by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.comThe Back of the Napkin by Dan Roam is about visual thinking that's simple to follow... and anyone can do it, anytime, all you need is a napkin. If you can draw stick figures, you can do this. It's great for problem solving, selling ideas using pictures and a flow of thought. So others walk away getting the picture of what you just shared.
His book covers how to solve six kinds of problems:who and what problems( people, things, rules),how much problems (measuring and counting),when problems (scheduling, timing),where problems (direction),how problems (how things influence one another),why problems (seeing the big picture).
When you sit down and want to explain something to someone,The Back of the Napkin flow of thought can effectively illustrate the idea, so other people get it. People can quickly see what your are talking about, easily relate it to their lives, and create an attachment to it and you, because it is in you own personal handwriting. It is then easy to take it with them and remember it later.
You have the built in tools... your eyes, your mind's eye and your hand; plus a pencil and paper or a white board. Skills involve the ability to draw boxes, arrows, stick figures. People like pictures and how they relate, even more so when coming directly from your hand which increase the personal connection with you. When doing it in their presence, the person participates with you in the creation of the idea.
To do this process, you must look, then see what you see, imagine what it may do or be, and then show. Simply, look, see characteristics of what you see, consider the possibilities, do a simple sketch which illustrates what you are seeing and imagining in it.
Looking is collecting and seeing.
Seeing is selecting and clumping.
Imagining is seeing what isn't there that could be.
Showing is making it clear.
With your ability to see, use your mind's eye, then your hands with your pencil and paper, you can master visual thinking process and on napkin communications.
When advancing your looking, seeing, imagining, showing skills, you look for proximities, color, size, orientation, perceived movement, shape and shade.
See is seeing objects (who and what),
quantities (how many, how much),
position in space (where),
position in time(when),
influence and cause and effect (how),
how it all comes together to tell us something about the scene.
Applied imagination uses the SQVID process.
S... simple versus elaborate,
Q... quality versus quantity,
V... vision versus execution,
I... individual versus comparison,
D... delta(change) versus status quo.
We imagine these and apply them in flowing back and forth from each other. For example, simple to elaborate; or individual characteristics to how it compares to something else. By using each as a continuum and maneuvering the possibilities, we stir the imagination to see its various potentials. We then find a good place for each part of the idea.
(The book elaborates on this and Roam has created a very stylish system to flow and apply for more involved problem solving and presenting. It's worth reading this part in the book to understand and apply it. He uses simple hand-drawn illustrations throughout the book, so you can see his points simply, and see numerous examples of how he does it.)
Take time to look, see (that's really see into what you are looking at), imagine the possibilities with what you see, then show in simple hand-drawn symbols, arrows, figures that illustrate what you have in mind.
Then after having a good look, seeing what is involved in all areas, imagining the possibilities, you pencil the thoughts so others see it too with a framework. Choose a framework or express your ideas with... people portraits, charts, arrows for direction, relationships of things, maps, time-lines, flow charts, plots.
Roam pencils several chapters with his napkin illustrations on how to refine the art of napkin communication. He also takes you through visual communications psychology so you grasp how people learn and take away information in an enduring way. He has used this for both individual presentations and for multi-million dollar company applications.
The Back of the Napkin is interesting to look through and seeing how he has imagined this. Look it up at you next trip to your local book store. It's a fun journey to see how he develops this. I found myself putting his ideas to work and even the next night using it to explain an idea to someone.
The website has more and also worth a few minutes to check out http://www.thebackofthenapkin.com/Andrew Murray (1828-1917) about 100 years ago made these suggestions on how to make principles part of your life. Especially making the principles of the Bible a Spiritual part of you. Many say, "I read it and get it, but I don't always do it as I think I should." Here's Murray's method for reading and making it a walking part of your life.
"The great bane of all our converse with Divine things is superficiality. When we read anything and understand it somewhat, we think that this is enough. No: we must give time, that it may make an impression and wield its own influence upon us.
Read every portion the first time with consideration, to understand the good that is in it, and then see if you receive benefit from the thoughts that are there expressed.
Read it the second time to see if it is really in accordance with God's Word... ponder them in order to come under the full force of what God has said on the point...
