I had just concluded 40 days of prayer and fasting before this trip and I sensed in my spirit that a directional change was coming to my ministry. Suddenly, when the tires hit the tarmac it was as if a download of information came rushing to me. Jolted, surprised and almost overwhelmed, I reached for anything I could find to write down the flood of thoughts flowing into my spirit.

The initial word spoken to my spirit was, “Build a movement to resurrect authentic manhood. Do so by speaking to the deep purposes that reside within man and he will cast off those things that restrain him.”

As I wrote, more and more clarity came to me. I asked, “What are the deep purposes of man?” I immediately remembered Proverbs 20:5, “The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”

Instantly, the foundational principles of Fivestarman flowed out of my spirit and I realized that man has five distinct purposes that reside deep within him:

1. Man is an Adventurous Spirit;
2. He is gifted with an Entrepreneurial Drive;
3. He desires to be Gallant in Relationships;
4. Man longs to be Faithful in Character;
5. And he is driven to leave a legacy through Philanthropic Cause.

(Later study also revealed that the word for “man” in Proverbs 20:5 is not the common word “Adam” but “iysh.” Iysh means, masculine man, cultivator, virile, strong, manly-mind, gallant, priest, leader, and champion.)

Once the plane arrived at the gate, I had to switch my focus back to the consulting assignment for the next 24 hours. Amazingly, when I boarded the plane the next day the flow of inspiration immediately returned, giving me insight and strategy as to how Fivestarman was to develop.

When the plane landed in Houston, I stayed onboard while the flight attendants prepared to continue to our next destination in New Orleans. I was busy typing an outline for Fivestarman on my laptop when the flight attendants approached me. As they attempted to make small talk with me, I tried to keep my focus. Finally, I realized that I couldn’t shake them and gave them my full attention. One young lady said, “What are you working on?”

“I am writing an outline to a book.” I answered, hoping that would suffice.

“What is the book about?” she continued.

Realizing they were genuinely interested, I answered, “I am writing a book about a Fivestarman.” As I shared with them the five purposes of authentic manhood and finished by describing gallant relationships, I realized the young lady had drawn in a little too close to my comfort zone. As I leaned back away from her, I noticed tears dripping off her cheek. She desperately asked, “How do I find a man like that?”

It seemed as if she was speaking for young women everywhere, even for my own daughters. I suddenly felt the cry of our culture. A vulnerable culture, one that is missing the strength and protection that comes from authentic manhood.

“Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work…
You’re a one-man defense system against this culture.” Jeremiah 1:18-19

The echo of the original word that came to me was not to build a personal ministry but to build a movement. A movement is a series of organized activities working toward a stated goal. It requires much more activity than one person can achieve.

Over the next few weeks as I began to speak on the five passions of authentic manhood I noticed something very interesting in the posture of men. Initially, men were leaning back in their chairs with folded arms and half-sleepy eyes. As I began to share in-depth what makes a Fivestarman, they began to sit up straight. By the time I finished, those same men were leaning forward, hands on their knees, eyes focused, staring straight ahead, as if in a stance of readiness.

Solomon said, “The purposes of a man are drawn out.” I now recognize the progress of this drawing-out-process each time I speak on the five passions of authentic manhood and the process is simple:


Fivestarman is not about placing a shackle of guilt on a man, nor are we trying to make a man something that he is not, we are simply identifying who he already is and revealing it to him, giving him clear understanding to his God-given purposes.

And men are responding to this. Men can wrap their heads around this. Men want to know more. They want to be involved in this process.

This is a total change in the paradigm of communicating to men!

According to a recent study only 10 percent of churches have a viable, active and productive men’s ministry.

Most efforts toward men’s ministries are weak, anemic, and girly. We even see this with publishing companies who have all but given up trying to communicate to men. These companies excuse their failed efforts to the preposition that men do not read. I totally disagree! Men will read, but we do not read like women read. The problem is the publishing companies and most ministries have attempted to communicate to men’s feelings. That’s fine for women.

Women relate face-to-face sharing feelings.

But men relate shoulder-to-shoulder facing challenges.

Other efforts toward men’s ministry center around an angry anti-pornography strategy. This reactive strategy starts when a pastor or leader is forced to deal with some of their “good” guys facing the addictive powers of pornography. Pornography is a scourge on manhood, but it is actually a result—not the cause—of a fallen relationship with God.

