1.      “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing” Helen Keller

2.      “When it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change.” Lucius C. Falkland

3.      “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.” Mike Murdoch

4.      “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” Leo Tolstoy

5.      “Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown.” George Shinn

6.      “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.” John Wooden

7.      “Change is inevitable-except from a vending machine.” Robert C. Gallagher

8.      “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi

9.      “This one step — choosing a goal and sticking to it — changes everything.” Scott Reed

10.  “Don’t fear change — embrace it.” Anthony J. D’angelo

Which one quote do you like the best?  Which one quote hurts the most?  Which one quote gets you going?

One bonus quote from Bilbo Baggins…

“…it’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door … you step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” (LOTR, Fellowship)

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“Thank you but your services at this organization are no longer needed.”

“I hate to have to tell you this but your car will NEVER start again.  NEVER.”

Now, I understand that all the planning in the world can’t minimize the impact of truly devastating news such as the death of a loved one or the news of an incurable illness.  But apart from that, having a flexible plan for your own future has tremendous advantages over the completely unplanned, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants (I wonder exactly what that means) kind of future.

I’ve found that over time, when you plan ahead it can minimize the effects of the unplanned event.  Are you following me on this?  I hope so.

I’m planning a 2011 personal transformation, or as I call it, “Personal Change,” (maybe “Life Adjustment” or “Year of Reinvention”) that hopefully will change most of me by the end of the coming year.  I can be as flexible or as rigid as I want to be in setting forth my plans and goals for this transformation.  Too rigid and it leaves me with very little wiggle room when the unexpected tries to floor me.  A train has one set of tracks and set destinations.  The littlest of variations and derailment is both inevitable and disastrous.  Too flexible and you find yourself in a 4×4 going who-knows-where heading in some general direction, hopefully.  (I happen to own an off-road vehicle) You may make it to your destination but at what extra cost, mileage and possible accidents.

Planning can have as much detail as possible but it’s a little dangerous to have too little planning.  For example, too much planning:

“We arrive at the airport at 2:37pm and have exactly 13 minutes to check in.”

Planning like this is headed for frustration and failure.  There’s no way you can make these timetables work.  There are too many variables.  You’ve got to lighten up.

Now, planning too little can have equally crappy results.  Again, an example:

“We’ll show up at the airport Tuesday afternoon.”
When’s the plane leaving again?  How long will it take to get through check-in and security?  What gate are we leaving from and how long does it take to get there?  I once heard Zig Ziglar state that he had an agreement with the airlines that if he didn’t show up on time for a flight, the airline had his permission to leave without him.  Too little planning with too few details and someone’s going to miss their flight.

The unforeseen can stop someone in their tracks or bring out their creative side.  I have friends who planned their first cross-country trip with their newly acquired 5^th wheel.  They had a plan, a destination or two and a rigid return date set by the fact that they had to be back at work by a certain day.  During their trip, they encountered a flat tire (and broken rim) on the 5^th wheel (with no spare), siding that blew off the camper, a companion vehicle that just couldn’t keep up (further hindering their already stretched timetable), inadvertently putting some unleaded gas in a diesel vehicle, bumper-to-bumper traffic that sucked up hours of their time and waiting an extra day or two for repair parts to arrive (to a remote village in Kansas).  They were creative, made the trip and got back on time.  (I think they’re selling the 5^th wheel)  The rigid scheduler would have gone crazy on this trip and the super-flexible planner might never have made it to the original destination.

I love the outlook of Captain Barbossa in the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.”  When questioned about the code all pirates are supposed to adhere to, he had this to say:

“…the code is more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules.”
So, here are my tips for over-planning change in your life and making it work.  Yes, I said over-planning.  I’ll use the platform of my upcoming year of personal change, as that’s what I’m planning to do myself in 2011.

• Research is your best friend.  Know as much about your upcoming year as possible.  Since I’m a very detailed person when it comes to planning, I may go overboard.  That’s OK though, as I’d rather have too much knowledge than too little.
• Detail as much as you’d like.  Too much detail is better than too little.  You are more easily blindsided by too little detail than too much.  My detail for the coming year will be broken down into seasonal, monthly and weekly goals and activities.  Yeah, I’m like that.
• Plan on making adjustments.  There will be, so just plan on it.  It’s not the end of the world, nor is it failure.  It’s just an adjustment or two.  For me, I just need to realize that adjustments will help me reach my ultimate goals.
• View your plans as guidelines.  They will keep you on track and headed in the right directions, but it doesn’t mean they can’t be adjusted when the unexpected comes up.  My journey over the next year is supposed to transform me.  Without guidelines, I’m just shooting in the dark.
• Know exactly where you want to end up.  Realize that’s there’s more than one way to get there and the unexpected route may be more enjoyable and scenic.  You never know.  For me, I seek change in around 8-10 different areas in my life.  I know where I want to end up.  I also know the route may change many times in order for me to get there.
• Don’t compromise on goals.  Compromise on how you may plan to reach those goals.  There’s a lot to be said for setting goals and reaching them.  It is empowering and extremely motivating.

