2 Things I Know for Sure; 1 Thing I Don’t Know for Sure

We all have a past. We can look back into our past, we can recall things from our past, and many times we live in the past. One thing I know for sure; we all have a past. We may not like our past but it is ours and we created it. We may love our past and it brings great joy looking back on it. We may, however, dread looking back at our past. No matter how we feel about it, it is ours and we own it. We cannot change our past either. Once we create it, there is no edit, change, or deletes. It is posted in our memory forever. That does not mean we must live in it. We know it is there, it does not have to be where we live and dwell all the time. The past is the past; it is done and we accept it. 

We all have a present. Right now, is the present and it is short lived and gone in a flash. One thing I know for sure; we all have a present. We all have twenty-four hours in a day and before each hour starts, you are in the present, but once that hour goes by, it moved to the past and we cannot change it. The present is where we should live and enjoy life. Here is where you can edit and delete. What you do in the present, soon moves to the past and then it is locked in your past forever. Today, right now, this very second, is the present and you can make it however you want. 

We all have a future. We know what are past is because it is already done and we know what the present is because we are in in right now. One thing I don’t know for sure; what the future holds. Living in the present, we do not know what the next minute, hour, day, or week will hold for us. We do not know the future. We may think we know our future and we can plan our future, but there is no guarantee it will happen that way. 

We have the capability to live our lives in one of these three times. We can live in the past and dwell on that every day and we can make our present to reflect that time. But what if our past is marred and unpleasant; then our present will reflect that. But what if our past is unmarred and pleasant for us; then our present could reflect that but then we are not living in the present any longer, we are living in the past. We can live in the future but that only brings worry and anxiousness not knowing what the future holds. Who wants to live like that? 

Or, we can live in the present where we can edit, change, and delete as we go. What we do today, becomes our past tomorrow. 

                “For I know the plans I have for,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jerimiah 29:11

What a revelation! Did you just read that and understand it? The Lord has our future in his plan and his hands. He alone can edit and change our future per his plan. All the worry and fret and anxiousness cannot change a day in our life. We must live in the present and leave the future to the Lord. Do not get me wrong, we can prepare for the future. Living day to day, trusting in the Lord for tomorrow is by far the most stress-free living we can do.

Where are, you living? Comments! Suggestions!

Leaving Your Footprint

I recently visited a church I served at nine years ago and was pleasantly surprised at what I saw. As we arrived to the parking lot, we noticed several golf carts picking people up to save them the walk to the church building. We parked and sure enough the man in the cart noticed us and came by. I was surprised because it was the same cart and same volunteer that I put in place nine years ago. We had a brief reunion on the ride and enjoyed reconnecting with Dan. 

During the worship service we sat with a couple that are dear friends and the husband had just returned to church after a year of recovery from a double lung transplant. The pastor acknowledged Barry's miracle to the congregation and when he saw us sitting next to him, made us stand too as he acknowledged us as former staff of the church. All during the service people came and hugged and loved on us. During the welcome time, a couple came by and were wearing greeter name badges. Linda and Chris said that if we would have come in the front worship center doors they would have greeted us because that is where I left them nine years ago. 

No this is not about me! It is about how God uses us to leave footprints when we serve him. As I thought back on my ministry there, I remember it like it was yesterday. Leaving your footprint comes from intentional ministry and a vision. Back when I was setting up the “Pit Crew” to drive golf carts, I recruited volunteers to be a part of a vision and purpose. I didn’t just recruit people to fill a time slot to volunteer. I shared a vision of first impressions and the need for some people that needed help when having to park so far from the church. They took that vision and made it their own and thus you have it being carried out, nine years later.

Back when my wife and I revamped the greeter ministry there, it was all about the vision of first impressions and how people needed a warm smile and handshake when coming to church. I didn’t just ask volunteers to fill a time slot. I shared a vision and a ministry to all ages and they took that vision and make it their own thus you have it being carried out years later. 

