spiritreneur

What opportunities to I see as a result of broken things/relationships/systems around you?

First I'm just going to list problems and see if I can find corresponding opportunities
1 - financially strapped families, inability to stay home with kids if they want

op = Careers for parents who can work from home while their kids are home. Add supplemental or replacement income. Create sponsorships for parents to stay home.

2 - Adults in the church aren't continuing to actively learn.

Op = more adult ed opps including online and in person virtual etc

3 - teachers aren't trained on the products they are supposed to use, don't know how to actively integrate technology into their classrooms

Op = prof Development

4 - Not enough time to do everything

5 - Preparing new teachers for technology
Op = teach at college level for ed under grads

6 - schools are too big, too secular and the learning opportunities get missed.
Op= use a constructivist approach to school where real math, reading and science skills can be applied through christian experiences.

My biggest problem is discovering exactly what my "calling" is. How can I integrate my talents and treasures that God has given me? What are my talents and skills?

Talent Inventory
1 - teaching/learning
2 - starting new things
3 - technology
4 - people skills
5 - accounting
6 - working with education/kids
7 - working with teachers/schools
8 - music

What do I love to do, with or without getting paid?
1 - teach/learn technology
2 - think of new ways to integrate technology into churches and schools
3 - start a christian school for my kids where they could experience christianity by going on trips, mission work, acts of faith using a constructivist approach. (think of Nicole's school she started - France)

1 - I love to help people.

Although that is a general statement, I'm being sincere. In more specific terms, I like to help people realize their dreams. I specifically like to help people learn, expand their horizons, their thinking, move beyong where they are. I'm very passionate about helping people who want to spend more time with their kids, to find a way to do what they love and be home more.

2 - I love to teach.

I love to teach and learn. To continue to expand my own knowledge. I love to help others try things, learn in new ways, do things they haven't and realize they can.

3 - I love to dream up new ideas.

Whether these ideas are ways to expand christian education into church or to help teachers learn how to learn from their students or to help families share dialogue and history with each other. I love thinking of new ways to do things. I think I have new ideas every day.

4 - I love people.

I love to build relationships with people. To help them and help them to be more involved and discover religion and learn about it. I love to continue these ongoing relationships.

Success to me is more of a picture, than a definition. It looks like this.

I work from home mainly, 3 days a week on average. I don't typically work Mondays or Fridays so I can be with my kids at home, and take care of things at home. On those days I can sleep in, workout, plan meals, cook for my family, do special things with my kids, take naps. When I need to, I can take days off for my family, when my mom goes on vacation, when someone needs us etc. I make enough money to be able to live comfortably and give generously to causes I believe in. We save enough for retirement and are able to invest in real estate for our retirement income. I'm able to work on committees at church and be involved in my kids school. T and I are both self employed so we have the flexibility to do what we need to and when we want to.

We generate income from several sources including mel, my pd, my teaching, rbi, and l4p. I work on my phd, funded by con-mh while I help them develop their online M-ed.

How does this incorporate in serving God. I believe I am serving God with this success by being actively involved in parenting my children as well as in their private schools and by being able to help and contribute to my church. By allowing more balance in my life, I am more effective in all capacities of my life. I believe I have a bigger purpose for God in my career. I believe me not being satisfied with my current career is a message.

The reason I can't do what I'm dreaming of...but the question is, what am I dreaming of?
1 - financial constraints
2 - fear of not succeeding
3 - pressure of providing for my family
4 - fear of the unkown....i've succeeded before, maybe I can't do it again...i should be happy with what I have and deal with status quo
5 - I'll have less freedom and time

Why CAN I?
1 - I'm strong
2 - I'm successful
3 - I know how to work hard
4 - God has a plan, that will allow me to synthesize my needs and talents
5 - With God anything is possible

I think this used to be my motto, but I don't think it is anymore. I think over the last few years, I've become trapped, shackled. I definately think fear is what's holding me back. I think if I can let go, and not wait for the "perfect time" or "until I have enough money saved", to pursue. I think if I can just let go, I will be able to move beyond my fear.

Is it REALLY possible to earn a living and make a life doing what I love?
I think it is, I just don't know what this means. What am I supposed to be doing??? I need to remember Jesus walked away from his carpentershop to follow God. What do I need to do to follow God? What is my mission?

The things that are really important to me to integrate into my life/my career
1 - Spending more time with my kids, which means I'd like to work on average 3 days a week working.
2 - Work mostly at home.
3 - Summers off.
4 - Diversify.
5 - Ability to be involved in church, community, family during on and off hours.


What would I LOVE to do?
1 - Teach online ed tech courses at a college (Prof)
2 - Teach online prof dev courses for teachers
3 - Other online courses

I think the false treasures that are preventing me from flying are guarding the bread and butter of B. I think because I'm not am employee, I think I'm not guarding a "paycheck", when in actuality, I'm treating B as an employer and guarding it, despite it being unsatisfying in any way except finanvially.

I think my hidden or unsed talents are?
I really don't know about this. I do know that all the things a person does build up experience for their calling, but I'm not sure what this is yet. I think I need help knowing what to value and also how I can multiply my dreams. I know I need to change focus, but I'm not sure what that focus should be. I feel like I have so many ideas and business potentials, I just am not sure which one I'm supposed to pursue. My earlier reading in this book, helped me realize that it doesn't have to be just one, but what I'm not sure of is, where to start.

When I read the synopsis about the people that chose to fly, in their lives, I think, I can do that. But when I am asked this question, I think my answer is, SOMETIMES. I believe I've become more scared in the last few years with all the pressure of earning enough for our family and to live in our house etc. I think this was much more stressful than I knew. I'm crawling because I'm scared. I'm scared of the responsibility of my family, of earning enough money to live, of staying on top financially and being able to pay our bills. As i brainstorm these reasons, I think they all are fear. I'm afraid, maybe even terrified.

"Too many of us are trained to be Oxen, treading the rows that are laid before us, adjusting uneasily but inevitably to the harness which is given to us to plow someone else's field, earning a bit of grain and hay at the end of the day."

This was a quote that struck me particularily strong. All my life that I have been self employed, it is something that I have been parituclarily proud of, however lately I have begun to doubt that this is not the path I should be on. That the stress is too much and such a hard time managing all that it takes to keep my business up. After reading some of thie book, however. I feel compelled that this is my path, but that it may have diverged in a different direction. I have become more and more unsatisfied with my work, it continues to be less rewarding and more stressful, it is surely time for a change. I'm going to use this blog to explore some questions in this book.

God has made me a successful entreupreneur. I want to praise God in my work and be a spiritpreneur. I want to love my work so I would do it even if I wasn't getting paid. What does that mean? What would I do? I need to recognize my shift in my life, which I love but try to figure out how all this works.

Yesterday Pastor Steve said, when we think about death, we can think about what is important. T gets mad at me with this attitude but I feel strongly about it. I feel I've been too scared to make a change but I have faith that God will continue to provide now for me. I need to let go of my own earthly fears and let God lead me. I need to listen to the signs and signals God is giving me on the direction of my life.

I have to remember that God is continuing to train me, I must expand my horizons and continue to explore the opportunities he provides for me. Through God all things are possible and NOTHING is impossible!!!