the 80/20 principle

ever feel like you're doing a lot of stuff, but not getting results equal to all that effort??? (Yes!)

the 80/20 principle states that 80% of your results will come from 20% of your effort. So it makes sense to figure out what that 20% is, doesn't it??? That's "leverage." Putting most of your effort in the things that produce the most results.

A lot of us have heard this principle before, most likely in a business context. But how many of us have actually applied it to our life in any meaningful way? I thought it would be good to list some concrete examples of how this might apply to my life, and the people i know. Enjoy...

• 80% of my spiritual growth comes from 20% of my spiritual disciplines. Which disciplines?
• 80% of my weight loss comes from 20% of my lifestyle changes. Which changes?
• 80% the impact I have on others comes from 20% of my gifts. Which gifts?
• 80% of my anxiety comes from 20% of my problems. Which problems?
• 80% of the impact i have on my kids comes from 20% of my behaviors with them. Which behaviors?
• 80% of the interest in my blog comes from 20% of my posts. Which posts?
• 80% of my relational needs are met by 20% of my friends. Which friends?
• 80% of my heartaches and headaches come from 20% of the people in my life. Which people?
• 80% of my pleasure comes from 20% of my activities. Which activities?
• 80% of my groups are about 20% of the available topics. Which topics?
• 80% of my coaching sessions are filled by 20% of my coachees. Which coachees?
• 80% of my energy and vitality is during 20% of the day. Which part of the day?
• 80% of my sin comes from 20% of my temptations. Which temptations?
• 80% of my learning comes from 20% of the learning styles and methods. Which styles and methods?
• 80% of my time is consumed by 20% of my comittments. Which comittments?
• 80% of my electricity consumption is from 20% of my appliances. Which appliances?
• 80% of the calories i eat in a day comes from 20% of the foods. Which foods?
• 80% of the impact the Bible has on my life comes from 20% of the chapters/verses. Which chapters/verses?

Then i thought about the other people in my life, and what 80/20 questions might apply to them.

• 80% of my sales come from 20% of my callers. Which callers?
• 80% of the company profit comes from 20% of the books. Which books?
• 80% of workshop attendees come from 20% of the locations. Which locations?
• 80% of the things given to me by others comes from 20% of the people I know. Which people are they?
• 80% of the reason for getting good grades comes from 20% of my behaviors? Which behaviors?
• 80% of the interest girls have in dating me comes from 20% of the girls. Which girls?
• 80% of the interest in the songs I write are about 20% of my songs. Which songs?
• 80% of the fun i have comes from being with 20% of my friends. Which friends?
• 80% of sales revenue is generated by 20% of my sales people. Which sales people?

I would be interested in hearing from you with any more questions that you feel are relevant to your life... or what your answers are to a particular question. Click on "comment."

some of my favorite old games

Ms Pacman

Click to Play!

Yahtzee

Click to Play!

Asteroids

Click to Play!

Frogger

Click to Play!

Breakout

Click to Play!

Pacman

Click to Play!

Qbert

Click to Play!

Space Invaders

Click to Play!

Pong

Click to Play!

Tetris

Click to Play!

Reversi

Click to Play!

Chess

Click to Play!

Battleships

Click to Play!

Connect 4

Click to Play!

Checkers

Click to Play!

Dominos

Click to Play!

Wheel of Fortune

Click to Play!

Dots

Click to Play!

free books!!

If you're like me there are many times you would like a book, and you know your friends might have it and not need it anymore, but you don't want to bother them all the time asking, or having them think you're cheap.

And then you have a bunch of books you've read that are good, and you know they would be of benefit to someone, but you're not sure who. So you're torn between throwing them away, donating them to the library, trying to sell them in a garage sale or amazon, of trying to pawn them off on friends who you think "need" them. (They're too polite to say no.)

Once I tried to start a book cooperative online where books could be traded or given away. I didn't have anywhere near the volume of participants to make it work well.

