Welcome to the Truth@Life Blog Site by Curtis Songer


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There are 5 threads of thought in this blog site:
1. Church Stuff - things pertaining to the evangelical Christian Church of today
2. Leadership Corner - concepts on management & leadership
3. Two Becoming One - principles of marriage enrichment
4. Train Up a Child - principles of parenting
5. Personal Thoughts - my mental ramblings on how God is growing me

I highly recommend you find an entry on one of these topics that interests you and click on that label at the end of that entry. It will bring up all the entries on that particular category. And be sure to check out the great web site links in the lower right corner of this page - Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

What Kind of Thinker Are You? (part 1 of 4)

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalms 143:8 The result of trying to function in a role for which you aren’t mentally wired is going to be distress and dysfunction. Each one of us is born with a built in thinking wavelength, a way of organizing the world, tolerating change, and juggling variables. We must recognize that we may have a thinking wavelength that may or may not be the same as the person we married, our supervisor, those we manage, or others we regularly interact with. The thinking wavelength is directly related to the work you are going to do successfully. The continuum, is from left administrative/operational) to development/strategic), the categories are grinders, minders, keepers, finders, and theorists. Today we will explore the work of the “Grinders”… Grinders get the work done. They are detailed minded doers. The world cannot operate without grinders. They provide the basic labor force for the entire world and all it operations. A company is likely to be successful only in direct proportion to the productivity, quality, efficiency , and morale of its grinders. They are the ultimate concrete thinkers. Grinders have the following tendencies: document things, get the work done, are risk-adverse, like few variables, take one step at a time, have a low tolerance for ambiguity, understand tasks and the need to solve problems, handle administrative details well, and deliver working drawings. Positions usually best occupied by grinders include: corporate meeting planner, mechanic, administrative assistant, bookkeeper, and factory worker. Your thinking wavelength defines the type of roles that will make you most fulfilled, least stressed, and most successful. What is your thinking wavelength? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Monday, July 30, 2012

Combining Your Driver & Your Comfort Zone (summary)

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalms 143:8 If you have been following these blogs over the last couple weeks, you now know there are nine combinations of drivers and comfort zones. A driving force and a comfort zone are linked within you. They do not exist independently. Today we will summarize the nine combinations. Power - People: The person driven by power but with a comfort zone of people is going to be very concerned about how to marshal the masses. Such a person may very well gravitate toward politics. Power – Ideas: The person driven by power but with an affinity for ideas is going to want to make sure that the ideas are widely circulated and that they have maximum impact on the culture or group. Such a person may find an outlet in publishing(?), consulting/coaching/counseling, or the academic world. Power – Things: The person who is driven by power but has a heart for things is going to seek to use machinery in the exercise of power. Such a person may be drawn to the military, or to the use of heavy machinery, or to the use of computers or broadcast technology to wield power. Image – People: The image driven person with a heart for people is going to be very gifted in organizing large events for maximum circumstance. A royal wedding or a state funeral or a state dinner will be their desired challenge. Image – Ideas: The image driven person with an affinity for ideas may be a fashion designer of an innovator of new packaging for an established product. Image – Things: The image driven person with a comfort zone for things is likely to be an excellent landscape architect or window dresser. Contribution – People: The contribution driven person with a heart for people is likely to be drawn to group activities and efforts, perhaps working on medical teams rather than in solo clinical settings, or perhaps teaching groups of people (children) or organizing the masses into demonstrations and rallies. Contribution – Ideas: The contribution driven person that has a comfort zone of ideas is going to write the editorials that incite the masses to take on an important social concern. Contribution – Things: The contribution person with an affinity for things is going to man the soup kitchen or volunteer to build the Habitat for Humanity house. In the corporate world, that person is likely to be an administrative assistant; in the church world that person is likely to be a trustee or the church secretary. These nine combinations are randomly distributed among family members and organizational members. Each can be a significant force for good. Which are you? Your driver/comfort zone defines who you are and how you interact with your world around you. What is your comfort zone and how is it affecting your life? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Reflecting on Your Comfort Zone (part 4 of 4)

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalms 143:8 Today and tomorrow we will summarize drivers and comfort zones. Most people find it fairly easy to locate their comfort zone. If you are unsure, ask yourself what your perfect Saturday would look like. As in the case of drivers, no one heart focus is right or more noble than the others. All have usefulness in building God’s kingdom. Those with a people comfort zone always make others feel welcome in the group. Those with an affinity for ideas have breakthrough insights into the Scriptures. Those with a comfort zone involving things can help set up for programs and keep the physical operations of the church in order. Review the last couple week’s blogs on these topics and take time to reflect on your driver-comfort zone identity. Ask yourself the following questions: In what ways are you likely to express yourself? In what fields are you going to be the most comfortable? What settings are you likely to arrange for yourself (including home and office)? How are you likely to interact with other people? For what are you most likely to spend money? In what roles are you going to find the greatest fulfillment and satisfaction (ask yourself this for each of your life domains)? Understanding the driver/comfort zone construct of those close to you will help you to understand their behaviors (e.g., you enjoy going to a party to socialize, but you still always find your spouse in the library of the party home reading a book!). It will also help you understand your own behaviors and why people react to you in certain ways. Learn to embrace who you are and leverage your driver – comfort zone combination. Your driver/comfort zone defines who you are and how you interact with your world around you. What is your comfort zone and how is it affecting your life? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Your Comfort Zone (part 3 of 4)

