Reporting to you, former procrastinators: Tracking my computer time reveals that I spend twice as much time “vegging out” as I thought I did. That is changing this week. In my sixth grade class, when someone got in trouble, our discerning teacher might ask, “Were you under the influence?” She was referring to other students. She knew who somebody listens to or sits near could affect his behavior. In The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy speaks of outside influences in…
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Motivation and Momentum – The Compound Effect
You know, former procrastinators, even experts in their fields don’t agree. Stephen Guise encourages such small goals that performing them takes very little effort – so little that it’s actually easy to exercise will power and do them. (Read two pages in a book, do one push up.) In The Compound Effect Darren Hardy says, no, will power won’t carry you through. You have to have motivation. Hardy’s not talking about mini goals but “regular” size ones. Still, we have…
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A Dad’s Compounding Influence – The Compound Effect
Happy Day After Father’s Day, former procrastinators. I hope you have wonderful fathers, husbands, sons, and other influential men in your lives that you gratefully honor. Reviewing Darren Hardy’s The Compound Effect has prompted me to recall ways my own dad compounded his influence as my father. His consistent “deposits” of instruction, counsel, fun, and provision grew a large harvest in my life. These and other things compounded over the years: His Values – Family relationships were important and he…
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Are You Tracking? – The Compound Effect
Last week, former procrastinators, we saw the large impact of small actions repeated over time. In Darren Hardy’s book Compound Effect we’re reminded that the large impact can be either negative or positive. Our repeated steps take us in a direction. Whether it’s mindless munching on potato chips (I’m so guilty) or steady review of Bible verses (getting better) we move away from what we desire or toward it. A friend of ours points out, “We always reap what we…
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Worth the Wait – The Compound Effect
This month’s encouragement, former procrastinators, comes from The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy. Pair the basic takeaways from this book with mini habits or other beneficial routines, and you’ll have a dynamite combo. Consider small things and repeated behavior biblically. We’re saved in an instant, but sanctified slowly, step by step. Uneducated disciples and highly educated Paul all had to go through daily life in Christ to become mature believers. A child learns to crawl, stand, walk holding mom’s finger,…
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Learning and Sharing Joy (In Merry May)
As former procrastinators, we should be filled with joy. Hallelujah! More and more often we do what needs doing when it needs doing. We have happy benefits. Sometimes we put off joy – “I don’t have time to be cheerful. I have to concentrate on this task.” We act as if joy is a heavy thing we load onto our backs. Joy is good cheer that comes from trusting God who loves us. It affects how we view things and…
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Joy Thieves and Joy Seeds (In Merry May)
Speaking of joy, former procrastinators, let’s admit procrastination is a joy stealer. In the moment we choose to delay, we select something we prefer over what we need to do. Maybe we choose play like watch a movie, or rest like take a nap, or other work like cleaning mirrors instead of vacuuming the basement. That self-indulging choice will rob us of joy. We need play and rest. Maybe one of those is exactly what we should be doing but…
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