Not sure if you’re a big goal setter or not? Some people are. Some people aren’t.

But if you are, below may be the number one reason you may not reach your goals in 2019. And I think the reason may suprise you.

Many Reasons

What I’ve found in my own life, as well as after coaching hundreds of other individuals, is that there are many reasons we don’t fulfill our goals.

• Procrastination. Lack of a clear plan. Lack of a reasonable step by step process.

• No due date assigned to the goal. Weak personal disciplines. We get distracted.

• Daily life overwhelms us. Inadequate time management…and a score of other reasons.

The Biggest Reason

However, one of the biggest reasons people (including myself) don’t fulfill their goals, may surprise you.

It’s often because we don’t solicit a partner, a coach, a counselor, a trainer or someone … to walk with us and work with us as we pursue our goals.

Here’s What The Research Shows:

According to research done by Dr. Gail Matthews of the Dominican University of California,

• If a person has a goal but they don’t write it down – it’s just a goal rolling around in their head – the chances of that person reaching that goal is only 15 to 20 percent.

• If a person writes the goal down and keeps it in a place where they can regularly see and review it, the chances of that person reaching that goal increases to 30 to 40 percent.

• BUT, if a person has someone working with them to reach that goal –a jogging buddy, a health coach, a work-out trainer, friends dieting together, a personal growth coaching, etc. – then the success rate of that person reaching that goal increases 70 to 80 percent. 

Bottom Line

So in essence, if you’re serious about reaching your goals in 2019, then having someone encourage you, give you ideas, hold you accountable, motivate you, instruct and inspire you, as you pursue that goal – is essential.

If I can help you reach your goals in 2019, I’d be honored. Below are two specific ways I can help:

• One on one coaching https://kenlroberts.com/new-page-3

• Life-Focus online coaching course https://kenlroberts.com/new-page/

Living On Purpose

Ken L Roberts

*Research done by Dr. Gail Matthews of the Dominican University of California.

Guest Post by Nicole Roberts

Every Season Has Its Purpose 

Each season we walk through has a purpose and plan. Whether it is a job change, a move, death of a loved one, or other challenges and changes, seasons are a reality of life. Each season brings different emotions, offers opportunities to grow, and teaches us a new life lesson.

Here are three life lessons I’ve learned about embracing every season of life.

First, no season in life ever need to be wasted.

Every season we encounter plays a part in helping us grow, develops our character, and pushing us further into the dreams and destiny. I’ve specifically found this to be true in my own life through various jobs I’ve had. Each position has grown me: my abilities and my confidence.They have also moved me closer to my career. I have never walked through a season that didn’t change me for the better or adequately equip me for the next season of my life.

Secondly, every season, even when it may be difficult, has it blessings.

Finding the blessings in each season can help us remain focused and cultivate a positive attitude. This is particularly important when walking through a challenging season. Every morning, even before getting out of bed, I often begin speaking words of gratitude. Being grateful for my family, friends, a job, health, a roof over my head, food in the fridge, opportunities and so many, many more - help me cultivate an attitude of gratitude. I have found this to especially be helpful and important for me to do when I’ve been in a difficult or challenging season. Rehearsing the blessings in our lives allows us to put situations and circumstances of life into proper perspective.

Lastly, remember that God is in control of the seasons of our life.

God knows the seasons, good or bad, even before we do. And He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He promises to be faithful and complete what He has started. I’ve found that when we allow God into our seasons He brings peace and clarity.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

In whatever season you are in, I trust you will embrace it, learn from it, and apply whatever lesson God may be teaching you in it.

Living On Purpose,

Nicole Roberts

Guest Blogger Nicole Roberts is currently getting her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy through Liberty University. She has over a decade of experience working with young women struggling with life controlling issues. In her free time she enjoys blogging, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

As Christian Leaders we know that God is committed to shaping us into the likeness of His son and that He will use all things toward that end.

But the question is,

Do we see the everyday challenges of leadership as an opportunity for God’s shaping in our life to occur?

I Didn’t!

For many years I didn’t.

But through some hard knocks in life and leadership and cultivating a completely new mental and emotional shift toward the challenges of leadership - I now have a completely different view.

• Instead of seeing a conflict with someone under my leadership as a battle to be won, I now see it as an opportunity for my own personal growth.

• Instead of viewing the challenges that come with leading as just another aggravation, I now see it as an opportunity to be transformed into the image of His son.

• Instead of my attitude starting with that thought that the issue is about the other person or even about the problem, I now start with the attitude that issue is about what God wants to do in my life through this situation.