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalms 143:8 We all have met people who are more comfortable tinkering with things in the kitchen than mingling with guests in the living room. We all know people who can get very excited about ideas and books, but who seem to have few social skills and even fewer abilities to deal with tools and gadgets. Some people care very little about people or ideas but are quite at home experimenting in their labs, sketching at a drawing table, or concocting new creations at the kitchen stove. This affinity is called the comfort zone. In what setting do you feel the greatest sense of pleasure, satisfaction, and ease. The 3 primary comfort zones are people, ideas, and things. Today we will explore the world of people whose comfort zone is “things”. The person who has a comfort zone of things is likely to feel emotionally at home tinkering in the workshop, sitting at the sewing machine, or working on the family car. A person with an affinity for things is often restless or uncomfortable unless he is doing something, generally involving the sense of touch or the use of hands. Such a person loves the feel of metal, wood, fabric, soil, or objects. S/he finds satisfaction in seeing something take shape, produce a physical or materials result, or be fixed and put into good working order. Those with the affinity for things enjoy being with other people only if the group is actively engaged in a task that has a strong tangible component, such as building a house. Ideas are only important to this type of person if they are directly related to something that is practical or tangible. “Things” also include animals; those with this affinity enjoy grooming, riding, working with, and handling animals. “Things” can also include plants. Individuals with this comfort zone often work as product designers, craftsmen, construction workers, engineers, tailors, chefs, or model builders. They also make excellent landscape architects, farmers, naturalists, florists, and veterinarians. Your comfort zone defines who you are and how you interact with your world around you. What is your comfort zone and how is it affecting your life? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Knowing Your Unique Purpose

We are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 I was recently at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. It is an incredible place. They give you a map to find your room - and believe me, you need it! It’s several buildings actually, surrounding massive indoor gardens with small streams and waterfalls. The place is so big that the glass ceiling in the atrium is the size of six football fields. The hotel's exotic plant collection, which takes 20 full-time gardeners to maintain, includes an Asian banana tree . . . right in the heart of Tennessee! This unusual tree grows only one crop of bananas its entire life. Then the team of gardeners cuts it down and plants another. How interesting that God in His wisdom would create a tree designed to serve just one short-term purpose. Unlike trees that bear fruit annually, the Asian banana tree has a unique calling. Your family also has a unique calling. You have been set apart by God to fulfill your own purpose. There are certain values and priorities that define who you are - certain goals you've been created to achieve. These guide the way you spend your time, money and energy. Can you articulate God's purpose for your marriage and family? One of His purposes for Martha and I has been to equip marriages and families with God's blueprints. In addition, we have found that some of His purposes change as we move through the different seasons of a family. Clearly, one of our purposes is to train our children to know God and to equip them to obey Him in life. God does have a unique purpose for each of you as individuals and for the two of you as a couple. Do you know your purposes? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Friday, July 27, 2012

Your Comfort Zone (part 2 of 4)

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalms 143:8 We all have met people who are more comfortable tinkering with things in the kitchen than mingling with guests in the living room. We all know people who can get very excited about ideas and books, but who seem to have few social skills and even fewer abilities to deal with tools and gadgets. Some people care very little about people or ideas but are quite at home experimenting in their labs, sketching at a drawing table, or concocting new creations at the kitchen stove. This affinity is called the comfort zone. In what setting do you feel the greatest sense of pleasure, satisfaction, and ease. The 3 primary comfort zones are people, ideas, and things. Today we will explore the world of people whose comfort zone is in the world of ideas. They love strategy and enjoy making paradigms and sketches. They are often very creative, expressing their ideas in the forms of music, painting, drawing, sculpting, choreographing, or writing. They include the theorists of the world – especially drawn to formulas and patterns and the ideas that prompt scientific experimentation. In a group setting, they often appear to be daydreaming, out of touch, or to have poor social and communication skills. The fact is, their minds really are elsewhere. They are content in their inner world of thought and imagination. They see a world that is possible but perhaps not presently in existence. All of their ideas need not be original. Some people who are most comfortable in the world of ideas are those who are able to polish, edit, or build upon the ideas of others. They give form and substance to the ideas of the pure theorists through strategies, plans, sequences, of procedures. Individuals with an affinity for ideas often are writers, artists, scholars, inventors, strategists, or those who are involved in corporate development. Your comfort zone defines who you are and how you interact with your world around you. What is your comfort zone and how is it affecting your life? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Your Comfort Zone (part 1 of 3)

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalms 143:8 We all have met people who are more comfortable tinkering with things in the kitchen than mingling with guests in the living room. We all know people who can get very excited about ideas and books, but who seem to have few social skills and even fewer abilities to deal with tools and gadgets. Some people care very little about people or ideas but are quite at home experimenting in their labs, sketching at a drawing table, or concocting new creations at the kitchen stove. This affinity is called the comfort zone. In what setting do you feel the greatest sense of pleasure, satisfaction, and ease. The 3 primary comfort zones are people, ideas, and things. Today we will explore the nature of people whose comfort zone is people. The person who has a comfort zone with people feels that relationships are far more important than either things or ideas. Such individuals tend to have strong emotions that they are keen to express; they rarely allow logic to override their emotions. Bonding with others is vital to them. The person with a comfort zone for people loves to be with people and seemingly can’t get enough of people. Such a person tends to be a very good conversationalist, although shy and retiring people-affinity persons are content to sit quietly as long as they are in a room filled with people. Those who are most comfortable with people take time to listen, are genuinely concerned for the pains and hurts experienced by others, and have an ability to rejoice with the joyous. They enjoy parties and social gatherings and are quick to show hospitality. Those with a heart for people crave association and are very uncomfortable being alone. They are often troubled by a lack of people skills in others and may be very critical of a spouse, child, associate or peer who doesn’t seem to communicate with others or who doesn’t seem to have the same desire to relate. Individuals with this comfort zone make excellent managers, counselors, and pastors. Your comfort zone defines who you are and how you interact with your world around you. What is your comfort zone and how is it affecting your life? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

What Drives You? (part 4 of 4)

