• Now IS NOT the time for critique
• Now IS NOT the time for negative self-talk
• Now IS the time to execute
• Now IS the time to reinforce positive habits

In order to do that you will have to learn to take it easy on yourself.  Depending on the size of the change will determine how much grace you need to give to yourself.  A significant change will require more time for mistakes and missteps.  This doesn't mean that we overlook these missteps.  It just means that we need to recognize that change takes time.  Highlight the positive moments and move past the negative ones.

When I started participating in National Novel Writers Month this was my biggest issue.  I couldn't silence my inner critic.  This internal editor kept me revising the same paragraphs.  It also made me restart writing projects thus loosing any forward momentum I might have gained.  The first year I tried NaNoWriMo I don't think I made it to 500 words.  It took me several years of attempts before I could silence this voice and make it though.  As one of my mentors says 1 is always greater than zero.

It is better for you to get your multiple reps in consistently than it is for one perfect rep done sporadically.  Plus, as I have said before perfection doesn't exist anyway.  If you get started and take steps in the right direction you'll always beat the perfectionist.  You'll be so far down the road that the perfectionist will never catch up.

The name of the game is execution.  Execute consistently and give yourself space to learn and grow.

• What are you trying to accomplish?
• What are the next steps to get you closer to your goal?n

Commit to giving yourself the grace to take the clumsy first steps.

In an effort to illustrate what I am talking about, here is one of my early videos.

Stink First

You got this! I believe in you!

Another theme that comes up in conversation is timing. We are always looking for a perfect moment. We want to strike at just the right time. We wait, and wait and wait until finally... nothing.

• We'll start that new diet on Jan 1
• Kick off that new habit on Monday
• Implement the new process next quarter

Honestly this search for the perfect moment is stifling. It quenches the fires of productivity and keeps us from moving forward. It is also based on an incorrect assumption. We feel that if we do strike at the right moment we'll hit a home run. This is wrong and will leave you frustrated. If you want to find success and implement that new habit the most important thing you can do is Start Now.

Not tomorrow
Not Monday
Nor for the New Year

Do It Now!

What can you do right now that will get you one step closer?

• If you've got something in mind, DO IT NOW
• If not then your task is to determine the next step and DO IT NOW

Either way get started now

Here are three videos that tackling this very issue.

Roberto Blake

GaryVee

Dr. Eric Thomas

I think I am suffering from new baby brain now so I am short cutting this train of thought

The same thing happens with me. Now it is not as dramatic as it is for little me but I recognize that change is coming. I get inside my own head which can be very disruptive to my family. ;-)

While I might be able to push it off and hold it back, eventually the Change Gone Come

So what does that mean? As I mention frequently in The Minute you have to plan/prepare for change. It is inevitable. You cannot hold it back for very long. There really is no stopping it. Like with our new baby it is going to arrive, causing a big splash changing the landscape.

The question is, will you be ready when the change comes?

When doing a retro you ask yourself these questions.

1. What Went Well
2. What Needs Improvement
3. What Needs to be Added Specific Goals

Personal Retro

What's Working Well

1. Creating a new rhythym even with the many changes
2. Healthy Sleep patterns
3. Podcasting
4. Immediate family relationships

What Needs Improvement

1. Prioritization
2. Nutrition
3. Exercise
4. Additional Income Stream

Goals Met

1. Complete MS Degree
2. Preached/Spoke at 4 events

Goals Not Met

1. Bike to work > 1 times per week
2. Write Book

Specific goals for next period

1. Write Book
2. Lose 50 pounds
3. Earn additional $500/mo

Professional Retro

What's Working Well

Individually

1. Good Team
2. Writing Code Again
3. Mentoring

Corporate

1. Communication
2. Growth
3. Corporate Atmosphere

What Needs Improvement

Individually

1. Find a new challenge
2. Data Science Opportunity
3. Additional Stream of Income

Corporate

1. Still looking for unclass development and telework
2. Paternal Leave is still important to me. New baby in December.

Specific Goals for Next Period

Big 3

Near: Contribute to an Open Source Project

Mid: Utilize my Data Science Skill set

Long: Developing a SpinCo

Plans for 2018

Back in the early days in my ministry I implemented focus weeks. This was a 7 day period where I would fast, pray and focus. One year I had one focus week every month. For this year I am bringing the practice back. Focus weeks will be the 3rd week of ever month. So to set the stage here my plans for 2018.

