The Excellence Edge

January has always been a time for me of looking forward and moving ahead with my life. I want to make it better each year.

In looking ahead to the life I want to create going forward in 2009, the word “Excellence” comes to mind. God has really challenged me to step up to the next level in being all that he wants me to be.

When I’ve read about excellence, I’ve been amazed to see the small difference between just being average or mediocre and being excellent and outstanding. Just taking that extra step, going that extra mile, spending that extra minute on doing something right makes all the difference!

Think about the Olympics for a minute. The difference between being a gold medal winner and a silver, bronze or no medal winner are in many cases only fractions of a second! The difference means fame and millions of dollars in endorsements - or obscurity, even for an awesome performance!

In the world of professional golf the difference between first and second place, which could be only one stroke apart, may be half a million dollars in earnings!

What are you losing by not going all the way? What could you gain by pushing yourself to the limit of your capabilities? This can apply in your personal relationships as well as in sales, your job or career activities, board positions or volunteer activities you’re involved in. Being at the next level or at number one or on top of your game or profession may be only a small nudge away from what you’re already doing.

What is that little extra you can do to be your best? Is there something else you can do to move beyond your best to be the best? Hint: study the top people who are doing what you want to do and you’ll gain some insights into the edge they have by what they’re doing that you’re not. Often the people who complain the loudest about people who are successful, thinking they don’t deserve to be, are the least willing to do what the top dogs had to do to get where they are.

What is it you’ve been unwilling to do in order to be the most successful?

Would it be worth it to you to do so?

How would you feel if you accomplished your best?

Are you willing to stretch yourself a little and move perhaps a little (or a lot!) out of your comfort zone?

In case you need a little more guidance, incentive or inspiration, here are a few verses to remind us of the kind of people we can become and that God expects us to be, if we call ourselves followers of Christ. Remember that He is with us in the process! And we will bring honor to his name because of how we live.

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. – Ephesians 4:1

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. - 1 Corinthians 9:23-25

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:1-3

Here are some other verses you may want to look up: 2 Timothy 2:15, 2. Timothy 1:7, 1 Chronicles 28:8-10, 1 Peter 5:8-9, and Ephesians 6:10-20.

For more in this topic and to view a recently published article I wrote on pursuing excellence, go to: www.Real-Life-Institute.com/articles.html and click on “Entering the Excellence Zone.”

It’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I've been fortunate enough to really have beefed up the level of friendships I have in the past year. That was an aspect that I had specifically prayed about and God answered very quickly. It's been amazing to see how my circle of girlfriends has grown - in both size and quality of relationship and accountability to meet regularly with each other in true support as friends.

One of the ladies God has brought my way through an amazing set of circumstances happens to have recently moved into my neighborhood. We have a lot in common, including her enjoyment of writing and speaking. She sent me some thoughts she was putting together for our neighborhood newsletter. I liked the sentiment she expressed, which reminds us how important friendships and a sense of community and connection are, particularly in this disjointed, disconnected and autonomous society. So I'll share it here for you:

It’s beautiful day in the neighborhood here. The beauty of the Christmas decorations recently lit up the neighborhood and hopefully lit up your spirits too. Some homes were lit with white, others with blue and some were fun for the kids. It’s always fun to drive and look at all the decorations and lights each year. This was our first Christmas in this neighborhood, and driving from the front of the neighborhood to the back and all around was a nice display of lights.

The famous quote of Mr. Rogers, “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!” has been the thought in my mind ever since we moved in. We have been welcomed in by our new neighbors and that’s special in today’s world. Life is so busy these days! But
it’s been like the good old days here for us. Remember when a neighbor would walk over for a glass of lemonade on the porch on a hot summer’s day or come over to borrow a cup of sugar? It has been that old-fashioned feeling right from the start, with home grown tomatoes brought to us, welcome notes, and others popping over to chat and offer help if we needed anything. Right away we felt as though we had met more than neighbors: we had gained new friends.

We see this throughout the neighborhood as we drive to and from our house. There are walkers and bikers and, of course, golfers. There are people walking their dogs and people stopping to talk one to another. I know our dogs have met many neighbors on their morning walks!

