Achuckallen

Instigating Better

Leadership

How’s Your MOB?

by

AChuckAllen

I’m not writing about an unruly mob. I’m referring to an acrostic for M-O-B.

  • MARGIN IN YOUR LIFE
  • OWNERSHIP OF YOUR LIFE
  • BOUNDARIES AROUND YOUR LIFE

Oh, how I wish that I had learned the value of margin in my life 30 years ago! One of the most significant elements of a peace-filled, highly successful life is margin. We all need margin. We need margin emotionally, relationally, financially, professionally, physically, and spiritually. Margin allows us to be in sync with our families, realities, bodies, and possibilities. The only person that can build an appropriate margin for you is you. You know what you need. It would be best if you slowed down long enough to determine what adjustments are required to give you a helpful margin in every facet of your life.

We all must take ownership of all things that we can control. Owning what we can control requires two huge issues. Stop convincing yourself that you are a victim and surrendering your heart to your Creator. Ownership includes claiming what you can and should do to order your life. Surrendering is allowing the Spirit of God to give you direction and correction as you live each day to the fullest.

Margin, ownership, and then boundaries. Without boundaries, we don’t own our calendars, finances, or decisions. Without borders, other people own us and our dreams. Without limitations, we surrender our potential to others. Boundaries are critical to both margin and ownership. When we do not define our boundaries, we say yes to everything. Without boundaries, we overcommit, underdeliver, and stay frustrated with our schedules and ourselves. Boundaries protect us relationally and financially. Boundaries keep our feet out of our mouths. Boundaries keep our focus in the right place.

Without MOB, we all have the power to spin out of control, make poor decisions, and destroy relationships. It’s worth a few hours of your life to invest in creating your margin, ownership, and boundaries.

Peace, Chuck

20 Ridiculously Simple Truths

by

by Chuck Allen
September 9, 2021

  1. Life is complicated, fight for simplicity.
  2. Witholding forgiveness will cost you more than you want to pay.
  3. People that work for TSA in airports are most likely a pain in the butt.
  4. Anybody can be a jerk. Don’t be anybody.
  5. Shopping at IKEA on the weekend is not a good idea. Actually, shopping at IKEA anytime is a bad idea.
  6. Aaron Burr was right when he declared, “Talk less – Smile More.”
  7. Don’t wait for the perfect time to chase your dreams. Chase today!
  8. Time is far more valuable than money. You can make more money, but you cannot manufacture more time.
  9. Life is far too short and precious to spend it angry and bitter.
  10. Crap happens to everybody. Don’t look for it, but don’t be surprised by it.
  11. It’s perfectly fine to not have any presence on social media – bless you!
  12. You’ll never like everybody and not everybody will like you.
  13. Church should be a place of peace, not a place of strife. Find a church at peace.
  14. There is no such thing as a perfect church. If there was, we would all join it and mess it up.
  15. Most people should not wear spandex.
  16. Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Plus, He proves it every single day.
  17. If you help others succeed, someone will help you succeed.
  18. Leadership equals influence, but what influences the leader is the key.
  19. Jesus was right, and is still right – If you want to be great, you must first become a servant.
  20. Not every bride, nor every baby is pretty or cute.

Please let me know your favorite numbers here: chuck@achuckallen.com

BOOM!
Peace, AChuck

Be sure to listen in to today’s Positive Talk Podcast

Reacting to Global Crises

by

August 31, 2021

Let’s face it, this world is in a mess. Afghanistan, Southern Border, COVID-19, Hurricane Ida, Western Fires. Oh, my stars!

The world has gone mad. And in the middle of all the chaos, we humans have grown more angry, anxious, and intemperate. Don’t hear me say that I’m not joining you. I am most definitely angrier, more anxious, and certainly more intemperate these days.

If you wear a mask, you’re humiliated. If you don’t wear a mask, you are insensitive. If you vaccinate, you love your neighbor, if you don’t, you are selfish. If you voted red, you hate gay people and black people. If you vote blue, you don’t love America.