We must dig deeper. We must draw from the original intent of manhood.

We don’t need another attempt at men’s ministry. We need a movement. A movement that is organic. A movement that raises the voice of authentic manhood. A movement that speaks to men who have been completely turned off by the terms “Bible Study” or “Men’s Breakfast.” We must become more strategic and communicate to the internal, God-deposit that lies within men, that spark of authentic purpose that the Spirit draws out (1 Corinthians 2:9).

We’re not going to win men by making them something that they’re not. We can’t communicate to men on the emotive level. We must communicate to men’s purposes. When a man focuses on his purposes he casts off those things that constrain him.

When you are in training physically, you change your habits, you get up earlier, work out harder and suppress or change your appetite. You know that some of your cravings are bad for you. The same goes for your spirit. When you focus on godly training, just like physical training, you will focus on growth and suppress those things that hinder your progress.

Rather than guilt men into the Church, rather than manipulate him by focusing on his wife and children, we must focus on the purposes of men, draw upon them, communicate to him in an authentic manner.

As Malachi warned in the last sentence of the Old Testament before the 400 years of silence:

 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

We must have a prophetic voice speak to the heart of men. We must raise the voice of authentic manhood. Now is the time for Fivestarman!

Influence

Want more influence in the office or workplace? Author Phil Cooke writes:

I meet too many people who feel ignored and dismissed at the office.  Their co-workers have stopped asking them for advice, they’re not being invited to key meetings, and management seems to overlook them.  Some people call it an “office doormat.”  Is that you?

Click here to read Phil’s full article.

Setting an example is not the main
means of influencing another,
it is the only means. -Albert Einstein

What If You Work For a Bad Boss?

It happens. No matter how hard you try, the fact may be that you simply work for a bad boss. But how is a Fivestarman to respond in such a situation?

Michael Hyatt offers the following five key points if you are in that situation.

• Manage your expectations.
• Evaluate the impact.
• Consider your options.
• Be assertive.
• Support him publicly.

Read Michael’s complete post and in-depth explanation of each point.

Be Happy

Of course that’s much easier said than done. Jon Gordon believes it may just be  a matter of focus. His suggestions?

• Focus on “Get to” instead of “Have to”
• Don’t Expect your Boss, Co-workers and Customers to Make you Happy
• Don’t Seek Happiness
• Focus on Excellence instead of Success
• Celebrate Together

Read Jon’s full article, Five Ways To Be Happier At Work here.

Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others,
you should put a good deal of thought into
the happiness that you are able to give.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

“Entrepreneurs are risk takers, willing to roll the dice with their money or reputation on the line in support of an idea or enterprise. They willingly assume responsibility for the success or failure of a venture and are answerable for all its facets. The buck not only stops at their desks, it starts there too.”

~ Victor Kiam, CEO of Remington

Today, let’s look at a few things we can do to better our finances, our goals, and perhaps our attitudes as we tackle the remainder of the week ahead.

Overcoming Procrastination

First up, Steve Olson shares keen insight into beating procrastination. What does procrastination have to do with being an entrepreneur? If you’re like many of us… everything! Putting things off until the ‘perfect’ time often means they won’t get done in a timely manner, if at all.

If you find yourself procrastinating, this guide will help you learn why you do it and how to change it. Also, if you have a procrastinator in your life, a child, an employee, a spouse, you can turn to this guide to help you understand why they do it and how you can help. Read the full article here…

“Never leave that ’til tomorrow which you can do today.”
~ Benjamin Franklin

Attitude Adjustment

Author Keith Harrell with Success Magazine says one of the most important steps you can take toward achieving your greatest potential in life is to learn to monitor your attitude and its impact on your work performance, relationships and everyone around you.