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalms 143:8 The 3 types of drivers are: Power, Image, & Contribution. Due to a need to understand their incredible importance, today we will summarize and compare the 3 types of drivers. People driven by power wear easily the mantle of leadership. They can be controlling and manipulative in their exercise of power, but they need not be. Those driven by power include those who seek to empower others. In some cases they are the power behind the throne – people who do not seek the limelight or the title, but who do seek to influence the choice about what is done, when, how, and with whom. In a positive light, people driven by power desire change and see themselves as change agents. They are not satisfied with the status quo in their own lives, neither are they satisfied with the status quo around them. The degree to which they love, influences heavily the use of power in their lives – they can be tyrants and dictators, or benevolent leaders who bring help and growth to others. To some people, driven by image, what counts the most is the way things are done, especially the appearance associated with the way things are done. People driven by image are good presenters of a message, although they may not have been the originators of the message. They enjoy packaging people ideas, and things. They turn their creative abilities toward the visual and the readily apparent. People driven by image are generally very conscious of protocol, manners, appearance, and social acceptability. They often want everybody to be happy or everybody to be positive about the things, people, or ideas they present. They desire to please. People driven by a desire to serve or to make a contribution do not want to be in charge. They may have very little concern about how something looks or is perceived by others. They are driven instead by a desire to see goals reached and people helped. Those who are driven by a goal of making a contribution may have a rumpled appearance because their focus is not on themselves, but on others. They often deserve a hero’s badge, but if are given one, they would quickly pin it on someone else. Their heartfelt goal is to help others succeed. Final thoughts on drivers: Some people think they are driven by more than one thing, but that is rarely the case. Choose one. Your turning points profile and your talent search will confirm your choice. Pride is not the property of any one driver. The power-driven person who is loving in his execution of power and who uses power to bring about good on this earth is a wonderful person to know, to follow, and to seek out as an employer. The image-driven person who is loving to others and who seeks to do all things in a way that is beautiful, pleasing, and positive is a person who makes life more lovely and enjoyable. The contribution-driven person who works in love and humility is a person who displays servanthood that is compelling and life-changing. You must be aware that others are driven by forces that do not drive you. Their driving force is valid and natural for them, and if used in a loving, helpful, and positive way, their driving force is just as effective as your driving force. Are you driven by power, image, or contribution? What is the most important decision you can make right now related to the proper use of your foremost driver? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Monday, July 23, 2012

What Drives You? (part 3 of 4)

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalms 143:8 To know what drives you, ask yourself: What excites me? What do I seek and desire? What do I do exceedingly well? What gives me energy? The answers to these questions reveal a great deal about the way the Creator has shaped you. There are over 200 different types of drivers – things that motivate us, cause us to perform well, and fill us with energy as we do them. But at the simplest level, all these drivers fall into one of three categories. The 3 types of drivers are: Power, Image, & Contribution. Today we will continue our exploration of what drive people by looking at the nature of people who are driven by Contribution. People driven by a desire to serve or to make a contribution do not want to be in charge. They may have very little concern about how something looks or is perceived by others. They are driven instead by a desire to see goals reached and people helped. Those who are driven by a goal of making a contribution may have a rumpled appearance because their focus is not on themselves, but on others. They often deserve a hero’s badge, but if are given one, they would quickly pin it on someone else. Their heartfelt goal is to help others succeed. Examples include servant leaders such as Mother Theresa, social workers, and missionary nurses. To determine if you have contribution as the foremost driver in your life, ask yourself the following questions: Do I shun the spotlight? Am I uncomfortable being singled out, recognized, or made a fuss over? Do I care most of all that something good is accomplished, regardless of who does it or how it is accomplished? Do I find myself moving almost automatically to help others who seem to be struggling or in need? Do I find myself annoyed with what I perceive to be the materialism of fashion-consciousness of others when more important things are to be done? Do I prefer to be in frontline active service rather than in a decision-making role? Do I care more about getting the job done than about whether an awards ceremony or recognition dinner is planned after the job is finished? If you have answered yes to more than one of these questions, you are probably driven by contribution. It’s OK to contribution be your foremost driver. Those who are driven by contribution are often unheard and unseen, working behind the scenes to get the job done. They can make a valuable contribution to any group. Conversely, avoid the trap of pride in thinking that because you are driven by a desire to contribute, you have special access to the high moral road. Don’t think ill of those who are in power, since they may very well be the ones who provide the venue for the contribution you desire to make. Also avoid the tendency to disregard those who are image driven, thinking that they could get more real work done if they cared less about appearance. Are you driven by power, image, or contribution? What is the most important decision you can make right now related to the proper use of your foremost driver? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

A Tribute to Women

A tribute to women from Proverbs 31….. A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: “Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!” Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades, but the woman who respects God is to be admired and praised. Give her everything she deserves! Adorn her life with praises! Praise God for women. She is created in the image of God. She is a child of God and equal to man in every way. Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Sunday, July 22, 2012

What Drives You? (part 2 of 3)

To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 To know what drives you, ask yourself: What excites me? What do I seek and desire? What do I do exceedingly well? What gives me energy? The answers to these questions reveal a great deal about the way the Creator has shaped you. There are over 200 different types of drivers – things that motivate us, cause us to perform well, and fill us with energy as we do them. But at the simplest level, all these drivers fall into one of three categories. The 3 types of drivers are: Power, Image, & Contribution. Today we will continue our exploration of what drive people by looking at the nature of people who are driven by Image. To some people, what counts the most is the way things are done, especially the appearance associated with the way things are done. People driven by image are good presenters of a message, although they may not have been the originators of the message. They enjoy packaging people ideas, and things. They turn their creative abilities toward the visual and the readily apparent. People driven by image are generally very conscious of protocol, manners, appearance, and social acceptability. They often want everybody to be happy or everybody to be positive about the things, people, or ideas they present. They desire to please. Examples include marketing specialists, actors, entertainers, creative arts people, fashion designers, and public relations people. To determine if you have image as the foremost driver in your life, ask yourself the following questions: Is it important to me that I make good impressions? Do I care how things are accomplished as much as whether they are accomplished? Am I concerned with my appearance, including the image of my company, my neighborhood, my church, or the organizations to which I belong? Do I see making an acceptable impression as an important aspect of evangelizing people? Do I readily accept positions related to publicity, design, decorating, or protocol? Do I admire those who perform well and who stay within traditional cultural boundaries, displaying good manners and social grace? Do I place a high value on public recognition and rewards for those who do good work, seeing both as necessary for inspiring others and building a good reputation? Am I as concerned about how my work is presented as I am about getting the work done? If you have answered yes to more than one of these questions, you are probably driven by image. It’s OK to be driven by image. Those driven by image can be very important in setting the proper stage. They can be highly effective in wooing others and in preserving the beauty and traditions that are significant factors to many people. Avoid the tendency to think ill of those who couldn’t care less about image. Many people who are image driven do not understand how those in power can be in power when they care so little about appearance or protocol. They tend to regard them as crass brutes, which may not be the case. They also have a tendency to be condescending to those who are contribution driven, thinking they could be more effective if they only cared a little more about procedures, manners, social amenities, and appearance. Are you driven by power, image, or contribution? What is the most important decision you can make right now related to the proper use of your foremost driver? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Friday, July 20, 2012

