day 582: Timely Advice

Have you ever received a piece of advice or feedback that you said after, "I sure wish you would have told me this earlier and I could have done something about it!" We likely all have had this happen to us at one time or another. This is one of my beefs with an annual performance appraisal/feedback process. Because bosses know that they have a time in the year later to give the feedback they store it all up and hold it until that one moment and by then some of it is so old that it isn't actionable or relevant. Feedback and advice is not like wine. It does not get better with time. Feedback and advice is best when delivered as close to the event or circumstance as possible. It's a little like training a dog. It doesn't do any good to scold or reward a dog for something that happened earlier. To be most effective it has to be on the spot. I'm not saying we are like dogs, but maybe we are when it comes to feedback and advice. Look, if it was easy to give advice on the spot then we all would do it. We worry about whether or not we are going to say the right thing, or that we will be providing the right advice, or that we will hurt someone's feelings, etc. There is lots to consider, yes, but we should remember that timely advice can outweigh all the rest of the concerns. Solomon gives us a promise in Proverbs 25:11 about being timely; "Timely advice is as lovely as golden apples in a silver basket." Let's consider today if we are sitting on some advice and feedback that we need to give but have been hesitant to do so. Let's also be bold enough to go and seek the advice/counsel/feedback that we know is out for us but will not come to us unless we ask now. Let's let timeliness rule for a bit and see what comes of being able to take in and give out what can be most actionable.

Reference: Proverbs 25:11 (New Living Testament)

day 581: Associations

Any good recruiter or hiring manager knows that the best form of recruiting is to get a referral from someone who is really good. If someone who is really good refers them then that means that the person being referred will likely be good too. It is why social sites such as LinkedIn have become so important to recruiters because a social graph is being exposed that can tell us who is associated with whom. It works. Associations with others can have powerful, impacting and long-lasting influences on us. Our parents were always concerned about this weren't they? Who we associated with would have influence and bearing on how we conducted ourselves and behaved, or didn't. Even today, with whom we associate is important as they rub off on us and us on them. If we are with generally up, positive and uplifting attitude-minded people then it becomes really hard to be down when with that crowd. Vice-versa is also true. If we hang and associate with those who see the world and life in negative terms then we can find ourselves being pulled down and becoming just as negative. So, we should choose carefully and deliberately our associations. In Proverbs 22:24 we read; "Keep away from angry, short-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul." There you have it. We need to be very cognizant of the influences upon us if we are to keep the attitude and example that we know we want to keep. Think about this today. Where you are putting yourself in attitudinal harm's way, rethink those associations and consider a change or pattern to ensure that you are not being pulled down. It might be that if you do that, others around you at work start coming to associate with you because you are the uplifting one now.

Reference: Proverbs 22:24 (New Living Testament)

day 580: The Downfall From Pride

We work really hard over the years to get to the top of our game and then something can happen that tears it all down, potentially in an instant. Rome was built over generations but it burned within days. We read about those in our business sphere who get to the top only to tumble quickly and not be heard of again. What is this fault that causes the greatest to fall? It is pride. Pride is defined as: "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc." Yes, an inordinate high opinion of ourselves is the pride that can lead to our downfall. The day we begin to think we are the best boss, the best teacher, the best doctor, the best recruiter, the best teammate, the best salesperson, the best student, or the smartest thinker, etc., we open ourselves up to the downfall of pride. If we think we are the best then there is no one else to learn from or listen to for advice or counsel. If we think we are the best then we think we are untouchable and we do things that are thought of by others as too far-reaching or over the top. Pride is a dangerous attitude. In the books of the Chronicles, we read over and over of the Kings who fell because they became prideful and stopped listening to God. Uzziah was a prime example; "But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall." Have we become too prideful of what we do in our jobs? Have we let our pride squeeze away others from being able to talk to us and tell us what it really looks like? Have we let our pride get in the way of listening to God? Today, would be a good day to check our pride at the door and see what we hear and see differently. Let's not let ourselves become another statistic as one who fell because of pride.