Read it then the third time to find out the corresponding places, not in the Bible, but in your own life, in order to know if your life has been in harmony with the New Life, and to direct your life for the future entirely according to God's word... Only give Him time to hold converse with you and to work in you, and your heart shall overflow with the blessedness of God."
from Words of God for Young Disciples of Christ by Andrew Murray
http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Voice/Murray.For.Young.Disciples.htmlBasically, to read something to get what it is saying, follow this process.If it is not directly from the Bible go to the Word of God to see if it is consistent with what the Bible says. If it is the Bible, read other corresponding verses to expand possible insight to its meaning. Then read it a third time and compare it to what is going on in your life and how it relates to that. Ask God to show you applications, and ways to apply what you read, change your behavior based on what it means.
This is reading on purpose. It requires several readings to grasp the full intent and make application. Then repetition again and again, helps you to make it an automatic part of your life.
This is what Scriptures mean about renewing the mind, and study to show yourself approved.
To become Spiritual we must deliberately expose ourselves to principles and Words from Spirit. This will over time make us into what we want to be. We must take it on our selves to establish routines that keep pressing Spirit, the life of Spirit into our hearts, minds and souls.
Take time to do this. Develop a plan for you and follow it. Allow the Spirit to do its work and mold into you its character. This cannot be done short of time. You must take the time and give it time for it to happen.
The blessedness of God will flow into your life as you give devoted time to His Spirit and asking His Spirit to become all of you and direct all of you in everything you do, and all of who your are in Spirit.
As Oswald Chambers expresses,
"But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, '. . . believe also in Me' (John 14:1), not, 'Believe certain things about Me.' Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in... but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him."
http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php(My Utmost for His Highest devotional, April 29)
by Dale Shumaker4spirit@gmail.comA recent Maximum Impact Leadership simulcast by John Maxwell featured several leading authors on leadership and exceptional performance principles. Here are some of my "take aways " from this idea packed day-long presentation.
Andy Andrews, author of The Traveler's Gift, has 7 decisions that determine success. One of the seven is Choose to Be Happy. To be a happy person, be grateful. Find what's going right and talk about that. No one wants to be around a whinny person. When you have a grateful spirit, exude happiness, people like to be around you and come your way.
Choose to be a person of action. A butterfly can send small wind currents that start affecting many wind currents. All small things can begin a change response that can eventually be a mass of power. Everything you do matters. Someone is affected by what you do, no matter how big/small it is.
Smile a lot. People like people who smile a lot and this increases your influence with people. Be a person others want to be around. Be likable. Decide to be happy, take action and carry a smile that magnetically draws people to you.
Andy has more for you at
http://www.andyandrews.com/John Maxwell's new book, Leadership Gold, has 26 lessons he learned as a leader. He calls it Gold, because after all his years and books on leadership, he feels these are the most golden principles that have time-tested seasoned wisdom. A few he mentioned included: The best leaders are listeners. You need to be able to walk through a crowd and hear people and see where they are. Leaders listen, learn from what they hear, and then lead. Then you cut off potential big problems at the pass keeping problems from escalating... when you listen.
Don't send your ducks to eagles school. Put the right people in the right position. Those who want to soar in ideas and visions, will get frustrated swimming around in a duck pond.The ducks who like to swim in the duck pond will be unnerved to have to fly. Ducks get frustrated when asked to do things they can't do. Eagles will get frustrated when they can't fly. And you will become frustrated with their frustrations. So put the right people in the right places. Then the ducks and eagles will be more successful.
You can't manage time. You can only manage your life. Time goes on, although we can manage what we do. Count your days and make them count. When you help a leader, you go from addition to multiplication.
People will summarize you in one sentence when you die.
Pick it now.
John Maxwell's Injoy site has several free newsletters:
http://www.injoy.com/Mavericks at Work: the new business agenda by Bill Taylor features a new logic of business leadership. Create great economic value and reflect personal values. The best way to predict the future is to invent it yourself. Stand for something special, that's original, with a clear sense of purpose. Southwest Airlines didn't create a business model like everyone else. They created a distinctive business model and made it happen. It's not just a company but a cause being led by thought leadership. Customer success today is about passion, emotion, identity, sharing your values. Real magic is making your company more memorable to do business with... emotional, psychological connections with customers. When you do this you create your own edge. We miss the point when we replace people with technology. People like to interact with people, to know someone who is real, who cares. Small gestures send big signals. Innovation is about many being one. No one person is as smart as everyone together. Innovation comes out of those who do things for the love of it. In open source, we share what we know with many and ask them to share what they see. Solving problems is not just you or your company, it's those outside who don't even know you or your company, but see things you don't or in a way you don't.Be a solution finder. Find those who can give solutions. When you expect others to be generous with their ideas, you be generous with your return. The smart take from the strong and out-think the competition.http://www.mavericksatwork.com/Andy Stanley coming from a church background shared vision process... especially Making Vision Stick, his book.
