Welcome back brew nation! It’s the “Friday Coffee Guy” coming to you with the 65th edition of The Champion’s Brew, a weekly assembly of material I am reading, listening to, watching, or thinking about that is designed to equip and call you to uncommon leadership. I often add my own little spin based on my takeaways and would love your input as well. Any of the points especially impact you? Drop me a note at [email protected], or comment on the blog to keep the conversation going! I believe you will discover that the format is not only useful, but also that you can consume it within the time it takes you to enjoy your daily ‘brew’! Become a member of the Champions Brew Nation by subscribing here!!
Here is your weekly sip of what I have been reading, listening to or watching to equip me to:
- Read More – Each morning I start my day with a reading habit I have come to enjoy and find encouragement in. I just thought I would share this discipline with you. There are three parts:
- Daily devotional/insights. There are 3 different books I may use to start off my day with an inspirational message:
- The Uncommon Life Daily Challenge from Tony Dungy
- The Maxwell Daily Reader (Kellianne Thayer mentioned this one as part of her daily discipline on this week’s episode of the Uncommon Leader Podcast. To learn more about her and some of her steps for success, click here)
I don’t really have any rhyme or reason for which one I choose but use the same process. I go to the current date, write the year at the top right of the page for when I am reading and highlight or underline key insights that may have touched me. I will dogear a page or mark the page if I feel like sharing in the Champions Brew. (Below, I actually share two entries from my reading this week!)
- Read my bible – This year, I am following The Bible Recap plan to read through the Bible in a year. This is a chronological tour through the Bible that has been especially impactful. After each daily reading assignment, there is a corresponding 6 to 8 minute podcast that goes along with it read by Tara Lee Cobble
- Read 10 pages of another book – My personal goal is to read 12 books this year. Most of the improvement books I read have between 220-250 pages and so, if I read 10 pages a day, I will end up reading a book a month! I am currently reading Know What You’re For – A Growth Strategy for Work, An Even Better Strategy for Life. It was a gift from my friend and lifelong learner, Dave Campbell.
This discipline takes be anywhere from 30-45 minutes per day and I find it instrumental to my personal, professional, and spiritual development.
- ‘Exercise’ daily – In this case, get a little better each day. In one of this week’s daily readings from The Daily Reader, John Maxwell outlines three ways to become self-improving:
- Become teachable – Pride is a terrible enemy of self-improvement. Once you believe you have arrived and you stop learning, you stop growing.
- Plan your progress – Determine an area you will improve. Plan the book or books you will read, videos you will watch, or experts to interview to get better.
- Value-self-improvement over self-promotion – Value the process of learning more than the actual output itself. Enjoy the ride!
- Work Hard – I have found myself in a few conversations recently with individuals who want to grow in a specific area, but say that they “don’t have the time” to get to that area. The Law of Sacrifice in John Maxwell’s 21 Laws states: “To go up, you must give up.” Change always has a cost. That cost can be education or a seminar, which have financial cost, but most often, there is a cost in TIME. “One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it.” – Sydney Howard. Ask yourself the question ‘Is what you want worth what you must give up to get it?’ or said differently, ‘Is the juice worth the squeeze?’
- Quote – “Let instruction and knowledge mean more to you than silver or the finest gold. Wisdom is worth much more than precious jewels or anything else you desire.” – King Solomon
What you need to do:
Call to Action: Do you have a regular daily ritual for self-improvement? Do you invest time in your day to read or listen to something inspiring? If you don’t, I encourage you to start this habit. Start small… even 10 minutes a day. That is about the time it takes for you to hit snooze one more time – sacrifice that snooze!! If you DO have a ritual, Congratulations! Share it with Brew Nation on the blog and start a learning conversation
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 eat healthy, read more, be a light 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!!
2 Responses
Great stuff again this week!
Being teachable and/or coachable is the key to making discernable progress. I must remind myself to spend my time listening… purposeful listening.
Ritual becomes Habit, which should be a key part of life. John, thanks for placing the important stuff in there as the Ritual, instead of taking time on the “junk”. Too many of us spend countless hours on the junk.
Hi Keith, thank you again for your insightful comments. No doubt that the ‘junk’ can clutter our time.