He outlines 10 strategies for improving our attitudes:

1. Self-Coaching Through Affirmations
   Affirmations repeated several times each day, every day, serve to reprogram your subconscious with positive thinking. An affirmation is made up of words charged with power, conviction and faith. You send a positive response to your subconscious, which accepts whatever you tell it. When done properly, this triggers positive feelings that, in turn, drive action.
2. Self-Motivation Through Discovering Your Motives
   Discover what motivates you—what incites you to take action to change your life. Basic motives include love, self-preservation, anger, financial gain and fear. Self-motivation requires enthusiasm, a positive outlook, a positive physiology (walk faster, smile, sit up), and a belief in yourself and your God-given potential.
3. The Power of Visualization
   Studies of the psychology of peak performance have found that most great athletes, surgeons, engineers and artists use affirmations and visualizations either consciously or subconsciously to enhance and focus their skills. Nelson Mandela has written extensively on how visualization helped him maintain a positive attitude while being imprisoned for 27 years. “I thought continually of the day when I would walk free. I fantasized about what I would like to do,” he wrote in his autobiography. Visualization works well to improve attitude.
4. Attitude Talk for Positive Internal Dialogue
   Attitude talk is a way to override your past negative programming by erasing or replacing it with a conscious, positive internal voice that helps you face new directions. Your internal conversation—that little voice you listen to all day long—acts like a seed in that it programs your brain and affects your behavior. Take a closer look at what you are saying to yourself.
5. The Power of Words—WOW
   Once released to the universe, our words cannot be taken back. Learn the concept of WOW—watch our words. What we speak reflects what is already in our hearts based upon all the things we have come to believe about ourselves. If we find ourselves speaking judgmental and disparaging things about our circumstances or those around us, we know the condition of our hearts needs to change. You can create a direct path to success by what you say.
6. The Power in a Positive Greeting
   When people ask me how I am doing, I say, “Super-fantastic.” Most people enjoy working and living with others who try to live life for what it is—a beautiful gift.
7. Enthusiasm: Vital Tool for Staying Motivated
   Enthusiasm is to attitude what breathing is to life. Enthusiasm enables you to apply your gifts more effectively. It’s the burning desire that communicates commitment, determination and spirit. Enthusiasm means putting yourself in motion. It’s an internal spirit that speaks through your actions from your commitment and your belief in what you are doing. It is one of the most empowering and attractive characteristics you can have.
8. Connecting to Your Spiritual Empowerment
   The ultimate level of human need extends into the spiritual realm. Just as we feed our bodies in response to our primary need to survive physically, we need to feed our spirit because we are spiritual beings. Many people find powerful and positive motivation in their faith. I happen to be one of them.
9. Lighten Up Your Life with Humor
   Humor is a powerful motivator. The more humor and laughter in your life, the less stress you’ll have, which means more positive energy to help you put your attitude into action. There are also health benefits to lightening up.
10. Exercising Will Help Keep You Motivated
    One of the best ways to move to a more positive and motivated frame of mind is to exercise. A regular exercise routine can provide relatively quick positive feedback in the form of weight loss, muscle development and a sense of doing something positive for yourself.

Read Ken’s full article here…

Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise
thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity…
Proverbs 1:3 AMP

Young Entrepreneurs Are The New Norm

As the following video from Fox News illustrates, young entrepreneurs fresh out of college are becoming the new norm. (Click here to view on Fox News.)

Goals or Objectives?

At first glance it may seem that goals and objectives are one and the same. But as Andrew Smith points out, if you want to convert creative ideas into concrete results, there is an important difference.

An objective is a specific description of what is required to be achieved. They are usually described using “objective” language. In other words, precise and non-emotional terms.

A goal is a softer and more general description. It is something that you would like to achieve that can be described “subjectively”. The big difference is that there is no pressure to be specific. And, it’s perfectly acceptable to use emotional language.

“My goal is to be very happy and financially independent,” is quite non-specific, but still qualifies as a goal.

To some this may be unacceptably loose. However, for many, it may be their first stepping-stone on a pathway to success.

To learn more about the difference between goals and objectives, read Andrew’s full article here…

Business Headlines

• Building a (Nearly) Million-Dollar Brand on a Startup Budget
• Startup Boot Camps Seek Army of Entrepreneurs – BusinessWeek
• Stop Waiting for Permission To Reinvent Yourself

You could almost hear the ticking, the countdown before the eruption of uncontrollable outrage. John attempted to suppress it but it just kept building and growing until the sweat on his forehead, the clenched jaw, and his narrowing eyes foretold the upcoming explosion.

John’s anger had caused damage to personal possessions, started fights with strangers, and broken relationships with loved ones. Society, with all of its checks and balances, began to resist his reputation of rage. Family members began to isolate themselves from his temper tantrums. His sudden outbursts had caused so much pain they simply didn’t want to have anything to do with him.

