Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Influencer... the power to change

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com

Influencer, the power to change anything, is by many authors (Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler). Their claim to fame is Crucial Conversations and much of Influencer is a continuation of that conversation. Their concept is summarized very well on their website, so a peruse there is beneficial... with principles, examples outlined in quickfast read form. For a quick view
http://www.influencerbook.com/

We all think, observe, draw conclusions and act. To change the world we must change how people behave. We all need to see ourselves as influencers. The way to do this is by focusing on vital behaviors, find these and you are on the road to influence. Find what people do, give them reasons to change what they do.

Use personal, social and structural motivation, add to this mix "abilities" for doing each... change begins. Simply put, discover a few vital behaviors, change those, and "problems will topple like a house of cards."

Their recommendations come out of indepth studies by the five authors.
How do people change their minds.
--people choose their behaviors based on what they think will happen to them as a result.
--many thoughts are incomplete and inaccurate.
--two questions must be answered. "Is it worth it? Can they do the thing?" (So you have motivation with developed abilities. Once they want to, have reasons to, they need to "be able to do" the right things.)
--when it comes to resistant problems, verbal persuasion rarely works.
--the great persuader is personal experience.
--create a surrogate (place to practice) for actual experience.

Stories are great persuaders for changing minds. They increase understanding (with the personal experiences shared and that which others relate to), believing happens as you validate your expertise or right to talk about it. They then plug into emotions. Stories transport a person from critic to the role of participant... to empathize with you.

The six sources of influence to master are personal motivation (1) and ability (2), social motivation (3) and ability (4), and structural motivation (5) and ability (6).

The authors summarize it like this:
At the personal level, connect vital behaviors to intrinsic motives as well as coaching the specifics of each behavior through deliberate practice.
At the group level, social influence has the power to influence, motivate and enable target behaviors.
At the structural level, top performers attach appropriate reward structures, creating a system, process, machinery to support the vital behaviors.

The authors elaborate more, and it is an elaboration. Influencer is not something you hurry through. Here's just a few of their proverbial thoughts on these areas to muse.

Personal Motivation. Make the undesirable desirable.
Immersing in activity can neutralize displeasure. Connect value systems to activity, and show long-term value, reconnect to sense of morality. Motivation's origin is internal. We want to do well, be proud, feel we have accomplished something.

Personal ability. Surpass our limits.
Knowing content and doing it (well and consistently well) are two different things. Skill requires doing it with strategic, deliberate practice within self-discipline. It's the skill in practice that makes perfect with short intervals (baby steps) between feedback (correction or reassurance). Be clear, specific, attainable with emotion management.

Social Motivation. Harness Peer Pressure.
Spend time with formal leaders who influence many... those socially connected and respected. Stimulate public discussion on what needs changed. It's okay to speak out on what's wrong and propose a better way. Social influence can transform negative behaviors. "Give away credit every change you get, there's always plenty left for you."

Social Ability. Find strength in numbers.
Use social capital. The profound enabling power of an essential network of relationships. Groups of varied intellectual levels often perform better than any one individual. Turn "me" problems into "we" problems and social capital will resolve persistent, resistant behaviors. Interdependence shares ideas, lends a hand, collaborates. Our abilities to work in concert gives high yields to social capital.

Structural Motivation. Design rewards and demand accountability.
Reward "vital behaviors" not just results. When wrong behaviors are persistent a wise choice of punishment is appropriate... but you must do this carefully. Punish only when all else fails. And let people know the arrow is coming before you release the bow string.

Structural Ability. Change the environment.
These are non-human influences, tangibles, organizations, and relationships of space that encourage human interaction. Enable behavior to work best where structure, process, procedures open up the way.

You must address all six sources of influence when designing an influence strategy. Stop thinking of influence tools as a buffet, and recognize them as a comprehensive approach to creating systematic, widespread, and lasting change. They all interrelate which requires a unique recipe for each place influence is projected.

Their website has worksheets, a blog of others deliberating practicing the influence skill and more on vital behaviors and strategies for them.
http://www.influencerbook.com/

Those who are servants of the Most High God are established with influence of the Highest level... of Supernatural proportions.

Jesus said God will give us anything we ask for, for building fruit that lasts (John 15:16). When it comes to building His Kingdom, He gives us the influence to do it as well. He said it in the Psalms who are influential. "They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor." (Psalm 112:9, NLT)

This is for all who live to serve His purposes. This influence is through the induction of Spirit in our inner beings. The Holy Spirit comes to live in us and among us. When Jesus said that when we pray we should focus on cleaning our own inner being and come closer to Him. When we do clean our inner being we naturally come closer to Him. We don't have anything standing in our way, which allows the connection to Spirit to be purer, cleaner, not polluted by outside sources.
This purity of flow is where the power is released through us unhindered.

We are also protected.
No one could harm Him until His mission was completed. He influenced many to carry it on until it continued to total completion. Everyone we coach or develop or influence, becomes better than us. Jesus said we were to be better, more influential than Him. Those we influence become more influential than we are. He promised to us the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit He operated under. He said it had the greatest influence of all. This influence is Spiritual. It touches hearts of those we pray for, outside of our direct contact with that person. It convicts people to change their ways when we direct influence in Spirit toward them. It removes the impurities from other lives that we send the Holy Spirit to in our prayers and through the channel of Spirit of Christ.

We are to be the influencers.
"You must influence them; do not let them influence you! (Jeremiah 15:19, NLT)

Spirit moves through all things and transcends all matter and things that could stand in its way. It is the genuine mountain mover. Come to the Kingdom power. It is not words, intellectual arguments and thoughts that persuade people, change and convict hearts. It is Spirit power that changes people.

We have personal access to His Spirit, that lives in and through us. It is only the Holy Spirit that faithfully responds to our calls to Him. Call to God's Spirit and He will rescue, respond to you.

"Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me. May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace. Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, "Aha! We've got him now!" But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The Lord is great!" As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay." (Psalm 40:13-17, NLT)

He helps the poor and needy to give them His Power, the Greatest Power of Influence. Regardless of your position on earth, He can give you the Influence from Above... the Supernatural Power of Spirit. He can influence those of great position on earth, those with great wealth, those of great influence in their constituency.

Spirit controls the most powerful.
Spirit is the ultimate power, that influences all other powers.
We have this at our beckoning call.

"He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord's delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children within your walls. He sends peace across your nation and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat. He sends his orders to the world— how swiftly his word flies! He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes. He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends his winds, and the ice thaws." (Psalm 147:10-18, NLT)

He answers prayers with power that exceeds man's... to change minds, transform behaviors, renovate cultures. The Holy Spirit is the great Renewer of all things.
The Influencer of influencers is the Holy Spirit.

