Hearing God

101 Leadership Learning: Voice, Vision, Volume

The last 12months have been like a global leadership school. So how did you score? What did you learn? Even better, did you actually learn what you had the opportunity to learn (or do you need a do-over)?

Here's three of the most significant lessons that I learned, am applying, and feel super grateful to have learned! (Download the notes here)

This session was recorded at the most recent Heaven in Business conference. You can see upcoming events on HeaveninBusiness.com/events or join us online at Heaveninbusiness.com/free-trial

1. The Voice of God is what leads, sustains, guides... more than the business plan, best practice or profitability analysis.

2. Vision HE is leading contrasted with my version of vision that confuses activity for productivity, people pleasing for purpose and doing good for being fruitful.

3. The volume of wise counsel

What about you? 

• Are you making room to hear the voice of God?
• Where have you gotten 1% off and need to realign? What will you align to? 
• Whose volume do you need to turn down? Whose volume do you need to turn up? Whose volume do you need to turn off?

Send me your questions or comments andy@authentic-solutions.com

100 The Journey into Your Calling

Welcome to podcast number 100! That's one podcast every single week for almost two years. I'm probably the one that has grown the most!!! Please take a moment to post a review or send me some feedback or questions you would love me to engage over.... andy@authentic-solutions.com.

This episode comes at a time when I am intentionally stepping into what the last three decades have prepared me for. So here's some keys I've learned about the journey of stepping into your calling.

1. Everyone has a calling.

You were born for significance. God has a plan for you and it is good AND He prepared works ahead of time for you to step into. That may be a message you carry or a solution to a problem or a service to a person... Jeremiah is famous for quoting that God has plans for you and they are GOOD. Paul prayed that you would know the hope of your calling. Paul's own calling was a revelatory message that the gospel wasn't just for the Jews but for the gentiles also. 

2. Your calling develops and refines over time.

It's important to note that even Jesus, the Son of God, grew in favor with man and in favor with God. Likewise us. What you do today with what is in our hand and with the people and circumstances that surround you is preparing and shaping (or pausing) your progress in purpose and calling.

3. Knowing the season helps navigate the process well.

Check out Tony Stoltzfus book "The Calling Journey." In it he presents practical research of a great number of biblical and current leaders and how the process to the fullness of their calling developed through a consistent number of internal and external seasons. He lists the key learning in each season knowing that in a season where God is working internal character in you, the quicker you lean in and learn, the easy(er) it is... compared to avoiding dealing with what you need to work on.

4. My journey to today and some practical application for you

I'm 47 years old today and can identify some distinct seasons of preparation. Right now I am stepping into a zone where my passion (what I love to do) and my purpose (what I'm called to do) and my proficiency (what I'm good at doing) combine with profit (what I get paid to do). 

5. Your turn

Make three lists:

A The things you love to do - passion

B The things you are really good at - proficient

C The thing(s) you sense you are called to do - purpose

D The things you can get paid to do - profit

Where is there an overlap? How could you move towards better aligning profit with purpose or improving proficiency so that you can get paid for what you love to do?

I recommend doing this with a friend or mentor who can also give you some perspective as you move onwards in the journey of your calling.

Another great book to help you on your way is Dream Culture: Bringing Dreams to Life, written by my wife, Janine and I a few years ago. It's written in such a way to be a practical life-coach for you as you discover your purpose and live out who you were born to be!

Until next time! 

 

099 I'd Die For You But Not Tell You This

Lately Ive become aware of how much I avoid telling 100% truth, particularly in regard to giving feedback. 80% is easy. It's the final 20% that is awkward, uncomfortable, sometimes embarrassing. If I focus on 'me' then I will simply avoid it. What if I'm wrong? What if I lose relationship? What if you don't respond well to me? 

Wrong. If you HAVE relationship you will speak truth... 100%.

What I've learned (thanks Ford Taylor and Relactional leadership) is that IF I am thinking about YOU then I will speak truth. If I love YOU as I love myself (or even more if I love how Christ loved me) I will speak 100% truth.

Here's what's fascinating.

I was talking with an ex Army Ranger. He would literally take a bullet for his team member. But when we got talking about speaking 100% truth he didn't hesitate to say there is no way he would do that. What???