Well Bookmooch came along to save the day! I am truly impressed with this site. You list the books you have that you want to give away, and you search for books you want. You earn points when you give books away and you spend points when you request a book from someone else. It's a huge swapmeet.

I have sent and received several books so far. And it's nice to know my book went to someone who really wanted it. (To a good home, if you will.) The site is very easy to use. Very user-frinedly and informative. Keeps track of everything for you. I would be proud to have invented this.

The site charges NOTHING. Your only cost is the postage on the books you mail out. That's it. To get started you have to list at least 10 books.

If you like to see the list of books I currently am offering, go here. (You can search for other books from here too.) If you really want one, you're going to have to become a member of bookmooch. That's my way of encouraging more people to get involved with this.

Happy reading!

fixed or moving?

A big flap in the news recently about a memo circulated in congress promoting the idea that the universe rotates around the world and that the Copernican Revolution (inspired by the Jewish Kabbalah) was the first step in discrediting the Bible, leading eventually to evolution, a 15-billion year old universe, etc.

Here's part of an article from the Dallas Morning News...

Chisum contrite over memo

Legislature: Group says evolution handout contains anti-Semitic material

08:02 AM CST on Thursday, February 15, 2007
By KAREN BROOKS and ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN –

House Appropriations Chairman Warren Chisum said Wednesday that he's "willing to apologize" for giving colleagues a document that contains what the Anti-Defamation League called "outrageous anti-Semitic material."

On Tuesday, the Pampa Republican distributed a memo written by Georgia GOP Rep. Ben Bridges to Texas House members' mailboxes. The memo advocated that schools stop teaching evolution and contained links to a Web site that warns of international Jewish conspiracies. It also directed readers to the group that created the Web site – the Atlanta-area Fair Education Foundation.

_______

I've been fascinated, obssessed, worried, and confused about Bible/science issues since I was a teenager. Age of earth. Evolution. Creation. 24-hour creation. Geocentrism. Sun stopping for a day. Etc. Etc.

Here's the web site explaining the views relating to the news story above. http://www.fixedearth.com/

What do you think?

not so great value

I had been hearing something about peanut butter on the news lately but hadn't been paying much attention. This morning as i was drifting in and out of sleep the story came on the news and I decided to see what the fuss was about.

Seems as though 300 cases of salmonella since August have been pinned on peanut butter. I'm not sure what slamonella is, but it doesn't sound good. (I used to think it was the Italian guy who ran the sub shop.) I listened for the details since I've been eating a lot more peanut butter in the past month than i have in a long time.

Peter Pan was suspicious. (I have always thought that young men in green tights and skirts chasing little boys around was suspicious, by the way.) I immediately checked that off the list. I would never buy such a common brand. Too much money.

Then they said, "Wal-mart's Great Value brand." Uh oh. I've been grocery shopping at Wal-mart for a few months and of course i would be their house brand. The report continued... "Check your lid. If it starts with 2111 throw it out!"

I hopped out of bed and ran to the cupboard. Yes, it was Great Value. Now, what did the lid say??

2111... What to do. What to do... There's still a third of the jar left. Can i really just throw it out?? Kinda wasteful, ain't it?

They did say you could mail the lid in for a refund. I'd be tempted to do that if the cost of postage wasn't as much as the refund would be...

I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullett and throw it out.

my friends' businesses

Bonita Wesleyan Church My sister Diana, and her husband Marc, just moved to san diego to pastor this church.

ONUG "One Nation Under God" patrtiotic apparel by my friend Derrick

ThatFishThing My friend Derrick's custom sports apparel

iplayd1 My friend Derrick's adult sports league in Atlanta

Left Arm Comedy My friend Derrick's stand-up comedy.

Life Strategy Coaching and Wilderness expeditions conducted by my friend Steve.

Great Therapy My friend Steve's Counseling business.

Bridging the Gap Meeting simple needs, in a complicated world. My friend Shirley's company that helps provide water to 3rd world countries.

