Think!

Most everyone is back at work today, hopefully bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to take on a brand new year. It is time to shed those holiday pounds, shake off the stupor of watching non-stop football, get organized, roll up the sleeves and go to work.

This can be your year to accomplish great things. Hopefully you have worked hard on your goals during your down time and have a 2010 plan ready to execute. If you have been too lazy to set goals for yourself, consider that following a written list of goals is easier than drifting with no plan and the rewards are better. Lazy bones like easy rewards, so there you have it. There is still time to get a list of 2010 goals done over the next few days.

Still not convinced that you need goals? Proverbs 13:16, “A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t and even brags about it!”

I am very optimistic about my goals and I believe this will be my best year yet. My optimism about my goals are not shared by all and in fact some think I’m crazy and headed towards failure. Huh?

I have learned that when I share my ideas with others, initially most just try to shoot them down like anti-aircraft gunners shooting at marauding planes in the sky. I have founded eleven companies now and have experienced negativity from friends, acquaintances, and family on every single one of them when they were in their infancy stage. None of my businesses have failed so far, so where is the beef?

I cannot explain, nor understand this phenomenon. I don’t know if people don’t want me to try something new that possibly they are afraid to try, or if they sincerely think that all of my ideas for starting up new businesses are bad and doomed to fail.

When I became a Christian one of the reasons was because Christ offered hope. There is no negativity in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Christ has confidence in me and what He thinks means more than what all of the naysayers combined have to say, so I forge ahead in spite of them thinking I’m a half wit. When I begin to enjoy some success it seems like everyone then thinks I am some kind of genius and wants to get on board the train with me that is headed toward the land of milk and honey.

Go figure

Don’t let anyone talk you out of accomplishing your dreams, especially satan who is the author of discouragement and negativity. Think through your plan carefully, write it down in a logical format, and execute and you will succeed.

If you are thinking, “Hey wait a minute, the Bible states that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Why do I need to “think”? Why do I need to plan? Christ will watch over me.

Hmmmm As an example I made a pot of coffee this morning. When it had finished brewing I went to get a cup only to find that I had filled the pot with water, put a filter in, but had omitted the small but very important detail of putting coffee in it.

THINK before you act The Bible states that we should plan our goals carefully and deliberately, and not in haste. Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

It also states to get wise counsel to help you devise your plans. Proverbs 15:22, “Plans go wrong with too few counselors; many counselors bring success.” Hmmm Didn’t I just say ignore the naysayers and forge ahead? No, I said that they will exhibit negativity when you initially tell them about your idea’s merit. I don’t ask for their opinion of my idea’s merit anymore as much as I surround myself with people whose opinion I value, tell them what I am undertaking, and ask for their counsel in how best to accomplish it. Two heads are better than one and a three braided cord is very difficult to break.

The Bible is clear that you need goals. Have some fun this year and accomplish great things for the Lord!

Luke 14:28-31
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?