Social media started to matter when people started using it. Facebook and twitter were around for awhile before most of us started using it. Five or ten years ago it didn’t matter as much, but now social media is in some way a part of everyone’s daily life. This is especially true if you use a smartphone. Access to social media is just easier now.

Take instagram for example. It is something easy to access, a great social way to share photos quickly and they are doing something that nobody else is doing. With doing these things, they are able to stand out online. They attract tons of people and they became very valuable at the same time. So valuable that Facebook took notice and bought the thriving company. And when I say valuable, I mean that Facebook bought instagram for one billion dollars, whereas the NY Times’ value is estimated at 920 million dollars. That’s just crazy.

So, what did this teach me? It’s an important lesson for all of us to use online…

Leave YOUR mark. Leave a presence that only you could leave.
The only way to stick out online is to be yourself. Being like everyone else will only make you blend into the crowd.

So, do you think Facebook paid too much for instagram or is it worth that huge pricetag? You can leave a comment below.

The number one reason that people give up on their dreams is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of rejection, fear of what others will think and the list goes on.

So, what should we do when we have fear?

1. Know what you believe.

I can’t help but tie my faith into my beliefs on this topic. It is only in God that I have found any sort of confidence. I am still afraid of certain things, of course, but I am able to find confidence through Him. I really don’t know ho people do it without God. We were never meant to be content in just ourselves, but content with God.

2. Admit that what you are about to jump into is a fear of yours.

I know as a man, that us guys are taught to act tough throughout childhood and to act like we are afraid of nothing. That’s stupidity really and have to chance our perspective on manhood as we get older. Once people admit that we are afraid, we can only then stand up to our fears. If we run away from them, we won’t accomplish the dreams that we set out to tackle in the first place.

3. At some point we have to start tackling our fears.

Make an action plan for how you will face the fears you have in front of you. Understand that there might be hiccups along the way, but if there wasn’t that possibility, then it’s probably not worth tackling in the first place. Keep a positive outlook throughout the entire process. You will come out successful.

What is a dream that you are still working on? You can leave a comment below.

Doing something doesn’t always equal being productive. Ever had one of those days where you are really busy and at the end of the day you can’t really say what you accomplished? But, if you stay focused and are working towards going the direction that you want to go, it’s the process that will get you there. It doesn’t just happen.

In the process of achieving your goals, make sure that you are doing something instead of just trying to be someone. There’s a big difference between doing something for the actual good of doing something and doing something to make you look good. This is key because most things worth achieving are bigger than just you. More than likely, you will need a team around you.

People are either feelers or doers. For things to happen you will need to be a doer or have doers around you. There is no doubt with this, though. Eventually you will have to do something to get where you want to be.

So, what are you doing? You can leave a comment below.

Sometimes the voice of God can be so obvious.

And then sometimes, God has to jump in your way to get your attention.

Maybe you know what I’m talking about…

If you want an example of this, then read the story of Jonah.

Talk about getting Jonah’s attention…

Anyways, God seems to talk to us in the way that we will allow Him to.

A lot of it has to do with if we will even stop long enough to listen to what He’s saying. Listening becomes easier when we turn to God first instead of turning to Google. I know at least for me, that I sometimes try to solve things on my own intellect instead of going to God first. It doesn’t usually work out too well.

Have you ever experienced this? What’s a situation where God talked to you and how did He speak to you? You can leave a comment below.

Things that seem so easy to comprehend are usually not believable or they are easy to forget. Here are some reminders to take with you.

Don’t forget that you are beautifully and wonderfully made.
Don’t forget that people love you, no matter the mistakes that you make.
Don’t forget that you are here for a reason.
Don’t forget that your journey has made you who you are.
Don’t forget about the goals that you really want and have been working towards for years.
Don’t forget that nothing worth having ever came easy.
Don’t forget that what you do matters.

So, what is something you have to remind yourself of every day? You can leave a comment below.

If you answered “yes” to being in a rut, then you probably feel like life was better at some point in the past. I know when I feel like things are bad, I have something to compare it to, whether it be my own life or others. Oh by the way, comparing your life to others never works out well.

The first step to getting out of it is identifying the things that have made you feel like there is no way out of the hole that you are in. Here are just a few things to get your mind headed in the right direction…

1. How can I get back to the way my marriage used to be?

What are some of those things that you and your spouse used to do to make things exciting? I know when Jasmine and I have something to look forward to in the upcoming week, it makes things exciting. It creates new topics to talk about. Never stop finding new experiences to create so the conversation doesn’t stop. Also, discover each other once again every single day.

2. How can my relationship with God get back to what it used to be?

At some point during your walk with God, you either felt really close to God and don’t feel that close anymore, or you’ve fallen more in love with Him than the day that you first talked with Him. Whatever place that you are at in this moment, this relationship controls everything. It really does. The great thing about it is that you can talk to God no matter where you are at. Try it.