1.To make your vision stick state it simply. When vision doesn't stick it leaks. People remember simple. Success is tough on vision, because the more we get the more we tend to lose focus and the vision leaks. Memorable is portable. It is something you can carry with you and state easily, simply, that others see it too... in everyday terms.
2. Cast it convincingly. When you define the problem offer a solution, then explain why and why now, so it gets in the brain. Position and present your vision as the solution to a problem that must be addressed immediately.
3. Repeat it regularly. Discover the best time in the rhythm of your organization to cast the vision. Repeat it, repeat it, repeat it.
4. Celebrate it systematically. When someone gets it, share their experience with many. Celebrate when others reflect they are getting it, and find ways to do this systematically.
5. Embrace it personally and publicly.
Vision has no autopilot. Got to work constantly to make it stick. Vision requires constant care.
For more on Making Vision Stick check Andy Stanley's publisher:http://www.zondervan.com/cultures/en-us/home.htmRediscover play, bring fun and passion back into your life. Kevin Carrol, couldn't find someone to publish his colorful creative book, the Red Rubber Ball. So he published it himself, then was discovered by ESPN and is on the road again. His favorite play was his red rubber ball and he finds that when play stays in your life, you will see yourself constantly bouncing into new opportunities. The Red Rubber Ball has 7 lessons of play and rules. Human potential is boundless and endless. As he dribbled through his presentation he outlined his 7 points. 1. Commit to it. It must come from deep within what you want.2. Find encouragers. You cannot do it alone. Find people who give you permission to dream big. Grandma's are great who love you and believe in you.3. Work out your creative muscle. It won't be easy to follow your dream. Get fit for the full court press.4. Prepare to shine. 5. Speak up. Never accept the boundaries before you. Alter the course when necessary. As Grandma said, "a closed mouth don't get fed." Be a great story teller, be transparent and authentic. 6. Expect the unexpected. Some things unfold outside what you think. Incidences, material assistance will come your way. Ingenuity, not just technology, may be your new highly valued product.7. Maximize the day. You have 86,400 seconds or times to maximize your red rubber ball daily.
Live life where there is little division between work and play. Find things you like to do for fun, things that tickle your brain. Ideas come when your are enjoying yourself. Kevin has more to say at: http://www.kevincarrollkatalyst.com/John Maxwell interviewed Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A. Dan Cathy shared these insights to a servant-based company. When external change exceeds internal change, disaster is imminent.
Use ideas from other businesses not of your industry. Creative applications out of their ideas keep innovation fresh and advance sure. It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. We change for pain, fear of consequences, for vision. They are retouching the whole business model based on what Jesus had to say. For example, going the extra mile is a premium customer service principle. The first mile is transaction, the second relationship.The first is the head, the second mile is the heart. Doing what we know to do, then doing more because we care. See the background on Chick-fil-A at founder Truett Cathy's website:http://www.truettcathy.com/The Game of Life by Dick Vitale is about 3 E's...energy, enthusiasm, excitement for life. His presentation was a demonstration of that. Some of his one liners included:Don't allow "can't" to be part of your life.Never ever believe in can't.Do these things... persevere, respect competition and have intellectual decisions. Then these four things will get you there... desire, dedication, determination, and discipline of body and mind. You find a lot about people in adversity. Write goals down, feel it and then see the unbelievable ability to make the goal a reality. Be compassionate and extend a hand to the less fortunate.His website has more about his foundations and desire to help the less fortunate. Note:http://www.dickvitaleonline.com/They played "take this job and shove it" as Patrick Lencioni came out to talk about the Three Signs of a Miserable Job. The ministry of management... you are ministering to your employees. Jobs are one of the greatest senses of hopelessness in their lives.The 3 signs of a miserable job.
Anonymity. When you feel anonymous in your job, don't feel like a person, is the first sign of being in a miserable job. People want us to know them. We need to be recognized and be known.
Get to know your people. They want you to know who they are and that you care about them.
Irrelevance. You don't feel like your job matters to someone else, that it makes a difference.
