In today’s episode, we’re talking about boosting your voice while battling the AI bots. We’ll unpack how artificial intelligence is transforming our lives and how content creators can leverage it to supercharge their show notes and content creation.
This episode is powered by artificial intelligence, the outline, show notes, and even a song inside the podcast. We’ll also highlight the crucial dangers of over-reliance on this powerful technology. AI is here to stay, and if you’re not utilizing it, you’re going to be left behind.
The World of Artificial Intelligence
AI is transforming our lives, and it’s here to stay. If you’re not utilizing it, you’re going to be left behind because it’s changing how we do everything from work to creativity to our everyday lives. I’ve been a fan for a while, starting with ChatGPT about four years ago, but in the last year, I’ve really dived deep into its capabilities.
We’re Living in the Age of Knight Rider
Remember Knight Rider? Michael Knight and Kit, that talking Pontiac Trans Am that could turbo boost, hack computers, and communicate through a watch? That was so futuristic back then. But today, I’m here to say, we are in the land of Knight Rider! We have cars that can track where we’re going and connect with our devices. It’s exciting.
AI as a Powerful Tool for Creativity and Information
I’ve used tools like Google Gemini (which I prefer over ChatGPT) to have conversations, generate ideas, compare software, and even finalize a book outline to ensure it was cohesive. It provided incredible feedback, helping me create a tighter outline and even a 200-500 word synopsis of my overall vision. AI can help you disseminate information quicker, making your creative process smoother.
The Double-Edged Sword: Dangers and Over-Reliance
While AI is a wonderful tool, it does have a double-edged sword. There’s a risk of becoming overly dependent, leading to skill erosion in critical and creative thinking. The temptation is to let AI do the heavy lifting, but the results you get are only as good as your input. Minimal input will lead to minimal output.
Boosting Your Voice, Not Hindering It
Some ask if using AI limits my own voice. As Cliff Ravenscraft argued, if I create the content and use AI to disseminate it, cleaning it up and adding my own thoughts, it’s still my voice. AI can take my audio and repurpose it into blog posts, social media snippets, newsletters, and emails, making my job easier and allowing me more time with my family.
AI-Generated Song and Ethical Considerations
I even used Google Gemini to craft a song from my previous episode’s notes and audio. It’s 100% AI-generated, using my words and content, but then put to music with a vocal. It shows just how effortless some things can become. However, we must also be aware of the biases and misinformation AI can perpetrate, the crucial need for human oversight and fact-checking, and ethical minefields like authenticity, deep fakes, and data privacy.
Resources Mentioned:

* Google Gemini
* ChatGPT
* Otter
* Amazon KDP
* The JB Sisam Show Episode 167
* Cliff Ravenscraft’s podcast

What are your thoughts on artificial intelligence? How do you use it in your work or creative content? Let me know!

We all desire to leave a lasting legacy, something that will outlive our earthly life. But discovering your purpose is something few find the time to invest their time into. Being willing to do what it takes to throw away your purpose is something few actually desire.
We live in a world prone toward the advancement of your career. It’s all about seeking that next promotion or simply looking to find meaning and fulfillment in life. Whether it’s professional or personal, the results are the same. We never go further than our self-limitations.
For years I’ve taught people how to find their God-given talents, to pursue purpose and discover that which God has created them to do on this earth. It’s something I’ve believed in my whole life; discovering your purpose and destiny is the single most important thing one can learn about themselves. And now, I’m telling you to throw it away?
I listen to a lot of podcasts and on in-particular, “The Cliff Ravenscraft Show” is my favorite. In one episode I listened to back in 218, Cliff talked about a book by Gay Hendricks, “The Big Leap“.  The purpose of this book is to awaken something buried deep within each person’s life, helping people discover their zone of genius.
But what does this have to do with my purpose? I want to take you on a journey of discovery and give you 3 reasons you should throw away your purpose and live the life that God has called you to live.
One of my favorite books entitled, “The Pursuit of Purpose,” by Myles Munroe, he said, “You are designed for your purpose. You are perfect for your purpose.” In other words, your abilities as a person and your outlook on life cannot be separated, because your destiny and purpose are directly tied with your potential and natural abilities.  He goes on to day that if we were ro remove our purpose, we would significantly chane who we are, because our purpose informs and reveals our natural and natural responsibilities.
Our purpose is inherent.
If you were to sit down and ask someone what their dreams are, you’ll get a whole array of things. One person may desire to be a veterinarian but are currently stuck in a day-to-day job of getting the CEO their coffee. Someone else may want to be a writer, but instead of writing their books, they complain about their co-workers at the factory and live their life wishing for something different. Or perhaps you are the CEO and feel unfulfilled in the daily grind wishing you could do something else.
If you begin to buy into your self-limiting beliefs you’ll handicap your life and you not succeed. This is why I say, give up and stop pursuing your dream. We all have something burning deep within our soul but life happens. Maybe you start living your dream, making real progress to pursuing that passion, but when you find a small victory, your self-limiting belief smacks you on the side of the head and you come back to reality.
What is your upper limit problem? We all have one. It’s this self-sabotaging aspect of our life that keep us grounded instead of living within our God-given purpose. The moment we have a small win, we find ourselves sinking back into our comfort zone and our upper limit problem becomes a real thorn in our side.
There are four zones we all live within; the zone of incompetence, the zone of competence, the zone of excellence, the zone of genius. Each of these zones is operated on a continual and daily basis. But, the goal is to discover which areas of our life fall into which category, then make a decision that bests suits our zones of excellence and genius.
The zone of incompetence.
Gay Hendricks says that this zone includes the things we don’t do very well. Have you ever been tasked with something that you don’...

