Phili 4vs 13, Matt 25. 14-30, Pro.24.27
This subject naturally divides itself into two part; maximizing of potential and choice of a career that is right. You cannot maximize potential when you have not discovered that potential. It is upon the realization of your God given potential that you can now bring to the fore the issue of its maximization.
All humans are born with a natural gift from God; called TALENT, which could be just single or multiple.
This sometimes may guide us on the area of interest of career path, that when properly explore can be a very good starting point in life.
In the Bible Exo.31.2, 3; Also the men of Issachar, who had understanding and know what Israel ought to do...1 chro.12.32
In this discuss three questions shall be answered;
What does potential mean?
How do you choose a God honoring career that is right?
How do we maximize our potentials?
What does potential mean?
By the word potential, I'm referring to the God-given abilities, skills, and talents we have.
A latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed.
The skills mentioned falls into three categories; there are those we use with people, those we use with things, and those we use with information.
13 basic skills we use with people: 1 Cor. 12.12,14,18
· Speaking or listening to others so as to convey or receive information. (Communicating)
· Influencing others by our words or actions. (Persuading)
· Showing sensitivity to the feelings of others. (Sensing)
· Favoring the implicit or explicit needs of others. (Serving)
· Caring for others by using specified techniques or approaches to improve their physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual problem. (Treating)
· Giving expert advice or recommendations based on our own area of expertise. (Advising)
· Paying attention to instructions and then carrying out the prescribed action. (Taking instructions)
· Monitoring behavior and coordinating it in order to achieve organizational objectives. (Managing/Supervising)
· Recognizing and utilizing the skills of others. (Leading)
· Arriving at an individual or jointly agreed-upon decision usually through discussion and compromise. (Negotiating/deciding)
· Exhibiting showmanship for fun, laughter, or entertainment. (Entertaining/Amusing)
· Dealing with the problems of others in the context of their total self while helping them to identify and resolve them through self-directed action. (Counseling)
· Giving new information or ideas to people through lecture, demonstration, or practice. (Training)
When it comes to dealing with information, we use our skills 15 different ways. :
We investigate, detect, compile, and classify information by means of research. (Researching)
· We examine two or more people or objects in order to learn about and react to their similarities and dissimilarities. (Comparing)
· We study the behavior of people, animals, or things, or the details of a particular phenomenon or place. (Observing)
· We perceive and define cause-and-effect relations. (Analyzing)
· We deal with numbers in performing simple or complex arithmetic. (Computing)
· We give a definite structure and working order to things. (Organizing)
· We inspect, diagnose, test, and evaluate information, people, or things. (Evaluating)
· We take what others have developed and apply it to new situations often in a new form. (Improving/adapting)
· We transform apparently unrelated things or ideas by forming them into a new cohesive whole. (Creating)
· We fashion or shape things. (Designing)
· We conceive shapes or sounds by perceiving their patterns and structures and we enable others to see them, too. (Visualizing)
· We record, memorize, or reproduce on paper or in the mind. (Copying, Storing, Retrieving)
· We determine the sequence of tasks after reviewing pertinent data or requirements. (Planning, Developing)
· We systematically accomplish tasks in a manner that causes objectives to be attained or surpassed. (Achieving)
· We speed up the accomplishment of a task or series of tasks so as to reach an organizational objective on or ahead of time. (Expediting)
C. Finally, let's look at the skills we use with things:
· using our body as an instrument of accomplishment. (Being athletic)
· using our hands or body to identify or move an object. (Handling)
· manipulating hand tools. (Using Tools)
· monitoring, adjusting, and servicing automatic machines. (Minding Machines)
· performing some or all operations upon an office, shop, or other machine or equipment. (Operating Machine or Equipment)
· performing some or all operations upon a vehicle. (Operating a Vehicle)
· putting materials into or taking them out of machines. (Feeding, Emptying Machines)
· using earth as an instrument of accomplishment. (Working with Earth and Nature)
· preparing, building, installing, and displaying machinery or equipment. (Setting Up Displays, Machinery, or Equipment)
· attaining precise set of limits, tolerance, or standards. (Precision Working)
· putting an object back into good working condition or similar to its original condition. (Preparing)
I encourage you to inventory the skills that have brought you success and satisfaction. Then look for creative ways to emphasize them. When you do, you'll be maximizing your potential.
Ponder on these:
When you maximize your potential, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.
The formula E+R=O stands for "The Events in our lives plus our Reaction to them equals the Outcomes we experience". If we look at this formula, the only constant K is the event, while our reaction and outcome are the variables.
Keep doing what you are doing; live one day at a time.
How do you choose a God honoring career that is right?
Certainly, we do know that not all career are God glorifying, hence, we need to find out how we can channel all God-given resources in us to please Him.
Examples of what I mean is as an actor, acting films and being nude or committing immorality for the sake of making money, or working as a profession doctor to terminate life all these will not be God honoring.
Then how do you choice your career that honors God:
Discover you God-given talent
Ask yourself what your interests, skills, work-related values, and personality are.
You might want to meet with a career development professional, i.e. career counselor or career development facilitator (in the school or work place). A career development professional will use various tools to help you evaluate your interests, personality, skills, and values.
Answer these questions -- as honestly as possible -- recording your responses so you can refer back to them.
What do you love to do in your free time?
What are the skills that come naturally to you without much thought or effort?
If you could do any job in your life, what would you choose?
What types of things energize you?
What activities, subjects, or causes have you been deeply involved with?
What are some areas in which your family and friends consider you an expert?
When you are online, or at a bookstore or library, what subjects most appeal to you?
What kind of work environment fits you best?
What do you most value in life? From work?
What types of volunteering have you done -- or wish you have done?
What types of career paths have your closest friends followed?
Do you possess deeply held beliefs that you have a calling in life?
What are the types of things that people ask you for help with?
What are some of the big goals you want to achieve in our life?
These hopefully will guide you in the choice of career.
Having discussed the issue of discovering your potentials and choosing the right career, let’s now consider how to maximize them. The following tips will certainly be of help.
How do we maximize our potentials?
Pursuit of and Commitment to God Ps 42.1-2;3,1,2; 143.6;2chro 26.5
Prevent slothful (laziness kills) Romans 12vs 11
Persistent Prayers 2chro 4.9,10,pro 16.3
Passion and strong zest for what you believe in. Ecc 9 vs 10
Power of the will Dan 1.8
Proper time management Eph 5.16, col 4.5
Positioning yourself with the right resource people
Profitable preparation pro.24.27
Persistence and perspiration(have a go getting spirit; never quit)
Postpone nothing
Pass not by any opportunity unnoticed neither let any opportunity pass you unnoticed/ tapped into; always open your eyes and your mind and possess a good observational skill. Job 33.16
Practically deal with low self esteem, self worth and your personal fears and worries. Ecc 11.4-5; ps 139.14
