Want to get off the merry-go-round?

Do you ever feel like your life is going in circles and repeating itself? When you do the same thing over and over again; be it a good thing or not, sometimes your vision gets narrowed. Have you ever noticed when you’re hiking in a difficult spot that your eyes get focused on the path right in front of you? You focus setting your foot in the right place and then plan your next step for safety.

Life can get like that too! We get so focused on “making it to the top” or “surviving the trail” that we don’t notice the beautiful scenery around us. Sometimes we even forget where we’re going.

As you anticipate the Holiday’s this year, be aware of your desire for the Holidays. Don’t let them take you over; rule your life. Be intentional in how you are going into the most wonderful time of the year.

Here are a few questions that may help you. Put yourself 3 months from now (Jan 25th, 2008) and ask yourself:

1. What memories do you want to create for the Holidays this year?


2. Standing there, what decisions do you need to make TODAY?

I would love to hear your ideas and believe our others readers could benefit from your insights as well. Click below to leave your comment.

Do you have a reserve tank?

I would check your reserve tank and make sure it’s filled up as we’re heading into one of the busiest and most expensive time of the year for Americans; The Holiday’s.

When I was in high school I drove a yellow, convertible VW Beetle or “Bug,” as I called it. It was a cool car!! One unique thing about it was that it had a reserve gas tank in it. I never ran out of gas! By the way, gas was only $1.25 per gallon back then. I didn’t have much wealth in terms of money year ago, so the reserve came in handy!

The lesson of having a “reserve” of our resources is vital for today! Having a reserve takes away worry, apprehension and fear. It helps us focus with clarity!

You can create more than enough of what you need, so you don’t need to fret about not having enough. Having a reserve also helps manage your emotional life so you are free to create, explore and take action.

There are 3 key areas to create reserves:
Time
Money
Love

Consider your response to the following questions:
1. What would a reserve of time for me look like?
How could I give it away? Can I say “no” when one more holiday obligation came my way?

2. How much is a reserve of money for me?
Could I pay for all my holiday expenses upfront? Who could I donate to?

3. A reserve of love for me would be evident by?
Example: I would have time to hang out with my family; be present and available to them.

Check your reserve tank and make sure it’s filled up as we’re heading into one of the busiest and most expensive time of the year for Americans; The Holiday’s.

Create a plan to get your personal reserve tank filled in each of these key areas. Take action toward getting more reserve this week. Take extra time with your kids, turn off the TV, take a walk, save your pocket change in a jar, or get to bed early. Maybe it’s time to simplify your life in order to attain true “wealth”.

If so, I have an opportunity for you this week. You are invited to attend the INATM club Thursday at noon. We will be discussing how to clean up 2007 to get ready for a brilliant 2008. Click here for further details about the INATM club.

Who's on Your A Team?

As you are reading this I am on an airplane off to Vancouver, Canada for a dynamite training opportunity. The love of learning is one of my values that I get really excited about. In fact, I’ve done a lot of traveling over this year and it is only possible because I have a great team of people around me who support me. I call them my A team.

For the past 5 months a team of us have been planning and organizing a fundraiser for a non profit organization called Walking in Grace, Inc. (WIG) Many of you may not know that INATM is a program under the WIG umbrella. WIG was born about 10 years ago and has helped many people over the years.

The financial needs of WIG have grown, therefore; the call for a fundraiser. This being our first annual fundraiser we have all learned a lot! Most important I recognized that most projects, programs, family needs etc. need a team to accomplish the goal. We all need an A team; where all are committed and passionate about the vision and goal. Where the team members are willing to actively work towards the aspiration.

I learned this first hand. I know it in my head, in fact I teach other people about this very concept. This time was a little different for me. I was way out of the box with what I am familiar with and I had to rely on others to follow through with what they said they would do. I couldn’t do it all.

Second, there were a couple times through the preparation process that I
· Doubted the purpose of the fundraiser
· Regretted how much work it took
· Unsure that the financial outcome would be “worth it”
· Were we really in God’s will?

So here is the bottom line of what I learned. We all need an A team of people around us to accomplish those small and extensive goals. It’s that place where 1+1=11 meets. I learned that when God gives me direction and clarity on what to do, He will bring the results around. You see one of the things I began to believe was that this was all going to be a waste of time. I couldn’t see the results God had planned for me; only my short-sighted perspective.

God’s plan was the absolute best. The outcome blessed me beyond the financial support we received. This learning will stick with me for a long time! See, I love to learn.

To wrap up, “Who are your A team members?” Remember, "God can do anything yyou know-- far more that you coule ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not hy pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."
Ephesians 3:20 Message Bible