Managing Resources

Rhema TeamOctober/November 2016 WOFLeave a Comment

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WITHIN EACH OF US are dreams, plans, goals, and visions. These things may be right on the cusp of happening, or they may be buried under years of neglect.

Some people believe that money is the ultimate resource needed to reach goals. Money, however, is a secondary resource. The primary resources we need to reach our dreams are time, energy, and attention. When these three are working in the same direction on a goal, big gains can happen.

Time

Time is flying by for all of us. No one can add more time to his day, week, or year. We can only manage time better.

There are many books, seminars, and systems about time management. The key is to find something that works for you and stick with it.

If we don't manage our time properly, we're letting opportunities pass us by.

Energy

Success takes a lot of work. The truth is, many people don't

want to work that hard. They want success, a portfolio, and a great career. But they don't want to exert the energy needed to make that happen.

Energy is influenced by beliefs, perceptions, and values. Have you ever heard of a farmer who wakes up at 4 a.m. and says, "I'm too tired. I'm not going outside"? No! Farmers get up regardless of how they feel. It's part of their values and upbringing. There's a job to do, so they get up and get it done.

Ultimately, energy boils down to a decision. We'll expend energy on what we want to do. Ask yourself this: If a big paycheck was on the other side of an activity, would you find the energy for it? Sure you would.

The primary resources we need to reach our dreams are time, energy, and attention.Don Burns

Attention

The interesting thing about attention is that you can have the time and energy to do something, but if you lose your focus, that project will never happen. If you spend your attention on something else, that job will not get done.

Attention is a resource. Once it's depleted, it's gone. Nowadays our attention is pulled in a million directions. We live in a day when we are notified about everything.

Through social media, we know what everyone is doing in every part of the world at every moment of the day! Our attention is being shattered. It's difficult to find quiet.

What are you paying attention to? Some people can't take their eyes off their cellphone. Their attention is not on the task before them. Something else has pulled it away from what needs to be done.

There is a distinction between attention and intention. There are things in my life that I intended to do, but I never gave them the proper attention. As you might guess, they never got done.

The difference between intention and attention is the simple word action. We have dreams, desires, and plans, but we must put action to them. They don't happen on their own. Remember, we are judged by our actions, not our intentions.

What have you intended to be? What have you intended to do? If these things are not a reality in your life, it's because you haven't put your attention to them.

Let's take advantage of the resources God has given us. Let's use our time and energy wisely. And let's focus on our goals, dreams, and desires by putting action to them. Only then will we achieve the success we've longed for.



[Editor's Note: This article was adapted from Don Burns' Power Talk during the 2015 A Call to Arms Men's Conference.]


Author

  • Don Burns

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