Have You Got "A Mind to Succeed" - A Great New Book by @stevepenny

I have just been sent a copy of the new Steve Penny book, "A Mind to Succeed."

And it is VERY HARD to put down!

Check out some these quotes:

Success comes from the inside

Success comes from successful habits
Your thoughts are building your world
Everything you presently are – you built
What you think, you are
You will instinctively choose to walk in the direction of your dominant thoughts

Here are some more:

What you consistently think about will produce spontaneous actions

Your thoughts control everything you do
Thoughts are the language of your inner world
Thoughts are God’s way of communicating with us from His eternity

You can check out Steve here - http://www.stevepenny.org/

And his books are here with an online shopping cart - http://www.stevepenny.org/products-page/

Your mind is greatest untamed frontier of humanity. So many of us want to live a life of success, but we think success comes from the outside. Learn how to live from your inner world out – rather than from your outer world in – and discover the ETERNAL PLAN for you. Your life here on Earth will only be fulfilled once you gain control of your inner world.



Your mental attitude is the X factor that determines your destiny. You can’t improve your outer world until you’ve renovated your inner world. When you control your mind, you control the way you live. When you renew your mind from wrong thinking, a whole new way of living begins to materialize before your eyes.


This book reveals simple steps that will show you how to bring your thoughts into subjections to your will. You can control your thoughts. You can enjoy a life full of, love, joy and peace.


So make up your mind today that you want to be in control of the real you – your mind. Take the first step now to change your mind… to change your world!

Los Angeles - Photographs by Tim Street-Porter

I enjoy collecting picture books of some of the world's great cities that I have visited.

The family bought me this one for my birthday during a recent trip to Los Angeles.

And I love it!

The photographers are by Tim Street-Porter and they are superb. They also show the detail behind many of the things I have seen during my visits to LA in 2004, 2005 and 2009.

Diane Keaton writes the intro and has some very clever perspectives. Here are a few:

"I think of Los Angeles, the appropriation capital of the world, the Wild West of the imagination, the dumping ground for every revamped hybrid ever assembled..."

"Living in a fantasy of a fantasy based on a dream of a past that never was is forgivable."

And here is what the publishers say... a nice cut n paste to save you doing the research.

This elegant volume is a brilliant presentation of all that is L.A.

It takes us from Venice Beach to Rodeo Drive, from high culture to pop, and over freeways and flashing past billboards.

Los Angeles captures the essence of the constantly evolving city: from palm-lined avenues to hip hotels and art deco theaters, Frank Gehry's Disney Concert Hall to the Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels.

Not just for L.A. residents and connoisseurs, this book is for anyone interested in architecture, design and, of course, the iconography unique to Southern California. The book's format allows us to revel in the marvelous landscape. From mountain peaks to desert oases, beautiful beaches to redwood forests, Los Angeles literally envelops us in the city's grandeur in stunning spreads and impressive gatefolds, each more than five feet wide.

Acclaimed architecture and design photographer Tim Street-Porter showcases the fascinating cityscape-by day and by night. A long time resident with exceptional access, Street-Porter takes us from the most coveted homes of Hollywood and Beverly Hills to the best examples of contemporary architecture for which the city is famous, featuring the full spectrum of residences from seminal modernist houses to baroque mansions and California Mediterranean homes in their lush settings.

Authentic Leadership Development - Shamira and Eilamb

I am enjoying ploughing through a a great leadership article that Nick emailed me. He is currently in Malaysia on holidays... and catching up on his course reading!

The paper is Authentic Leadership Development by Shamira and Eilamb

Here is the abstract ...

Abstract
In this paper, we first develop the concepts of authentic leaders, authentic leadership, and authentic leader development. We suggest a definition of authentic leaders, which is based on the leader’s self-concept: his or her self-knowledge, self-concept clarity, self-concordance, and person-role merger, and on the extent to which the leader’s self-concept is expressed in his or her behavior.

Following, we offer a life-story approach to the development of authentic leaders. We argue that authentic leadership rests heavily on the self-relevant meanings the leader attaches to his or her life experiences, and these meanings are captured in the leader’s life-story. We suggest that self-knowledge, self-concept clarity, and person-role merger are derived from the life-story.