Minister of management is to give a little hope to those they see and help them make a difference and feel like they make a difference. Everyone wants to know what they do matters.
Immeasurement. You don't know where you stand on your job, and don't have anything that lets you know. It's the inability of an individual to access for themselves if they are succeeding. We need feedback for our work and lives.All three are free.Get to know, help find relevance, give them a measure. It takes time to build, but destruction can be quick.Patrick Lencioni has all kinds of resource helps at:http://www.tablegroup.com/There are heroes in the Spirit that seem to walk a while before they come to the forefront. One of these is R. A.Torrey(1856-1928) whose works have stood the test of time. With an inspired heart for prayer, he not only shows us how powerful it really is, and how, when prayer lives in the center of our lives, it produces a power beyond what we can fathom. From How to Pray (1900), here are Torrey's 11 reasons why prayer is such a center force that should be in our life unceasingly. The following are extensive excerpts of his reasons for prayer. "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Ephesians 6:18
Paul realized the natural slothfulness of man, and especially his natural slothfulness in prayer.
I wish that these words "being sleepless unto prayer" might burn into our hearts. But why is this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer so needful?
1. First of all, BECAUSE THERE IS A DEVIL.He is cunning, he is mighty, he never rests, he is ever plotting the downfall of the child of God; and if the child of God relaxes in prayer, the devil will succeed in ensnaring him. "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
(Ephesians 6:12)
Then Paul brings all to a climax in the 18th verse, telling us that to all else we must add prayer -- constant, persistent, untiring, sleepless prayer in the Holy Spirit, or all else will go for nothing.
2. A second reason for this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that PRAYER IS GOD'S APPOINTED WAY FOR OBTAINING THINGS, AND THE GREAT SECRET OF ALL LACK IN OUR EXPERIENCE, IN OUR LIFE AND IN OUR WORK IS NEGLECT OF PRAYER.
"Ye have not because ye ask not." These words contain the secret of the poverty and powerlessness of the average Christian -- neglect of prayer.
3. The third reason for this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that THOSE MEN WHOM GOD SET FORTH AS A PATTERN OF WHAT HE EXPECTED CHRISTIANS TO BE -- THE APOSTLES -- REGARDED PRAYER AS THE MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS OF THEIR LIVES.
All the mighty men of God outside the Bible have been men of prayer. They have differed from one another in many things, but in this they have been alike.
4. But there is a still weightier reason for this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer. It is, PRAYER OCCUPIED A VERY PROMINENT PLACE AND PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN THE EARTHLY LIFE OF OUR LORD.
Turn, for example, to Mark 1:35. We read, "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." The preceding day had been a very busy and exciting one, but Jesus shortened the hours of needed sleep that He might arise early and give Himself to more sorely needed prayer.Evidently prayer took much of the time and strength of Jesus, and a man or woman who does not spend much time in prayer, cannot properly be called a follower of Jesus Christ.
5. There is another reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer that seems if possible even more forcible than this, namely, PRAYING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE PRESENT MINISTRY OF OUR RISEN LORD.
If we then are to have fellowship with Jesus Christ in His present work, we must spend much time in prayer; we must give ourselves to earnest, constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer. I know of nothing that has so impressed me with a sense of the importance of praying at all seasons, being much and constantly in prayer, as the thought that that is the principal occupation at present of my risen Lord.The hard driven man of business can have part in it, praying as he hurries from duty to duty. But of course we must, if we would maintain this spirit of constant prayer, take time -- and take plenty of it -- when we shall shut ourselves up in the secret place alone with God for nothing but prayer.
6. The sixth reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that PRAYER IS THE MEANS THAT GOD HAS APPOINTED FOR OUR RECEIVING MERCY, AND OBTAINING GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.
Heb. 4:16 is one of the simplest and sweetest verses in the Bible, -- "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
That way is prayer; bold, confident, outspoken approach to the throne of grace, the most holy place of God's presence, where our sympathizing High Priest, Jesus Christ, has entered in our behalf. (Verses 14, 15.)
Be constant and persistent in your asking. Be importunate and untiring in your asking. God delights to have us "shameless" beggars in this direction; for it shows our faith in Him, and He is mightily pleased with faith.
7. The next reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that PRAYER IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE WAY JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF HAS APPOINTED FOR HIS DISCIPLES TO OBTAIN FULLNESS OF JOY. The Psalmist was not only talking about future blessedness, but also of present blessedness when he said, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy." (Ps. 16.11.) O the unutterable joy of those moments when in our prayers we really press into the presence of God!
