One word. One vision.

What is one word that defines your ministry over the last year? What is one word that you would like to define your ministry next year?

Defining words are not casual. They help us with vision and purpose. The words you chose become a target and measurement throughout the year.

Use the one word process to define your goals for:

• Your spiritual development.

• Your family.

• Your profession.

• Your character.

• Your influence

Keep going with your own ideas.

Make a note. Check regularly and evaluate your progress.

Next year is going to be a great year.

4 Steps to starting fresh

Start now and you’ll be ahead of all those who are waiting for New Year’s Day. Here is a process that will help you year to year be organized and focus where you can keep your attention on other matters. Try it, you’ll love the freedom.

1. Organize for effectiveness. The primary focus of my organization is files, both paper and digital. I will update everything for the new year. This is my most time consuming project in starting fresh each year. It’s also the area that will usually show up first if I didn’t get it done well.

   I organize my files, book shelves, and desk. I try to purge things that are not necessary and clear space for things that are relevant.

2. Evaluate your workspace. This is an area that Student Ministers may underestimate the importance of. Oftentimes your office is not a good space or you treat it like a storage space before and after events. Try to rethink your space and make it welcoming to guests and inspiring to the work that you intend to do.

3. Create your rhythm calendar. Have a 12 month calendar in front of you. Look at significant dates during your year. If you use the same calendar year to year (recomended) then you can start by transferring important recurring dates.

   Note: you may be digital only but consider a paper calendar for long range planning and digital for appointments.

   After noting your important dates, start planning with events.

4. Envision your new year. What do you hope the next year will look like? What is your vision? A simple framework for visioning includes faith, family, finances, and fitness.

   Create a journal or written form of your vision. Review it often.

There is much more that could be said under each of these steps. This is just a start. Once you get started you will discover your own best practices.

Reset your rhythm for high performance

I recently learned that many high performing entrepreneurs have a daily one hour practice. For one hour each day they sit down to focus and get deep work done. It sets the stage for their day, week, and visionary goals.

While you may not be ready to take this up as a regular practice, taking time in rhythm will get you results.

This week, get started on a good lifetime practice.

Retreat for one hour. Be intentional about the space you choose to work from. Having a “go to” space will be helpful for future escapes for productive work. Music and candles are helpful for me. Find those things that work best for you and use the space and time often.

Be prepared to pray, focus and calendar. My goal during this week each year is to focus on all activities for the next two months. One of my ongoing mantras is “how can this be 1% better.” Slow down, pray, and open your calendar and visualize each day on your calendar until the end of January. Reflect on this time last year and make note of the things that caused you the greatest stress.

Have a white board or notepad available. Are there stress points from the previous year that can be addressed with better planning or preparation? Create a plan of action to address those stress points. Now take each event on your calendar for the next two months and create a list of things you can do to be ready ahead of schedule. Use a midpoint time hack by setting a reminder in four weeks to review your progress and get further ahead or get back on track.

Simple rhythms create big results. Pay attention and flourish.

Adjust your rhythm for family’s sake

I am obsessed with rhythm. I have found that the better that I understand my rhythm, the more effective I can be in the key areas of my life. Those areas of focus for me have remained the same for a long time now–faith, family, fitness and finances.

In all of our rhythms we are naturally drawn to focus on these areas more intently toward the end or at the start of a New Year.

Focusing on family during an extended holiday time seems to make sense when we consider the natural rhythms of our life. In considering family I want to evaluate and make adjustments. Here is where I start.

Adjust your pace. Slow down rather than speed up. Avoid the pull to make yourself unusually busy during this season. Start each day with meditation and intentionally slow down where you can think clearly about your family. What has stood out to you this last year? What will the family likely look like this time next year?

Adjust your perspective. Step outside of a ministry mindset and take a look at your own family. Where do you need to spend time? Address some neglected areas in extended family. There are eleven months where you are deepening relationships with others. Take this time to make sure you are doing the same in your family.

Adjust your plans. Yes, make some plans. Dream a bit. Talk to your spouse or significant others in your family. Set aside some time now for intimate family time throughout the year. Get some things on the calendar and make this your best year yet for your family!

