Don't get fooled into thinking that God has a call on your life for ministry so you must work for the church. I'm in ministry and I don't work at a church. My trash man is in ministry and he doesn't work in a church. Every Tuesday morning the kids rush to meet him in the driveway. Whether we're out there or not he honks the horn.
Most people think this level of worker never completed college or even high school. Whether that's true or not, he'll never know how much his presence every Tuesday morning at 7am means to our family. It's usually the best part of our Tuesday's to see the big truck and someone who cares enough to go the extra mile.
Ministry was never meant to happen inside a building, but rather in the community. Find the work you love and use it as your ministry.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Change is Scary!
That may be true, but we all go through it. The world changes every day and you must keep up or you risk falling behind.
It's been said that if you're still doing the same thing you were 5 years ago, you have probably fallen behind.
Don't fear change... embrace it! It's going to happen so find the good and latch on for the ride!
It's been said that if you're still doing the same thing you were 5 years ago, you have probably fallen behind.
Don't fear change... embrace it! It's going to happen so find the good and latch on for the ride!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Why Financial Coaching?
There are many options available to you and your family regardless of whether you're doing great with money, or very poorly.
You could visit a CPA, financial advisor, financial planner or even a financial coach.
As a financial coach, here's my outlook on the different types of services.
CPAs are usually focused on your taxes and not necessarily very helpful in developing a budget. They should be able to help you set up a list of expenses vs. your income, but that's only about 20% of the budgeting process.
Financial advisors and planners can be very helpful as well, but keep in mind that they only make money if you buy insurance or investment products from them. That's not a good combination if you want an objective view of your money.
As a Financial Coach, my focus is to have a global overview of your life. My coaches and I look at your insurance, investments, your tax strategy and your estate plan. More importantly we work on the important part of budgeting, the 80% that most other professionals leave out.
This is personal finance and 80% of it is your behaviors and habits. Our focus is to help you determine a plan that works for you and your family. We teach you about insurance and investments, but don't sell any. While there is nothing wrong with making commissions, my team and I are unable to offer the best advice if we get kick-backs from products. Instead, we teach you what you need and show you where to get it.
You may be able to get a great plan from many different people. My advice is to schedule a meeting with a few professionals and interview them. If they won't meet with you for at least 30-minutes for free, then move on to someone that will.
You could visit a CPA, financial advisor, financial planner or even a financial coach.
As a financial coach, here's my outlook on the different types of services.
CPAs are usually focused on your taxes and not necessarily very helpful in developing a budget. They should be able to help you set up a list of expenses vs. your income, but that's only about 20% of the budgeting process.
Financial advisors and planners can be very helpful as well, but keep in mind that they only make money if you buy insurance or investment products from them. That's not a good combination if you want an objective view of your money.
As a Financial Coach, my focus is to have a global overview of your life. My coaches and I look at your insurance, investments, your tax strategy and your estate plan. More importantly we work on the important part of budgeting, the 80% that most other professionals leave out.
This is personal finance and 80% of it is your behaviors and habits. Our focus is to help you determine a plan that works for you and your family. We teach you about insurance and investments, but don't sell any. While there is nothing wrong with making commissions, my team and I are unable to offer the best advice if we get kick-backs from products. Instead, we teach you what you need and show you where to get it.
You may be able to get a great plan from many different people. My advice is to schedule a meeting with a few professionals and interview them. If they won't meet with you for at least 30-minutes for free, then move on to someone that will.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Back to Work
After a 3-day holiday weekend are you excited to go back to work? I talked about that idea on the radio show today and mentioned how excited I am to get back to the work that I love.
I honestly believe that if you don't feel that way about your work, you're most likely in the wrong job, career or vocation.
What would it take to turn your passions into profits? It's obviously much easier to make money doing something that you love than it is if you're working at a job you hate.
Can you put plans on paper and slowly move in the direction of utilizing your full potential?
I honestly believe that if you don't feel that way about your work, you're most likely in the wrong job, career or vocation.
What would it take to turn your passions into profits? It's obviously much easier to make money doing something that you love than it is if you're working at a job you hate.
Can you put plans on paper and slowly move in the direction of utilizing your full potential?
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Debt Stress
It just doesn't sound good, does it? No, it's certainly not something I want to have.
A recent poll shows about 20% of Americans suffer from debt related stress. Here are a few things and article from USA Today pointed out that these people suffer from:
A recent poll shows about 20% of Americans suffer from debt related stress. Here are a few things and article from USA Today pointed out that these people suffer from:
- 44% had migraines or other headaches, compared with 15% with low debt stress.
- 29% suffered severe anxiety, compared with 4%.
- 23% had severe depression, compared with 4%.
- 6% reported heart attacks, double the rate for those with low debt stress.
- More than half, 51%, had muscle tension, including pain in the lower back. That compared with 31% of those with low levels of debt stress.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Health Improvement Comes Quickly
Being consistent with your exercise and healthy eating habits pays off quicker than you think. Your health can improve in as little as three weeks, according to research from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Researchers followed 31 overweight patients with high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and insulin resistance. What they found was that as the patients adhered to a low-fat diet and 45 to 60 minutes of moderate walking daily, all of them reduced their risk factors for many diseases in just three weeks.
In addition, they had a 25 percent drop in LDL (the "bad") cholesterol and a 50 percent improvement in insulin processing. The lesson learned here is that it's never too late to start making changes, as long as you are consistent with them. Don't give up because you assume you're not making progress.
Researchers followed 31 overweight patients with high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and insulin resistance. What they found was that as the patients adhered to a low-fat diet and 45 to 60 minutes of moderate walking daily, all of them reduced their risk factors for many diseases in just three weeks.
In addition, they had a 25 percent drop in LDL (the "bad") cholesterol and a 50 percent improvement in insulin processing. The lesson learned here is that it's never too late to start making changes, as long as you are consistent with them. Don't give up because you assume you're not making progress.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Japan's Plan to Slim Down
Japan is trying a new approach to controlling the obesity epidemic - measuring the waists of people between the ages of 40 and 74. The new national law, which came into effect two months ago, is one of the most ambitious campaigns to slim people down.
The law requires companies and local governments to measure citizens' waists at their annual checkups. If men's waists measure more than 33.5 inches, or women's more than 35.4 inches, they will be given dieting guidance if they do not slim down within three months.
The country's overall goal is to decrease the overweight population by ten percent over the next four years, and 25 percent over the next seven years. Financial penalties will be imposed on companies and governments that fail to meet specific targets.
While I think it's great that Japan is concerned about the health of their citizens, I don't think it's their obligation to impose weight loss on the people who live there. Generally, people don't make changes because someone else tells them they need to. People make changes because they want to do it for themselves, for their own health.
I don't foresee this campaign being successful as far as losing weight and keeping it off. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
The law requires companies and local governments to measure citizens' waists at their annual checkups. If men's waists measure more than 33.5 inches, or women's more than 35.4 inches, they will be given dieting guidance if they do not slim down within three months.
The country's overall goal is to decrease the overweight population by ten percent over the next four years, and 25 percent over the next seven years. Financial penalties will be imposed on companies and governments that fail to meet specific targets.
While I think it's great that Japan is concerned about the health of their citizens, I don't think it's their obligation to impose weight loss on the people who live there. Generally, people don't make changes because someone else tells them they need to. People make changes because they want to do it for themselves, for their own health.
I don't foresee this campaign being successful as far as losing weight and keeping it off. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
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