Reference: 2 Chronicles 26:16 (New Living Testament)

day 579: Kids To Work Day

This year, on April 28th, it is the annual Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work Day. There is an organization that actually sponsors this for employers and employees and provides guidance on how to make the most of this day. You can learn more here: http://www.daughtersandsonstowork.org. Why I bring this up is because each and every day that we leave the house to go to work, if we have children, there is a little mind that is watching and learning what it means to work and how work affects their parent and the family. How we go to work each day and how we return and talk about work is impressing upon them what to expect and potentially forming their attitude about work in general. Each generation is shaped by the experiences and what they learn from the generation before them. If we teach our children, through our actions and words, that work is a good thing and part of the fulfillment of life, then they are likely to approach work in a positive attitude. If they see us grouse, complain and let our work affect our attitudes and actions at home in a negative manner, then what will they think going forward? We are told in Psalm 90:16; "...let our children see your glory at work." Let us be the ones who show our children and those who are impressionable (new graduates, interns, etc.) that one can get much satisfaction, enjoyment, growth in our work and at the same time, bring glory to God in how we work and do our jobs to our fullest potential.

Reference: Psalm 90:16 (New Living Testament)

day 578: Attention To The Details

I marvel with the people who could be so successful in their careers if they just could find a way to have an attention to details. Big idea people are needed but ideas without execution go nowhere. It takes attention to details to make something go from good to great. The business world has been abuzz the last week over the potential of the Apple coporatation not having Steve Jobs at the helm. I have had the privilege to interact with Steve a number of times in one on one conversations and I have said consistently that he is the Walt Disney of our age (ironically, he is also the largest shareholder of the Walk Disney Company). Why is he like Walt Disney? It is because he has the vision to see into the future but also has the attention to detail to make those visions come to life and in a manner that is of the highest quality and consistency for the consumer/user. Without his attention to the details, would the iPod or the iPad be what it is today? I seriously doubt it. All any us have to do is read the book of Numbers and we can see that part of how God created and rules this world is also with an attention to detail. I was struck by the book of Numbers Chapter 26 when God asks that a census be held. After all of the counting of the men over 20 years of age, God did not lose sight of the detail that He had said, "They will all die in the wilderness'. The only exceptions were Caleb, son of Jephunneh and Joshuah son of Nun." When you do the math that was two of 624,730 people. God was in the details. As we go about our work, much of how we do our work and do something with excellence or not is in the details. The small things do count. As you think through today, what details are hanging that need to be sewn up? What details need attention that you haven't been giving? What orientation in your work do you need to change so you can find yourself attentive to the details? It will make a difference.

Reference: Numbers 26:65 (New Living Testament)

day 577: Knowing When To Walk Away...

Conversations turn deep, positions get firmed up, arguments become heated, and sides get drawn. Sounds like the beginning of battle or a fight getting ready to happen? And yes, it can also be the scene found in a conference room or an office on any given day in corporate America. We get passionate about our work and we can take our passions and positions all the way to the point of boiling over. And yes, sometimes beyond with words and actions that are irrevocable. Once we do that, it is very hard to recover and we will find ourselves either out of work or trying to win back support just to get back to even. The key to not letting ourselves get to the point of no return is to constantly be in check with our attitude and spirit. We can feel it when it is getting ready to turn in the wrong direction. I recently received an email from someone who is the CEO of an organization and the note begged for an argument. It so happened that I received the email just before dinner time so I let it sit, went to dinner, came home, slept a good night's sleep and answered the email in the morning in a totally different spirit than I had held the night before. Sometimes, it is best to know when to walk away. This past weekend at our church our Pastor spoke on how to be gentle in our lives. He taught of how Jesus told James and John that their spirit was wrong and it was time to model a different behavior and made them leave and go on to another village because their spirit was wrong for that place, "But He turned and rebuked them, and said, 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them'. And they went to another village." Jesus knew it was time to walk away. Let's monitor ourselves in this way and when our spirit starts to turn ugly, be prepared to just walk away.

Reference: Luke 9:55-56 (New King James Version)

day 576: Business Principles 101

There are many college courses written across the country for Business Principles or Business Ethics. They usually wouldn't be an entry level course labeled 101. But, since 101 signifies the basics or the foundational elements of a course we can use 101 as the course number. Maybe not so coincidentally many basic principles that can be applied to how we operate, lead, and work can be found in Psalm 101. I'll let you read the Psalm and find those that apply to you:

Psalm 101
A psalm of David.