Therefore, the construction of a life-story is a major element in the development of authentic leaders. We further argue that the life-story provides followers with a major source of information on which to base their judgments about the leader’s authenticity.

We conclude by drawing some practical implications from this approach and presenting suggestions for further research.


Here are some more bits n pieces as I read on.

We suggest that the main defining characteristics of authentic leaders are:

1. Authentic leaders do not fake their leadership. They do not pretend to be leaders just because
they are in a leadership position, for instance as a result of an appointment to a management
position.

2. Relatedly, authentic leaders do not take on a leadership role or engage in leadership activities for status, honor or other personal rewards. Rather, they lead from a conviction.

3. Authentic leaders are originals, not copies.

4. Authentic leaders are leaders whose actions are based on their values and convictions.

Lead on!!

Transitions - A Book by William Bridges

I came across this book recently by William Bridges. I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

It has been helpful as I have been preparing for the new Transitions teaching series.

Here are some bits n pieces about what Amazon says about the book.

This book deals with the transitions in an individual’s life—marriages and divorces, family births and deaths, relocations and career changes, retirement and all the other personal changes that disrupt our lives today. This book—which first identified the three-phase transition process—has now sold more than half-a-million copies. It explains how one can make transition less disruptive and how an individual can launch a new life after it is finished.



Product Description

Whether it is chosen or thrust upon you, change brings both opportunities and turmoil. Since first published 25 years ago, Transitions has helped hundreds of thousands of readers cope with these issues by providing an elegantly simple yet profoundly insightful roadmap of the transition process.

With the understanding born of both personal and professional experience, William Bridges takes readers step by step through the three stages of any transition: The Ending, The Neutral Zone, and, in time, The New Beginning.

Bridges explains how each stage can be understood and embraced, leading to meaningful and productive movement into a hopeful future. With a new introduction highlighting how the advice in the book continues to apply and is perhaps even more relevant today, and a new chapter devoted to change in the workplace, Transitions will remain the essential guide for coping with the one constant in life: change.

About the Author

Formerly a professor of English, William Bridges made a shift to the field of transitional management in the mid-1970s; out of his workshops has grown a long career of consulting, lecturing, and helping others through transitions. He lives with his wife in Mill Valley, California.

I'll start posting some great quotes from the book from time to time. So keep a look out for future posts.

IT - What a Book!

I have been reading the Craig Groeschell book, "IT," since the weekend. What a book!

I also heard him speak at Hillsong Brisbane last Friday Night.

We all can name churches that have “IT,” churches that had “IT” and lost “IT,” and many churches that don’t have “IT.”

So what is “IT?” I don’t know.

I believe that God makes “IT” happen. It is by Him and for Him, and we can’t create it, manufacture it, put it in the bottle and study it. Someone can bring it, and another could kill it.

It’s not a system or a model. It’s not a “seeker-sensitive” deal or a “purpose-driven” deal.

“IT” attracts critics. If you have “IT”, people will shoot at “IT”. You could say “IT” happens…but often “IT” doesn’t. Bad news is, if you have “IT,” that doesn’t mean that you can’t lose “IT.” If you don’t have “IT,” that doesn’t mean that you can’t get “IT.”

The early church had “IT.” Cf. Acts 2:42-47

Here were some of the key quotes from the book:

“We can’t create it. We can’t reproduce it, We can’t manufacture it. It is not a model, a system or a program. You can copy it. It can’t be taught, but it can be caught.”

“Your greatest innovation could come from your greatest limitation- if you have a sincere passion to reach and care for people.”

“When you try something new in ministry, most people will tell you that your idea will never work. Innovation by definiton will not be accepted at first.”

“If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sure sign that you’re not trying anything very innovative.”

“You have more in you then you realize. God has put more in you than anyone knows.”

“In order to reach people that no one is reaching, you’ll have to do things that no one is doing. But, in order to do things that no one is doing, you can’t do what everyone else is doing.”

Hillsong Conference 09 is on this week. Ps Steve Penny is there and wrote this blog today about IT and Craig Groeschell and Hillsong.

Here is the start:
Last night we experienced with awe the opening night of Hillsong Conference 2009. The amazing light and sound show that started the night was indescribable. It was sheerly amazing. However the best was yet to come. The worship was electric and the sense of God’s presence in the place was tangible.

