Contrary to popular opinion, generosity is not about your finances or how much you give, or even how you give. If popular opinion decided to award Will Ferrell an Emmy for Anchorman, I might agree with popular opinion. But when it comes to generosity, popular opinion is often wrong. Unfortunately, this faulty reasoning often leads to inaction. Sometimes we use the excuse that because we cannot give a lot (meaning the amount of money) we’re not going to give at all. This is because another popular opinion in our cultures says, bigger is better. Here's the reality: Bigger giving is not better. Better giving is better. Generosity is more about your heart than it will ever be about your wallet. Some of the most generous people I know give out of relative poverty. I know very busy people who find time to volunteer and serve. It's not the amount but…
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I believe most people want to be generous and live in a way that blesses others. They want to invest their God-given time, talent, and treasures in people and places that make a difference. It's often not a lack of desire that keeps people from living generous lives. It's fear. The fear of not having enough left for yourself or family, the fear of losing what you do have, the fear of not having enough time, the fear of not being good enough or smart enough or talented enough. These fears keep them from doing the things they can do. When you think about generosity, are your thoughts based in fear? What is the best antidote to fear? While courage is certainly helpful, it's not courage alone. It's not simply more education, though a better informed person is better equipped to analyze risks. It's also not recklessness - that's just…
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As I've thought about the people who have inspired me the most, they are the ones who ask "What if ...?" instead of "Why me?" This simple shift in focus opens the door to potential opportunities. What if I walked at least 30 minutes a day, three days a week? What if I read one book a week for an entire year? What if I changed to a healthier diet? What if I made better financial decisions? What if I chose to be nice to that grumpy neighbor? What if I made a career change? What if I stopped smoking? What if I down-sized my living space and living expenses? What if I gave more money to charity? What if I had more time for rest and relaxation? What if ... What would you add to the list? Start the Conversation Professor at Warner University masters in business administration (mba)…
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Having recently turned 50, I've set a goal of running at least one 10k during my 50th year - which ends on November 6, 2020. Although I'm in generally good health (or at least I think so), my wife and I followed wise advice and found a training program that progresses from not running at all to finishing a 10k. Following additional wise counsel, we each purchased a good pair of running shoes. So far, so good. But having a training program and a pair of running shoes does not make you a runner. Running makes you a runner. Although I was excited to start training for a 10k, I'll also admit to not enjoying the first few training sessions. My knees would agree - they didn't find it too enjoyable either. But after a few weeks of sticking with it, something interesting happened: I found myself looking forward to…
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In 2013, the Oxford English Dictionary added the word “selfie” to its official list of words. It was a linguistic recognition of a cultural trend that had been growing for several years -- and one that hasn't slowed down since. Nearly all smartphones come equipped with front and rear-facing cameras. In between actual phone calls (who does that anymore), you can flip around your camera and snap a few selfies. With so many pictures being taken, it shouldn't be surprising that many of them turn out bad. Here's one of me at Casa Bonita, a Denver landmark not known for its quality of food but for cliff divers and people in gorilla suits. It was also featured in episodes of South Park and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (literally for its dives). Don't worry, I never held a hot plate - I had other things to worry about ... like the…
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