Success

Expertise Trap

Dr. Mike 2022 , , ,

Proverbs 22:29

Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

One of the fallacies being spoken about by guru’s selling their services, is you can become anything you want. These charmers may persuasively convince you to purchase their seminar or videos if you truly want to succeed in life.

“Anyone can do it” is their typical sales presentation. You don’t need to listen to God and look at all the historical evidence. You are the exception. Just follow their plan and you will succeed.

Now what they say may be true for a few folks, but for the majority of us, they are only selling emotional utopia.

The few who may benefit from their program probably would become successful without their services. For they most likely have the DNA code with natural gifting which they only have to build a skill set around and practice until they become proficient to achieve their goal.

For example, how many people do you know can throw a 100-mph fastball at a target some 90 feet away? How many of us can throw a football 50 yards in a straight line at a moving target and hit it 9 out of 10 times? (and add a 400-pound wrestler in your face who is about to devour you for lunch at the same time). I don’t know too many who excel at that kind of work. Which is why only a few people are either pitchers or quarterbacks in professional sports.

The trap is thinking you can become successful in a professional field where you have no natural talent, bias character flaws, and an unhealthy work ethic. There is no shortcut to long-term lasting success.

Those who are the best in their career became so through hard work, self-discipline, and building a skill-set upon their natural inherent talent. And even they may fail to achieve their goal if the field is limited and there are others whose skills are more highly developed or surrounded by people who support them rather than you.

But just because your mother kept encouraging you to sing doesn’t mean you have the voice and talent to make a living at it. Or because your father kept pushing you in sports doesn’t mean you have the attributes to excel at the professional level. Competition brings out the best and worst of us all.

For example, when I had surgery a number of years ago, I searched out the best doctors in their field and traveled outside this country for a specific operation. There were many good doctors in the states, but the best identified by their peers in a specific field based on solid evidential performance reviews were located in Canada at the time.

Just because you feel you can, doesn’t mean you are capable of producing at a professional level.  There are many mediocre doctors who have their limitations and enough knowledge to satisfactorily serve their average patient. But in those unusual, unique situations, when it is you and you want the best in their field, you quickly identify them and hire them.

The best have crafted their skills and knowledge base. Their expertise shines above their peers. They have taken their God-given abilities and sharpen them for maximum output. They surround themselves with the best because they know their limitations and as iron sharpen iron, others help them sharpen their skills. Through trials, tests, and much practice, they gain confidence through proven results over time.

If you want to maximize your God-given natural abilities, discover what they are through tests, or trial and error, and receive true confirmation from those who really know you without bias. Then you can educate and train yourself to become one of the best in your field. And always make your choices built on the foundation of reality which may include your feelings along with God’s Word and solid evidence of historical proof from your life.

Otherwise, consider what you enjoy doing as a hobby to share with others. We all can’t become professional sport stars, but it is sure fun to play the game. Just know the difference where to invest your time, money, and energy for long term success and where the outcome really doesn’t matter.

So don’t fall into the trap of believing your feelings, dreams of ease, and polite words of illusions from those who don’t want to hurt your fragile ego. Whatever field you choose to become an expert, always remember who you serve and who you reflect and build your house on a solid foundation of reality.

Someone is always trying to sell you a shortcut to success. But long term, real success is primarily built on expertly serving others for their success, not yours. Take what God has given you and glorify HIM through your efforts in serving others as best as you can. Before you know it, you will be the expert others will recommend to their friends. And who knows, maybe one day you may even stand and serve before kings.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books 

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The Difference Between Your Role and Your Identity

Dr. Mike Life Tools, Your Identity , , ,

Ecclesiastes 10:10

If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

identity

One trait that most people rarely develop into a positive habit is learning the art of turning failure into success. Like an old ax with a dull blade, we continue to exert more physical energy in its use rather than employ sound wisdom on the problem. Like the person who keeps trying to mop up the water in the bathroom without first turning off the faucet, we work harder rather than smarter. But sound wisdom is available for those who are tired of continually falling short of the mark.

