The Strategic Living Podcast with Brian Holmes

We began last week talking about the 4 quadrants or pillars of Leadership. Personal leadership Family leadership Community and civic leadership Vocational leadership or influence In this episode, we look at the importance and power of community involvement, and how your JOB/CAREER positions you for significant influence in the marketplace. What does it look like for a man, for a woman, for a young person to be engaged in impacting the culture around them? What does it mean to exercise leadership and influence in culture, government, neighborhoods, and the business arena? Let's explore this together.

Leadership IS influence … and influence is everything. Mine and your ability to impact the world around us is directly proportional to the effectiveness of our leadership. Leadership, however, is not a linear thing. There are angles and insights and yes, BLIND SPOTS! What we need is a 360° Leadership Approach. That's what we are talking about in this session; “The 4 Pillars of Personal Leadership”.

This session represents the first in a new series on Leadership and Strategic Influence. My intention is to challenge you to accept the challenge to LEAD your generation. You see, I want you to know that the life you are currently living is NOT all you can have. The circumstances taking place in your personal world, and the world around you are the result of someone's leadership … maybe not your own. Someone has determined that this is where you should be, and because we are all people pleasers in one way or another, we tend to GO ALONG to GET ALONG. Well I am here today to say that is not going to cut it. It is my desire today to shake you up, and call you out. In this NEW series, we're going to look at LEADERSHIP, Influence, and Why the World Needs YOU!  

Relationships are dynamic, and we've established in our last session that some relationships are not meant to go with you to your next level. In fact, when dealing with relationships, we must understand the season we are in, and where each relationship fits in the overall plan of God for our lives. Here are some questions we will look at in this episode: How do we navigate changes in relationships? Are all relationships meant to last for a lifetime? What do you do when a relationship is TESTED? What do you do when a relationship's season has come to an end How do we steward the transitions in relationships from one level to another. Today, we look at the inevitable testing and change that WILL come to every relationship, and how you can steward it in a way that produces a positive and Godly result.

This episode is the 3rd in our series on The 4 Cornerstones for Strategic Living. So far we've looked at Personal Healing and Personal Discovery, and we've discovered that EACH cornerstone plays a vital role in the process of building one's life. In this episode, I share with you one of my favorite cornerstones ... Personal Development. There is no personal growth without the intentional process of training, learning, and development. Just ask any athlete, thought leader, singer, or artist. You cannot "get better" without discipline and practice. If you don't "get better", you cannot compete at the highest levels in life. If you don't compete at the highest levels, it is likely you will never reach your maximum potential, and make you greatest impact. If you study the most successful people in the world, you will find they all have one thing in common; they all are committed to Personal Development. In this episode, we are talking about this vital key … "The Pursuit of Excellence Through A Lifestyle of Learning"

This is the million dollar question … one that so many never find the answer to. My premise is that every person is born with a unique and God-given purpose/destiny, and inherently possesses the capacity to realize it in their lifetime. The challenge is that LIFE tends to teach us what we can and can't have. It systematically conditions us to expect LESS THAN what we were born to achieve. Over time, it regulates the very real possibilities down to an erroneous and limiting mindset. So What About Discovery? In order to reclaim our design and destiny, a real life RE-BOOT may be in order This is the process of inventorying and investigating what we have available to us, and re-setting our beliefs and expectations to the FACTS as God knows them. In this session, we look closely at The Process of Discovery, and how Personal Identity plays a determining factor in our success in every area of life.

We are continuing our series on The 4 Cornerstones for Strategic Living In our last session, we looked at the importance of building your life strategically and intentionally, and doing so on a solid foundation To review, the 4 Cornerstones are: Personal Healing Personal Discovery Personal Development Personal Deployment Today, I will share with you "The #1 Key to Unlocking Your Full Potential". Over my many years of coaching, counseling, mentoring, and pastoring, I have found that most individuals find themselves performing at a level below what they are truly capable of, AND, experiencing results in life far beneath what God intended. Why? There are unreconciled, unresolved areas in their heart and life that must be addressed so that they can be unlocked, unleashed, and unhindered in their pursuit of fulfillment and meaning. In this episode, we will look at this critical cornerstone called Personal Healing.

