Do you like to wait?
If you’re anything like me, the answer is a resounding ‘no’.
However, waiting is often unavoidable and even beneficial…
What if, instead of frustration, your waiting brought about transformation?
Last month, we talked about the science of finding your purpose in life. In case you missed it, we covered four common steps to get unstuck and build momentum:
- Explore
- Learn
- Assess
- Share
This month, we will explore how patience and waiting are actually part of God’s plan in helping you find your purpose in life.
During the webinar, Lloyd Reeb and Doug Piper unpack this missing piece with HT Alum, Mike Shields. Mike is 15 years into his second half calling and having the time of his life.
But there were years when he needed patience. What he knows now may be a significant help to you on your journey…
During our time together, Mike and Lloyd shared insight on the power of pushing pause, taking time to reprioritize, and letting go of what is no longer important.
5 Keys to Persevering with Patience
1. Leverage seasons of waiting to get clear – Mike shared the importance of focusing on the 3 Cs – getting clear on his core, capacity, and context. Consider how you can examine your passions, giftedness, and temperament, create margin, and design a platform that fits.
2. Remember that your Calling is a gift to receive, not a goal to achieve – Discovering your Ephesians 2:10 Calling is more akin to archeology than construction – you aren’t so much building something as you are uncovering what is already there.
3. Gifts are for service, not status – Accept the invitation to “make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” (Galatians 6:4-5, The Message)
4. There is no finish line – This is a lifelong journey of learning and growing. We’ll never have it all figured out, but we can take steps forward as we trust that God has uniquely prepared us for the path ahead.
5. Fasten your seatbelt – Be prepared for an exciting adventure and be encouraged to stick with it. As Bob once told Mike, “when opportunities come along, don’t duck!”
Ready to put these principles into practice? Participating in a Halftime Roundtable will help you find and live out your purpose while gleaning best practices from like-minded peers.
Just getting started? At Halftime, our programs bring greater impact, purpose, and joy for the whole family.
Getting connected with a group of like-minded peers and a Halftime Certified™ Coach to create a custom, holistic plan for the days ahead could be a great next step. How could our fellowship of friends best come alongside you?
ABOUT OUR FEATURED ALUM, MIKE SHIELDS:
Mike Shields is President and CEO of Piedmont Trust Company. He guides strategic direction and oversees all functional areas of the firm and serves on Piedmont’s Board. He earned a B.A. from UNC Charlotte, an M.B.A. from UNC Chapel Hill, and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute. He began his career at NationsBank (now Bank of America) in Charlotte. After 10 years there, he joined Scudder, Stevens & Clark in New York as an equity portfolio manager in 1992. He subsequently joined Campbell, Cowperthwait, an investment boutique owned by U.S. Trust Corporation, where he was promoted to President and CEO and chaired Campbell’s Investment Policy Committee. In 2003, Mike returned to North Carolina where he continued his career in the wealth management industry.
Mike has over three decades of experience in the financial services industry with the last ten years primarily working with people serious about investing wisely, living with purpose, and finishing well. He has a diverse investment background, including significant Wall Street executive experience, that has led to a skill set with which he helps others gain clarity regarding their life goals, then implement strategies to pursue lives of enduring impact. He had the privilege of working for the Halftime organization in 2003-2004 during which he helped launch the Halftime Institute with Lloyd Reeb and their mentor Bob Buford.
Mike has served on numerous boards and is currently a Director and Chairman of the UNC Charlotte Investment Fund, Director and Trustee of the Royce Funds in New York, and on the UNC Charlotte Foundation and Endowment Boards. He is also Chairman of the Halftime Carolinas Board. Mike and his wife, Marion, live in Charlotte and have three children.
