Tiny Decisions Add Up!
We all try to make good decisions, especially when the decisions are big ones. The problem is that most of us don't pay enough attention to the tiny ones!
Every day we make at least a thousand tiny decisions. Whether we realize it or not, those decisions add up to define who we are. I believe that if you can make more good decisions than bad for any extended period, then you will see big positive changes in your life.
Here are some tips on becoming a better decision maker:
1. Start each day with 20 minutes (or more) of quiet time. Get alone with God and ask Him for direction.
2. Ask yourself who you want to be as a person, mom, dad, husband, wife, boss, employee, friend, professional. Start making decisions that back up who you want to be.
2. Listen to your conscience; it will keep you on track if you allow it to.
3. Make a list of non-negotiables (things you do each day without exception!)
4. Keep a mental tally of your good vs. bad decisions and make sure the good side is always winning!
Remember, at any given moment you can start fresh and decide to start making better decisions!
Today is your day to become the person you want to be!
Every day we make at least a thousand tiny decisions. Whether we realize it or not, those decisions add up to define who we are. I believe that if you can make more good decisions than bad for any extended period, then you will see big positive changes in your life.
Here are some tips on becoming a better decision maker:
1. Start each day with 20 minutes (or more) of quiet time. Get alone with God and ask Him for direction.
2. Ask yourself who you want to be as a person, mom, dad, husband, wife, boss, employee, friend, professional. Start making decisions that back up who you want to be.
2. Listen to your conscience; it will keep you on track if you allow it to.
3. Make a list of non-negotiables (things you do each day without exception!)
4. Keep a mental tally of your good vs. bad decisions and make sure the good side is always winning!
Remember, at any given moment you can start fresh and decide to start making better decisions!
Today is your day to become the person you want to be!
Labels: Inspiration
posted by Mike Colón at 9:03 PM
33 Comments:
Great way to start my day. I have missed these posts :-)
Hope you all are doing well.
Mike - We've never met but I read your blog everyday and you are such an inspiration to me. Not just in photography, but how to be a man of God, a loving husband and an exceptional father.
Thank you. I hope next year we will be able to met at one of your intensives.
Tip #1 is the most important! Great post Mike.
I have to second what David said above. I have missed your insperational posts, Mike. Frankly, some of the posts you have made in the past have inspired me greatly as a business person and as a Christan. Keep em up! I'm going to start with your suggestions tomorrow!
This post has been removed by the author.
Awesome! Thanks man. I needed that, I'm in over my head and trying to keep going forward. Quite, how easy, I'm getting up early tomorrow.
Convenient - there are a lot of people buying into the jesus myth in the US and 'getting with god' on the wedding blog is apparently good for fleecing the flock.
bless you pastor mike.
Despite what some commenters might have to say, I do appreciate that you are open about your faith and how it is your priority. It shows a lot when a successful business person is willing to put themselves out there despite the fact that others might not share the same point of view. Thanks for the post, and for commenting on my blog, keep up the good blogging!
Funny how both negitave commenters to this post choose not to display their profiles....Mike is just trying to be transparent, and as far as I know that is one of the most important things for our clients to see these days. Photography and the skill behind it is one thing, having a client trust you and hire you because the know who you REALLY are, is entirely another!
To Mike, again I say, BRAVO...to those who want to cut him down and try to dictate what he should write on his own blog and cut out his christianity....well God Bless you too! Regardless of what you believe, let's let Mike be Mike.
Thanks for all of your great comments! For those who question my mention of God here, my question is... how can I not?
This is SO helpful! I've been learning a lot about disciplining myself & time w/ work and such that having this sort of layout as almost a "checklist" is great.
And three cheers for your comment and commitment to our Lord! It makes me smile and really encourages me to see that someone is willing to step up and live their faith out loud...it is laced through every part of our lives! So thanks again. :)
This post has been removed by the author.
Hey everyone, I was not going to get involved in these comments, but I thought an important point was being lost. That point is that this is MIKE'S blog, and it is his decision to include what he feels is a resource or not. What makes this country great is that we all can make our own decisions! That decision may be to openly discuss your faith or not. By getting the opportunity to know Mike, I can attest that he feels that he owes a lot of his success to his faith (and a lot of hard work). Now if he chooses to offer what he feels is a tip (technical or otherwise), is his decision. It is up to us as individuals to choose what we incorporate as advice. Let's be honest, that is part of the reason we have a brain. To filter out what WE AS INDIVIDUALS find helpful and what we don't. Mike does a lot for the photographic community, and does so without expectation in return. Let's not burn him at the stake!
- Jason
Okay hold on a second. I have to make a comment about two points there.
1. The good ol' USA is not the only country where people are free to make their own decisions - most of the US has been brainwashed over the past few decads to believe that you all are the only ones with "freedom".
2. Yes, Mike does a lot for the photography community - does charging $700 for a movie of him talking or charging $1200 or more for one of his seminars count as "doing so much without expecting anything in return" hmm $1200x20 attendeesx4 times per year = a great business plan. Let's cut the crap Mike, if you were such a hot shooter, and were a true Christian, maybe you should do those for FREE, you want to help photographers be better photographers? Fine, but charging what you do for your workshop is the closest thing to a scam as possible.
Seriously people, wake up, Colon is not better or wiser or smarter than you.
There seems to be a common misconception that to be a follower of Christ everything must be given away. Although the bible tells us to be generous, giving to the church, missions, the poor, ect, there is nothing that says you cannot make a profit and even become financially successful by using the talents God has given you. There are many Christians that were and are very successful/blessed in a financial way both in the bible and modern day. Making money or even becoming rich is not a sin. It’s all about your motivations…are you glorifying God or yourself?