You can transport into this power. We can rest in this, remain kind and loving even to hostile situations. We flow in His Power for forging ahead for us, for His calling in our lives, for the great pleasures within His Spirit.

He grants the cries of our hearts... success, influence comes through Spirit Power
that's at work in us and for our behalf.

Saturday, December 08, 2007

The Age of Speed...living in the Speed of Light

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com

The Age of Speed by Vince Poscente embraces the benefits of speed. We want speed but want it in the right places that enlarge our quality of life. When we harness the power of speed our work and lives become less stressful. Poscente shows how to make speed work to your advantage. So that it propels you closer to your goals and life as you want it.

Business is about being fast today. We want the products and services provided with minimum hassle and fast. We want speed for time-consuming events like long lines at the airport or grocery store. Or other things that take time away in value to our lives. But waiting in line for a ball game we really want to see and the anticipation of waiting can be part of the value factor. We get as much enjoyment within the anticipation. So speed is desired in the grocery store, but we want time to relish an event that we desire and find joy. In what we value we want to smell the roses along the way.

We don't just expect speed, we need it. We want speed so we can enjoy more of what we want to do. We want to get results better and faster for what brings us money, resources to do what we value the most in our lives. So speed gets us through faster what's necessary, what's less-desired, so we can be more into what is highly desired. This is what we cry for, more life, less hassle. It's not about being busy, but speeding up to get the right things. The way we get speed for getting the right things is to deliver it to those who demand it from us.

The magic formula is time, quality, cost.
When we deliver using less time, making better quality and quality experiences, and at less cost, we are the most sought after. Speed is about maximizing all three to the greatest degree. Change, speed of change, is here to stay so embrace it. Total time in a day is no longer in three neat slices of our daily activity pie...working 9-5, leisure, being home .All these are now intertwined throughout the day. With a click of the mouse we deliver a report, then another click we sent new family pictures to a friend, then at night we email a confirmation to a business associate.

Today's focus is values and priorities expressed in what we do throughout the whole day.Today people and businesses either resist or embrace speed. This gives us four groups... the zeppelins, balloons, bottle rockets, jets.

The zeppelins see no way of going faster. They see impending doom as feeling rushed, more stress, not in control.
Balloons' work engages them. They do it well, but they don't do it fast. They are happy craftsman who take as long as they want, but deliver a wonderful product. They are low on production volume, long in time, high on cost.
Bottle rockets are fast. They embrace speed. They take off fast but who knows where. They fly out of control and can miss a target and damage something else not intended. Their efforts are aligned, focused, but struggle to stay a healthy course.

The lesson to be learned is jets have focused destinations...harness the power of speed that are agile, aerodynamic, and aligned. These three traits make speed work for you.

Be agile-- be open to new ideas that surge speed. Be flexible and able to be responsive to change. Being humble and taking risks.
Aerodynamic-- free of clutter and drag that slows you down. Multi-tasking slows you down. Analyze your activities as to what can be interrupted or not. Decide to stay engaged or handle the interruption. Use filters...on your computer, phone to control your info inflow. Strategically multi-task and be selective on acceptable interruptions.
Aligned--have a focused destination and move rapidly to the focused point. Speed depends on walking the required tightrope fast to keep balance and reaching the destination quickly, efficiently. Focus on your destination and use speed to avoid clutter, being aerodynamic. Being aligned is staying true to your purpose, values, vision and natural strengths. When you do, everything happens faster. Being authentic makes progress automatic, clear, smooth, fast. Be authentic and focused moving speedily, consistently aligned with your vision. "Stay in your lane, people will move to you."

Speed keeps drag down. New devices, technology, ideology not aligned with our purpose won't get attached to cause drag slowing us down... speed won't let this happen. Speed creates simplicity. Simplicity increases speed. Fast is simple. Identify and eliminate everything not aligned with its authentic purpose.

Harness the Power of Speed. When confronted with speed move into its energy. By embracing it, moving with it, you use its energy for your speed. Anticipate the power of speed, seek it. Anticipating means to prepare for it, know its approaching and be ready to put its energy to work. With customers, anticipate their desires for speed. Know it's coming and be ready to respond to exceed expectations. Seek it by constantly evaluating your tasks and find shortcuts, efficiencies, streamlining systems.

Be a jet and be agile, be aerodynamic, be aligned.
Seek out speed in unique and innovative ways. Embrace speed and move with it. Poscente takes you through an applications section as he concludes The Age of Speed. He helps you prioritize speed for you and your organization, redefining your pie of daily activities, how to be agile, aerodynamic and aligned so you can harness the power of speed.
http://www.vinceposcente.com/

Jesus moved at the speed of light.
When He said He was the light of the World, this also indicated He was ideal speed.
He said like the lighting flashes and lights up the whole sky, so it will be when He comes. And when He appears to us He comes at the speed of light.

The Scriptures say that those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. When we call to Him, the Christ, we can expect Him to appear to us and appear quickly. He knows our lives and responds quickly... on call. When Jesus called out to Lazarus he responded quickly coming to life and walking out of his grave. When He called to Zacchaeus, He came to Him at once. When He called the disciples they followed Him immediately. When Jesus calls on our behalf He responds quickly and those He calls to on our behalf come quickly.

The Disciples got in a boat to cross a lake to a destination on the other side. A storm came up and it looked inevitable that the boat was going to sink. Jesus showed up in their distress and stilled the storm. It not only subsided immediately, they reached the other side of the lake immediately.... with speed even though speed boats weren't invented then. (John 6:16-21)

Jesus demonstrates the art of Supernatural Speed and He invites us to use it too.
Call on the Name of the Lord and you will.
Everything Jesus did was rapid. It was accomplished perfectly with great speed. In just a couple years, without advanced communication systems, He revolutionized a civilization with His Message.

He had not only the authority of Speed
but had the Power of the Spirit.

The demonic and evil spirits of the world trembled when around Him and followed His commands immediately as given. He commanded them to leave people, people who were being tormented mentally, and they left at once... with great speed He got results. He said He would share this Same Spirit of Speed with us.

We have the same potential of Supernatural Speed in our own lives, our own efforts. He simply said to live in Him and He'd live in us. In the lives of the believers that followed, they said, "for in Him we live and move and exist." (Acts 17:28)

They also moved with speed and got high-level performance results in short periods of time. They lived in the rhythm of Supernatural Speed. Enter in the mountain of transformation and in an instant we can be transformed with speed existing around us.

