I use a strategic thinking discipline when I work-out to improve my professional success at work. While exercising my body, I exercise my mind too.
Call it cognitive calisthenics. Mental gymnastics. My daily smart time.
Other people working out at the gym listen to I-pods, watch wall mounted TVs, or scroll through smart phones. Nothing against that. I enjoy technology too.
But by using this regular block of time to strategically think through various work issues, I generate ideas and solutions that increase my work productivity in ways I never imagined.
Of course, imagining is an important part of the thinking discipline.
Maybe that’s because thinking…using the old noggin…as archaic as it sounds, taps into the most advanced technology ever invented—the human brain.
Its capacity to innovate, analyze, synthesize, conceptualize and organize is unsurpassed. But you have to actively use it. Intentionally engage it. Creatively exercise it. Regularly.
My strategic thinking routine begins with vision. I start by asking: What am I trying to accomplish? What’s the direction I’m going? The ultimate goal?
For me, vision is not a grand, idealistic notion. Eloquent words that look good on paper, but mean little. Rather, it’s a mental picture.
As I consider the outcome I’m trying to achieve. What does it look like in a real, practical sense? And what needs to happen to get there?
A better product, successful program, smoother workflow, improved communication?
As the mental picture forms, I map out a plan. The solution usually involves one or more of these areas:
Strategic Thinking About People
Who is the right person for a job? Who has the passion, experience, skills that are needed for a particular assignment, task or leadership position? Match people with their skill set, fit them in their sweet spot.
They will be more successful, productive and fulfilled in their work.
As I consider a particular job position, I am often surprised by who surfaces. It’s not always the one that initially comes to mind. But the one that, when thoughtfully considered, is the perfect fit.
Strategic Thinking About Technology
Sure, technology is cool. It improves your methods, processes, efficiencies and workflow. But it’s still only as effective as you make it. You define and direct how to apply it. Maximize it. And that takes thought.
So regularly evaluate applications for further improvement. Experiment with processes. Consider whether there’s a new or different method that works better.
Because just when you’ve mastered one technology, another one arrives on the scene. Is it really better? Maybe. But not always. Don’t let your thinking shift into automation mode. You might just automate yourself into obsolescence.
Strategic Thinking About Processes & Systems
What pieces and components need to come together so the systems and processes are smooth, seamless and efficient? How can they be organized to increase workflow? What timing is involved?
Thinking through is like assembling a giant picture puzzle. And it’s awesome when everything comes together and the vision in your mind springs to life.
So consider the available blocks of time in your schedule as an opportunity. And rather than de-activate your mind. Activate it. You’ll work smarter and achieve greater success by effectively using the most powerful tool ever invented.
You can experience a meaningful Christmas. In fact, it’s supposed to be that way. At least, it is for me. I enjoy many cultural Christmas traditions.
For example. I enjoy listening to cheerful tunes like I’ll Be Home For Christmas, Feliz Navidad and Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire. Watching uplifting movies like The Sound of Music, It’s a Wonderful Life and White Christmas.
I even like the Budweiser commercials featuring a majestic team of Clydesdale horses prancing through a snowy landscape.
They’re all carefully written to provide warm fuzzies. And they do!
But Christmas has much more to offer than cool commercials and sentimental feelings. It’s an opportunity to reflect on life’s deeper meanings. To re-evaluate and re-adjust priorities. As long as you keep it in proper perspective.
So in case you’re overly busy, overly stressed or perhaps overly cynical due to an overly commercialized holiday season, here are three ways for you to keep the meaning of Christmas…well meaningful.
To Experience A Meaningful Christmas Keep The Focus On Jesus Christ
Christmas is an actual, historical event—the birth of Jesus Christ. All of the gift giving and celebration that is part of the Holiday Season today originated with his arrival into the world. He came with a very intentional, spiritual purpose. And that purpose is where you find the meaning.
We all may believe differently about the event, who Jesus was, and the spiritual impact he makes. But we can agree he is the central character of the story. And insist he remain there.
It seems odd…even awkward there’s a concerted, social effort to celebrate Jesus’ birthday and carefully avoid mentioning the name of the birthday boy. How would you feel about being left out of your own party?
