Values-Driven Productivity

JP and Rachel Hennessy are in the process of adopting their first child. But this wasn't their initial plan. They are mourning the loss of their unborn children while also anticipating what is to come. In this episode, we discuss what it means to carry grief and hope at the same time and what it means to support the people in your life going through suffering.

Master your morning through four principles: simplicity, consistency, flexibility, and discipline.

Knowing where your time goes helps you understand what you truly value. In this episode, I challenge you to embark on a time audit in your life to take inventory of where you’re spending your finite hours.

Traditional goal setting asks us to start with the end in mind. What if we started with the very end in mind? As you set goals for the new year, I invite you to consider your own death and its implications on what you choose to do this year and, more importantly, who you desire to become.

Becky Kiser is empowering people to celebrate holidays in meaningful ways. In a world often pushing us toward busyness and materialism over intentionality and gratitude, Becky helps people celebrate major events with thoughtful actions and a godly foundation. She released her newest book, Sacred Holidays, in October—and it’s a timely resource for your Christmas season as you seek to slow down and celebrate Christ’s birth with joy.

It’s hard to believe it, but the holidays are upon us. Cultivating a heart and culture of gratitude won’t happen on accident. In this month’s episode, learn foundational principles for making this Thanksgiving a season of thanksgiving.

Jesse Mecham is making it possible for people to get a handle on their money and better steward the resources entrusted to their care. As the founder of YNAB (You Need A Budget), Jesse is equipping hundreds of thousands of users with budgeting software that gives them a framework for prioritizing their lives and allocating money toward what they truly value. In this episode, gain practical tips and insights into how you can better manage money—whether you’re drowning in debt or not sure what to do with your extra income.

Design thinking is a concept buzzing around business circles. But how do you use design thinking principles to make important changes in your life and to focus on what matters? And what is design thinking in the first place? What role does faith play in design thinking? Jeremy Utley tackles these questions and many others in this episode. He is the Director of Executive Education at Stanford's d.school, helping professionals and organizations adopt design thinking and build innovative cultures. Listen in and then take immediate action toward becoming more of the person you want to be.

I recently launched an email course designed to help you make meaningful progress in the areas of faith, family, friends, fitness, and finances—life’s Five Fs. In this episode, I share more about the course and include audio recordings from two lessons.

Erik Nieder is putting his craft into the service of his core convictions through worship music. He’s been writing songs for over a decade, and his music has gotten better and more widely appreciated over time. Erik recently found his worship songs on Spotify’s WorshipNow playlist (a curated list of today’s best worship songs with over 700,000 followers), and his journey has been marked by continued growth toward using music as an avenue to express his calling. In this episode, learn more about what it looks like to live with clarity around your purpose and understand how to better use your gifts for what matters most.

Justin Miller is making tangible progress toward solving a big problem. He co-founded an organization to help people living with HIV/AIDS from his college dorm room over ten years ago and has since served thousands of families in East Africa. In this episode, Justin equips and inspires you to start (or continue) climbing a mountain in your life. You, too, can make a dent in a problem that seems overwhelming.

Trillia Newbell is helping build a culture where families celebrate the diversity in God's family and take steps toward racial reconciliation together. Her most recent book is written for children, but it's a valuable resource for adults and children to join in learning how to better take steps toward walking in love as we build gratitude and relationships with those who are different than us. In this episode, learn what it means to join with children in moving toward racial harmony.

Chris Horst is helping build a culture of collaboration among faith-based organizations. The new book he wrote with Peter Greer, Rooting for Rivals, comes out this summer. In it, Chris and Peter make the case that Christian faith-based organizations are stronger together than in isolation. In this episode, Chris lays out ways you can have a bias toward partnership as you seek the growth of God’s Kingdom.

Kevin Washington is developing athletes to know and love God. As the Director of Player Development for the football program at the University of Texas at Austin, he's helping others understand the intersection of where faith and fitness collide. In this episode, gain a healthier understanding of what it means to care for your body while also caring for your soul.

Meredith King is helping people get unstuck in all walks of life. She co-founded True To Life Ministries, walking with thousands of youth and adults as they move to transition out of poverty. She's mentored hundreds of leaders as a member of the senior team at Integrus Leadership. She writes, speaks, serves, and equips without losing sight of her priorities. Yes, Meredith King is something special. In this episode, Meredith shares why you should value building your life and leadership on solid ground.

Dr. Celestin Musekura is cultivating a culture of forgiveness throughout the African continent. He's the founder and president of ALARM (African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries), an organization he started in 1994 "in response to a crisis of Christian leadership in Africa following the genocide in Rwanda." In this episode, Celestin shares his journey toward forgiveness and equips you with greater tools to experience forgiveness in your own life.

In this episode, I invite you to take inventory of where you've been this year and where you are today so you can be in a better position to make values-driven plans for the future.

Sarah Harmeyer empowers others to love their neighbors through Neighbor's Table. She's hosted over 2,500 people around her household table, and in this episode, Sarah helps you not only value the people at your table, but also the people in your life. Sarah Harmeyer is good at relationships, and by listening to her wisdom--you will be, too.

Scott Kedersha is helping marriages flourish. He's on the leadership team of the marriage ministry at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, TX--a ministry that's helped over 10,000 couples. In this episode, Scott helps you better understand what it means to truly value your marriage.

Chris Chancey is helping staff the refugee workforce. In this episode, Chris helps you have greater clarity around what it means to bring your values to your work. In 2014, Chris visited the city of Clarkston, Georgia to learn more about the refugee resettlement process in America. Clarkston is one of the largest refugee resettlement communities in the country and has an unemployment rate over 50%. As a social entrepreneur, Chris saw an opportunity to employ these legal and diligent newcomers to the US.

In the inaugural episode of the Values-Driven Productivity Podcast, Sharon Mankin helps you begin to clarify your core values. A teacher at heart, Sharon is a master’s level educator and certified leadership coach with Lead Self Lead Others, LLC. She discovered her passion for helping others identify their God-given gifts through the season of motherhood. Her greatest joy is cheering people on as they move toward their potential for the glory of God.