Author: trevoressmith

Are You Enduring or Enjoying Your Life?

Are you enduring or enjoying your life? That is question that I put before you.

Even as we reflect on our own lives and try to come to some conclusion, I am going to  assume that some of us have less JOY in the mix than is desirable.

I am guessing that in some of our lives ENDURE has got the upper hand on ENJOY.

Today, I present the first step in a formula for tipping the balance back in favour of ENJOY.

STEP 1: SELF

Re-visit how you see yourself.

Enjoy is incompatible with low self-esteem; self-hate or compounded frustration.

The greater the level of discomfort with yourself the lower the chances of experiencing JOY in your life.

If you listen to your “self talk” you can establish the level of JOY that you are experiencing and that you are likely to experience.

The less you love yourself and the worse you feel about life the lower will be the fount in JOY in your life.

Conversely, the more comfortable you are with who you are and the more fulfilled you feel about who you are the greater the prospects of experiencing unbridled JOY.

So, what am I saying? I am saying that whether you experience joy or not starts with you and how you think about yourself.

I am saying that JOY is not totally dependent on others and what happens outside of you.

Joy is yours to grasp. You too can ENJOY life…but it starts with coming to grips with yourself. It starts with understanding who you are and respecting yourself.

This does not mean that there are not things to be fixed and adjusted. But, you can only experience JOY when you learn to love yourself – blemishes, warts and all.

Tips for improving your self esteem include:

1. Watching your self talk

2. Not comparing self to others

3. Using valid and reliable yardsticks

4. Being realistic

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IPL and West Indies Cricket

IPL and West Indies Cricket

Declining interest in cricket among young men started long before the advent of the IPL. Instead of bemoaning the decision of key players to opt for the IPL instead of playing for the West Indies we should face the realities and embrace this as a blessing in disguise.

In much the same way that the entertainment industry attracts young persons who are seeking a viable means of making a living, the T20 leagues provide an option for many who may not make the cut at the highest level.

Consider the Kevon Coopers who might have been confined to playing regionally for virtually no pay. He and others like him might be inspired to develop their skills in the knowledge that there are attractive opportunities around the world for highly skilled cricketers.

West Indies was strong when we had scores making a living in county and league cricket. The IPL and T20 leagues present a counter-point to basketball and football.

Reflect on the amazing interest in athletics in Jamaica not indirectly linked to the vast opportunities for many who could not qualify for a small squad of elite performers to make a substantial living.

The lessons from a Sunil Narine who rebounded from having to correct his action to earning megabucks in a short period of time will not be lost on many who will now commit to more serious time in the nets. This can only be good for West Indies cricket in the medium and long term.

There is no guarantee that if the IPL players were available we would beat higher ranked teams. Those players are making a far more significant contribution to the development of West Indies cricket.

Time will tell!

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Pause For Peace

If you are facing challenging times, pause for a brief moment (2:15 minutes) and experience this calming bit of wisdom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft2E4BO22pA&feature=related

Here is a bonus for you (Psalm 91)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvhWTWpNWL0&feature=endscreen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4uWhg9vRcE

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Were Charlie Parker And Don Drummond Musical Twins?

Were Charlie Parker And Don Drummond Musical Twins?

Their birth dates were not the same (Parker August 1920/Drummond March 1932) so biological twins is not what is intended.

The type of music they played was also different.

I met Charlie Parker as a young lad being inducted into jazz by my cousin. I met Charlie at the same time as Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. John was a bit too deep for me. Dave Brubeck came along with Paul Desmond. Desmond was just mesmerizing. He was so cool. He dampened my enthusiasm and appreciation of Charlie Parker.

My introduction to Don Drummond came years later through the medium of dance music. The Skatalites were all the rage. One night at the UWI Student’s Union will live on my memory. “Please, please don’t crowd the bandstand”, pleaded the MC as everyone wanted to be as close as possible to one of the most skilful aggregation of musicians ever assembled anywhere on the planet.

I should link Roland Alphonso or even Tommy McCook the sax players to Charlie Parker. However, it is not the instrument that causes me to tie Parker and Drummond together.

I just watched a documentary on Charlie Parker and one thing that stood out was the “never ending solo” that he blew. The documentary suggested that the drummer had to throw part of his equipment at his feet to get Parker to stop.

