"Jesus told her, I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying."
Everyday, in every business, someone asks themselves, "Is there life after this place?". It's a question grounded in how hard they are working, what they are sacrificing and have already sacrificed for their job, and how much of themselves that they have put into the job or the company. It's really an irrational question because rationally we all know of course there is life after a job, but at the time it's really hard to see and therefore we can get in a real funk as one thing after another gets under our skin, pushing us to a breaking point. Who in the business is watching for the boiling point? Is it s manager? Is it an HR person? Is it a peer? Maybe all and more often none. It is hard to see the pain of others if the pain is resident within ourselves too. Today's business climate has us all stretched to a max, doing much more with much less than ever in our work history. Our staffs are fighting above their weight to be productive and keep the bottom line looking good in the face of uncertain revenue. And with all of this, it is not shameful to be asking is there life after this?
In the largest perspective, of course there is life after all of this, if only we will believe and look forward. While we each need and should want to give our best to our work; because to not do so would be to turn our heads on the talents given to us, we should also always remember that we are only passing through. I equate many times how we work to a marathon running race. It takes a long time of training to get ready and then it takes a long time to run the race and it takes a long time to recover. There is a metaphor for our careers in there. What we know with 100% certainty is that that there is real life after work and eternal life after death. As we close this work week, when was the last time we took just a few minutes and dreamed about what that future will look like for us? If that doesn't lift our spirits and provide perspective then nothing will. We are promised eternal life and what an eternity it will be. It's a life after that I am looking very much forward to seeing.
Reference: John 11:25 (NLT)
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
day 740: Deserving Pay, Redux
"Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay"
I'm reposting this because the issues of pay, pay inequity, and what we can/should expect for our compensation is a topic that is on lots of people's minds today.
Jesus tells His disciples how to conduct themselves in Luke chapter 10, verses 5-7 as He prepares them for what they will be doing after He is gone. He makes a simple statement to them; "Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay". We live in an age where there is more transparency around pay than ever before. Once thought of as a taboo subject, today we hear people talk openly with their peers and others about how much money they make, or don't make. I remember when I first came out of school with my graduate degree. I went to work at Pratt & Whitney as a Personnel Trainee. I don't remember how much it was that I made as a differential because I had an advanced degree, versus those with only a bachelors, but it was enough of a difference that I kept it to myself and I felt obligated and burdened to work harder so that I would truly be deserving of my pay level. A lot of people I have run into in the corporate world feel they are not only deserving of their pay but deserving of much more. And even worse they have not always been willing to work harder or better to receive more.
We are not to be ashamed of what we deserve, but we are to work for it. And by work, it means to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to us in a way that reflects that we are giving it our all, going the extra mile, and recognizing that the pay we receive is not a right but instead something that can only be earned. When we have performed our work at this level, then we can be proud of the pay deserved. The question to ask yourself today, or any day when you stand in the shower wondering how you can make more money for what you do, is are you committed to performing at the level commensurate with the pay you desire? For it is clear we do not deserve the pay for which we desire. We deserve the pay for the level of work we perform.
Reference: Luke 10: 5-7 (New Living Testament)
I'm reposting this because the issues of pay, pay inequity, and what we can/should expect for our compensation is a topic that is on lots of people's minds today.
Jesus tells His disciples how to conduct themselves in Luke chapter 10, verses 5-7 as He prepares them for what they will be doing after He is gone. He makes a simple statement to them; "Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay". We live in an age where there is more transparency around pay than ever before. Once thought of as a taboo subject, today we hear people talk openly with their peers and others about how much money they make, or don't make. I remember when I first came out of school with my graduate degree. I went to work at Pratt & Whitney as a Personnel Trainee. I don't remember how much it was that I made as a differential because I had an advanced degree, versus those with only a bachelors, but it was enough of a difference that I kept it to myself and I felt obligated and burdened to work harder so that I would truly be deserving of my pay level. A lot of people I have run into in the corporate world feel they are not only deserving of their pay but deserving of much more. And even worse they have not always been willing to work harder or better to receive more.
We are not to be ashamed of what we deserve, but we are to work for it. And by work, it means to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to us in a way that reflects that we are giving it our all, going the extra mile, and recognizing that the pay we receive is not a right but instead something that can only be earned. When we have performed our work at this level, then we can be proud of the pay deserved. The question to ask yourself today, or any day when you stand in the shower wondering how you can make more money for what you do, is are you committed to performing at the level commensurate with the pay you desire? For it is clear we do not deserve the pay for which we desire. We deserve the pay for the level of work we perform.
Reference: Luke 10: 5-7 (New Living Testament)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
day 739: Retaliation
"He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly."
Not a week goes by that we don't read about one company suing another for something. Usually the litigation is a form of retaliation for some infringement or action that was threatening. Corporations can have large legal departments who are there to just retaliate. When you are a little business or an entrepreneur this can be intimidating and frightening, even when you haven't done anything wrong. I was with an entrepreneur the other day who is getting cease and desist letters for the use of a trademark that he received well in advance of the other, big company, even being in business. When he ignored that letter they sent another threatening to sue him if he didn't surrender the trademark to them. Fortunately, he had an attorney, and all of his ducks in order, and the big company didn't have any legs to stand on other than bravado. We are in a litigious age where the fastest form of retaliation can be a lawsuit. It's a shame that we have to live and work like this, but it is what it is.
As we work and live, we do have a choice though to not retaliate and to roll with the punches. We have to look no further than driving to and from work to see lots of retaliation going on. The obscene gesture or even the raised hand as to question why someone would drive like they are, is a form or retaliation. In the office the sly look, or the mumbled words under the breath, or the cc to the boss on the email can all be forms or retaliation. But see, as believers we are not to retaliate, even when we are wronged or are suffering. We have an example to follow and if we don't then we are degrading and disrespecting the Lord who suffered for us, who took the worst for us, and who gave it all for us. What we read in 1 Peter is all true. He never retaliated and if He didn't then there is no reason that we ever should.