Technology is booming and moving faster than ever. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with the ever increasing demand to try out new tech companies giving us their absolute best.
In today’s episode, I distill down to the bear essential pieces of tech I use in my everyday writing business. I find, that less is more, and can create a more robust experience as writers, by focusing on the important things to keep the wheels spinning, without becoming bogged down with having to learn something new every time we turn around.
Resources in today’s episode:

* Restream
* Convert Kit
* ChaptGPT
* Wave Apps
* Vellum Publisher

It’s been two years, two months, and 15 days since I last recorded an episode of the J. B. Sisam Show. A lot has transpired over the last two years and this episode is a fill-you-in episode where I have been asking myself the question… Is that really you God?
This one question comes from a book titled the same by the late minister, Lorren Cunningham who founded and started Youth With a Mission. I explore the lessons he taught in his memoir and how I applied to my own life and how God called me out of pastoring into financial advising with Edward Jones and how to keep moving forward when God speaks.
I hope you enjoy. And if you’re looking for life coaching or want some help with your books or to talk about finances, I’m just an email away.
Blessings,

We all have people in our lives who try and place their unwanted expectations of who they think you should be on you. It’s hard enough to try and determine who we think we are, let alone seeing someone else tell us who they think we are.



In today’s episode, we’re going to unpack what it means to truly discover who you are, how to ward off those unwanted expectations of others, and live the life you want.

The first time I let someone see something I wrote, I was nervous. In 2006, I joined a Yahoo writer’s group. This particular group, which will remain unnamed, was filled with several industry professionals from editors, publishers, and accomplished writers.

In fear and trepidation, I submitted a piece I had worked tirelessly on. To my horror, they shot me down and told me I’d never amount to any form of writing, and in fact, I should just give up on my dream of writing. I was devastated.

It took another two years before I would allow someone to read my work again. That book became my first novel, “Divine Providence.”

So, how do we ward off those unwanted expectations of others and live the life God had called us to live?

1. It’s not about you!

It’s easy to think that when people shoot down our ideas, tell us how to live our life, or even think they’re being helpful when they say, “It’s okay if you fail, God must have something better in-store for you.”

These things hurt, wound, and keep us from living up to the potential God has placed inside. Remember, it’s about them, not you. Determine who you are, and who God has called you to be, and be that!

2. It’s about maintaining focus.

Focus is the bread and butter of success. The more we focus, the more we tend to our dreams, the more we’ll see them become a reality. That person, who shot me down on my first attempt at a novel, never saw my dream of becoming a published author. They never saw my children’s book, “King Lyle and the Purple Dragon” become a top 100 Amazon children’s book.

Remember to keep your focus on the things above, not the things people say about you or to you. Remain focused on what the Lord has called you to do, write, or be.

3. Live in the moment.

Sometimes the best medicine to naysayers, is to live in the moment. Tomorrow will come. Don’t worry about it Today, recall who you are. If they’re saying you’ll never amount to anything, tell yourself, “I am successful. I have more than enough to see my dream become a reality.” Turn the limiting beliefs of others into your liberating truths.