This podcast episode is the first in a series of sessions on the "The 4 Cornerstones for Strategic Living". In this series, we will introduce you to the concept of Strategic Living. Specifically, we will be looking at how you can build the life you were designed for and want, with the tools you already have. It's really about setting a solid foundation. Today, I begin with … A Proven Framework for Building a Life of Impact and Significance.

In my own journey over the last 6 years, I've learned a lot about transition. It's never “easy” and takes some intentionality to navigate successfully. What I've discovered is: there are 4 distinct stages of transition. What are they, and where does your present circumstance fall in with them? Feature Presentation:  The 4 stages of transition are: Discontent Disconnect Reconnaissance (Discovery) Re-engagement (Redeployment) Transition WILL happen in your life, and things will shift significantly more than once. How do you know if this is about to happen? It begins with discontent. Discontent does not necessarily mean disgruntled, burned out, or unhappy (though it could). Discontent is the condition where you recognize your present circumstance is no longer satisfying and you've hit a ceiling. There's something pulling on you and you feel there's something new just beyond the horizon. There's an imbalance between being content and desiring more. This is a healthy discontent! Without discontent, you may lose out on the sense to seek for something greater. Don't dismiss your feelings of discontent, but give yourself permission to seek what is waiting for you in your next area of influence.

We've talked about where you want to be, what might be preventing you from getting there, what gets you super motivated, and now it's time to drill down again… What are you confident about? Feature Presentation:  What are you confident about? Keep in mind, this has to do with your strengths. Take an inventory of your competencies, what makes you who you are, and what you have to offer. This is not an act of arrogance! Until you own who you are, it's going to be impossible to do your very best. Your strengths, talents, abilities, and resources all come together to propel you in your purpose.  So what are you confident about being able to achieve, or being able to serve others in or with?

We've talked about “the question”, and followed up with what keeps you up at night. Those are not necessarily the easiest parts of the planning process to face, but today we'll focus on something a little more fun. What are you excited about? Feature Presentation:  What are you confident about? Keep in mind, this has to do with your strengths. Take an inventory of your competencies, what makes you who you are, and what you have to offer. This is not an act of arrogance! Until you own who you are, it's going to be impossible to do your very best. Your strengths, talents, abilities, and resources all come together to propel you in your purpose.  So what are you confident about being able to achieve, or being able to serve others in or with?

Last week, I talked about “the question” – what you need to ask yourself before another day goes by. I also assigned a little homework for you to write out what your desires were in answer to the question, and to map your dreams out on paper. (Did you do it yet?) This week, I have a follow-up question for you, and it's more involved than it appears at first glance. Feature Presentation:  What keeps you up at night? I'm not talking about someone snoring, or the kids getting out of bed. What keeps your mind racing and keeps you restless at night while you're trying to fall asleep? It's important not to dismiss these things as a simple annoyance. There are reasons your sleep is being interfered with! Anything you're worried or concerned about, any limiting belief you have – these are roadblocks that are preventing you from reaching the level of success you aspire to achieve. You need to know – and identify – your obstacles. Only then will you be able to conquer them. So what keeps you up at night? Take time to write these down and identify them. Realize now, there are answers to these issues. There is no problem before you that is larger than it's solution.

Any time I take on a new coaching client, I ask them the same question. It may come across with different verbiage, but the underlying meaning is still the same. The question is: If we were sitting together a certain number of years from now, what has to have happened – both personally and professionally – for you to be really satisfied with the outcome of your life? Feature Presentation:  To be content and fulfilled with the progress you've made in life, what needs to take place? If you don't have any idea what you'd like your future to look like, or what you want to achieve, it becomes nearly impossible to succeed in that which you have not defined. Take this exercise seriously in different areas of your life: health, finances, relationships, career. What matters to you, and how can you define what needs to happen in a certain time frame in order to ensure success? Write the question on a blank piece of paper, and answer it honestly and freely in answer beneath the question. Once you define in writing – from a sincere, genuine heart-level – what you want your life to look like in the future, it becomes the baseline for the choices you make, the tasks you undertake, and the choices you pursue. Ask yourself THE QUESTION.

