Over the past few weeks I have been reading a book that is small in size but powerful in its message! Where Did the Gift Go by Ricky Roberts III was a thought provoking read with much left to the imagination about what we really did with the gift.

The gift that Ricky is referring to is the Gift of Life. Throughout the entire book, Ricky is sure to let the reader know that yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is not promised but today is here and we have to live it to the fullest! It is a message that I received loud and clear yet he said it in the gentlest manner without beating the message in.

Some of the messages I received by reading Where Did The Gift Go were…

• To embrace each moment wherever you are and with whomever you are with!
• Find the beauty in differences. This is a good one for people who have issues with things or people unlike themselves!
• Stay focused on the path I am called to pursue!
• Don’t let the stuff get in the way of what life is really about!

Again, those are only some of the messages I got. Each chapter and just about every page provides a profound message! I was thoroughly amazed by how this tiny book of only 120 pages.  The chapters in this book are short and the entire book can be read in about two to three hours. However, my suggestion would be that the reader consume it like you do a good piece chocolate…one bite at a time with intentional chewing! You get more nutrients that way

The one thing I would have liked for the book to have was more of Ricky’s reflective words of wisdom and maybe a few questions or discussion guide at the end of the book.

I enjoyed Where Did the Gift Go so much so that I decided to make it the book for the re-launch of the Integration Book Club for May! I would love to have you come out and discuss this book with me on the last Thursday of May at 9:00pm EST. Be sure to subscribe to the Life and Business Community mail list because you will get the discussion free, along with the call in number! You will also be able to locate the call in number on the Integration Book Club page close to the date of the monthly online number!

You can also join Ricky and I next Monday, May 3 at 1pm EST when Ricky will be my guest on Integrated Talk. I am sure this will be a great interview!

This month’s Integration Book Club Pick is one that will help you discover your personality, how it relates to others and how it can help you in your quest for integration.

While Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself is not a business book, it can help you find a way to connect with your market in a more unique way. Knowing your personality is also to valuable in life. Your personality is who you are. If you get that then you can design a lifestyle that fits who you are.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will talk more in depth about Personality Plus, our personalities and integrated balance.

If you are on the Integration Weekly subscriber list then you received this month’s discussion material. If not then I suggest you sign up for the ezine because that is how you get a hold the discussion material for the book of the month.

Today I think the best way to start is to actually talk about the assessment you took.

What did you think of what personality assessment revealed about you? Was it you? Were you surprised? How did it help you?

For those who did not get the discussion guide or the profile descriptions, here are the type of personality discussed in Florence’s book:

The ‘Personality Plus’ personality profiles

• Choleric: This is the commander-type. Cholerics are dominant, strong, decisive, stubborn and even arrogant.

• Melancholy: This is the mental-type. Their typical behavior involves thinking, assessing, making lists, evaluating the positives and negatives, and general analysis of facts.

• Sanguine: This is the social-type. They enjoy fun, socializing, chatting, telling stories – and are fond of promising the world, because that’s the friendly thing to do.

• Phlegmatic: This is the flat-type. They are easy going, laid back, nonchalant, unexcitable and relaxed. Desiring a peaceful environment above all else

Each personality has its strengths and weaknesses and Personality Plus covers each of these points very well. I know some people who relish in their weaknesses, seeing it as more of a way to be a bully, or lazy, or depressed based on their personality type. However, this should not be.

For the Faith-filled business owner, the goal should be to work out those weaknesses and to draw on the strengths of your personality. There is never an excuse for mediocrity in the life of a Child of God. To enjoy using the weak parts of your personality to manipulate, or find reason not to do something, is simply unacceptable.

Let’s explore this a little further.

Do you think that the weak parts of you should shine through in your business? Why or why not?

What are the dangers of using those weaknesses in the wrong way in business?

How do you use your strengths?

I cannot wait to see what you have to say about today’s book club discussion!

When was the last time you picked up a book or magazine? If your answer is when you were in school, then you need some book nourishment. Your brain needs books and magazines and it is good for you too.

While it is true that some people love to read and others just don’t; you could say that those who don’t may not like the reading material. I once knew a little boy who hated to read and his mother got smart and picked up books based on, of all things, his favorite video game. That little boy is now a young man and he reads all the time.

If you are not a avid reader or you find that book do nothing for you, then maybe you should take the opportunity to find out what type of reading ignites your senses. A good book can give you a whole new outlook on life and business. It helps your creative process and gives you a lot of food for thought. If you are a blogger, a good book can give you tons of topics to work with.

Everyone should have the experience of reading at least one book like that compels them in some way.

Try to pick up a magazine and scan the table of contents for a story that peaks your interest. Read it and see what you learn. Try to find something new to read each day. It could be an article in the newspaper, magazine, or reading a book by a favored author.

Reading is a good way to relax too. Maybe there is a stack of books in your room that you were meaning to get around to but have not as yet. You can unwind for an hour or two one weekend or evening with one of those books instead of allowing them to collect dust. Let the words on the page push away all of the pressures from the day. Open your mind to new ways of thinking.

Reading a little each day keeps the mind sharp. Our brains go numb from lack of regular stimulation. Getting those reading muscles going again makes a big difference.

Learning to read and then actively continuing to read stretches our brain in new ways. We may even learn to think “outside the box.”

Here at the Life and Business Integration Center we have a monthly book club and I want to give you a personal invite. The Integration Book Club is a great way to start or enhance your reading journey, meet new people, discovering like-minded individuals, look at the world from different perspectives, and most all it is a FREE mentoring option.

Our first book is a great fiction read with relevant life lessons. We will be meeting in September to discuss “Mom’s The Word” by Marilyn Griffith. It is an excellent quick read that I truly learned a great deal from. You can read about the book on my mom blog where Marilyn stopped by to share a delightful story and you can also read a post I wrote about what the book meant to me.

To learn more about the Integration Book Club and sign up, simply click here.