One of my favorite things to do is read. Years ago, I made the commitment to read at least on book per month. Today I love reading so much I read 2 to 4 books per month. Even though I love to read, if I am honest, I have to say that, I really struggle with retaining and remembering the details of what I’ve read. Because I don’t really read for fun, but to grow, this is a real problem.
Out of my desire to take what I’ve read and improve my life and leadership, several years ago, I started a very simple three step process of read, journal, and apply.
Step 1 - Read
Each year I am diligent to have a well rounded diet of seven different types of books. Christian Living - Leadership - Church Leadership / Discipleship - Finances - Family - Management - Fun.
I personally think that books are the greatest financial and time investment I can make for growth. For $20 to $25 and 6 hours of my time, I gain knowledge and experiences that took the author 20+ years to learn.
Because of this, reading is the main tool that I use to sharpen myself daily.
Step 2 - Journal
Like I stated at the beginning of this blog, I do not have the best retention. I tend to forget most of what I’ve read, unless I write it down. So I started jotting down notes in the margins, then I began journaling in notebooks, however, my handwriting is so horrible, that I can’t clearly read all my notes. Because of this, a few years ago I started keeping detailed notes from the books I read in my Evernote. I have found Evernote to be easy to use and easy to pull up information when I need to revisit something that I’ve read.
I don’t journal on every chapter. When a section, chapter, or chapters inspire me, I simply write down an overview - what the author said - how it applies to me - what steps I need to take in my life.
Note - For an example - Below I’ve put a section of a recent journal entry in my Evernote from “Visioneering” by Andy Stanley
Step 3 - Apply
I enjoy reading and learning. However, other than personal enjoyment, it does not do me or those around me much good if I read and journal but never change anything that I’m doing to line up with with the truths I’ve discovered from the pages of the book.
When I complete the book and the journaling process, I look over my notes, to find one or two things that I will begin to apply right away. If I out of every book I read, I only apply one thing that I’ve learned, by the end of the year, my life and leadership will have gone to a whole new level.
Note - The Evernote entry below, is the main point that I am taking away from I just finished titled, “Visioneering”. I will start applying this right away and make it a continual habit in my leadership.
Journal Entry - October 2019
Taking inventory - Walk before you talk - Chapter 6
If your vision is for a year, plant wheat. If your vision is for a ten years, plant trees. If your vision is for a lifetime, plant people. - Chinese Proverb
Building Block 6 -Walk before you talk. Investigate before you initiate.
Walk before you talk.
- Nehemiah walked about the city - he investigated the rubble - the ruin - in great detail on his own.
- He took inventory of the wall before he cast vision about rebuilding the wall.
Andy Says - When God first lays something on your heart for you to do, done tell anyone. To begin with nobody is going to be nearly as excited as you are. The lack of zeal has the potential to shut you down before you get started. To share a vision prematurely usually guarantees a less than warm reception.
Remember - “A vision does not necessarily require immediate action”.
Jesus say in Luke 14:28 - Which of you when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it.
[This is something I need to walk out more effectively.] I tend to get the vision - cast the vision - start walking it out - before I have thouroughly looked at all the problems, all the angles, what is needed for true success.
My personal game plan for investigating before I initiate:
Once I get an idea of possible vision, I will take time more time to ask and answer the following questions
- What is the vision?
- What problem am I solving?
- What are the hindrances to accomplishing the vision?
- Who else is doing the same type of vision and how can I learn from them?
- Who and how many people are needed to complete it?
- What is the budget requirements?
- Do we have the margin in the budget - how can I get the margin?
- What is the best time line for planning - marketing - launching?
To wrap this up - My process of growth is not perfect. However, I hope seeing a few things that I do will inspire or help you to begin to walk out your own growth journey.
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