I'm reminded of the time my son was very young and was confident he could drive – and park – my car while we were heading to the building where I officed at the time. Let's just say we both learned a valuable lesson that day… But what does it mean, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears?” That's exactly what we're unpacking in this week's podcast episode. Feature Presentation:  Even though my son was enthusiastic, he was not mature or prepared for the level of responsibility I chose to impart to him that particular day. As neither are we sometimes. We even complain and fuss about our opportunities have not presented themselves to us, but I disagree… When you're ready, what you're waiting for begins to show up! It's not that the opportunities aren't there, it's that you're not ready. What knowledge do you need to obtain? What relationships do you need to form (or release)? What is broken in your life that needs to be fixed? When these are ready, so are we. Therefore, when the student is ready, they see the teacher (and the reward) waiting for them. Deal with your attitudes, limiting beliefs, unresolved issues, and personal growth, so not only can you handle what's waiting, but you're able to run with it and do it well. What is it in your life you need to be ready for? And what do you need to do to make ready for it?

Everything in our lives, from the time we're very young, as we go through school and college, and certainly as we become adults, is a series of the results of choices we've made. Relationships, jobs, careers, and even major purchases – are all choices you're faced with. I'm going to share 5 things every person should consider doing when faced with an important decision to be made. Feature Presentation:  SLOW DOWN It might be our instant gratification society, but somehow we've programmed ourselves to believe every major decision needs to happen immediately. That is not the case! Slow down, seek counsel, pray about it, and don't make a decision in haste. SEEK COUNSEL When you're surrounded by godly, wise people, you're going to be aided in making the best possible decision. From their experience, knowledge, and care for you, they'll help you come to the right choice. CONSIDER THE COST Every decision has pros and cons. On the front in, as much as you can, gather data. List out the benefits and the negatives, and see what it will really cost you. What will you gain and what will you have to give up? CHECK THE ALIGNMENT “Who am I? Why am I here?” Make sure to run a check for what you're doing up against who you are. Does it align internally and externally? PRAY Inquire (from God) as to whether any of these choices you're faced with have anything to do with the purpose He put you here for. If we'll ask, He'll answer, and listen to what He has to say. These five steps will help you in your decisions, and I know great things are in your future.

As you continue along on your journey to fulfill your purpose and live out who you were created to be, you'll be faced with an imminent temptation: the temptation to draw back and retreat into what you've always known. Is that a bad thing? Let's talk about it. Feature Presentation:  When we can't see where we're headed or what our next step is – or even if we give way to uncertainty about what's around the bend – our human nature is to shirk back. Faith is sometimes a tall order. As we learn more about who we are, challenge and replace our limiting beliefs, we're also shifting our methodologies and understanding on certain things we maybe have never seen any other way. Stepping into more truth and understanding requires us to be accountable to what we know. Herein lies the danger… When you know what is true and yet you shirk back from it, you've created a deep internal conflict. This internal conflict has innumerable ramifications: loss of sleep, restless sleep, decline in physical and emotional health, relationships, etc. Don't retreat. Let your “yes” be “yes”! If you're in conflict now, no doubt you're aware of it. For whatever reason, you've retreated into familiar. You're better than that! Take the steps forward, press in, and don't settle. Progress over retreat.