Use the forces of Spirit.
He said if you ask for it, He would freely give.

He freely gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask He promises in Luke 11:13. Enter this energy field of Spirit, and don't resist it. Flow with it and speed will enter all your actions as you become an instrument to transform the world, the daily encounters around you.

Move with the Speed of God's Great, Unmatchable Spirit.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Boom! Choices to blow the doors off business


by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com

Boom! Choices for Blowing the Doors off Business as Usual by Kevin and Jackie Freiberg. "You are not a product of your conditions, you are a product of your decisions. You were designed to choose, and you are defined by that choice."

This is one of those business handbooks you should have at work, on your managers' book shelf, and the owner should nourish this as part of his business culture.

Life is about choices that affect results and can create conditions you would choose. It's not limited to the self-employed entrepreneur, but also partners to employees. Boom! Choices has a website that is also jam packed with tools to help you with their recommendations.

Here's a walk through Boom!

You are designed to choose... defined by choice. Learn the art of play while you work, be uniquely productive that fits you. No matter what you do have freedom to choose.

Choice #1 Be a player, not a bystander.
Extraordinary happens when ordinary people do whatever it takes. Do what you can control and you can control more than you may think. Join the dialogue, enter the debate. Players influence the game. It's not just the owners who do, all play a role. Be a player.

Choice #2 Be accountable.
There is no "They", only you and me. Don't play the blame game, banish tribalism (subgroups who try to control). Forgive and move on.

Choice #3 Choose service over self-interest.
Me-first rarely delivers the desired outcome. Service is about bringing the best out in others. You can create meaning from trials, if you choose wisely.

Choice #4 Focus Forward.
Your future isn't in the rear view mirror. It enables you to overcome defeat and transcend petty preoccupations, improve decisions, raise problems solving skills, create team unity. Give complaining a rest, nourish new ideas from unlikely places, get out of the wells dug by others.

Choice #5 Play to your genius.
Your work is a statement about you. Make every project a real cool project. Vent your genius, work in your sweet spot. The Sweet Spot: When these three are congruent with each other.
1. Your gifts and talents.
2. What you are passionate about.
3. What needs to be done.
Or simply merging gifts, passion, contribution.

Choice #5 Get it done.
Success is the reward for those who make a difference. Create vitality, energy and buzz. Declare war on complacency, be responsible to educate yourself, keep learning forever, relish being uncomfortable, be a guru of knowledge in your field, play to win vs keeping from losing. Speak up, speak out.

Choice #7 Risk more, gain more.
The world isn't changed by those unwilling to take risks. Safe is risky. Step through your fear. There is an adventure with your name on it waiting for you to step in and assume your role.

The Manifesto
Freedom is to choose. It shapes who I become. I am a product of my choices, not my conditions.

Choice #1
I won't shrink from my God-given abilities.
I'm a player with passion, energy and a desire to win. I choose to be a player.

Choice #2
I will lead to where I am planted
. My happiness, job satisfaction, sense of accomplishment depends on ME... no one else. My team is my ally, I will collaborate. I choose to be accountable.

Choice #3
The world is not here to make me happy
. My happiness comes from using my gifts to serve the world. I will give unselfishly. I choose service over self-interest.

Choice #4
I focus on what can be done, how to make it work, what I have to achieve
. I choose to focus forward.

Choice #5
My work is my signature. I make masterpieces
. I engage in work that makes me come alive. I choose to play to my genius.

Choice #6
I am being paid for what I'm doing today
. I am dedicated to results. I choose to get it done.

Choice #7
I choose to take risks to live more fully
. I handle fear, face it and step through it which causes fear let go of its stronghold. I choose to risk more and gain more.

The Manifesto is a creed that should be reviewed and recited frequently.
For more on Boom! note:
http://www.freibergs.com/

Our choices influence our lives and influence those around us.
We are role models in this world in everything we do
. In school at work as an employee or boss, as the CEO or the door man. We all make choices which have an affect on others. We are constantly having an impact on ourselves and on others.

The Apostle Paul said
"You say, "I am allowed to do anything...but not everything is good for you.
You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is beneficial."
I try to please everyone in everything I do. I don't just do what I like or
what is best for me, but what is best for them so they may be saved."
(I Corinthians 10:23, 33 NLT)

What this indicates is that we influence people in everything we do and we should always consider implications of our actions. It's not so much what we do, but how what we are doing is affecting or influencing those around us. Is it based on a loving Spirit?

Many supervisors or business owners overlook how a simple brazen comment may start a string of emotions in a person's life that will hurt his self esteem and then consequently bring a blur in his ability to make good choices. It is so many times not so much the situation but how you handle the situation. This spirit enters the heart and steers a person to making a good or bad choice.

Choice can affect the rest of our lives and one indiscreet cruel word can affect someone else's life for long term. What we say or do today could have an affect on someone's life that comes back to us years later. Then we wonder where something comes from. What happened is that we planted the seed that showed its fruit years later. Good seeds produce good fruit, bad seeds produce bad fruit.

But one encouraging thoughtful comment can totally turn a person's day around. Our character, the Spirit of choice, has more impact on us and others than we realize, will take the credit or blame for.

The Apostle Paul said to choose to keep yourself from the concerns of the world. Make choices that allow the freedom in Christ to expand, not contract it. The less attachment we have to the things of this world, the more we can cultivate the benefits to the things of Heaven which last forever. And tap Heavenly Powers available.
(1 Corinthians 7:30)

Jeremiah the prophet cautioned us in that he said, "you keep going down the same self-destructive path, refusing to turn back, even though I warned you. Instead of saying what terrible thing I have done, you continue this path of self-destruction running like a gang of wild horses in the prairie. Yet you won't turn from your ways."
(Jeremiah 8:5)

We can always start to change our choices when we see how counterproductive they are. In some choices we made, we see the destruction it brings, but then we go right ahead in the same path again. Jeremiah says to change this turn to Spirit, Truth, Love and let it guide your path.

When you get results look at the path that got you there. Then the next time make the right choices that will get you there again or improve what you just did with even better choices. Always be learning from what you do either good or bad. Be willing to course-correct when you see you are in error.

Much of the business practices that worked in the 90's may not work in the 2010 era. Each path must be reviewed again on its own merit. History does not always guarantee the same for the future when circumstances change. That's why it is so important to seek God's Wisdom each time, Seek Him and His Spirit intelligence for every decision. The Spirit knows all things and can tell you the best choice each time. When we assume and don't seek God fresh each time, we risk making the wrong choice even though it worked before. In Joshua's battles the only one he lost was when he failed to seek God's direction for a seemingly easy battle.... he became overly self-confident because of so many overwhelming victories.

