On November 27th I’ll turn 62!

As I reflect on my life, here are three important things I’ve learned about life.

Life Flies By Really, Really Fast

Growing up my parents always talked about how fast life goes by. But, of course as a little kid, you never felt that way. But now….62 years later, it’s hard to believe I’m turning 62. Just saying the words “I’m 62,” and hearing them come out of my mouth - doesn’t seem possible.

• It’s hard to believe my dad is 88

• It’s hard to believe I graduated from high school 44 years ago

• It’s hard to believe I have a daughter 37, a son 35, and a son 30

• It’s hard to believe I’m a grandparent (which I never wanted to become but now that I am one, I love it)

This is why I want to live my life with purpose and help others do the same.

We Have To Run The Entire Race

To be ahead in the first mile of a twenty-one mile race, doesn’t mean much. The same is true in life.

How many people do you know who shined bright for only a short season, but then stalled or fizzled out. A shinning star over a short period of time doesn’t really mean much. It’s the people who move forward - even if it’s inch by inch - over the duration of their life, are to me the most impressive.

It’s not how we start the race, but it’s how we run the race, and even more importantly, how we finish the race.

Life Shapes Us

The question isn’t will life shape us, it’s how will life shape us?

• Will we become hardened or more humble?

• Will we become cynical or more grateful?

• Will we grow to resent life or discover a deeper purpose to life?

• Will we learn to hate or learn to love?

• Will we become hopeless or become more resilient?

• Will we be blown off course or moved toward our destiny?

Life will shape us. The choice is ours.

62 and Counting…

As I turn 62, I’m extremely grateful for the blessed life I’ve been able to live. And I certainly don’t take that for granted.

Looking ahead to the coming years of my life, I want to continue to live with passion and purpose. When I cross from this temporary home into my eternal home, I want to hear my heavenly Father say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

If I can help…

If I can help you live a more focused life so you can live a more fruitful life, I would be honored to do so.

Living On Purpose

Ken

I recently did a workshop for the pastoral team of a local church. They asked me to speak on Live Well, While You Lead Well.

4 Principles To Consider

I offered four principles for them to consider. It seemed helpful to them, so I offer those same principles here for your consideration.

Principle # One: What’s Happening In Us Is The Most Important Thing About Us

God is an inside-out God. He always does things in us before He does things through us. So to have a life of ongoing health and growth we need to be aware (self-aware) of what God is doing in us.

Too many leaders run to fast to really know what’s happening in them, and if we’re not careful, while running 50 mph, looking off to the right and then to the left, we don’t see the brick wall waiting for us just 50 feet ahead.

If you want to live a life of ongoing health and growth, we have to slow down long enough to really know what’s happening in you.

Principle # Two: Who You and I Will Be Tomorrow We Are Becoming That Person Today. 

Each of us have a “Being” side and a “Doing” side. And we should always be cultivating both. We need to ask ourself:

• What areas of the nature of Christ am I cultivating today, so that I can be more like Christ in that area tomorrow?

• What skills am I developing today so that I can be more proficient and effective in those skills tomorrow?

I don’t need a crystal ball to predict who you will be or what you will accomplish. It’s not mystery. All I need to know is what areas you are sowing and cultivating in your life and leadership today. That’s what will determine who you will be tomorrow and what you will accomplish tomorrow.

Principle # 3: Know and Embrace Your Limits

Each of us have limited time, talents, and energy. We also have limited spheres of leadership. So if we are going to have ongoing health and growth in our lives as leaders, knowing our limits, and willingly embracing them will keep us safe and sane.

I’ve found 3 things that have helped me know and embrace my limits:

• Identify - knowing who I am in Christ: I’m a son loved by the Father!

• Purpose - clearly knowing what God has assigned me to do.

• Season - knowing what season of life I’m in. Is it a season of acceleration? A season of advancement? A season or rest? A season of realignment? A season of perseverance? A season of promotion? Etc.

Principle # 4: Live and Lead Out Of Order

Any leader who is going to live an ongoing life of health and growth must live out of healthy rhythms.

Personally, I’m convinced that satan hides in the shadows of hurry, chaos, confusion, and disorder, just waiting for our lives to be out-of balance, then jumps out of the shadows and gives us a good punch to the head (and heart).