• Instead of starting with the thought “who is right or wrong in this situation?” or “how am I going to win this disagreement?” I now start by asking, “God, how do You want to use this situation to shape me into the image of Your son?”

How About You?

Unfortunately, I’ve seen too many Christian leaders become more twisted than transformed through their leadership journey. And honestly, I’ve dealt with the same challenge.

But for us as Christian leaders the question becomes:

• How are we allowing the things that happen in our life and leadership to shape us?

• Are we becoming more hardened or more humble?

• Are we becoming more cynical or more gracious?

• Are we becoming more resentful or more thankful?

• Are we becoming more bitter or more compassionate?

As A Fellow Traveler…

As a fellow traveler, I would encourage you to take some time and be honest to whether life and leadership is transforming you or twisting you?

Living and Leading On Purpose

Ken L Roberts

PS: If I can help you continue to live well as you lead well, I’d be honored. Email me at ken@kenLRoberts.com or call me at 216-374-0016

When I was eight a kid from my neighborhood would regularly invite me over to fight.

With my heart pounding, I would slam down the phone, race across the open field next to my house, dart across a busy two-lane road, jump a ditch, and land in his Billy’s back yard.

Billy would be waiting for me with a pair of boxing gloves.

In Billy’s back yard, was our boxing arena—an 8 foot by 8 foot woodshed: with a broken door, no windows, and a dirt floor. Once inside, like two miniature gladiators, we would lace up our gloves and prepare for battle.

Billy’s reason for boxing was a bit twisted.

He was smaller than most kids his age and what he lacked in size he wanted to make up in toughness. I was bigger than most kids my age, so Billy chose me to beat on him and help toughen him up.

A sick reason to fight, but I gladly obliged.

Even before our fight started, we both knew how it would end—I would win. I always did. As a result, Billy and I had a pre-battle agreement. When Billy got so dazed he either didn’t know where he was, could no longer get up from the dirt floor, or simply said, “Enough beating for now,” we would unlace the gloves, head toward the house (Billy stumbling toward it), and like good friends should, end the day with a cool glass of lemonade.

My boxing bouts with Billy remind me of our own battle.

We get knocked around by life so frequently, the blows coming from so many directions, that we are often left dazed. But what’s so alarming isn’t the dizziness or damage left from the pounding, but our lack of awareness that we’re even in a fight. Being convinced we are in a fight is half the battle and diligently engaging in it is the other half.

If you are in a fight, keep fighting. Your life, and those you love, may depend on it!

Living on Purpose

Ken

PS. If I can help you in your fight, I’d be honored to do so. Contact me at Ken@KenLRoberts.com

WHAT A RECENT SURVEY REVEALED

A recent survey of twenty thousand Christians from around the world revealed that busyness and constant overload were two of the the major reasons that God is being pushed right out of their lives.

Michael Zigarelli, professor of management at the Charleston University School of Business, who conducted the survey, describes a vicious cycle of busyness and constant overload that eventually erodes our spiritual lives.

Here’s how he explains this cycle of busyness.

• Christians are assimilating a culture of busyness, hurry and overload, which leads to

• God becoming more marginalized in our lives, which leads to

• A deteriorating relationship with God, which leads to

• Christians becoming even more vulnerable to adopting secular assumptions about how to live, which leads to

• More conformity to a culture of busyness, hurry and overload.

And then the cycle begins again.

PASTORS AND CHRISTIAN LEADERS AREN’T EXEMPT

This is itself a sad state of affairs, but it gets worse. Tellingly, the survey reveals that pastors and Christian leaders seem to be as caught up in the culture of busyness as anyone else.

A full 65% of pastors (right up there with lawyers, managers, and nurses) are among the most likely to rush from task to task in a way that interferes with their relationship with God.

It’s ironic that the very people who could best help us escape

the bondage of busyness are themselves in chains.

I’M GUILTY!

As a follower of Jesus Christ (and a former pastor), I’m guilty.

At times, and more than once, I’ve been consumed by busyness and in the rush and running from here to there, I’ve left God behind. Just recently I’ve ruthlessly recommitted to honoring one full day a week that’s entirely dedicated to rest, renewal, and realignment. Honoring a weekly day of rest has already helped me return to a life of sanity.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

How about you? Are you letting the cycle of busyness push God right out of your life? It’s like exchanging sawdust for gold. And as you and I both know, it’s simply not worth it.

Slowing Down

Ken

*This material is an excerpt from Ruth Haley Barton’s book, Strengthening The Soul Of Your Leadership