We have experienced the end of last summer, all of fall and now winter has come to greet us. Each season has its beauty. Something in the summer season I didn’t think was all that beautiful, a copperhead snake, found itself behind our trash can. But studying the picture taken after its death, it did appear rather remarkable with its copper coloring shining brightly. However, I think I’d prefer looking at the shining Christmas lights!

We fell in love with the beauty of God’s creation (including the snake?!) all around us here from the first time we stepped out of our car. We love having people over to share the beauty we see each and everyday. Those who visit us for the first time ask: “How in the world did you find this place?”

It’s winter time now and people will be staying inside more, but looking out the window or stepping out the front door, a neighbor is always near. Why not ask them over for a cup of cocoa and talk about the good old days, or borrow a cup of sugar and make them a pie in return?! It can be a beautiful day in the neighborhood on any given day when we take the time to really be a neighbor!

(Written by Barbara Wheatley of Mountain Top Ministries)

Thanks for the insights and reminder, Barbara! And welcome to the neighborhood!

Sabbatical Thoughts

Over the past couple of weeks I felt a need to rest and be still. I took time not only for family and vacation, but for recovery from a cold perhaps due to running too hard and too fast for too long! It seems to catch up with me about every other year when I stop running, if I don't temper my schedule and my mind with enough balance! It's hard to do sometimes when you're as passionate as I am about life!

Thank you for indulging me as I took the time for further reflection and direction for this new year. (Guess you really didn't have a choice, but thanks for keeping on checking in to see if I was posting!) ;-)

Taking time to make sure you are on track and going in the right direction, and doing things for the right reasons, is a critical part of the process of life. I find the end of one year and the beginning of the next is the best time for me to be introspective and retrospective, and to ultimately put everything in its proper perspective.

How about you? I trust you have not just jumped back into the fray and gotten back on the mad turnstile of life again, but have indeed taken time to reconnect with God - to look at Him from a different, fresh perspective, to take special time out to really listen and connect with Him in a special, more intimate way. Perhaps to really "Experience God" in a way you never have before.

If you haven't taken the time to do so, I encourage you to carve out the most important time you know you need right now. Put an appointment with God on your schedule - even if it's only for 15-30 minutes one day very soon. You may want to read some Scripture, talk a little about what's on your heart, but most of the time, try to just listen.

Although you may or may not hear his voice speaking to you right away, you will undoubtedly see or hear or know the signs of his presence and his answers throughout the following day or days. The time you invest with God will never be for nothing. It can only enrich and strengthen your life with power from the True Source of life and love himself! Every time you meet with him, you will be changed - little by little it may seem, but over time others, if not yourself, will notice a big difference.

Know where you're going and why, then spend your time pursuing the excellent way! What you focus on you will become. From glory to glory you will be changed and will be like him! Rejoice in the process, as you consciously choose to develop this new habit, and learn to hear God's voice more clearly.

Update

Just a quick post to let you know I've been under the weather this past week, trying to get over a cold. Looks like I'm getting the better of it now, as I'm starting to get my nose, my voice and my energy back today!

Now I've got to catch up on a few things from being away a week on vacation and out of commission this past week. (Like a couple of art shows and a speaking engagement this week!) So check back next week for more blog posts!

Happy New Year!

I hope you have resolved to make 2009 your best year ever!

Whatever your goals are, if you are as specific as possible and give yourself a deadline date for achieving them, you will see more things happening quicker!

Another tip is to break big goals down into smaller steps or projects. Then allocate a little bit of time every day possible to do something towards it. Before you know it, it will have been accomplished!

For more tips on reaching and tracking your goals for the year, visit my website at: http://www.real-life-institute.com/. There are articles, tips and tools you can use to help you with all areas of your life.

May you have a New Year ReVolution in 2009! :-)

If you live in the Hampton Roads area, I'll be speaking on this topic on Friday, January 9th at the Christian Biz Network. If you're interested in attending, let me know and I'll forward the email details to you.