4. Write down your goals.

One of the best things you can do to accomplish what you’re setting out to do is to write down that goal. I created a book cover for my first novella. I wanted to see a tangible goal. The next thing I did, I had a bound copy of my manuscript printed with the cover.

We must visualize our goals to see them come to fruition. Other’s might look at you funny or have other expectations of who you are, but remember who God has called you to be and visualize your goal and dream. Write it down, make it a reality by speaking it into your heart.

Remember that your dreams are what you make them. The more you move forward, think positively, put the work in, you’ll begin to silence those naysayers and those who’s expectations don’t match yours.

Links mentioned in this episode
– Divine Providence

– All books

– Living Forward Journal

We are called to do everything for the glory of God. Everything we do should be done with excellence. I’m not talking about perfection, because no one is perfect. But we should do everything for God’s glory.
In this episode I talk about how our job is to show the world Jesus through the words that we write and the story that’s in our heart. Philippians 3:8 says, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ”
We are God’s mouth piece. We have a story to tell. Taht story may be the only Jesus some one sees in their lifetime. And it should be done with excellence.
1 Peter [4:11] says, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
This is why we’re supposed to continue learning the art of writing. Growing in our craft, and going out into the wolrd and letting people read what we’ve written. We shouldn’t hord the words God has given us, we need to let our light shine, that people may see our good works and glorify God.

Have you ever set a Goal before and then failed to achieve that goal? Goals don’t get accomplished on their own. They take work and a set of specific plans to make them become a reality.
In this week’s episode I talk about the fastest way to achieving your goals by not overlooking the other part, creating a plan!
Without a solid working plan your goals will remian unfinished. It’s like driving from Minneapolis to Miami without an atlas to guide your journey. When you set a goal, it tells you where you you’re headed in life, and your plan is the map on how to get there.
What is the next right step? How do you get from point A to point B on the road to accomplishing your goals? It’s setting a realistic expectation and set of plans to help you take that next step. In other words, it’s allowing yourself to write down what you need to do next to accomplishing those goals. These may include activities done over a series of days, weeks, months or even years.
Your plan does not have to be completed perfectly the first time. Your first attempts at setting a workable plan in place will often be lacking focus. Don’t worry, that’s just fine. Plans must be flexible and constantly updated as you move forward.
As you listen to this episode, you’ll discover tips and tricks on how to build an effective and fast way to achieving ultimate success in accomplishing your goals. 
Let’s Work Together:
If you are ready to see what it takes to find your voice, write your story, and succeed in your family, ministry, business and your life, check out my Work With Me page to see how we can work together. If you’re wanting to publish your book, click that link and fill out the application on the One-on-One coaching page and I’ll be in touch with your free consultation/coaching call.

You’ve finished your manuscript; congratulations, but now the hard part begins, the dreaded self-editing. It’s one of those necessary evils that halt you in your steps to becoming a published author. But should it be that way?
If you’re like me, you finish your manuscript and now the daunting task of editing that work lies ahead, ready to send you running in the opposite direction. This is how writers face their finished work. Taking the time to comb through your hard work will save your sanity and keep you from embarrassment in the eyes of an editor.
I want to give you 4 self-editing methods that will strengthen your writing prose.
TAKE A LISTEN TO LEARN MORE and make sure to grab my free self-editing guide below!

We often believe that we should write only when we’re inspired to put something down. I get it, it’s easy, it’s what’s the norm, but is it the right thing to do?
In today’s episode, I talk about why you should write daily, and not when you’re inspired to write. Learning the art of daily writing will not only make you a better writer, and before you know it, you’ll actually finish your book.
Earlier this year, I learned that a dear friend of mine passed away. My friend Jennette was a fireball of writing energy. She’d come to each guild year and talk about her next project. In fact, Jennette was in the middle of writing her next book when she passed away. That is tenacity!
If you’re not writing, you’re not accomplishing the mission God’s given you.
Inside this episode I’ll cover these four principles to writing every day:

* Schedule your time.
* Decide how many words you’ll write in each session
* Write without editing.
* Set a timer and write!

Last chance to register for my Masterclass, Write Now With Scrivener! for 75% OFF!!!!!!

