Eating Elephants

Let’s face it. We all feel overwhelmed every now and again. There seems to be so much to get done and so little time to do it all. There are times when your to-do list is so full you don’t even know where to start.

When it feels like you’re in over your head, just remember this little riddle: “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer is: “One bite at a time.” The trick is that you just have to say a prayer and start somewhere. Anywhere. Complete a small task. Then move on to the next. Repeat. Before you know it—your whole job is finished. This works whether you are writing a complete novel, cleaning a whole house or involved in any number of projects that have to get done at once.

Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” The scripture goes on to promise us an unsurpassed peace for our hearts and minds. And that’s what we really need when we’re feeling overwhelmed, isn’t it?

Ready to eat your next elephant? Go!

Doing Things the Right Way

I’ve heard many small business owners say that it’s not easy being legal. Many entrepreneurs will concur that it’s had to stay legit. Especially when you see so many others in your industry getting away with cutting corners, skirting regulations and otherwise getting over.

So why even bother to do things the right way? Who needs forms and formalities when you can just do your thing and get paid, right? Well, clearly the Bible tells us otherwise. Psalm 37, which begins, “Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong…” is a psalm dedicated to telling us that we should always do things the right way.

This means that, yes, we who know better are required to go the extra step to get our paperwork in order and may pay a little more out of pocket in the beginning. This will help us lay a strong foundation that is pleasing to the Lord.

Are you an entrepreneur headed for success or someone who is just in it for the hustle? Psalm 37 declares that success belongs to those who do things the right way!

Beating My Greatest Enemy

So I had a fight with my greatest enemy this week. Thank you for your concern—I’m okay. Honestly, I think I came out pretty good in the end. Oh…you want to know who it was? It was that joker who always gets in my face when I have important things to do. You might know him. His name is Procrastination.

We’ve been bitter enemies for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, he stopped me from turning in a science project on time. When I was in college, he had me up to the wee hours of the morning finishing up term papers that could have been completed days prior. These days, he likes to throw me off course when I’m on my way to finishing a project.

And I usually start off great! I begin my projects with timelines and benchmarks to help keep me on track. Then…somewhere along the way, I get bogged down with the details and the tedious parts. And I lose interest. Or I get distracted. Then I start missing deadlines. And then…Procrastination kicks my butt. But this week, I found a way to beat him! It was right there, in Philippians 3:14—“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

So I pressed. I pressed in spite of being tired. I pressed in spite of not feeling well. I pressed even though it seemed like I was never going to get to the end. And you know what? Procrastination couldn’t stand it! And it really wasn’t long before he just up and got out of my way. My project was completed and I was victorious!

You have the same power to overcome Procrastination. Want to finish your manuscript? Press on and keep writing! Want to get your book sold? Press on and keep promoting it! Want to get your business off the ground? Press on and stay focused on your goals! Trust me, with God’s grace, you’ll be a winner!