One of my favorite places in the US, Lake City, Colorado, is home of The Alpine Loop. This isn't the safest most secure adventure one can take, so is it worth it to embark to begin with? Feature Presentation:  The trails on Alpine Loop require specially-equipped vehicles to handle the rugged (and treacherous) terrain. To take a trail on the loop can mean you're driving along a narrow road with a rock wall on one side and a steep cliff drop-off on the other. It requires special equipment, special focus, and special courage to set out and enjoy the adventure. But why do it if it carries so much risk? Sometimes in order to reap the benefit or reward of our desires, we have to push through to the other side of the risk involved. We may have to give up control. We may have to trust someone else knows better than we do. But we have to keep going forward. That can be challenging – or even downright scary – but it's the only way to harvest the fruit of your adventure. Therefore, real adventure requires real faith. You don't have to have everything figured out before you “arrive”. You don't have to overthink – you simply have to say “yes” to the invitation, trust the process (even when it's out of your control) and remember the adventure.

In this day and age where we're always moving from one project to another, always connected, and always accessible, it is almost too easy to find yourself exhausted, burned out, lacking energy, and not having much to give. The concept of Sabbath (rest) has been paramount to the health of the person, family unit, business, and life, from the beginning of history. For decades now, especially in the western world, we have been conditioned to work hard, sacrifice our family's and our personal health, all at the altar of productivity and accomplishment. There is great danger in this. We are designed to accomplish supernatural things in life; however, we cannot give what we do not possess! Feature Presentation:  It makes sense sometimes to just STOP! Stop performing Stop running non-stop Stop doing things that don't matter Evaluate where you are: look at progress, position, and perspective. Sabbath is taking time to reset and rethink the future from a place of peace and rest, as opposed to making decisions from a place of flurry and busy-ness. SO WHY AM I SHARING ALL OF THIS WITH YOU? This summer marks numerous transitions taking place, opportunities to consider, and a very real need for me to focus. In looking at my calendar, I realized the summer months presented the perfect opportunity for me to take a step back, and give intentional focus to these important things in my life and in my business. HOW WILL I ACCOMPLISH THIS? Doing virtually NO business travel during the remainder of the summer No new appointments Focusing my work days on thinking and creating Taking time to get away and unplug Spending time with my wife, kids, and close friends One more thing: Starting next week, I am going to publish ONLY ONE podcast episode per week! This will be the Monday Mastery segment, which will provide high-intensity insight to fill you up for success and influence. The Monday Mastery videos will post to our site and to YouTube on Mondays, and the audio podcast will post to our site, iTunes, Stitcher, and iHeart Radio on Thursdays. I am not going away, I am only taking time to get stronger, better, more effective, and more influential. WHAT ABOUT YOU? Are you overdue for a Sabbath? Do you need to step back and reset? Are you stressed out and overwhelmed? Are there people in your life who need your time and attention now? Are you taking care of you so you can serve and take care of others? Closing Thoughts: You have to rest You need to re-create You need to refuel You need to reboot You need to refresh

When you think of people in your life who have tremendous influence – whether it's an author of a book you've read, a speaker at an event you attended, a sports coach, a personal mentor – take a reflective pause. What if that person, or those people, had never said “yes” to pursuing their calling and impacting your life, and the lives of thousands of others? If you're not saying yes to your own significance, who are you withholding impact and influence from? Whose life is missing your message?

Our cultural standard of instant gratification can leave us wanting for more than immediate results and ignoring the process by which we obtain them. If life is a journey, are you paying attention to the value of the road you're traveling, or are you simply in a hurry to “arrive”? Sometimes, in order for us to successfully arrive at a new level, there are lessons we need to learn (and apply) along the way. There is a destination, but the true value is in the process it takes to get you there. Feature Presentation:  Transition: it's a big deal and a timely topic! Over the last six years especially, I have personally come to understand the value of the process of transition. There are areas of growth, healing, maturing, and understanding I never would have come to except for experiencing the process. All the while, I was searching for what my “next” was. I was no longer pastoring in the traditional sense (after 27 years!) I was taking it one day at a time, learning, growing, resolving, etc. Then one day it dawned on me: it was not about the destination, it was about the process! 10 Things To Remember When You Say Yes To Your Next Level: Don't rush to get to the next place Embrace the process Go deep in exploring your own heart and life Identify deficits, weaknesses, and areas which need to be restored and improved Ask the right questions Surround yourself with people willing to speak the truth to you, even if it hurts Look for opportunities to grow Look for opportunities to learn Look for opportunities to rest Make EACH day the “next step” in the process Closing Thoughts: If God has invited you … GO! If you said YES … let your yes be yes! Stay focused on today and the process.