Reference: 1 Peter 2:23 (New Living Testament)
Not a week goes by that we don't read about one company suing another for something. Usually the litigation is a form of retaliation for some infringement or action that was threatening. Corporations can have large legal departments who are there to just retaliate. When you are a little business or an entrepreneur this can be intimidating and frightening, even when you haven't done anything wrong. I was with an entrepreneur the other day who is getting cease and desist letters for the use of a trademark that he received well in advance of the other, big company, even being in business. When he ignored that letter they sent another threatening to sue him if he didn't surrender the trademark to them. Fortunately, he had an attorney, and all of his ducks in order, and the big company didn't have any legs to stand on other than bravado. We are in a litigious age where the fastest form of retaliation can be a lawsuit. It's a shame that we have to live and work like this, but it is what it is.
As we work and live, we do have a choice though to not retaliate and to roll with the punches. We have to look no further than driving to and from work to see lots of retaliation going on. The obscene gesture or even the raised hand as to question why someone would drive like they are, is a form or retaliation. In the office the sly look, or the mumbled words under the breath, or the cc to the boss on the email can all be forms or retaliation. But see, as believers we are not to retaliate, even when we are wronged or are suffering. We have an example to follow and if we don't then we are degrading and disrespecting the Lord who suffered for us, who took the worst for us, and who gave it all for us. What we read in 1 Peter is all true. He never retaliated and if He didn't then there is no reason that we ever should.
Reference: 1 Peter 2:23 (New Living Testament)
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
day 738: Super Wisdom
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere."
I was recently with a young entrepreneur who tried to convince me of all the things he knew and in the course of the conversation try and convince me of all the things I didn't know. He was doing his best to try and be "wise", but the more he tried, the more "foolish" he looked and came across. This is of course, not an unusual occurrence in a business world where freshly minted graduates come into the workplace full of vigor and unlimited optimism and confidence. We also have built the "system" to reward and recognize the new and for the young to push on the old. It is no wonder that those with no wisdom display all the signs of not having it even though they think they do. This is why it is important that in the businesses that we run that we take the time to spend with the up and comers and help them learn the ropes and find a pace that allows them to succeed but also to learn, take-in, experiment, and realize that there are many ways to solve a problem and many years before one can claim to "know".
I love the verse in James that explain what wisdom is really like. To me, what is described is "super wisdom". How great to be able to have such traits and to be able to bring those things forward to others. how James describes wisdom is how we could all best live our lives. Imagine that we were able to come into our workplaces and demonstrate these ways of treating others and handling ourselves? Would there be any doubt by anyone that we we were not "wise"? As we work to develop ourselves and to try and walk in the footsteps and example of our Lord, let's work to become truly wise by allowing God to work in us.
Reference: James 3:17 (New Living Testament)
I was recently with a young entrepreneur who tried to convince me of all the things he knew and in the course of the conversation try and convince me of all the things I didn't know. He was doing his best to try and be "wise", but the more he tried, the more "foolish" he looked and came across. This is of course, not an unusual occurrence in a business world where freshly minted graduates come into the workplace full of vigor and unlimited optimism and confidence. We also have built the "system" to reward and recognize the new and for the young to push on the old. It is no wonder that those with no wisdom display all the signs of not having it even though they think they do. This is why it is important that in the businesses that we run that we take the time to spend with the up and comers and help them learn the ropes and find a pace that allows them to succeed but also to learn, take-in, experiment, and realize that there are many ways to solve a problem and many years before one can claim to "know".
I love the verse in James that explain what wisdom is really like. To me, what is described is "super wisdom". How great to be able to have such traits and to be able to bring those things forward to others. how James describes wisdom is how we could all best live our lives. Imagine that we were able to come into our workplaces and demonstrate these ways of treating others and handling ourselves? Would there be any doubt by anyone that we we were not "wise"? As we work to develop ourselves and to try and walk in the footsteps and example of our Lord, let's work to become truly wise by allowing God to work in us.
Reference: James 3:17 (New Living Testament)
Monday, September 26, 2011
day 737: Words Are Cheap...Performance Counts
"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new being, by changing the way you think."
"Words Are Cheap...Performance Counts". This is one of the those signs that hang in the office of executives to remind anyone who graces that space that there is a philosophy to be followed. The signs work as they can create common language and thoughts. What I like about this one is that it says so much about what a business is supposed to be and also what not to be. Businesses that talk a good game about their products and services but never deliver, don't really matter and won't be around long. It is true performance that counts and the words become strong at that point. It's always easier for a marketer or PR person to put the words on top of the cake versus trying to have the words be the filling and hoping that the rest happens. In our businesses, both internally and externally we should worry less about what we say we are going to be and do and more about are we doing it?
The same is true in our lives and how we work. Others are looking at us to today to see if our words and actions match. There are co-workers who know that how we spend our weekends include time in our church and fellowship with other believers. They expect that we don't waste that time but instead learn and become better with who we are and ultimately, better with others. If we roll back into the office today and our actions (our performance) doesn't count up to who we say we are or who we want to be, then our words are cheap and worthless. We each know what are own issues to overcome to make our words not be cheap. Today is a day that we can make our performance count. God promises that we can be new in who we are and then challenges us to take our newness and not copy the rest of the world. Let today be an original day and let today be a day where our performance counts in His eyes and the eyes of others.
Reference: Romans 12:2 (New Living Testament)
"Words Are Cheap...Performance Counts". This is one of the those signs that hang in the office of executives to remind anyone who graces that space that there is a philosophy to be followed. The signs work as they can create common language and thoughts. What I like about this one is that it says so much about what a business is supposed to be and also what not to be. Businesses that talk a good game about their products and services but never deliver, don't really matter and won't be around long. It is true performance that counts and the words become strong at that point. It's always easier for a marketer or PR person to put the words on top of the cake versus trying to have the words be the filling and hoping that the rest happens. In our businesses, both internally and externally we should worry less about what we say we are going to be and do and more about are we doing it?
