Work Your Plan
September 15th, 2006 | Michael Pink
"He that tills his land shall be satisfied with bread:" (Pro 12:11) "So built we the wall and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a heart to work." (Neh 4:6)
Years ago when I was studying Proverbs for the first time in any real depth, I envied the wisdom of Solomon. I read in James that if anyone lacks wisdom, they could ask of God and He would give it without upbraiding the one asking. So I asked God for insights like Solomon had. I would pray and wait on Him and on occasion over the years, get my own collection of proverbs to help me along the way. The very first one I got was this: "In the valley of indecision lay the skeletal remains of many a worthy plan."
What God helped me to see was that the very best of plans is worthless unless we are willing to step out and work the plan. Wishing it doesn’t make it so. We need to get busy! In sales, there is a phenomenon called “call reluctance”. It’s when sales reps unconsciously make up excuses and create “busy” work to keep from the one activity that actually makes them money and that is being in front of a customer. They may have a great territory plan, but unless they break the inertia and start doing the part they may not prefer, they will not effectuate the plan.
What’s holding you back from working your plan? Be brutal with the excuses and lean into your destiny!
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September 18th, 2006 at 9:04 am
I was watching the Panthers / Vikings game yesterday and heard the interview with the Vikings’ 38 year old quarterback. He said something along the lines that he knows he wants to keep playing football because he still leaps out of bed in the morning excited about another day.
Man, I wish I could say that I am leaping out of bed every morning to work my plan. I try to look at each day as another opportunity to serve and with anticipation of who God is going to send me today. But that doesn’t always equate into the discipline of getting my propsect plan objectives met. At fifty and after 25 years of selling its pretty easy to let the “go get em Tiger” list roll over into tomorrow and just take care of what comes to me.
Know what I mean? Anyone have a pearl of wisdom or a daily habit to help?
September 18th, 2006 at 9:16 am
Stephen, You need a new dream to follow. Here is a bit of wisdom a great man I met once asked me. Who’s pain do you feel? Think on that. It is a key to unlocking a passion within you for others. The answer is within your heart, but think outside yourself.
Dennis B. Quirk - NJ.
PS. Stephen, Where do you live?
September 18th, 2006 at 11:31 am
What a profound statement: What God helped me to see was that the very best of plans is worthless unless we are willing to step out and work the plan. Thank you for bringing me back into perspective
September 18th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Hey Dennis, not sure what you mean by who’s pain do I feel.
P.S. Charlotte, NC
September 18th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
Excellent comments. Stephen I to have gone through the valley you speak of and looked for ways to regain the passion. At the begining of a “coaching” meeting I was asked why I was there. The spirit of the Lord came over me and my answer caused me break down and cry. “I want to do more than commerce’, was my reply. For me realizing that this life encompassed greater significance than making a living or building a practice was life changing. It was about the honor of represting the One true God in all I do, including how I made a living. That became the foundation of whatever I did. It was the screen I used to decide what I participate in with my life resources. Getting up every morning knowing I get to go to work with my father in heaven is very exciting. Knowing I bring nothing to the table yet He desires me to participate, to be part of His plans fills my heart with passion for each new day. No matter what industry, God has a plan and desires you to wake up and come to work with Him this day. How much more exciting it is to work the plan when it originates from God.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:49 am
Who’s pain do you feel? Think of the things that go on in the world that bother you. There is a problem, a challenge for the right man or woman. There is a desparate need and people are praying for a hero in their lives, or someone to help them. Whether it is bringing the gospel to the lost, or a business person that is on the verge of having to close their company, and let go 20 loyal employees, if they don’t find an honest and economical way to compete in their market. Many times your passion will come from something that you have a personal experience with. I know someone who lost a child to an accident. They were torn with the idea, why did God let this happen? Instead of deciding to hold a grudge against God, and sever their relationship with their savior, they have taken their sorrow and now find others to console when it happens to them. Yesterday I istened to a testimony of a man Stephen Bennett (Stephen Bennett Ministries - www.sbministries.org ). He has a very sad story. Today he has a wife and 3 children and helps people understand and be compassionate to the people in the homosexual community. At my church, people have a heart for these people and want to except them as they are, and that is a start, but this is not helping them. They need to be helped to turn from their sin, before it consumes the rest of their lives and inhibits their relationship with God. Stephen explains how to lovingly reach these people. Not to crush them or treat them as though they were born that way like an defomity. This is not the real truth. He explains it in great depth with the passion and commitment only a person that lived through it, and came out the other side can tell. See D. James Kennedy - Tape #113696 (recorded Feb. 2005 ). [ Sorry so long.] DQ in NJ
September 19th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Stephen, I am a Career Counselor that also works for Selling Among Wolves. God does have a plan for you; I would be happy to help you sort that out if you would like. Feel free to email me at the address to the left of this email if you want.
October 6th, 2006 at 10:53 pm
On the plaines of heistation lay the bones of countless millions who at the dawn of victory sat down to rest and resting died! Not original with me, don’t know the author but years ago it got my attention.