You cannot be a hoarder – not of too much physical stuff, not of many experiences, not of much knowledge. If you have been given breakthrough, healing, success, transformation, it would behoove you to pass that on to others as well. Listen in today as Brian unpacks this seemingly simple, yet loaded concept in “To Whom Much Is Given”.

Epic failures in life, although they create pain and difficulty for a season, can be the cornerstones of a life of influence and success. There is a calling fulfilled by taking something which may have devastated you or your family, a personal failure or loss, an insurmountable tragedy, and using that as a baseline for helping others who may be going through something similar. Many of you have heard my story. I saw the vast need in the world: countless others who had been abused, raped, tormented by guilt, entangled with emotional connections they could not seem to shake. Tens of thousands have found hope and freedom as a result of me sharing my story, and publishing a book which became accessible around the world. This is also the case of my special guest today! Rebecca Vijay: Rebecca Vijay is an author, blogger, editor, and designer. During a career spanning a decade and a half, after working in various industries, while heading a commissioning team in Oxford University Press when she took a break to spend time with her two kids and explore ways to make a difference. During this break, she started blogging and it reignited her love for writing. In May 2017, she published her first book, My Angel in Heaven, in memory of her firstborn twin son, Jacob. It's a book about finding comfort and hope in HIM in the midst of the grief.   By the grace of GOD, it was a #1 Amazon bestseller on Amazon US, UK, India and Australia!   She is a contributor to an inspirational book, When You're DONE Expecting, which has been written by over 100 moms from around the world. (Also a #1 Amazon bestseller in various countries.)   She published her debut YA novel, Break Free, Super Squad Series, Book 1, about four friends with superpowers, in November last year. (Another #1 Amazon bestseller on Amazon India.)   Rebecca likes working with children and the youth and is a Sunday school and VBS teacher. She is also the Vice President of the Women's Fellowship of her Church and was recently elected as a Pastorate Committee member there.   She is working on starting her own creative services and publishing company that would cater to individuals around the world who would like to self-publish on Amazon and other online platforms. Closing thoughts: EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS IN JUST A FEW DAYS! Creating and publishing books, audio programs, or even video training courses is not as difficult as you may think. In fact, with a little coaching and training, you will be empowered with the knowledge, systems, and confidence to make it happen. This one-day workshop is designed to provide you exactly that. You'll learn how to leverage your concept or message for maximum impact and effectiveness You'll learn our proven system for writing, publishing, and marketing your books. You'll learn how to use different forms of media to extend the reach of your difference-making message. You will leave the training with a bulletproof plan for becoming a published author And so much more! There are only 50 seats available, and a number of those have already been sold, so you need to secure yours ASAP. If you have ever considered writing a book, creating an audio program, or launching an online course, this is the opportunity for you. I am inviting you to make a decision today … a decision to step up, step out, and say YES to the opportunity you have to make an impact.

We've become a culture of “I can't”. For whatever reason, we excuse or talk ourselves out of our possibilities rather than attempting to pursue them. If my own mother can accomplish one of her lifelong dreams at the age of 81, there's no reason you can't do the same with your own dream, today. You really have no more excuses!  