What Drives You? (part 1 of 3)

To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 To know what drives you, ask yourself: What excites me? What do I seek and desire? What do I do exceedingly well? What gives me energy? The answers to these questions reveal a great deal about the way the Creator has shaped you. There are over 200 different types of drivers – things that motivate us, cause us to perform well, and fill us with energy as we do them. But at the simplest level, all these drivers fall into one of three categories. The 3 types of drivers are: Power, Image, & Contribution. Today we will explore the nature of people who are driven by power. These people wear easily the mantle of leadership. They can be controlling and manipulative in their exercise of power, but they need not be. Those driven by power include those who seek to empower others. In some cases they are the power behind the throne – people who do not seek the limelight or the title, but who do seek to influence the choice about what is done, when, how, and with whom. In a positive light, people driven by power desire change and see themselves as change agents. They are not satisfied with the status quo in their own lives, neither are they satisfied with the status quo around them. Then degree to which they love, influences heavily the use of power in their lives – they can be tyrants and dictators, or benevolent leaders who bring help and growth to others. Examples include all kinds of leaders, especially business and political leaders. To determine if you have power as the foremost driver in your life, ask yourself the following questions: Am I most comfortable if I am the one in charge or if I can see that things are being done my way? Do I desire to make things happen, create momentum, or see that changes I desire are effected? Do I readily accept leadership positions when asked to assume them? Do I seek out leadership roles (as evidenced perhaps by running for an office)? Am I concerned about how and when I might earn a promotion or rise in rank or status within groups to which I belong? Do I desire to have greater spiritual power over evil, sickness, or things that plague humankind? If you have answered yes to more than one of these questions, you are probably driven by power. It’s OK to be driven by power. Those driven by power can exert much influence for good. They can be stabilizing forces as well as growth forces in any endeavor. Conversely, they should avoid the tendency to think that those who are driven by power are more important than those who are driven by image or contribution. Many power-driven people have a tendency to put down those who are driven by image or to take for granted those who are driven by contribution. We will explore those drivers over the next few days. Are you driven by power, image, or contribution? What is the most important decision you can make right now related to the proper use of your foremost driver? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Thursday, July 19, 2012

What Are Your Talents?

To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 Many people today don’t know who they are. They haven’t found themselves. The key to realizing who you are is to discover your gifts – your talents. Then you will know the areas in which you need to grow and the areas in which you need to leverage your strengths. Your giftedness cannot be cloned. What do you like to do? What are you good at doing? We often (but not always) become good at what we like to do. Just liking something does not mean that you are guaranteed to be gifted at it. Conducting your own internal talent search involves identifying your personality characteristics, qualities, skills, interests, passions, longings, hopes, and achievements. Check your talent search against your Turning Points (see earlier blog). If you think you have a specific talent or passion, but it has never been used in your life experiences, it is doubtful you truly have that talent or passion. Take each of your top 5 talents (gifts/strengths), as well as your driving motivators, and apply each one of them to each of your life domains (see earlier blog). How do they apply and what action plans do you need to begin making? Create a matrix of the strengths and motivators applied to the 5 Life Domains in an action oriented way. Be specific! Translate this to an action plan. Is there training required or some other enabler necessary? Are there any barriers that must be overcome? Pursue mastery in your talents, but be flexible - mastery may follow different paths. Generally speaking, mastery is rooted in practice. To begin with, you have to believe you can become a master. There are four stages to mastery: Unconsciously incompetent; Consciously incompetent; Consciously competent; & Unconsciously competent. Mastery is a lifelong process. Evaluate your progress as you go. Your Responsibility to Your Talents. You are responsible for knowing and living out your talents. You are responsible for focusing the resources made available to you. You are responsible for the commitments you make. You are responsible for striving to be and to do your best. What is the most important step you can take immediately to develop your giftedness? What is the most important decision you can make right now related to the application of your giftedness? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Truth@Life is Now Registered with Angie's List

Truth@Life is Now Registered with Angie's List. See the following link: https://my.angieslist.com/AngiesList/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fangieslist%2fMyAngie%2f Truth@Life’s mission is to transform organizations and individuals through life planning, leadership development, & strategic/business planning. We can assist you in overcoming a specific problem, achieving a specific goal, or capitalizing on a specific opportunity. Most organizations, as well as individuals have some level of dissatisfaction with the progress they are making or the legacy they are leaving. They either aren’t making progress or they aren’t making progress at the pace they would like. We utilize a unique process that breaks though the barriers and accomplishes the results you need – satisfaction guaranteed. Coaching is a process for unlocking people’s potential to maximize their own performance. A coach is someone who comes alongside to help you find your focus: to define your goal, layout an action plan, identify barriers to success, resource you as needed, hold you accountable, and course correct as required until the goal is achieved. The services offered by Truth@Life include the following: • Life Planning for Individuals (including the following) 1. Helping adults with job/career transitions 2. Improving personal time management 3. Understanding and managing interpersonal relationships (both personal and professional) 4. Helping teenagers choose their life time career, corresponding major, & best fit college 5. Assisting retirees with how to best manage this new phase of life • Leadership & Team Development for Individuals & Organizations • Integrated Strategic & Operations Planning (Integrated Business Planning) for Profit & Non-Profit Organizations

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Truth@Life is Now Registered with Thumbtack