Take nothing for granted. Seek God new, fresh each time.
His mercies are new every morning and His power is renewable every day. His power can be with us. We need to recognize this power of God is available and He wants us to tap it. He wants to be part of our lives too. It's time to acknowledge and participate in His, The Holy Spirit, Power in our pursuits.

His doors lead to life and righteousness... or right-ness in our choices. The road to self-destruction is broad with many paths. The road to life is narrow.
"The door to heaven is narrow. Work hard to get in."
(Luke 13:24, NLT)

It requires complete devotion to Jesus and Jesus' Spirit.

Jesus is the right highway to greatness beyond comprehension.
Take the High Road and live powered in His Life-filled existence forever.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Built to Serve... empowers the group

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com

Built to Serve by Dan Sanders, is the CEO of the award-winning service-oriented United Supermarkets ..." a business model that places people ahead of profits and service ahead of statistics. A sustainable organization models a service oriented culture, holds human beings in high regards, makes a positive impact for all stakeholders."

Built from the inside out, people are recognized as the organization's greatest asset. Your future depends on maximizing all the talent of the people for everyone.

The new math..."organizations that make people and service cornerstones of their corporate identity enjoy sustainability." That's to build and serve others rooted in humane values, a higher level of trust and connecting what everyone does with the trust.The emerging career model is replacing the old progressive path for success of money, power and materialism with humility, selflessness, fulfillment.

At United Supermarkets servanthood is about helping others realize their potential by not focusing on their weaknesses but on their strengths....keeping them focused daily on the higher purpose is paramount. "Servanthood leadership establishes precisely the kind of community that embraces a culture-driven, people-centered organization. This takes time, patience, building trust. Players with a clear vision make things happen.

Defining the Who. See the vision.
"An organization's vision represents the purpose of its existence--the heart of what it is as an entity. The emphasis is on building relationships and communicating vision to people. It's involvement on all levels.

The What. Know the mission.
United's mission was condensed to six words: Ultimate service, superior performance, positive impact. Sustainable organizations have a clear idea of where they want to grow (vision), empower people to choose what kind of seed to plant (mission), understand success which depends on cultivation (culture) of the seed. Hence, they are culture-driven (constantly cultivating) and people-centered (embracing human beings who have a choice).

"Our mission was about the value we brought to clients which was increase relevancy, collapse time to market, improve return on investment." A good mission statement creates a wonderful journey for culture-driven, people-centered organizations.

When. Keep the faith
Lack of faithfulness to the original vision and mission consistently destroys sustainable success. Purpose for growth must be sound. Your value system stable and in tact.
When things go bad, make decisions based on principles, not popularity;
on Godly perspectives, not worldly perspective.
Surrender your pride and humbly seek to honor God. Create private places where the team can think clearly, be open, be honest. With adversity comes opportunity. But it must be deliberately and actively sought.

Intangibles Drive Tangibles.
It's about people first, not profits first. Then people drive the profits for long-term sustainable growth. People's experience doing business with you is your primary focus. It's about knowing the value of every human being. The authenticity found in every life. People are always more important than process. People involved in prepping the process are the intangibles that drive the tangible.

Decision making is more than the spread sheet. United's decision model had these buckets of information: the buyer's intuition, the seller's intuition, empirical data. Striking a balance between subjective data and objective data is important to good decision-making.

The 4P management system. It begins and ends with human beings... the people inside the organization. What happens inside is process that people create, evaluate, carry out. People-centered cultures have the people inside creating the process, form cultures that drives it. Processes then work and work well.

So people and process come first,
then the customers are treated like partners.
This extension of partnering directly propels performance.
The four P's = people, process, partnering, performance

Humility trumps pride.
Move toward what you want to become as a culture attitude. When you bask in past accomplishments pride is birthed and quickly leads to stunting growth. People focusing on pursuit of excellence, being the right kind of role models, emulating character, stiff arms pride and sustained growth becomes a power base.

The Bottom Line... not price and profits.
It's about choice and culture.

More on Dan J. Sanders, United Supermarkets CEO,
and The Center for Corporate Culture
http://www.danjsanders.com/
http://www.thecenterforcorporateculture.com/

Jesus was a servant leader.
In Lead Like Jesus, Ken Blanchard says that "servant leadership involves:
--setting the purpose and vision
--communicating a compelling picture of the future
--defining and modeling values, structure and behavior you want from people
--creating an environment of empowerment
--showing respect for everyone
--placing the growth and development of people on par with accomplishing the vision.
Jesus did all these things."
http://spiritsavvybiz.blogspot.com/2006/02/lead-like-jesus.html

Being a server is an honor and it has monumental benefits. Isaiah outlined the benefits of being a servant:
"These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord:
Enlarge your house; build an addition.
Spread out your home, and spare no expense!
For you will soon be bursting at the seams.
With everlasting love I will have compassion on you, I will rebuild you with precious jewels.
I will teach all your citizens,
their prosperity will be great.
Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat.
In that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you.
My covenant of blessing will never be broken,"
(Isaiah 54, selected verses, NLT)

Jesus saw himself as the servant to the needs of mankind.
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."
(Matthew 20:28, NLT)

He emphasized the role of the leader should be
"Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant."
(Matthew 20:26, NLT)

Serving is a very high calling. It mobilizes those we serve to greatness. A school principal once told me that he saw his role to serve his teachers to provide what they need to get the job done. He had a servant leader attitude in assisting those around him. Be willing to start out humbly in what God leads you into doing. He raises up the humble.

“Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
(Luke 14: 10-11, NLT)

Serve and The Holy Spirit will raise you up. Jesus described the greatest role we have is to serve and these are people of greatness.

"The greatest among you must be a servant."
(Matthew 23:11, NLT)

A true servant spurs others on, they stir up the gifts of others and help them embrace the most phenomenal gifts possible... of a Super-natural level. These are specially inspired of Spirit origin, world transforming origin, that not only transform the person, but the world around them.

Servants inspire the discovering of Supernatural gifts, and mobilize their use as a person matures in them and grows in its power. Serving is not waiting on tables but stirring the heart of others. From the heart is the inspiration and motivation that moves matter around us. Spirit is the Heart serving.

Spirit created the universe and world we see.
Spirit moves matter.
Spirit is the heart of serving.
It's thoroughly transformational.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Masters of Sales... masters of wisdom

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com

Masters of Sales, complied by bestselling authors Ivan R. Misner and Don Morgan, includes the great names of sales master teachers today. Its claim is "secrets from top sale professionals that will transform you into a World Class salesperson."