So cave in to social peer pressure, or choose political correctness if you want. But remove Jesus from Christmas and you lose the meaning. Of course, you’ll still have Budweiser commercials to make you feel good.
To Experience A Meaningful Christmas Embrace The Wonder And Mystery
Santa Claus is mythological. Even magical. But Jesus was real. Scriptures say he was God in human form. Fully human and fully divine. And that is an unfathomable mystery. A concept beyond human comprehension. You can only accept and respond to it through faith.
But when you consider the response of all the characters present in the Gospel story, there was a unanimous posture of amazement, wonder and worship.
The Angels, the shepherds and the wise men among others. Even his mother Mary “pondered these things in her heart.” The same sense of wonder and mystery surrounds his birth today. And if you choose to embrace it, you’ll be led, not to self-enlightenment, but towards the transforming presence of a person.
To Experience A Meaningful Christmas Keep It Real And Go All Out
You get out of it what you put into it. You’ve said that, right? Probably about your job. Maybe a hobby, a special project you were involved with or something else you’re passionate about. It applies to Christmas too.
Jesus never accepted mediocre, but demanded all-out followers. He still does.
You might even be filled with anger, loneliness, resentment, and doubt this season. None of those things intimidates God in the least.
In fact, Jesus often responded with the greatest level of love, mercy and grace to those who others considered a lost cause. The social rejects. He preferred honest and open disbelief over superficial loyalty.
You don’t even have to be a mean, old Scrooge. Approach Christmas with an attitude of cynicism, Ho-Hum business as usual, or nothing but a check-list and expect little meaning in return.
You see, Christmas has always been about the heart. It’s yours to give or withhold as you choose. But know that God makes a promise: He reveals himself to those who seek Him with all their heart.
Christmas is about God showing up. But you have to show up too. And when you do, you’ll meet Him in a new, fresh way that offers ultimate meaning.
We live in a culture of quickly changing laws. And there’s a real question behind changing laws that no one is asking.
And now that casinos are multiplying like frisky rabbits, marriage is redefined and entrepreneurs advocate for looser drug laws, I wonder. What direction are we going as a country?
Because what some call progressive, also qualifies as moral decline. At least from a Biblical perspective.
But changing laws presents another question too. One that’s practical. Affects everyone. And it isn’t religious or political.
Is anyone paying attention to it?
Laws Are Actually Based On Something, Right?
The American legal system is rooted in Judeo-Christian teaching. Meaning, the Bible. These Biblical laws come from a Sovereign God and absolute truth.
Laws—not a special interest group, a politician, or wealthy corporation—guide legal decisions. Therefore, citizens are equal under the law. And changing laws requires a deliberate, legislative process.
A Changing Society And Changing Laws
Since God reigns supreme His laws are absolute. Therefore, certain human rights are inalienable. Simply because God says so. And therefore off limits to human tampering.
Citizens conform their behavior to the laws rather than conform the laws to their behavior.
Sure. Parts of the Bible are open to interpretation. But laws forbidding cheating, stealing and murdering are pretty straightforward. Those three at least, are still intact.
But we’ve updated other Bible laws like adultery, drunkenness and dancing to contemporary, moral standards.
Wait a minute. Dancing was slipped in by the Baptists.
And what happened?
Well, gradually, relative truth replaced absolute truth. And more changing law enhancements followed. You know. Contemporary moral updates. Especially for those nit picky religious laws that only a few fanatics followed anyway.
And the idea of conforming my behavior to the rules changed to conforming the rules to my behavior.
So now that we’ve embraced relative truth, which says laws are open to re-writing. The next question is…
Who Decides The Changing Laws?
And the answer? Whoever holds the power.
Cloaked within the clamor for individual rights, the celebration of progressive laws and a permissive society lurks something ominous.
If truth is relative and laws arbitrary the ruling class dictates the changing laws. All of them.
Even the rights once considered inalienable. Tossed out with the absolutes. Making freedom a fanciful illusion.
But then, maybe with all the drugs, sex, and gambling we won’t notice or care.
An advertising copywriter should write copy that doesn’t offend anyone.
Why?