As life ebbs and flows, there is a great value to be found in those IN-BETWEEN times (transitions). That being understood, how do we navigate those seasons where we find ourselves in a bit of a funk? What are the keys to successfully getting on the other side of the darker seasons, and breaking through to your next level? This is something I have personally been processing the last few months. I am going to share some insights with you that will empower you to focus, reset, and level up in YOUR life and leadership. Feature Presentation:  Review – Transition: Discontent Disconnect Reconnaissance Re-engagement WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? We are creatures of comfort 
 We are creatures of habit 
 Our beliefs or mindsets govern the outcomes in our lives These transitional seasons (times of funk) create a real conundrum for us: We are discontent presently We recognize there is something special waiting for us We don't know what it looks like We have to step into the unknown The only way is to leave the security of what we know The Invitation: It takes faith to step into the unknown, and faith is based in your belief. Leveling up to a new and higher reality will require you to exercise real faith and trust … to relinquish control. To HAVE what is on the next level, I have to let GO of what I have come to depend on. Closing thoughts: You are at the threshold of something so amazing and so rewarding You have to make a decision You cannot have it both ways James 1:6-8 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Your influence could be at your fingertips. There is an entire world of people who need the message, story, experience you have to share. It is worthwhile, it is important, and it is imperative you take the time to invest in what you know, to help thousands of others in what they need to know. Listen in to find out more.

In 1881, Otto von Bismarck, the conservative minister-president of Prussia, presented a radical idea to the Reichstag: government-run financial support for older members of society. In other words, retirement. It took eight years after the idea was presented, but by the end of the 1880s, the German government created a retirement system which provided for living citizens over the age of 70. Since then, the idea that one only works until they reach a qualified age was set in the conscious of our culture. Corporations, investment companies, insurance programs; all of these are built on the premise that one lives, works, retires, dies. BUT WHAT IF…? What if one could live many years being productive and doing what they were born to do? What if it was possible to do what you loved, love what you do, and keep doing it until you couldn't do it anymore? What if doing that could bring joy, change lives, and leave a legacy that will outlive you? It is possible, and I have seen it! Feature Presentation:  Just a few weeks ago I had the privilege of seeing one of the worlds greatest singers perform here in Dallas. Frank Sinatra referred to this man as the greatest vocalist to ever live. I am talking about none other than Tony Bennett. Tony Bennett is 91 years old, and has been singing professionally since early 1946…more than 70 years! How can someone at his age be SO passionate, SO inspired, SO engaged, and still SO committed to his craft after all these years? He doesn't need the money; he doesn't need the notoriety; he doesn't need the applause. So why does he do it? My Takeaways: This is how I want to live my life When I am old, I want to STILL be doing the thing for which I was born Those who stay in the game, WIN the game Those who quit too early miss the most meaningful rewards Health and strength are directly tied to purpose and meaningful activity Legacy is not about what people remember you for; it's about the lasting impact you make on those you serve Work is not work when you are in your zone of genius Tony Bennett is a living example of how to live life, love life, and make an impact on generations. What about you? Find your passion and purpose and give yourself to it completely.

What you have, what you know, and what you are gifted in are all factors in the exact purpose you were created to fulfill and with benefit to the exact audience you were created to impact. Listen in as Brian shares more about influence, your role in the world, and how to pursue your purpose.

There is nothing that positions you as an authority or expert as effectively as being a published author. You can launch your message, leverage your authority, and establish your position effectively and efficiently as a published author. Then, if you choose, you can parlay that message into an expert platform using audio, video, and online systems expanding your reach and changing more lives. Premise: You have a message, a story, and cause that matters You are drawn to a certain need or people group, and have something of real value to offer You have a desire to write, publish, and produce meaningful content for those you are called to serve If any or all of these are true, you should be at the Create.Publish.Profit. workshop on June 21st! Feature Presentation:  7 Reasons Why You Should Attend The Create.Publish.Profit Workshop Your difference-making message is important and deserves a place in the printed/digital resource world. As your host, I am uniquely qualified to train/coach you in the creation and publishing process. Authored 2 books (third is on the way) Coached dozens including best sellers You will learn my proven system for taking your idea, creating your manuscript, and preparing it for publishing. You will learn how to self-publish through the Amazon/CreateSpace platform, and how to submit a proposal for traditional publishing. You will meet writers, content developers, cover designers, editors, etc. who I personally work with. You will leave the training room having written the thesis and chapter outline for your book. Because someone is waiting on you to write and publish it!