Just curious, Andreas. . .
When you book a wedding, do you ask the bride & groom if God will be mentioned in their ceremony? If so, do you decline the opportunity to shoot it because you don't want to "mix religion with business"? Yeah, that's what I thought.
Mike can say anuthing he likes. It is his blog - though I am not really sure what Google would say - and he can write what pleases him.
No doubt about it that jesus is good bait for bringing in the dollars. Most people in the US identify as christians and there is a whole army off fighting allah so from a business pperspective it makes a lot of sense to grab the biggest celebrity endorsement available.
More power to Mike for hitching his wagon to christ almighty. Whether he believes that particular myth or not is immaterial to the business goals.
Mike has some nice pictures and is in my estimate a very comptetent photographer. And, this site has some useful info (settting up the eSata RAID) and all. So, he can say what he likes and pray to Harry Potter if he wishes.
Marketing - plain and simple.
Thank you for your post Mike.
Reading the comments here has brought a myriad of thoughts to mind.
I suppose when you are wealthy and well known (at least in the photog community) you are a larger target.
Thank you for being real and honest, even at the risk of being shot at.
romans eight twenty eight.
-Kenny Nakai
i love posting after kenny, everywhere i go, there is kenny! Mike, its always good to get this reminder, and i love the fact that even though i know this stuff, its posts and conversations like this that help me stay consistant. Peace buddy.. see you in Miami!
Andreas,
The best solution to this is you have a choice whether to physically type in www.mikecolon.net/blog. This is a FREE resource!
You really don't need to complain (other than your freedom to do so) because you have the ability to filter out the items that are less useful to you and your business. Thats the cool thing about blogs. I just grab what morsels inspire me and move on.
I really don't see the benefit for you personally or business wise by posting such negative comments. Who do you want to portray yourself as to future clients and your peers in this business? It is relationship based.
If you have been reading long enough, you'll know that Mike is a man of God and yes, God and business go hand in hand. You can't allow God in only specific areas of your life...it doesn't work that way. Its all or nothing. Mike chooses all! Thats why he is so trusted, repected, and successful. Mike chooses to be an obiedient man, which has been followed with many blessing and a great majority that respect him rather than tear him down.
Respectfully,
Damion
Oh sorry....awesome reminder Mike. Thanks for sharing from your heart!
wow, so much hub-bub! It always cracks me up when people get so riled up...especially at the name of Jesus. Well, I'm not like rolling on the floor in laughter, just a little chuckle.
anywho, I liked this post and appreciate your inspiration in how to make better decisions. I gotta work on that quiet time!
Damion and Julie - it is not that simple.
The United States is the most fundamentally religious nation on earth and is using military power to wage a thinly veiled assault on non-christian nations.
Mike's self-deification is a frightening symptom for the rest of the world.
Many people the world over are veing deprived of their 'quiet time' as the US wages the holy war.
Spending quiet time with Jesus Christ - who is God incarnate - is a great reminder and best spiritual, business, photography, emotional, artistic, and life advice I've been been a long time. Thanks, Mike!
This post has been removed by the author.
When I go to the grocery store I do not buy one of everything. I buy what I want and leave the rest. And that is what you need to do here. If you don't like what he is saying then don't take it with you.
I too am a Canadian, and I know that it is instilled in us NOT to mix religion, politics, and business together.... for fear of offending someone. Only 2% of the Canadian population claim to be Christians. Now remember....I am Canadian, so that qualifies me to say this, and I am a Christian.
I chose to move to the Great USA where I choose to mix, God in heaping doses in Everything I do. Jesus is the source of my passion, and inspiration. And God Bless America land of the Free speech.
This is actually through. I haven't try it yet but No. 1 is very effective.
Wow...Mike way to create a fire storm!
I appreciate that you have always stood by your convictions.
You have taken a risk to price yourself the way you have. To share your process at Pictage last fall (where you didn't get paid and we all benefitted) And to encourage us all to charge what is reasonable.
Ha - usually people give a pass on the word God...because after all which God are you referring too? But they all know that it is Jesus that you are referring to...and two thousand years later, He is still creating division as He said He would.
So, keep it all in perspective and we will be praying for you.
Remember that anyone that who comes to Him must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek HIm. - Pretty cool.
Mike, Thank you so much for the inspirationals they mean a lot. I have learned in my photographic life that with out the lord my powers are useless. I will keep your family in my prayers I'm sure that you need it with your schedule. God bless. -David Rom. 8:39
Mike, you continue to inspire and invoke thought. Thank you for your post ... life is so much about those tiny decisions and how they make such an impact on ones life, along with so many many others.
I notice a huge difference in my life when I fail to do those things. You inspire me as a person as well as a photographer. Thank you.
Every business needs to be built upon a firm foundation, so it can withstand the turbulent times. Build it upon the "Rock" so when the storms of life arrive you can feel safe. Want a photography resource without "God", go to borders, buy a magazine, can't buy it, read it and put it back. I personally like my photography lessons wrapped around the message from "Lord of All". MIke you rock. It takes a bold man of faith to lay it all on the line the way you do in this blog.
The "Andreasphoto" dude person, chill out!
Mike is a Christian, you can't afford his CD or Seminars, just ask him, I bet he can hook you up!
Thanks my bother for saying it how it is.
Looking forward to meeting you face to face at Partner Con.
Valla Con Dios
Peace CR
Post a Comment
<< Home