Have Wild Thoughts

“And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken.” - 2 Samuel‬ ‭7:25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In chapter 7 God establishes covenant with David after. He returned to Jerusalem with the Ark of the Covenant. As he settled into his kingly life in the palace he was overcome with a wild thought. Why do I love in this palace of cedar while the Lord lived in a tent? From this thought and David’s desire to build a house for God, a covenant is formed that leads to Israel establishing a home and a time of peace. From David’s thought came peace and prosperity for the people.

What wild thoughts are you having? Are they only for you and those closest to you? Do you consider anything larger than yourself? What thing would you like to see accomplished that is larger than your lifetime?

I must admit that my wild thoughts at the beginning of most years are for myself. I do not think this is a bad thing. Similarly to attaching my oxygen mask first before helping anyone else I consider my own needs up front. The goal is to address these things early so that the real work of helping/serving others can take begin. Staying in my own head/stuff too long is bad. Considering others leads to a lastin joy. People are whom God cares about most.

One wild thought - Do a 120 mile bike ride this year.

Prayer is unique to humans.
Prayer is the highest spiritual activity.
Pray in moments of joy
* “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever...” - Psalms‬ ‭136:1-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Pray in moments of distress
* “...Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” - ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:23-28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Prayer should be persistent, tenacious
* “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart..." - ‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:1-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬ * “...I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.” - Luke‬ ‭11:5-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Prayer should be simple and humble
* “... For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Luke‬ ‭18:10-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Lord's Prayer shows our prayer focus
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” - Matthew‬ ‭6:9-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬ * God - "Our Father..." * His Kingdom - "Your Kingdom Come..." * His Glory - "Your Will Be Done..." * Our Need For His Forgiveness - "Forgive our debts..." * Our Need For His Daily Support - "Our Daily Bread..." * Our Need For His Daily Deliverance - "Lead Us Not into Temptation..."

The Early Church was be marked by Prayer
* “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” - Acts‬ ‭2:42‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Prayer deepens or faith in Christ and increases our our appreciation in God's Love
* “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” - Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Today is the first day back on the grind for me. I wanted to raise a mug up to everyone living in the future with me. If you have goals for this year get started and do something today. Don't give up!

If you don't have any goals do something anyway.

No Default Living

One of the conversations that came up a few times as the 2014 wound down was how folks felt stuck. It took me a while to figure this out but life does not happen to you. You have made decisions, whether implicit or explicit, that ave brought about your circumstances. If you know you are making bad decisions then the first step is to stop digging. If your circumstances are coming because you are doing nothing then now is the time to do something. Pick a direction and go. Stop wandering.

Will it be easy? NO!
Does that make a difference? NO!

Eat Your Veggies

So what will I be doing? I mean it is easy to give advice but how will I be living it? I am glad you asked that.

I am going to focus on buliding/strengthing a habit each month. For January I am focused on Prayer/Bible Study. I am following Professor Horner's Bible Reading Plan. This is a challenging plan in that you read 10 chapters each day. At the end of this 8 month program you will have read:

• The Gospels (Matthew, Mark ,Luke and John) four times
• The Pentateuch (first 5 books) twice
• The Pauline Letters 4-5 times
• The OT Wisdom Literature six times
• The Psalms at least twice
• The Proverbs a dozen times
• The Book of Acts a dozen times
• The OT History about 1.5 times
• The Prophetic books about 1.5 times.

I use the bible app Youversion. The app allows me to listen the chapters in order.

While following this plan will go throughout most of the year I am using January to establish the rhythm needed to keep it up. Last year I Followed the M'Cheyne One Year Program. There is even a audio podcast on iTunes to help with listening.

Challenge

If you are up to it. Pick a habit you want to establish this month. Let me know in the comments and I'll check in with you. For those that make it thourgh I will do a giveaway on 30 Jan 2015.

I look forward to walking with you this year.