The same is true in our lives and how we work. Others are looking at us to today to see if our words and actions match. There are co-workers who know that how we spend our weekends include time in our church and fellowship with other believers. They expect that we don't waste that time but instead learn and become better with who we are and ultimately, better with others. If we roll back into the office today and our actions (our performance) doesn't count up to who we say we are or who we want to be, then our words are cheap and worthless. We each know what are own issues to overcome to make our words not be cheap. Today is a day that we can make our performance count. God promises that we can be new in who we are and then challenges us to take our newness and not copy the rest of the world. Let today be an original day and let today be a day where our performance counts in His eyes and the eyes of others.
Reference: Romans 12:2 (New Living Testament)
Friday, September 23, 2011
day 736: Before We Know It
"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?..."
If there is one place where time moves quickly, it is in business. Days turn to weeks, months and a year before we know it. The planning that we are doing for the following quarter is already in play before the planning is even done. The steady beating drum that is the cadence of setting, meeting, and measuring results can move by so quickly that it can feel like we are tumbling head first out of control. What comes with experience is the ability to manage how time passes. What? Time can’t be slowed or sped up. That is true, but how a business or a person addresses time can manage how time passes. Steve Young, the Hall of Fame NFL Quarterback, once said that on his first snap that he took in the NFL that the linebackers and defensive line came at him so fast that all he could do was throw the ball away as fast he could. Some fifteen years later on his last snap, when the players were bigger and faster than all those earlier years but in that game, he felt that he had all the time in the world to do whatever he wanted to do with the ball and that the defense were now coming in slow motion. Nothing has changed except for his perspective, maturity and wisdom from his ability to see the game unfold in front of him. Business is the same way. As we learn the patterns of the business, the industry and competitors, then we can begin to manage how fast it seems time passes. If it feels like things are moving too fast or feel out of control, then it’s time to be sure that those who have the best experience and perspective are called in to help.
A great part of our belief is that God is always doing something new in us and for us and it’s always coming, whether we can see it or not. Sometimes it will feel fast, other times it can feel slow, but like the art of slow-cooking, God is always working in and on us. There is no waiting. There is only allowing for Him to work. Are we looking for something new and expecting it to come soon? It may well be that we don’t have enough perspective to be able to see how time and change is unfolding. It took Steve Young many years to gain enough experience and knowledge to slow down the game. In those years, he surely practiced, watched films, studied other teams, took in coaching, etc. The same can be said for us. We need to study God’s Word. We need to talk and listen to God in prayer. We need to learn from others in fellowship. The closer we move towards God the more we can answer the question, “Do you not see it?”…with, “Yes, I can see it”.
Reference: Isaiah 43:19 (New Living Testament)
If there is one place where time moves quickly, it is in business. Days turn to weeks, months and a year before we know it. The planning that we are doing for the following quarter is already in play before the planning is even done. The steady beating drum that is the cadence of setting, meeting, and measuring results can move by so quickly that it can feel like we are tumbling head first out of control. What comes with experience is the ability to manage how time passes. What? Time can’t be slowed or sped up. That is true, but how a business or a person addresses time can manage how time passes. Steve Young, the Hall of Fame NFL Quarterback, once said that on his first snap that he took in the NFL that the linebackers and defensive line came at him so fast that all he could do was throw the ball away as fast he could. Some fifteen years later on his last snap, when the players were bigger and faster than all those earlier years but in that game, he felt that he had all the time in the world to do whatever he wanted to do with the ball and that the defense were now coming in slow motion. Nothing has changed except for his perspective, maturity and wisdom from his ability to see the game unfold in front of him. Business is the same way. As we learn the patterns of the business, the industry and competitors, then we can begin to manage how fast it seems time passes. If it feels like things are moving too fast or feel out of control, then it’s time to be sure that those who have the best experience and perspective are called in to help.
A great part of our belief is that God is always doing something new in us and for us and it’s always coming, whether we can see it or not. Sometimes it will feel fast, other times it can feel slow, but like the art of slow-cooking, God is always working in and on us. There is no waiting. There is only allowing for Him to work. Are we looking for something new and expecting it to come soon? It may well be that we don’t have enough perspective to be able to see how time and change is unfolding. It took Steve Young many years to gain enough experience and knowledge to slow down the game. In those years, he surely practiced, watched films, studied other teams, took in coaching, etc. The same can be said for us. We need to study God’s Word. We need to talk and listen to God in prayer. We need to learn from others in fellowship. The closer we move towards God the more we can answer the question, “Do you not see it?”…with, “Yes, I can see it”.
Reference: Isaiah 43:19 (New Living Testament)
Thursday, September 22, 2011
day 735: Unlocking Potential
"You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life..."
In the start-up world investors hope that their capital will unlock potential from a company and their founders that they may not be able to see or know just yet. At the early stages of a company it is seldom that the business will stay the same as first envisioned. Some call it “pivoting”, others just call it continuing to seek, try and then stop the things that aren’t working so new things can be tried. It’s hard to let go of work that has many hours and dollars already invested. So, it’s like having a locked door in front of us with a huge ring of keys that we continue to use and try until the door unlocks. What we know about business is that once that door unlocks that just behind it will be another door and the key that opened up the first door is not guaranteed to open the next one, or any other door. But, we have to continue to try and keep unlocking the doors in front of us. Companies that don’t, or aren’t willing to try and keep the doors opening in front of them will miss opportunities. It’s important that we find a way to keep working to unlock the potential.
We read in Deuteronomy how to unlock the potential in our life and the key to doing so. Like a business, we make choices and to receive this key to life we have to make the choice to love God, then obey Him, and then ensuring that we have deeply committed ourselves to Him and the life that He asks us to live. We should continuously be asking ourselves if our choices are the right ones and are we committed daily to following and bringing glory to God in all that we do. All day long we use our keys (literally and figuratively) to open the doors that are put in front of us. God wants us to pick up, accept and adopt the keys to life that God has given us. Today, what keys are we using to open the doors in front of us? Are they our own, or are they God’s. He is asking us to unlock all the potential that He has given us. Let’s be sure that we are choosing His keys today.
