“I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step!” 1 Corinthians 9:26

The Challenge is more than a self-help program.  This is a Challenge to recalibrate your life to the original intent of why God made you. To calibrate means to measure according to the standard of excellence.

With that in mind, how is your health?  Are you physically fit?  Do you have a regular exercise routine?  What one thing could you do today to better your health?

Let’s get moving.  Let’s recondition ourselves as if we are in training because we are.  We’re training to live the rest of our lives with purpose and on purpose, not wasting a single step.

PURPOSEFUL STEPS:

• Get a physical.
• Define a healthy weight and body fat index.
• Join a gym.
• Hire a trainer.
• Start P90X.
• Set a challenge goal.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Set an appointment to get a physical, visit a gym, or order P90X.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Annual Physicals Can Pay Unexpected Dividends | Wall Street Journal
• What to Expect During a Male Physical Exam | Livestrong
• 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity | Mayo Clinic
• Tool To Calculate Your Body Mass Index | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Find a Local YMCA | YMCA
• Find A Personal Trainer | IdeaFit
• P90X | Beachbody
• Order P90X Products on Amazon | Affiliate Link

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• Do you have any health or weight goals you wish to achieve?
• What has been successful for you?
• What hasn’t worked for you? Why?
• Your voice counts. Please take a moment to LEAVE A REPLY below and share your stories and insight.

“I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God that is within you.” 1 Timothy 1:6

The key to having life-long financial success is the realization that your greatest resource is the natural gift that is on deposit within you.  God is wise enough to put reserves within His creation bountiful enough to sustain that creation.

The secret is digging deep to explore and discover your natural God-given abilities. It’s time to start fanning into flame your gift.

START YOUR ENGINE

• Visit www.strengthsfinder.com.
• Make a list of your natural abilities.
• Ask trusted friends what they define as your natural gifts.
• Begin to sharpen your abilities.
• What problem does your gift solve?
• How can you monetize your gift?

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

Write down a list of at least five things that you are gifted at doing.

NOTABLE QUOTES

“Don’t just let your business or your job make something for you, let it make something of you.” ~Jim Rohn

“A successful man continues to look for work after he has found a job.” ~Anonymous

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Strengthsfinder 2.0 Book | Amazon Affiliate Link
• Life Entrepreneurs Book | Amazon Affiliate Link

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• Which one of your gifts brings you the most joy?
• Which of your gifts come very natural to you?
• Which of your gifts could be converted into additional income or a second job?
• Take a moment to LEAVE A REPLY below and share your insight.

“When Pharaoh sent for Joseph, he was quickly brought from the dungeon.  After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he entered the presence of Pharaoh.” Genesis 41:14

A gallant man is fashionable and groomed appropriately for every occasion.

Men love to wear uniforms; some however have allowed their uniform to become sloppy and disheveled.  If you were called into a very special meeting would you be embarrassed by your attire?

It’s time for a man-makeover.

MAN UP YOUR WARDROBE AND APPEARANCE

• Visit a men’s clothing store and gather ideas.
• Buy a men’s style magazine.
• Get a new hairstyle and cut.
• Get a professional shave or beard trim.
• Trim your eyebrows, ear hairs, nose hairs, etc.
• Clean your closet.
• Donate clothes that are out of date.
• Buy three new outfits that coordinate.
• Buy new shoes and socks.
• Buy new underwear and sleepwear.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

Start your man-makeover by cleaning your closet.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Men’s Grooming Advice | GroomingLounge.com

“Proverbs… for attaining wisdom and discipline… for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life.” – Proverbs 1:2

As men, we have many responsibilities that require strong and decisive leadership.  A good leader has great wisdom. Wisdom is the knowing and applying of principles for successful living.

The greatest pursuit of your life is obtaining wisdom.

It’s time to wise up.  Commit yourself to gaining wisdom.

THE ULTIMATE PURSUIT

• Commit to reading one chapter of Proverbs each day for the rest of the Challenge.
• Read a biography of a successful man.
• Sit down with a man 10 years older than yourself and ask, “What advice would you give me if you were speaking to yourself ten years ago.”
• Make the decision to be a reader.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

Set aside 30 minutes to read. Consider making this a daily commitment.

NOTABLE QUOTES

“Every man who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself, to multiply the ways in which he exists, to make his life full, significant and interesting.”
~Aldous Huxley

“A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints.” ~ Wilfred Peterson

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Online Bible & Bible Apps | YouVersion.com
• Video | Steven Scott—Fortune Found in Proverbs
• Ten Benefits of Reading

“The Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does.”  Ephesians 6:8

You must realize that you have been assigned to a particular problem.

Don’t close your eyes and avoid problems.  Rather, look for a problem that you are particularly created to solve.  Take ownership of the problem and you will have the creativity to solve it.

