Our Heavenly Father told us how to achieve success!
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein
day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:
for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8).
The FIRM FAITH Leadership Success Accelerator is the only one of its kind globally that uses relevant and
timely principles from God's words to explicitly challenge those who lead in academia and beyond,
to exercise firm faith in God to make nine life-changing decisions to achieve true success with God,
before and after you retire, without sacrificing your wellbeing or your God-given desires.
Leverage Wisely
- Spend quality time with God consistently
- Identify the desires/interests
that God placed in your heart - Sharpen your relational and leadership coaching skills to lead yourself and others wisely
Envision Strategically
- Design meaningful models to transform yourself and others while seeking God first
- Prioritize areas for institutional and personal growth, while managing your finances well
- Identify your ideal audience
Advance Authentically
- Plan your authentic offering to inspire yourself and others (See examples in the FAQs below)
- Choose your teachers wisely to help you hone important skills, without limiting your options
- Maintain a Healthy lifestyle
Delegate Deliberately
- Nurture faithful and fulfilled workers and students to achieve true success for all
- Develop efficient systems
- Choose wise leaders to execute goals that are aligned with your God-given and institutional aims
Why should I take the success accelerator?
"I know the plans I have for you,” announces the Lord. “I want you to enjoy success.
I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come." Jeremiah 29:11, NIRV.
The root word in the verse above that is translated as success is Shalom, which means soundness,
completeness, welfare, and peace! The word Shalom has its root in the word Shalem,
which is translated as well-being, health, prosperity, safety, secure, trusted, perfect peace, etc.
The FIRM FAITH Leadership Success Accelerator, will challenge you to exercise firm faith to make nine wise decisions to experience true success in the most significant domains of your life, highlighted below, while nurturing your well-being, even if you think you are at the start or near the end of your work life!
For example, you may decide to develop a strategic plan for your department; or turn a regular professional development
into a Challenge, Institute, or a Summit; or you may plan to serve in other remarkable ways that are authentic to you.
Make Nine Wise, Life-Changing Decisions: Take
The FIRM FAITH Leadership Success Accelerator
DECISION 1: FATHER
Spend quality time with our Heavenly Father
Imagine planning and spending quality time with God consistently; without feeling bored, distracted, pressured by other matters, or falling asleep; even if you think you can't work with a plan. Imagine deciding your PREFERED ways to spend time with God!
For example, imagine being able to share a word, in season, with those who are weary!
"The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will." Isaiah 50:4
DECISION 2: INTERESTS
Align your goals with your interests: desires
Imagine working or serving in ways that are aligned with your interests (God-given desires), gifts and convictions! Imagine being skilled at what you do, being eager to improve your skills in certain areas, and working with all your might! “Do you know a hard-working man? He shall be successful and stand before kings!” (Proverbs 22:29).
Imagine planning your authentic offering; without having serious regrets or losing your peace; even if you are currently not sure what your God-given desires are!
"He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” Psalm 145:19
DECISION 3: RELATIONSHIPS
Invest in your significant relationships
Imagine investing in your significant relationships (e.g., professional colleagues, family, friends, neighbors); without sacrificing your wellbeing; even if you currently have a tight schedule.
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Psalms 133:1
"...You shall love thy neighbour as youself…” Mark 12:31
DECISION 4: MODEL
Design your authentic model
Imagine designing a model that you may use to teach yourself and others how to achieve certain meaningful goals or transform your lives for God’s glory; without feeling like an imposter; even if you have not yet fully mastered what you want to teach!
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
"Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us." Titus 2:7-8
DECISION 5: FINANCES
Manage your finances wisely
Imagine managing your finances very well,
without ignoring God’s financial success principles; even if you feel you have little or no resources!
How do you plan to be a wise steward of the resources that God entrusted you with? What will you invest in on a regular basis for God’s glory (e.g., tithes, offerings, expenses, charity, savings)?
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34
"But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth..." Deuteronomy 8:18
DECISION 6: AUDIENCE
Identify your ideal audience
Imagine serving a group of people (whose characteristics or circumstances move your heart or get you excited), without feeling like an imposter; even if you are currently not sure which circumstances
or set of characteristics to focus on.
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24
“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Matthew 25:40
DECISION 7: INSPIRATION
Inspire yourself and others
Imagine knowing exactly what inspires you, who inspires you, when you tend to be more inspired and acting on that knowledge, without ignoring the factors that could hinder your inspiration. Imagine being a great inspiration to others by God’s grace!
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 6:13-14
"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalms 27: 13-14
DECISION 8: TEACHERS
Choose wise teachers for transformation
Imagine deciding, ahead of time, who could help you hone certain important skills diligently to transform yourself and others! Imagine deciding whether or not you need new or more wise teachers to help you succeed; without limiting your reach or possibilities; even if you already feel very skilled or knowledgeable!
"Teach the wise, and they will become even wiser." Proverbs 9:9
The Lord says, “I will teach you and guide you in the way you should live..." Psalms 32:8
"...Your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers." Isaiah 30:20
DECISION 9: HEALTH
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Imagine being able to effectively attend to the things that are important to your health!
Imagine having a plan to take care of others and yourself; without sacrificing your well-being; even if you need help to RESET NOW (rest, exercise, sunshine, encouragement, temperance, nutrition, outdoor, water)!
"Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]." 3 John 2 (AMP)
"Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security." Jeremiah 33:6
Frequently Asked Questions
What's in it for me?
What is an Authentic Offering?
What's the schedule?
What's the agenda for the live sessions?
Can I still plan my success if I have health issues?
May I tell others about this opportunity?