Reference: Deuteronomy 30:20 (New Living Testament)
In the start-up world investors hope that their capital will unlock potential from a company and their founders that they may not be able to see or know just yet. At the early stages of a company it is seldom that the business will stay the same as first envisioned. Some call it “pivoting”, others just call it continuing to seek, try and then stop the things that aren’t working so new things can be tried. It’s hard to let go of work that has many hours and dollars already invested. So, it’s like having a locked door in front of us with a huge ring of keys that we continue to use and try until the door unlocks. What we know about business is that once that door unlocks that just behind it will be another door and the key that opened up the first door is not guaranteed to open the next one, or any other door. But, we have to continue to try and keep unlocking the doors in front of us. Companies that don’t, or aren’t willing to try and keep the doors opening in front of them will miss opportunities. It’s important that we find a way to keep working to unlock the potential.
We read in Deuteronomy how to unlock the potential in our life and the key to doing so. Like a business, we make choices and to receive this key to life we have to make the choice to love God, then obey Him, and then ensuring that we have deeply committed ourselves to Him and the life that He asks us to live. We should continuously be asking ourselves if our choices are the right ones and are we committed daily to following and bringing glory to God in all that we do. All day long we use our keys (literally and figuratively) to open the doors that are put in front of us. God wants us to pick up, accept and adopt the keys to life that God has given us. Today, what keys are we using to open the doors in front of us? Are they our own, or are they God’s. He is asking us to unlock all the potential that He has given us. Let’s be sure that we are choosing His keys today.
Reference: Deuteronomy 30:20 (New Living Testament)
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
day 734: Onward and upward
"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor."
I've always said that if a business is not growing, it is dying. While that may not be obvious, it is dying from the inside out if it is not growing. The best people won't stay, the best deals won't be secured, the next big idea won't come to a business where others smell stagnation. This is why, even if incremental, moving upward and onward is important. Sometimes these moves can be scary and risky. Just check out what Netflix did this week with spinning out their DVD business as a legacy business so they can focus on the area of the business they believe will grow. This was about as gutsy as it gets and it certainly burns the ships behind them as they case themselves away from warehouses, envelopes, plastic and the U.S. Postal Service (which is having their own growth challenges). In CEO, Reed Hasting's letter to all subscribers he wrote to us humbly of his misstep and then laid out a growth plan for the company. It takes courage to stay growing and more businesses should be humble and honest enough with themselves to make the changes necessary to keep their growth alive.
We must also grow and we must also be humble. What we have is a promise from God that if we do humble ourselves under His power and we wait on Him that He will lift us up and we will experience our own upward and onward growth. But here is the amazing thing, while we are waiting, we are also growing because if we are humbling ourselves to Him, we are spending time in his Word, in prayer and in fellowship with others. Let's ask ourselves today, are we in an onward and upward pattern right now? And if we are not, then what do we need to do to put ourselves in the position where we can wait on God to lift us up?
Reference: 1 Peter 5:6 (New Living Testament)
I've always said that if a business is not growing, it is dying. While that may not be obvious, it is dying from the inside out if it is not growing. The best people won't stay, the best deals won't be secured, the next big idea won't come to a business where others smell stagnation. This is why, even if incremental, moving upward and onward is important. Sometimes these moves can be scary and risky. Just check out what Netflix did this week with spinning out their DVD business as a legacy business so they can focus on the area of the business they believe will grow. This was about as gutsy as it gets and it certainly burns the ships behind them as they case themselves away from warehouses, envelopes, plastic and the U.S. Postal Service (which is having their own growth challenges). In CEO, Reed Hasting's letter to all subscribers he wrote to us humbly of his misstep and then laid out a growth plan for the company. It takes courage to stay growing and more businesses should be humble and honest enough with themselves to make the changes necessary to keep their growth alive.
We must also grow and we must also be humble. What we have is a promise from God that if we do humble ourselves under His power and we wait on Him that He will lift us up and we will experience our own upward and onward growth. But here is the amazing thing, while we are waiting, we are also growing because if we are humbling ourselves to Him, we are spending time in his Word, in prayer and in fellowship with others. Let's ask ourselves today, are we in an onward and upward pattern right now? And if we are not, then what do we need to do to put ourselves in the position where we can wait on God to lift us up?
Reference: 1 Peter 5:6 (New Living Testament)
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
day 733: Choice
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
Choice is a very powerful tool. I just had to rent a car for a one-way driving trip from LA to San Francisco and National Rental had the best one-way drop-off deal. It had been a long time since I had rented from them and I expected the same old routine as any other car rental place, but when I got the to the counter in LA, I was very surprised. Within 30 seconds of me giving them my driver's license and credit card, they handed me back my rental sleeve and directed me to an area called, "The Aisle" and said I could choose any car that was parked under that awning. Around the corner and out the door, there was that section with at least 50 cars/SUVs, etc. to choose from. After asking a very nice attendant who was standing near the cars, which car got the best gas mileage, I was choosing from three different colors of a Honda Sonata. As I drove out of the lot, I was a satisfied customer and it was all about choice. I am sure I am not alone in having been assigned a rental car and being disappointed because I would have preferred the car style next to the one I was going to rent. Choice is a powerful force and in our businesses we should remember that giving the consumer a choice, even if not a big choice, can be the difference between satisfaction and not.
Our God is so cool. When I think about the choices that He allows us to make every day I am reminded that He is not the overbearing parent that keeps us contained and sheltered from the world. No, He is a God that gives us everything we need to be prepared for this life and after, and then He presents us with choices to make. all He asks is that at the end of the decision tree that one choice be absolute and that is the choice to follow Him as our personal savior and Lord. He is consistent in this way. Adam and Eve had it all to their desires and dreams. He only refused one choice, which they couldn't uphold. All the rest was theirs. He gives all the rest to us as well, He just says, make the one the choice to follow me. Choice is a powerful force.