A writer and fellow blogger, Chris Guillebeau, does an annual review with detailed goal-setting for the coming year.  I will be using some of his suggestions for my own change project.  It is well worth investigating.

This posting seems a little disorganized to me but I wanted to get it out there just to get the thoughts going and continue my process.  Hope you don’t mind and I hope some (or all) of it makes sense.  Use it wisely.

Please comment with any suggestions and input you may have as I value new ideas to add to my own.

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But wait.  I can’t just up and leave, chasing my dreams without regard for anyone or anything.  There are some constraints that apply here.

First of all, my non-negotiables are self-imposed restraints.  For me they are spiritual convictions, my wife, my daughter, and my dog.  (Yes, my dog)  But what else is there?

A constraint is something that holds you back.  Don’t let it.  Let’s identify what constraints are and what can be done with some of them.  Here’s what I came up with:

• Previous fiscal responsibility.  Home mortgage, student loan, home equity loan, stuff like that.  What we owe now can limit our transformation plans, so just plan within your means.  Stretch a little if you have to.  Begin to find ways to cut down, or cut out, some of these debts.  Adam Baker may have some suggestions for you.
• Limited “Transformation” budget.  Budget can limit just about anyone but it doesn’t have to be an excuse.  So I’m keeping myself in check on spending and being accountable to my wife.  Everyone should be accountable to someone.  Eventually I will begin making money from this blog (and ask you to buy something).  Fair warning, but it will be worth it for both of us.
• Age.  I’m 52 right now.  Later on I’ll be 53.  It kinda works in succession.  But why should this be a restraint?  A few years as I was 4-wheeling up towards Hagerman’s Pass in Colorado high country, a long way away from civilization, I met a man in his 60’s (and his grandson who was on a bike).  He was running, training for a race.  I think it had something to do with Pike’s Peak.  Obviously age wasn’t holding him back.  Why should it hold anyone back?  It’s never too late to change.
• Health.  Actually, I’m pretty healthy right now.  I am on a daily cholesterol reducing pill (probably for the rest of my life) but that doesn’t slow me down any.  So this is really no restraint to me at all.  Especially when I see people in wheelchairs doing marathons or think of Aron Ralston who still climbs even after losing a limb.  Health wise, I have no complaints and no reason to use my health as an excuse.
• Fear.  This is a biggie for me.  I admit that I am a fearful person.  I’m afraid of failure almost as much as I’m afraid of success.  I grew up learning to be fearful and never learning to be courageous.  Fear can be a huge restraint.  I like what Tim Ferriss says about fear in his book The 4-Hour Workweek, “What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.” I guess I’m starting to do it.  I’ll suck it up and face fear in the face.  (redundant and repetitive, and a little bit awkward)  Oh, here’s a great thought by Tom Peters, via Cody McKibben’s great website.  You’ve love it.  Splash.
• Perfection.  I won’t do it unless I can do it perfectly.  Yeah, right.  I’m unhitching from this train of thought.  Now, I like to do things well.  I value good quality work, as anyone should.  But if I waited to be perfect in my blog posts, there would be any blog posts.  If I waited to perfect my plan before putting it into action, the plan would never take off.

Oh, and what about my non-negotiables?  Yeah, what about them?  Non-negotiables do not have to be restraints.  Take my wife, for example.  She is my non-negotiable but she is hardly a restraint.  She is one of my greatest supporters (in more ways than one).  I think of Chris Guillebeau who travels the world and yet has a wife fully supportive of his many expeditions.  (Buy his book.  It’s fantastic.) My 20-year-old daughter is a huge priority to me and she is thrilled to have me try new things.  More support!  Yay!  My dog.  Well, he is high maintenance at times, due to his condition.  That puts a few constraints on traveling, etc.  But he won’t hold me back.  He may even join me in some of my transformational endeavors.  Ah, yes, my spiritual convictions.  This is not a restraint but liberation.  Liberation and direction to be more of what I need to be.

I guess my constraints aren’t that bad after all.  So, what’s really holding me back?  Well, nothing.  We’ll see.  New constraints can come into play as actual goals are identified.  More on that in a later post.

So, what are some constraints you think are missing?  What are some of your own constraints?  What’s holding you back?  Comment.  Let me know.

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Well, let me tell you.  I’m going to try.  I’m going to try real hard.  This is just the beginning and I’d love to have positive feedback from everyone/anyone as the process grows and develops.