=> it is EASIER to lay our physical lives down than it is to lay our emotional, relational lives down for others.

WOW.

What did Jesus do? All of it. 100%. Physical and relational and emotional. He laid it all down and calls us to do the same.

So will you? 

Perhaps you need more convincing? Simply read Ephesians. The goal is to build one another up into the fullness of life in God - each one of us connected and contributing. Not blown around by every wind of doctrine. 

How do we do that? 

"...but speaking the truth in love..." Ephesians 4:15

"...putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor for we are members of one another." " Ephesians 4:25

"Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth." Ephesians 6:14

What's the point? 

1. I need you to speak truth to me so that I have a strong inner core and am not tossed around by all sorts of weird doctrine... so that I grow up mature, connected and contributing.

2. I need to speak truth and I do it by focussing on YOU, not on how it makes me feel. I love you fearlessly so I will say something.

3. The last 20% of truth is the most uncomfortable AND the most powerful and transformative. (It is also the most profitable!)

4. Wise people heed instruction/correction/feedback. Foolish people...

5. Knowing HOW to speak truth is really helpful. Ford teaches a simple phrase:

"This may be just me and perhaps it doesn't matter... can I give you some feedback?"

So... how much do you truly love people?

If you want more, grab a copy of Ford's book Relactional Leadership or listen to his podcast Ford Taylor Talks.

 

098 More Significant Than You Realize

Last week I got to tour Gettysburg PA where a decisive battle was fought during the American Civil war, 1863. We had the privilege of a tour guide who gave us detailed information about different aspects of the battle and what happened afterwards. in this podcast I highlight two lessons I learned:

1. You are more significant than you realized

2. Will you build a monument or name to yourself or will you seek the wellbeing of others

For more on Heaven in Business or Andy Mason see HeaveninBusiness.com or Authentic-Solutions.com

097 The Voice of God with Dante Bowe

Greetings from Abbeville, South Carolina where I am currently traveling. This is a special episode where I got to interview the artist of a song that greatly impacted me and became the theme for navigating 2020 - The Voice of God by Dante Bowe. Listen as I interview Dante about his journey in music and encountering Jesus and the unique happenings behind the song itself.

Here's the link to watch the interview and join us Heaveninbusiness.com/free-trial

And here's the song on youtube where you can add to the 4.2M views so far...

Follow Dante and his music HERE - DanteBowe.com

 

096 How to Avoid FOMO and Wasting Your Life

Here's today's process navigating decision making in midst of increasing travel flexibility and demands, different expectations of 'back to normal' vs. new alignment and the ongoing saga of politics and pandemic 2020. What am I focussing on and how am I deciding?

1. There will always be uncertainty and things outside your control.

2. There will always be people distracted by the things outside their control, who want you to be as upset and distracted as they are.

3. None of either of the above is fruitful or rewarding.

4. As opportunities open up, you need to know what and how you will choose where to invest your time and energy. What will be your priorities? It's easy when you have limited options. As options increase, you need to know what you will say 'yes' to and what you will say 'no' to. You must know what 'success' is to you.

5. It's time NOW to redo your priorities. So how do you do that?

A) Big rocks exercise - listen here (Episode 45) and download the worksheet

B) VPMOSA - see Ford Taylor's book Relactional Leadership page 159 for details.

095 Leadership Summit Summary

We just completed our first in-person conference in over 12 months. The theme was how to lead like Christ in the midst of uncertainty. Our keynote speakers were Kris Vallotton, Shae Bynes, Ford Taylor and Andy Mason. Here's a summary of learning...

Day 1 - POSITIONED - testimony of the African Violet following the sun

Voice | Vision | Volume

You were born for this! Electricians don't complain about broken wires. Plumbers don't complain about broken pipes. Doctors don't complain about sick people. YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD... don't complain if it's dark... S H I N E !

Framework vs. Blueprint. The framework is the generic system or structure. The blueprint is specific to you. Don't copy other people's blueprint - you have to find that for yourself. 

Grace vs. Grind - See Shae Byne's book Grace Over Grind: How Grace will take your business where grinding can't. 