That was vintage Don Drummond!

Don would stand quietly for long periods. But when he got inspired he would blow and blow and blow.

Both Parker and Drummond did the unexpected with their instruments. Listening was an adventure.

Unfortunately, they both had bouts of mental illness and departed relatively early (Parker at 34 in 1955/ Drummond at 37 in 1969)

They leave behind exciting catalogues.

Click the links below to meet Charlie Parker and Don Drummond.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWufkk1iAgs&feature=related   Don Drummond Man in the street

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_j4Bkj8oQk&feature=related  Don Drummond Addis Ababa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZYaSkhRhoE&feature=related Charlie Parker Beebop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsAMAIaas94&feature=related Charlie Parker Ornithology


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Keeping An Open Mind

I had a visit with a very communicative medic. He shared insights from a recent conference that he had attended. As it turns out, it may result in a change in how he addresses some situations that he has to treat.

It is instructive, that after years of rigorous study and significant experience, he stills finds it necessary to expose himself to new ideas and to actually move to implement them.

I am concerned that this level of hunger for knowledge is being swept aside by the pressures of daily living. My own confession is that I am spending a lot less time searching out new information that I did years ago. Access is easier but the distractions are greater. In reality, I think it is the commitment level that has waned. My mind is not as open to new information as it used to be. It is too caught up in daily struggles.

But what of our medic?

What if he got stuck in his practice and never took the time to open his mind to new information? The very patients that he would be slaving to serve would in fact be the worse for it.

So, having read this, what are you going to do?

I am committing to keeping my mind open to a much greater degree than at present.

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7 Keys to Success in 2012

7 Keys To Success This Year

Most of us are determined to achieve more this year than we did last year. I want to share 7 keys to success this year.

Key #1: Tap into the source

The single most important springboard for success this year is to ensure that you have access to the source of blessings.

Eph: 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Being in Christ is the single most important step to success.

Phil 4:13 13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me. 

Matt 7: 7   “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.   9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!     

The empowerment that comes from being anchored in Christ sets you on a path to success.

Proverbs 21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.

Seeing what benefits come from being in Christ does not put you in Christ. Having friends and families in Christ does not put you in Christ. Spending time with people who are in Christ does not put you in Christ.

To be in Christ, you must be aware of His sacrificial death to pay for man’s sin and believe it to be true.

You must make a decision to live a life that is in conformity with Christ-like principles and to reject the old ways.

You should have made a public declaration that Jesus is Lord of your life.

You should have been immersed in baptism for the remission of your sins. Following that you continue to be obedient to God’s will for your life.

Remain firmly grounded in Christ and you are all set for success. With Jesus as the vessel you will get where you want to go.

 

Key #2:  Expect great things

This year you should work to make every thought a positive one. Just expect better will come.

Our thoughts have inordinate influence on what manifests in our lives.

Philippians 4:8-9

Meditate on These Things

   8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

You get diagnosed with an illness. Pray fervently and constantly think that with a change of diet and life style and the aide of health practitioners you will beat it and get better.

Research data indicates that patients with a positive disposition survive longer.

You had your mind set on something coming through for you and you do all that you are supposed to do you and more and yet for some inexplicable reason it is stalled. It is just not happening for you.

Don’t give up. Continue in your pursuit. Re-double your efforts. But always believe that it will come through for you.

 

Key#3: Pray without ceasing

Do not underestimate the power of believing prayer.

 1 Thess 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 James 5: 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

This year, you should also dare to have the mindset of Jabez and to pray about it.

1 Chronicles 4:10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

Be bold in your prayer life. However, ask believing.

James 1:  5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

 

Key#4: Be focused and passionate about what you feel called to do

Narrow your focus. Determine what is at the core of what you want to achieve. Follow your passion. Do not be distracted. Do not be caught up either in your challenges or your successes.

 

Nehemiah 2: 1 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

 

   I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

 4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”  Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

 

Key#5: Be faithful and diligent

This year be scrupulous in ensuring that your every thought, word and deed is in keeping with the scriptures.

This is a year for ensuring that we expunge sin from our lives. We are going to accept that through Christ we can live righteous lives.

We will commit to Bible study so that we will be encouraged daily to abide by its principles.