This is what I’m proposing…

A complete overhaul of my life (with some exceptions).  I want to gut my current life and create a new one, a better one.  It will encompass many aspects of how I currently live and think.

Now, I am a master at planning things.  I can be detailed and exact.  Logistics and timetables are second nature for me.  I’m also a very good manager.  I can get people on task and keep people on task.  But I am terrible at personal follow-through.  With little to no accountability I absolutely suck at personal follow-up on personal stuff.  The kind of stuff that I’m talking undertaking over the next year.

Now, I mentioned that there will be some exceptions to this process.  There has to be.  There are some things I simply will not delete from my life and here is a great time to list them.  So here’s the things I won’t give up.

• My spiritual convictions.  My own personal relationship with God is unconditional and unchangeable.  I won’t be “switching religions” or looking for new enlightenment.  But how can I be better at living to honor my convictions?  And, how can I learn from other religions?
• My wife of 30 years.  I love my wife and she loves me.  I don’t want a different wife and I’m not planning on having an affair.  But one of the transformational goals for the coming year will be how I can enhance our marriage and relationship.
• My daughter.  She always will be my daughter.  We have pretty good relationship right now.  I will always be her father.  So, how can I be a better father to her as a sophomore in university in another country?
• The family dog, Moab.  He’s high maintenance due to a genetic seizure disorder but he is part of our family.  So, I will have to keep him involved as part of the process.  How can I be a better master to man’s best friend?

Now, apart from these four things, everything else is up for an overhaul.  Everything else is negotiable.  Everything else is changeable.  Everything else can be wiped out and replaced.

And in 2011, I will do exactly that.

So, how do you transform your own life?  I don’t know about your life but you can ride along with me as I transform mine.  I encourage input from everyone/anyone.  Not only that, I encourage accountability.

So, join the uprising.  Stay up to date.  Comment.  Challenge me.  Make me accountable.

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For years I’ve never given to people like this.  I’ve heard stories about beggars, none of them good.  They beg all day and then drive back to their home.  Hmmm?   Or, they take the money and head straight for their drug supplier or the liquor store.  I never gave because I never knew what they’d do with what I’d give them.

Looking back, that’s not a very good way to look at their situation.  We’re not giving because we can’t monitor the giving.  Well, we tip a waitress but we never ask what they’re going to do with my tip.  We give at church but we never ask what our particular gift is specifically going to.  So why don’t we give to people like the two I saw on the off ramp?

The difference is in perceptions and relationships.  There is no positive relationship and there is negative perception.  These are the hurdles we have to jump over when we start giving

Here are a few other hurdles we have to conquer that you may be able to relate to:

1.      Overcoming our suspicion. “What do they have in that bag they’re carrying?”  Drugs, alcohol, stolen property.  Whatever.  Well, it’s none of our business.  I doubt they’d refuse money from me because they’re wondering what I have in my trunk.  This is a terrible way to decide whether or not to give.  Suspicion or not, be open to give to a presented need.  Listen to your heart.

2.      Overcoming the unfamiliar. “I don’t know them, so…”  We all tend to fear the unknown.  Overcoming the unfamiliar is the first step to seeing deeper into the needs of the unfamiliar.
While in Vancouver a few years ago, I was working with a group that did a weekly route with a “food cart” downtown where many homeless people were.  Over time, they built relationships with some of these people.  Initially, everyone was unfamiliar, but over time that changed.  Relationships were formed.  Overcome the excuse of the unfamiliar even if your giving may be a onetime thing.  Better yet, become familiar with the need and the individual associated with that need.  It takes time and effort but it will be meeting a much deeper need than a onetime gift.

3.      Overcoming stereotyping. “They look like that, so they must be…”  I read about an experiment done in New York City some time ago.  A man dressed like a bum stood on a corner somewhere on Wall Street begging for money.  He said he was down on his luck and needed just a little to get himself going again.  He received a certain amount of money over the course of several hours.  One week later, the same day on same street corner, the same man did the same thing dressed in a suit and tie.  He begged for money using the same statement as a week ago.  He received considerably more money than the previous week.  Nobody even recognized he was the same person.
The researchers concluded that people saw the suit or the rags.  They did not see the person.  Also, they equated the suit to a businessman down on his luck in business.  They equated the ragged, dirty clothes to a person with no ambition or work ethic, being an alcoholic or drug addict.  We stereotype without ever getting to see the person.  Too many times we base our giving on a stereotype profile and not on the person or the need.  See the person.

4.      Overcoming our skepticism. “I don’t think they’re really that needy.”  We are a skeptical society.  We don’t trust a lot of people we know so why would we trust people we don’t know.  And why would we give money to people we don’t trust.  This speaks to the very core of giving.  Try to forget the trust issue.  Don’t question the need.  Question why you you’re so skeptical of a situation you have absolutely no information about beyond your immediate observation.  Look for potential, hope and blessing in your giving.