John’s coworkers no longer made excuses for his outbursts. His tenure on jobs became more and more short term. Once he was considered a high producer, but now his increasingly volatile temper was causing his productivity to plummet. He even began to blame potential customers for his inability to make the sale on their “ignorance.”

John’s face began to reflect his anger. His eyes had yellowed. His mouth turned in a constant frown. His brow wrinkled with forceful intensity. He was no longer a young man fighting for a better future; he was an embittered, old man frustrated with his life.

Anger is usually caused by unmet expectations. You see it commonly displayed in the checkout line of the local grocery store. Children burst out in childish rage, hoping to get the attention of their distracted parents. They want something, and they want it now.

Unfortunately, a lot of men never grow out of the tactic of clenched fists and stomping feet. As adults, their intimidation no longer works, and their anger boils.

“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV

Do not allow the day to pass without ridding yourself of anger.

Going to sleep while angry can cause delusions. Our nemesis will use anger to get a foothold on us through unchecked emotion. Anger digs deep into the soul of a man. It can draw out buried emotion from years past in an instant. It is very important that we distinguish the different types of anger, and extinguish the harmful emotions it brings.

THE FOUR FACES OF ANGER

• RAGE is an anger that causes us to flurry about with over-expressed gestures, clenched jaws, and boisterous words, even calling down curses. This kind of anger typically comes from frustrated expectations. Expressing rage causes people around us to stare in disbelief, confusion or embarrassment.
• FURY is a stronger type of rage. This destructive form of rage often leads to a depraved mind and delusional violence. Fury is motivated by evil. Fury often results in physical harm to others, sometimes even in murder.
• INDIGNATION is a righteous anger caused by witnessing or experiencing injustice, shame, or evil done to innocence. It is the correct use of the emotion of anger. Indignation motivates us to protect and risk our lives for the cause of others.
• WRATH is the godliest form of anger. It is an anger that responds to evil with pure judgment. Wrath is what causes men to correct a wrong and to rid the earth of evil.

Some men have been taught to sequester their anger, to be stoic in their emotions; yet anger does have a role to play in our lives, if our motivations are pure and our response is disciplined.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20 NIV

Many of our problems with anger arise from a lack of communication. We fail to listen and then fail to express what is causing this pent up frustration. Our inability to communicate becomes a weakness to express our emotions.

Paul explains this “frustration” in Romans 8 when he talks about the frustration of birth pains that the earth is suffering. Out of its inability to communicate the earth quakes, trembles and suffers violence. It is awaiting its redemption from decay, longing for the “sons of God” to be revealed.

In the same way, we ourselves groan inwardly when we see the world with its “unmet expectations.” Frustration builds, and our weakness is revealed. We do not know what to say or how to respond.

Paul says, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” This is a holy frustration. It is a frustration that causes us to pray for God’s purpose to be revealed upon the earth.

As men, we must realize that the help of the Holy Spirit can correct our lack of communication. It is only then that we can actually see the will of God work “all things for the good.”

Getting involved in the process of establishing God’s will on the earth, especially into our own lives, our families, and careers will allow us to properly direct those things that frustrate us.   We will properly manage those frustrations, actually understanding that it may just be a holy frustration, prompting us to pray.

So, the next time that you find yourself building up anger, ask the Holy Spirit to help you in your weakness to pray to the perfect will of God so that His purpose can be fulfilled upon the earth.

The argument against man begins with population control, which is in direct opposition to God’s original intent.

The second argument is closely related, suggesting that man is the cause of “global warming,” or now, since pseudo-science fraudulently “cooked the books” (pun intended), the proposed argument is “global disruption.”

The claim that man is destroying the Earth is another attempt to control the increase of man economically.  The claims that we are using up the resources of Earth are simply out of step with the evidence.

God’s original intent for man was to dominate the Earth, which means we are to steward and care for the Earth.  I believe that we must properly manage our cultivation of the Earth.  We should develop and manage our resources with wisdom and responsibility; however, we must continue to draw upon those resources for our use and for the expansion of mankind.  The resources of Earth are placed on deposit for our use and increase.

God is wise enough to create the world in which we live with more than enough to sustain, and even prosper, mankind throughout our existence.

Next:  Work Is an Original Intent of Man

===========================================================

This article is an excerpt from the book Fivestarman—The Five Passions of Authentic Manhood by Neil Kennedy.  To learn more about Fivestarman or to order your copy of Fivestarman—The Five Passions of Authentic Manhood please visit www.fivestarman.com.