In a world that is in desperate need of solutions, we have become a nation of whiners and finger pointers! Never before, have we been so divided, on so many different issues.

I find that people who claim to be Christians are often at the center of the fight. I often see people that have been forgiven and redeemed by the sacrificial death of Jesus, the Christ pointing the same fingers, screaming the same diatribe, and succumbing to the ridiculous rhetoric of the right, left, up, or down leaning of the crowd of choice.

Friends, it doesn’t have to be so. Much of the angst and anger we experience and share is rooted in fear. Fear that people don’t agree with us. Fear that the world has lost its way. Fear that things will never be better. Fear that we will never be enough or amount to anything. Some of us are experiencing fear in such a way that we are fire hydrants of anxiety and hate, spewing out our anger, anxiety, and fear on all who walk in front of us.

There is a better way! But it requires us all to answer a question. What do you think of, when you think about God?

AW Tozer once stated,
“What comes into our minds when we think about God
is the most important thing about us.”

I believe that is absolutely true. It also makes the case for the fact that there is a better way! But you have to settle on what you believe about God. It’s that simple.

Once again, it is of the utmost importance!

If you do not believe that God created you with a spirit of power, love, and sound mind, then you will continue to believe that you were created with a spirit of fear and timidity.

Paul, author of a large part of the Bible’s New Testament wrote to his understudy, Timothy, in 2 Timothy 1:7 that “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline.

I get it. You might be saying, Chuck, I do not need some preacher lobbing a bible verse hand grenade at me. Here is the good news. The same God that created you and wired you into the unique human that you are today, is the same God the created you with the ability to change the way you think and renew your mind!

You can literally change the way you think because you have been given the spirit of power, not fear. You’ve been given the spirit of love, not hate. And you’ve been given the spirit of a sound mind and self-discipline, not chaos. All of that is evidence that you can quite literally change the way you think about the way you think!

My friend, Julie Homrich is a psychotherapist, and one of the brightest people that I’ve ever met. She calls thinking about we think, metacognition. I call it the 2-step of change. Stop and face reality, then change the way you think about it. Get it? Stop and think! Take all the problems in the world and just stop and think about how you see them and how you are reacting to them.

  1. Can you change the outcomes of any of them today? If not, then pray for them. If yes, what 2 things will you do today to help resolve the problem?
  2. Does your opinion on the matter help discover a solution to the problem? If yes, then by all means, share! If no, then take that anxiety and pressure of your plate.
  3. Are you holding on to the news, the worst case scenarios, or the what-ifs? then write those down and leave them on your nightstand. Before you call it a day, just offer up this simple prayer to the Creator. God, I do not understand all that is happening, but I want to be a part of solving, not complaining. Give me wisdom and protect the people in the line of this problem with your care and your love. Amen. Then leave it all with Him.

You do not have to live in doubt, fear, or timidity. But you also do not have to live in anxiety, stress, and anger. Especially if you cannot directly own that solution or problem yourself!

Because you were not given fear and timidity by your Creator. Then where did it come from?

Satan would love to convince you of your fears and insecurities. He would love to keep you locked up in emotional knots over crises found across the world.

But God has given you POWER, LOVE, and SELF-DISCIPLINE! Don’t fall for the bait! You can live in peace, even through all of the storms we face in this life. It’s a matter of what you think about, when you think about God.

Peace, Chuck

TOUGHER AND STRONGER

by

Ever wonder if you are strong enough for this world? I mean, have you ever wondered if you can truly cut it? I have. I’ve had so much performance anxiety that I couldn’t seem to put one foot in front of the other. But how are we to get tougher and stronger? How can we do more than survive in a world filled with high achievers, extroverts, and everyday pressures to reach and exceed everyone else’s expectations for our lives?