5.      Overcoming rationalization.  “I can’t help them this time.”  We are all very good a rationalization.  If we really don’t want to do something we’ll find an excuse not to do it.  Again, listen to your heart.  Sometimes, or even many times, we just can’t help.  But what is our heart telling us to do this one time.  Sometimes we need to be a little irrational in our giving ethic.  Just do it, in spite of every good reason not to.

Sometimes, we just have to learn to stop thinking and act from the heart.  The heart overcomes whatever excuses our mind pushes us toward.

By the way, I didn’t think very hard before I opened my window and gave them $10.  They seemed genuinely grateful and nodded their thanks to me as I pulled away with the green light.  In just a few seconds I had to get by all the things I listed above so that I’d give.  I think it was because I didn’t think too hard.  Also, it had to do with timing, as I had the “extra” cash easily available.

I don’t really wonder what they did with my money.  It doesn’t matter because it wasn’t my money any more.  I am not the monitor of what I give.  I only need to be willing to give.

The downside: You may be in need of the very money you just gave away.  Oh well.

The upside: You were a blessing to someone else, a stranger, or maybe even an angel in disguise.

The payoff: Don’t do it for the payoff.  There may not be one for you.  But there was one for someone else.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to open my eyes just a little more.  I’d hate to miss something my heart is trying to tell me.

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Does a church have any idea at all what they’re in for?  Some churches do.  They have multiple staff and have a hiring process already in place.  My guess is that there was some trial and error in getting there.  Then there are other churches that just have an idea in mind for the person they want in the position, and then go out looking for that person.  No real process.  They’re just trying to find the person that fits in their preconceived ideal candidate.

What about the candidate?  Does he or she know the competition that they’re up against when applying for ministry positions?   How do they make their application or resume stand out in the huge crowd that already has applied for the same opportunity.

Here are some suggestions of what churches can do with those resumes, from the perspective of a seasoned resume submitter.

• Clearly define the position.  Most churches are very good at laying out a detailed job description.  I ran across one church that required you to submit the results of three separate personality tests along with their initial cover letter and resume.  Clearly they had a process but I felt this may have been a little extreme.  Other churches post age limits and gender requirements.  Be thorough but don’t go overboard.  Define the position, not the person for the position.  Leave room for some flexibility.  You just don’t know the gem that may never apply due to restrictions set out in the initial listing.
• Be sure your hiring process is clearly defined to all candidates.  Resume gathering deadlines, next step expectations, and so on.  Let all candidates know the process as soon as they apply.   Doing this will keep them from having to “guess” what might happen next.  Ignoring them when their resume has been rejected just leaves them hanging.
• Request cover letter, resume and references in one package.  Why the references?  If something comes up during your initial research, contact a reference to get a better picture of the individual.  Asking for a photograph is not necessary at this stage.  Too many times a single photo can have more influence than anything written down.
• Gather resumes for one month or less.  Set a date as a limit and stick to it.  Publicize this time frame in the initial job post.
• Some churches have an application form as part of their initial process.  Most of the ones I’ve seen repeat most of the information in a resume.  Churches do this so they will have an easier time comparing candidates.  (Apples to apples.)  Make a form that can be easily filled out without having to reformat or copy/paste and returned by email.
• Accept cover letter and resumes by email attached document in Word or PDF format.  No snail mail, please.  If they can’t do this, they are not living in this century.  Technology is here to stay.
• Let each candidate know when they apply what the hiring process is.  Give them your deadlines.  Let them know what to expect and when to expect it.  If the candidate doesn’t receive a reply by a certain date then he hasn’t been chosen for the next step in the process.  Don’t leave anyone hanging or guessing.  No one likes to be ignored so doing this is just common courtesy.
• What are your non-negotiables for the position?  Everybody has them.  What are they?  Is it denominational affiliation?  Age?  Gender?  Education?  Although this may not be the best thing to put in the initial job post, it does exist in the minds of the church hiring entity/entities.  If you can clearly list specific requirements in the initial job description post and let potential candidates know that you are not flexible, it may cut down the number of resumes you receive.
• Regardless of the number of resumes submitted, choose no more than ten for the next step in the process.
• If you haven’t prayed for each candidate who offers a resume (even if it’s 200 of them) then your process is incomplete.  Discarding a resume because it doesn’t have the right “key words” or “phrases” is a corporate approach that should have no place in the church’s selection process.  Keep God in the process through prayer.
• A good, complete process should take around six months but no longer.  Do not rush the hiring process or you’ll find yourself doing the process too many times for the same position.
• For a good church process, check out the “10 Steps to Finding the Right Person” by David Fletcher.

