Where Do You Focus?

I started off pretty strong in August and then I fell off the wagon again with my commitment to writing. No excuses here, I just did not put any time and energy into it. Why? There are probably countless reasons why I could come up with from college moving, sports schedules, to work insanity/stress… I could go on, but the truth and I know it is that I just did not make the time to do it and I know without a doubt I could have. As I look back at the past month the truth of the matter is that I have let you down. So many topics bounced in and out of my head over the course of this past month that I just failed to write down and take a shot at providing some thoughts, directions and challenges. I write this to tell you, I’m back! I mean it this time.

Here is my plan, and for you that have been reading my blog for the last couple of years will see I’m going to pull some content from my other site to share out and I do not apologize for reusing the content. I’ve been meaning to pull it over, but just have not found a good way to do so in bulk so I’m going to pull content at least once a week on a Tuesday and re-share it here again. This will not be new (to you that have been following my other site), but I will give it a quick read in case there are any updates to share. Hopefully these will be nice reminders to help you on whatever journey you are on.

Along with that I’m going to work on one focused piece of new content that I am going to build each week. Since most of my other posts are career and leadership focused, I’m going to try to really focus these more on the financial side of what I do. This will include topics like student loans, debt consolidation, wealth building, money saving tips, teaching our kids and more. Since the other posts will go out on Tuesday, these will go out Thursday night/Friday AM, at which point I will be sharing a weekly newsletter to bring insights to you for your journey.

With all of that said, this blog is written for my accountability. I’m setting reminders on my calendar and putting time aside so I can focus on what is most important to me and that is helping you. I mean it!! I truly love inspiring, motivating and helping all of you on whichever journey you are on and wherever I can provide some additional insights.

With that said, as you can tell, I got a bit of motivation this morning and came in ready to go. I just ate the cheapest lunch I could (bowl of chili + a free banana) then looked at my computer and thought it is time to get started, time to focus and do what I love. Thank you Dave Ramsey, Entre-Leadership book and Scribd for making the audio version available as part of my 30-day free trial.

The Bible teaches in KJV: Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” I believe wholeheartedly that you put your time into the things you value the most and you should. So taking that further, that then defines where your heart or your love is where your time goes. If I spend all my time on my work, chances are I will be incredibly successful at work (treasures in my work), but chances are my spiritual life will suffer, because my work is taking the majority of my time. Further, if you spend all of your time at work, then your marriage or other relationships will suffer, but again, you will have all the success going for you at work. What is most important to you?

I know for me the Lord takes preference in my life, doing everything I can to avoid letting my work eat into my time with and for God. My wife takes precedence then next, my kids, then me, and then my work. You may have a different order, this is not meant to show you where it should be, but more a description of my order. Ultimately, my goal is to lay up treasures in heaven.

Regardless, and I hate to say this because it is so overused, but there is a balance here that must be done. Our life is full of choices each day that you will need to make and work through, with every choice there may not be a right or a wrong, but there will no doubt be a better or best choice you can make. Will you make mistakes, sure. As I always say, learn from them and make the best choice next time.

Put your focus on your life mission and the values that are most important to you and I am sure you will see treasures laid up in all areas of your life.