When you experience tragedy in your life, it can be a devastating experience for you during that time. It doesn't, however, have to be the end result of that era of your life. What you've experienced and the pain you have gone through becomes your authority in that arena of life and can open more doors than it closed for you. Listen in today for a more in-depth discussion on how your pain IS your authority.

Have you ever considered that YOU have the capacity and potential to change the world or to make a substantive difference in people's lives? What does it mean to be a difference-maker? What does it mean to affect your environment and culture? That's exactly what we're talking about in today's episode: Salt, Light, and Other Ways to Disrupt the Environment. Feature Presentation:  Our focus carried over from last week is influence. We must be engaged in activities and causes that foster positive change around us. True transformation will only come when people like us decide to be the change we desire to see. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses some very powerful word pictures to describe our place in this world. Matthew 5:13-16 The Passion Translation (TPT) “Your lives are like salt among the people. But if you, like salt, become bland, how can your ‘saltiness' be restored? Flavorless salt is good for nothing and will be thrown out and trampled on by others. Your lives light up the world. Let others see your light from a distance, for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it's placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don't hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.” Salt is an ingredient, which when introduced to any dish, fundamentally changes the flavor of the food. The environment cannot say to the salt, “I refuse to change”. Unless the salt has lost its potency or unique value and quality… In which case it will become good for nothing, and be walked all over by those who have asserted their agenda to bear. How About The Light? There is no darkness powerful enough to overcome light. What's the point of being light if you're going to keep it hidden from the people who so desperately need it? If you have a message or an answer that can light the path for someone, why would you not share it? Light only has value if it is intentionally set up where people can see it Salt only has value if it can be utilized to change an environment or situation. You have the capacity to radically change your world. If you think about it, both SALT and LIGHT are environment disruptors. That is what YOU are. You know God has created you for greatness. You see the needs and hurts of people around you. You have something to offer!  

You cannot give what you do not have. When you lack experience, your opinions don't carry weight. But when you take what you've been through, what you know from your own experience, and what you've spent your life doing, and share that with the rest of the world, you present tangible, worthwhile solutions that won't simply fix problems, but change the world! Listen in to find out more.

Have you ever considered YOU have the ability and potential to change the world or to make a substantive difference in people's lives? What does it mean to be a difference-maker? What does it mean to affect your environment and culture? Today we're going to answer this question: What's The Big Deal About Influence Anyway? Feature Presentation:  Let's Start with a Primer on the 7 Spheres of Cultural Influence They are: Religion Family Government Education Arts/Entertainment Media/Communication Business/Financial Sector Family:     Consider the groups that have shaped this area in the last 10 years. The term family has been completely re-defined, laws changed, gender neutralized, etc. How did this happen?      INFLUENCE Government:   Think about the current news, and how our nations are being transformed before our eyes. Principles and values that were the foundations for our culture have been eroded the point of no return. How?        INFLUENCE Education:        Many of our academic institutions are no longer laboratories for the development of potential. Rather, they have become the programming centers for contingencies of people hell-bent on erasing history and changing our cultural DNA. Again … INFLUENCE Arts/Entertainment:         Hollywood, Broadway, the music industry, sports industry, and even the online entertainment space have become cesspools of filth, activism, and agenda based programming. You cannot turn on a device without being told what to believe, how to think, what to wear, etc. Again … INFLUENCE Media/Communication:  Consider the news media, social media, and the thousands of pundits beaming their noise into every nook and cranny of our day. Again … INFLUENCE Business/Finance:   The entire world revolves around business, commerce, money, and market share. We need Godly, principle-centered business owners, board members, and entrepreneurs guiding and leading our nation. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see WHY our world is in such a mess. It is simply a matter of influence. SO, WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL ABOUT INFLUENCE? The big deal is that America, and other nations around the world, are in desperate need of great leaders, strong influencers, men and women of character and strength to STAND UP, take our place, and make a difference. The very problems you complain about and grieve over are the problems YOU are called to and capable of solving. You just have to get in the game!