Here’s a few suggestions for candidates and their applying practices…

• Tailor your cover letter for every job you apply for.  There is no such thing as a “standard” cover letter.  If you aren’t willing to put some time into the cover letter, it will show.
• Tailor your resume to emphasize the needs stated in the job description.  Don’t make yourself out to be something you’re not.  Little white lies and embellishment are dishonest at best.
• Check out the church’s website.  Learn everything you can about the church, its direction, current staff and current ministries.
• Is this position new to the church or are you applying for a position already established?  Ask “why?” to either, if you get the chance.
• Be creative.  When it comes to resumes, check these out.  I don’t need to write a thing.  The best advice is right there.

So, these are my thoughts of the topic of selecting potential new staff and sending out resumes.  Keep looking and keep praying.

The downside: Both looking for a position and looking to fill a position can be a long, tedious process.  Neither should be in a hurry about it.

The upside: A good process will pay off in the long run.  Refining the process over time will give you a streamlined approach.

The payoff: The right person in the right position at the right time.  Yay!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m currently in the third step of a process with a church that grabbed my resume earlier in the week.  Go figure.

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As we grow up we slowly learn independence and doing things for ourselves, but we rarely learn the art of selflessness.  Giving goes against society. I had a new friend comment that each one of us has to “build our own kingdom.”  By this he meant his house, cars, ATVs, camper, etc.  Understand that his possessions were modest and well within his means, but the idea bothers me.  I don’t want to have a kingdom.  At the end of my life, I don’t want a lot of stuff.  I’d rather die knowing I’ve helped others more than I’ve helped myself.  I admit I have some catching up to do.  (Don’t we all.)  I want to give to others.

I’m at a point in my life where I want less so that others can be blessed by my giving.  The world is unevenly distributed anyway.  We made it that way.  I just want to do my part even it up a little.  Wouldn’t you?

With that in mind, here’s a list of 8 things you should never be selfless about.  In fact, you need to be a little selfish when it comes to the following.  Why?  Because being selfish in these areas will help you be more selfless overall.

1.      Presentation. Please be selfish about how you present yourself publicly.  Your presentation may open doors for service, or have them slammed in your face.  One can be both up-to-date and frugal at the same time.  I once went backing with a guy who needed a mirror in the morning to comb his hair.  (He took at least ten minutes to do so.)  Trust me when I say, “The elk and bears just didn’t care.”  Don’t get obsessive in your presentation, but don’t neglect it either.  Knowing what you’re going to do during the day will probably dictate some level of presentation.  Move forward accordingly.  You get the idea.

2.      Income. Yes, I said income.  John Wesley has been attributed with this thought:  “Make all you can.  Save all you can.  Give all you can.” With this concept remember there has to be balance.  Too much “make” takes away from other things on this list.  Note there is no mention of “spend” or “amass” here.  You make so you can save.  You save so you can give.  You give because of others’ needs, evening out the distribution process a little.  Repeat the process.  Go to work.  Make money.  Just remember why you should be making it.

3.      Family. You may only have one so be selfish about giving them the time they need with you as well as the time you need with them.  My daughter is at school in another country.  Once a week we Skype for an hour or so.  There’s a little needed info that is exchanged but mostly we just need to see each other.  We talk about nothing for an hour or so.  We are satisfying each others’ selfish need for connection.  In family this is a good thing.  And during this family togetherness time, engage in selfless acts.  It’s so much more fun when done as a group.

4.      Exercise. This is just basic general health.  Do something every day.  My wife and I began the P90X program together.  It was supposed to go for 90 days.  We stopped after 60.  But, we also got into the habit of doing some kind of exercise every day.  P90X was intense, as well as fun, but it didn’t work well into Lisa’s work schedule.  So we made an adjustment.  Other areas on this list had to be sacrificed and the end result was not worth it overall.  We found a balance and we’re healthier because of it.  being healthier gives us more energy when we’re doing other things.

5.      Personal Time. Everybody needs regular personal time.  Be selfish about it, but set a time limit to it as well.  Guard it.  Whether you read for an hour or sleep for an hour, it doesn’t matter.  It is for recharging, praying, meditating, chilling, regrouping, re-energizing, (I’m sure there’s a few more ways I can say the same thing) resting, thinking, emptying, whatever.  do it even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, do it.  It’ll be worth it.

6.      Planning. Yup.  Don’t let an unplanned day take over your life.  The urgent, yet unimportant things, will suck away your time and effort.  You’ll be left wondering where the day went.  Be selfish about planning your days.  If you don’t ten people may plan it for you, without any input from you whatsoever.  Along with this thought, be flexible enough to be selfless when an unplanned event draws your attention.

7.      Priorities. What are yours?  I mean “Big Picture Priorities” for your life.  Check out the video by Stephen R. Covey on priorities.  The visual is worth more than I could ever write about here.

