The Monday Memo from John Stanko

491: Tag, You're It!

Next week the Monday Memo turns ten years old.  What a great ten years it has been.  I have learned so much about purpose and productivity, and I have met so many wonderful people.  In that time, I have traveled the world, especially in Africa, to preach the purpose message and it has been a load of fun. 

Almost every Sunday night for ten years, I have sat down at my computer, often unaware of what I would write and something always came to me.  Sometimes it was a favorite from the archives, but it was always relevant and gave someone something to think and pray about.

I would still love to hear from you as I reflect on this tenth anniversary milestone. So tag, you're it!  It's your turn to write.

1.  I need your stories.  I would like to gather testimonies of what the Monday Memo has done for you. This can include lessons learned or purpose found through the regular teaching included in the Memo.

2.  I need your definition of purpose.  I am finishing up my project for my Doctor of Ministry and my advisor recommended I have a stronger definition of purpose. I have a lot of statements about purpose, but I would like to put together something fresh with some punch.  I want and need you to help me do that this coming week.

You can write me at johnstanko@gmail.com or post your feedback on the site where this entry is posted.  I want to thank you for allowing me to come into your life on a weekly basis for these last ten years, although I realize you may have just subscribed last week!  I know you probably get many such updates as the Monday Memo and I am not naive enough to think that you read everything I send you.  The Monday Memo, however, allows me to stay fresh and has built my confidence that I did indeed have something to say to a large audience.

Next week I will be in Kenya and in preparation we packed up all the supplies we collected to give away while we are there (I am taking 17 others with me).  We have 38 bags that weigh 2,000 pounds!  You can read more about it and the money I have raised for the trip here. 

I will be busy this week getting ready for Kenya and if you don't hear from me next week, don't worry. I may take a few weeks off from writing, but I'll see how I feel next week and those thereafter before I make a final decision.  In the meantime, you can always read the past Memos here or check out my website for the complete archives and just about everything else I have written. Thank you again for permission to be a part of your life.  May the Lord continue to bless and enlighten your PurposeQuest.  Have a great week!

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THE PACIFIC INSTITUTE: Don't forget that I will be facilitating the life-changing seminar from The Pacific Institute in Nairobi on March 8-10.  You don't want to miss this event.  It's not cheap but it will pay dividends in your life for years to come.  I look forward to seeing you in Nairobi!

490: It's Your Turn!

In two weeks the Monday Memo turns ten years old!  I can still remember writing to those first few subscribers, using my Microsoft Outlook until I had 18,000 names and my Outlook crashed.  It was then that I transitioned to the current format, but those early years were great fun - and a tremendous learning opportunity. 

Now I plan on taking a few weeks off and I want to hear from you!  That's right, it's your turn and I want to read something you send me.  Here are the three things to which I would like you to take time to respond. 

1.  I need your stories.  I would like to gather testimonies of what the Monday Memo has done for you. This can include lessons learned or purpose found through the regular teaching included in the Memo.

2.  I need your definition of purpose.  I am finishing up my project for my Doctor of Ministry and my advisor recommended I have a stronger definition of purpose. I have a lot of statements about purpose, but I would like to put together something fresh with some punch.  I want and need you to help me do that this coming week.

3.  I need money for my anniversary.  No, it's not for me, it's for my work in Kenya.  If you missed my post a few weeks ago entitled "I Want Money for My Anniversary," you can read it here. I don't care if you only send $1, send something to help the children.  You can read the latest updates I wrote yesterday about Kenya here as well. Once you do, I know you will give and give generously.

You can email me your stories and definitions at johnstanko@gmail.com, but the best option is to post your responses on the site where this entry is posted, so people around the world can read what you wrote. If you email me, I will probably turn around and post your comments anyway, so you may as well do it yourself right up front. 

So there you have it -- you have an assignment or two to finish this week.  I look forward to hearing from you as we all celebrate the fact that God has used this very simple tool called the Monday Memo to touch thousands of people around the world.  I look forward to reading what you have to say!  Have a great week.(Excuse all the colors but I thought I would try to make the Memo a bit more festive to celebrate.)

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COMING TO KENYA:  I will be facilitating another seminar for The Pacific Institute in Kenya on March 8-10.  I had a seminary professor who was fond of saying, "Sell your shoes and buy books."  It was his way of emphasizing the importance of reading.  If I can borrow his saying and change it a bit, I would say to you in Kenya, "Sell your shoes and come to my training."  It is not free or cheap, but it is the best personal development training I have ever come across.  If you are interested, drop me an email and I will forward it to the local coordinators.  See you in Kenya on March 8!

489: Living Your Dream!

