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Thanks,
Jim

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#4- Communicate well
Return calls quickly or have someone do it for you. Check emails regularly (Set a time to check and return emails) Never do business in the hall (Follow up all conversations with an email or
memo) Take advantage of websites, brochures and e-newsletters (Constant Contact has been a wonderful tool because you can tell who opened it.) Carry business cards and use them. There is a reason cards are still around.

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#3-Take steps to learn how to get more done
If you have not read my book "Beat The Clock" you should. In fact you should buy one for every person on your leadership team. Contact us at JWM for wholesale info. Here's 5 of the secrets I practice daily...

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#2- Set the example of what you want others to do. If you have ever heard me speak or read my stuff youve heard me say that everyone who works for me is told I've got some good news and bad news for you. The good news is I'll never ask you to do something I wouldn't do and the bad news is I'm willing to do anything that needed! My Mom has told me my whole life "What’s good for the goose is good for the gander!" Which is Alabama for "set the example of what you want others to do!"

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As 2010 comes to a close I thought I would pause and say thanks! First thanks to God for allowing me to have a voice in Children' Ministry today around the world. This has been a year of tremendous growth at JWM I worked with 80 folks in coaching and mentoring spoke at a dozen events and theClub had it's 15th Birthday. I even launched an iPhone and ipad app. At the church we moved into a new 172,000 sf facility and moved every single Children's classroom we have.

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#1-Be someone worth following
You've heard me say this before but positional leadership is the lowest form of leadership. So many times we try to lead by our function rather than our practice and example.
Jesus practiced what He preached He said "Be holy for I am holy. We also see that He knew the Word and did it. Those are still smart things to practice.

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I'm flying home today and heading back to work tomorrow. So I'm going to be bringing this series to a close. Here the final post on Keeping Life Simple Revisited...

13. Don’t ever quit or make big decisions during the madness. Major decisions and crazy times don’t go together. This is a key rule to remember.

14. Don’t make people decisions when time is limited. When it concerns someone else, take your time and consider things from every angle. Always treat others the way you would want them to treat you or your kids. Don’t let the shortness of the hour keep you from making a wise decision, slow things down and think it through when it affects people.

15. Develop a plan to make next year better. Learn from your experiences. As soon as an event is over I ask my team what did we learn? How can we make it better? What do we need to simplify? Do this while it’s fresh on your mind, go ahead and start next year’s file.

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9. Be open to change in your lifestyle. Different results require different actions.
Don’t despise change. Change is not a four-letter word it’s a six-letter word and can be your friend. (Which is also a six-letter word.) When I have to change something that I know is not a permanent change I remind myself this is only for a short while and I can do this! As with anything else guard your thoughts and your tongue and line them both up with scripture.

10. Do your homework and see what others do in hectic times. I love to study busy people. I check up on busy people by calling, emailing, read their books and blogs, network at conferences or on facebook. I look for new places to learn all the time.

While I'm here in New York I made plans to connect with 3 different Children's Pastors. I love learning from others. I will have more questions for these CP's than they will have for me. Who are you learning from? What is the most signifigant thing you have learned today?

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7.Get creative with your family time. I try to take a family member with me every chance I get. I also try to combine my family time with something else. I go walking with Julie, cycling with Julie, sushi eating with Whitney, tennis with Yancy and Julie, movies with my son-in-law and shopping with them all. Because I was flying out to NYC this week I rode with Whitney to take my Mom home Sunday. To have 3 hours by my self with my grown daughter is a real treat. I look for every hour possible to hang with my family. In turn they are a real stress reliever for me as well. In my book "Connect With Your Kids" I go into detail of ways to get creative with your family time with your spouse and your kids. Checkout my web store for a special deal I have going on, on these books, want to buy them in more bulk? Contact Dustin @ 615-962-1713.

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3. Delegate to others those things that they can do for you even if it’s short term.
When you’re out of time use someone else’s. There are times I need to delegate something long term there are times I do it for a season. Make a list of everything you are doing that someone else can do. I hear you saying “but they can do it as well as me.” I know, I’ve been there. This is why you use checklist and job descriptions as well as special assignments to get them to do it your way. If you have not identified where you need help and what you need to stop doing you’ll just keep doing what you’ve always done and have the same results.

4. Use time saving tools. Every job goes smoother when you use the right tools. Here are the tools I rely on to help me keep my life simpler: My iphone, a timer (There's one of those on my iphone as well! I use it to stay on time and end meetings, phone calls and sermons at the time I have allotted.) My most valuable tool is my calendar. You can’t manage time without a day planning system. I use ical on my laptop, iphone, ipad & mobile me, because I had reached a place where my calendar system was a time waster. How did you know that, Jim? Because I have developed a habit that saves my bacon on a regular basis, I account for my time daily as I spend it. Another wonderful tool is voice mail. It can eliminate some memos and even a meeting or two. A tip to remember is when you can leave details instead of needing a call back. Next is a tool that is where my master calendar is kept it's my computer. I use a laptop because it helps me keep life simple everywhere. (Have you seen the new thin macbook air?) By having a computer or my ipad with me everywhere I am it helps me meet deadlines, network and brainstorm with others, do things once rather than constantly redo. I depend on a computer so much I have a spare just in case I need it. Other tools I use include email groups and drafts so things I say over and over I can send without retyping and those people I send to a lot I make a group.
The problem with email is knowing when to talk and not type, it’s all about keeping life simple. I’m also a big fan of two other tools blogging and websites. Both can be huge assets in communicating with key leaders, workers and parents. Both can become time wasters as well. You have to decide!

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