The art of selling is undergoing a major shift. The world-wide 100 contributors to Masters of Sales say they see this shift. The book shares what they see, and what you must master.

Master the Sales Attitude
The art of monumental sales
--believe in your passion and also your abilities.
--Identify the type of customer you need to besuccessful.
--Regularly exercise your network of contacts; encourage word-of-mouth referrals.
--Create winnable business dealings for all parties.
--Cherish your customers.
--Avoid flippant sales cliches.
--Be grateful and give back.
--Take time to enjoy your business, your craft the people in your life and life itself.
(Ron and Joanne Stark)

Master selling goals, life goals
Set and achieve sales goals
--your annual income
--put them in writing
--your annual sales goal
--daily sales goals
--set clear activity goals
--control your sales life
--tap your subconscious by constantly rewriting the goals again, again, again.
(Brian Tracy)

Million dollar sales goals... help enough people
Goal 1: Invest in yourself
Goal 2. Discipline your approach
Goal 3. Build a social capital network
Goal 4. Communicate proactively
Goal 5. Help people
(Ed Crane)

Master Getting Clients
A constant connection model: relationships, find common denominators, go deeper, go slower, cross sell, quality more than quantity, referrals vs cold calls, patience, long-term, build clients, choose best events, work smart to build business.
(Stephanie O'Hara and Tom Gosche)

Master speaking to be heard and hear to know how to speak.
"Be skillful in hearing what isn't being said."
(Peter Drucker)
Earn the right to be heard... Active listening is like a bank account.
(Stuart Mithcell)
Ask the "right" questions that uncover needs.
(Darrel Ross)
Be a resource partner in the buying process.

Master Relating to your Corporate Clients.
Create mutual rapport with mutual understanding and appreciation for the other person's point of view.
(Parinella)

They must like you, believe your expertise, trust you.
(Fischer)

Master gleaning the Buyer's Perspective
Read his signals, crack the code. Adapt quickly, be real.
Value timing, know the best right time.
(Buckley, Lyons, Misner)

Master the Sales System
Systems can be social systems, computer-technology systems ,interaction systems. Unfortunately systems for sales are not widely taught anywhere. Why do most businesses fail in the first three years... lack of selling and selling skills.

Tips on how to get a good start.
1. Commit to the notion you can be an excellent sales person.
2. Visually define the sales person consistent with your personality.
3. Study everything you can get your hands (eyes, ears) on.
4. Create lists of sales goals over 2 years.
5. Confront anything that may hold you back.
6, Be honest with yourself.
7. Commit to master the sales process.
8. Go back to Tip 1.
(Geof Scanlon)

The Sandler system--set up front contracts for each meeting on what should be accomplished and agreed on by both parties. Product presentation procedure (prepare well)Facts + Benefits + Urgency + Feedback = sold
(Tom Hopkins)

Sell by helping people buy.
EBay, virtual customers, and the Internet enlarge today's sales system.

Master Handling Objections
Examine Resistance
Learn to live with resistance.
--expect it
--don't take it personally
--imply commitment
--avoid defensiveness
--use it to get stronger
--acknowledge and probe
(Eikenberry)
Use "Oh?" as a question to get the prospect to share more.
(Beeson)

Master Relationship Selling
Shy people can sell too. Don't take relationships for granted. Constantly nurture them.

Master Closing the Customer
Build to a "WOW". Social capital correlates with selling. Use please and thank you.

Chris Attwood talks about selling the Dell way. Core lessons include persistence pays, connect with clients critical issues, attraction is more powerful than selling, leverage your opportunities, long-term relationships provide bigger paydays.
http://www.healthywealthynwise.com/
has many great leaders of personal growth.

Sales success is more of effort put out than the greatness of the product. It's creating relationships of great value and mastering fundamentals. Referral marketing and network selling superimpose the traditional sales paradigm. It's a partnership between buyers and sellers. Technology enhances the whole process. Selling is no longer a 4-letter word but building a fulfilling interactive community among all facets of interaction... starting with those who create the products all the way through to the end-users of the product.
http://www.mastersbooks.com/

We are progressing as a society into an age of wisdom.
A popular saying is knowledge is power. What lies ahead is wisdom is power. To sell, persuade or influence we need to use wisdom, in our timing, in what we say, when we say it, and how we go about saying it. This requires wisdom.

R. A.Torrey said the The Word of God has the Power to bestow wisdom. "Your words give light and understanding for the simple." (Psalm 119:130)
"The man who studies the Bible will possess more real wisdom than the man who reads every book and neglects his Bible." People who have greatly affected the major course of world events, in a positive way, have been students of the Bible. The man of God is made complete through the study of the Bible.
(How to Obtain Fullness of Power, R. A. Torrey)

When Jesus was growing up Luke noted that he had wisdom beyond his years. He spent much time of his developing years with the Scribes discussing the Scriptures. He went frequently to the synagogue to participate in the reading of the Scriptures and interact with the leaders of the day.

In His encounters He answered everyone with wisdom. He had in depth insight to all the things happening around him. "But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples," Why does your teacher eat with such scum? When Jesus heard this, he said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do." Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."
(Matthew 9:11-15, NLT)

Jesus showed wisdom again by using other people's own words and philosophies to rebuttal them. "Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. Jesus said, "At my Father's direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?" They replied, "We're stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God." Jesus replied, "It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, 'I say, you are gods! And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God's message were called 'gods,' why do you call it blasphemy when I say, 'I am the Son of God'? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. Don't believe me unless I carry out my Father's work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don't believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father."
(John 10:34-38, NLT)

Jesus was wise in how he handled disagreements with Him or attempts to entrap Him. He would take their own words and turn it back to them.

"But wisdom is shown to be right by its results."
(Matthew 11:19, NLT)

Mercy gets greater results. Practice being merciful.... that's wisdom. He said that wisdom is proven by the kind of results it gives. Mercy gets greater results than force, combatant communications, long debates and arguments to prove a point.

Wisdom when doing its work affects the well being of all involved and deals with those trying to be indiscreetly clever exposing it for what it is.

Where did Jesus get His wisdom?
"for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!"
(Luke 21:15, NLT)
He answered this by promising He would send wisdom to you through His Spirit.

It came in the power of the Holy Spirit that fell on their lives. When we seek the power of the Spirit and receive and hear His Word that speaks to our hearts we hear His wisdom... the Power of His Spirit will fall on our lives.

