healthy, or if you want to be somebody who’s got a lot of energy, what is required?  You must exercise and work out on a regular basis.  Many people go to a gym so that they have the proper equipment and are able to stay focused. But, the gym is not somewhere you go for comfort. It’s somewhere you go to get really uncomfortable for an hour, or a half an hour, or maybe for some of you, a couple of hours. And, you are going to push yourself. You’re going to see how much weight you can lift, how long you can run, or how hard you can push your body. And, during that time it’s going to be wildly uncomfortable. But, on the back side of that discomfort is better health, better energy, and a better physical appearance.

Tied to being physically fit, if you desire to be healthy, you must eat what is good and healthy for you, which will mean preparing your own meals using fresh, healthy, and whole foods. You'll also have to turn away from comfort foods and other food items that may taste good as you are eating them but do major damage to your body, including the horrible side effect of gaining weight. You have to be comfortable with feeling hungry and being uncomfortable until your body adapts to the new types of food that you consume.

To be successful in business requires hard work, dedication, and, at times, long hours with very little reward. You have to stretch yourself and learn. You have to be willing to risk the rejection and receive a lot of "no" in order to get to the potential for a "yes." The success is only going to come after you’ve stepped out of your comfort zo...

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 80 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

6 Trails to Overcome Mediocrity

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 80 of our Trek. Yesterday we took the 10 trails to overcome complaining, and today we want to focus on the 6 trails to overcome mediocrity.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. While Paula and I have been working on the front edge of technology for over 30 years and have always been acclimated to rapid changes in the market, it appears to me that we are just on the front end of the most rapid and radical change in world economics than in any time in history. This change will provide a lot of opportunities for individuals and small businesses to compete on a global market. I see a rise in entrepreneurship throughout the world that was unimagined just a few years ago.  There will be a lot of individuals that are very successful, but there will be a lot of casualties also.

The bar to enter the market is becoming lower, but as with any time in business, it will take skill, forward thinking, and dynamic flexibility to survive. Many very large and established businesses and industries will also become casualties to this rapidly changing global economy. We must all be prepared for it both from a consumer and from a business perspective. We are making plans now to pivot our Venture Consulting business to focus on entrepreneurs and small businesses with online tools and training to assist this radical transformation in the market. It is in the early planning stages at this point, but if you would like more information as it becomes available, please email me at [email protected]. And, I will keep you informed as we move forward.

On our trek in life, we need to be prepared to effectively hike through these radical and ever changing landscapes that we will be forced to traverse. None of us can afford to be stuck in the ruts of mediocrity as the rest of the hikers in the world rapidly pass us by. We need wisdom and hope to make the journey. Today we have six trails to hike from the valley of mediocrity to the summit achievement and success as we scale to new heights in our lives .

In order to grow in wisdom and prepare for these changes that will impact all of us, we need to understand that hope is the foundational principle for all change. People change because they have hope for something better, and if you do not have hope, you will not change.

Where does our hope come from?  As a person of faith, my hope comes from the Lord, as is mentioned Psalms 37:34, "Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed."

So, let’s get started on our hike through the six trails out of the valley of mediocrity to the summit of positive change.

Trail #1: Changing your thinking leads to changing your beliefs.

Change begins with the mind. Beliefs are nothing more than a byproduct of what you have thought about long enough or something that you have bought into — always remember that. What you believe and what you think are just a collection of continual thoughts that have formed themselves into a conviction or value. When you break down the process of thinking into a manageable number of steps, you reduce the perceived risk associated with change.

Trail #2: Changing your beliefs leads to changing your expectations.

A belief is the knowledge that we can do something. It is the inner feeling that what we can undertake, and we can accomplish. For the most part, all of us have the ability to look at something and know whether we can do it.