Reference: John 14:6 (New Living Testament)
Choice is a very powerful tool. I just had to rent a car for a one-way driving trip from LA to San Francisco and National Rental had the best one-way drop-off deal. It had been a long time since I had rented from them and I expected the same old routine as any other car rental place, but when I got the to the counter in LA, I was very surprised. Within 30 seconds of me giving them my driver's license and credit card, they handed me back my rental sleeve and directed me to an area called, "The Aisle" and said I could choose any car that was parked under that awning. Around the corner and out the door, there was that section with at least 50 cars/SUVs, etc. to choose from. After asking a very nice attendant who was standing near the cars, which car got the best gas mileage, I was choosing from three different colors of a Honda Sonata. As I drove out of the lot, I was a satisfied customer and it was all about choice. I am sure I am not alone in having been assigned a rental car and being disappointed because I would have preferred the car style next to the one I was going to rent. Choice is a powerful force and in our businesses we should remember that giving the consumer a choice, even if not a big choice, can be the difference between satisfaction and not.
Our God is so cool. When I think about the choices that He allows us to make every day I am reminded that He is not the overbearing parent that keeps us contained and sheltered from the world. No, He is a God that gives us everything we need to be prepared for this life and after, and then He presents us with choices to make. all He asks is that at the end of the decision tree that one choice be absolute and that is the choice to follow Him as our personal savior and Lord. He is consistent in this way. Adam and Eve had it all to their desires and dreams. He only refused one choice, which they couldn't uphold. All the rest was theirs. He gives all the rest to us as well, He just says, make the one the choice to follow me. Choice is a powerful force.
Reference: John 14:6 (New Living Testament)
Monday, September 19, 2011
day 732: Clean Energy
“Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul... And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him”
Every business has a certain "energy" about them that we could call the mixture of their reputation, brand appeal, and consumer confidence. Those that are at the top of the heap are usually also the companies that we consider, "clean". That is that they provide high quality products or services, are ethical, treat their employees well, have good taste, and don't engage in activities that embarrass or create negative news about them. Ironically, these are also the companies that the media and other companies are always looking for ways/reasons to knock them off of their pedestal. I think about Apple. Apple is beloved right now by consumers around the world. As Steve Jobs left his position as CEO last month he left one of the highest employee approval ratings Glassdoor.com had ever seen (a company that I am on the Board of), and yet, at the same time, the media loves to stir the pot with stories of Apple's overseas labor practices and what happens in the plants in China. The point is that the more any business works to be blameless the more others will try and bring them down. But, this is no reason to not work to be pure and blameless. Wouldn't we rather have that approach first and worry about the rest later? I'll choose "clean energy" companies over others all day long.
God tells us something about what happens when in our lives we also try to bring across "clean energy" and when we do that through our walk with Christ. What happens with David and Saul says it all. When we try and walk a blameless life we will have others who will not like us and will try and get us to trip up so that they can either point out our contradiction and hypocrisy to cover up their faults, or because they don't want to see others who believe succeed. Let's be honest with ourselves, it can get rough out there and our workplaces are the roughest places of all. Only the lowest dive bars and taverns would allow the kind of language and behavior that can happen daily inside a conference room. We need to be prepared that if want to exude clean energy, clean living, and be an example of Jesus' life, then it comes with the opposition. That said, we know that if we go further into the David and Saul account that God removed Saul from David's presence when it got too heated. God will protect us if we are standing up for Him and living and working "cleanly".
Reference: 1 Samuel 18:12-15
Every business has a certain "energy" about them that we could call the mixture of their reputation, brand appeal, and consumer confidence. Those that are at the top of the heap are usually also the companies that we consider, "clean". That is that they provide high quality products or services, are ethical, treat their employees well, have good taste, and don't engage in activities that embarrass or create negative news about them. Ironically, these are also the companies that the media and other companies are always looking for ways/reasons to knock them off of their pedestal. I think about Apple. Apple is beloved right now by consumers around the world. As Steve Jobs left his position as CEO last month he left one of the highest employee approval ratings Glassdoor.com had ever seen (a company that I am on the Board of), and yet, at the same time, the media loves to stir the pot with stories of Apple's overseas labor practices and what happens in the plants in China. The point is that the more any business works to be blameless the more others will try and bring them down. But, this is no reason to not work to be pure and blameless. Wouldn't we rather have that approach first and worry about the rest later? I'll choose "clean energy" companies over others all day long.
God tells us something about what happens when in our lives we also try to bring across "clean energy" and when we do that through our walk with Christ. What happens with David and Saul says it all. When we try and walk a blameless life we will have others who will not like us and will try and get us to trip up so that they can either point out our contradiction and hypocrisy to cover up their faults, or because they don't want to see others who believe succeed. Let's be honest with ourselves, it can get rough out there and our workplaces are the roughest places of all. Only the lowest dive bars and taverns would allow the kind of language and behavior that can happen daily inside a conference room. We need to be prepared that if want to exude clean energy, clean living, and be an example of Jesus' life, then it comes with the opposition. That said, we know that if we go further into the David and Saul account that God removed Saul from David's presence when it got too heated. God will protect us if we are standing up for Him and living and working "cleanly".
Reference: 1 Samuel 18:12-15
Friday, September 16, 2011
day 731: Strategic Decisions, Part 3
"He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, and there He spoke to us"
When faced with strategic direction decisions we really have one of three decisions to be made; To lead, follow, or get out of the way. The final part this three part series is about leading.
