Okay, so real quick… if you need to refresh on yesterday’s article… scroll down or click here. And then let’s pick up where we left off.
So it was back in 1992 that my dad decided to retire… for six days. Yes… you heard correctly, and no… that was not a misprint… SIX DAYS. And then he immediately accepted the responsibility of starting a brand new mission congregation… from scratch, with a handful of ragtag volunteers.
I was one of them.
Today, almost seventeen years later, he still leads the organization… because, well… that’s what he does. He’s a leader. Although I must tell you that one thing has definitely changed… the handful… has become hundreds.
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I remember his advice as though it was yesterday. Well, maybe that’s because I wrote about it yesterday. “Steve…” he said, “if you’re looking for someone who can get things done… talk to the busiest person you know. If it’s worthwhile, they’ll figure out a way to do it.”
And now I know why my phone was ringing so often back then… I WAS the busiest person either of us knew. At the time, having recently having paid down ALL the debt from a start-up company… we were growing like a weed.
Several months earlier, we had moved into new offices… many times the size of the originals. Over the next few years I would open several new ventures… in several industries… in several cities. And all while trying to balance the eighty hour work weeks with the responsibilities of being a decent husband and homeschool dad in a young family.
Come to think of it… there was no balance.
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“…talk to the busiest person you know.”
And as my dad and I spoke, I accepted the responsibilities of doing the church’s marketing… chairing the finance committee… as well as the evangelism committee. A seat on the executive committee of a Detroit-based international charity followed… and oh yes, I served as an Elder for about fifteen years.
Imagine that… an Elder. I had always thought that was reserved for those with much grayer hair… or, at least… less hair. Anyway… I digress!
So, one more time. “If you’re looking for someone who can get things done… talk to the busiest person you know. If it’s worthwhile, they’ll figure out a way to do it.” The operating words being “IF IT”S WORTHWHILE…”
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So how do you determine “IF IT”S WORTHWHILE”? How do you maintain balance in your life, and not cave to everyone else’s demands or expectations? How do you have the energy to keep going when your already doing double-time in your career? And how do you FIND THE TIME to move forward on YOUR MISSION, YOUR PRIORITIES, and YOUR GOALS and DREAMS without trashing your personal life, or hurting those who are closest to you?
Great questions… for tomorrow.
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