Author: Tim Morris

What’s Your Plan?

Tim Morris 1 Comment

Real Men Logo

Each of us as a goal, a dream, a desire to be better than we are. We seem to always see what we want to be or do and it is just beyond our reach. Why are they always just out of reach? Well, I can’t speak for everyone but as for me – I do not have plans to make the  change much of the time. This is where I came across David Domzalski. David is all about helping men discover their purpose and craft a lifestyle that allows them to be better leaders, husbands, and fathers. I have been reading some of his stuff and he kindly allowed me to share this ebook with all of my readers as well.

This quick ebook outlines the simple steps that you and I need to take to see the changes take place in our life. Each section of the book brings it a little closer until it is without our grasp.

If you want to become a better father, husband, employer; get in better shape or grow in any way that is worth the effort. David gives you the tools to get there and will be of great encouragement along the way.

You can Download it for Free HERE!

If you want to reach out to David you can do so through his website http://www.daviddomzalski.com or hit him up on twitter @daviddomzalski

The Conquest of Fear

Tim Morris Leave a comment

We think of courage at times as this thing that young boys have as they try to skate board of the roof into the pool. They might make it or not but what courage they have. Rubbish. Let’s look at what courage is really and how it plays out in our lives. Yes, I said our. You do not need to be on the front lines of combat or in the X-games to have or show courage.

Understanding what is consistent with a man of courage is of utmost importance. Are you ready for this – FEAR. Without fear you are neither brave nor courageous. You are foolish. Fear plays a healthy part in our lives. It can be a deterrent to keep us from making very large mistakes, but many times the fear that paralyzes us is not that fear. It is a fear that can be beaten, overcome. We just have to know how. That is where the courage comes in.

While we all agree that men of courage are hard to come by now one wants to be labeled the opposite. “The absence of Courage is a fault that few are willing to confess.” We all understand that we want courage but how do we grasp it, how does it become part of us? To do so we must understand its relation to the one thing that is consistent in all men and is always present with the one those full of courage.

“Courage is not in the absence of fear but in the conquest of it.”

Understand this – “The brave man is intelligent, he faces danger because he understands it and is prepared to meet it.” You see courage is not some blind foolishness, it is the tried and trained preparation that accompanies the one who has an intelligent grasp on the dangers that could befall him. This then leads way to conquer that fear with courage through the preparation.

We can not fall into this mess of life where we think and believe that having courage is doing something that others are too scared to do. To have true courage means that you have studied, prepared and then with complete understand of not only the risks but also the rewards. Have weighed the fear and found it wanting on a scale against something of higher value, whether that value be moral, monetary or of the feminine persuasion. 🙂

So lets be honest with the world for  a second. Have you ever truly studied a risk, weighed it and found it wanting? Have you understood the danger and in its face stood strong, moved forward to see it conquered and then held in your hand that glorious destiny that allows you to be mentioned among the few. Among those that we look up at in legend an myth who have such courage.

Are you brave? Are you courageous? Are you truly heroic?

Start small. in what ways can you make a small step to conquer fear in your life today?

(All Quotes from Sermons to Young Men by Henery Van Dyke)

The Best Question Ever.

Tim Morris Leave a comment

I came across a book I read a while back by Andy Stanely and remember it being fantastic! Here is my basic outline of the book but there is so much more in the book that he unpacks so I suggest reading the book in its entirety.

 

The Best Question Ever 

The Question: What is the wise thing to do?

The Reference points: Past, Present, Future

  • Past – In light of my past experiences, what is the wise thing to do?
  • Present – In light of my current circumstances, what is the wise thing to do?
  • Future – In light of my future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do?

In light of my past experiences, my current circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do?

Applied: Financially, Relationally, Morally, Professionally, Spiritually,

Three Main Avenues: Time, Finances, Morals

Time – 5 Truths

  1. There is a cumulative value to investing small amounts of time in certain activities over a long period of time.
  2. There are rarely any immediate consequences for neglecting single installments of time in any arena of life.
  3. Neglect has a cumulative effect.
  4. There is no cumulative value to the urgent things that we allow to interfere with the important things.
  5. In the critical arenas of life, you cannot make up for lost time.

Finances – 5 places money goes when I get paid

  1. Spend it
  2. Repay debt
  3. Pay taxes
  4. Save it
  5. Give it

Goal is to flip the order of these 5 categories with our finances.

  1. Give it
  2. Save it
  3. Pay Taxes
  4. Repay debt
  5. Spend it

Morality – New Fences!

  • Every poor moral decision is prefaced by a series of unwise choices.
  • Take extreme measures in extreme circumstances.

WIsdom in Counsel

  • It is next to impossible to discern the voice of wisdom when our emotions are raging.
  • When you do not know what the wise thing to do is….do nothing! When wise people bump up against their limitations, they stop and ask for help.
  • They know what they don’t know, and they make sure they know someone who does.
  • You will never reach your full potential without help and advice from the outside.
  • “The Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10) – here “fear” is referring to – recognition and reverence that leads to submission.
  • The beginning of wisdom is the recognition of and submission to the One who designed things to work the way things work.

Make a decision already!

Tim Morris 4 Comments

Stop taking so long to sit and think about everything that may happen, could go wrong or will most likely not ever take place and just make a decision. We have to make decisions and do so readily awaiting whatever the results. This is hard but it can be learned. It’s called Decisiveness.

So what exactly is it? I would define it as being able to make decisions in a quick and accurate fashion. In our current culture it seems to me that people are on a come back in making decisions. For a while it seemed that people ran from decisions because of the shouldering of responsibilities that came with make them.  I am pleased to see that times are changing. If you do not see the same thing, may I suggest that the circles you are traveling in are not of the best at the moment.

Here is the thing. Decisions do carry responsibility but the only way you become more accurate in making decisions is making decisions. Go figure, right? Okay so the crowd I consistently interact with seem to have no problem making decisions. In fact I have identified a few things that are mentioned that I believe keep them making decisions and not shying away from the responsibility that comes with them. I think they would be helpful here.

  • Almost anything can be adjusted. The reality is that while we may feel or think that what you put into effect is permanent but it is just the opposite. Making a decision allows you to move forward but does not mean you can not side step in the future. Making decisions keeps the project moving. The momentum will not subside if you have to readjust as you go.
  • 85% is Spectacular. One of the biggest things that paralyzes at the crossroads is the idea of perfection. So many seem to stop and wait for the perfection of their work or the circumstances to catch up to them. Forget it if you are at 85% of perfection then make a decision and keep moving. You would be surprised how much gets adjusted as you go. When you continue moving forward and make the tough call the responsibility of it will help you make up for a few last percentage. Lets be honest – perfection is not often held nor is it easily maintained.
  • Responsibility is up for grabs. Most people who are seeking promotion inside a company look first at opportunities to gain authority or power. When you are able to make decisions look for opportunities to make them. When responsibility is up for grabs, take it. Remember they go together. People with authority will always be delegating and they are looking for people willing to make the decisions for them. (This is not necessarily a good leader, it is just what seems to be in abundance.) Make sure not to confuse the two. Go after the responsibility.

All leaders, good ones, learn to make decisions. No matter where you are in the journey, you will have a crossroads not to far in your future. Do not sit there to long. Keep moving, change along the way if you must, stop waiting for perfection to hit you in the forehead and run hard after the responsibility.