As we have read the last two days, businesses can take one a number of strategies as they maneuver the marketplace. The one that most would prefer would be to lead. It sounds easy to say that we want to be the leader, but there is lots to becoming the leader and even more to staying there once the leadership position is achieved. A plan can be put in place, the right people hired, the perfect people managing perfectly and making it all happen but the competition just isn't budging and the business isn't gaining ground. This means that businesses may have to fight to gain the leadership mantle. Fighting doesn't have to be thought of as being mean or hurtful. Fighting can be thought of as contending and finding the extra strength, courage and fortitude to get even better and more creative than ever. A friend of mine was telling me about their company's new CEO who had come from the fast moving consumer goods industry and was now the CEO of a large telecommunications company. When the competition made a move in pricing or providing new services, this CEO struck back and countered and contended. The first time the company did so so it caused a lot of debate within the company as this was new and foreign to them. But the CEO said it right when he explained that what was happening was like losing that prime shelf space or display in the grocery store to a competitor's product. Once it is theirs you don't get it back. Once you lose a customer you can spend multiples trying to lure them back. He was willing to fight to keep his current customers and willing to fight to gain ground over the competition. That reaction was the look of a company who is going to be the leader. So, sometimes things are worth fighting for and those are also the things that we want to be in the leadership spot.
David Wilkerson describes the account of someone who was willing to personally contend so that he someday could be a leader for God. Let's read Pastor Wilkerson's account of Jacob: "Esau came forth from his mother's womb first—a baby covered with hair (his
name means "hairy"). But his twin, Jacob, grabbed his heel while still in the
womb. What a shock the midwife must have had when she saw Esau come forth with
a tiny hand gripping his heel! In the very brief passage (above) about Jacob, the prophet Hosea sums up how to overcome and prevail with God! Hosea's message was, "Here was a man greedy for God, hungry for everything God had for him!" Jacob came out of the womb in a fighting mood, longing for the blessings of God! There was something of a godly instinct in this child. It was as if he was saying, "Brother, if you don't want the fullness of God, I do. Get out of my way! I will not be left behind in God's blessings!" The birthright and blessing of Jacob's desire throughout his life represents all the blessings that are in Christ Jesus! Yet it was not the double portion of his father's wealth that Jacob was after nor was it the promise of the land.
No, Jacob wanted something more. He wanted the blessing of God so he could be in
the lineage of the Messiah! And he wanted the priestly blessing. This meant not
only being priest of the clan, but also being able to bless others!"
What are we wrestling with today that we know we should be leading, but haven't been willing to contend or fight for? It may be that God is telling us that it is time to step up and lead! It may be that now is the time that God wants to also give us our blessing and for us to become the leader for Him that He wants us to be! Lord, let today be that day!
Reference: Hosea 12:3-4
When faced with strategic direction decisions we really have one of three decisions to be made; To lead, follow, or get out of the way. The final part this three part series is about leading.
As we have read the last two days, businesses can take one a number of strategies as they maneuver the marketplace. The one that most would prefer would be to lead. It sounds easy to say that we want to be the leader, but there is lots to becoming the leader and even more to staying there once the leadership position is achieved. A plan can be put in place, the right people hired, the perfect people managing perfectly and making it all happen but the competition just isn't budging and the business isn't gaining ground. This means that businesses may have to fight to gain the leadership mantle. Fighting doesn't have to be thought of as being mean or hurtful. Fighting can be thought of as contending and finding the extra strength, courage and fortitude to get even better and more creative than ever. A friend of mine was telling me about their company's new CEO who had come from the fast moving consumer goods industry and was now the CEO of a large telecommunications company. When the competition made a move in pricing or providing new services, this CEO struck back and countered and contended. The first time the company did so so it caused a lot of debate within the company as this was new and foreign to them. But the CEO said it right when he explained that what was happening was like losing that prime shelf space or display in the grocery store to a competitor's product. Once it is theirs you don't get it back. Once you lose a customer you can spend multiples trying to lure them back. He was willing to fight to keep his current customers and willing to fight to gain ground over the competition. That reaction was the look of a company who is going to be the leader. So, sometimes things are worth fighting for and those are also the things that we want to be in the leadership spot.
David Wilkerson describes the account of someone who was willing to personally contend so that he someday could be a leader for God. Let's read Pastor Wilkerson's account of Jacob: "Esau came forth from his mother's womb first—a baby covered with hair (his
name means "hairy"). But his twin, Jacob, grabbed his heel while still in the
womb. What a shock the midwife must have had when she saw Esau come forth with
a tiny hand gripping his heel! In the very brief passage (above) about Jacob, the prophet Hosea sums up how to overcome and prevail with God! Hosea's message was, "Here was a man greedy for God, hungry for everything God had for him!" Jacob came out of the womb in a fighting mood, longing for the blessings of God! There was something of a godly instinct in this child. It was as if he was saying, "Brother, if you don't want the fullness of God, I do. Get out of my way! I will not be left behind in God's blessings!" The birthright and blessing of Jacob's desire throughout his life represents all the blessings that are in Christ Jesus! Yet it was not the double portion of his father's wealth that Jacob was after nor was it the promise of the land.
No, Jacob wanted something more. He wanted the blessing of God so he could be in
the lineage of the Messiah! And he wanted the priestly blessing. This meant not
only being priest of the clan, but also being able to bless others!"
What are we wrestling with today that we know we should be leading, but haven't been willing to contend or fight for? It may be that God is telling us that it is time to step up and lead! It may be that now is the time that God wants to also give us our blessing and for us to become the leader for Him that He wants us to be! Lord, let today be that day!
Reference: Hosea 12:3-4
Thursday, September 15, 2011
day 730: Strategic Decisions, Part 2
"Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress"
When faced with strategic direction decisions we really have one of three decisions to be made; To lead, follow, or get out of the way. Part two of this three part series is about following.
When we are told there is only room for one of anything, that's not entirely right. There's actually room for more and for the sake of the argument, let's say there is room for three of anything significant. One will be high quality/high service/high cost, the second will be good quality/good service with a better price point, and the third will be a value play with lowest cost but reasonable service/quality. Cases in point; Car rental companies, airlines, soda pop, cereal companies, mass market home builders, computer hardware companies, etc. Even when we think a company has a market sewn up and dominating there is room for a number two if positioned correctly. We are seeing that today with the tablet market as a bunch of companies are trying to figure out what they need to do/be to be number two or number three behind Apple and the ipad. It's not always wrong to follow as a company still strives to find a place of leadership. It's about knowing who we are as a company/product/service and then playing to your strengths to carve out our place in the market.