1 I will sing of your love and justice, Lord.
I will praise you with songs.
2 I will be careful to live a blameless life—
when will you come to help me?
I will lead a life of integrity
in my own home.
3 I will refuse to look at
anything vile and vulgar.
I hate all who deal crookedly;
I will have nothing to do with them.
4 I will reject perverse ideas
and stay away from every evil.
5 I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors.
I will not endure conceit and pride.

6 I will search for faithful people
to be my companions.
Only those who are above reproach
will be allowed to serve me.
7 I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house,
and liars will not stay in my presence.
8 My daily task will be to ferret out the wicked
and free the city of the Lord from their grip.

Have a great weekend!

day 575: Here's The Plan...

How many times have we heard, "Here's the plan...", knowing that this plan will either not work or be very different by the time we get from here to there? Knowing that the plan we start with will likely change and morph into something else and being very comfortable with that shift is a part of being good in our jobs. The business climate as we know it today is all about change and being able to change quickly. Those who have the skill of change management and leading change are in high demand. Those who are resistant to change or reluctant to try new things get left behind. But just because we know and accept that the plans will change doesn't mean that we still shouldn't plan. Planning is also a skill that needs to be practiced and honed over the life of our careers. Without a plan we can end up spinning our wheels going nowhere. So, we all need plans. What I have learned over the years is that the best plans are those that are tied to measurable outcomes and results so that we can see progress and pass milestones that give us momentum to carry on. Two of my friends and I have set our goals for the year and as we were talking through them yesterday and how we are progressing against them we found that in the first month of the year we were mostly laying out the plans to achieve those goals, and that was a good thing. If you don't feel like you have a plan or you are struggling to find a plan for yourself and what you do at work, well, "Here's the plan...". Start today with getting into God's Word and ask Him to start helping you start a plan for your work and life. David gives us the promise in Psalm 138, "The Lord will work out his plans for my life - for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever." Today would be a great day to start bringing the Lord into your planning sessions as the plans He has for us are the ones that we can count on sticking.

Reference; Psalm 138:8 (New Living Testament)

day 574: MLK Day Continued

This week we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and commemorated that this day has been a U.S. federal holiday for 25 years. I remember when working at Frito-Lay Headquarters in Dallas in 1991 and being asked to do the cost analysis on what it would cost the company to establish an additional holiday for the company so that we could celebrate MLK Day. The figure escapes me now, but it was not cheap, but our CEO didn't really care about the cost, he cared about doing the right thing and he established the holiday for the company. I often have thought about that analysis and the decision. There wasn't any way to shave the cost and give the holiday to some and not to others. But, someone had asked how much it would cost and the analysis had to be done. Once done and we were looking at the very large number, the decision became bigger and in fact, even more decisive and bold to make. The analysis reinforced the magnitude of the decision and made it even than much more of a statement that it was still the right thing to do. Often in business we are faced with these types of decisions and at that point all we have to draw upon is what we believe and know to be right, true, and good. We wonder why companies make decisions that cause shame or bad light to be directed towards them. It's really an easy answer; the decision maker didn't know what the right thing to do was or worse, knew and ignored it and chose the opposite alternative. We all get called on, all the time, to do the right thing. If we follow God's leading and not deviate then we will be fine. Paul gives us this promise, "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Let's be sure that we follow through on what we know to be the right thing to do and take those stands when needed. We celebrated a holiday this week for a man who did just that so let's remember the impact that one person can have when they stand for what they believe.

