Weekend Challenge - The Character Inventory We've covered 2 of the 6 gifts. Now it's time for a deeper check. This weekend, I want you to do something most men avoid: Take a brutally honest inventory of your character. THE CHALLENGE: Block out 30 minutes. No distractions. Answer these questions in your phone notes or journal: WISDOM: - Do I have systems for decisions, or do I wing it? - Do I learn from failures, or repeat them? - Am I more teachable or more defensive than last year? JUSTICE: - Do I treat people fairly when no one's watching? - Do I keep promises even when inconvenient? - Do I hold myself to the standards I expect from others? HUMILITY: - Do I regularly acknowledge my need for others? - Do I give credit to people who helped me succeed? - Can I admit when I'm wrong without excuses? SERVICE: - How are my gifts benefiting others? - If I achieve my goals, who else benefits? - Do I view people as valuable or as means to my ends? AFTER YOU COMPLETE IT: Comment below with ONE area where you're strong and ONE area where you need serious work. Real growth requires real honesty. See you Monday with Gift #3.

The Gift of AUTHORITY Authority is different from power. POWER = The ability to make things happen AUTHORITY = The right to make decisions that others must follow You have authority if you're: - A father - A manager/leader - A business owner - A coach/mentor - Anyone people look to for direction Here's the trap: Authority makes you think you're smarter than you are. THE AUTHORITY TRAP: When people have to listen to you, you start thinking: - Your opinions are facts - Pushback is disrespect - Questions are challenges to your position - You don't need counsel anymore - Solomon had ultimate authority. God literally told people to obey him. And that authority made him unteachable. THE AUTHORITY TEST: Answer honestly: - When's the last time someone challenged your decision and you actually changed your mind? - Do you have anyone in your life who can tell you "no"? - Are you easier or harder to correct now than 5 years ago? - YOUR MOVE: Identify ONE person in your life who has permission to challenge your authority. Tell them: "I need you to call me out when I'm wrong." Then and this is the hard part LISTEN when they do. Comment who you're asking and what you're permitting them to challenge.

Information doesn’t change men. The environment does. Put a disciplined man in isolation → drift increases. Put him among sharpened peers → standards rise naturally. Growth follows proximity. That’s the design behind Solomon’s Table. Pull up a seat

The First Gift - POWER "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." - Lord Acton But here's what most men miss: You don't need to be a CEO or politician to have power. You have power if: ✅ People depend on your decisions ✅ You control resources others need ✅ Your choices impact others' lives ✅ You have influence in your family, workplace, or community The question isn't whether you have power. It's whether your power is building or destroying. POWER CORRUPTS WHEN: - You use it for personal gain instead of service - You create systems that benefit you at others' expense - You stop listening to people "beneath" you - You punish honesty and reward flattery POWER BUILDS WHEN: - You use it to elevate others - You create opportunities for people who can't pay you back - You remain teachable regardless of position - You protect the vulnerable instead of exploiting them REFLECTION QUESTION: What's one way you've used power BADLY in the last 30 days? What's one way you can use it BETTER this week? Comment below. Own it.

Before we talk about guarding our gifts, we have to be honest about where we stand. The Solomon Factor is this: When your greatest strengths quietly begin turning into your biggest liabilities. Solomon didn’t collapse overnight. He drifted. And drift leaves warning signs. Below are 7 subtle indicators that responsibility may be outpacing restraint. Take a quiet moment and assess yourself. THE 7 WARNING SIGNS 1️⃣ Making small compromises you once would have resisted. 2 No longer listening to people who challenge you. 3 Expecting special treatment because of your position. 4 Keeping things private that you would question in someone else. 5 Surrounding yourself only with agreement6️⃣ Justifying behavior you would critique in others7️⃣ Neglecting the relationships or principles that built your foundation Reflection (No Posturing Just Honesty) You don’t need to defend yourself or impress anyone. Just consider: - How many surfaced for you? - Which one carries the most risk right now? - What small guardrail could you build this week? If you’re comfortable, share your reflection below. Listening counts.Reflection counts. Honesty matters most.