The secret to volunteerism is having a vision and then sharing your vision and letting others join you and taking some ownership.  Once you do that they will join in and take it further than you could have alone. Now you have multiple people involved in the vision sharing their ideas, dreaming with you, and it begins to grow exponentially. 

Don’t just recruit people to fill time slots or duties that need to be done or they will drop like flies in a short time and you will be recruiting constantly. Start with a vision of ministry and get people to join you and they will serve for years to come, even when you are gone.

Comments? Suggestions?

Yes Office Golf is a Team Building Game

If you are not playing Office Golf at work, you are missing one of the best team building exercises ever thought of. I have been playing for years and every time we play we laugh hard and play for keeps. It doesn't matter who you are, you will love Office Golf.

Fact #1 There is no way to be mad at someone when playing Office Golf. When you get the staff together to play, all dissension and drama disappears for a while. There is just no way to play Office Golf and be mad at someone while playing.

Fact #2 Even though it is played in the office, its always competitive play.

Fact #3 No matter who you are, you will laugh hard when playing Office Golf

So what are you waiting for? If you have never played this incredible team building game, start today. We have a portable Office Golf game but you can use a Styrofoam cup for the hole and everyone brings a putter and ball. That's all you need. Set the hole down hallways, down several hallways, or even in another room. Things in the way like chairs, water fountains, benches, and the like are all hazards and traps. Leave them in play! Each person tees off and plays wherever their ball lands. If you are up against the wall, you can pull it out a club head length out. Make up a par and count your strokes.

So, here is a glimpse of our latest Office Golf initiating two new employees to the game. It was a long putt up hill and this guy nailed it! Take a peak....

Watch Here

Comments? Do you play Office Golf?

Never Pay Credit Card Fees Again

The title grabbed your interest right? No pun intended. It should. I'll get to the point; paying interest fees, late fees, annual fees and penalties on credit cards may not be a sound financial plan. It depends on you and how you manage your finances. At one point, I had over 14 credit cards so I know what I am talking about. Credit card companies are the best marketers out there. They study and research the habits of their card owners and know there is a high propensity of you not paying the entire balance off.

Larry Burkett, founder of Crown Financial Ministries, teaches that credit cards are alright, IF, you can pay the entire balance off every month. By following his teaching, you might eliminate the interest fee and late fees. But the second you choose to NOT pay the full balance at the end of each month, your trapped.

Dave Ramsey, founder of Financial Peace University, teaches that credit cards are not a necessity, especially if you are one of those that don't pay it off each month. Cut them up Dave says! You can do everything without credit cards that you can with them. Dave is an international traveler and does not use credit cards.

I have always been told that you have to have at least one credit card to get by in life. I believed that myth for most all my adulthood until I starting teaching FPU. I have lived the nightmare of credit cards with the astronomical interest rates because I was one day late, ridiculous late fee amounts, penalties, and maxed out limits.

Five years ago, while teaching FPU, I cut up 14 credit cards in front of the class. I was a nervous wreck but knew deep down it was the right thing to do. From that point forward I have paid cash for everything and within 24 months we became completely debt free of all non-mortgage debt. We paid off over $40k of debt by paying cash and using Dave's FPU plan.

Myth: you can't rent a car without a credit card. I have done that multiple times. Some put a small hold on your account but that gets refunded within 3 days.

Myth: you can't book a hotel without a credit card. I have done that for years. If you pay for the room in advance or pay the day you check out, there is no hold on your account.

Myth: I earn miles and points that save me money. Dave has found that a high percent of people never use them plus if you are one of those that can't pay the entire balance off each month, its not worth the miles and points.

I have not paid any credit card interest fees, late fees, penalty fees, annual fees, or have a credit card that's maxed out and unusable for over five years. How about you?

NOTE: I highly recommend you attend FPU before attempting to just cut up credit cards. There is a process and a plan to follow that works that includes cutting up your cards.

Comments? Are you living debt free?