Reference: Philippians 1:6 (New Living Testament)

day 573: Pocket Protectors

Does anyone remember pocket protectors? If not, these were plastic inserts that one would wear in their dress shirt pockets so that when a pen(s) would be placed in the pocket the ink if it linked would not stain the shirt. When I first went to work out of school at Pratt & Whitney, the aircraft engine maker in East Hartford, CT,. pocket protectors were the in thing. In fact they had a version there where you could slide your ID badge into the protector and the protector became multiple-purpose. Over time, in corporate America and in our culture, the plastic pocket protector became a symbol of "nerdiness" and you just don't see many of them any more. That doesn't mean we don't look for ways to continue to protect ourselves at work. There are all kinds of protectors we count on to shield us from getting hurt, dejected, deflated or run-down. for example, think about the defenses we put up just to ensure that our egos stay intact. It's not surprising that we tend to be way more open with others about ourselves in our personal life than we are with whom we work. While we want to be the same person all the time, at work we sometimes we have to have these protections to build up the persona that can't be taken advantage. We may not even realize it but we could be spending more time and energy on building up the protections around us than we are enjoying and giving our best to our work and our work teammates. Today would be a great day to think about what protections we have established for ourselves and see which ones are really rationale and which aren't and then we should be reminded that all the protection we really need comes from the Lord our God. David writes, "For the Lord God is our light and protector." See, there is all the protection we really need. Start today with the prayer of protection and ask God to help you turn over all of the other silly protections that have been built up around ourselves and trust in Him for our real protection.


Reference: Psalm 84:11 (New Living Testament)

day 572: Seriously

The adage is, "let's not take ourselves too seriously". For the most part that is correct as the minute we start to take ourselves too seriously we can come to find out that no one takes us nearly as seriously as we do and that is a real let down. I have known many an executive who must get up in the morning and look in the mirror and say to themselves that no one is more important than the face looking back at them. Why do I think this, because they bring that attitude to work and it is really annoying to everyone else. So, if we are taking ourselves too seriously, we should drop the act and recognize that we all put our pants on the same way each day. That said, there are areas where we should be seriously serious. I was with a friend recently who was telling me about someone he hired whose most recent employment had been terminated because he passed, what he thought and perceived at the time as innocent, an email joke along to members of his team. Three days later he was fired and removed from a very good job that he needed. On reflection, and in the interview with my friend he said he, "just had taken it seriously enough". Part of being serious when we need to be is in the understanding that we are setting and throwing off an example each and every day, hour, and minute. If we don't listen to that voice down inside of ourselves that is telling us, "this is a time to be serious" and stop playing games, we can get ourselves in serious trouble and let a lot of people down. As believers we get great teaching from the Word, our prayer time and where we worship. But we need to take that teaching and carry it into our jobs as much as anywhere else in our lives. We read clearly of this in Titus, "And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching." Today, let us evaluate and reevaluate where in our lives we should rightly be a little more serious in who we are.

Reference: Titus 2:7 (New Living Testament)

day 571: Cubicle Mates

The people we work with side-by-side are important in many ways. Not only are they important to us for getting done what needs to be done, they are also important to us for how we feel about our jobs and wanting to be at work. Think back on a time where you didn't like, or felt anxious about seeing someone at work when there was a conflict or a problem that was unresolved. That feeling in your stomach that is queasy each time you see them and the tightening of the muscles in your shoulders when you think about having to face them or talk to them, is no way to work, or much less, live. But, this is a reality for all of us at one time or another. The question we must ask ourselves is when this happens, how much of this is us and what can we do to avoid being in these situations? Work is hard enough without having to be concerned with how we get along with others, especially those who are sitting right next to us or in close proximity. The way organizations are set up fosters much of the conflict. Being rewarded on individual versus team performance, competitions for promotions, or recognition for work achievements based on time and work-life balance sacrifices all tend to create an environment that makes it easier for conflict to arise. What we can do is to take ourselves out of that arena and rise above it all on a higher walk. If we want to set the right example, then we are going to have to put aside ourselves for others. When John the Baptist told his disciples that there was One who was greater than he, he delivered that message for all of us. In John 3:30 he says, "He must become greater and greater and I must become less and less". Not only was John telling us that Jesus needs to become the dominant force and meaning in our lives, he was also giving us an excellent life example of how to live our lives with our egos subordinated and realizing that ours is not to continue to grow greater and greater and greater. Today, is there someone around you who you need to mend or strengthen a relationship so that the tension is removed? Try building them up and allowing your own agenda to be set aside and see what happens.