God challenges us all the time in our work and personal lives to know who we are and then follow. Yes, He wants us to lead and yes, sometimes, as we read yesterday, He wants us to get out of harm's and our own way, but He is also very happy if we learn to follow what He has taught us and to use those talents, gifts and treasures that have been given to us to ensure that we complete and excel at the tasks given to us. If we are to bring glory to God in all that we do then sometimes we need put our head down and pay attention to the tasks that have been given to us.
Reference: 1 Timothy 4:15 (New Living Testament)
When faced with strategic direction decisions we really have one of three decisions to be made; To lead, follow, or get out of the way. Part two of this three part series is about following.
When we are told there is only room for one of anything, that's not entirely right. There's actually room for more and for the sake of the argument, let's say there is room for three of anything significant. One will be high quality/high service/high cost, the second will be good quality/good service with a better price point, and the third will be a value play with lowest cost but reasonable service/quality. Cases in point; Car rental companies, airlines, soda pop, cereal companies, mass market home builders, computer hardware companies, etc. Even when we think a company has a market sewn up and dominating there is room for a number two if positioned correctly. We are seeing that today with the tablet market as a bunch of companies are trying to figure out what they need to do/be to be number two or number three behind Apple and the ipad. It's not always wrong to follow as a company still strives to find a place of leadership. It's about knowing who we are as a company/product/service and then playing to your strengths to carve out our place in the market.
God challenges us all the time in our work and personal lives to know who we are and then follow. Yes, He wants us to lead and yes, sometimes, as we read yesterday, He wants us to get out of harm's and our own way, but He is also very happy if we learn to follow what He has taught us and to use those talents, gifts and treasures that have been given to us to ensure that we complete and excel at the tasks given to us. If we are to bring glory to God in all that we do then sometimes we need put our head down and pay attention to the tasks that have been given to us.
Reference: 1 Timothy 4:15 (New Living Testament)
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
day 729: Strategic Decisions, Part 1
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right."
When faced with strategic direction decisions we really have one of three decisions to be made; To lead, follow, or get out of the way. Part one of this three part series, is about getting out of the way.
When we find our businesses engaged in business that is not paying out, or the market has changed and what we once were offering is not of value anymore, or may even be on the way to becoming obsolete. You'd think that these are obvious choices and that you could see the changes coming from a mile away, but it's not that easy. If it was there wouldn't be the angst in the music, newspaper, and publishing industries. Technology is usually the driver of these types of changes that then change consumer behavior and expectations. It wasn't that long ago that we expected someone else to pump our gas for us, or to see and talk to a live bank teller when we deposited our paychecks. We also used to have others who typed our memos and copied them for us for distribution. The point is that we in our businesses we need to be able to be honest without ourselves and know when to get out of the way and change our strategic direction. In the start-up world, a very good venture capitalist who I know and admire, Mike Maples, coined the term, "Pivot". To pivot means to be able to shift and change our directions and business models quickly to meet market demands and/or to get out of the way of competition that we know are going to succeed beyond what we are doing.
In our own lives, sometimes we need to also make the decision to get out of the way. If we are aware enough to know those things that tempt us or we know our weak points, then we can know when to get out of harm's way. There are many things of this world, and especially in the world of work that are there to cause us to slip or make the mistake that would compromise who we want to be or what we say we are. In those cases, the best move for us is to get out of the way of harm and trouble. It is not fear or lack of courage, it is about being smart and knowing enough about our weaknesses, and then being smart. We can, and should, be calling on God to not only protect us but to make us self-aware.
Reference: 2 Timothy 2:22 (New Living Testament)
When faced with strategic direction decisions we really have one of three decisions to be made; To lead, follow, or get out of the way. Part one of this three part series, is about getting out of the way.
When we find our businesses engaged in business that is not paying out, or the market has changed and what we once were offering is not of value anymore, or may even be on the way to becoming obsolete. You'd think that these are obvious choices and that you could see the changes coming from a mile away, but it's not that easy. If it was there wouldn't be the angst in the music, newspaper, and publishing industries. Technology is usually the driver of these types of changes that then change consumer behavior and expectations. It wasn't that long ago that we expected someone else to pump our gas for us, or to see and talk to a live bank teller when we deposited our paychecks. We also used to have others who typed our memos and copied them for us for distribution. The point is that we in our businesses we need to be able to be honest without ourselves and know when to get out of the way and change our strategic direction. In the start-up world, a very good venture capitalist who I know and admire, Mike Maples, coined the term, "Pivot". To pivot means to be able to shift and change our directions and business models quickly to meet market demands and/or to get out of the way of competition that we know are going to succeed beyond what we are doing.
In our own lives, sometimes we need to also make the decision to get out of the way. If we are aware enough to know those things that tempt us or we know our weak points, then we can know when to get out of harm's way. There are many things of this world, and especially in the world of work that are there to cause us to slip or make the mistake that would compromise who we want to be or what we say we are. In those cases, the best move for us is to get out of the way of harm and trouble. It is not fear or lack of courage, it is about being smart and knowing enough about our weaknesses, and then being smart. We can, and should, be calling on God to not only protect us but to make us self-aware.
Reference: 2 Timothy 2:22 (New Living Testament)
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
day 728: Leave Behinds
"Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you, not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled and do not be afraid."
When we are going into a business presentation we will bring with us our presentation, which we hope covers enough to get the point across but not go into so much depth that we lose the audience. To ensure that, what we will do many times is have some "leave behinds" that the audience can intake later that may answer the questions that didn't come up, or where there wasn't enough time to cover in the presentation. The leave behind material may also have more statistics and data to support the argument or create confidence that what the presenter was saying can be substantiated or believed. While we call them "leave behinds", they are actually very important documents that could make the difference on someones thinking later when no one else is around. What we always want to do with those materials is to anticipate and ensure that we think through how someone might feel after the presentation so that we can address those open questions or issues in a way that keeps them feeling as comfortable and agreeable as we wanted them to be in the actual presentation time.
