Man In The Pew

For men who seek to follow Jesus in all of life - at work, at home, at church, and at play

Holy Imagination: Learning How to Dream Again with Cliff Ravenscraft MITP038

Holy Imagination: Learning How to Dream Again with Cliff Ravenscraft MITP038

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Have you forgotten how to dream? Do you wonder what might happen if you actually pursued your dreams? God called us to have a holy imagination where we can dream and imagine a future that is better than today.

Cliff Ravenscraft, commonly known as the Podcast Answerman, shares his story of letting go of a successful career as an insurance seller to becoming a content creator. Now he wants to help thousands of men learn to dream again and pursue those dreams.

ABOUT THIS SHOW:

  • Cliff shares his testimony and how he started Podcast Answerman
  • Cliff reveals his passion for helping people learn to dream again, releasing their holy imagination
  • Cliff unveils a vision for thousands of men and women gathering to pursue their dreams and passions

Cliff was first introduced to us by Mark Mason in episode 28: http://maninthepew.com/obesity-silent-enemy-church-mitp028/

HOLY IMAGINATION: LEARNING TO DREAM AGAIN

Cliff started his career in the family insurance business. After 12 years ago he found himself bored and needing an outlet. He discovered podcasting and it became a passion and even an obsession. But he couldn’t see leaving the comfort of his success in the family business. Until his wife gave him the ultimatum:

“Give your 90-day notice now. On January 1st you will be full-time in this business. Our kids need their dad back and I need my husband back.”

He learned the first important lesson about learning to dream:

Lesson #1: We need the support of our spouses to have permission to pursue our dreams.

The second lesson is almost as important:

Lesson #2: Surround yourself with wise counselors

Without counsel plans fail,
     but with many advisers they succeed. – Proverbs 15:22

Lesson #3: Form a mastermind with 4 to 5 guys who will challenge you to become your best self

Aaron Walker talked about this in episode 22 http://maninthepew.com/iron-sharpens-iron-join-mastermind-mitp022/ 

Lesson #4: Listen to podcasts and read books by those who have already learned to pursue their dreams

Cliff’s channel on YouTube is dedicated to helping people realize it’s okay to dream and you might be able to make a living pursuing your dream.

Don’t Keep Your Day Job by Cathy Heller is another great resource.

Lesson #5: Give yourself permission to dream. 

God is the creator of all things and he made us in His image. Therefore, as Francis Schaefer so eloquently said:

[clickToTweet tweet=”“The Christian is the one whose imagination should fly beyond the stars.” – Francis Schaefer” quote=”“The Christian is the one whose imagination should fly beyond the stars.” – Francis Schaefer”]

ABOUT CLIFF RAVENSCRAFT

Cliff is commonly known as The Podcast Answerman. He tells his story on this page on his website.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/cliffravenscraft

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cliffeotc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cliffravenscraft

SHOWNOTES:

Time Stamp Show Notes

1:35 – Proverbs 15
4:00 – Cliff inspired Mark Mason to improve his health
4:40 – Baseball card stats
7:34 – Faith story
14:46 – What do you want to be known for
31:40 – Having people believe in you for you to take the next step to follow your passion
33:01 – Advice to someone who wants to make a change
40:42 – Taking God’s direction to change
42:37 – Speaking with others and seeking advice out
43:39 – How long does it take to develop resource groups
46:39 – Changing from podcasting to video
52:24 – Teaching people to dream not just podcast – Learning to dream
56:41 – Example – Email about how to learn to dream
1:00 – Where to find Cliff: Youtube.com/cliffravenscraft and https://store.podcastanswerman.com/p/newsletter
1:02:21 – Closing prayer

Ambition: How to Get Focused on What Matters Most with Alejandro Reyes MITP037

Ambition: How to Get Focused on What Matters Most with Alejandro Reyes MITP037

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Do you struggle to balance your ambition to excel at work with your desire to be a family man?

As men, we were made to penetrate our world and make a mark. This drives us.

Too often we fail to bring this same energy into our family lives.

Alejandro Reyes, founder of Church Marketing Labs, experienced this as a child when his father left him and he has wrestled with this as a father and entrepreneur.

Through the wise counsel of a mentor, Alejandro discovered the ability to focus on just three things. This has enabled him to revolutionize his productivity, profitability and more importantly, his relational impact.

In this episode, we’ll explore those three areas of focus and how you can discover yours.

ABOUT THIS SHOW:

  • Alejandro shares his ambition to prove everyone wrong
  • The power of focusing on just three things
  • Discover why reading dead authors may not be boring and may the most important thing you do

AMBITION: How to Get Focused

“A man’s gift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.” Pr 18:16 (ESV)

[clickToTweet tweet=”“When an opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare.” says @alejandroreyes” quote=”“When an opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare.”” theme=”style5″]

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God! Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love (pg. 190)

C.S. Lewis: “I do not wish the ordinary reader to read any modern books. But if he must read only the new or only the old, I would advise him to read the old.”

Some old marketing books to read:

Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz

Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy

HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR FOCUS

  1. Ask your friends and family
  2. Ask yourself: “What would I do regardless if I got paid to do it or not?”
  3. Pray and test

It may take a couple of years of prayer and testing before you get honed in. But then use those words as the grid by which you decide what you pursue. Be vigilant about staying focused on what matters.