Oasis Counseling My friend Bill's company that provides counseling and consultation, specializing in sexual and relational issues from a distinctly Christian perspective.

Keep Growing, Inc. My friend Steve's company whose mission is to "train, resource, and coach leaders to leverage personal development for organizational effectiveness." Incidentally, Steve was just appointed President/CEO of the Evangelical Fellowship of Missions Agencies which over 200 missions agencies belong to. Go Steve!!

Mobilizing Brazil My friend Jason's site about his efforts to mobilize the Brazilian church into missions.

AppwrightMy friend Dave's company that creates and sells web-based scheduling and collaboration software for homebuilders and contractors.

Truth Coaching My friend Dave's company that provides Christian Coaching in a variety of areas.

Sherry B Gallery My friend Sherry's site displaying her artwork.

Ensemble Gaudior My friend Alexandra's string ensemble. (Be sure to listen to the audio clips!)

other blogs and such

Justin's MySpace My son's myspace page

my own little corner my friend and fellow employee Cheryl's inspirational blog. She is a strong and consistent supporter and friend of mine.

Southern snowboarder My friend Jason's family blog

dzcowart My friend Donald's blog

curlytopgal my 17 yo niece kristy's blog. she is fanatical about acting/theater. lives in new brunswick canada. cool girl.

i found my voice this is my friend Missi's blog. She has recently rediscovered her self (thoughts, feelings, opinions, values) and is no longer afraid to express them. Yay! I don't know when she has the time, however, because she has 14 children!!

Sometimes Roxie Writes Stuff... My friend's blog. I like her writing style.

Eternal Bud's Eternal Blog My friend Chris' blog

drury writing Keith Drury was Director of Youth for the Wesleyan denomination when I was a pastor. He was always a sharp and honest thinker and doer. He is now a professor of Religion and this is his weekly blog.

a daily prayer of surrender

using written prayers can be a great aid in the devotional life. they can help to remind us of things we really do want to say in our prayers, but can't remember at 6 am! It also helps to keep us from repeating endless clichés. a written prayer, carefully and meaningfully read, can be a powerful tool. Your prayer life should be broader than this, but written prayers can be part of it.

There are many written prayers available for you to use. Or you can create your own. the following is a prayer that i created and modified over time to try and express the sorts of things that i want to say to God every day. maybe you will find it useful as well.

A DAILY PRAYER OF SURRENDER

Heavenly Father,

I come to you today, just as I am. I give you all my strengths and weaknesses, vices and virtues, hopes and fears, successes and failures, faith and doubt.

I cast all my fear and anxiety and insecurity upon you, trusting that you will do your part, trusting that you will show me what my part is (if any), and trusting that all things will work together for good, because I love you and because I am called according to your purpose.

I receive your mercy, grace, and love into my life. Please help me to extend it to myself, and others.

Please give me the wisdom to know your will for me, the willingness to accept it, and the courage and strength to do it. I need your help in each of these ways, for I can not do any of them on my own.

Give me what I need for today -physically, spiritually, and emotionally. No more. No less.

May I live today with a heightened sense of your presence. May I catch glimpses of the eternal in all things. May I be aware of, and listen to, the promptings of your Holy Spirit.

I place my life completely and unreservedly in your hands, and trust that you will not let anything happen to me outside of your will for me.

I ask these things in the name and the power and the authority of Jesus Christ, my savior and friend.

Amen

a short political lesson

DEMOCRAT You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. You feel guilty for being successful. Barbara Streisand sings for you.

REPUBLICAN You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. So?

SOCIALIST You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor. You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.

COMMUNIST You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk. You wait in line for hours to get it. It is expensive and sour.

CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.

DEMOCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE You have two cows. The government taxes you to the point you have to sell both to support a man in a foreign country who has only one cow, which was a gift from your government.

BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE You have two cows. The government takes them both, shoots one, milks the other, pays you for the milk, and then pours the milk down the drain.

AMERICAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one. You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have down sized and are reducing expenses. Your stock goes up.