8.      Worship. Take time weekly (daily would be better) to worship our Creator.  Whether you do that by music, meditation or some other creative process, we were made to worship God.  Give Him part of your week/day regularly.  Be selfish about it.  Doing so will make you a better giver.  Doing so will make you more selfless.

One last thought:  You may be saying, “I don’t have time for all of this!”  Before jumping on this excuse, read this.

The downside: Being selfish in all these areas can take up more time than I have right now.

The Upside: Look at the list and pick one or two you don’t already do now.  Add them in slowly and create a habit of it.  When those are working smoothly for you, add another one.  Repeat.

The payoff: In the long run, you will be more selfless because you’re taking care of yourself first.  It sounds selfish because it is.  But it makes “you” be a better “you.”  A better you becomes more selfless when these areas are taken care of selfishly.

Now, let me go.  I have some personal things to take care of.  Have a great day.

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Over the past two years I have looked at countless number of church ministry job offers.  In my mind I qualified for a majority of them, at least according to the posted job description.  So, I’d send my stock resume and a custom-fit cover letter, only to get one of three responses.

First, and most popular, “…We have several applicants whose backgrounds relate more closely to our present requirements; you are not recommended to continue to the next phase of our process.”  My translation is they received so many resumes they had to cut it down to a more manageable list.  The resume was scanned over for specifics.  If such specifics didn’t jump out at them, you received this response.  (Correct me if I’m wrong, please.)

Second in popularity is, “If you are selected for a phone interview for this position, you will be contacted in the upcoming weeks.”  Translated this could mean that you may never hear from them again.  How do they go from 100+ resumes to a select 10 or so?  I’d love to know this.

Finally, a third response, “…we feel that God is leading us in a different direction, so we wanted to let you know as soon as possible that you are no longer being considered as a candidate for our open position.”  This is a great response as long as it is a true response.  Are churches actually praying for God’s direction in regard to every application or resume they receive?

So what are church leaders looking for when new staff positions become available?  Are they looking for a heart for ministry or a talent for ministry?  If a heart for ministry in their open position is their primary criteria, do they need a particular talent in order to successfully do the job?  However, if a heart for ministry is merely implied at the outset, then talent becomes their primary search criteria.

Churches search for candidates many different ways, depending on size and need.  Here are a few techniques.

Many churches search for candidates by committee.  When resumes are received they are divided up and different individuals pick the best from their given stack.  Seven committee members with 15 resumes each could mean your resume might have been chosen by, say, four out of the seven members, but yours was in the stack given to one of the other three.  Oh well.

Where do all these resumes come from?  Churches go fishing.  Churchstaffing.com and YouthSpecialties.com have extensive job listings of open positions.  Posting an opening will bring you a flood of resumes within a very short period of time.  The net is full but you can only keep a few.  Key words and good name-dropping come into play here.

A growing trend is by personal connection.  Networking and personal contact may lead to opportunities down the road.  Knowing and connecting with the right people can really pay off in the long run.

So, with so much competition for jobs, even in the ministry, I’ll ask what one pastor asked me.  “What do you have to offer us?”  Well, when it comes to presenting yourself for an open position, here’s the short list of things you simply have to offer:

• A resume that really stands out.  It will get you noticed and that’s only a start.  One church told me when they advertised for a position that they had over 200 resume submissions within the first week.  How does one sift through that stack?  I don’t know. I once had my resume “rejected” within 2 hours of submission.  I thought, “How much prayer went into that decision?”  In at least one case, not very much.  I was judged and rejected solely on the basis of my initial resume.  (What was he looking for?)  Sometimes a professional resume service is helpful.  Expensive, but helpful.
• An online presence.  It will get you looked at.  Facebook.  Twitter.  LinkedIn.  YouTube.  Flickr.  Viddler.  Where can you be found online?  Oh, how’s your blog coming along?  Keep it current, regular and visually appealing.
• Really good media of you doing what you do, as well as what makes what you do unique (see niche below).  Read that sentence again slowly.  Sharply edited, compelling and very impressive.  This is one way a search team can get some initial assessment of your personality and public persona.  Video, audio, podcast, PowerPoint (Yes, I said PowerPoint.  It is a tool to be mastered), the list goes on and on.
• Connections.  I hate to even have this on the list but it’s true.  It’s probably one of the most necessary items on this list.  Who do you know?  Who knows you?  Work at expanding your network.  Initiate connections and then work at keeping those connections fresh.
• A niche.  Something you can do that few other people can.  And not just that, but it has to have some “flash” to it.   It seems just about everybody is “called” to ministry.  And every “called” individual has a passion for ministry.  So what’s your niche (specific appeal)?  Are you an amazing artist?  How many instruments can you play?  What is your “flash” appeal?   The “flash” is your noticed niche.  My niche is that I’m a certified project manager, but there’s absolutely no flash appeal to that concept so I have no perceived  niche.  I’m thinking about buying a guitar.
• Positive field experience, but not too much experience.  As an example, 10 years in youth ministry makes you a seasoned veteran.  20 years in youth ministry means you’re too old to be effective in youth ministry.  At least that’s the initial perception.  It is extremely hard for a youth pastor with 20 years on his resume to make it past the initial “screening process.”  Why?  The translation is that he/she is too old to relate to the youth, if the job is for a youth ministry position.  Now, if it’s for another staff position or a lead pastor position, the perception is that he has “just” been a youth pastor with no experience in other areas in the church.
• A match to the position being offered.  You may be thinking, “I matched that job description but never got past the initial screening.”  Although this is a key element over which you have no control as an applicant,  your uniqueness as outlined in the previous six points are what makes a search team say, ”We could use this person and his uniqueness to expand on the position we initially advertised.”