Truth@Life is Now Registered with Thumbtack. See the following link: Life Coaching & Leadership Development Truth@Life’s mission is to transform organizations and individuals through life planning, leadership development, & strategic/business planning. We can assist you in overcoming a specific problem, achieving a specific goal, or capitalizing on a specific opportunity. Most organizations, as well as individuals have some level of dissatisfaction with the progress they are making or the legacy they are leaving. They either aren’t making progress or they aren’t making progress at the pace they would like. We utilize a unique process that breaks though the barriers and accomplishes the results you need – satisfaction guaranteed. Coaching is a process for unlocking people’s potential to maximize their own performance. A coach is someone who comes alongside to help you find your focus: to define your goal, layout an action plan, identify barriers to success, resource you as needed, hold you accountable, and course correct as required until the goal is achieved. The services offered by Truth@Life include the following: • Life Planning for Individuals (including the following) 1. Helping adults with job/career transitions 2. Improving personal time management 3. Understanding and managing interpersonal relationships (both personal and professional) 4. Helping teenagers choose their life time career, corresponding major, & best fit college 5. Assisting retirees with how to best manage this new phase of life • Leadership & Team Development for Individuals & Organizations • Integrated Strategic & Operations Planning (Integrated Business Planning) for Profit & Non-Profit Organizations

Turning Points & Life Gates in Your Life

God works all things together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 A life plan (see earlier blog) includes the identification and analysis of Turning Points and Life Gates in your life. A Turning Point is a major milestone in your life. It’s a shift from one era of your life to another. It may be punctuated by a major decision or event. Such events could be marriage, death, leaving home, divorce, graduation, career shifts, retirement, etc. It could be a tragedy or crisis that you experienced. Regardless, the future will be different from the past after a turning point. It is not unusual for a person who is 50 or older to have 10 – 15 turning points. Where you find yourself today – closer to God or more remote, on or off the track vocationally or in your family or personal life – can be seen clearly through the perspective of your turning points and their control path. Life domains are impacted during a turning point (see the earlier blog on life domains). You can gain perspective about the balance of your life as well as the general results that key decisions and events seem to have caused by reflecting the control path in your life. You will also see the focus of energy in your life during any one period. There are also life gates. A life gate is a super-turning point, a supreme event, in your life. All domains of life may have been impacted in a powerful way during a life gate. Major doors may have been opened wide or slammed shut. A life gate either closes off the old part of life, or opens the gate to a new life, or both. Generally speaking people have very few life gates in their life, perhaps only 3 or 4. As you look back over the turning points and life gates, you can identify the patterns, trends, and themes of your life. You can begin answering the following questions: What did this mean to me? Why did this period have value to me? What were the critical consequences related to this event? Patterns are combinations of acts, qualities, and tendencies that form a consistent or characteristic arrangement in your life. Trends are the general direction, the prevailing tendency, the drift in your life. Themes are the dominant, recurring messages of your life. Finally, you can begin to draw some conclusions about what you see in your life story. Very specific lessons and conclusions can be drawn from reflection upon your turning points and life gates. These insights can be both immediate and delayed. Regardless of the insights, keep the following in mind: 1. God desires change and growth in you. 2. God wastes no experience in your life. 3. God works all things together for good to those who love Him. Another benefit of understanding turning points is the ability to recognize them as they are occurring. Are you in a turning point or life gate right now? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Four Helpful Questions

The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment. Proverbs 12:19 No one has ever criticized a person to success, and yet all of us are masters of self-criticism. We need no help in that department. Jesus modeled the path to realizing potential: the encouraging word, hope, affirmation, and validation. He wants us to believe in ourselves, to love others, and unconditionally as He does. Four helpful questions: What is right about your life? What is wrong about your life? What is confused in your life? What is missing from your life? Apply each of these questions to the Five Life Domains mentioned in yesterday's blogs. What is right? This is what you might want to optimize in the future. What is wrong? This produces a list of things that might need to be corrected or changed. What is confused? This produces items that may need to be clarified. Most people have an area of their lives that is in a state of confusion or that they believe needs to be prioritized, organized, refocused, or discerned more clearly. What is Missing? Where are the voids? These may be blind spots to you. These are the areas where something may need to be added. The answers to these questions will help to build action plans to enable you to implement your Life Plan. Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Life Domains & Seasons of Life

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 Reasons why people need to do a Life Plan include: I want to know why I still feel unhappy even though I am doing the job that I always thought I wanted to do. I want to know how I can get a better balance in my life between work and family. I want to feel less stress. I want to manage my time better. I want to be happier in my relationships. I want to know why I seem to keep making the same mistakes over and over again. I want to discover God’s plan for me in my retirement years. I want to know what path God wants me to choose in terms of my career and education. What do you need? Life is a whole with many parts: personal, family, church, vocation, community. Personal – your personal health, emotions, mind, possessions, and general well-being. Family – your immediate and extended family, including parents, spouse, children, and other close family relationships. Church / faith kingdom – your church or the broader faith community in which you are a member. Vocation – your career of work life, including volunteer work and tasks for which you are regularly responsible. Community – your neighborhood, city, or other defined community in which you are a member. These life domains are intended to function in balance. Balance is the key to wholeness. Each domain impacts all the others. The five domains are not necessarily equal (nor should they necessarily be). The five domains are not rigid (they may overlap or be combined). The key to the five domains is balance. Every person will have a slightly different balance point. The most important life domain for you is likely: personal. Ask yourself the following: Do I believe in myself? Am I placing relationships before tasks? Have I accepted my giftedness? Am striving for balance in all my life domains? Am I holding myself accountable? Your life evolves through seasons. The seasons of your life are: Winter – early youth; Spring – education / preparation years; Summer – work years; Harvest – later years. Are your current objectives in each of the life domains in line with your current season of life? The answers to these questions will help to build action plans to enable you to implement your Life Plan. Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Friday, July 13, 2012

Gaining A New Perspective

The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment. Proverbs 12:19 No person can make a good estimate of distant lands from the floor of a valley. A person must get to a vantage point, a viewpoint from which one can see the full breadth of the valley and gain a view of the valleys that lie beyond it. Discovering an emerging truth is a similar process. We don’t all know, or want to face, the truth about ourselves. Facing truth about our lives always results in something good. We have the ability to sense and find the truth, before it finds us. When it finds us first, the results can be most unpleasant. Most of the time the signals are there to be discerned. Truthfulness is paramount. Every Life Plan must be based upon the principle that the truth is the only solid foundation for a plan. So a Life Plan is a process for someone who is proactive and wants to deal with the truth. They must be willing to take responsibility for making things better, regardless of the circumstances, and to not blame others. They must have the courage to embrace the truth. It is helpful to have 2 ways of thinking in the search for emerging truth: breakthrough thinking and spiritual discernment. #1 Breakthrough Thinking: You must carry your thinking to the highest conceptual level. Breakthrough thinking occurs by asking and answering breakthrough questions: What is the bigger picture here? How might God see this? #2 Spiritual Discernment: You cannot come to the full truth without spiritual discernment. Life Planning is a spiritual process and discernment is an acute spiritual insight. Scripture says, “Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” The ideal life for you can be real. But the process requires a dialogue with others – someone trained in the life planning process. And once discovered, a response is required – you must accept or reject the Life Plan for you by implementing the supporting action plans for each are of your life. Are you ready to face the truth about yourself? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Are You Living the Life You Were Meant to Live?