There are two types of writers: you are either a writer who’s serious about your craft, or you get nothing finished. In today’s episode I talk about a Tik-Tok video I recorded about the 4 secrets to writing a book and how to be successful at that one task.
Here are the four secrets:
SECRET #1: Know what you desire to write. What is the message behind your book/writing project?
SECRET #2:  What themes are/will be presented in your book. I did this in my book (Divine Providence)[/divine-providence]. Take the time tow rite down your ideas and themes on a legal pad.
SECRET #3: YOu must outline as if your life depended upon it. This is the bone structure of your book Make it count!
SECRET #4: It’s time to write. Don’t edit, don’t stop, just keep writing. Kinda like Dory from “Finding Nemo”. Just keep swimming. Don’t stop for anything. This one thing is the biggest hangup for authors. They like to stop and fix their work as they write. Don’t give into that temptation.
BONUS SECRET: Use a software like ProWritingAid to help you edit and get ready for the next phase of your writing project.
Here’s my latest Tik-Toc video:

@jbsisam Four secrets beginning your book written in a timely manner. ##authorsoftiktok ##writersoftiktok ##newthings ##dreambig ##creatingcontent♬ original sound – Jason Sisam

Scrivener is a powerful tool that can help you take your writing to the next level. But why should I desire to switch from Microsoft Word to using Scrivener for all my writing?
In today’s episode I open up about my experience with using Scrivener to write all kinds of different types of work. From books to collaborations, from blog posts to magazine articles, Scrivener can help you stay organized and writing.
Here are some of the things I talk about in this episode:

* How to stay organized using Scrivener.
* How to keep track of all your drafts.
* The powerful search features Scrivener offers.
* What it can do for you.


Also in this episode I announce my Write Now with Scrivener cohort course. This 5-week Zoom course will change your writing life. Check out the course HERE!
Here’s the link to the book I mention: Thoughts and Prayers for those Experiencing Loss
Let’s Work Together:
If you are ready to see what it takes to find your voice, write your story, and succeed in life, check out my Work With Me page to see how we can work together on your next project.

Blinking cursors are the bane of the writing life. Yet, how many times do we sit down and have zero clue what to write? How do we know what we should write and who our message is for?
In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to push past our own insecurities and face the unknown, and write the message God has placed in our heart. It’s something I’ve struggled with daily in my writing. The blinking cursor keeps me from achieving my goals, but I’ll show you why that’s not really true.
I’m finishing a current manuscript. Truth to tell, it’s taken me a heck of a lot longer to finish than I expected. Massive rewrites, overthinking, and making excuses for not getting the job done have made it seem more daunting than it really is. In fact, I should have finished my manuscript a long time ago.
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going, right? Well, maybe. Now I face a dilemma. I have to finish my next book, but I have two pieces for an anthology that’s due in November, and I haven’t even started yet.
So, how do we get past this, not knowing what to write? Three ways:
1. Use a journal and write your ideas.
I know, you’d think that a writer would keep a journal filled a plethora of ideas, but in reality, most writers don’t write in a journal. I know I struggle with this. And you’re wondering why I’m even telling you to keep a journal if I don’t.
Truthfully, I keep a variety of ideas written in Evernote. I have a running list of ideas and I pull from those ideas and they will either spark their own story/idea, or I’ll simply write what inspires me at that moment. But keeping your ideas written somewhere will help you break the wall of “blank thoughts.” Try it and see what it will do for your writing.
2. Consider writing exercises.
Often when I’m stuck on what to write, I’ll use a writing exercise to help my brain prime the pump and spark something new. It’s easier than you might think. Here are some examples of what I do to exercise my brain.
EXERCISE 1: Look around you, out the window, on the floor. What do you see? What animals are frolicking in the yard? Where is the ant going in your dining room? What are their stories? Write that.
EXERCISE 2: Write about what you did this morning when you got up. Were you angry and upset? Were you happy? What were you looking forward to doing as the day progressed? What went wrong and what went right?
EXERCISE 3: Find five random words in the dictionary and write a sentence using that word. It’s amazing what your mind will come up with. Now, take those same five words and use all five in one sentence.
Do these exercises, and your mind will awaken to new thoughts, ideas, and strategies to tackling your next project.
3. Get up and go for a walk.
This is probably the easiest of all these tasks, but simply getting out of the house and going for a walk will unclog those brain cells and stimulate your mind. I’ve often had to stop and do something else when I get stuck. I try not to sit long, waiting for inspiration. I get up and go search for inspiration.
You don’t have to wait for something to pop into your mind. You can go out and discover the world that God created. When you get back, begin writing down what you saw, who you met, and what you did along your walking journey.
We all love writing, but taking the time to discover something new to write about will open up new possibilities and allow your mind to be free to write the things God’s placed on the inside of your heart.