“I never ask God to meet the need of someone when I have the ability to meet it myself.” – Anonymous

SOLVE A PROBLEM

• It may be as simple as hanging a picture at your  Grandmother’s or Mother-in-law’s house.
• It may be a need of someone in your neighborhood or church.
• It may be a total stranger (think of the Good Samaritan.)
• What do you have in your ability that someone else needs?

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

Don’t end the day without meeting the need in someone’s life.

NOTABLE QUOTE

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But… the good Samaritan reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Do Something Out Of The Ordinary
• Ideas for Helping Others
• Find a Place To Volunteer
• Video | Opie Asks Andy About Helping Others

“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” Ecclesiastes 11:4

You can’t compete only on sunny days.  Don’t allow circumstances beyond your control to control you. You must be willing to condition yourself against the elements that resist you.

Don’t excuse yourself.  Get in the game.

DON’T EXCUSE YOURSELF

• Go play a game of basketball.
• Go to the driving range.
• Go to a shooting range.
• Play flag football.
• Join a rugby team.
• Try a hunting bow.
• Rent a boat for a day.
• Go fishing.
• Ride a bike.
• Rent a Harley.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

Get moving – do something physical today!

“Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves.”  Genesis 11:4

This is one of the best-formatted mission statements ever made.  This statement is so precise that it involves clear communication to all people groups that were on the Earth at that time.  It was so good that God commented, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.”

A mission statement must be very clear to motivate a person to progress toward the stated goal. Most men will never take the time and energy to formulate a mission statement.  It’s one of the greatest mistakes we make as men.

It is similar to driving somewhere without knowing the directions.  You simply won’t get to your destination.  We now have GPS systems for navigation.  Think of your mission statement as a GPS system for your life.  It keeps you on track.

LOCK IN THE COORDINATES

• Identify Core Values: Develop a list of attributes that you identify with.
• Identify Your Calling: With whom are you called to?  Family, employer, friends, community, or the world.
• Identify Goals: What is your highest priority in life?  Write your goals, long-term and short-term.  Start long-term first and then break those down into bite size pieces to define your short-term goals.
• Write Your Mission Statement: Based upon what you’ve identified previously, clearly define who you are and what you are about in a sentence or two.

A sample mission statement:
To live proficiently in Biblical love, faith, health, and prosperity; to represent the foundational principles of wisdom by excelling in every area of life, leaving a legacy for my children’s children.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

This challenge is hard.  Write a mission statement.

“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20

A husband should not view his wife as a burden, but as a blessing or a gift from the Lord.  God will never give you a gift meant to replace His presence in your life. In the same way, you must realize that your wife has a personal relationship with God.  She is not only your wife but she is also a spiritual sister in her own right.  Her relationship with God is personal between her and Him.

Joseph was instructed to not enter into his relationship with Mary out of fear.  Fear should never be the foundation of  your marriage.

BLESS YOUR MARRIAGE

• Realize that God has ordained marriage.
• Maintain a passionate relationship in your marriage.
• Celebrate each other’s personal achievements.
• You should desire to impress your wife; to live above her expectations.
• Share your goals and dreams.  Be in agreement.
• Honor her relationship with the Father.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

Purchase a card and write a personal note to your wife.  Tell her how thankful you are that she is your wife and that she has a relationship with the Father.

“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1

Prayer is a not a religious experience.  It is foundational to the relationship between God and man.

Through prayer we have the ability to receive insight, instruction, and inspiration for successful living.

Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:

• Protocol & Paternal – Our Father in heaven, Your Name is Holy.
• Priority & Peace – Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done.
• Provision – Give us today our daily bread.
• Pardon – Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven.
• Protection & Power – Deliver us from the evil one.
• Praise – For Yours is the Kingdom, Power, and Glory!

This simple outline gives you a complete overview of how to pray.  I have prayed this outline for over 25 years.  It works.  The outline is a launching pad for my conversation with the Father.  As you pray each part, expound on the topic.  You will find yourself focusing on what you really need to communicate.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

Find a secluded place to walk and pray this outline.  Speak out-loud when you do.

“He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.”  Luke 10:34

We are never more like Christ than when we help a stranger who is in trouble.  An authentic man has compassion on those who are hurting. Jesus taught the parable of the Good Samaritan.  This story has motivated countless people to do good to strangers.

One day, I noticed a man standing on the side of the road with a sign that read, “Homeless, please help.  God bless.”  I am ashamed to say that my initial thoughts were very judgmental.  Then I felt prompted to think, “Neil, that is someone’s son.” I was immediately moved to do something.  I reached for my money clip when I saw that all I had was a $20 bill.  I paused for a second thinking, “Man, I don’t have anything smaller?”  The light turned green and I had to go, so I rolled down the window and handed him the money.  I spent the next few minutes praying for him.

That experience challenged me to think of strangers as neighbors.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

Before you go to bed tonight look for a complete stranger that you can help with a small gesture of money.