VPMOSA  - Vision | Purpose | Mission | Objectives | Strategy | Action. Find out more in Ford Taylors book Relactional Leadership or checkout his on-demand training

 

Day 2 - Hope that results in Action

You’re dead – Christ lives in you - It is written. No more excuses. You can heal. You can heal. You can do miracles. These sign's follow them that believe...

Host | Hear | Heal

6-Step apology from Ford Taylors book or training. This is what I did... I was wrong. I am sorry/apologize. Will you, or when you can, will you forgive me? I give you permission to hold me accountable to not do this again. Is there anything else I need to apologize for?

Wisdom: Source vs. Resource. If I treat the resource as the source I may lose both. God is the Source. He chooses to give us what we need through people (or books or...). As you are listening or reading, ask Holy Spirit what He is saying specifically to you through this resource.

Love looks like… Aware & Engaged. Who can you reach out to hear their story to grow in awareness of people different to you?

 

Day 3: It's You - Own it!

Host | Hear | Heal - businesses came in to the confernece and the attendees were activated to pray for them. The testimonies were life-changing!

Love looks like… communication

Marriage wisdom

Culture: Head to Paper to People

Follow the Voice

If you want more, check out Authentic-Solutions.com or join us weekly via HeaveninBusiness.com/free-trial

 

094 Healing is Easy?

This is an interview I did with Sasha Caridia (Emergency Care Practitioner from UK) and Jared Balke (Off Site Property Manager from California). For the full video see HeaveninBusiness.com/free-trial

Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. Acts 10:38

He said that everyone who believes would do the same. Mark 16: 17, 18

Keys:

1. Cultivate a personal, private relationship with Jesus. His Word, His Ways. Psalm 91. Talk to Him about what you want to see in regard to healing in your workplace. Ask Him what His heart is for your workplace.

2. Cultivate the heart of Jesus for people. You cannot control whether someone get's healed; you can determine whether they feel loved.

3. Pray for people. Ask permission. Lay hands on the sick. Keep it simple; only believe. It's not about what you feel or don't feel; it's about who Jesus is and what He said is true: "Lay hands on the sick and they will recover." (Mark 16:17)

4. Persevere. If you haven't at least prayed for 200 people then simply keep praying for people! The director of a local prayer centered Healing Rooms said "I have prayed for more people who haven't been healed, than you have prayed for people." So... just do it; and do it with love.

Watch this full video on HeaveninBusiness.com/free-trial and send us your testimonies to HiBTestimony.com

093 Disciple-Making with Dave Buehring

I LOVED this interview unpacking how to identify, qualify, invite and challenge people into powerful relationships that are guaranteed to be fruitful. You can apply this to people you want to work with or employ, or people you want to invite into a discipleship group. Here's a quick summary:

1. Identify who you will work/walk with - in whose ears is your voice loud? Who do you have favor with? Who REALLY listens as evidenced by their follow-through?

2. Qualify - F.A.S.T acronym

Are they faithful or flaky?

Are they authentic or fake?

Will they share this or are they selfish?

Are they teachable or stubborn?

3. Invite them into a meeting where you share vision/purpose or plan. Outline what you are committing to do with/for them

4. Challenge them by looking them in the eye and asking "Are you ready to match my commitment?"

Grab a copy of Dave Buehring's book The Great Opportunity: Making Disciples of Jesus in Every Vocation

For more content like this that equips you to partner with God at work by helping you grow in identity, grow in business and grow in influence see Heaveninbusiness.com

 

092 Tools to Get Clarity of Purpose and Calling

You were born for significance. No child dreams of being average or insignificant. The problem is many of us reduce our life to survival or a paycheck. So how do you discover what you were born for and makes you come alive? Here's some tools to help...

1. Dream list - free download here... or grab a copy of Dream Culture: Bringing Dreams to Life

2. Personal discovery tool - free download here... or see more by PaulManwaring.com

3. Master plan - big rocks - free example download here...

4. Who | Why | Where | How

5. VPMOSA - Ford Taylor. Grab a copy of the book Relactional Leadership Pg 159-162

6. Not to do list - Kris Vallotton

If this is all overwhelming and you would like to do a course with a group or as an individual coach, contact us at HeaveninBusiness.com