Last week I invited you to re-take the Purpose Assessment on my website as part of the Purpose Challenge I issued last August.  Many of you did, but a lot more have yet to do so!  Maybe you are taking more time to prepare, and if so, that's alright. If you are procrastinating, however, it's time to take the Challenge!  The goal was to try and increase your score by 15 points over the first time you took it.

Today I am thinking about Joseph in Genesis.  Joseph was a man of purpose and in a real sense he saved the world while also saving his family from famine.  If you have time, why not read Joseph's full story from Genesis 37-50, but if you don't have the time, let me summarize it for you.

THE PROCESS    

When Joseph was 17 years old, he had two dreams, both of which were interpreted by his family to mean that one day they would all bow down to Joseph as the family leader.  This brought a rebuke from his father but active hatred from his brothers, who eventually sold him into slavery.  Joseph was carried down to Egypt, where he became the servant of a man named Potiphar.  Joseph excelled while serving Potiphar, but Mrs. Potiphar had romantic ideas and tried to prevail upon Joseph to sleep with her.  When Joseph refused, she lied and accused him of rape. 

Mr. Potiphar was angry and sent Joseph to the prison, where Joseph again excelled in service and leadership.  After correctly interpreting the dreams of two fellow inmates who were Pharaoh's servants, Joseph was eventually brought before Pharaoh to interpret Pharaoh's dreams.  The dreams indicated that the world would suffer a tremendous famine and Joseph saw in the dreams a plan by which the world could have food during the seven years of lack.

By this time, Joseph was 30 years of age (see Genesis 41:46).  He was promoted to second-in-command after Pharaoh and he gave oversight to the seven years of plenty, when grain was stored for the famine.  That is when the story gets even more interesting.

LIVING A DREAM!       

Joseph's father Jacob thinks Joseph is dead and his brothers are simply glad he is gone.  Joseph's family is also affected by the worldwide famine, however, so they went down to Egypt to buy food.  Joseph sees and recognizes them, but they do not recognize him.  Moses wrote, "Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them" (Genesis 42:9). Since the brothers came in the second year of the famine, Joseph was 39 years old when he remembered the dream.

Now I ask you:  If you don't remember your dreams from last night, how did Joseph remember his for twenty-two years?  He remembered them because he "lived" in them.  He lived in them on the long trip after being sold into slavery.  He lived in them during those early years serving Potiphar and in the later years in prison.  He remembered them during the first years of Pharaoh's favor, when he married a foreigh woman and started a family.  So when the brothers came in after twenty-two years of living in his dream world, Joseph saw his dream become a reality.

The implications for you are clear.  If your "dream" tarries, live in it.  Visualize the dream and see yourself in the midst of its fulfillment.  Hold onto that dream no matter what, and no matter how far away from its reality you may be.  When Joseph's brothers came in to beg for bread, Joseph was ready to assume his place in the real-life version of the dream and the dream became a reality -- and yours will too, but only if you live in it today so you can live in it tomorrow.  Have a great week living in your dream!

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UPDATE FROM KENYA:  I posted the latest report from one of the orphanages in Kenya for you to read on my blog site.  As I mention in the entry, I am still in need of some money to fulfill THE BIG GOAL of $10,000 to take with me when I go on March. Pictured at right is my wife presenting some books to the Each One Touch One Orphanage last December. If you can help us give food and books, please give through my website or by sending a check made payable to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA  15221-0882.  Your generosity will serve to feed the children who have no parents to feed them.  Thank you and God bless you for your help! 

SEMINAR WHEN I COME TO KENYA:  I will once again be conducting a three-day seminar from the Pacific Institute when I return to Kenya on March 8-10. I urge you to invest in this training that has the power to change your life forever!  Write me for more information and then I look forward to seeing you on March 8.

488: It's Time!

Last August, I issued what I called a Purpose Challenge. The Challenge consisted of taking the Purpose Assessment found on my website, and then committing to address the disciplines in your life that would enable you to increase your score by 15 points.  In the last six months, I have written about purpose, goals, time management, creativity and mentoring as means to that score increase. You can review all the Memos I wrote for this Purpose Challenge here.

And now it's time to take the profile again to see how much progress you have made.  As you re-take the Assessment, I urge you to give yourself the benefit of the doubt as you respond and not be too hard on yourself.  You can find the Assessment here.

This Assessment is not scientifically sophisticated.  It is simply a summary of things I have found to be critical components in your PurposeQuest. Since measuring your progress in intangible things like purpose is almost an impossible task, you still need to try and determine how satisfied you are with your current state of affairs.

So that's' it this week.  If you did not take the Challenge, then go to the Monday Memo archives and do some reading if you need something to stimulate you this week.  And remember, the Monday Memo turns 10 years old next month and I am collecting money for Kenyan orphans and widows to honor the event.  You can read about it here.