day 177: Landscaping

Part of doing business is creating the environment that we ask people to work within. For most companies they don't have to worry about the outside of the building because they rent office space, etc. But for some the landscaping is all part of the environment that sends the overall message to the employees about how the company is doing. I remember when one of my CEOs asked me if I wanted to manage the facilities department. I said, "no". But, I also said that I would take it on because it gave me responsibility for the "environment", which I thought was important for the overall culture and attitude of how people would feel about the company. Years later a friend was walking on our campus and she commented on how well the company must be doing and I said, "why is that?" She went on to tell me that with her company any time there were any type of expense cuts to be made the first thing to go were the flowers, the grass mowing frequency, etc. Everyone could tell how the company was doing by the condition of the landscaping. There are many signs on how we all are doing in our work, including the attitude and outlook of each of us as we work throughout the day. The reflection of our emotions in how we treat other people and how they see us interacting and responding to challenges and problems is important. In Jeremiah each of us are compared to the impact that we can have as part of the landscaping of our companies and to those around us; "But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank." There is nothing more beautiful, serene and inviting than sitting under a tree beside a riverbank. Imagine that our companies were filled with more of these types of people who were inviting, peaceful, calm, strong and steadfast. We can be and should be those people. We can be that part of the landscaping for others. All we have to do is put our trust where our trust should be; in the Lord with all of our hope and confidence directed towards Him. May today you be as strong and steadfast as the riverbank tree!

Reference: Jeremiah 17:7-8 (New Living Testament)