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I was feeling exhausted, and just couldn’t shake the feeling of being tired even after rest. Something was wrong and I couldn’t figure it out.
I didn’t realize that I had lost my vision. I was running around doing things that have nothing to do with what I set out to do. The worst part is, I didn’t even realize I was operating outside of my own plan until I started sharing what I was going through and while I was talking it hit me, “This wasn’t even part of the plan!”
Like most of us, I started the year off in prayer while I mapped out exactly what I needed to do to move myself and my business ahead. It was clear as day. God reveals to us what we need to know in those moments of separation from everything in prayer. I believe that this is why the bible tells us repeatedly about Jesus separating from the crowds and disciples, going into quiet places to pray (Matthew 14: 23, Mark1: 35, Luke 5: 16). The crowds and friends have their own agendas, if we don’t separate ourselves to hear what God wants us to do we will live a life led by other people and their desires. Always God back to the One who sent you to find out,
Father, is this what you would have me do?
If God isn’t in it, don’t do it. If God isn’t sending you, don’t go.
As entrepreneurs we are self-professed busy bodies, we love to get things done; but we must move away from being busy all the time to being focused and strategic. Take the time to sit and think. It sounds simple, but it’s harder that it sounds only because we are conditioned to be DOERS. I challenge you and myself to recognise the time of being still as where the VICTORY IS WON.
“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” ~ Proverbs 21: 5
Every opportunity is not for you. Every methodology is not the right one for you.
I have had to learn this lesson over and over. When I first started out as an entrepreneur I felt that the opportunities were very limited, but now I know I was wrong. My ability to see opportunity was limited. This is a skill that people don’t often talk about and it’s critical to success. We are surrounded by opportunity everyday. The ability to see it requires an open mind, the humility to accept the things we don’t fully understand as having value, an eye that can identify clues of success and failure, and an attitude that says yes to hard work and figuring out what needs to be done.
Now, because I came from this mindset of there’s no opportunity, when I started to be able to identify opportunities I wanted to take them all. After all, in my mind they were rare. I was operating out of a scarcity mindset. That’s a serious problem, because even in having opportunity I was limiting it by failing to have an abundance approach. A discussion for another day, but I wanted to take all the opportunities all at once. Can anyone say, “Hoarder!” LOL. That’s exactly how I was operating. If you’ve watched the tv show Hoarders you know that eventually you hoard yourself out of room to live. If you haven’t watched the show, it’s about people who get carried away with buying stuff to the point that their homes have no space for them to live well because there’s stuff everywhere. At which point they need expert help to get rid of the stuff and more importantly to get rid of the thinking that got them into that position.
Time is precious. Do what matters to your mission. Make every opportunity stand up to the test for :
Growth - will this grow me or my business and how? Begin with the end in mind. What is the most critical area of growth that you need to address? Not everything needs to grow right now.
Impact - what is the difference that this will make for me and my business? Put everything on a scale. What will give you the greatest impact? Small wins matter, they re-energize and keep the journey enjoyable.
Ease - It doesn’t have to be easy but it has to be simple enough that you understand how you are going to go from A to B. Simple things can be executed well. Understand exactly what each opportunity will require. Underestimating any undertaking increases the risk of failure. Be clear on what it’s going to take to reap the reward of an opportunity.
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Never ever step outside of your area of genius. This is controversial I know. Let me know what you think about this in the comments. My opinion, (and it’s just an opinion) is that Micheal Jordan tried to play other sports, but he always came back to basketball. He couldn’t replicate the same success in those other sports, granted perhaps if he had the time to put into those sports he might have been wildly successful at them. Unfortunately time is limited!
Multiply your talents within your area of genius, it’s where you will reap the greatest ROI (Return On Investment). This is where your creativity is set on fire, it’s where you see the most small wins, it’s where growth gives you massive gains, and it’s also where you feel the most energized. Why would anyone want to be outside of the environment where their potential is unlimited? As much as we want to be good at everything, we are not. For this exact reason, we need other people who are operating in their own area of genius to help us bring our visions to life.
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
When you’re feeling lost, you probably are. Run back to your First Love, Jesus Christ. Sometimes the cares of this life cause us to drift away without us even noticing that we are getting further and further away from the One who loved us first. Let God fight for you. He never tires.
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” ~ Psalm 55: 22
I would love to know what lessons you have learnt along the way. Please leave a comment for our community to be edified on their daily walk with Jesus.
P.S. Join our FaceBook group, Christian Entrepreneur’s Toolkit. Iron sharpens iron.
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