It takes time to reflect in Him, staying still before Him and asking Him for answers. Ask and you will receive and in faith, and believing He will... He will...!!!

It's about staying in close mental contact to the Scriptures on a regular basis, the basis of wisdom, and waiting for Him, His Spirit to give the answer. And when you get it, act in faith on what you got in Spirit.

Wisdom comes from above and He nourishes all who live by it, seek it and follow it. It is stepping back from the voice in your head, whether intellectual or emotions at first, and then taking time to quietly listen for His voice, the better voice that will come into your mind.

A wise person told me when you feel emotion, don't respond then. Sleep on it and reflect on it the next morning, then consider the best way to respond or make a decision.

When the young minds of ideas unite with the seasoned of those with wisdom great power is released. Today we enter the age of youth and wisdom joining forces to do great things. The youth have the vigor and strength to carry out the combined wisdom of the more seasoned.

Knowledge plus wisdom is power.
Knowledge of God's voice and His insights creates wisdom
which creates a force that moves the insurmountable.

Monday, October 29, 2007

The Spirit Savvy Business is about

Creating Business Processes and Systems that are powered by Spirit...
Integrating Spiritual forces that change the normal to exceptional.

The Spirit Savvy Business will build lives of greater value.
It will move your business from being a great performer
to constantly create Super-Natural results.

It's not an out-there thing.
It's within you.
The Spirit Savvy Business takes the most current business principles
that are working in today's business world,
and slides beside them foundational Spiritual principles...

Biz principles with a Spiritual Spin.

The goal is to inform, inspire, equip you with Spiritual Power,
to build Spiritual excellence with business excellence.

What does the Spirit Savvy Biz do?
We share great ideas from current great business books, magazines, blogs.
We search and find relevant business/Spiritual principles for you.
We read, research and share some of their best ideas
in a summarized, straight-to-the-point form.

We all are busy.
We want the facts, insights as fast as possible.
The Spirit Savvy Business gets to the heart-of-the-matter quickly.
It shows you ways to use Spiritual Principles within solid-business principles.
You get tried-and-proven business ideas in a nutshell,
wrapped in Spiritual Truth.

For personalized, customized business applications,
Contact: Dale Shumaker,
4121 S. Fremont, Ste. 120, #139

Springfield, MO 65804
417-224-3517, 4spirit@gmail.com

Spirit Savvy Business Development Services provided:

Business book summaries with Inspired Spiritual applications.
1. The Spirit Savvy Biz Power System, The Advanced Entrepreneur series, The Small Business Builders System.
The New Breed Entrepreneur feature is a year program of best biz information and how to build a strong Spiritual foundation in your life... learn the power of prayer, Scripture understanding, Spiritual purpose and mission, Spiritual gifts, power of unity in Spirit, mission fulfillment.
Numerous special packages available from over 150 selections from two years of book summaries.

Executive Resource of Business trends...summary service
2. Personal in-house summaries and biz info briefings from current best-selling biz books to you, your group, at your place.

Business Development ... the ultimate mission
3. Spirit Savvy Business training and development service.
Personal, customized week by week biz principles assisting you in integrating the best biz principles with Spiritual power in your business. For those who see their business as God's Tool for building the Kingdom of God in the Marketplace.

For your Best in His Kingdom,
Dale Shumaker
417-224-3517, 4spirit@gmail.com

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Rules For Renegades... living the vision

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Rules for Renegades by Christine Comaford-Lynch is a book for those who "want to succeed without totally sacrificing your personal life." Christine succeeded impressively with making 10 million dollars before 40 years old, consulting 100's of the Fortune 1000 company's, but then pointed out that she made some big errors on personal values, relationships and money.... to the tune of 8 million dollars.

This book will help if you want meaningful rich connections, integrate Spirituality with your work, greater self-confidence and self-esteem. A business starts with your illusion of what your business could be. "You are a renegade because you want to build something great, but not sacrifice yourself on the altar of success."

She did her life by "acting until you ARE it." At Microsoft as an independent programmer, she sold her first company's services when she didn't even have a company or an employee. She has 10 rules. And her website tied to her book is loaded with oodles of resources to help you fulfill each rule.

Rule 1. Start with your illusion. do goals, make goal cards with affirmations, do dream boards, do personal development (what you don't know, learn it). Keep your eyes, ears open constantly and pull up your self-esteem to the level of your illusion.

Rule 2. The big skill is GSD... get stuff done. Learn four important phases in doing it. "Please, Thank you, I'm sorry, I don't know." Apply these honestly when they fit. Ten steps to GSD. Rock responsibility, get visual, solid super support, toss toxicity, pump the positive, your thinking attracts, persevere, pay attention, course correct, and celebrate success.

Rule 3. Problems + Pain = Profit
Pay attention for opportunity. Stuff feelings of inadequacy, go for it. Learn to mind storm, create ways to do it. Plan it out... be concise, compelling and complete.

Rule 4. Build power from within, invest in building you and your company's skill set.

Rule 5. Fail forward. When you blow it, take time out, reflect, review, regroup, retrench and regain your strength. Failure sabbaticals are great for a better illusion ahead.

Rule 6. Learn to love to network. Learn handshaking skills to create connection. Life is people you meet plus what you can do together. Equalize yourself with others(even the rich and famous you can get on the same plane.) Build momentum, Rolodex, daily expression appreciation, love people by being intrigued by what they do. Be sincerely interested in their interests.

Rule 7. Lead your life... only you can. Find your inner guide that can get you through the jungles. Hire the fantastic four... visionaries, leaders, implementers, infrastructure builders. Rock your culture so all want to be part of a rocking business, choose your team wisely, extend your team. Remember course adjustments are always necessary. Trust your instincts. Make sure you are paid well, receive respect and have a personal life.

Rule 8. Work your money mojo. Internal money is funded by customers who buy your product, selling your knowledge which is your consulting, and cost controls by reducing your costs. Four steps to external funding. Get money you think you need, before you need it, from someone you like and respect, without being greedy or taken advantage of.

Rule 9. Resign as general manager of the universe... Beliefnet.com sent Christine an email message with the thought: Love is letting go of fear. "the more you try to hold it together, the more it will fall apart." Reform from being a control freak. Hire slowly, fire quickly. Have a team of those you can count on coming through. Forgive those who have hurt you.

Rule 10. Don't just do something, stand there. No matter what happens, you still have you. Learn you well, like the best you, and find the strength core of you. It's okay to wait until you get clarity. "Every ten weeks or so I go on a retreat, just me, alone with (or without) my thoughts." Dream, reflect, recharge, keep in place what matters most to you and take time to make sure that stays in place. Your Spiritual part is most important. Retreat to it often. Give time for your attitudes to heal.
Find a cause that feeds your soul.
Give one hour worth of your salary a week to a cause.
Give time, talent or treasure.
Get others involved.