You are free and welcome to re-publish, re-post, and in general share this article with any and all, so long as you keep all credits and links intact. For reprint rights, please contact us at info@fivestarman.com.

Within every man are purposes and passions that are uniquely male, yet we are being told that there is nothing inherently special or purposeful about manhood.  Women, liberated from dominated positions, have increasingly taken a lead role in society.  By September 2010, there were more women employed than there were men.  Touting this fact, the cover of the Atlantic Journal headlined this bold title, “THE END OF MEN.”

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame women for stepping up to exercise their liberty from oppressive or ignorant men who have abused them, or from lazy men who have not provided for them; however, radical feminism has violently attacked any semblance of a men’s uniqueness, rather than embracing their own special feminine identity.

Some men have surrendered their roles and special assignments, even taking on the mannerisms and roles of a female.

We are doomed to repeat the failed patterns of life if we do not discover the truths of authentic manhood.  Insecurities will overwhelm us if we do not gain the confidence that comes from purpose.  To become an authentic man means that we need to find the original intent of manhood.

First of all, we must have the foundational belief that we were created with the Intelligent Design of purpose.  Without a Creator, we are meaningless; our existence is flatulence in the wind.

If man is designed and purposed by a Creator, then the Creator defines him.  We must start at the beginning to discover His original intent for man.  Anything less is the ultimate arrogance.

How can the creation mockingly respond to the Creator, “Why did you make me this way?”

“Let us make man….”

After the formation of Earth and the gathering of waters, dry land appeared.  Before God released the agrarian system of provision, He designed the purpose of the Earth.  The Psalmist said, “The Earth was made for man.”

God used clay to mold, fashion, and frame the shadow of His image into a piece of living art.  Then He breathed into man’s nostrils the element of life.  Man became a living being.

The very first statement that God spoke over man gives us insight into His original intent, “Be fruitful and increase.”

Within your genetic code is the drive to succeed and increase.  Within you is the purpose of reproduction.  Within you is the increasing desire to grow your numbers.  As Solomon said, “No man is ever satisfied with his income.” It is diametrically opposed to the original intent of man not to want increase, numerically or economically.

It’s not greed to desire increase; it’s God’s original intent.  Greed is born out of covetousness, which is the desire to have another man’s possessions at his expense.  Greed is born out of a narcissistic attitude that fails to understand God’s provision.

The flaw in covetous thinking is the basic economic theory that my gain comes at the expense of another person.  Modern economics is built upon the idea that the pie is only so big for a few elites to eat of it.  Society does not trust the God of Creation to be wise enough to deposit within the Earth enough resources to sustain and prosper all people.

Solomon said, “As goods increase, so do consumers” (Ecclesiastes 5:11, author’s paraphrase).

God repeatedly declares over man His intent to populate the earth.  Yet, if you listen to the arguments of the fringe, they espouse controlling the increase of man, claiming that we are overpopulating the Earth.  Their idea is that man is inherently bad for the Earth.  Abortion becomes a sadistic means of controlling populations, just as euthanasia will soon be an acceptable means to serve their purpose.  Abortion is called, “choice.”  Euthanasia will be called, “mercy.”

It is always interesting to see the hypocrisy of the living argue against more people “living.”  They love only themselves.  If they really believed that mankind was bad for the Earth, they could easily eliminate at least part of the problem.  Their argument is silly.  Claiming to be wise, they are fools.

Next:  Man Is The Economy

===========================================================

This article is an excerpt from the book Fivestarman—The Five Passions of Authentic Manhood by Neil Kennedy.  To learn more about Fivestarman or to order your copy of Fivestarman—The Five Passions of Authentic Manhood please visit www.fivestarman.com.

You are free and welcome to re-publish, re-post, and in general share this article with any and all, so long as you keep all credits and links intact. For reprint rights, please contact us at info@fivestarman.com.

Washington (CNN) – Trevor Bayne may have won the Daytona 500 on Sunday, but a small charity he name-dropped will share in the spoils of victory.

The 20-year-old NASCAR driver was racing in just his second Sprint Cup competition and is now etched in the record books as the youngest driver to win the sports’ biggest race.

“I never thought in a million years we were gonna win our first one,” Bayne told CNN Monday morning. “It’s incredible.”