Hi, I'm Firm Faith
As a child, I despised my name. Now, I realize that God has called me to help leaders, like you, exercise firm faith to make wise decisions to achieve true success in your most important life domains, without sacrificing your well-being!
I was blessed to see my name in Isaiah 7:9: "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."
In the book, titled A Call to Stand Apart, E. G. White noted, "True success in any line of work is not the result of chance or accident or destiny. It is the outworking of God's providences, the reward of faith and discretion, of virtue and perseverance. Fine mental qualities and a high moral tone are not the result of accident. God gives opportunities; success depends upon the use made of them." p. 56.
I invite you to join me and other wise leaders, and take the FIRM FAITH Leadership Success Accelerator!
What Leaders Noted about Firm Faith's Work (Unsolicited)
Virtual Course Design
Challenge Participant
"I can honestly say that putting your tips
and tools into practice made me feel more
confident, helped me to stay focused on the objectives, and I am sure it will reflect in
students' learning too in a positive way...
I already have seen a major improvement
in the way I look at handling my courses.
Your name and your talk will always be
there in my mind...
Your firm faith principles are also very inspiring….emotional enough to force me
to think deeply about life and strong
enough to help people stay motivated…
I learned a lot from you both about the
course and about life….
Thank you so much for all your efforts. I
thoroughly enjoyed being part of your class."
Dr. Mahwish Anjam, Assistant
Professor, College of Business,
Al Ghurair University, Dubai
The Wise Leader Challenge Participant and This Works for
Me Virtual Summit Speaker
"You have always been one of the most innovative and forward-thinking individuals
in higher education. I appreciate what
you’ve been doing. You are a leader.”
Dr. Doyle Friskney,
Senior Fellow, Academic Affairs, Council
on Post Secondary Education;
Retired Chief Technology Officer,
University of Kentucky
This Works for Me
Virtual Summit Speaker
"Please know that what you are doing is
of great service to educators. It's an innovative
way to produce anytime/anywhere
professional development, on demand. It is
great to learn from my peers in their
areas of expertise, and I thank you
for including me in your scaffolded learning community. I wish you continued success and
applaud your work."
Dr. Denise Malloy
Executive Director, HBCU C2
Global SMART Technology Innovation Center, Tennessee State University
Virtual Course Design Challenge Observer
"Thank you for sharing your model of Weekly Challenges with us and allowing us to sit in on your Zoom call. Our Challenges have been going extremely well...Your program model had such an impact on us..."
Dr. Carla Vecchiola,
Director, Hub for Teaching & Learning Resources, University of
Michigan-Dearborn
Leadership Coaching
and Consultation
"Firm Faith was instrumental in my
decision to pursue my passion through
entrepreneurship. For the past two years,
I have been growing ATTECS, LLC - an
independent center for teaching and learning.
But, it came about as a result of much
deliberation and reflection: "What is your
heart's desire?" discussion
with Firm Faith really helped
clarify my choice."
Dr. Ella Epshteyn
Founder/CEO, ATTECS, LLC
Virtual Course Design Challenge Participant
Thank you for running your Virtual Course
Design challenge last summer in a way that
was open to the broader academic community.
I learned a lot not only from the content that
you presented, but also through appreciating
the design of the associated Canvas course...
I also appreciated the meetups you hosted
on Zoom to talk through some of the ideas.
I enjoyed meeting others from outside my
college who were facing the same challenges.
Overall, I feel grateful to have had this
structured and supportive environment in
which to think through my choices and celebrate everyone’s progress at the end of the session.
I have brought my perspectives from the
challenge back to my campus to help my
colleagues as they re-designed their
courses. I have also since redesigned
most of my Canvas course spaces following principles from your [challenge], and I
believe that this has helped my students
navigate the online spaces of my course even better. I intend to keep these design
features when we return face-to-face.
Thanks again for making an impact!
Dr. Elizabeth Leininger,
Assistant Professor, Division of Natural Sciences, New College of Florida
ALIVE Challenge Participant
"It was extremely helpful to have a conversation with you today. I just left the meeting with the Provost, and they like the approach to the
faculty academy. I truly enjoyed the learning experience!" [in the Accelerated Leadership in Virtual Environments Challenge]
Dr. Michael Dailey
Director of Distance Learning and
Instructional Design, Office of Distance
Education,
Kentucky State University
Virtual Course Design Challenge and ALIVE Challenge Participant
"Thank you so much for the benefit of
your wisdom...learned so much and shared
with others. The students will benefit from the learning I received from you!."
Dr. Arlene Nicholas,
Professor, Faculty Fellow, 5-Year Program Coordinator, Salve University
Leadership Coaching Institute Participant
Firm Faith, "You are truly a gift to
higher education."
Dr. Debra Ferdinand-James,
Senior Lecturer, University of the
West Indies, Mona Campus
The FIRM FAITH Leadership Success
Accelerator Investment Packages
About Firm Faith
Dr. Firm Faith Watson currently serves as the Director of the Faculty Development Center at Murray State University. She is a leadership coach and the President and Founder of Firm Faith University, the official sponsor of the Wise Leader Virtual Summit, the Wise Leader Challenge, the Wise Leader Institute the FIRM FAITH Leadership Success Accelerator and the Wise Leader Conference.
She designed and facilitated professional development to serve leaders in the United States and beyond including the Leadership Coaching Institute, the ALIVE - Accelerated Leadership in Virtual Environments Challenge, and the Virtual Course Design Challenge.
She hosted the freely available This Works for Me Virtual Summit.
She collaborated with leaders at Murray State University to host the Fall Faculty Summit, New Faculty Orientation, New Faculty Academy, and to lead the university's major transition to online learning during the pandemic.
Dr. Watson may be reached at [email protected].
