Cut It Out !

The relationship was not going well. Our minds and hearts were not mending together. Conflict seems to be given out in daily doses that tasted like the worst medicine ever taken. Things just weren’t working out and no matter what you did you couldn’t make it better. What do you do when something is not going as you planned? Something has to give, what will it be?

If you go to a doctor that does not help you heal then cut him out of your life and find another doctor.

If you go to a bank that doesn’t keep your finances in order then cut them out of your life and do business at another bank.

If you have a toxic relationship that doesn’t honor God then cut it out of your life and then seek a godly person.

If your behavior doesn’t glorify God then cut it out of your life and replace it with biblical behaviors.

If the people you hang around with do the wrong things then cut them out of your life and forge new friendships who believe in living right.

If you eat the wrong foods that cause your body illness then cut it out of your life and start eating the right foods for your good health.

If you spend too much time watching TV then cut it out of your life and begin to limit your video time replacing it with reading or some other activity.

If you avoid your responsibilities to other then cut it out of your life and start being more accountable to yourself and others.

If you constantly waste time then cut it out of your life and learn to handle your business in a timely manner.

If you have become a procrastinator then cut it out of your life and make a schedule and do your best to maintain it.

If you live by consuming fear then cut it out of your life and face your fears one at a time working to overcome them.

If you live in constant negativity then cut it out of your life and take steps to be more optimistic, more positive.

If you live your life without the Lord, then cut it out of your life and accept Him as your personal Savior so that you may obtain eternal life.

There are times when we need to pray and ask God to remove the clutter, clutter that keeps us from functioning in a God-like manner. We need to do like we do when we clean our houses. Take a trash bag and clear out the rubbish of our minds, hearts and souls so that God’s glory can be seen through the newly cleaned rooms and windows of our souls. Soul clutter keeps us from seeing or bringing to mind what we need to get rid of in our lives that hinder us from moving forward.

Begin today to clean up your insides. Some of us will need big industrial strength bags and others may need just a small one. Pick a trash day and make it your cut it out day. Do it once or twice a month. You’ll find that your mind, heart and soul will soon be cleared of trash once you cut it out of your life.

SPW

June 15, 2009

Who Guides Your Life?

GPS Anyone?

I punched in the address on my GPS system and waited for the satellite to find out where I was located. Soon the voice spoke and said follow the highlighted route and at the same time a map of my location came on the screen. I was set to start off towards my pre-programmed destination. The sun was shining and the day promised to be a good one.

Putting the car into gear I was to follow the highlighted route displayed. I went out on my adventure with an assured hope that I would get there without incident. I encountered new scenery along the un-chartered territory I had never seen before. The trip so far was going smoothly. Suddenly I came to a spot where the large detour sign glared at me. Orange barrels came out of nowhere and I felt some anxiety. Following the detour signs would take me off of my pre-programmed path.

Following the detour sign the silent voice of my GPS spoke up with reassurance. RECALULATING! Her feminine motherly voice assured me that she knew about the correction and that she would make the corrections to direct me to the programmed destination. All I had to do was listen to her voice and follow her directions. The GPS was guided by the satellite way above me. It gave her a new rout option that I could not see. All I could see was what was in front of me. I had to trust her directives.

God is our guide, our protector, our source of direction. The bible is the satellite that guides. When we come to the detours of life along the way we should hear an audible RECALCULATING from the Word of God. Sometimes the streets we drive down are a one way street with a dead end. If we would listen to the voice of God; our direction would not be hindered by a slight detour. We would still reach God’s destination for us if we would trust God’s directives.

God provides the source of our direction by guiding us ever so gently and by placing His protective hedge around us. His system which is the Word of God never breaks down or is clouded over with digital transmissions. Using God’s GPS will get you through life with a minimum of detours so that you will be able to do His will without hearing too many times RECALCULATING!

Your Customer Is Your Paycheck

Customer service is no longer held in high esteem in today’s economy. The phrase “The customer is always right.” is dying a speedy death. “Please and thank you” is becoming a lost art and “How may I help you?” is not heard as often as needed.

When you call a business or company you no longer get a real person but you can get an autonomic response that have you to push number after number to hear “we will answer your call in the order it was received.” If a host of people are calling at the same time, your wait could be rather lengthy.

Think of yourself when you’re the customer. What do you seek? Most seek to have a problem solved by the people who should have the answers. When you are guided through a maze that constantly runs you into a brick wall, the process is frustrating. When you finally come to a real human voice, the stress quotient has been spent. Your response to the person on the line turns highly emotional.

Now, the company thinks they are being more efficient by having an autonomic system to get to every customer in X number of minutes. Pre-recorded messages are given to let the customer know we don’t play favorites and we go by our policy to make sure everyone is treated fairly. We treat everyone the same no matter what. In essence you are just a number.

People do not want to be thought of as a number as if they were serving a prison sentence. Each person wants to be validated for who they are. If they do not receive this validation they will sound off to seven to ten people about their discontent. Furthermore, they will take their business elsewhere. How do I know this? I was a number today on the phone with a company I had done business for years.

I will no longer pay them money for poor service. I have already told three people about the service I received. I will also tell others to be aware as well so that they can prepare themselves if they need answers from the same company. If I tell them they will tell others. This will generate a loss of business for this company for a number of years. They will lose money that I would have spent as well as the others I told and after a while they will feel the loss revenue.

Final analysis, we stop shopping at your place of business your employer losses money. When your employer losses enough money, you lose your job and your paycheck. Could this have been avoided? By all means it could. The solution is this. Provide the help customers need. Jeffery Gitomer in his book Customer Satisfaction is Worthless Customer Loyalty is Priceless. In order to earn your paycheck do the following:

Know Me
Understand Me
Lead Me
Help Me
Serve Me

The way I expect to be served…

NOW!

SPW

June 10, 2009

Hats off to the Graduates

“Students today… leaders tomorrow.” “A warrior is always a warrior.”
The signs were posted on the stage as the stature of a Roman warrior stood guard over the 2009 graduating class where my granddaughter would receive her high school diploma.

I sat in between my first born son and the last born son. The oldest being the father of my lone grandchild. Excitement and anticipation was in the air as cameras began to flick as the graduates marched in the auditorium. The family was seated, each one beaming with pride. They were all there experiencing a sense of pride as they turned out for support. Her family was like many others across the world who came to celebrate this milestone in their life.

The time had come when the graduate was officially ushered into the adult world. Many decisions and choices will have to be made on their own. You must decide on what direction your life will take. Your choices will determine if the student today when you came in, will become the leader of tomorrow as you leave out of this edifice.

A warrior is always a warrior means we need to check our character and know who we represent at all times. Your family, your educational institution, your self, your parents and the up most your God who made you. All that has been poured into you these thirteen years is a culmination of all that you value and why. You are a product of your up bringing. Choose wisely how you will represent.

As you step out into this varied world, consult resources that will help you stay focused on your life’s goals. When plan A doesn’t work out, try to have a plan B. Be ready to do a mid-course correction. Determine what it takes to move in a steady pattern towards the goals you want to accomplish. Ask questions then listen to the answers. Do what you need to do to arrive at your destiny.

The choice is yours. Make a wise decision. Your life choices will determine your final destination. It’s your choice.

SPW

June 6, 2009