Arvell Craig

The problem with delegation

The idea of getting work off our plate and having another handle it sounds like a dream come true. 

Nowadays, everyone seem to be overloaded and constantly busy. We rarely get ahead, yet often accept new responsibilities. Some of us are compelled with a guilt that we have to always give a helping hand even if our personal needs aren’t met. 

But then we hear about delegation and it seems like a ram in the bush. 

Add to that, the discovery of second world nations offering VA services at just pennies on the dollar and we just know the promise land’s well within reach. 

What I’ve come to realize is that delegation will not solve the problems we think it will. If you have to spend new time delegating tasks and thus managing another person - you’re now accruing the expense of two people instead of one!!

Even more, oftentimes delegation isn’t the whole of what we’re seeking. There’s also the need to be relieved of the stress and concern about the work getting done.

You can delegate tasks, but still carry the stress. To get rid of the stress you not only need competent and trust worthy people, but you need quality and communication systems in place. 

Without these systems, you may be incessantly checking in, following up and thus not actually getting relief.

Make your pick — God or God’s People

When I am down or stressed, perplexed or in trouble, I generally go to God or God’s people. But I recall when I only went to God.

I felt like that going only to God and keeping my situation private was a sign of maturity. I’d pray. Listen to a worship CD. Read scripture. Read a book. Listen to sermon… shuffle and repeat.

I likely felt embarrassed about sharing my little problems with others. I thought, ‘who really wants to deal with another’s issues, when they have enough problems of their own?’

But in the past few years, I’ve started to lean more and more on my friends. And what I believe now is that, being able to share my stuff with trusted friends and mentors is a great sign of maturity. Plus, the sooner I call out for help the better and quicker I get it.

It also displays humility which activates God’s involvement.

After years of sharing, confessing and praying with the same friends, I’ve grown to trust them, and feel safe knowing that when I have a situation in need of emotional or spiritual assistance — they will always be there. 

Today, I just felt the need to share this and to pose the question - what do you do? 

Not everyone has friends they trust and that’s unfortunate. Not everyone believes in God or at least relate to him as a loving Father willing to be involved with their life in a practical or tangible way. This too is unfortunate. 

Life has too much drama and uncertainty to reject God or pridefully keep every situation to yourself… We all need help in multiple levels.

Make your pick — God or God’s People. But in the end, choose both.

Getting Ready for Pain

They called it “mental preparation”.

Reading the marathon training book I’ve followed the past 13 weeks has taken me from ambition to excitement and now confidence to anxiety.

Tomorrow I’ll be running my first marathon; the OKC Memorial Marathon. I’ve done everything I was instructed. Theoretically I should be good to right??

So why is this book and my cousin a season marathoner, telling me that it will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life?

I figured preparing thoroughly would alleviate major pain. I’ve run 18 miles twice and had no issues. What’s a measly 8 additional miles going to do?

Anywho… They say it’ll be wrenching.

So I guess I need to prepare for that.

Wish me luck.

Align Your Lifestyle

It’s one thing to have your natural likes and dislikes, interests and passions. It’s another thing to consistently live in agreement to the values you claim are most important. 

I recently read a great book, where the author gives a powerful set of phrases on how he lives. The words were something like: 

“I use to worry about not failing at the things I longed to succeed in. Now I worry about succeeding in things I really don’t care about.” (a paraphrase of Bob Goff)

I find those words reverberating true in my own life.

Each day I’m challenged to spend the bulk amount of my time working towards survival and success in priorities of a medium to low level. But then, the high level values I touch on maybe once or twice a week.

In one sense, this is just how life is right?  You can’t always do the things you love, or find most important. The mundane always need attention.

But imagine the extent of living this philosophy over a lifetime? The disparity in contrasting ability will be catastrophic  We can become experts in survival, and forever a novice in our priorities and passions. 

Let me put it a different way. 

As I mentioned above, in my life.. I have found a way to give WEEKLY time to touch on all of my highest priorities. But, nevertheless, I spend DAILY time working in the basic needs of life. And with that, every thing I work on daily improves exponentially compared to the items I touch on once or twice a week. 

So I think the take away is: Any activity or area truly important; things you value and want to perfect or grow in needs daily attention. Not likely hours and hours… and maybe not seven days a week, but perhaps 4-6 days a week. And maybe 15-30 minutes a day to start. But it needs consistency which will eventually turn into momentum.

Unless you’re fine with becoming an expert at the unimportant, you need a lifestyle shift that aligns with the person you really want to be.  

Send me your thoughts.

Creating Momentum

The best time to create momentum is right after a recent finish. Not only will you have the motivation and context to produce the next work; but you will have the juices of satisfaction that only come from completion.

Even if you don’t have time to work or have fully developed ideas, why not just start scribbling notes? Get the next one started and in position -

For those of us with audacious goals mingled with procrastinative tendencies - I find this is best time to build a healthy habit, or jump start a neglected resolution.

Newbie Recommendation #1: Jump into Tested Waters

Sometimes I think we feel a particular field is oversaturated when in reality we’re just hyperobservant.

It’s like when you’re interested in buying a particular car model you start seeing it everywhere.

In like manner, having a special interest will not only make us more aware, but it can mistakenly lead us to believe the area has so many others in it, that we would do better by targeting areas less popular.

But this is a critical error.

Selecting areas with little competition offers questionable reality of buying customers.

When an area has many others competing in it, you know that people are willing to buy the service.

Pioneering unchartered areas has an allusion of intrigue and heroism but if you’re new to stepping out on your own, you’d do best with jumping into tested waters.

Sin keeps getting less offensive

It’s not that my values have lowered. 

I still have high standards.

I try to live according to scripture. And I feel that God desires people to live in a way that honors Him, honors themselves and honors his purposes of creation. 

However…

God knows people.

He knows their character, he knows their motivations… and even more he know His love and the death of His Son is the only power that will truly bring people into alignment with his will.

Even more, he know that no one - from the most righteous, to the most wicked will arrive at perfection in this life. 

With or without the Holy Spirit, everyone will slip and miss perfection. 

So why are we trying to attain it?

Or even more, why should we be offended at someone else’s sin? 

As I’ve become less religious — that is, less moralistic — that is, less judgmental and/or prideful based on my ability to hit or miss the mark; I’m likewise less offended when I observe the issues of others.

Sin keeps getting less offensive because I’m trying to not lose consciousness of God’s present love for me and for others. 

Offense towards self is manifested in guilt and shame. 

Offense at another sin is manifested in judgement, outrage and self-righteousness. 

Our world is changing in ways I really don’t like. However, there’s a way to respond in love, with an aroma of heaven that breaks down defenses and welcomes in an alternative reality.