Something not yet mentioned is the application process some churches require right from the start.  Most of it is repetitive as it is already in your resume.  Committees especially, like to compare apples to apples and the application is a way to do that.

So, what do churches look for in adding staff members (part-time or fulltime)?  Do they look for talent or to fill a specific need?  Do they look for heart or passion for a specific need?  Does a person have to have it all to fill the need fully?

The answer is:   Yes. Everything is looked at, if they hang on to your resume long enough and your initial contact is impressive enough.  (Yes, I am serious.) Churches are looking for all of it, or as much of it as they can find, to fit their perceived need.

The downside: It’s an absolute jungle out there.  The competition is fierce.  What you may consider to be your niche, others may not see as valuable at all.

The upside: Keep looking and praying.  I believe God has the right place for you in ministry.  Keep tweaking your resume and online presence.

The payoff: What happens on your knees and in your heart is what’s most important.  Are you looking for a job or for God’s will?

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go tweak my resume one more time.

What are your thoughts and input of the subject?  I’d love some good feedback from your point of view.   Especially from lead pastors, executive pastors or search committee personnel.

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1.       Laziness.  It just seemed like too much work at the time so I just didn’t bother.  Become less lazy.  Simple but true.  Get off your butt and get to work.

2.       TV.  I love to watch a good movie.  The time I spend watching movies may not be bad but too many movies a week and that adds up to a lot of time on the sofa.  Limit yourself on a weekly basis.  Random TV or movies can capture you and such an hour or two out of life quicker than you can say “Back in a moment, but first…”

3.       Fear.  What if I fail?  What if I screw up?  What if it doesn’t work out?  What if I stub my toe?  Whatever.  Face your fear and you’ll soon realize that most of what you feared would happen didn’t.

4.       Too many of the little things.  The little things are easy.  They’re comfortable.  They’re familiar.  So we do them over and over and over again thinking we’re accomplishing something.  But the bigger, more satisfying projects are still out there waiting to be done while we do the little thing one more time.

5.       Too much planning.  I’m a great planner.  I can detail with the best of them.  But you can plan so much that you make the task seem bigger than it is.  You can only sort the clothes so much before you just have to put them in the washer.

6.       Not planning.  Some things require planning.  There are times when a job or project looks too big to tackle when all you have to do is a little planning to break the big job down into steps a little less intimidating.

7.       Misplaced stuff.  Understanding that some people have their own organized clutter that works for them, their clutter is their sense of order.   Then there are people who have clutter that hinders them.  They have everything organized to a fault.  Yet for either one, misplaced stuff robs you of time when you can’t find whatever it is that’s not where you thought it’d be.

8.       A good book.  There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a good book.  But avid readers will tell you they just couldn’t put it down.  They were at such a crucial point in the plot, or whatever.  Set a time limit on your reading.  One hour, or three chapters.  Something like that.  Enjoy this time immensely but when your time is up, put the book down and move on to something else.

9.       The hungry elephant.  How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.  But if you ignore the elephant, he’ll keep eating and growing.  Some things get bigger the more you ignore them.  Don’t ignore them.  Start eating.

10.   The next project.  I’ve started too many projects that never really got done because the next project started to demand my interest and pull me away from the current project.  Make the next project the reward for getting the current project completed.  Order your projects well.

11.   The last 20 percent.  The Pareto Principle or the 80/20 Rule means that in anything a few (20 percent) are vital and many (80 percent) are trivial.  We can spend so much time on the huge trivial stuff that the vital few things are left undone.  Some of us are masters of the trivial things of life.  Let’s shift focus from the many trivial to the few vital.

12.     Long lists.  They can be very overwhelming at times.  So, make two shorter lists.  Priorty, or order of importance would help.  Put one aside for later tackling and concentrate on the more direct or important one.

