Dave Ramsey's New Book 'Entreleadership' is his best yet

You might not know how much you need this book in the same way that you might not know you need chemotherapy because you don't know you have cancer.

Whether you are a parent, business owners, sole proprietor, have a home business, etc. this book is worth reading.

Dave Ramsey is a skillful surgeon, often with frank bluntness. He addresses the cancer, explains how it kills you if unaddressed, and explains what will need to happen to get you on to the road of healing.

Dave shares with humility and 20 years of experience. He is a proven leader in business, in leadership, entrepreneurship and personal finance. He is worth listening to and learning from.

Dave Ramsey is kind of the hero for bootstrapping entrepreneurs he lost it all in real estate and then he's calling in life got defined by that by helping people get out of that stay at a debt and pay off debt and never to go get you in debt again.

He is honest about his mistakes, doesn't hide from them, and uses them as a tool to help teach others to learn from his mistakes.

   

This book is almost free, $14. Free in that the lessons shared, principles proclaimed, and vision cast are worth countless more than you could ever pay for the cost of the book. His writing of this book is a true gift.

Entreleadership is Dave's business autobiography and reads as if you were having a conversation with him. In fact, I kept turning the pages, reading it like one would read Lord of the Rings. 

His chapter on goal setting, the importance of mission statement, casting a vision for your company, were priceless. Whether or not one does anything with it after they read it is a totally different questions.

Whenever I read a book, I ask myself...What needs to change in my life as a result of reading this book?

The answer to that question after reading Entreleadership is....A LOT.

1. I need a clearly written mission statement (For My Family, and as a Realtor)

2. I need to write down goals in all areas of my life.

3. I need to keep more specific track of my time and what I have been devoting time and attention to.

4. I need to have a clean office space. (Ouch) 

5. I need to make sure that my Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Statements, and my Dustin Greenup, Inc. Quickbooks are in good standing.

The 2nd chapter of the book, Start with a Dream, End with a Goal was probably the most helpful/challenging and inspiring in the whole book.

You won't be wasting your time or money by getting this book...in fact, you could be wasting lots of time and money if you don't get this book, read it, and apply it. 

Remember...it hurts to be told that you have cancer, but it is a lot worse if it is not dealt with.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

Dave Ramsey, Entreleadership:

"Dreaming is the lifeblood of people and organizations that are alive and thriving." Page 24

"The Mission Statement is further clarification and definition of your dreams and vision and assures you that your goals are aimed at the right target"  Page 27

"Personal Finance is not a Math Problem, it is a Behavior Problem" P.38

"If you don't own the goal and it doesn't come from your dream, then you won't have the toughness to persevere when the going gets tough" P.37 

2011 Goals, Desires, Prayers and Pursuits

One of the purposes of this blog is for me to keep track of thoughts, links, etc. Thus, the safest & scariest place for me to write down some goals and desires for this upcoming year is right here...in broad daylight for the world to see. This seriously helps me be disciplined and focused. So, read if you wish, stop if you don't care.

Some Priorities and Goals for the Year 2011.

Key Verse of the Year: (At least beginning the year)

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God, must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

Key Word/Phrase of the Year: Follow-Through

Serve/Love Heidi Zealously
I desire though humbly seeking the Lord that as I seek to love, serve and honor Heidi that at the end of 2011, Heidi would be overwhelmingly convinced that she is 1st a wife and then a mother as demonstrated by my love. (This is going to take some serious prayer, action, in light of adding our 4th child to our family and her serving them 24/7, and around March or so, having 4 children 4 years old and younger.) I have much to grow in this area, but good fruit results from Abiding in the Vine. 

Redeem 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. 

These are 2 hours that fly by with a blink of the eye. As Heidi and I look back at this past year, we realize that this time goes wasted, misused, spent on ok/good things, but not on the best. I see that I do waste a lot of time checking Facebook and it often distracts me from other conversations, especially with Heidi. 

For the month of January, I am going to keep track of how we use that 2 hour window in the evenings...so we can begin to use that time in ways that feed and nourish our souls, growing us closer to the Lord and one another.

Memorize Hebrews chapters 11 through 13
I want 2011 marked by cherishing the Word of God closely in my heart. One of the ways is going to be by memorizing some bigger chunks of Scripture. Our preaching pastor is working his way through Hebrews and thought this would be a good fit to memorize. When we get to chapter 11, I asked our pastor if I could recite from memory these chapters on a Sunday morning, and he agreed thinking that would be a good use of time and would hopefully be an encouragement to the body of Christ. 

Exercise Regularly
2010 was a great year for me in this area. I started out January 1st, 2010 at 188.5 lbs and on December 31st, was down to 164.5. I'd like to get down to the 155 lb mark (I think this is a healthy spot for me) and more than that I know it would require regular physical exercise to get their. Thus, if I can exercise consistently throughout 2011 three times a week, this will be a step in the right direction for me. By God's grace and enablement, I'd like to hit the 155 mark by the end of March and on December 31st, 2011...remain at the 155 mark.

Complete Musse's adoption
If you read this blog, this is an obvious one. We look forward to traveling in late January for our court date and then hopefully in March sometime for the embassy appointment. I look forward to posting updates, pictures and video's of our time and journey.

Finish Reading the Books I Start
I have a horrible habit of starting things and not completing them (hence the key word for the year...follow through).
I have a list of the books I'd like to read this year (I'll post that list tomorrow). This list will change, grow, maybe shrink, throughout this year. I am going to actually keep track of the books I read, along with writing at least 1 blog post per book I read. It will not be the typical book review (there are plenty of writer's out there who do great work at reviewing books. I will link to them). The purpose of my review will be...how has God used this book, this author, this theme to change me and sanctify me.

Spokane Adoption/Foster Care Conference
I'd like (of course Lord willing and Lord enabling) 2011 to be the year in which the 1st adoption focused conference was held in Spokane. I know they used to happen in Spokane often, but they haven't in a while. Heidi and I literally have about 2 conversations a week with people who are either considering adoption, wanting to know ways to be involved and serve, or are struggling through the specific challenges associated with adoption.
There are many people in Spokane that are desirous of an occasion in which something could be held to help, be a resource, and encourage adoption and those who have adopted, and those considering adoption.
There are a lot of Christian voices in Spokane that are passionate about God's heart for adoption, but no united Christian voice (at least right now).

Learn to take some great photos and video
For Christmas, my dad bought a new Canon 35X Powershot camera and is letting me use it for our trip to Ethiopia. I really do desire to take some great pictures and video with the hope and intention of communicating with others the story of our adoption, life in Ethiopia, and to stir understanding of life outside  a

What goals do you have?