During his post-race news conference, Bayne was asked how he would spend some of the $1,463,813 purse he won from the race.

“I don’t know if I will splurge. I am definitely not putting it up for retirement yet, I am going to stay around for awhile,” Bayne said.

“Hopefully this money will help us get some more races, and there are a lot of foundations and ministries that need support. Back2Back ministries in Mexico is one, and there are a lot of good organizations that need some help, and we will help them out as much as we can.”

In a sport that has ads plastered over nearly every inch of the drivers and their cars, it was a big deal for Bayne to namedrop the Christian charity.

Trevor Bayne visits with an orphan on a trip to Mexico in November.

Back2Back is an independent Christian charity working with orphans and the needy in Mexico, Nigeria and India. Bayne was introduced to the charity by Lonnie Clouse, a former chaplain for NASCAR with Motor Racing Outreach, who is now on staff with Back2Back.

“I assure you it was nothing short of miraculous.  Trever called me yesterday from the media center after the win with tears in his eyes and we prayed together over the phone,” Clouse said by phone from Monterrey, Mexico.

“This was part of God’s script and God’s plan for him.  He’s using his platform to talk about those with no voice and [about] orphan awareness.”

Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) provides weekend church services and Bible studies for NASCAR drivers and their teams who can’t get away from the track on race weekends. Clouse was MRO’s traveling chaplain for the NASCAR Nationwide series.

“Bayne was a faithful attendee at all our Nationwide Bible studies.  He would sit in the front row.  He would get up and read scripture or open in prayer, whatever we needed,” Clouse said.

Bayne traveled to Mexico to work with Clouse in November. “He was down here in Mexico staying with us and serving along side us helping with orphans,” Clouse said.

“We went and visited orphanages. He made quite an impression here. He was out playing soccer with the orphans.  We huddled them all around, and Trevor got to talk to them about what he did.  They were asking him how fast he went.  Most of them had no clue who he was and what he did,” Clouse said.

Bayne visits with an orphan on a trip to Mexico in November.

After the race Clouse gathered the orphans together and filled them in on Bayne’s big win. “It was exciting for them to hear how well he did.”

Clouse was ordained in a non-denominational church. MRO pulls chaplains from many different denominations. Clouse said Bayne is member of a church near his home but gets most of his spiritual nourishment on the road from MRO.

For the former chaplain, all those Bible studies at the race track paid off when Bayne was in the winners circle.

“He summed up the two greatest commandments, ‘Love the lord your God with all your heart’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  He got up on that stage and he was able to articulate those things beautifully.  It was a very very proud moment for me and for MRO.”

Self-knowledge has always been the key to preparing for competition. Knowledge of your attributes, abilities, interests, strengths, weaknesses, and traits is essential to riding the front end of the wave of change into the new century. To fully assess your own talents, realize that studies confirm that what we love and do well as children continues as our latent or manifest talent as adults.

Examination of your weekend or evening interests might reveal a gem of potential you can apply to your vocation. I strongly suggest you don’t unthinkingly relegate what you love to do for yourself solely to hobbies. You might make it, or at least integrate it into your life’s work.

The acquisition of knowledge, which is the new global power, is a life-long experience, not a collection of facts or skills. Not long ago, what you learned in school was largely all you needed to learn to secure a career. With knowledge expanding exponentially, this is no longer true. Hundreds of scientific papers are published daily.

Every thirty seconds, some new technological company produces yet another innovation. Your formal education has a very short shelf life. Life-long learning, once a luxury for the few, has become absolutely vital to continued success. Continue gaining expertise and avoid thinking like an expert.

Action Idea

An excellent benchmarking exercise is to spend a weekend with key associates or family members and dust off your childhood memories. Remember what you really enjoyed and wanted to do most as a child. The next activity in assessing your interests is considering your current ones. What do you most enjoy after work? What do you most want to do on weekends and vacations? What are your hobbies? Can you bring more of what you enjoy into your business life?

Action Step

Increase Your Reading, Writing and Vocabulary Proficiency.
One of the most important qualities of successful leaders is an ability to express thoughts and knowledge. Research by management and human resource experts confirms that no matter what the field of employment, people with large vocabularies – those able to speak clearly and concisely, using simple as well as descriptive words – are best at accomplishing their goals. Well chosen, carefully considered words can close the sale, negotiate the raise, enhance relationships, and change destinies.

