Productive weeks are like separating oranges

Do you have a lot of messy work weeks? Do e-mails and meetings hinder you from a productive work day?

If so, I recommend an honest review of your work by what I will call the “principle of separation”. It’s like an orange. Separating an orange the right way leaves a beautiful wedge for eating. Separating it the wrong way leaves your hands sticky and everything messy.

Continue reading “Productive weeks are like separating oranges”

Why you will never earn what you are worth

Why you will never earn what you are worth!

My heart was broken after a conversation I had with a young, well paid and respected executive. He was told in school that if he doesn’t double his pay every two years then he is failing at growing his career. For most of his career his pay had doubled at least every two years. What the instructor failed to tell him was what it would cost him. His family suffered greatly.

In that moment I wish the instructor had a different message:

You are more valuable than your paycheck!

Continue reading “Why you will never earn what you are worth”

He made the stars also.

I love the clear sky on a dark night. From our home we can see Orion some of the year. My family can sometimes be found laying on the sidewalk in front of our home looking up at the stars. There is something that happens as I pause and look up at the big dipper, little dipper, north star, and even the planets. Somehow, the problems of this world seem to fade as my mind looks into the universe.

What does the universe have to do with planning our week? Let me give you one thought! Details. Continue reading “He made the stars also.”

Three keys to successful projects!

I had never replaced a garage door before, but I knew a few things:

  • I needed instructions
  • I would need help
  • It would take time

So, I went to the place where I knew I would find what I needed…YouTube.

Continue reading “Three keys to successful projects!”

The most consistent thing in life!

I love sunsets. The shift from day to night. The end of a productive day. It’s as if all creation is preparing for rest. On Pinterest I have an album where I have pinned some sunset pics others have posted. Check it out!

The most consistent thing in life is change.

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The hardest two seconds of my day, and 5 reasons I like it!

I would rate myself a “B” on an overall drivers scale. I use my turn signals. I don’t run red lights or stop signs. I watch 1, 2 and 3 cars ahead and to the side, as well as look far down the road as possible. I don’t hang out in blind spots. I can usually tell you how many cars are behind me and whether any car appears to be following me (a bit of paranoia :). My wife claims I exceed the speed limit, but I will neither confirm nor deny this claim.

There is one part of driving that I have been working on for a while, and it’s the hardest two seconds of my day.

Continue reading “The hardest two seconds of my day, and 5 reasons I like it!”

God hid my checkbook!

It was about 1998, and Missy (my wife) and I had lost our checkbook. We looked everywhere. Emptied her purse, cleaned out the car, and pulled the cushions out of the couch. It was gone.

We didn’t have any debit card, and the idea of a smartphone was a long way off. We had no way to buy anything without going to the bank and pulling out cash.

And the worst part, the youth group leaders we were working were inviting us to dinner after church. We told Terry that we would love to go, but we had lost our checkbook. Terry understood, and prayed. Then, another couple offered to buy our food that evening.

We pulled up to Ponderosa in Grandview, MO.  I opened the car door, and the long lost checkbook literally fell out of the car onto the ground!  WHAT? We had cleaned the car. I had gotten in the car through the same door. How did this happen?

I believe a few things took place that Sunday. Continue reading “God hid my checkbook!”

Your Calling, Your Purpose, Your Future – Your Moment

We sat across from each other with our coffee cups in hand. The conversation was getting serious. He stared intently at his cup. His eyes glazed over with hopelessness and confusion. “David, what is my calling? What is my purpose? What does my future look like?” He wanted direction. He looked at me as if somehow I could point him in the right direction.

Continue reading “Your Calling, Your Purpose, Your Future – Your Moment”

How to introduce something meaningful in just one week!

When I was a little kid we had a big family Bible. It sat on the bottom shelf of a hutch we had in our living room. I remember needing to move this huge book around as I was dusting the shelf.

Numerous times I would get ambitious, “I can read this!” I would begin, and get a few chapters into Genesis when it all became too much for me. In my life, I have probably began the first few chapters of Genesis 100 times.

These same chapters have become some of the most meaningful to me as an adult. For a while, each Sunday edition of my blog will expand on a passage from Genesis. These next few Sundays, I will focus on the first chapter, where we have a description of the first 7 days of creation, and what it can tell us about planning our own weeks.

Today really marks the creation of my blog.  Why not start “in the beginning“?

Continue reading “How to introduce something meaningful in just one week!”

Why I started a blog

The focus of this blog will be pretty simple –

To Engage, Empower, and Encourage You to Live Each Day with Purpose

This blog will be about learning, growing, or exchanging ideas.

It was about 15 years ago that a friend told me I should write. It was interesting, because I had felt like God had told me the same thing just a few days before. I was confused. Write? About what?

I have thought about this for years. In fact, I have outlined a few books. But, I had no platform, and no clarity on how to do it.

Fast forward to this year. A friend recommended “Living Forward” by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy. Then I started reading Michael’s blogs and listening to Michael’s podcast, and was encouraged to at least start a blog.

About Me:

I am a Christian. I am a husband, father, and friend. I like BMX Flatland freestyle. Flatland Dave is a nickname I picked up at a local skatepark. I have worked in the HR field for most of my professional career, primarily international compensation and benefits. I am a KC native, and I don’t plan on moving.  My wife and I have worked with teens, young adults, and young married couples for many years in many capacities, and still enjoy doing this. We do this daily, as we currently have three children: two teenagers, and a pre-teen. I will write about any, and all of these things from time to time.

Who should read this:

“This music is not just for people who sit in the pews and pray at the churches.” (NF – Therapy Session).  That is true of this blog too.

I love to explore the bible, and learn and grow from it. So, I expect I will have many posts on Scriptures, as I find the Bible to be a fascinating, and very practical book.

This blog is for your of you are:

  • a Christian who likes exploring practical application of the scriptures
  • a non-Christian who wants to learn more about what Christians believe
  • a person who wants some inspiration and encouragement

Either way, I am open to respectful comments.

My goal with this blog is to:

  • Engage you in conversation,
  • Empower you with practical thoughts you can apply to situations in your own life, and
  • Encourage you with my own experiences, successes and failures

So you can:

Live each day with purpose!

I will share my thoughts, and I would love to hear yours so we can grow together.

Comment below one thing you do each day to live your life with purpose!