FRENCH CORPORATION You have two cows. You go on strike because you want three cows. You go to lunch and drink wine. Life is good.

JAPANESE CORPORATION You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains. Most are at the top of their class at cow school.

GERMAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You engineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour. Unfortunately they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.

ITALIAN CORPORATION You have two cows but you don't know where they are. While ambling around, you see a beautiful woman. You break for lunch. Life is good.

RUSSIAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You have some vodka. You count them and learn you have five cows. You have some more vodka. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have.

TALIBAN CORPORATION You have all the cows in Afghanistan, which are two. You don't milk them because you cannot touch any creature's private parts. Then you kill them and claim a US bomb blew them up while they were in the hospital.

IRAQIAN CORPORATION You have two cows. They go in hiding. They send radio tapes of their mooing.

POLISH CORPORATION You have two bulls. Employees are regularly maimed and killed attempting to milk them.

FLORIDA CORPORATION You have a black cow and a brown cow. Everyone votes for the best looking one. Some of the people who like the brown one best, vote for the black one. Some people vote for both. Some people vote for neither. Some people can't figure out how to vote at all. Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which is the best looking cow.

the new face of jehovah's witnesses

If you saw the super bowl half time show this year you saw "Prince" perform. It may have been your first encounter with him, or maybe you have been a devotee, even through his "symbol" years. It would be impossible to not have heard his song, "We're gonna party like it's 1999," which played continuously at the turn of the millenium.

In any case, rumor has it he is now a Jehovah's Witness, although he was born a Seventh Day Adventist. As he puts it, "There are some songs I don't do anymore, just like there are some words I don't say anymore."

Prince. There's nobody like him. Who knows what will come next?

To read more... http://www.getreligion.org/?p=138

Dear "Abby"

A friend recently emailed me...

what is your take on using the scripture, "god will give you the desires of your heart" in regards to singleness? I have a single friend wrestling with that.

Here is my response...

Oh geez... whenever you ask me to interpret scripture you're probably going to get more than you bargained for... lol.

• This is a psalm of David... David made up lots of songs expressing his thoughts and feelings. I believe they were preserved for a reason. However, does that mean every thing he said in every psalm is true for every person in every circumstance?
• Rick Warren says that this means that God will put the desires in your heart that he wants there. Although when we delight ourselves in the Lord our desires do become more like his, I don’t think that is what this verse is referring to. It’s an interesting interpretation, but it goes against the plain and obvious meaning, with no warrant to do so. (That’s ok. Rick’s use of Scripture is often sloppy.)
• Experience shows that many people who love the Lord fully do not have all their desires met (in this world). Life is full of hurts and disappointments. Time to grow up and face reality. What are the desires of our heart, really? A new house? A promotion? To get pregnant? To find a husband to make us happy? Or do we desire peace, contentment, security, serenity, strength, courage, wisdom, acceptance, etc. In other words, God may be more interested in giving you what your heart really wants, not just the quick fix you have in mind.
• Most likely a single person who is wrestling with this verse is desperate to get married, or discouraged because she hasn’t had a successful dating life, or because of her insecurities she wants God to “give” her a husband without her needing to do the normal things necessary to go out there and find one! She may be the type of person that has the passive approach and would like to believe that if she just stays home every night and reads her Bible and prays, one day there will be a knock on the door and standing there will be prince charming. (He may be in a UPS uniform, however.)
• It’s also possible that she may be suffering with the syndrome of, “If I really give myself to God then he is going to require me to be single and I don’t know if I can deal with that.” (Similar to, “He’ll make me go to Africa.”) This comes from a faulty view of God, thinking that he longs to ask us to do things that we have no interest or desire or giftedness for. So we end up fearing some imaginary requirement that we couldn’t possible imagine performing. Be assured of this... God will never require anything more of you today than he will give you the grace to deal with for today.
• End of story. Have her read, How to Get a Date Worth Keeping by Henry Cloud.

Doug