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14 Most people aren’t living the life they were meant to live because they don’t know who they are or what gifts God has given them. Success is finding God’s plan for your life and living it out. It is a process of discovery. This is the source of greatest fulfillment. Your being determines your doing. You begin by discovering who you are. Out of that understanding you discern what you are to be doing. There will never be another you. You are uniquely designed by God to do the work He has planned for you – so embrace it! Our giftedness is our spiritual DNA. Your uniqueness is good! As a master piece of God’s workmanship, you are an awesome creation. Your uniqueness is tied to what you can do well. This is true for 2 reasons: First, because it is how God has gifted us. Second, because we love to do what we are good at and so we do it a lot. Eventually we become excellent at it. Your giftedness is present from your beginning. How God has wired us (what lies inside) is always positive. What we may have become (due to external forces and behavior) is not always positive. And no gift is better than others. Giftedness is tied to a specific role. God’s gifts are distributed in such a way that all jobs (should) get done. Effectively using your gifts is key to personal satisfaction – personal joy and self-affirmation: God has given each of us a unique set of gifts. When we discover them, we delight in them. We enjoy using them. We appreciate others who are gifted in the same way. We find purpose in practicing our gifts and cultivating them. Using your gifts energizes you – it does not drain you. Your talents are meant to be employed with love. Mother Theresa said, “We have all been created for greater things – to love and to be loved.” God’s master key to happiness is giving ourselves away (love through service to others). When we give others the gift of ourselves – our time, our talent, our lives, our patience – we give them the most precious gift we can ever give. The same is true of giving ourselves to God. God has called us to use our strengths to do good. How well do you know your specific gifting? How are you using your gifts in the personal, professional, and spiritual dimensions of your life? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at a curtis.songer@gmail.com

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

How to Get God to Meet Your Every Need

My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 The Scripture above promises that God will meet every need. It was written in response to a very generous gift that was given to God’s work 2000 years ago. This gift had cost the givers a lot. Some of the givers were beginning to wonder, “If we just gave the money that we needed to live on, what’s going to happen to us?” Scripture promises that God won’t forget our generosity. He will meet our needs in a way that will reveal His direct involvement in our lives and reveals his pleasure with our generous hearts. The promise isn’t that God will meet every desire or want. It is that God will meet every need – especially when we have given over and above what we can afford to give to support God’s work in the world. Zig Ziglar once said, “If we trust, believe, and give, he will pour out His blessings of all kinds, including personal, family, and business. Matthew West’s popular song, “My Own Little World”, says it this way: I try to stay awake through the Sunday morning church. I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts and I turn off the news when I don't like what I see. It's easy to do when it's population me. What if there's a bigger picture, what if I'm missing out? What if there's a greater purpose, I could be living right now, outside my own little world? Are you living inside your “own little world”? Do you give until it hurts? What is God prompting you to do right now in your giving? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Key to Joy & Fulfillment in Life

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. Jeremiah 29:11 Most people have some level of dissatisfaction with their life. And far too many people are not living the life they were meant to live. God does not intend for this to happen. Do you know what God’s specific plan is for your life? If not, you are not alone in your questioning – most people don’t. Henry David Thoreau once said, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” We are challenged to reverse this situation, not through using our own strength, but through yielding to God’s desires. Our Creator desires for us to live a purpose-filled life on this earth, for our benefit and for the benefit of others. We were not created at random or without meaning. God knew us (needs, wants, desires, strengths, and weaknesses) before we were even created. He knows us better than we know ourselves. We are part of His master plan, the full extent of which we cannot even imagine. God created you in a specific way – with a specific set of gifts, desires, and a certain “bent” – so that you might fulfill His plan for your life. As a part of His master plan, God has a specific plan for you and for your service. You can know this “Life Plan”. A Life Plan is not so much something that you create, rather it is something that you discover. Life Planning is the process of discovering God’s plan for your life. The process involves the completion of a series of sequential exercises or modules to help you discover your uniqueness and the way in which God has been involved in every aspect of your life, all your life. It points you toward your unique purpose. The final stage of the Life Planning process is the creation of a personal action plan that outlines specific, immediate steps to take in response the exercises that have been completed. People rarely come to the Life Planning process for casual reasons. They are usually facing an important moment or they are at a crossroads. Remember, God has a specific plan for you and for your service. The key to joy and fulfillment in life is discovering and living out that plan. Do you know what it is? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

What is Your Love Language?

