I wrote more than just what was included in my new book. So I thought I’d share a “deleted scene” that didn’t make it in. It would have made the book 31-days long, but we felt this was the weakest one. I still enjoy it, so I thought I’d share. Enjoy!
Thought for the day: Artistic skill only takes you so far. People skills take you limitless places.
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Philippians 2:3-8 (MSG)
The only thing that truly matters in life is the relationships we develop and the way we leverage them for eternity. It’s not really about worshipping God. It’s not really about living a pure life. Think about it, we could worship God better in heaven. We’ll be free from sin in heaven. Everything we are meant to do we could do better in heaven – except for impacting people. It’s this human, person to person, element we were put on this earth to do.
Unfortunately, many of us focus on the temporal things in life. We put our attention on things that will pass away when we die. Our career. Our finances. Our entertainment. It’ll all go away as soon as our heart stops beating.
A famous ad executive posted this on his blog shortly before he died. Let it give you some perspective. (Edited for profanity.)
“It turns out I didn’t actually like my old life nearly as much as I thought I did. I know this now because I occasionally catch up with my old colleagues and work-mates. They fall over each other to enthusiastically show me the latest project they’re working on. Ask my opinion. Proudly show off their technical prowess (which is not inconsiderable). I find myself glazing over but politely listening as they brag about who’s had the least sleep and the most takeaway food. ‘I haven’t seen my wife since January, I can’t feel my legs any more and I think I have scurvy but another three weeks and we’ll be done. It’s got to be done by then. The client’s going on holiday. What do you think?’
What do I think?
I think you’re all […] mad. Deranged. So disengaged from reality it’s not even funny. It’s a […] TV commercial. Nobody gives a […].”
Linds Redding (Lindsredding.com) – Died October 31, 2012
What relationships have you developed today?
Prayer starter: God, teach me the importance of relationships. I don’t want to spend my days fixating on things that don’t matter for eternity. I want to focus on impacting others for eternity. Help me keep an appropriate perspective on life and my interactions with others.
There’s a danger when we put our art above people. And artists are notorious for doing this. We even, at times, praise the awkward prima donna or the genius recluse.
But that’s really ridiculous.
The world doesn’t really care about how good you are if you’re difficult to work with.
Have you ever noticed the musicians that make it big in the industry aren’t necessarily the most talented. There are countless talented people living in Nashville, but very few make it. You know why? It’s the people who learned how to interact and work well with others that make it.
Maybe that’s unfair. But I don’t think so. I’d rather work with someone who will meet deadlines, treat me politely, and respect others. You’re the same way. So is everyone else.
So before you pour all your time into honing your artistic craft, analyze yourself. Are you easy to work with? Would you want to work with yourself on a project?
If not, become someone you’d love to work with. That will take you much further than any new skill set or talent.
Creative exercise: Choose a friend, co-worker, boss, family member. Choose someone you interact with often. Now create a new cartoon character based on them. Observe their mannerisms, features, language – anything that sets them apart from other people. Then exaggerate those features.
What type of animal are they? What’s their catch phrase? Who is their nemesis?
What do they wear (every cartoon character wears the same outfit…always…)?
You may or may not want to share this cartoon character with the person it was based on. But use this as a chance to appreciate the person and start noticing unique things in your interactions with people.