3. How do I want to truly help others once again?

Our selfish human nature demands that we pay attention to this constantly. If we aren’t careful, selfishness takes over. I personally have to be very intentional with this, because with the business of life, this can easily be overlooked.

4. How do I have time for myself again?

Yes, taking care of yourself is important. Some people are on the opposite end of selfishness and take care of others so much that they don’t take care of themselves. This can create burnout if some time isn’t scheduled in for yourself soon. Fill yourself up so you can pour into others.

Maybe these aren’t even what you are dealing with. All of these have just been my experiences along the way. Whatever situation that you are in right now, remember that you are the answer to the beginning of moving forward.

Add to this discussion…

What is a rut that you were in at some point in life and how did you get out? You can leave a comment below.

Colbie is now one year old. I can’t believe it’s already been a year.

Celebrating her birthday got me and Jasmine talking about our favorite birthdays from the past.
What’s mine, you ask?
Well, when I was six, I had a clown at my party. And he had his imaginary dog tinkle on me. Yes, I just used the word “tinkle”.
I was mortified. I cried in front of everyone. But, I love it because I can laugh about it now. And I have an awesome story…

Ok, I’m done thinking about it.

What was your favorite birthday? You can leave a comment below.

Everyone is starting a blog. Probably because it’s the cool thing to do, but there has to be more to it than that. If you are a writer, you need an outlet. An outlet that is consistent. A blog gives you that weekly place to go and write more often. Since writing more makes you a better writer, this is the perfect place to start. And that’s what I believe is the start of it.

Here are a few more reasons to look into blogging if you aren’t already…

Everyone has a story. Whether your blog is totally about your story or not, at some point you will have to get personal with your readers. That’s the natural flow of things. Others need to hear your story because everyone’s story is different. We can all learn and grow from others.

You need a platform. If you are online, why not have a platform? I think that is the best question to ask yourself. If you would have asked me 10 years ago if having a platform was important, I would have probably said, “No.” But, people want to know more about you that a tweet or a status update. And a blog with your ongoing online presence helps others know where you have been, where you are and where you are going.

It keeps a record. If you don’t keep a journal, blogging is a great online record of what you were writing about in each season of life. It’s fun to go back and read what I was writing about two years ago. If you don’t write it down, the details of life can be forgotten. If these are the times that have made you who you are today, then they need to be remembered. This produces teachable moments for now and well into the future.

So, do you have a blog? If so, why did you start blogging? You can leave a comment below.

It could be your Starbucks barista that makes your coffee every morning.
It could be your boss.
It could be a coworker.
It could be your trash collector.
It could be your professor.

Whoever it may be, they make a difference. And it feels really good to recognize others when it is someone who makes your day better. Take a second and brag on someone else.

Besides your family, who is someone that impacts your day?

“Sleep + Focus = Creativity” -Jim Collins

I don’t know about you, but my whole week has been thrown off by daylight savings time. I just can’t seem to catch up on sleep.

The subject of sleep might not seem like a huge deal, but it can be that one thing that will really determine how my day goes, if I don’t have enough sleep or even too much of it. I need 7-9 hours of sleep every night, but I really want 9. Yes, I love how sleep makes me feel.

Sleep will also let you setup your day in the way that you want to, especially your morning. Here are a few tips for you on making your daily routines:

1. Have a bedtime.
This will help you plan your night and even your morning. It adds structure to a busy life. It may seem like an elementary step, but putting this routine back into your life adds simplicity. This will be that step that will help you wake up at the time that you actually want to wake up at in the morning. When I was a night owl trying to become a morning person, going to bed earlier was the one thing that woke me up earlier. So simple, right?

2. Have a morning and night routine.
The morning routine is an easier one for me than the night routine, because at night I just want to do what Adam wants to do. Working on that one. As far as my morning routine, the most important start is not hitting the snooze button. When I do this, I put off goals even longer than I already have.  None of us have time to prolong blessings and success. Adding routines will make sure that you complete everything you need to. Morning routines can either set your day up for success or can make you feel like you’re just trying to play catch up all day. Night routines add that time for family, reading and preparing for the next day.

3. Know how much sleep that you need.
Understand that this is really up to you and what your body needs. I know people that only need 5 hours of sleep each night. I have no idea how they do that, but I wish I could. I just think of how productive I could be if I only needed 5 hours. I could add 4 hours to each day! Wow! But, if you are like me and need 7-9 hours of sleep, setup your day to where this can happen. It is that important.

4. Don’t overcommit on unimportant things.

I can’t tell you how many times that I’ve committed to things that aren’t even important and end up throwing off my sleep. It ultimately affects my next day and even my entire week. I know that I can’t be the only one that does this. Know what you are committing to before you commit. Use more of your time doing important things that actually fit in your schedule.

Again, all of these things are so easy that they are often overlooked. Time can even be added to your day when you find your routine.

So, how much sleep do you get each night? What are some other things you have found that helps you have a great night sleep? You can leave a comment below.