We all have dreams, hopes, desires, and visions for our life. We ask questions, we seek advice, attend seminars, but really, the answer for what the future holds is already deep inside your soul.
In today’s episode I want to talk about our belief patterns and how they shape our lives. How we think is how we’ll act. No matter if we’re using negative or positive associations with words, our mind must find an answer for our questions.
Tony Robbins often talks about our state. What state are you currently in? We directly tie our beliefs to our world-view. How we perceive the world will direct our belief structure. How we use our physiology, language, and emotions will determine a particular pattern of beliefs that we assign to our lives.
But there are certain things we must do to interrupt these patters of self-doubt and reach for something that gives us more pleasure in life. Instead of running from pain, we embrace it and pool our resources to help us find a new state to live inside.
How do we find our desires in this life?
1. Ask the right questions.
I’ve been listening to Tony Robbin’s “Create lasting Change” series. This series teaches you how to overcome a particular state, help you change your patterns, and begin living the life God has called you to live. I don’t believe Tony is a Christian, but his principles are tried and true.
When we are asking self-limiting belief questions, our mind has to come up with an answer. It will pool its resources into finding an answer to your questions. “Does my voice and message really matter? Will anyone care?” These questions demand an answer.
But these two questions are self-limiting, because they hold power that will keep us from seeing the possibilities life offers. What if we ask this question instead, “What does writing my book, or starting my blog, make possible for me?”
This question allows our mind be begin looking at possibilities for what the future will hold.
2. Write down a positive affirmation.
I have a plaque that was given to me by my parents a few weeks ago. It says, “With all your might, achieve.” This is such a powerful statement. If I were to speak this over my life daily, allowing my feelings, thoughts, emotions to be anchored inside this phrase, I’ll create a positive association and believe that anything is possible.
It’s about putting ourselves into an intense state where we force our mind to align with what we desire. It’s about speaking it into existence. But in order for our beliefs to change, we have to allow positivity to flow through our mind, body, and emotions.
The Bible is clear on this as well:
Some affirmations I use are, “God’s wealth is flowing in my life and I have more than enough.” Or, “I am successful because of all that is within me produces success in others.” Or, “I am a success because God is at the center of everything I say and do.”
As Tony Robbins says, “Put yourself into a peak state and live there. Use your whole body, and mean what you say.” If we live our lives regretting our past, we will never fully live in the present.
3. Show up and live for today!
I’ve been having some powerful coaching moments in my personal life. I’ve sat down with Cliff Ravenscraft, whom I have followed for years, for 3 powerful hours of coaching. He gave me a very inspiration and powerful quote:
In other words, don’t just show up, put your time in each day, whether you’re going to the 9-5 job, or running your own business, or writing that book you’ve always wanted to write. Show up today. Live large. Dream Big. Don’t let your thoughts or insecurities impede you living your dream.

Writing is a lonely sport. We sit at a desk, typing away at our keyboard, alone with our thoughts, and a big cup of coffee. That’s my experience when it comes to writing. I sit and think, wondering how I can take my craft to the next level, while trying to finish my next book.
In today’s episode, I’m talking about the writer’s conference I attended this last weekend. This powerful event has given me tools, tricks, and just good refreshment to recharge those batteries and start writing anew.
In Today’s Episode:

* How I started my journey of writing.
* The first writing seminar I’d ever attended.
* The Northwestern Christian Writer’s Conference.
* Why you should attend a conference of seminar.
* What will it do for you?

* Give you fresh ideas.
* Help you understand the publishing industry.
* Give you a chance to pitch your book idea to an agent or editor.
* Allow you the freedom to connect with other writers.


* Update on my next book.
* Update on what’s next for JBSISAM.COM.

Resources in this Episode:

* Northwestern Christian Writer’s Conference
* Minnesota Christian Writers Guild
* Write Now with Scrivener Wait List!