Because you’re supposed to persuade readers in order to help clients sell products and services. And I often try to use humor to engage readers.
But if my words offend you—even if they’re true—you’ll think less of me, maybe even dislike me, and I’ll be emotionally devastated. You know, my fragile self-esteem and all.
Goes back to those awkward, adolescent days.
Like when your voice cracked with oscillating regularity from base to soprano. Or a zit that was non-existent in the morning rose like a red, shiny beacon in the middle of your forehead by the afternoon. And then you passed a cluster of cute girls in the school hallway that pointed at you and burst into laughter. Which is how you discover the red, shiny beacon on your forehead.
Not that I would know anything about that.
You see, the world is not that complicated. It’s about pointing fingers, calling names and laughing at the butt of a joke—that’s not you. It’s about being liked…accepted…and well, cool.
Why is that so hard for people to understand?
So here are three tips for writing completely inoffensive content. After all, everyone recognizes the inalienable right to improve your SEO rankings. Whether anyone actually reads and appreciates what you say is beside the point.
To Write Copy That Doesn’t Offend Anyone Maximize Big Words
Illustration:
Circumlocution is not just for politicians of questionable character and summarizing defense attorneys. Any serious sesquipedalian with acumen and anomalistic tendencies cognitively grasps the reality that even the most ebullient reader doesn’t engage in literary consumption with a dictionary in hand. So they’ll have no clue on what you just said, but profusely congratulate you on how well you said it.
Impressive, right? Everyone smiles and nods their heads. It’s the Emperor’s new clothes in a modern day fitting. A humorous story that makes you chuckle. Sure, it begs the philosophical question…if you just communicated and no one understands well enough to consciously ignore you, do you actually exist?
Personally, I prefer more profound questions of an earthy nature like: Does a bare bear poop in the woods? But that’s just me.
Plus, big words impress others with how smart you are.
To Write Copy That Doesn’t Offend Anyone Talk in Circles
This approach uses lots of words that go nowhere. A Merry-Go-Round of empty repetition. Where the point is to make no point by using a plethora (cool big word, huh?) of descriptive adjectives, idioms (different than idiots) and hyperbole.
Illustration:
When discussing Foreign policy, it’s important to consider that foreign people live way over there and we live way over here. It’s as distant as the earth is from the sun. To make it clear as a bell and as plain as the nose your face, they’re imports and we’re domestic. Certainly we’re not domestic in the way your maid is domestic. Not that there’s anything wrong with being domestic like your maid. Because I firmly believe it’s not what you do, but that you’re sincere in what you believe about how you do it. And let me just say, my dog is domestic too. Although my cat is a bit wild. Well, maybe not completely wild. But he’s very independent. Just like people in this country are independent. Which is why we live way over here and foreigners live way over there.
To Write Inoffensive Copy Tell Warm and Fuzzy Anecdotal Stories
Warm, inspirational stories make people feel good. And when they feel good, it lessens their dislike—at least as long as the good feeling lasts. Anecdotal stories are like modern fairy tales. A selfie with words. Full of promise, love and happily ever after. Use them liberally and don’t worry about exaggerating slightly for emotional effect. It’s simply creative license—a part of all compelling drama. Add some humor and even better.
Illustration
Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed, a poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed, then one day he was shootin at some food, and up through the ground came a bubblin crude. Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea. Well the first thing you know ol Jed’s a millionaire, kinfolk said “Jed move away from there.” Said “Californy is the place you ought to be” so they loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly. Hills, that is. Swimmin pools, movie stars.
So there you go. Use these 3 tips for writing inoffensive content to make people like you. Or at least, have no reason to dislike you. Write well, write often and don’t ever worry about if you’re right…or wrong. No one will ever know.
What direction is your spiritual life tilting? Because more than likely, it’s leaning one direction or another.
Sure. It’s nice to think your spiritual life is like a rocket shooting straight up to heaven. But it never seems to work out that way.
On two days of the first week in March, it snowed in Dayton, Ohio. I looked outside at the white blanket covering the landscape and thought this isn’t supposed to be happening. It’s March. The official start of spring is only a few weeks away.
It had been a cold winter and I longed for warmth. So I reminded myself that despite the look of winter, spring was on the way.