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34 What if you could say or do just the right thing guaranteed to make that special someone feel loved? The secret is learning the right love language! Millions of couples have learned the simple way to express their feelings and bring joy back into their relationships: The 5 Love Languages, by Dr. Gary Chapman. This is a remarkable body of work that you should know well if you want to manage your relationships well. Words of Affirmation: Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important - hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten. Quality Time: In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there - with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby - makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful. Receiving Gifts: Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous - so would the absence of everyday gestures. Acts of Service: Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter. Physical Touch: This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face - they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive. So what is your love language? You probably have a primary and a secondary love language. Having these needs met on a regular basis is critical for you. Make sure those closest to you know what they are. But even more importantly, do you know the love language of those who are your most important relationships? If you want those relationships to be successful, you’d better find out. Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com 

Sunday, July 8, 2012

What Energizes Me? Do You Know What Energizes You? (part 2 of 2)

I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:4 Continued from yesterday - some insight into what makes me tick, what I love to do. As you read this, ask yourself if you know what you love to do… I also love to learn. The subject matters that interest me most are generally those that involve life transformation. They often tend to be of a spiritual nature, since I believe that the most effective transformations require a willingness for internal change. I am energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence. The thrill of acquiring new knowledge, practicing and applying what I have learned, and the growing confidence of a new skill mastered - this is the process that entices me. It enables me to thrive in dynamic work environments where I am asked to take on project assignments and am expected to learn a lot about the new subject matter in a short period of time, or apply my existing knowledge to uniquely changing circumstances (as in coaching uniquely new individuals). The result of all of the above is that I love having new challenges bestowed on me as a result of having successfully met the last. This satisfies my desire for growing competence and improving skills. I have deep passion and enthusiasm for my work especially when it directly assists others with life transformation. Often, during such moments of special connection, I feel the Holy Spirit move within me, confirming that I am on mission and pleasing Him. Finally, I am very family-oriented, altruistic, and spiritual. I value responsibility and high ethics - both in myself and others. These core values affect my behavior in many ways. They give my life meaning and satisfaction. In my view, success is more than money and prestige. These values provide me with direction, guiding me toward a consistent set of priorities. This consistency is the foundation for my relationships. For example, my friends call me dependable: “I know where you stand, you are easy to trust.” Consequently, I am energized by work that meshes with my values - it must be meaningful; it must matter to me. All of the above are good talents/strengths to have. But every strength, taken to its extreme can be a detriment as well. God has called us to use our strengths to do good. How well do you know yourself? Do you know what energizes you? How well are these factors integrated into the personal, professional, and spiritual dimensions of your life? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Saturday, July 7, 2012

What Energizes Me? Do You Know What Energizes You? (part 1 of 2)

I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:4 Over the next couple blogs, I will give you some insight into what makes me tick, what I love to do. As you read this, ask yourself if you know what you love to do… I have a fundamental need for goal setting and achievement and am energized by it. I feel as if every day/week starts at zero and by the end of the day/week I must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about myself. If the day/week passes without some form of achievement, no matter how small, I will feel dissatisfied. It is like an internal fire burning inside me. Consequently, it brings me the energy I need to work long hours without burning out. It helps me to get started on new tasks and new challenges. This has been especially true in my work as a life and leadership development coach. Every week I ask myself “Where am I headed?” I need a clear purpose and sense of significance. Lacking the felling that my life is making a real difference in others’ lives, my life and work can quickly become frustrating. And so each year, each month, and even each week I set goals. These goals then serve as my compass, helping me to determine priorities and make the necessary corrections to stay on course. Accomplishing goals, or at least making appropriate progress toward my goals, is very energizing. Throughout the course of my life, my wife and others close to me have told me I have an unusual knack for helping others make the complex seem simple, to create order out of chaos. Being determined, logical, and discerning, I love a challenge, I am able to help others find the quickest, most direct path between what is and what should be. I excel at implementing ideas and am often on the lookout for good ideas worthy of my effort. I am quick to organize, orchestrate, find resources, coordinate, and follow through to the end of a project. I love a problem, especially one that will make full use of my competencies, my logic, and my sense of order. Consequently, I am energized by strategic thinking, planning, and problem solving. I am able to help others sort through the clutter and find the best route. I am told that this is not a skill that can be easily taught. Rather, it is a distinct way of strategically thinking, a special perspective on the world at large. It allows me to see patterns where others simply see complexity. Mindful of these patterns, I play out alternative scenarios, always asking, “What if this happened? Okay then, what if this happened?” This recurring question helps me coach others into seeing the end consequences of their decisions. I can assist in evaluating potential obstacles. Guided by where I see each path leading, I can assist others in making appropriate selections. I can assist them in discarding the paths that lead nowhere, as well as the paths that lead into unnecessary resistance. Together we cull and make selections until we arrive at the appropriate strategy. All of the above are good talents/strengths to have. But every strength, taken to its extreme can be a detriment as well. God has called us to use our strengths to do good. How well do you know yourself? Do you know what energizes you? How well are these factors integrated into the personal, professional, and spiritual dimensions of your life? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Friday, July 6, 2012

Leaders Must Make Good Decisions

Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established. Proverbs 15:22 A good leader must make decisions based on a balance between collecting & analyzing data and relying on their intuition. So how do we accomplish this and yet seek God’s will in decision making? When it comes to collecting & analyzing data, I first seek what God’s Word has to say on the matter. Sometimes there is clear direction in God’s Word. More often, there are only principles that serve me as guidelines. And even more intangible, but perhaps most importantly, regular reading of God’s Word teaches me to have a godly perspective on life and decisions, to think as God thinks – this is now crossing over into “intuition”. I also glean valuable data from the counsel of wise, godly people. People who can advise me well because they either have been down the path I am considering or because they, too, have come to think as God thinks. Often, but not always, these may be people who know me well and have a vested interest in speaking truth into my life (e.g., my wife). My final bit of data input comes from the circumstances that surrounds me. Often God will open and close doors to point me in the direction He would have me go. Next, comes intuition. Intuition, in a Christian’s life comes from knowing himself well and from knowing God well. To know self well means to know my natural bent, my personality, my gifts, my talents, my strengths and weaknesses, my God-given interests and passions, my specialized skill and education, my life lessons from life experiences, and my driving motivations. It is understanding my life calling, my life mission. Once a person knows themself well and what God has called them to do, it is much easier to weigh the pros and cons of a decision in light of the journey God has him/her on and how this decision factors into that journey. Finally, another aspect of “intuition” is knowing God well and spending time with Him daily so that I am open to listening to what He is telling me and the subtle promptings of His Holy Spirit to my spirit. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I try not to get too bogged down in analysis paralysis. Once I have considered the above, it is time to take action. God cannot course correct something that is not moving. While I try not to revisit unnecessarily decisions I have made, I do believe it is important to stay open to God’s confirmation or course correction once I take action based on a decision. How is your process for decision making? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Thursday, July 5, 2012

What Leadership Skills Do You Need to Work On?

