The Path Less Traveled: How Faith, Persistence, and Curiosity Can Lead to Growth – Your Champions Brew

Embrace a sense of urgency and make that decision today. Channel your frustration into determination and watch as you make remarkable progress. The results will surprise you, and the sense of fulfillment will be unparalleled.

Happy Friday, Brew Nation! 

I want to give  a special shoutout to my most loyal Champions Brew reader:

Happy 75^th Birthday, Vickey Gallagher (aka, MOM)!!!!

I hope you have an extra special day!!  #LYM

Grab your favorite coffee cup, sit back, relax, and get ready to sip on some enriching and thought-provoking content that will equip you to thrive in all areas of your life:

• Build Faith – ““When is the best time to plant a tree? Twenty-five years ago. When is the next best time? Today.” You’ve probably heard this timeless adage before, and it holds true in many aspects of life. This week, it served as a powerful reminder to me that real results and lasting improvement don’t happen overnight. True progress occurs gradually, night after night, through the commitment to implementing habits that lead to long-term change.

Yet, all too often, we find ourselves giving up on our habits because we don’t see immediate transformation. We crave microwave-like results when, in reality, the path to sustained success requires a crock pot mindset – a slow and steady approach that yields consistent wins.

One of the highlights of my week is when my wife, Chris, and I gather with a group of couples from our church to study the Bible through inspiring topics that strengthen our faith. Currently, we’re studying Pastor Rick Warren’s book, Created to Dream – The 6 Phases God Uses to Build Your Faith (we even discussed this book on the Uncommon Leader Podcast, which you can listen to here!). In this week’s study, we explored the theme of ‘persisting through delays’.

Do you ever feel stuck in the waiting room of life? Are you striving for that new job, that next promotion, or that scale to affirm the impact of your exercise routine? Let me share an intriguing insight from Pastor Rick: sometimes, delays are part of a divine design. They serve to protect us, prepare us, or develop us for the challenges ahead. How we respond to these delays becomes a test of our maturity.

Rick outlined four things we should consciously avoid during those waiting periods:

1. Don’t Fear – When you embrace change, others may question your motives. But don’t let worry or fear of judgment hinder your progress.
2. Don’t Fret – Worrying is an unproductive use of time. It’s akin to pedaling on a stationary bike – lots of energy expended, but you don’t get very far!
3. Don’t Faint – It’s easy to become discouraged or lose heart in the face of delays. Stay focused on your goals, be persistent, and maintain your resolve.
4. Don’t Forget – As the duration of the delay increases, our memory of past blessings can subside. While you may not see immediate results, nurturing an attitude of gratitude for what you already have can sustain you through the waiting period.

Discovering your life’s purpose is one of the most fulfilling objectives that we can achieve. Waiting for that purpose to come to fruition may seem like an eternity. But remember the wisdom of Habakkuk 2:3-4, which states, “These things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.  If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass.  Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!“

So, as you wait, resist the urge to fear, fret, faint, or forget. Instead, embrace active patience, attack the process, and hold steadfast to your vision. 

• Work Hard – The first step in personal or organizational transformation is to make a decision that you have to get better.  At some point, you must be “sick and tired of being sick and tired”.  Whether it is your health, your finances, your career, or relationships, you have to decide to get better.  Then, you must take action.  I appreciated a quote I read recently from James Clear on this:

“You can graduate with the finest degrees. You can read the most useful books. You can enjoy the loving support of family and friends.

But your degrees can’t take action for you. Your books can’t make the decision for you. Your family can’t live your life for you.

There is no substitute for courage. At some point, you have to make the choice.”

Amen, Jim!

• Read More –This week is a review of Law #12 in The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John Maxwell.  Each week, I am traveling with you through a new chapter of this book.  I hope that you have purchased a copy of this book and are following along with me! 

Law # 12 – The Law of Curiosity

Growth is Stimulated By Asking Why

So, if I am being totally transparent, this is a ‘law’ that I have struggled with my entire life.  As an engineer, I was much more comfortable with ‘just give me the equation’ rather than having to go through and derive the equation.  I mean, really, the most simple equation in physics is F = m*a(Force=mass*acceleration), or an object with constant mass accelerates in proportion to the force applied.  Do I really need to know that:

“According to the Newton’s 2^nd Law of motion, the rate of change of linear momentum of a body is directly proportional to the applied external force and in the direction of force.

It means that the linear momentum will change faster when a bigger force is applied.

Consider a body of mass ‘m’ moving with velocity v.

The linear momentum of a body is given by:

p = mv

Now According to Newton’s 2^nd Law of Motion:

Force is directly proportional to rate of change of momentum, that is

F α dp/dt

F  = k dp/dt

F = k d(mv)/dt

F = k md(v)/dt

F = k ma

Experimentally k =1

F = k ma

(Source, Khan Academy) – I had to find a source.  I don’t think I could have remembered how to do this without it!

Many of my engineer friends will either appreciate that, or it will take them back to haunting tales of Physics 200 (or both!)

I hope you are still with me.

As I reflect on my journey, I’ve come to realize the benefits of curiosity. It’s not merely about memorizing equations or facts; curiosity pushes me to question, to seek deeper meaning, and to uncover new perspectives that can lead to lifelong learning.

So, how do we cultivate curiosity in ourselves and others? First, we must believe in our own capacity to be curious. Our outward actions should align with our inward thinking. Additionally, approaching situations with a beginner’s mindset is key. As Peter Drucker once said, “My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.” I encourage you to embrace the art of asking “dumb” questions—it often leads to extraordinary insights.  There is ‘some’ truth to the only ‘dumb’ question is the one you don’t ask.  If we are less worried about how we might sound and more committed to what we might learn, we have a better chance at accelerating our improvement.

Furthermore, resist the temptation to seek the “right” answer. By continuously questioning and challenging the status quo, we avoid complacency and foster growth. Remember the adage, “If it ain’t broke, let’s fix it before it breaks.”

Surrounding ourselves with curious individuals is also vital, even though it may sometimes feel like being in the company of a persistent 3-year-old who always responds with “Why?”. But as we grow older, we often lose that childlike curiosity and must consciously reclaim it to expand our knowledge.

If you have embraced a beginner’s mindset in a certain area, strive to maintain it. Beware of falling into the trap of considering yourself an expert. Seek out mentors who are ahead of you and embrace it when someone asks you “why?”

When we cultivate curiosity, the world can open up to us and there are no limits to what we can learn and how we can develop.

• Quote of the week:    “Trained behavior becomes boring habits. Boring habits become elite instincts.” – PJ Fleck, Head Coach of the Minnesota Gophers

What You Need to Do:

Call to Action:  So, let me ask you this: Which area of your life have you been putting off, waiting for the perfect moment to make a decision? Remember, the best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago, but the next best time is today. Is it your career, your unwavering commitment to success, your financial situation, or perhaps your health and well-being? Whatever it may be, it’s time to ignite a fire within and take decisive action.

It’s an honor to be your trusted “Friday Coffee Guy”.  Each week, I’m excited to provide yet another round of curated content that I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, or thinking over. The purpose of the Champions Brew is to inspire, equip and encourage you to become the uncommon leader you were designed to be. I am so grateful for your decision to invest a few moments with me! I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with someone who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.

Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!

P.S. – Are you a podcast fan?  Maybe the Uncommon Leader podcast is for you.    Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast?  Do you have a story to tell?  Email me [email protected] and let’s have a chat and set something up!!