Temperatures would rise. Flowers and greenery bloom. Yard work begin. Okay, perhaps I could tone down the enthusiasm just a bit.
The point is, time marches on and the engagement of a well-established, physical laws inevitable…
The northern hemisphere of earth warms as it tilts toward the sun. I learned this in 6th grade science.
Amazing I remember that lesson from decades ago, but clueless on where I put my cell phone last night.
One of life’s great paradoxes.
There’s a parallel, spiritual law at work too. It explains why your spiritual life lacks power. Your faith feels cold. And God’s voice sounds distant.
What direction is your spiritual life tilting? When you tilt away from the Son.
How do you know when you’re tilting away from Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
Well, I can’t speak for you, but when I tilt away from Christ my spiritual life takes on a passive posture. And I tend to become a spiritual spectator. Waiting on, expecting God to act. A petulant child demanding my Father to deliver.
Worship becomes a feel-good sensation that lasts a few hours, rather than a dynamic, personal connection with a living God that empowers me throughout the week.
Why is this an indicator of spiritual life tilting?
Because God is never passive. He’s always active. Always. So if he’s not active in my life then it’s not His problem. It’s mine.
What I’ve learned is that the Kingdom of God doesn’t come TO me, it comes THROUGH me. And tilting towards Him is the warming trend that initiates the process.
So what does spiritual life tilting look like?
It begins in my spiritual disciplines. We say it all the time at church.
Spend time in His Word… In prayer…In applying His word to my life.
Okay, so I’m not always sure where and how God is working. That’s part of the faith journey. But when I spiritually tilt toward Him, I sense the warmth of His presence. Assurance of His love. And confidence that His ultimate plan and purpose will unfold. And that too, is inevitable.
So if your faith feels cold. God is remote. And you’re trudging along on a treadmill of meaningless, spiritual activity. One small, intentional move could make a big difference.
Is your Christian faith fit or flabby? Spiritual health is comparable to physical health. It’s better when you exercise it. Here are three benchmarks to measure your spiritual fitness.
Is your Christian faith fit or flabby? A fit faith makes a commitment to Jesus Christ.
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (ESV, Matthew 16:24)
Faith, by nature, involves a risk. And exercising Christian faith includes practices and spiritual disciplines that train disciples in righteousness. Similar to the fitness training of athletes pursuing their sport.
And when you commit to following Jesus Christ, you carry a cross that includes adversity. Especially from the secular culture and scoffers who claim Christianity is a crutch for the weak minded. Because while you find purpose and satisfaction in imitating the life of Jesus, obeying his commands, and pursuing holiness, few people will commend you for it. But rather, despise, ridicule, and persecute you.
Furthermore, you relinquish two things the human heart holds dear. Pride and self-reliance. And exercise faith by humbly and confidently moving forward and trusting the God who keeps His promises.
Is Your Christian Faith Fit or Flabby? A fit faith moves from belief to action.
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV, James 2:17-18)
Belief in Jesus is where you start. But not where you stay. Because genuine, deeply held belief always moves to action. And actions are what James is talking about. Not that good works save you, but they demonstrate through Godly actions, the salvation you’ve received. A follower of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord who strives to imitate his life.
This is why regular, spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers are so important. They build God’s truth into your life and equip you to live out your faith.
Is your Christian faith fit or flabby? A fit faith embraces obedience.
The Bible is God’s word for living as a disciple of Jesus. And his followers strive to obey it.
In a day of my rights, my truth, and me, myself and I, obedience is an unpopular aspect of the Christian faith. And for many, an absolute, Christianity deal breaker. But it’s the difference between worshiping the Almighty God and worshiping yourself as a god.
Because the Christian faith acts on God’s truth and seeks His Kingdom. And when you commit to it there are some pretty awesome benefits.
Like as you exercise faith, your capacity for even greater faith increases. You experience more joy and sense of eternal purpose. And you suddenly see and recognize God’s Spirit working in amazing ways.
So if your spiritual life seems dull and powerless. In a spiritual rut rather than a growing relationship. Consider restructuring your sedentary spiritual routine into a Divinely focused, fitness regime.
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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