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you Matthew 28:16, 19-20 Over the past 2 weeks I have blogged about “The Top 10 Personality Qualities of a Leader.” I hope you have asked yourself how you are doing. My weakest leadership personality qualities are Self-Discipline / Self-Development, as well as Servanthood. A leader must lead himself well before he can lead others well. This means he must count the cost of what good leadership takes and prioritize time accordingly. There are times when my focus on achievement distracts me from taking the time I should to take care of myself (e.g., personal development, adequate sleep, etc.). A truly great leader is also a servant leader. For years I led a life that was a bit self-absorbed. I am still on the journey of putting others needs ahead of my own to the point that it is automatic in all areas of my life. But this is still a conscious effort that I must make every day Review the last 2 weeks of blogs on “The Top 10 Personality Qualities of a Leader.” What are your weakest leadership personality qualities? What qualities are negatively impacting your effectiveness in different spheres of your life? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

What is Your Strongest Leadership Skill?

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. Matthew 28:16, 19-20 Over the past 2 weeks I have blogged about “The Top 10 Personality Qualities of a Leader.” I hope you have asked yourself how you are doing. My strongest leadership personality qualities are “Valuing & Developing People”, combined with “Leaving a Lasting Legacy”. Five years ago when God took me through a time of difficulties and trials, I did a serious assessment of my life – how I had lived and what I had accomplished. I found that far much of my life had been focused on myself and my family, with not enough concern for the eternal impact I was having on those around me. It had been a life of too much success and not enough significance. I determined to change that and to use whatever time God had remaining for me to impact others in eternal, life transforming ways. I became a much more caring person, with a desire to connect with people, to listen to and understand them, and to help them in any way I can. I have always been a life-long learner, with a strong desire to teach others. I began to learn how I could use that desire to better understand, teach, coach, and mentor people to higher levels of performance. I have a strong desire to leave a lasting legacy - to make a permanent difference in the lives of others - one that impacts many future generations. My desire for Leaving a Lasting Legacy gives me the driving motivation to coach others. And my Valuing & Developing People trait focuses that drive on ways I can help them achieve significantly higher levels of performance in the personal, professional, and spiritual dimensions of their life. What are your strongest leadership personality qualities? Are you effectively leveraging them in all spheres of your life? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

The Top 10 Personality Qualities of a Leader: Legacy

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you... Matthew 28:16, 19-20 Continuing from yesterday, the "Top 10" personality qualities of an effective leader... Quality #10: Legacy. A great leader has a desire to leave a lasting legacy. Legacies tend to take one of two forms – either a legacy of change in people or a legacy of change in material assets. Many leaders spend their life amassing great fortunes, often at the expense of people, sometimes even their own families. This type of legacy is temporal and will not last. A great leader will focus on leaving a lasting legacy, one that impacts many future generations. This is only done through people. It is accomplished by being the type of leader that others want to model themselves after. And it is done by the personal investment of the leader into the lives of those he interacts with - developing the leadership potential of those he/she leads. In the Scripture above, Jesus left the greatest legacy of any leader of all time. To create a legacy, He understood you need to be strategic and intentional. He followed the following four guidelines that are critical for any great leader intending to leave a great legacy: 1. Decide ahead of time what you are willing to give up. 2. Take the initiative to start the process. 3. Know your goals with each person. 4. Prepare to pass the baton well. What type of legacy are you leaving? You will leave one whether you want to or not. Are you making the proper preparations? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Monday, July 2, 2012

The Top 10 Personality Qualities of a Leader: Servanthood

David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. 1 Samuel 30:17-19 Continuing from last week, the "Top 10" personality qualities of an effective leader... Quality #9: Servanthood. A truly great leader is a servant leader. He/she has the well-being of the organization and the people within it as his/her primary concern. Just as Jesus is our greatest example, the servant leader will put the needs of his/her people ahead of their own. All the prior “top 10” personal qualities will be flavored by this quality. The servant leader knows the condition of his people and the organization well – he/she stays close to them and in touch with them. He/she knows them well – their unique qualities, personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. He/she builds trust with them, communicates values to them, sets reasonable standards for them, develops them, enables them, removes barriers for them, communicates with them, protects them, personally sets the example for them, and course corrects them in a loving way. He/she has the attitude that he/she is there for them, not that they are there for him/her. In the Scripture above, David put the needs of others ahead of his own. In the battle with the Amalekites, he valued every person’s contribution, including those who worked the supply lines behind the scenes. He made sure that every participant shared equally in the victory – especially the older men who could not actively fight. His leadership was about service to others rather than accumulating wealth and power for himself (his right as the king). Modeling this quality of servanthood laid a foundation that insured his success as the leader of Israel for many years. How is your leadership “servant factor”? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Investing in Others

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 H. Clark Bentall once headed the Bentall Corporation, a construction company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Five downtown office towers in that city bear his family's name. He was a major player in the commercial construction and real estate business. But late in life, after a 50-year career with the company, he found himself in a disagreement with his brothers, who leveraged Clark out of the day-to-day operations and eventually out of the business altogether. Shortly thereafter, his wife of 57 years lost her battle with cancer, and Clark himself was soon stricken with Alzheimer's disease. There he was - in his early 80s, alone with no work and no wife - and with his ability to grasp what was going on around him beginning to slowly evaporate. A man who once had everything now had nothing. But in the years before the fog of Alzheimer's engulfed him, Clark Bentall had invested thoroughly and genuinely in his friendships. And now, in his time of need, every Tuesday and Thursday morning some of his best friends would come over for breakfast, just to talk and say thanks . . . for everything. As the weeks and months went by, Clark had less and less to contribute to the stimulating conversation and shared memories. But still they came, for over four years. That could be you one day. Alone. Dependent on the obligations of family members and the goodwill of neighbors and friends. Will you have invested enough in people's lives to make them want to come see you, even when you're not as much fun as you used to be? Now is the time to pour your heart into others - not just to look ahead to the future, but also to make a difference in their lives today. Need to make a change in your priorities? Truth@Life can help you, regardless of your location. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a free consultation. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com