I get asked nearly every week if people should take what they know and put it into book form. My answer to them is really another question: do you have a message to share? If the answer is “yes”, then so is my answer! Write the book! Listen to today's episode to find out more about what writing a book can do, why you should consider it, and how to get started.

So much of what I do, teach, and communicate is built on a framework that I call The 4 Cornerstones for Strategic Living. Anytime you want to build something that stands the test of time, you must first engineer and construct a foundation worth of the thing you propose to build on it. So many people are pursuing their goals and dreams without having taken the time to inspect, or possibly re-engineer the foundation. Feature Presentation:  A while back, I had the honor of being a guest on one of my dear friend's podcast, and we went deep on this subject Ray Edwards is the founder of Ray Edwards International, and is a renowned expert in marketing, copywriting, and has authored numerous books, including his soon to be released book entitled “Permission to Prosper”, which I highly recommend. RayEdwards.com Ray is one of the wisest, most insightful people I know, and this conversation was really clear and powerful. I wanted to share that conversation with you today. Let's go now to my interview on the Ray Edwards show. Show Snippets: Living strategically takes purpose and intent a step further. Unresolved or unreconciled issues create a ceiling on our ability to maximize our God-given potential. Personal healing is the chief cornerstone Who am I and why am I here? Focus on what you've discovered as a framework for who you are, why you're here, and develop that person. This is a life-long cyclical process! Deployment is seasonal. Deployment is the fourth cornerstone, not the first cornerstone. Promotion and elevation are also cyclical and seasonal. Grab the 4 Cornerstones book and course HERE

We are, from the time we are very young, conditioned to blend in and fit in with the masses. Don't let yourself be discouraged from being unique and rising above the average and ordinary. You don't have to be like everyone else to be successful. Listen in to learn more.

Over the last several weeks we have been looking at the impact relationships have, and as we've seen, relationships matter! It's important we understand the season we're in, and where each relationship fits in with our progress and development. Here are a few questions to consider; What is life outside of relationships?  How do we classify or categorize our relationships? Do relationships change in seasons of our lives? How do we navigate relationships when conflict or tests come? Today, we're going to be looking at these questions and talking about Relationships, Resources, and the Rhythm of Real Progress.  Feature Presentation:  GOD DID NOT CREATE US TO DO LIFE ALONE! A great mentor and friend shared with me a very powerful concept some years ago. He said You only need two things to succeed in life; Relationships and Resources. If you have to choose between the two, choose relationships, and they will lead you to the resources you need. We are designed by God to have meaningful connections, relationships, and to interface with other people in order to add value and receive value Categories of Relationships Family Mentors, Teachers, Spiritual Leaders Friends and Peers Workplace Relationships Casual Acquaintances The Circle Test: Self – Know who you are Family – wife, children, mother, father, siblings, etc. Close friends – HOW CLOSE ARE THEY REALLY? Acquaintances/Tribe The Crowd  The key is how do you define these levels. Friend Acquaintance Tribe Crowd Enemy Enemies/Fool For your consideration: Some relationships are for certain SEASONS. When that season has come to an end, it is not wise to continue to invest into the relationship, as you will drain yourself of the very resources Some relationships are covenantal in nature and are sent by God to be LIFETIME relationships Some relationships are SITUATIONAL such as business relationships, educational, etc. Most times, these are also temporary Some relationships are STRATEGIC, and they have to do with your assignment in a particular season All (healthy) relationships are given by God to be mutually beneficial, and for the common good QUESTIONS: Have you inventoried your relationships lately? Are there people in your life that do NOT add value, but rather tale away from you? Are there relationships in your life that need to be “moved” from one category to another? Do you have room in your life for NEW, STRATEGIC relationships that could add value to your life in this new season? Jim Rohn said … “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”. What are you doing to raise your average?  

We all have our comfort zones and we all enjoy being comfortable. But what if our love for comfort is actually hindering us from the unlimited potential or possibilities, that could take us to our next level and beyond? Once we get too comfortable, we talk ourselves out of doing anything more. Listen in while I share why this is detrimental!