13.   Phones, email and Facebook.  You really only have to check them once a day.  Twice at best.  Voice mail works.  Take advantage of it.

14.   The urgent that isn’t important.  Then why is it urgent?  Because the urgent gets in our face and demands to be taken care of.  Learn to discern what is truly urgent and what is truly important.  Act accordingly.

What’s the downside? Some of these things you just can’t avoid.  You just have to deal with them.  But realize dealing with them is a step to conquering them.

What’s the upside? Little things do get done.  Bigger things get started.  Bigger things will get done.  Fewer things to say in your final days than “I wish I’d just had the time to…”

What’s the payoff? Less regrets.  Believe it or not, less stress as well.  More stuff done.  Just feeling better about yourself.  Shorter bucket list, or room for more on it.

The list is hardly exhaustive, but again it is a start to getting some things done by avoiding some things that suck away our time.  As for me, I’m on to the next thing on my list.  Good day.

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I’ve been taught that a cappuccino is one third espresso, one third heated milk and one third micro-foam (from the milk).  Too much milk and not enough micro-foam and you end up with a Latte.  Oops!  Head knowledge is one thing but actually making one is another thing entirely.  It is a practiced art-form of sorts, and I need a lot of practice.  People here at Zoë’s Coffee are getting a lot of free mediocre drinks as I practice my new art form.

Finding the best blend for a Cappuccino is accomplished over time with the idea of consistency as a goal.  What about a person’s “best blend?”  What are the ingredients and what constitutes consistency?  I have a thought or two on that.

The goal would be, to find a best blend (or balance) to your life.  The result is a flavor, pleasurable to you as well as those around you.

Here are some guidelines for finding your own unique personal blend.

Define our own core ingredients. The coffee bean is the key ingredient to a coffee, latte, cappuccino, mocha, decaf, etc. and yet there are many varieties of coffee drinks available.  What are your core ingredients?  These are the non-negotiable of your life.  For example; who you worship, honesty, integrity, love, courage, wisdom and so on.  Define the non-negotiables of your life.  Everything you do or become will eventually come back to your core ingredients.  You can’t make a good cappuccino without a good coffee bean.  That is non-negotiable.

Choose only a few flavors. With so many flavors to choose from, one must wisely choose only a few.  A vanilla, mocha, caramel, cherry, mango cappuccino ends up more of a mess than a unique flavor.  The flavors are the ingredients you “choose” to be part of your life.  Your style of music, your choice of humor, the clothes you wear, what you do with your hair.  All of these are the flavors of your lifestyle.  Some just don’t fit you.  Experiment with who you really are.  You will find the right flavors eventually.  You know what you like, so just be you.  Just don’t try to be every flavor.  It just doesn’t’ work and It just isn’t really you.

Beware of bad flavors. I’m convinced that I grew up with the original perfectionist of sarcasm as my father.  I learned sarcasm by hearing it daily from birth until the day I headed off to college.  It was never taught but I could not help but learn it as second nature to my personality.  This is a bad ingredient for my blend, or at least the blend I wish to become.  Although I grew up with this bad flavor as part of my family, it is still a choice that I have whether to keep it in my blend or get rid of it.  I have to work daily to keep this negative “flavor” out of my life and sometimes it’s hard work.  Identify the negative flavors of your life and determine to mineralize them one by one.  Maybe even eliminate them altogether.  I may never get rid of my sarcastic nature but I can keep it at a minimum so that it won’t affect my blend.

Your blend can at times show positive variation. Although there needs to be consistent core ingredients to your life, the blend can adapt to specific situations.  Some change to your style may be necessary to fit a situation.  This doesn’t mean you’ve changed being you, but it does show a conscious effort on your part to be aware of your surroundings.  I have a friend who wears t-shirts to everything.  Absolutely everything!  Never tucked in and never ironed.  I get it.  It’s his style and it works for him most of the time.  But it does hinder him in that fewer people take him seriously and yet he has so much to offer.  A simplistic and esthetic example but I’m sure you get the idea.  Adaptation of your own blend to fit the circumstances you find yourself in can in fact create a more perfect personal blend that will work in your favor.

Work on your consistency. I would love to be able to make the same signature beverage consistently for a regular customer.  To do this, it takes planning and concentration, not to mention practice.  So strengthen your core ingredients by consciously building on them every day.

What’s the downside? Finding your best blend is hard work.  It doesn’t just happen.  It takes planning and effort.  I’ve only scratched the surface on the idea.

What’s the upside? As you perfect yourself, you will find more satisfaction in your life.  You’ll like yourself more and more.  Others will notice your confidence that you have in just being you.

What’s the payoff? As you work at your “best blend” realize there is no real “perfect blend.”  But there is a better you when you translate these thoughts into practice in your own life.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must make another attempt at creating my signature Latter.  Hint:  It includes caramel.

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