40 Days of Focus

"Brutal Facts." I am reminded today of the pages of a book I read a few years ago by Jim Collins. In the book "Good to Great", in one of the early chapters of the book, it was discovered that consistently, the world's greatest companies had an ability to take the time to confront the "brutal" facts of the world around them.

Can you imagine where IBM would be today, if their business could not accept the fact in the 1970's that typewriters were going to be replaced with personal computers? I use this illustration because I am certain that having this discussion within a business who makes it's money on typewriters would not be very encouraging. To even question the possibility of another alternative to their main business line, would force them to look into the future at a world that did not need IBM, unless they changed.

And changed they did, but not until they first had the courage to face up to the brutal facts of the world around them. Going back to the book I first mentioned, I would like to submit a quotation,

"When you start with an honest and diligent effort to determine the truth of your situation, the right decisions often become self-evident. It is impossible to make good decisions without infusing the entire process with an honest confrontation of the brutal facts."(88)

The first place we must begin on our forty day focus journey is being real with ourselves. I caution against self-condemnation however. We need to be able to look ourselves in the mirror and be able to objectively see what is there. It is at this place that we can take inventory of where we are, providing us with a starting point of where we want to go. Being honest helps you in making decisions that will enable you to arrive at the place that your heart is yearning for.

TASKS:

Needs Assessment:

Do you have weaknesses? What are they. Think of just one, that if you mastered it, it would change your life forever. Where do you desire to grow? What is longing deep within your heart. Take time to search for it, pull it out and put it on paper. What is God saying you need to develop? Most of us are surprised when we find out we are much harder on ourselves than God is. (This is probably why we were asked to identify our weaknesses first).

STRATEGY:

What are the action step(s) that you need to take in order to see you achieve your goals?

One area I am developing is getting up an hour before my normal wake-up time. This is difficult for a guy who in not a morning person, but I will put that time to use in a way that will help me achieve some personal goals.

RESULTS:

Look for something measurable. For me, when I run or bike, I simply enjoy the wind rushing past me. I celebrate the accomplishment of the run/bike when it is done, but I experience joy in the journey. As you get out of the gate on you 40 Days of Focus, look for results as simple as, "I wasn't where I was when I started out this morning." We can grow from there.

Today's Scripture Verse:

Jer. 29:11-12

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. NKJV

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