We will commit to getting rid of the sins that beset us. Let us be embrace honesty where deceitfulness was a feature of our lives.

We will commit to chastity where fornication and adultery was a feature of our lives.

We will commit to forgiveness where malice was a feature of our lives.

We will commit to filling our hearts with love where hatred and bitterness have been taking root.

The history of Israel and Judah highlight the fact that God consistently punished sin and rewarded repentance and obedience. Let us not invite God’s displeasure and wrath this year.

Let us not lose sight of the fact that while God’s reaction might not be a swift as when Ananias was struck dead, He abhors every sinful act and promises that we will be held accountable for our actions.

Let us spend this year in dread of a God that is to be feared and respected. Let us stop being careless with our souls. Stop using Christ’s sacrifice as an excuse for indulging our sinful desires.

In this jubilee year, let us give up wanton sinfulness. Let us give back our lives to God.

This is also a year where you need to put in more effort. The more challenging the times and the situation the more effort it requires to overcome them.

When the going gets tough the tough gets going.

Prov 6: 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

 

Key#6: Collaborate

This is the time for collaboration. Alliances and partnerships are essential to success. The idea of going it alone is challenging and is not recommended at this time. We need to share our burdens with others and help them to bear their burdens.

1 Cor 1:10

[ A Church Divided Over Leaders ] I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Proverbs 24:6 Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.

 

Key#7: Be patient and persevere

James 1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

 James 1: 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Reflect on the less celebrated part of the recollection of Elijah’s action at Mount Carmel. He had just silenced the prophets of Baal by bringing about a most amazing display of God’s power through his prayer.

Recall that he had warned that there would be no rain for 3 years and that it would rain at his behest.

1 Kings 18:  41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.  43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.  “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”  44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”    So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”  45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 

Consider also the Jericho march and the patience that it required.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

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Engage, Encourage, Enable

Engage, Encourage, Enable

As we move forward in this new year, I want to share some options for your commitment.  Many of us fail to follow through on our resolutions. Here is hoping that this year you will make one or more of these options come true.

The resolutions fall into 3 basic categories:

Engage, Encourage, Enable

Engage

The invitation is that this will be a year in which we strive to be more engaging. Let us seek to look beyond ourselves and our inner circle.

I am suggesting that this should be a year in which we widen our sphere of influence. Let us be more open to the possibility of interacting with others.

Instead of holding our heads straight and avoiding contact let us change our mindset and actively seek to connect with others.

Let us banish the word “Shy” from our vocabularies and work to broaden our network of friends and associates.

Each new contact that we make represents an option for new possibilities. So the more contacts we make the more possibilities become available to us.

Proactive networking and being open to engaging new contacts is one of the keys to success.

“To the weak I became weak in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some of them.” 1Co 9:22

 I would also like for us to commit to making real connections this year. Move at least one of the surface interactions that we have to a genuine friendship.

Move from exchanging pleasantries to a genuine interest in issues of concern to the other party.

Is there scope this year to learn more about someone’s hopes, fears and aspirations?

Can we take time to go beyond the warm greeting to better appreciate what makes someone else tick?

In an increasingly sceptical and untrusting world, the call of the Great Commission to go into the world and teach is going require us to engage others on a real basis.

“Show me that you care, if you want me to listen to you.”

The politicians are increasingly being confronted with the phenomenon of people simply opting out when they fail to get the feeling that their interests are of genuine concern.

Let us reflect on Christ’s genuine concern about the well being of others. He dealt with their health concerns and took swift action to deal with their hunger.  He sought to resolve their understanding of the law and how to relate to the authorities.

Above all, He was open to contact from anyone. He was not a respecter of persons and His mission led Him to constantly make new contacts.

Let this year be a year of engagement.

I suggest that we do not limit our commitment to engagement only to connection with others.

Let this be a year in which we open ourselves to something new.

This might be a new hobby, or a new type of book or show. Initiation of a fitness routine.  Going on a diet.  Going back to school.  Starting a new business.

Let this be a year of new beginnings…  a year in which we engage something different.

I would also like for this year to be a year of encouragement.

The environment is overrun with negative sentiments. Predictions of hard times abound. Doom and gloom have been our constant companions.

