IPSAT Onboarding – Get the Most Out of This Experience

by | Jan 10, 2019 | Coaching, IPSAT

Please follow these simple steps to get the maximum value from this experience after you create your account:
  1. Be sure to watch the tutorial video on the front and back end of the onboarding process. The videos are short and informative.
  2. There is an Identity Overview Statement Worksheet download link on the final step of the onboarding process (under the video), right before taking the IPSAT. Spending a few minutes with this worksheet before you take the IPSAT will simplify the process of creating the initial draft of your Identity Overview Statement.
  3. There is a video on your IPSAT dashboard to help you prepare for your coaching session. I encourage you to watch it.
  4. There is a link to a pre-coaching prep worksheet on the IPSAT dashboard. It will upgrade your experience significantly if you print that and spend some time reflecting on it before the coaching session.
How else can I bring value to you? 

IPSAT Next – Crafting Your Identity Overview Statement

by | Jan 4, 2019 | Coaching

Woohoo! Congrats on completing the IPSAT assessment and coaching session!

If you have not already, please complete the coach evaluation sent via email from myipsat.com.  If the IPSAT has been helpful to you, please give a high rating.

Now What? (re)Crafting Your Identity Overview Statement

The IPSAT and coaching session gave much airtime to crafting your Identity Overview Statement. An excellent next action for you is to (re)craft your statement.

But first, some inspiration from a Bloomingdale Church participant. Here is his first draft of his Identity Overview Statement:

I care about helping people, if they want to be helped. I love learning new and interesting things. And I don’t like seeing people fail.

After coaching and (re)crafting, here is his Identity Overview Statement now:

I am a no nonsense, tell it like it is traditionalist, who stands for what is right. Going out of my way to help someone is not uncommon. I’m the peacemaker when needed, also can be the enforcer. Being a strategic thinker I can formulate a plan, put it in place fully aware of multiple possible outcomes and respond analytically. As an over-achiever I’ll challenge myself to be the best father/ husband/son/ect. And I also believe in leading by example in everything I do.

I recommend viewing this webinar “Craft Your Identity Statement” (click to open)

Here are the highlights (from the webinar by Steve Moore, President of nexleader/IPSAT):
  • Start with your identity – then work on your statement (You need to understand your identity first, before “word-smithing”)
    • Personality/MBTI – What words do I identify with the most?
    • Strengths – ie “I love learning and sharing what I learned with others” (learning strength)
    • Skills
    • Spiritual Gifts – Start by seeking to understand correct Biblical meaning
    • Passions – ie “an expression of my passion for…”
  • Make every word count (100 words in all)
    • Begin with “I am”
    • Ruthlessly get rid of filler words
  • Front load your statement – Prioritize first 20-25 words
    • 25 words are what you can comfortable saying in a normal conversation
    • Consider putting passions toward end
  • Focus on the balcony – not on the basement
    • Balcony-side: Reflection of my very best self
    • Basement-side: How my identity could derail me

Helpful Source Documents

How else can I bring value to you? 

Life Planning

Life Planning

by | Jan 3, 2019 | Life Planning

Financial planning is a widely accepted value in our society – “I will make a plan for growing my assets.”

Why not tell all of the accounts of our life what to do?

Over a year ago I started receiving coaching. One of the first things my coach did with me was to start me down a path of creating a “Life Plan.” Previously I had no knowledge of this concept. The wisdom in going through this process is that I now have a written map for the daily, weekly and long-term decisions I am making for my life. (In no way is it a replacement of being guided by my faith, but rather it is map for how I hear God speaking to me.)

I used Daniel Harkavy (Building Champions) and Michael Hyatt’s book “Living Forward.” It was an extremely helpful guide.

To launch, I cleared an entire day. I started with writing out my eulogy. Starting with the end in mind gave clarity to who I want to be. Next, I created 8 accounts of my life in which I wanted to focus.

Since beginning Life Planning one year ago, I have done the following to keep it actionable:

  1. Read my Life Plan every day for first 90 days.
  2. Added my Life Plan goals to my “Getting Things Done” priority management tool, and completed a weekly Life Plan review.
  3. Reviewed and updated my Life Plan 3 times.
  4. Completed a full-day review one-year later.