Then Craig Groeschel preached a message on the “IT” factor in our lives. That intangible blessing of God that makes the difference between winning and losing. The messsage brought an amazing response from everyone present and was a life changing moment for us all.

I cant help but be challenged by the Hillsong miracle, which keeps happening year after year, and I have many times tried to see what makes this great church continue to go forward in the grace of God.

Let me suggest a few things that I think are in the mix of the Hillsong “IT”.....

(click here to read the rest of Steve's post) Well done, Steve.

Even though I am not at Hillsong Conference this week I still feel like I am in the "revelation zone."

Triggers - Powerful Insights

I am really enjoying this book called Triggers by Joe Sugarman.

This is why I am interested. Joe says,

"It is estimated that 95% of the reasons a prospect buys involve a subconscious decision."
He then says that "the purpose of this book is to show you what goes on during the sales process that triggers a sale and how the subconscious mind responds to various aspects of an offer. This knowledge will become invaluable to you, as you will soon discover."

Product Description
Dramatically increase your ability to sell by learning how to control the mind of your prospect using 30 psychological tiggers to motivate, influence and persuade.

About the Author
Joe Sugarman is one of America's top advertising and marketing entrepreneurs and the man who built several large busineses all through the creative power of his pen.

How Triggers Were Discovered
Joe Sugarman, the best-selling author and top copywriter who achieved legendary fame in direct marketing, ran a highly successful mail-order company in the 1980s, JS&A (the forerunner of The Sharper Image). Joe learned on a mass scale which ad approaches worked, and which ones didn’t. He studied the ads that achieved a high degree of success, and discovered that they were clearly successful because of certain underlying psychological triggers.

He identified 30 of these triggers that activate psychological forces buried deep within the subconscious brain, and cause people to buy.

Result: Through the effective use of psychological triggers, Joe sold over 20 million pairs of BluBlocker sunglasses, as well as countless other products. Joe also sold several million dollars’ worth of product on QVC – sometimes in a single day.

In his book Triggers Joe reveals his startling discovery of how to get into people’s minds, eavesdrop on their thoughts, know what they want – and make a fortune in the process.

Cracking the Psychological Code That Reveals Untold Secrets
Just as the human genome cracked the genetic code that reveals untold secrets of the human body, Joe Sugarman’s Triggers cracked the psychological code that activates a person’s buying sequence. This is the secret code that has eluded the sales industry for years.


I'll keep you posted on what I find!

Filled with the Spirit - Joyce Meyer

Here is a great new book we have come across about being filled with Holy Spirit.

It is very easy to read and understand. Go for it!!


Here is what the publisher writes:

Have you ever felt dissatisfied in your Christian walk?
Have you felt that your love relationship with Christ hit a plateau and there is no power in your prayers anymore?
You can experience a deeper love in the Lord, and see life-changing results by learning how to welcome the Holy Spirit's abiding presence and power into your daily life!
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Joyce Meyer overcame an abusive past.
She explains from experience the importance of inviting the Third Person of the Trinity to fill your life.
This book is a catalyst for those desiring a more power-filled Christian walk.

Let best selling author Joyce Meyer show you how to be filled with the Spirit and speak in tongues.
Enjoy this new walk with the Holy Spirit, the person who wants to be your Counselor, Advocate, Strengthener and Forever-Stand-By-Friend.
- Publisher

“If… Put a Full Stop Over Your Ministry Right Now “

Pastor Peter Earle is a passionate man.
And he was my bible college principal.

It was during chapel one morning in 1998 that he boldly declared…

“If you have not yet read this book (“Expect a Miracle” by Oral Roberts) you can put a full stop over your ministry right now!“

Wow!!

I did not have a copy of the book and I had not read the book!!

So off I went later that day – and I got me a copy of “that” book… and boy, and I glad that I did.

I read the book, I summarised the book, I tried to devour the principles of the book, I prayed the concepts of the book.

And in our year of UNLEASHED! I challenged our leadership team last Friday to consider reading such a book. So I have dug my copy off the bookshelf and am reacquainting myself with an old friend.

Today I am starting a series of posts reflecting on the book, “Expect a Miracle – My Life and Ministry” by Oral Roberts.

I hope you can stick with me.

I am sure you will be inspired!