I suggest that we lift the veil. I suggest that we replace the forecast of dark clouds with expectations of bright sunny skies.

The potential impact of a change of mindset is generally under-estimated.

“Peter answered him, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.”  Jesus said, “Come on!” So Peter got down out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came to Jesus.” Mat 14:28 – 29

I was able to walk on hot, flaming coals bare footed without being seared because of a change of mindset.

Let us focus our energies on being encouraging in our thoughts, words and action. Let us adopt positive mindsets this year. Let us recall that with God all things are possible Matt 19:26.

Let us base our faith on the fact that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13.

So, in our conversations let us strive to sound notes of encouragement versus discouragement.

We can take the commitment to be encouraging further. We can actively cheer on others in their pursuit of positive goals or in the honest performance of tasks that they have been assigned.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24

Let the phrase “Well done!” roll off our tongues more often. Let us be there to say “Don’t give up! You can do it! Persevere, the victory will be yours!”

Lay any temptation to tear down to rest this year. This year you only have eyes for positive outcomes. Thoughts of failure are banished. Disappointments may come but we know that they will be fleeting and victory will be yours in due course.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 New International Version (NIV)

Our encouragement should also embrace helping others to remain in the faith.

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness”. Heb 3:13

Let us make it a point of duty this year to help others in their Christian walk. Let us encourage a brother or sister to greater levels of commitment and service.

If the opportunity presents itself, strive to restore someone who has fallen away.

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal 6: 1 -3

Our next commitment is to be enabling this year.

As we become more engaging and widen our network of contacts. And as we encourage others and ourselves to positive achievement, we will have created opportunities for us to become enablers.

Each of us has the capacity to help someone to achieve one of their goals.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

This year we should strive to translate “good wishes” and encouraging words into tangible action.

As we becoming more engaging and as we strive to be encouraging let us find ways to actively enable others as well.

Our enabling action may come in many different forms. It need not require material resources. A simple word of advice could make a huge difference in someone’s life.

Maybe just sitting quietly with someone as they work through a challenging situation may enable them to move forward with their life.

The key is to be on the lookout for opportunities to make a difference. No longer opt to be a bystander. Put up your hand and be counted. Reach out and lend a hand or provide a shoulder. Be a sounding broad. Give someone the assurance that you are there for them.

This year commit to enabling others on their life journey.

In closing, your most significant action in enabling others would be to share the Gospel with them.

No act of empowerment can compare with that of leading someone to Christ. In order to do so you will have to engage and encourage them.

Share the good news of Christ’s sacrificial death to reconcile us to God, the need for repentance, public acknowledgement of Jesus and baptism for the remission of sins.

On a personal level, this is a year for getting things right with God.

We are committing to obeying the plan of salvation before it is eternally too late.

We are committing now to being fully aware of our deceitful SELF and to call out the impostor every time it appears.

We are committing to hungering after righteousness.

We are committing to devoting ourselves to immersion in God’s word on a daily basis.

We are committing to applying its teachings to our lives.

This year we will engage, encourage and enable.

God bless you!

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A Revolution in Behavioral Assessments

The Extended DISC platform of behavioral solutions has been transformed and is ready to alter how organizations address assessments in the future.

This is truly revolutionary.

It is a blank canvas on which to paint virtually anything your mind can conceive.

Below is a sneak peek of a sample comparative analysis for multiple persons applying for a Client Services position.

CSR Role Fit (Extract)

This Sample Report Extract shows the direct comparison of the results of multiple parties with respect to a battery of situation-specific behavioural competencies.

This will give you a sense of what you will be able to do with the platform. This is the type of situation/target specific report that can be produced in short order. The limits are defined by our joint creativity.

This then opens up huge possibilities for use in recruitment and coaching for performance improvement. You can customize the competencies and factors to be used in the evaluation and present the results for all candidates one below the other in the same report. Alternatively, you can produce individual reports.

There is an increasingly large library of behavioral competencies to choose from when creating your reports.

At the same time, it is our work with the development of high performance teams that evokes the highest level of acclamation from Extended DISC clients across the globe.

The Team Maps provide instant insights into the orientation of the team (and entire organization) to current and future demands. They are also invaluable in guiding decisions with respect to the roles that team members are best suited to play.

For more information contact: trevor.smith@swpacademy.com

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