To pursue any type of success without expecting setbacks is like running a marathon without expecting to take a drink of water. Life is not designed that way. The quicker one learns to turn lemons into lemonade, the more enjoyable life will become.

First failure is in the eye of the beholder. Thomas Edison failed over two thousand times to find the perfect filament for the electric light bulb. That is how an outsider viewed the situation. However, Mr. Edison himself simply viewed each test as one step in the process of eliminating what doesn’t work.

The largest reason, I believe, people are able to properly manage the mental anguish of failure is the ability to separate their identity as a person from the role they are working through. When you truly realize you are a child of the same God who holds the universe together, held in the grip of Jesus Christ, made and being morphed into his image, you have an eternal identity which no failure nor person can remove. However, when your identity is found in anything else (no matter how good it may look or be), you have made an idol that will eventually come crumbling down.

When you can separate your identity from your role in life, then you will find it easier to evaluate the situation and come up with more reasonable solutions to your dilemma. However, when you use your role as your identity cup, that cup will leave you totally empty when the role is over. Roles come and go but your identity in Christ remains forever.

You see this all the time. The person whose career is over becomes lost because their identity was solely buried in their work. The mother whose identity was found in her children becomes lost when the children leave home. The teenager whose identity is found with his friends becomes lost if not accepted by his peers or their friends move away. The athlete whose identity is found on the football field finds himself loss when he is discarded because of his age.

When you know who you are in Christ though, then each role you accept becomes a learning process of developing the necessary skills needed to succeed in that role. No matter how well you succeed or fail to succeed, you are only defining your ability to manage that role. Your identity in Christ doesn’t change. Yes, you may be a lousy waitress, but you are an awesome child of God. Yes, you may be a lousy ballplayer, but you can improve by sharpening the necessary skills need to succeed. The same with any role you have chosen to pursue.

Of course, when you build your role upon the God-given gifts and natural abilities given, the path will be easier. Yet motivation and hard work developing the necessary skill set is also necessary and doable. You may not become the #1 rated person in your industry, but you will be greatly respected for what and how you do it.

So, the next time you find yourself short of your mark, thank God for the opportunity you have been given, find yourself a mentor, and know that failure only sets the bar for you to discover what you need to change to become more effective in the role you are working through.

Don’t confuse your identity with your role. Master your role. Keep centered in your identity. Then failure is only a holding pattern in a learning process of improving your role.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

*  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
*  Great Business Emulates a Good God
*  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
*  Simply The Messenger
*  Unequally Married

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Copyright 2013-2019 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Without Failure

Dr. Mike Business & Faith, Life in Christ , , , , ,
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain”. 1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV
“Life keeps throwing me lemons because I make the best lemonade.” – King James Gadsden

failure 2

Failure is the road to success.
Without failure, we wouldn’t know which is the better road to take.
Without failure, we would produce inferior products and service.
Without failure, we wouldn’t know what changes to make.
Without failure, we would take everything for granted.
Without failure, pride would rule.
Without failure, humility wouldn’t shine.
Without failure, love would be cheapen.
Without failure, the best wouldn’t climb to the top.
Without failure, the reward-to-risk return wouldn’t be appreciated.
Without failure, lemonade would never come from lemons.
Without failure, light bulbs wouldn’t exist.
Without failure, victory would be shallow.
Without failure, second chances wouldn’t be necessary.
Without failure, grace wouldn’t be needed.
Without failure, evil would overcome good.
Without failure, boredom would be the number one complaint from people.
Without failure, there is no need for a Savior.
Without failure, hope is lost.
Without failure, courage wouldn’t be noticed.
Without failure, faith would be dead.
Without failure, truth would never be realized.
Without failure, life would be empty.
Without failure, opportunities wouldn’t exist.
Without failure, godly character wouldn’t bloom.
Without failure, talent wouldn’t be noticed.
Without failure, life would simply be taken for granted.

Isn’t life awesome when you can take failure, learn from it, make changes, and continue to move forward toward your life’s purpose and goals?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!