8. The eighth reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that PRAYER, IN EVERY CARE AND ANXIETY AND NEED OF LIFE, WITH THANKSGIVING, IS THE MEANS THAT GOD HAS APPOINTED FOR OBTAINING FREEDOM FROM ALL ANXIETY, AND THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING.
"Be careful for nothing," says Paul, "but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6,7.)
One night of prayer will save us from many nights of insomnia. Time spent in prayer is not wasted, but time invested at big interest.
9. The ninth reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that PRAYER IS THE METHOD THAT GOD HIMSELF HAS APPOINTED FOR OUR OBTAINING THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Upon this point the Bible is very plain. Jesus says, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" (Luke 11:13.)
Early one morning in the Chicago Avenue Church prayer room, where several hundred people had been assembled a number of hours in prayer, the Holy Spirit fell so manifestly, and the whole place was so filled with His presence, that no one could speak or pray, but sobs of joy filled the place. Men went out of that room to different parts of the country, taking trains that very morning, and reports soon came back of the out-pouring of God's Holy Spirit in answer to prayer.
10. The tenth reason for constant, persistent, sleepless,overcoming prayer is that PRAYER IS THE MEANS THAT CHRIST HAS APPOINTED WHEREBY OUR HEARTS SHALL NOT BECOME OVERCHARGED WITH SURFEITING AND DRUNKENNESS AND CARES OF THIS LIFE, AND SO THE DAY OF CHRIST'S RETURN COME UPON US SUDDENLY AS A SNARE.
According to this passage there is only one way in which we can be prepared for the coming of the Lord when He appears, that is, through much prayer.
11. There is one more reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer, and it is a mighty one: BECAUSE OF WHAT PRAYER ACCOMPLISHES.
(1) Prayer promotes our spiritual growth as almost nothing else, indeed as nothing else but Bible study; and true prayer and true Bible study go hand in hand. John Welch, son-in-law to John Knox, was one of the most faithful men of prayer this world ever saw. He counted that day ill-spent in which seven or eight hours were not used alone with God in prayer and the study of His Word.(2) Prayer brings power into our work. John Livingstone spent a night, with some others like minded, in prayer to God and religious conversation, and when he preached next day in the Kirk of Shotts five hundred people were converted, or dated some definite uplift in their life to that occasion. Prayer and power are inseparable.(3) Prayer avails for the conversion of others. How utterly all of Monica's efforts and entreaties failed with her son, but her prayers prevailed with God, and the dissolute youth became St. Augustine, the mighty man of God. By prayer the bitterest enemies of the Gospel have become its most valiant defenders, the greatest scoundrels the truest sons of God, and the vilest women the purest saints. (4) Prayer brings blessings to the church. It was so in the days of Knox, it was so in the days of Wesley and Whitfield, it was so in the days of Edwards and Brainerd, it was so in the days of Finney, it was so in the days of the great revival of 1857 in this country and of 1859 in Ireland, and it will be so again in your day and mine. Satan has marshaled his forces.The world, the flesh and the devil are holding high carnival. It is now a dark day, BUT--now "it is time for Thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void Thy law." (Ps. 199:126). And He is getting ready to work, and now He is listening for the voice of prayer. Will He hear it? Will He hear it from you? Will He hear it from the church as a body? I believe He will.The complete book on How to Pray by R. A. Torrey is online at:http://www.freewebs.com/ratorrey/How%20to%20Pray.txtPrayer is still our greatest weapon for overcoming, accomplishing and seeing all of God's power at work in all we are about.