In a world of email, instant messaging, voice mail, sound bites, concise reports, business plans, and meeting briefs, the individuals who can articulate their goals, substantiate their claims, and support their visions, will own the future. In the 21st Century, literacy will be the major difference between the haves and have-nots.

Why do fewer than 10 percent of the public buy and read nonfiction books? One reason is that many would rather get home than get ahead. They are motivated to get by and get pulled along by the company, the economy, or the government.

Another reason is that many individuals believe that information found in books, computer programs, and training sessions has no value in the business world. How self-deluding!

As the new tools of digital productivity continues to expand exponentially, the people who know how to control the new technologies will acquire power, while those who thought that education ends with the diploma are destined for low-paying, low-satisfaction jobs. In almost the blink of an eye, our society has passed from the industrial age to the knowledge era.

Increase your reading by 100 percent. Decrease your television watching, and that of any children in your family by 50 percent. Surf the Internet and subscribe to book summaries, or download free chapters from different sources. By reading book summaries, you can gain the essence of all the top business books in a very brief period of time.

Action Idea

Read at least one book each month, and listen to at least one additional audio book or education series during commute or down time.

Knowledge is the new power. And literacy is the door to knowledge.

Reproduced with permission from Denis Waitley’s Weekly Ezine. To subscribe to Denis Waitley’s Weekly Ezine, go to www.deniswaitley.com.

1. Have a Plan

Write a clear, concise plan of action for your money. Give your money an assignment. Money is nothing more than the ability to make exchange. You worked hard to have it transferred into your hands, now consider what you want to exchange it for.

The first step in your plan should be to free yourself from debt. Debt is the most destructive force working against you. The gravitational pull of debt is much greater than the numbers or amount alone would suggest.

Consider using what I call the Division of  Ten Principle. Every dollar is divided into ten:

• The first dime is the Tithe. I worship the Lord with this dime.
• The second dime is my investment. This dime will never leave my life. It is now forever in my employment.
• Dimes three through nine is for present living.
• Dime ten is surplus. This dime is reserved so that I never have to borrow a dime.

2. Start Small

Do not despise small beginnings. Solomon said, “When you gather money little by little you will see it grow.” If you are faithful in a little you will be made ruler of much. Consider your management of a penny as a qualification of a million.

David Green, founder of Hobby Lobby and related companies started his multi-billion dollar private corporation with a $600 investment!

3. Multiple Streams

Create multiple streams of income. Abraham was made rich in eight different streams of income (Genesis 24:35). Solomon said, “Give portions to seven, yes to eight, you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.”

If you have a fixed income – unfix it. You may have a good job at a secure company, yet you should always be in training, sharpening, and educating yourself for promotion. Start a business. Develop an idea. Invent something.

4. Be Consistent

Successful people do daily what others do occasionally. To gain the inertia of successful investment you must be consistent.

5. Think Long-Term

Secular people think only in terms of quarters and fiscal years. You have an eternal mentality; therefore, you naturally think long-term. Solomon said, “A righteous man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children.”

There will be seasons of great increase and seasons of decline but overall your investment will succeed as long as you don’t stay invested.

6. No Schemes

Do not get involved in schemes. There are a myriad of fraudulent people who use crafty schemes to make money. If it promises “that you will get rich with no effort” it is a lie. Walk away.

7. Protect Reserves

Store up don’t hoard up. Storing up reserves are important. It is suggested to have three to six months of reserves that would meet your basic living expenses if needed. You could even build it up to a year. Hoarding is stingily keeping money out of fear of loss or for the sake of pride. Hoarders become delusional and lose all they have.

8. Know What You Own

The Bible says, “Know the condition of your flocks and herds.” You should have specific knowledge of what you own. If you own stocks, you should know the company. You should never purchase what you don’t know.

Don’t compartmentalize your investments. I know a man who invests in “vice” stocks – those are companies who make their money on people’s sins and addictions. It is immoral to make money off the sins of people. I would never own tobacco, alcohol, or pornography companies. I won’t associate with them.

How do you get started?

Start small. Don’t despise small beginnings. Begin to read Dave Ramsey’s materials and attend his live seminars. I believe that he offers the best advise available for financial security, prosperity, and success. You will run into people who want to give you “free” advice which will ultimately cost you. Be careful to qualify those who speak into your life concerning money.

Be blessed and prosper.

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