COULD YOU DO ME A FAVOR?
I believe this show will change your life. How do I know this? I’ve had people tell me to keep producing it and how much they learn each episode. I’m asking my audience to share their favorite episode with someone. You can also use the social media links below to share. Help me grow this show and its audience. My goal is to help people fulfill their dream of writing their book or starting their blog. I want to be your personal writing coach. Also, subscribe to the show using your favorite app. You can use the subscribe buttons below.

We all desire to leave a lasting legacy, something that will outlive our earthly life. But discovering that purpose is something few find and rarely invest their time into living their life on purpose. Being willing to do what it takes to stop dreaming about your purpose, and actually doing something about making a difference in the world.
We live in a world prone toward the advancement of your career. It’s all about seeking that next promotion or simply looking for meaning and fulfillment in life. Whether it’s professional or personal, the results are the same. We never go further than our self-limitations. We allow self limiting beliefs to handicap our thinking.
In today’s episode, I unpack what it takes to live your life on purpose, stop daydreaming about what could be, and do something today to live in your zone of genius.
Links in today’s episode:
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Thinking Forward Journal Download 
Throw Away Your Purpose blog post

Have you ever gone through your day and wondered, “What did I accomplish today?” If that’s you, don’t worry, the vast majority of individuals have the same feeling. They do so many things, and yet, stuff doesn’t get done. They’re constantly busy, but nothing happens on their mental priority list.
Does that sound like you?
In today’s episode, we’re talking about being free to focus on the things that matter most. I was talking with our pastor the other day, and our crucial point of conversation was about to-do lists. Writing the things that are important on a piece of paper, and even the non-important. By having a simple list on your desk, phone, tablet, or even a simple post-it note, you will cross those items off the moment you’re done. This is especially true with writing.
Here are a few reasons why is this important?
1. It’s about redefining your work, so it works for you.
One of my favorite books is called “Free to Focus” by Michael Hyatt. This book has helped me learn how to slay distractions, reduce my task list, and free myself from interruptions, so that I can truly focus on the items that truly need to get done, instead of relying on the appearance of busyness.
When I started learning this concept of writing onto a task list the things I truly needed to get done, I found my focus increasing. I could block out portions of my day to knock out the little items, so I can more easily focus on the larger projects, or looming deadlines.
It’s about allowing work to work for you, instead of being a slave to the almighty task list. It’s about taking control, instead of your work controlling you.
2. It’s about cutting out the nonessentials.
There are four major zones we operate within. These zones are aligned with passion and proficiency. The greater our passion and greater our proficiency, we’ll find it easier to align our tasks into our desire Zone. See the illustration below from Michael’s book.

Let’s break these down from least to first:

* The Drudgery Zone: This zone is made up of tasks and items to which we have no passion and no proficiency. You’re not good at these tasks. They’re not inside your wheelhouse, and in fact, doing them is a chore and you really hate having to don these. For me, it’s anything that makes me feel as if I’m wasting time. They take longer to accomplish, and in this area, I don’t excel. The items I consider drudgery for me, might be someone else’s passion. There are a ton of people who love to do what you hate. These are what keep us from writing.
* The Disinterest Zone: These items are things your proficient at, but not necessarily passionate about. These are tasks you can do, maybe even better than anyone else you know at work. It’s something that you can do with little effort, but it’s small potatoes and you really don’t have the time for these mundane tasks that fill up your list. In fact, as Michael says in his book, “You often are naturally inclined to avoid the drudgery zone items, but get stuck in the rut of doing the disinterest zone activities, simply because you’re good at them.” Then you wonder  at the end of the day, why can’t I write anything good?
* The Distraction Zone: This is an area that makes people feel tolerable in doing activities that fall in this area. There’s a a lot of passion and a little proficiency. These activities are not draining your energy and you probably enjoy doing these activities, however they become time-wasters. I am passionate about marketing, but not very proficient. I tend to become easily distracted by all the bells and whistles of book marketing, instead of what I do best, connecting with people on a real level.Often times,