by Dale Shumaker4spirit@gmail.comInspired Marketing by Joe Vitale... "Speak from your heart. Let ideas come by grace." Creating ideas is not so much about thinking about creating ideas as allowing ideas to come... which end up being creative. The biggest lesson of creativity is that we can't force it. But when we allow it, it happens. As Vitale puts it, "it allows marketers to follow their hearts and tell their stories to a marketplace that wants what they have. It allows you to encounter a marketing message and feel good about buying it." Two key ingredients of inspired marketing is that it is authentic, your real story, and it comes to you by grace. You are not thinking about it. It just shows up. "It will have a feeling more than a thinking aspect of it. It comes from the unexpected." It is inspired. Ask nicely, your subconscious mind will respond. When trying to come up with a brilliant idea, the very act of trying is screwing things up. Trust it will come and it will surface.Inspired Marketing taps into the vast power of the unconscious mind, whereas traditional marketing relies more on the conscious mind. Give up control and let your unconscious mind guide you. Don't be afraid, the money will flow. If you are not passionate about it, others will know; your intuition and inspiration need to be in tune with the marketplace (or they won't buy). Then blend the inspired with the practical. When inspired leads, the rest is not drudgery. Get out of ruts by getting inspired through helping people, combining minds. Inspiration is infinite. Play what-if games, list actions, by-pass fear (it's not allowed), shift to the believe mode, meditate on it (walks are good), be willing and delegate what's not fun for you... then joy vibrations simulate your being. When inspiration is blocked, sit quietly, look around for the unexpected, new inspirations. You know it's inspired when it helps others, improves their lives and you get supportive feedback. It's dreams, hobbies, a secret thing that lights you up... energy emerges when you show your passion. Continue self-growth and getting better and better.Are you really inspired or just having a wild goose chase? Is it ego, an impulse, familiar enough so people can accept it. We have left brains, rational thinking processes for reasoning....use it too. You may need to put the breaks on or be more precise. Some call it "making a mistake." But mistakes are actually launching pads for a new product ideas. Persistence and fearing less move you toward a new product idea, move you toward inspiration. Be a gift-giver. The more you make, the more you can bestow on others. Inspired marketing stimulates you to take action, by-pass doubt and procrastination. You can surpass competition and be "first" in your industry. Trust Divine timing, timely coincident happenings, differentiate from temptation and inspiration, surrender to the process, trust, and surrender control to God. Nurture your relationships with the Divine and take action on what's Divinely inspired. Ego wants credit for success, the giving spirit is fair, accurate, necessary. The Divine hangs out with "High" attitudes. You always benefit by helping others. Provide people with value, something they desire, feel compelled to give and they will gladly give you money for it. Make marketing personal, something they can visualize, taste, touch, feel part of. Let yourself be emotional, feel the words you say, be who you really are. Listen to your instincts and they won't steer you wrong. Just continue the conversation already going on in their minds. Be inspired and you inspire others. Inspired Marketing comes from the heart, a Higher Purpose you are involved in that others share with you. Let go, let inspiration guide you. Act on your hunches...there may be more to it. Press through fears and pour love into your product, ideas... your success is then indeed inspiredMore on Inspired Marketing:http://inspiredmarketing.com/Your inspirations, from the Spirit of God, can have a powerful influence on the world. They can come about, actually come into existence. The ingredient that makes inspiration become a living, visible reality is faith. How do we have great faith? It comes from great thoughts of inspiration... it comes from spending time in the very presence of God. In the Victory Ladder by Jamie Cantrell, she outlines 8 steps to the ladder of mountain moving faith. Jamie has some excellent points of process that will be transformational, miracle enacting in your pursuit of seeing it happen for you. Here's a brief outline of the process.1. Accept your inheritance. Salvation is more than just getting you a pass to heaven. It is receiving all the power that God had in Jesus as He walked the earth. We have the privilege to this very same power. We are made righteous in God's sight through Jesus. So we don't have to live in guilt or reluctance of having this gift of Salvation. Frankly... you are worthy, so accept this inheritance.2. Listen... God loves you and is speaking to you. Jamie would ask of God, "Give me some new and insightful revelation that will strengthen my faith." She would hear, "I Love you." Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6). Love never faiths (1 Corinthians 13:8). When we really know how much God loves us and desires to pour His love on us, we then really realize how much He wants to see in our lives what gives us complete joy. This love is so monumental it builds the mountain-moving faith we so desire. Listen to Love, Listen to God. Faith cannot work without love. Our ammunition to anything that attacks us is love, faith is the weapon that pulls the trigger to conquer what attacks us. Listen to God. He will tell you what to do. Then in faith, with his power of love, act in faith.3. The deal of fortune is coming to you. To receive it, just believe. This is a covenant promise. Our loving Father wants you to have security and peace. All things that are important, through faith, He provides. Completely trust God who loves you more than anyone. Believe, give him unwavering trust. When you tell him you believe in Him and give Him steady, concentrated trust, He gives the power to move mountains with your faith. Simply believe, trust Him... absolutely. He has made the promises, so enter into this agreement with God and He will without question adhere to the terms of His agreement. You can count on His contract with you.4. Watch your mouth. Speak to your challenge and it must flee. He said if you have faith as small as a very small seed, you can say to a mountain, with thousands of trees produced by very small seeds, to move out of your way. When you speak to a monstrous mountain, it can be totally lifted from the ground and the whole thing throw into a sea. Jesus told the demons to leave the person and go into a herd of pigs. The demons had to flee. Start speaking in the authority God has give you and tell all the illnesses, bad situations, lack of money, poor relationships to leave. Whatever is hindering you, it must leave if you speak directly to it with your delegated power of Jesus. You have that right, privilege, authority. It is given you through your salvation, His Love for you, the promises He has made with you. Use this Spiritual privilege of power and command what is not righteous to leave, to let loose of you and those you love. Speak your vision of Spirit to come into being .Use positive faith-expressing words all day long and see faith move the mountains around you. 5. Be willing to be a fool. When God speaks to you to take action in faith, it may sound a little strange or awkward for you. If he tells you to tell the checkout lane person that God loves them, you better tell them. You don't know. That person may be on the verge of suicide, be losing hope,
feel all alone in life. That small comment could begin to turn their life around. Listen to what His voice says to you in your spirit, be a fool for Him in doing it. We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Heed to His voice. Faith is obeying His voice and doing what He says to do. 6. Stand. Sometimes faith waits. Mountain-moving faith may need to be worked on and developed over time. Don't be discouraged when faith waits. You may need to develop more in faith as your faith becomes big faith. Sometimes it is at work and you must just stand. In Luke 11, we were asked to be persistent in our requests. Stand strong in His might. When faith requires you to stand, fear and worry may try to creep in. Stand in hope, the power and truth of his love and promises. Your faith, persistence, will win. Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid. You will be victorious... for the Lord who loves you and is powerful is with you (Joshua 1).7. When you pray, then praise. Praise with Thanksgiving sees faith through. As you stand, give thanks to God for the answer. With your mouth praise Him and thank Him for what he is doing... in your faith know He is doing great things, even when things still look bleak on the surface. Praise brings the miracle, it is an immensely powerful weapon, so praise God at all times. Praise is a decision, not an emotion. Give thanks to God for all things (note the Psalms) and be a person who voices "thanks" from your lips constantly. A thankful and grateful heart, stimulates faith as you stand. Miracles are formed and put in motion as you Praise Him. Love Him and stand on His Love for you and His promises, and His undefinable power to make miracles happen. 8. The last rung of the Victory Ladder is to give the ladder away. What you have, give to others. Give love, give money, give time. Give freely and it will be given to you even more. Faith is expressed through us in tangible ways. When we give, we show faith in even bigger things coming into our lives. Freely give what you have so freely received. You have received Christ's love, promises that are solid, with a power that's unmatchable, so you have a lot to give to others. Above all, as you build mountain moving faith, give the blessing of faith to others. When you live in great faith, the faith of others is raised to higher levels. Be humble and share your stories of how faith moved on your behalf in your life. "God doesn't want to keep everything to Himself. He wants you to have it all... the power to heal, to love, and to move mountains he desires to give you." He desires to share everything with you, so you give freely as he has given you and mountain-moving faith will spread everywhere.Jamie spent many years in developing the Victory Ladder, and has been through many battles in life. She is a disciplined servant of our Lord who carries an anointing with her. I have read her book carefully, and repeatedly for building my own faith. She is worth taking a look at what God has taught her and you will find as she shares the gift of faith will envelope you.For more from Jamie Cantrell and information about her book note her website at:http://jamiecantrellministries.org/Andrew Murray in How to Strengthen Your Faith says that Jesus is speaking to our hearts and saying, "'Believe in Me as Your Savior.' He speaks to you in order to rescue you from it. 'Believe in Me that I am given by God to be your Savior. Stretch out your hand to lay hold of Me and to take Me for yourself.' Listen to Him, be willing to obey Him. Remember that with the command He also gives the strength. Although you do not yet feel the power, begin, although you can still do nothing, say, as Martha said, 'I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.'" Live in a righteous, stubborn faith. Your mountains will move. Your inspirations will be fulfilled. You will not be denied the miracles God has for you to make the way for your mission to be completed. As Paul the Apostle said, "Jesus, Spirit will bring to completion the gifts and works started in you."Believe in the Power of the Spirit that works with great force in you.
