Day 3 Training - The Middle

This is the time to share what the obstacle, challenge or problem was that you faced...and to do it in a very clear and concise way.

The first step in doing that is to determine what the central obstacle, challenge or problem was. For some people it helps to write out the whole long story first and then pick out the most important points to include in your sentence. All of those important details won't go to waste or be forgotten. Those times when you have more time to share your story is when you can include more details. As an example, I could include something like the 5 months prior to my being given the choice to resign or be fired I had officiated at 14 funerals, averaging 1 per week. Most of them were people I had never met meaning I had to spend more time with the family so I knew something about those who had died, most of the funerals were in funeral homes scattered around the city or neighboring towns, and the burials were anywhere from a close cemetery to one that was 60 miles away. Or I could add that my sense of devastation and failure was heightened by the fact that I was the first female pastor to serve that congregation.

Those details add a lot of life and meaning to the challenge of being told that one way or the other I was leaving. But the main problem or obstacle was that I was being told that, one way or the other I was leaving that congregation.That's the part that goes into your second sentence.

The second step is to add a bit about how you felt. Where you angry, hurt, depressed, overwhelmed, lost, ashamed, feeling guilty, numb.... Listeners need to know the impact that challenge, obstacle or problem had on you.  Those feelings are what connect your listeners to you. Those feelings are where they see us as real, as like them.

The third step is to have the bridge. The bridge is what moved you from the problem or challenge to your solution and wins. The bridge is how you solved your problem or overcame your obstacle or challenge. The bridge also allows others to realize that you have a path for them to move from their obstacle or challenge to a solution and wins.

Day 3 Homework - The Middle

This is where you get into the challenge, obstacle or problem that you solved. There are 3 parts to writing all of this in your second sentence:

1. Describe the actual problem, obstacle or challenge - and get to the heart of it
2. Include how you felt when your encountered this challenge, obstacle or problem
3. Add the bridge - a general statement about how you solved this for yourself 

This is your assignment for Day 3. 

Remember to put you result into the Facebook page as a comment in the post for Day 3 - The Middle

If you have questions, ask them in the Facebook group. Posting your homework there is what gets you entered in the drawing for a prize for the day.

Also, there is a live Q&A time coming up tomorrow.  Details on the time and where will be included in the Day 4 email and also posted in the Facebook group.

Have fun with this and I look forward to reading your middle sentences.