It is pleasant to see dreams come true,but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them. -Proverbs 13:19

I’ve been talking about gifts and how when developed they’ll open doors for you. Today I want to focus on why most people never get the opportunities they want in life. Here are a few reasons:

• Pursuing Money Instead Your Passion - I’d say this makes up 90% of America. College students graduate looking for the $ and pursue dreams that aren’t in their hearts. They pursue them until their 40 and realize they’ve wasted half their lives and they got the money and the money didn’t make them happy. Get good at what you’re passionate about and the money will come.

• Trying to Develop in Areas  that You’re Not Gifted In - If you asked 10 people if you were a gifted singer and 9 of the 10 said no, I don’t care how good you think you are and might become – give it up and find something that you love and that is obvious to others that you’re good at it.

• Being More Focused on Being Discovered Rather Than Being Developed - So many people will do anything to be discovered and are never willing to pay the price that it costs to be developed. Only people who are willing to be developed will be discovered. Leaders won’t waste their time on people who only want to be discovered. Get over yourself!

These are 3 big ways to become miserable and never have any great doors open for you… Can you think of any others?

¹⁶A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. -Proverbs 18:16

All the Opportunities You can Imagine and Then Some

Once you’ve discovered your gift and made the commitment to develop your gift daily, the fun begins to start. The Bible says that your gift will make room for you (create opportunities and open doors for you) and bring you before great men. As a result of discovering and developing my gifts I’ve:

• Had Opportunities I Would have Never Dreamed Of – I still can’t believe some of the things I’ve had the opportunity to do. There have been opportunities I’ve had to turn down, and I know as I continue to develop, God will keep bringing bigger and better opportunities my way.

• I’ve Connected with People I would Have Never Dreamed Of – I remember 7 years ago thinking that if I could spend 2 minutes with a high quality leader my life would be awesome! 7 years later, God has connected me to so many high quality leaders I can’t believe it.  And He keeps opening doors to allow me to meet and connect with even more. Your gift really will bring you before great men (Leaders are always looking for potential leaders).

• I’m Going Places I would Have Never Dreamed Of - When I look at where God HAS taken me, I can’t even imagine where God IS taking me.

I literally can’t believe I get to live my life. I had to take care of my part developing my gift and  God always takes care of His part opening doors that I could never open and closing doors I could never close. What God will do for me, He’ll do for you!

What doors have opened and opportunities have come your way because you made the choice to discover and develop your gift?

²⁹For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. – Romans 11:29

Once you discover your gifting it’s critical that you do everything you can to develop that gift. Since it is the area of your gifting, you’ll naturally be better in that area than the majority of people. As a result you’ll think you can wing it and get by, you’ll be tempted to take short cuts, and be tempted not to develop your gift as much as you could because you think you’ve already arrived.If you take that approach – you’re on a straight path to mediocrity. In the end, success will depend on how disciplined you were to develop your gift.

Here are some ways I’ve developed my gifting… Hope they help!

• Do Something Everyday that Develops Your Gift – If it’s speaking – speak daily, writing – write daily, sports – practice daily, an instrument – play everyday… More important than all of the learning is the doing. Be someone who actually puts into practice what they are learning.

• Books, Books, and More Books – There is no better way of learning than through the experiences of others. with books you can learn what it took someone a lifetime to learn in a few hours. Leaders are readers!

• Listen to Podcasts, Lessons, Etc. - There are tons of audio lessons that will help you develop your gift. Find them and listen to as many as you can!

• Get Around People Who are Doing it Better Than You - Find the people who are well developed and doing big things and contact them and see if you can take them to lunch or breakfast. Pay them if you have to, get around them, and ask them as many questions as you can!

• Look for Coaching Networks - Coaching Networks are becoming huge. They involve a high quality leader who is willing to invest in a handful of people over a 6-9 month period. I’d highly recommend this – it’s changed my life!

• Conferences – Conferences are a great way to get around people who are “tearing it up” in the area you’re wanting to develop. Find conferences based around what you want to develop and be willing to pay the price to go. It’ll be worth it.

What are some things you do to develop your gift?