News from Boundless Results

Where she has written a chapter on finding and living your passion. If you are wondering if the life you are living is the right one for you, based on your passion, be sure to read her chapter. This chapter will help you find and live your passion.

The book is also chock-full of practical career strategies from 11 other experts. Buy it by clicking here.

Reprint Information

"© 2009 Jan Dwyer. Jan, president of Boundless Results, is an expert on customer service, communication skills, and leadership. She delivers workshops, key notes and provides consulting and career coaching. Contact her at 253-891-1609 or at Jan@JanDwyer.com. Or feel free to visit her website at www.JanDwyer.com."

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Contact & Subscriber Information

Jan Dwyer
jan@jandwyer.com
www.JanDwyer.com
PO Box 1914
Sumner, WA 98390

Jan Dwyer, founder of Boundless Results, specializes in and helps clients make great leaps in the areas of customer service, communication skills, leadership, and career development and her speeches and training sessions help employees achieve breakthroughs in service culture and personal leadership.

Jan has a University of Chicago MBA and hands-on experience in Fortune 500, small business, and non-profit organizations. Her clients include Boeing, Starbucks, Weyerhaeuser, Getty Images, Medtronic Physio-Control, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission, the State of Washington, and Los Angeles County.

She has been an active member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) since 1995 and served as the President of the Northwest chapter of NSA from 2005-2006.

Jan is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), a designation earned by less 10% of the speaking professionals worldwide.

You can reach Jan at: 253-891-1609, at Jan@JanDwyer.com or learn more by visiting her website at www.jandwyer.com.

Message from Jan Dwyer

Everyone is talking about downsizing these days. Budget cuts, hiring freezes, staff reshufflings, and organizational restructuring all can cause havoc on a ministry's potential.

And yet the question that God would have us focus on is how can we add value? How can we glorify Him more? What ways can I show Christ to my co-workers? This edition focuses on adding value both in your personal lives and in your ministries.

News Flash!

You can join my on-line community called Boundless Results for Ministries on Linked-In. Get resources and join others in my community - filled with both Christian and Non-Christian leaders across a span of industries - non-profit, for-profit, and public sector.

Check out my new blog - with entries that span topics such as customer service, leadership, and the state of the economy. Click on this link to get to my Blog Jan Dwyer's Blog and I welcome your comments.

Finding the "One"

The expression above may have a lot of implications to us. Some of you think about the importance of finding the right donor or selecting the right person to serve as the president or executive director of your para church organization. Perhaps you think of the process of searching for a new senior pastor of a church. Or maybe you automatically think of finding the right person to date and as a marriage partner. The last two examples are timely for me because for almost two years I have been a part of a pastor search team at my church and very recently, I accepted the Lord's choice for me for a marriage partner! Yes - I am officially engaged - to a wonderful man who I used to know in client relationships at one of the Christian organizations that I consulted for. (If you would like to know more information - you can click on www.JanandJohn.com). I've been thinking a lot about the process of "finding the one" and have found three interesting discoveries that may have some real value to you and your lives in ministry.

Here are three tangible ways you can add value to your ministry:

1. Be clear on what you want - but hold those wants "loosely." Whether you are looking for a new hire in your department or a new president or a senior pastor or your marriage partner - it is critical that you are clear on what your needs and wants are. This process may take a long time. I remember the search team took months creating our leadership profile - and God honored that time. Many pastoral candidates have commented on the quality of our publication and how helpful it was for them that we were so clear about the specific qualities we were looking for. In dating- it is a little more "nebulous" - but I did have a list of specific attributes and desires. God had to work with me though in helping me realize that His choice may involve different specifics and that in holding too tightly to "my list" - I was missing a wonderful man whose personality and character and focus on God was exactly what I needed.

2. Choices always involve grieving of what could be. Every choice involves giving up on other choices. Sometimes we forget that there is always grieving involved in choices we make. It is important to allow yourself the space to grieve and let go of "what could have been" - and yet also be open to what the Lord does have for you. For months I was indecisive about my decision with John precisely because I was having a hard time "letting go." When I finally committed, however, God took over. I bet it was the same with you in certain choices you have made.

3. Ask God for "God Winks" to help you confirm your decision. John and I have a journal of "God winks" where we captured certain conversations we would have with friends or even strangers. We were astonished about the amount of divine moments we both had during our journey with dating. I believe God "winks" whether we are searching for a marriage partner, senior pastor, or just the right person to lead our organization. Are we open to God's gentle voice speaking to us - through the words of Scripture, conversations, close friends, sermons, or circumstances?

Boundless Boosters for your Business

What do kangaroos and successful people have in common? Both cannot go backwards. Sure we all have our moments, hours, even days when things seem to be going backwards - but the difference is that successful people are able to "break through" and learn from what happens to them. After all, why not get as much out of a "bad situation" as you can? Yes, it is a fact that kangaroos don't go backwards. And you don't have to either.

Here is one boundless booster that you can do on a daily basis - Focus on what you control. In the words of one Christian leader - "Anything else is gossip!"

Practice giving and receiving grace. As I think about entering into the most important relationship that God has established - I am reminded about the importance of grace. Slowly we are both learning the important words of "I'm sorry" or "You are right" and "I love you" is a common statement between us. This is a good practice in the workplace as well. Many people are under stress - fear of losing jobs, a declining trend in donor support, slashed budgets. Times like these can cause us to lose patience with other people. And yet this is exactly when more grace is needed! How do people stay together so long? It is all because of grace and that love does cover a multitude of sins. Two people in relationship are "porcupines" but thank the Lord for His ever available cup of grace!

If you received value from this newsletter, please forward it to your colleagues so they can subscribe.

Jan Dwyer
Boundless Results