"Look around you and find something that needs to be fixed. Go into the world and go into yourself. Find out what you're giving away power over your life, and figure out how to stop doing that... keep moving and keep increasing connection to yourself and others, you'll make it." ... concludes Christine.

Life = the people you meet + what you create together.

"You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God."
Mother Teresa

Christine goes into a lot more detail, which I see as a very good guide for anyone in a business or mission venture.

And she has lots of resources to do the ten rules at:

http://rulesforrenegades.com/



Getting through what we have to go through has so much to do with how well we do. So much of it depends on inner strength, where we go when all around us is collapsing or being a problem. As Christine says in Rules for Renegades that you still have you, and she recommends going off alone to find that inner strength. Paul the Apostle talked about going into that too.
"For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, as our great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus
will be evident in our dying bodies.
12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

17 For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."
(2 Corinthians 4, NLT)
Spirit Inspires vision, dreams, illusions of a grand life.

Take time to reflex on what Paul the Apostle is saying here. In the Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster recommends we allow time to soak into the Scriptures for inner strength. "The meditation upon Scripture becomes the central reference point by which all meditations are kept in proper perspective. You can actually encounter the living Christ in this event, be addressed by His Voice and be touched by His healing power."

Andrew Murray says about prayer,
"God wants the whole heart. Our hearts must be drawn away from other desires. We must give ourselves wholly to this one. We must be willing to live completely in intercession for the Kingdom." (The Ministry of Intercession)

Our illusions we receive when in Spirit, in His Presence, are many times God Inspired and we can trust that. These have eternal implications and are surrounded by His Power to run before they are fulfilled. We stay in the vision, the illusion... relishing in the vision and God's greatness in making in happen. When in there, the Spirit is doing the major breakthrough work for us. This is where the POWER IS!

We can then run with boldness and certainty in faith toward His Vision in us. We know God is with us, and even if not seen in the natural, IT will be manifested through God's Supernatural Abilities, His Spirit in Power. Although, in process, of pursing these illusions, we become perplexed as Paul says, but not in Despair. Greatness greater than us is there for us.

We then live with Hope in this power, not ours, while we continue pursuit.
We never give up.
The Glory produced by this is everlasting.



Tuesday, September 18, 2007

The Dream Manager... making our joy complete

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com

The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly is a story and principles on how dream managing can help people become the best version of themselves by helping them re-engage in their dreams... either secret, hidden or forgotten. The concept of dreaming can totally reinvigorate a business.

"The most competitive advantage any business is the ability to keep and motivate human capital." A business can then become the best version of itself ever possible.

A John Schlitt song lyric says, "As a child, you used to dream there wasn't anything that you couldn't do...
then somebody told you dreams don't come true..."

This song is a theme in many hearts. It affects the heart of productivity, emotional, personal and business well being.

In a story, Kelly shares how dreams re-discovered totally transformed Admiral Janitorial Service. Here's a thumbnail version:

Greg owned the business. The typical short-to-the-point, somewhat abrasively direct, business entrepreneur owner. Simon is his general manager. They realized they have a big problem. Of their 400 employees, they have a turnover rate of 107% each quarter. That's over 400% a year. Simon had an idea on how to find the solution. Ask the employees.

They did a survey and found out most had transportation problems. So the company created a transportation system for them to pick them up, deliver to jobs, and take home at night. In time the idea worked great. They cut the turnover nearly in half...down to 224%.

Greg felt they could build on this and do better. He called an executive meeting for ideas. One voice jumped out from the group... Simon's assistant, Sandra, spoke up and said. The problem is "they don't see a future here. They have dreams and they need to find a way to connect their job today with their dreams of tomorrow." Greg, the strong-willed entrepreneur struggled with this idea. Simon wondered on this. Then he challenged himself and Greg with "isn't one of the primary responsibilities of all relationships to help each other fulfill our dreams. Shouldn't we do the same for our employees?"

Simon and Sandra went to work on Admiral's first Dream Survey.The survey was simple... "What are your dreams?"

From the responses they had, Simon saw many things people wanted were things management took for granted. With a little guidance many were achievable. But there were a lot of areas.

People have small dreams and big dreams. If "we helped with just one small dream, it would create unimaginable good will and loyalty." Then Simon came up with the another idea (which constantly just thrilled Greg to the core). Simon drove to Greg's house one Saturday morning with his eureka idea. "We need a dream manager."

Greg wondered about this again. Simon showed that with what Admiral will save it will more than pay for the manager, plus the potential impact on what it will do for profitability at Admiral. Greg thought Simon was either a genius, or crazy. Simon's ideas were working so far, so he gave the nod on this one again.

They concluded an outside person would be best to handle this... someone with life experiences, personal management skills and ability to guide people. They found a seasoned business owner who had brought himself out of the tough side of life. The office was made, the dream manager was in.

One by one employees stepped in to visit Sean, the dream manager. They reviewed dreams, set priorities and goals and created a plan to reach them. Just the idea of doing it added a buzz in the business.Then successes began happening. Sean wisely took them from one level to the next in their dream realization process. More and more came.

And when Rita, a 58 year-old worker, who never owned a home stepped in her dream, her own home, the dream manager position could not handle all the requests. New dream managers were hired.

Profits increased. Turnover went to about zero, client retention was at all time highs. More and more people wanted to work there and more businesses wanted them as their janitorial service company. The business became a green house for nursing new business dream innovations into produce. There was no limit to the enthusiasm and things they began achieving. The workforce became Admiral's best sales force for the workforce and clients. Admiral even helped those pursue dreams outside the company. This kept the business fresh, alive with zeal and the client quality improving.

In 4 years, the 625 employees had nine dream managers. With turnover almost nonexistent it proved to be a tremendous cost savings for them. (On the average, turnover costs 150% of an employee's base salary. Now every dollar being spend there was producing up to 10 fold.) Individual workloads increased 32%, with high efficiency, cohesiveness and self-initiated enthusiasm. People want meaningful work. They need help to articulate dreams and form plans for short-, medium-, long-term achievements.

People spend most of their lives working, so their work should contribute to moving them in the direction of their dreams.

Why did this work?
Money is important to people, but what is more important is getting from life what they want... their dreams. The Dream Manger Program showed that the company cared about them personally. Loyalty and doing a great job are a natural outgrowth of being valued. In many companies, the workforce feels their management doesn't care about them as people and their heart's desires, the things important to them, their dreams, their personal development so they can live their dreams.