In fact, how many leaders do you know who have been “taken out” by the enemy as a result of the accumulative effect of living out of a life of disorder.

Establishing and maintain healthy habits and restful rhythms is key to longevity in the life of a leader.

If I Can Help.

I have a huge desire to help leaders live well while they lead well and to maintain a life of ongoing health and growth. If I can help you, in anyway, I’d be honored.

Here are some specific ways I might be able to help. https://kenlroberts.com/leaders-1

Living and Leading On Purpose,

Ken L Roberts

On September 1, 1983, Korean Airline flight 0073 took off from Anchorage Alaska heading to Tokyo, Japan.

The end result was catastrophic.  

Ten minutes after take-off the Boeing 747 deviated off course, and although the outcome wasn’t immediate, the end result was catastrophic.  

Its authorized flight path was the northern most route, just 17 miles off the edge of forbidden Russian airspace.

Within five minutes into the flight the plane was already 7.5 miles off course, due north. Somehow the proper course correction was never made, and five and a half hours later the Boeing 747, unknowingly crossed into Russian airspace.

It was promptly shot down.

All 269 passengers and crew were killed.

How about with you?

• Are you living life on purpose?

• Are you moving toward who you want to further become and what you want to further accomplish?

• Have the challenges and headwinds of life pushed you off course?

• Has the daily drudgery of life put you in a rut, causing you to drift?

• Have the disappointments of life deadened your heart from having a meaningful life?

If so, I’d love to help.

One of my main purposes in life is to help people live a more purposeful and productive life. So if you feel like life has pushed you off course, or you’re just not sure which direction to head - I’d love to help.

Check Out How I Can Help Here:

https://kenlroberts.teachable.com/p/life-focus-standard

Living on Purpose

Ken

Are you aware when you energy level and motivational level is pretty much on empty? Even dangerously so?

Ruth Haley Barton, in her excellent book, Strengthening The Soul of Your Leadership, gives 9 signs to consider.

Irritability or Hypersensitivity  - things that normally wouldn't bother you put you over the edge.

Restlessness - we are overstimulated, mind, body and emotions, and can't sleep.

Compulsive Overworking - just work a little harder and a little longer and we'll get caught up.

Emotional Numbness - limited feelings of things either good or bad.

Escapist Behavior - compulsive eating, drinking, television, surfing the internet, pornography...

Disconnected From Our Identity and Calling - we've lost our way in who we are and what we've been gifted to do

Not Able To Attend To Human Needs - we don't have time to take care of basic needs such as exercise, eating right, sleeping enough, going to the doctor...

Hoarding Energy - we guard what little energy we have left and feel threatened by anyone who wants anything more from us

Slippage In Our Spiritual Practices - practices that are normally life-giving become burdensome

Not sure about you, but at one time or another, in my 35-plus years of leadership, I've experienced all of these.

If I can help you in your ongoing health and growth, I'd be honored to do so. 

https://kenlroberts.com/leaders-1

Live Well, Lead Well

Ken 

When my late wife was killed in a car accident (March 2004)

I knew it would shape me.

It wasn’t a question of if, only a question of how.

• Would it change me for the better or for the worse?

• Would it move me towards who I hoped to become, or shape me into someone I didn’t want to become?

• Would it move me toward my destiny in life or push me away from it?

I knew the choice was mine.

Whether it’s through the crushing blow of tragedy or the chipping away through daily demands and disappointments - life is going to shape us.

Some people become hardened, others more humble.
Some become cynical, others more grateful.
Some grow to resent life; others discover a deeper purpose to life.
Some wilt, others bloom. Some learn to hate, others learn to love.
Some become hopeless; others become resilient.
Some are blown off course; others are moved toward their destiny.

It’s not a question of if, only a question of how.

So let me ask you: How is life shaping you?

• Are you becoming twisted into someone you don’t want to become or are you allowing life to transform you into the person you desire to be?

• Are you allowing life to move you toward your ultimate purpose in life, or have you allowed the winds and storms of life to push you away from your desired destiny?

Our response determines the outcome. The choice is ours!

If I can in anyway help you to more fully live life on purpose or if you are currently navigating a major-life transition or tragedy - I would love to help. https://kenlroberts.com/kenlrobertslives

Living On Purpose

Ken L Roberts
Excerpt from my book, Unexpected: Navigating Life’s Unforeseen Turns