Reference: John 3:30 (New Living Testament)

day 570: Grateful Leadership

Leadership roles are great! Whether we end up team leaders, supervisors, vice presidents or CEOs, there is nothing like being in a leadership position and helping others achieve a common set of goals and objectives. I love leading and I feel most vocationally alive when I am doing so. But, that said, there is much that comes with leading. Remember, to whom much is given, much is required applies in all aspects of our lives, work included. So sometimes, leading can be such a burden and set of headaches and hassles that we forget what a privilege and gift it is to be able to be a leader. It is important that we not lose our perspective or control of our emotions so we not hurt ourselves or those who are counting on us for our undivided attention, commitment and caring. Yesterday we referenced Moses and the stress fractures he experiences in Numbers Chapter 11. In verses 11-12 Moses becomes an unhappy and ungrateful leader and loses a healthy perspective, "And Moses said to the Lord, 'Why are you treating me, your servant, so miserably? What did I do to deserve the burden of a people like this? Are they my children? Am I their father? Is that why you have told me to carry them in my arms - like a nurse carries a baby - to the land you swore to give their ancestors?" Moses doesn't look or sound like a grateful leader does he? The account we have in Numbers doesn't say if others could hear Moses talking to God or not but if they had, they might have wondered if they were following and being led by the right guy. There is much to being a leader but the bottom line is that whenever we are given the gift of leading, we must do it in a grateful and warmhearted way so that others will follow with all of their heart knowing that we want the best of them and ourselves. Let's approach this day with the grateful heart that God would want us to have and model this to those who are watching.

Reference: Numbers 11-11-12 (New Living Testament)

day 569: Stress Fractures

If you have ever had a stress fracture in a bone you know that it hurts like you know what and what is weird is that it doesn't debilitate you totally but it really messes up how you go about things. The same can happen in building structures that won't fall down immediately, but start showing the signs of the stress. And yes, both can be said about organizations and people within organizations. Stress fractures show up when demands are high and work expectations are filled with pressure. Sometimes our stress fractures start when we are overwhelmed with the challenges of work and life at the same time. In actuality it seems there is always something that is adding to the stress and pressure. I find it comforting to just start at the point of realization that we are not superman or superwoman. We are human and the stress of work and life catches up with all of us and when it does the question is not totally what we do to get out from under it, but more so how we deal with it to get through it. It also helps to see others who we think are well above all of it to actually show us that they are human too. We see this clearly in Numbers 11 with Moses (it's worth the read of the entire chapter) where in verses 14-15 he says to God, "I can't carry all of these people by myself! The load is too heavy! I'd rather you killed me than treat me like this. Please spare me this misery." Wow, Moses got right to where we can get too! So, we are not alone and when we reach the stress fracture points and Moses shows us exactly where to go to for relief. He cries out to God and if you go on to read Chapter 11 you will see that God helps Moses understand how to delegate and organize around what needs to get done so the burden was not all on Moses going forward. It's an encouraging and reinvigorating story of how God provides and how He might give us the little stress fractures but when asked, He provides enough relief for us to pick ourselves back up and keep on going.

Reference: Numbers 11

day 568: Pay

This is the time of the year when companies are looking at salary data to see what other companies will be providing in this coming year as it relates to pay increases. The most recent data shows that the median increase this year will just under 3%, if a pay increase is given at all. In a recent survey only 45% expect that they will receive an increase this year. The past three years have seen the Great Recession causing companies to cut the pay of employees to make the numbers work and also try to keep as many people employed as possible. These reductions have employees across the country making less money than they did a few years ago, while they are performing the same or expanded job in the same company. We all know how frustrating this could/can feel. But now companies are beginning to recover and we see year over year positive results and corporate America's balance sheets are flush with cash. So, now we will watch and see if employers will begin to restore what was taken away or continue to focus on growth of profits. Will America's employees be first out and last back in? That is likely not going to be an equation that will work well for long. Some of us reading this are in positions where we are making these decisions for our company or our team. While God does not tell us how to specifically run our businesses, He gives us enough direction and examples that we can discern what is right and wrong. In Leviticus we read; "Show your fear of God by not taking advantage of other. I, the Lord, am your God." As we make these decisions, or any other decision where we have to question ourselves how others are being treated, then we should reflect back to what God tells us and ensure that we are not taking any advantage of anyone else.