Here are a few thoughts that might help:

  1. Stop and Recognize that You are Not Alone. The Prophet Isaiah wrote in his book, that we should, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” But that seems so ethereal that we normal humans might never attain its pomise. But here’s the deal. God, your Creator has promised to never leave you alone, dangling in the wind. That is why He has graciously given us His Spirit to remind us that He is with us and we have nothing to fear. The question is this. Have you worked so hard at trying to understand God, that you stopped just trying to know God? The promises of God are so powerful, but they are only as powerful to us individually as we allow them to be. Trust that you are not alone.
  2. Build Connectivity into Your Daily Life. Want to get stronger? Want to build resilience into your life? Get connected to other people of faith. When we face difficulties, the folks that we’re connected to can help carry us. When we’re hit by fear or anxiety, it is the people we are connected to that give us a proper perspective. They can help us see life in ways we might not see on our own. When we mess up, they are the friends that can correct us and display grace and mercy. They are the people that help remind us that we are deeply loved. And they are the people that display and share that love, in spite of all our failures. These things are hard to do on our own.
  3. Battle Negative Self Talk and Practice Positive Self-Talk. We humans are crafted with a negativity bias. The negative bias is our tendency not only to register negative stimuli more readily, but also to dwell on these events. Negativity bias means that we feel the sting of a negative remembrance or event more powerfully than we feel the joy of a positive experience. That is why we speak to ourselves more in a negative voice than a positive voice. Did you know that the person that you speak to the most is you? If you speak enough negative thoughts to yourself, you will inevitably believe them! How do we beat this spiral of downward emotions? We insert a few key elements into our self-talk. Start by following one simple rule: Don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to anyone else. Be kind and encouraging with yourself. If a negative thought enters your mind, evaluate it rationally and respond with affirmations of what is good about you. Think about things you’re thankful for in your life. If at this point in this article, you are thinking that you are not affected by your negative self-talk, stop and think about how many times you refer to yourself negatively, like in “I’m so dumb. How could I let that happen to me. What an idiot?” These were taken straight from my evaluation of my own negative self talk – YIKES!

    Here are a few steps to keep in mind:
  • The Divine made not one single mistake when He created you.
  • Remember That Thoughts and Feelings Aren’t Always Reality.
  • Contain Your Negativity. Stop it before it gets away from you. Negativity is like an avalanche.
  • Cross-Examine Your Inner Critic. Is that really true?
  • Think Like a Friend. Come on now. It’s not that big of a crisis. Let’s talk it through.
  • Shift Your Perspective. What are my present options?
  • Say It Aloud. Call it out and deal with it, rather than stewing on it.

Friends, we have to get a bit stronger and tougher to thrive in our harsh world, but you can do this! In the power of the risen Christ, you can do this! Remember, you are not and never alone!

Build Connection and Community into Your Life! Connectedness ruggedizes us and restores us. And learn the Value of Positive Self Talk that will Counter Balance Your Inner Negativity Bias.

Peace, Chuck

COUNTERINTUITIVE LEADERSHIP

by

July 21, 2021

You can almost predict how our great American leaders in Washington might act or react to the challenges of our society. Step one – scream at somebody. Step two – blame somebody else. Step three – schedule a press conference to get ahead of the story. Step four – spin baby spin!

coun·ter·in·tu·i·tive – koun(t)ərinˈt(y)o͞oədiv – adjective – contrary to intuition or to common-sense expectation (but often nevertheless true).

But what if there is a better way to address problems, or even address problem people? What if we’ve been handling our leadership responsibilities wrong over all these centuries? What if there was a way that leaders could lead, people be served, trust is generated, and solutions could be found and activated? I know; it seems like an impossible dream. But what if it could really happen?

According to Jesus of Nazareth, it can happen. According to His life, it will cost something. Based on His story, and His impact, there is but one model for us to turn to. HIS WAY.

Here are five ways of sure success as we face
the turbulent and challenging days ahead.

