Don’t Miss The Joy Of Podcasts!

One of the things I love most about having a smartphone is listening to podcasts with ease and on-the-go. Prior to owning an iPhone I was attempting to listen to podcasts on my Blackberry phone, but it was very cumbersome.

If you see me walking around with earbuds in, it’s almost 100% guaranteed I am listening to a podcast

After getting the iPhone, I got a podcast app called Pocket Casts (also available for Android) which makes podcast listening even easier.

But you don’t have to own a smartphone to listen, you can listen on a computer, iPad or other internet connected device.

If you don’t take advantage of this new medium, I think you are really missing out.

Here are some of the blessings of podcasts:

They multiply productivity.

If I am doing something that also allows me to listen at the same time, I can make my time do double duty.

Some of my favorite times to listen are:

• While doing routine chores

• When working out at the gym or walking

• While doing yard work

• While driving

• While waiting for appointments

• While eating meals by myself

They’re free.

I have never paid for any podcast, yet the content can be outstanding. Wow! (See my next blog for recommendations of great podcasts.)

Limited commercials.

Unlike radio, most podcasts have very little commercial time or other interruptions. I usually don’t listen to the ones that do. If I listen to a podcast with commercials, I use a skip-ahead function that allows me to jump over commercials.

Listening flexibility.

I can listen to radio programs in podcast format (and other podcasts) whenever I want 24/7, not just when they’re on the radio. I can also easily pause and later return and finish a podcast. I can repeat sections I want to review. No more missing broadcasts because I wasn’t available at the right time.

Speed up function.

My Pocket Casts app includes the ability to speed up a podcast without making the speaker sound like the Chipmunks. If a speaker seems slow, or I’m just in a hurry, I can listen two or three times as fast, or anywhere between.

The variety of podcasts.

There’s a tremendous variety of podcasts available. Click here to check out my list of my favorite and most helpful podcasts.

DOO IT: Four Steps To Accomplishing Your Dreams

One of the biggest challenges I ever faced was becoming a faith-supported missionary. That meant sharing my ministry with people and giving the opportunity to give funds to support it. I made the decision to do so in 1998. Since then 100% of my income has come this way.

CC Image courtesy of Niklas Morberg on Flickr

At first it seemed impossible. I remember saying it seemed like an immense mountain to climb. But gradually the dream was achieved by taking steps as in the DOO IT outline below.

As explained in my last blog, (click HERE to see it) there are two kinds of people in the world:

1. Goal Setters

2. Problem Solvers

Both Goal Setters and Problem Solvers work toward accomplishment, they just approach it differently. When faced with a challenge like raising money, some want to solve the problem. Others want to reach the goal of being supported.

Whether you are a Problem Solver or Goal Setter, here are 4 steps to accomplishing your dreams, forming the acronym DOO IT:

D = Decide

The first thing to do is decide exactly what you want to accomplish.

When you decide, remember what Ben Franklin said; “Thoughts disentangle themselves when they flow through the lips or the finger tips.”

You’ll want to either write down your intention, announce it to others or both.

Also when you decide, it’s important to determine (and write down) WHY you must solve this problem or achieve this goal. This clarifies and intensifies your motivation.

Many people don’t accomplish their dreams because their “why” is not powerful enough to inspire them.

Don’t let indecision become a barrier. Decide.

OO = Overcome Obstacles

The next step is to be honest about the challenges you will face—list them.

Don’t be discouraged as you list obstacles—be encouraged that you’re determining what must be overcome to reach your vision.

Along with listing the obstacles, you’ll want to write down how you can overcome them. See if you can find 10 solutions for every obstacle.

I = Incrementalize

Whether you have a goal to achieve or a problem to solve, you’ll need to list the incremental the steps to accomplish your dream.

A few years ago I determined to write a book on church planting. Since our ministry was to be the publisher and I was in charge of publications, that meant organizing the incremental steps along the way; from outlining the book to writing it, to getting it edited, getting graphics and layout, finding a printer, raising the funds, deciding on cover art, making the order, getting it shipped to us, promoting it and so on.

That was a lot of organizing, especially with our very small staff. But there was no way around it—organizing the incremental steps was the only way the book would become a reality.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. To solve a big problem or achieve a big goal, we must complete one incremental step at a time.

What are the incremental steps you must take to accomplish your dream?

T = Timeline

Finally, it is important to decide when we want to achieve each incremental step. Without deadlines, we’ll be tempted to let things slide.

Deadlines help provide the motivation to achieve our steps and bring us to our dream on time.

In addition to setting the deadlines, put work sessions on your calendar. When you schedule the time, it is much easier to avoid interruptions by letting people know you have a commitment.

Click HERE for an MS Word  DOO IT Dream Worksheet template to achieve your dreams. I like this simple document because it forces me to think through each of the steps to accomplishing my dreams.

A mountain climb to the highest peak always begins with the first steps. Take these  steps and DOO IT!

Setting Goals Or Solving Problems?

I love this concept gleaned from leadership consultant Bobb Biehl. He shares that there are two kinds of people in the world:

1. Goal Setters 2. Problem Solvers

CC Image courtesy of Robert degennaro on Flickr

What is the difference between setting goals and solving problems?:

1. Goal Setters

Goal setters enjoy setting goals and achieving goals.

I love setting goals. Every year I look forward to praying, thinking and writing down what I want to accomplish for the upcoming year.

Usually I do this in a vision retreat setting. You can read about the value of vision retreats in two articles I wrote: HERE and HERE.

My goals document has grown to about 35 pages long and includes my Life Purpose, Core Values, Life Vision, personal disciplines, records of past achievements, “bucket list” and so on. For me, it’s a “True North” document that keeps me on track with being all God wants me to be. Clearly, I like setting goals!

In fact, you may be thinking I’m a little crazy, especially if you are in the second category of…

2. Problem Solvers

I’m married to and know lots of very successful people who don’t like setting goals. They look at life differently. They are Problem Solvers.

Instead of thinking about what mountain they want to climb, they think of what difficulties need to be overcome.

Both Goal Setters and Problem Solvers work toward success and accomplishment, they just approach it differently.

I encourage you to be all you can be by either:

• Figuring out the problems you need to solve now, or

• Figuring out what goals you want to accomplish now.

In my next blog I give a DOO IT formula for accomplishment whether you are a Goal Setter or Problem Solver. Click HERE to read that article.

Question (please comment below): Are you a Problem Solver or Goal Setter?