What is success? We often feel as if we don’t measure up to others and that they are more successful. We take the role of the victim and wonder who’s going to rescue us from our troubles.
In today’s episode, We’re talking about how you can be the hero of your own story, how to stop playing the victim card and begin to find success in your family, ministry and life.
One of the greatest hindrances to success is playing the victim card. We take something that’s happening in our life, look at it as a glass half full, and wallow in our ineptness that we can’t perform at a high level. However, we can transform ourselves from seeing ourselves as the victim to seeing ourselves as hardworking heroes of our own story.
How do we do this?
1. Victims look for people to rescue them, while heroes take control.
Tony Robbins often says, “Life doesn’t happen to me, it happens for me.” Victimhood is the state of choosing to let life happen to you. In other words, you’re not in control and believe that fate has dealt you a bad hand. They also believe that other people are responsible for these failures.
Heroes allow themselves to take control and not allow limits to handicap their lives. They in a sense, remove all barriers keeping them from achieving their dreams. They don’t allow life circumstances to hold them back. It’s a choice either stay where you’re at, or to move forward.
2. Heroes don’t blame others for their failures.
We tend to move into a state of victimhood when things get hard, or we simply look for some sympathy from those around us. Victims don’t take responsibility for their actions. We play the blame game. Remember Adam and Eve? Adam blamed Eve for his disobedience, and Eve blamed the serpent. We’re always wanting to blame someone or something else for our shortcomings or failures.
However, people get tired of being around others who play the victim game. Donald Miller calls them the “False Victims”. Think of the boy who cried wolf he kept crying wolf, forcing the villagers to come running to his aid, but they found nothing there. But then a real wolf showed up and things got messy.
Because false victims, who always blame others or situations for their shortcomings, they are essentially stealing resources from the real victims of life. And truth to tell, you’re always having to to do the work for them.
We are called to be competent leaders who can deal with any challenge that arises. Sometimes those challenges are warranted, and other times it’s unfair challenges. But driven leaders, who pride themselves as high achievers, will always find a way to win, even if it’s a 10% win.
3. Heroes see themselves on a mission.
Have you ever put together a mission statement for your life? If you haven’t I encourage you to draft one today. It doesn’t have to be long, just enough to whet your appetite and help you develop a simple plan of where you’re headed.
Michael Hyatt often talks in his books about having a purpose you’re living for. In other words, be driven toward a vision, and doing all you can to make that vision become a reality. We have to learn when to zag when things get challenging.
Challenges always arise, but it’s how we deal with those challenges that determine if we’ll succeed or fail. And if we do fail, we know it’s just a stepping stone to the next thing God has for us to accomplish. But having a well drafted vision will help you achieve success, as long as you don’t blame any shortcomings on life, others, or things.
If we want to draft a story that’s compelling and leave a legacy for others to follow, we have to stop playing the victim, and allow ourselves to see beyond our current circumstance, rise above, and let life happen for us, not to us.

It’s been 1 year since my last podcast episode, so let me ask you a question, am I enough and does my voice matter? I know it seems silly to ask this question when I’m talking about me, but what about you? Are you enough and does your message matter?
In this episode, I talk about a burning question that’s been on my heart. How do we deal with the feelings of inadequacy? Do they leave us crippled and silent? In other words, I have often struggled with the thoughts of inadequacy when it comes to my message and wonder if it even matters.
It’s no secret that COVID-19 has played a role in exacerbating these feelings for many individuals. But we find in Psalms 1[39:13]-18 that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator. You were put on this earth for a reason. That reason is to help more pele find true life in Jesus Christ.
I believe this podcast episode will be something that you’ll keep coming back to listen to and take something new away.
Enjoy!

On a daily basis, we deal with stress and anger. But it’s how we handle the stress that determines our success in this life. The more we stress about life, the more we’ll fall into the temptation to become angry and disappointed with what life offers. Before we can understand what solutions we have in dealing with the daily stresses of life, we first must understand what causes stress.
In this encore episode, I want to give you 5 secrets to develop an attitude of gratitude to help you get rid of stress and find peace. Life is hard and the stress life brings into our lives seems to outweigh the positivity we desire in our daily lives. So how do we develop an attitude of gratitude?
Life happens and there’s not much we can do to ease the problems and stress that arise in our lives. But, it’s how we handle these moments of life that determine our mindset and what our outlook on life looks like. Psalm [34:19] King James Version (NKJV); Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
1. Worry about Nothing.
In the book of Philippians 4:6, we find Paul writing, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
It’s easy to worry. When life gets tough and we’re not sure what the outcome will be, we worry. Worry borrows from the future, something that might not happen. It’s being afraid of something that happened that you couldn’t control or something that might never happen.

