Kodak declared bankruptcy in 2012 because they were not prompt enough to keep up with developing technology, according to David Tristan in On This Date: Kodak declares bankruptcy, 11 years later, posted Jan 19, 2023 / 11:40 AM EST. They were overtaken by rivals like Nikon, Canon, Sony, and Fuji.

In her book Mindset, Dr. Carol Dweck teaches that someone with a fixed mindset wants to continue doing what is comfortable. However, another with a growth mindset embraces challenges to become better. With a fixed mindset you believe you cannot change whereas with a growth mindset you believe you can.

We have experienced areas in which we advanced because we were forced to. We would not have one so otherwise because change seemed too uncomfortable or scary to undertake on our own. Dr. Benjamin Hardy in Be Your Future Self Now advocates envisioning who you want to be in the future and acting based on that reality now. It starts with a picture.

The picture we had years or even days ago, got us to where we are today. To achieve ambitious goals would require us to become different people or we would need to conceptualize a different picture of ourselves. What is your picture of your future? God has a colorful picture for us.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

(NIV, Jeremiah 29:10)

The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men, nor was the hair on their heads singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had even the smell of fire touched them.

(NASB, Daniel 3:27)

The bible tells the story of the Hebrew men who were ordered by their king to be thrown into a blazing fiery furnace. Although the ropes that tied up their hands and feet were burned off, they were not torched. They were placed in that hot situation because they chose to remain true to God and not worship a false god.

Today, we are faced with countless false gods. They could be money, fame, food, entertainment, or athletes, to name a few. We may feel that if we do not conform to societal norms, we have more to lose. But here are seven takeaways from this story.

1. If we choose to honor God, He may not remove the trial but will be with us while we are in it.
2. Others will notice God working for us.
3. Those who attempt to burn us will be burned themselves.
4. The challenge will not kill us, but the heat will destroy the restrictions we had before getting into it.
5. When we emerge on the other side, nobody will be able to tell we went through a blazing hot trial.
6. We can win over the haters by our victory.
7. God will get the glory for our triumph!

Here is a reminder to not run away from any hot fiery scary challenge we face because with God, we are fireproof!

This morning during my exercise I noticed a neighbor’s sprinkler sprouting water on their lawn (between 30 and 50 psi). When I got into my shower to freshen up, the water was a different pressure allowing me to enjoy a soothing experience (40 to 50 psi). The pressure in the toilet tank did not need as much pressure as the other two situations because the target was different (10 to 15 psi). We all have witnessed firefighters in action, be it on a television screen or in person, and the water from their hoses blasting with a sense of urgency (between 116 and 290 psi).

Who wouldn’t love to rapidly go from modest means to millionaire, or from novice in a chosen skill to mastery? Yet various objectives require varied amounts of effort (psi) and focus to produce the desired result.

Even if the water pressure is appropriate through say a hose, with a nozzle you change the flow rate. If the desired space is now smaller, concentrating the water flow through it effectively increases the force of the spray. In money terms that’s called leverage. If you are not getting the results you want, it is because there is something you don’t know or aren’t executing. Try adjusting your effort or even forming improved alliances to give you more leverage.

Today assess your water pressure to determine if you are exhibiting sufficient concentrated and leveraged effort to acquire your target result. For the sprinkler, the result was a wide spray to saturate the lawn, for the shower it was moderate rain to wash off dirt, for the toilet it was a casual flow to fill up the tank for the next flush, for the fire hose it is high pressure to extinguish a fire rapidly. They all start with a sprinkle though.

But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is a reward for your work.

(NASB, 2 Chronicles 15:7)

Whatever you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men.

(NLV, Colossians 3:23)

When I was in Junior High School in Trinidad (about 13 years old), I had a side hustle. I sold delicious mangoes I would pick from the tree in my family’s yard. Within minutes of getting to school, my stash would be sold. I also sold snack foods my mom made. Not only were those selling quickly too, but I had started to collect orders in advance for the next day. The word began to spread, and it got to the principal, who called me to his office. He asked me to stop because I was running the cafeteria competition. I did so immediately and took it as a compliment. Today I am an aspiring entrepreneur.

As you reflect on your past years, you may also have underlying passions. Maybe, there is something you said you would do or get back to. Or maybe, someone discouraged you from continuing to take bold steps in pursuit of that passion. It is not too late to continue the pursuit. Make a step today in that direction, no matter how small, and don’t give up!

A river cuts through a rock not because of its power, but its persistence.

Jim Watkins