  1. SERVE OTHERS RATHER THAN WANTING TO BE SERVED: That’s a loaded statement, but it’s a power-packed truth that every leader we elect, call, or hire should grasp with desperate understanding! That is as counterintuitive and as counter-cultural as you can get. In Matthew 20:25-27… “Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave;.”
  2. LOVE OTHERS, ESPECIALLY YOUR ENEMIES: Nothing could sound more preposterous than loving your enemy. I mean, those people hate me. I can’t love them. But Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” That was His word for how we are to engage with folks we agree with, but He drops the microphone with this, from Matthew 5:43-47, “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same?
  3. IF YOU’VE GOT IT, GIVE IT AWAY! How insane is that? Give away what I have? Chuck, you’ve lost your marbles! God wasn’t playing around when He instructed Paul to write these words, “Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion since God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make every grace overflow to you so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. As it is written: He distributed freely; he gave to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” Jesus pointed out the most unlikely leader to His disciples as the offering was being offered one day; “While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” Luke 21:1-4
  4. REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM: God inspired these words from Proverbs 3, “My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands; for they will bring you many days, a full life, and well-being. Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and high regard with God and people.” A hearty dose of humility would be a massive step in the right direction!
  5. YOU HAVE A GIFT, USE IT WELL! If you’ve been blessed and honored to lead anything, hear these words, because you are being held to a higher standard whether you like it or not. “But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” Luke 12:48

We do not have time to sit and wait on another generation to right this ship we live on. We need men and women to step up and lead well. It has been said that the definition of leadership is influence. While I agree with that, I also know that influence alone isn’t nearly enough. If influence is all we need, we are in trouble. Charles Manson had influence. Adolf Hitler had influence. We need leaders not made up with a shell of influence but instead built with courage, tenacity, and the critical ingredient – Godly Character!

Join me in praying for those leaders to step into our halls of justice, politics, business, and most especially, our churches.

Peace, Chuck

Monday, Monday, So Good to Me

by

July 19, 2021

It’s that day again – MONDAY! It screams in our face and I often hear people say, “well, it’s a Monday for sure. But what If Monday was a Monday that was so good to you as the 1960’s band, The Mamas and the Papas sang?

In the song by the Mamas and the Papas, Monday-Monday we heard these words:
Monday, Monday (bah-da bah-da-da-da)
So good to me (bah-da bah-da-da-da)
Monday mornin’, it was all I hoped it would be
Oh Monday mornin’, Monday mornin’ couldn’t guarantee (bah-da bah-da-da-da)
That Monday evenin’ you would still be here with me
You can listen to this old classic HERE.

Here are 3 Ways You Can Make Monday So Good to You!

1. SIT. That’s short for STOP, INTENTION, and THOUGHTFUL. In the rush of Monday, find 5 minutes to STOP and be grateful for three things. Don’t overthink it. Just three things that you are thankful for right at that moment. Please don’t make it world peace, but something tangible that you can see, touch, or feel. Throughout the day, ask yourself about what you’re intentions are. Are your intentions to be an encourager to others? If so, you will be encouraged. Is your intention to be critical and negative? Then you’ll receive criticism and negative vibes. You choose. But choose wisely. Then be THOUGHTFUL. That’s another way to be fully present. In your thoughtfulness, be fully present with the people and challenges the Divine allows to cross your path today. Thoughtfulness allows you the privilege of knowing that you aren’t aloof, disingenuous, or self-centered.

2. Choose to do something today that will cause your brain to be sharpened. It might be as simple as the SIT process above, but it might be solving a math problem, reading something challenging, remembering a joke, or possibly listening to a podcast. Sharpening your brain will allow you to see both you and the world in a bigger, wider frame.

3. PRAY OUT LOUD! Maybe you never pray. Perhaps you pray without ceasing. But we all can benefit from speaking with our Creator out loud. I realize that there is no magic to this activity, but I’ve discovered how powerful it is to openly talk to God and expect to “hear” His reply. Just try it on your commute or your walk today. It will change your relationship with God in a fantastic way. If you will only try one of these sure-fire ways to make Monday better, this is the one to test drive. I promise you that God cannot wait to hear from you and answer you!

Monday, Monday, so good to me!

Peace, Chuck