Reference: Leviticus 25:17

day 567: Faithful Work

I am often asked, "how we can be faithful within our work?" The answer is the reason that I write Purposed worKING. We are believers and we want to bring glory to God in all that we do and what we do most of all with our time and energy while we are here on earth is work at jobs and at places where faith and God is not a component, conversation, or determining factor of success. It is one of the great paradoxes of life and why God equipped us so well with His Word to use to help us understand how to make the most of being in this world and at the same time being one of His. Books are written on the subject, conferences are held, speakers go around the country and people like me write about it. Work and all that makes up work is relevant to all of us. Jeff Van Duzer, Dean and Professor of business law and ethics at Seattle Pacific University was recently quoted as saying, "God designed humans to work. They are made in his image; God is a worker. And God's work is creative and meaningful." (Dean Duzer has also recently released a book; Why Business Matters to God - And What Still Needs To Be Fixed). The work that we do today and have done throughout our careers and will do for years to come is important in God's plan for you and others. We can never know when the years of being the right example, being faithful to working and living in the light and example of Jesus will give us the moment to share our faith and influence someone else to meet Christ. our work, if we do it right and well, can be God's work. Paul told the Thessalonians; "As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of the Lord Jesus Christ.". Let our work this day and this year, be faithful work!

Reference: 1 Thessalonians 1:3

day 566: The Beginning of Churn

It's the beginning of 2011 and at some point "churn" was going to begin to happen in the market and I think time that is now. Churn is the natural movement of people from one job to another because of promotions, resignations, etc. What happens in a company is that for every one resignation at least one or more moves are made internally into the organization before the position is filled. If a company is managing their talent correctly, this provides upward mobility to people within the company. Churn has been stagnant for the last two plus years and no one was moving for fear of not having a job and the fear that another company may not do well, etc. There was the feeling, and maybe still is right now, that nothing is worse than being out work and trying to find a job during this employment market. Another part of churn that is rare, but happens, is the returning of an employee back to a company that they once left. The reason this doesn't happen as much as it could actually revolves around the employees' concern of how they will be received and accepted after having left the company and their teammates. Can they go back is very dependent on how they think they will be greeted with the news. We should welcome back those we have lost from our companies and we would all be better off if we had the attitude that having a great talent back on our team is better than them being on another team and most importantly we put aside our own concerns about what happens to us if they return. Having a spirit of welcoming back those who have strayed is what God tried to tell us in the story of the Prodigal Son. We read in Luke 15:20; "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him." Is there someone who has strayed away from your company, or even someone who is still in the company buy who you know is disengaging and just needs to feel welcomed to come back? If so, then we as believers can be the first people to model that it is okay to return home. Imagine what our lives would like if Christ did not welcome us back consistently when we turn away from Him over and over?

Reference: Luke 15:20 (New Living Testament)

day 801: Rearview Mirrors

“Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For you do not inquire wisely concerning this”


Here in America we are taught in driver's training lessons to glance into the rear view mirror every 10-20 seconds. I distinctly remember this lesson as my driver's ed teacher (who I don't remember his name but taught health and P.E. in the normal school year) had a stopwatch and every 10-20 seconds would say to us, "Glance". It has stuck with me as you can tell. But, that's not to say that we should spend more time than this with the rear view mirror. I know a number of executives who spend most of their time and energy contemplating and remembering the past to either romanticize a time that they wish they could return to, or worse to complain and bemoan how the past were the good "back in the day" times. Understanding and knowing the past can be very helpful in not making the same mistakes twice and of course history does teach us lessons and in some cases does repeat itself. But, that does not mean we can take our businesses and live in the past or have our leaders spending too much time in the rear view mirror.