Finding Rhythm in November

In trying to grasp the science of timing, I’ve learned to ask the question, when is the best time to ….

The influence for this question came from the book, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing (affiliate link) where Daniel Pink shows that timing is really a science not an art.

As I have learned more about the importance of timing, I have gained a better understanding of life rhythms. Learning and leveraging rhythms will lead to consistent effectiveness.

When I consider an annual rhythm, I have determined that November is the most important month of the year for high performance. So every November I listen to Pink’s book on timing and I start my New Year at Advent not January 1.

Here is the simple plan I follow.

Purge and organize.

I want to work in a clean office. Clutter is a distraction. This is where I start on my annual organizational purge. The goal is to create a productive space to do high quality work. I update files, purge desk drawers and shelves and get clutter off the floor.

Reflect and plan.

Spend time reflecting on the last year. What is something that you are most proud of? In your work? In your family?

What is something that didn’t go well? What happened? How would you do it differently?

Get a paper calendar and map out your next 13 months. You can use a digital calendar, but don’t use it exclusively. Write down all of the important dates and fill in others dates by asking, when is the best time to…..

Recreate and create.

Enjoy the change of pace that the holidays bring. If you have done good work in organizing and planning, you are already ahead of most. In the remaining weeks of the year, few are productive. Be intentional about organizing and planning, making your recreation and creation stress free.

Congratulations! You are now prepared to move into the secular year ahead of schedule.

3 Big things for November

Every month and season has its own rhythm. Learning how to pair your rhythm with each month or season helps you to become more effective with less effort.

In November, the seasonal rhythm starts to slow down. All of the heavy lifting for the semester has passed, you are now focused on a slower rhythm in a busy season.

Three things will help you make the most of the current season and set you up for the next. Done well, you will enter the New Year with more energy and focus.

Here are three big things to focus on in November.

1. Volunteers. Express your thankfulness and appreciation to all of your volunteers. October was Pastor Appreciation month so November is a natural transition to Volunteer Appreciation Month. There are a lot of things you can do so set the bar high. Make being a part of your Student Ministry remarkable!

2. Invite. Be intentional about extending community to others. Everyone deserves an opportunity to be at the table with friends. Let this thanksgiving season be your inspiration to look around and notice others.

3. Reflect. Think back over the last year and identify the things that went well and things that disappointed. Don’t be tempted to make a plan of action at this time. Just journal your reflections early and often. This will set you up well for the next rhythmic season.

Enjoy this season. Things are about to change!

Transitions

I was early in my first ministry when I watched my step dad get forced out of the church he pastored. It made an impression.

I learned the importance of having a plan. It probably helped that I was entrepreneurial–though I didn’t know that at the time.

I made a What’s Next plan.

First I committed myself to my call to serve others through the local church regardless of what that looked like. My call was from God, not anyone else.

I experimented with side hustles. I will spare you the list. With every hustle I learned more about business. This would pay off one day.

I got out of debt. Stayed out of debt.

I studied business, mostly this was a matter of survival.

I set a goal–to create my own options for the future.

I am thankful to those who have helped me along the way. It has taken a while but the journey has been good. So here is my last tip. Find good people who will encourage you and walk with you.

Don’t hesitate to start right here. You can reach me at shapingstudents@gmail.com.

What’s next?

I believe that the Youth Ministry position is the most challenging position on a church staff.

I have said this for years during our orientation at camp where there are Youth Ministers and sponsors in the room. Often there are Pastors and other staff members present. Rarely has anyone challenged me.

There are several things that make the Youth Ministry position challenging. The short list is teens, parents, and supervisors. But none of these are the BIG ONE.

The BIG ONE is that the Youth Minister on church staff is the only staff member who has to ask the question, What’s next?

Every other person on staff can do what they are doing until they retire. A Youth Minister will most likely do something else.

So in the midst of all of the other things that a Youth Minister has to deal with, there is eventually this nagging question of, What’s next?

Once this question enters your headspace, it doesn't go away. I’ve learned this from those that have heard this speech.

It is not a reason to be discouraged or to give up. It is a reason to begin to dream of a transition where you will continue to be fulfilled in your God given call.

In the meantime, keep crushing it. There are great days ahead!