6 Types of People You Need

I love all the new tech stuff now days but do not enjoy all the charging that it all needs. I even have a 6 port USB charging station in my home that we use for all the tech stuff that needs charging. It looks pretty impressive too! Our technology is not the only things that need charging. I learned a long time ago that people need charging and re-charging too. The area I am referring to is relational refueling. We don’t always think of that type of refueling. Obviously if you don’t refuel your vehicle, it eventually stops. If you don’t refuel your tech stuff, it eventually stops working. People are no different!

I have figured out that there are at least six types of people you really need around you to keep you going. There are many stages or times in your life where a friend can help refuel you and get you going again. In each of these areas you need to know someone that lifts you up. Here is my list 

• Fun people – for the times when you get so busy you can’t see straight. When your schedule is crammed and so full that you forget to enjoy life. Find this person and have a little fun together. Recharges me every time! Fun people will make you laugh and that is so therapeutic.

• Prayer warriors– these are the ones that even if you just call them, they would pray for you over the phone in a heartbeat. Share your life needs with a warrior and they are praying endlessly for you.

• Mentor – you have to be a lifelong learner and a mentor does just that for you. Always there for advice or just a sounding board for you. Mentors teach through love and can teach you about yourself that no one else can do. A mentor is open and honest and will tell you straight out how to respond to a situation you may be feeling.

• Family – are all important and will love you unconditionally. They know you and understand you more than anyone in most cases.

•  Successful People – these people I ask how they did it or what it’s like to be successful. In my business world I need to be around successful people now and then to show me I can do it too.

• Encouragers - invaluable in a friendship. Encouragers will lift you back up and get you going quickly. They are positive and focus on the good in everything. They complement and make you feel great when down emotionally.

Recharging relationally will super-charge you and move you forward. Look around and check for these six types of people to see that you have all six. Identify people in all six areas so when the time comes you will be ready to make a call or go see one of them. There can be multiple people in each area, but one will probably surface as the primary one. If you are a Christ follower then you may be asking where Jesus is in my list. If you are a Christ follower, Christ will be first and foremost and can satisfy all the needs you have in all six areas. Jesus spoke this truth in the book of Matthew, chapter 11, verse 28-29: “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

If you are reading this article and feeling overwhelmed with something in life or think you have no one to turn to in weary times, remember first that Christ is there waiting for you to turn to Him. He will direct you to the right person in one of the six types of people you need here on earth. Now you know where there is recharging here on earth plus recharging for our faith through Christ. Start making your list today and be ready to be charged relationally. Get fully charged and make some fun life videos! 

Comments? Do you have all six?

5 Words Every Employee Wants to Hear

Creating a fun, safe, and inviting environment at your office is important to your employees working there. If you want employees that can’t wait to get to the office each day, then there are certain words they need to hear on a daily and weekly basis. As a leader, you can make or break the office atmosphere by taking the initiative to add value to them. Here are my top 5 words I try and use daily and weekly to each employee. 

• Good morning – every day as I arrived to the office I would make the rounds to those in their office and just say "Good Morning" with a smile. A simple yet invited gesture that says thanks for noticing me!
  
• Great Job – whenever possible I would look for a reason to tell an employee what a great job they are doing. I would maybe see a project they cranked out that was outstanding and I commented to them "great job".
  
• Thank you – look for things about your employees to be thankful for like getting a project done early, or going the extra mile on something, or just being attentive to special things they get accomplished.
• You rock – adding a little fun to an employee’s day will go a long way in building a good relationship. Watch and be alert to things they accomplish that maybe was more than expected or chipping in on an office project that needed extra help.
• Can I help you? – you can tell when an employee is down or not up to par by their countenance and or actions around the office. Don’t miss this opportunity to just ask how they are doing and if you can help them. 

 

By using all five of these daily and or weekly, you will be adding value to each employee. Adding value makes people feel better about themselves and causes them to serve and work with vigor. When employees hear these on a regular basis, they can’t wait to get to the office to be noticed, encouraged, and valued.  It just works!

Rick Cadden CCA, CCBA is a Certified Business Administrator with over 40 years of experience with employee relations as a business owner and church business leader.