In our daily lives we can learn from the verse in Ecclesiastes. Our God is a God of hopefulness and about a future beyond our comprehension. For us to live in the past or looking over our shoulder for the "ifs and buts and "what ifs" then we are turning our heads to what God would have in store for us. And, we might well miss what God wants us to do for Him. At the beginning of this New Year we should be looking forward and setting our goals for how we will grow and develop throughout the year. Goals are future focused and other than setting the starting point, there isn't any good reason to spend time in the rear view mirror. Let's make 2012 the year of the future!

Reference: Ecclesiastes 7:10

day 565: On The Spot

I couldn't begin to tell you the number of times that I have seen people be given assignments for no other reason than they were in the right place at the right time, and really, they just happened to be "on the spot" at the moment the boss was looking for someone to pass the baton. In the days before technology, that meant being around the office and as one of my friends likes to say, "being present to win". Today, that same proximity comes from being available by phone, SMS or email. But, we can't be available all the time, otherwise we will burn out and/or have others at home getting burnt out with our obsessiveness. So, what can we do to ensure that we are still on the spot when we need to be but have a life at the same time? Part of this is in being proactive with the communication of our schedules and ensuring that our boss knows where, if they need us, to find us, but also being honest about the time that we are spending with family, friends, etc. If we are going away for the weekend, let the boss know and don't feel bad about disclosing that it is a special time, etc. It's quite okay to say after informing of your plans, "but if you really need me, do call". What this does is two-fold. It still leaves the door open but at the same time helps the boss in thinking through timing. Armed with the knowledge there is a confidence that the call doesn't need to be made on Saturday night if it's known that we are available on Sunday afternoon on the drive home. It's not perfect, but it is a way to manage both being responsive and available while having a little balance and still not missing out on the work that you want to come. And, we can't feel bad about not being instantaneous in our availability and answers all the time. Only One can legitimately lay claim to this. We read in Isaiah 30:19, "He will respond instantaneously to the sound of your cries". No on can always be on the spot, but God can be for us. He can also help us ensure that we gain the right assignments if we ask Him to direct what comes our way and what doesn't. As we know, He gives and He takes away. Let's refocus ourselves so that we are always on the spot with Him and then let Him take it from there for us.

Reference: Isaiah 30:19 (New Living Testament)

day 564: Back To The Ordinary

Republished from Day 63 because it says it all for this first day back in the New Year!

January can be one of the most exciting months of the year because of the feeling of a new start that comes with a new year. But for most, January is the month of deprivation. This is the month that we resolve to do more with less, lose a few pounds with less intake and more output, be more diligent with exercise schedules, balance out work and life better, etc. You know the list. At work it is the beginning of a quarter or a fiscal year and even before the year is really started we are already setting down and planning and adjusting to be sure that we can hit the targets that we have set for ourselves. With a swirling external economic climate, we may already be cutting back to make sure that we have breathing room in the coming months and year. So, after all the Christmas build up and holiday enthusiasm, January can feel like a real let down and a hard time for many. As I reflected on the January doldrums I was reminded of how Joseph and Mary must have felt after their first Christmas. What a heady experience to have given birth to a new son, to have experienced the coming of the angel and the visitors being drawn to the stable to see and worship the baby Jesus, and to have gone to the Temple and had Simeon and Anna prophecy over their child. And then, it was over. The angel was gone, the shepherds and visitors had gone their own way and it was time to go home. Mary and Joseph left the temple and the Bible says in Luke 2:39; "...they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee". For Mary it was now to work to raise a child and for Joseph it was back to his carpentry and making a living for his family and now with one new mouth to feed. It was back to the ordinary for both of them. It was a January and a new year, a year to go back to work and do what was needed to make their own ends meet. Our life and work life of purpose is not to always be filled with highs. It would be great if it was that way, but we all know that it just doesn't work out that way. Our lives are filled with the ordinary and the routine. And, even in the ordinary and the routine we are to seek and work to live to the high standards we have been given as followers of Jesus. As we each start this work year, let us take all of the lessons given to us and do our best to apply them each and every day, knowing that like Joseph and Mary, that returning back to Nazareth was one ordinary step on what was to become a miraculous life journey. They didn't know it then, as we don't know today, but what can come from the ordinary, lived and pursued with righteousness, can be nothing short of extraordinary.

Reference: Luke 2:39 (New Living Testament)