Even Greg, skeptical at first, was right in the middle of dreaming. He and his wife were taking month-long vacations, of their dreams, as he knew Admiral was in good hands.

The big discovery was that by teaching personal dreaming skills and living in a dream process, these skills carry into the job and it boosts the business in accomplishing business dreams. Positive and hopeful thinking, can-do attitudes and motivation spur process skills, which are sharpened for greater company success. They believe dreams can come true and apply this to the company's vision and dreams. They are skilled and motivated to make it happen.

John Schlitt continues his lyric on dreams:
"...inside of you there's a heart full of dreams
like gold in a stream to be uncovered...
a soul made to shine, yes a child meant to fly
and discover all the wonders God can do
inside of you.
Where dreams can still come true."

The Dream Manger Process
The first truth, we all need someone to hold us accountable. People start, but give up on dreams. They need direction, how-to methods, ideas, encouragement, prodding, teaching and support to keep going. So a dream manager is vital... to see each person through to successfully reaching a desired goal.

Success, of any kind, is absolutely "Huge" for personal transformation to becoming self motivated. We all have a place to be a dream manager for someone. Those who reach dreams can help others. In the story, when Rita got her house, workers started coming over to her "dream" home on their own for dream sessions. One grassroot's success can light a match for the masses to jump in. Grassroots successes are vital to pave a dream builder's pathway across the company.

Dreaming is essential to stay alive and vibrant.
When we stop dreaming, we stop living. In Admiral, some managers realized they gave up on some dreams and stopped dreaming. They re-lit their dream fire and got to living with a sparkle in their eyes again.

Start with a dream book.
Take it with you everywhere to list things that excite you. Have one for personal dreams, business dreams, contribution dreams. Write your thoughts down constantly. Have a dreaming place. Write in a stream of thought flow. Don't edit or evaluate. Just let them flow to the greatest level as it wonders out of you. Enjoy this time of living in wonder.

Review them periodically. Date important dreams. Create a personal road map to get there... with dates and steps. Date them when you achieved them.They don't have to all be big dreams. Some are the simple and intangible things we wish for. When we stop dreaming we disengage from work, life, relationships. The human being is naturally a dreamer. If this shuts down our sense of well being goes down.

Here's 12 areas to consider dreams.
Physical
Emotional
Intellectual
Spiritual
Psychological
Material
Professional
Financial
Creative
Adventure
Legacy
Character
Kelly recommends to come up with 100 dreams over all. (That's about 8 or 9 small, medium, big ones per area.) Dreams may overlap several categories. For example, paying off a credit card may fulfill financial, psychological and emotional areas. Take all your dreams on the list and prioritize them to short-term (12 months) and long-term (5 years).

Carry your dream book with you everywhere and constantly jot down dreams.
"Get a dream book!" and just start.

Start with easily attainable dreams over a short-term. Get some wins in your dream book. Then began working on some bigger ones, until you have developed the belief and dream skills to go after some of the big ones... that only you and God may know about.

Create a dream team. Meet regularly to share new dreams and progress on dreams in motion. Think of ways you may practically help each other to achieve their dreams. Hanging around dreamers is a refueling, and re-invigorating experience as well. Life becomes exciting, hopeful.

What is rewarding is the pursuit. Just being in pursuit, and sharing with others who are in pursuit, brings new life into your life. Then what you experience in the pursuit can be unexpected life fulfilling experiences that turn into new dreams discovered, open up what you forgot about, or just gives you a sense of heightened satisfaction. You learn a lot in the pursuit that enlightens you, builds skills for you, your life, your business activities, and your contributions to society to make a better world. When we dream, we build a better world.

"What's Your Dream?"

Note The Dream Manger's website.
http://www.floydconsulting.com/
And Matthew Kelly's... It is interesting to observe the contributions he is making through his own dreams and his foundation.
http://www.matthewkelly.org/

Dreaming is natural for a child. Jesus said unless you become like a child you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. A child has simple faith, a child simply believes. Some where in life this gets knocked out of most people. We just need to believe again like when we were a child.

The Scriptures also say the righteous live by faith. "And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away."
(Hebrews 10:38, NLT)
Faith according to the Hebrew writer is knowing, expecting something to happen without any doubt in you. It is seeing what we see in our imaginations as already existing.
(Hebrews 11)

Dreaming is a very important part of our existence.
When in Spirit and prayer the ideas, imagined thoughts, or dreams which come to mind, are many times God inspired. We can trust these as from God and we can act on them knowing He is there with us.

Paul the Apostle said, that the Spirit will do things beyond what we can even think and imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

He goes on to say that we should think about things that are noble and true.
"Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."
(Philippians 4:8, NLT)

Think about things that will make this world a wonderful place, make people happy and live in joy with each other, and things that bring the heartily sought after inner peace.

Happiness comes when we pursue dreams and believe they are possible. Think on Heavenly things. What's that? Things that bring Heaven to earth. As Jesus said to pray for bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. May the Kingdom come to earth as it is in Heaven.

John the Apostle said the Spirit came to make our joy complete. He expounds that when we lack joy we are focusing on the world's pleasures, crave its possessions and are proud of what we own. True joy is doing God's will.
(1 John 2:15)

That is to fulfill the dreams He puts on our hearts. He has planned things long ago (Eph. 2:10). That's the dreams He has for us that are very big and exciting. So big there is no way we can do it alone, but Jesus said to not be afraid, "I am with you." The Spirit will always be there to help and make it happen. It's not by our effort but His Power.

Joy is in giving... the dreams that promote giving to others are the most powerful to see fulfilled.

"Our happiness lies in sacrificing our honor, our advantage, and our comfort in favor of others. Love takes no account of sacrifice. It is blessed to love."
"The Holy Spirit is not a power that in any sense is subordinate to us, entrusted to us, or to be used by us. He is an energizing power that is over and above us, carrying forward His Work from moment to moment."
(Andrew Murray, In Search of Spiritual Excellence.)

Let God direct your vision, dreams, thoughts, imagination.
Allow the Very Spirit of God to take you down His Path of Life. Our gifts and abilities, our personality are God engineered. When He molds it to His designed way, we have the greatest sense of peace, satisfaction. It's living in Him in His Grand Plan of the Universe we share forever.

Dream His dreams and live in His Power to do it!
He takes on the Big dreams, as we do the small stuff He can multiply to Be Great. In faith, we see the result in our dreams and know it is certain to Happen, because He created the Dream in us.