Make it your ambition to excel in these three areas. Remember that it takes 10,000 hours of focused effort to become an expert at something.

Other episodes to hear:

About ministry mindset: Tim Schmoyer says we’re all ministers.

About work/life balance: Dustin Stout on productivity Leslie Samuel on dealing with distractions

ABOUT ALEJANDRO REYES

Alejandro is a family man, the founder of Church Marketing Labs and a YouTuber with That Reyes Family

Reach Alejandro on social media:

Time Stamp Show Notes

00:52 – Proverbs 18:16 “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.”
2:24 – Baseball card stats
5:11 – Faith story
8:30 – Ambition and having a new drive
9:15 – Conflict between ambition and needing to provide
10:40 – How hard to push to make a mark in the world
11:20 – Life verse Proverbs 18:16 – Using your gifts
13:58 – Having balance and energy left over
14:12 – Fear of using your gifts and fear of being successful
16:45 – Expressing fears, assisted to transition
18:10 – Message to send children – Be people that strive for things
18:40 – Guide to help balance the drive
19:50 – Building your life around three words: Family, Thinking, Speaking
20:59 – Family: Family vlog – https://www.youtube.com/user/ThatReyesFamily
22:44 – Thinking: Spend time to think about strategy, and how to improve “when an opportunity comes it is too late to prepare”
29:07 – Speaking: Adding value and telling stories about Family and Thinking
31:28 – How he chose his three words: Ask people what you are good and passionate at
33:57 – Three words and focusing on ambition
36:50 – What has focusing on three words and ambition done financially for Alejandro
39:18 – Timing of developing a focus, how long does it take to see the benefits
42:29 – Wife has a different focus
44:25 – Where you can find him Alejandro ChurchMarketingLabs.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/alejandroreyes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alejandroreyes
45:27 – Closing prayer

How to Face Your Fears: Finding the Courage to Be You with Jeremy Vest MITP036

How to Face Your Fears: Finding the Courage to Be You with Jeremy Vest MITP036

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Do you feel more comfortable wearing cheeseburger socks or a three piece suit? How do you face your fears?

Jeremy Vest is a video strategist by day, skateboards at night and loves to wear cheeseburger socks. He hasn’t always felt so comfortable in his own skin. In this episode he shares how he became convinced that the world needs him to be authentic to who he is.

ABOUT THIS SHOW:

  • Jeremy shares how he became a Christian at age 33
  • Getting comfortable in your own skin can include wearing cheeseburger socks
  • Attacking your fears head on can make you stronger

HOW TO FACE YOUR FEARS

How do you face your fears when people dismiss you or tell you that you can never amount to anything good? That’s what Jeremy Vest has had to face. He clings to 5 truths that could help you in your journey.

He is like a tree
     planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
     and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:3)

#1: Root yourself in God’s word.

The secret to weathering the storms of life and being secure in who you are comes from being deeply rooted in God’s word. Jeremy’s life is a testimony to this fact. His father went to prison for life when Jeremy was 17. He was told he would end up just like his father–in prison for life.

Jeremy took that as a challenge and determined to be different.

#2: Don’t listen to the naysayers

In school Jeremy had many teachers tell him to give up. Plagued by dyslexia Jeremy was determined to learn anyway. Even though he flunked out of college 7 times he went on to not only get his degree, but he became a teacher for 5 years and wrote a text book that is in Harvard’s library and has sold over 10,000 copies (that’s a lot for a text book).

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

#3: Look for role models

As you try to establish your voice, look for people who are successful in your space. Watch them and learn how they do what they do. For Jeremy he found Tim Schmoyer to be an example. He was interviewed here.

#4: Remember there is a bigger cause

When you focus on a bigger cause and purpose it becomes easier to deal with setbacks and the naysayers. What’s your bigger vision that is driving you?

#5: Get comfortable in your own skin

Not everyone is comfortable wearing cheeseburger socks or being a 40-year old skateboarder, but what does that look like for you. There is only one you and the world needs to see you, hear from you and know you. Let Jeremy inspire you to step out of the shadows and be yourself.

ABOUT JEREMY VEST

Jeremy Vest is founder of Vidpow, the digital marketing society for brands, where he has gained over 1 billion views for customers like HP, Car and Driver and Service Master. He is also of a skateboard ministry called CrosseyedSkates.

Follow Jeremy online:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vidpowbam

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/videojeremy

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/vidpowbam

Time Stamp Show Notes

1:04 – Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
2:18 – Jeremy’s baseball card stats
2:50 – Jeremy’s faith story
7:02 – Facing difficult times
10:01 – Facing adversity with grace
10:50 – Scripture to persevere – Psalms 1:3
12:49 – Being your authentic self
15:44 – Crosseyedskates
21:05 – Stop playing it safe
24:44 – Changing your faults by taking them head on
27:55 – Building your courage
30:00 – Following Tim Schmoyer as a model
31:40 – Closing words from Jeremy
34:22 – Handling social media (YouTube) haters
36:15 – Where to find Jeremy: https://vidpow.com/ and Crosseyedskates
37:15 – Closing prayer