Worry borrows from the future, something that might not happenTweet This

The definition of worry is to choke or strangle.
Worry takes what’s left of your imagination and amps it up to allow fear and stress to consume our thought life. Worry is always thinking outside of the moment where we are borrowing from the future instead of in the NOW.
As the wise Jedi Master, Yoda says, “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate, Hate leads to suffering.” Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday – but remember that when tomorrow arrives, it is God who brought you through.
TAKEAWAY: Live ONE DAY at a time! Live for today!

2. Be content with everything.
We like to compete with the Jones’. We look at what people have in their grocery cart and wish we could have that lobster for dinner too, and what’s worse, they may not look like they can afford that lobster.
We covet and spend outside our means, just so we can save face with our friends. We tell stories that try to eclipse someone else’s situation. We try hard to be like everyone and everyone like us, and one-up everyone.
It’s human nature. We. feel the need that something will make us happy.
If you expect it to always be sunny and it rains, you lose faith and sight of what peace can look and feel like. Oh man! God, why isn’t it sunny! I thought you wanted the best for my life and this is happening! Why?!

If you expect it to always be sunny and it rains, you lose faith and sight of what peace can look…Tweet This

Philippians [4:12], “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
You cannot fall into the trap of wanting or craving more than what you have beca...

Whether you own a business, pastor a church, or are an entrepreneur, one thing is certain, we need a laser-like focused vision to succeed. As leaders, we should be to leading first with vision by creating a compelling future for our customers and/or teams.
Vision-driven leaders focus first on what they see. Your vision should begin inside, deep within the recesses of your heart. Then, when you know where you believe you’re headed, it’s important to bring your team to the table and communicate what God’s placed on your heart. The goal, to communicate that vision and make it tangible.
In this podcast episode, I talk about Michael Hyatt’s new book, The Vision Driven Leader. Here’s the review I wrote on Amazon:
Michael Hyatt has crafted an easy to follow system to declutter the mind, distill down to the heart of a leader’s vision, and a simple to follow process for writing it down and how to leverage your team’s ideas and thoughts so you can place your church or business in a place to win.
One of my favorite quotes in the book comes near the end – “Waiting feels safe, but waiting kills vision. Where will you take your team…?” In other words, don’t wait until you have crafted the perfect vision, start somewhere, start today, and leverage your future with a good plan today.
General George Paton said, “A good plan executed today is better than a perfect plan executed next week.”
I highly recommend this book to any pastor, church leader, business coach, leader, or CEO who is looking for a way to cultivate change today, so they can win tomorrow.
I want to give you three ways this book will help you to craft a compelling vision and distill it down into something that will inspire. Why do we need a vision? What happens if we take the time to look inside? What will we see?
1. Vision Drives Everything
First, vision is inspiring. It’s the driving force behind the why of any business or dream. It’s about being a part of something bigger than yourself. Sure, there are times when vision seems daunting and out of reach. But lifting your perspective to a higher elevation, vision gives you a three to five year view of where you desire to be.
Second; the question you have to ask yourself: what is the change I want to make in this world? How will your vision of a better tomorrow inspire others to get beyond themselves and change the world? People want to be part of something bigger than themselves.
How will the lives of others be changed by your vision? If you can discover that answer you’ll find people will jump on board and do what it takes.
2 questions every leader must answer in discovering their vision.

* Chapter 1 – Are you a leader or a manager?
* Chapter 2 – What difference does vision make?

2. Drafting your Vision Script.
It’s easy to be short-sighted in crafting a vision. A lot of leaders look at vision as, “I would like to be…” or “I hope we’ll be…” By having this mindset, leaders set themselves up for failure.
Instead of thinking the above, maybe we should write our vision out as if we’re living it right now. At Life Church, a few years ago we recrafted our vision and it has become the driving focus for our church. Here’s an example of our vision.
“We see a church where people love God first in every area of their life through worship, the Word, and fellowship with other believers.
We serve people in their areas of influence by showing the love of Jesus through their actions and using their spiritual gifts to minister to those who attend services and Life Groups.
We have a church filled with individuals who take their love of God and take that love into the world for people to discover th...