I've been reading "The Art of the Start" by Guy Kawasaki -- a good read for church planters or entrepreneurs of any kind.  In the chapter on bootstrapping, he shares his recommendations for how to execute.  I'll be posting a few summaries. Set and Communicate Goals Setting goals increases the likelihood that you will achieve them.  As Kawasaki mentions, setting and communicating goals gets everyone on the same page and provides a day-to-day guide for what needs to be done.  Without that, employees are left to wander on their own.

Passing along a great reminder for leaders, teachers, parents ... anyone in a position of influence. ***************** Are you asking people to be great? May 2, 2011 David Witt My friend and colleague Jesse Lyn Stoner featured a great story about Abraham Lincoln on her blog site. Lincoln would often slip out of the White House on Wednesday evenings to listen to the sermons of Dr. Finnes Gurley at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. He generally preferred to come and go unnoticed. So when Dr. Gurley knew the president was coming, he left his study door open. On one of those occasions, the president slipped through a side door in the church and took a seat in the minister’s study, located just to the side of the sanctuary. There he propped the door open, just wide enough to hear Dr. Gurley. During the walk home, an aide asked Mr. Lincoln…

Inertia is generally bad, especially when it comes to problem-solving.  Changing your mood or outlook may be as simple as changing your posture -- getting off your behind and moving around.

The same office may have two windows: one opens to the wall of another building and the other has a view of the ocean (or hills or golf course, take your pick). Most every situation or circumstance we find ourselves in also have multiple windows.  Discouragement or despair may mean you need to change windows.  Without leaving the room -- or situation -- you can see things differently.