Jesus gave us the ultimate "leave behind" material. Along with the opportunity for everlasting life, he left us peace and a reason for us to be confident, not troubled and not afraid about what work, life, and the world may bring. There are a lot of follow on questions in our world right now. In our businesses we don't know what will come next; whether we will see another recession, whether the financial markets will recover, what will happen with consumer confidence, etc. We just don't know and when we are given plans, actions, or initiatives that we are told should work, we just aren't always quite sure. We need to have the leave behind materials to go check. In our lives, that is God's Word and God's promises to us. We are told by Jesus directly to not let our hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. With that kind of "leave behind", we shouldn't need anything else to be reassured.
Reference: John 14:27
When we are going into a business presentation we will bring with us our presentation, which we hope covers enough to get the point across but not go into so much depth that we lose the audience. To ensure that, what we will do many times is have some "leave behinds" that the audience can intake later that may answer the questions that didn't come up, or where there wasn't enough time to cover in the presentation. The leave behind material may also have more statistics and data to support the argument or create confidence that what the presenter was saying can be substantiated or believed. While we call them "leave behinds", they are actually very important documents that could make the difference on someones thinking later when no one else is around. What we always want to do with those materials is to anticipate and ensure that we think through how someone might feel after the presentation so that we can address those open questions or issues in a way that keeps them feeling as comfortable and agreeable as we wanted them to be in the actual presentation time.
Jesus gave us the ultimate "leave behind" material. Along with the opportunity for everlasting life, he left us peace and a reason for us to be confident, not troubled and not afraid about what work, life, and the world may bring. There are a lot of follow on questions in our world right now. In our businesses we don't know what will come next; whether we will see another recession, whether the financial markets will recover, what will happen with consumer confidence, etc. We just don't know and when we are given plans, actions, or initiatives that we are told should work, we just aren't always quite sure. We need to have the leave behind materials to go check. In our lives, that is God's Word and God's promises to us. We are told by Jesus directly to not let our hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. With that kind of "leave behind", we shouldn't need anything else to be reassured.
Reference: John 14:27
Monday, September 12, 2011
day 727: 9/12
"May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"
It's now been over 10 years since 9/11 and we awoke this morning on 9/12 and we are going about our business and life just like we did on Friday, or yesterday. Yet, yesterday on the news, in church, in conversations, in the press, all over, we reflected back on how different it was on 9/12 ten years ago than it is today. Ten years ago today, we didn't have any clear understanding of how many people had died in the terror attacks, we weren't sure who to blame, and we weren't sure of what would happen next, or what we could expect going forward, but we were different than how we were on 9/11. On 9/12 we woke up and even though we were scared, anxious, grounded in a city far from home, separated from loved ones, and yes, a little bit angry, we started treating each other differently. We waved at people we didn't know. We let the little irritants go and we smiled instead of how we might normally react. We called and emailed people we hadn't talked to forever just to see how they were. We gave of ourselves to causes and people who needed us. We became tolerant and civil with people we disagreed. We bonded and came together as people who cared for each other. Ten years ago, we were different on 9/12 than who we were on 9/11. On 9/12 we all looked a lot more like the place and living that God laid out for us in His Word.
Today, we as believers, we should hold ourselves accountable to returning to our 9/12/01 ways. We have been given God's promises and the hope that is God's. Paul says it all in Roman's 15:13, quoted above. Have we been living to God's promise of hope, peace, trust so that we can let that overflow out of us to others with power? Let's today see if we can embody that hope and also carry ourselves back to 9/12/01 and remember who we were on that day!
Reference: Romans 15:13
It's now been over 10 years since 9/11 and we awoke this morning on 9/12 and we are going about our business and life just like we did on Friday, or yesterday. Yet, yesterday on the news, in church, in conversations, in the press, all over, we reflected back on how different it was on 9/12 ten years ago than it is today. Ten years ago today, we didn't have any clear understanding of how many people had died in the terror attacks, we weren't sure who to blame, and we weren't sure of what would happen next, or what we could expect going forward, but we were different than how we were on 9/11. On 9/12 we woke up and even though we were scared, anxious, grounded in a city far from home, separated from loved ones, and yes, a little bit angry, we started treating each other differently. We waved at people we didn't know. We let the little irritants go and we smiled instead of how we might normally react. We called and emailed people we hadn't talked to forever just to see how they were. We gave of ourselves to causes and people who needed us. We became tolerant and civil with people we disagreed. We bonded and came together as people who cared for each other. Ten years ago, we were different on 9/12 than who we were on 9/11. On 9/12 we all looked a lot more like the place and living that God laid out for us in His Word.
Today, we as believers, we should hold ourselves accountable to returning to our 9/12/01 ways. We have been given God's promises and the hope that is God's. Paul says it all in Roman's 15:13, quoted above. Have we been living to God's promise of hope, peace, trust so that we can let that overflow out of us to others with power? Let's today see if we can embody that hope and also carry ourselves back to 9/12/01 and remember who we were on that day!
Reference: Romans 15:13
Friday, September 9, 2011
day 726: Yielding
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others."
Business doesn't like to yield. It is not unusual to hear a CEO say, "We will not yield to...(fill in the blank)." Not yielding can turn ugly as unless someone does, someone is going to get crushed and the collision is going to hurt someone, if not both parties. I think back on the days of Apple and Microsoft when neither would yield and they battled in the marketplace for decades without cooperating. At the end of the day, one company won for the first two decades (Microsoft) and then later the other one won (Apple), although Apple did yield and allow for Windows to be installed on their computers after all. But who in the end run was hurt? It was actually you and me and anyone who used a computer. For many years we suffered through bad operating systems on substandard hardware all while there was an okay operating system that couldn't do everything we needed to do for work, sharing, etc. sitting there on fantastic hardware. I went through the days of using a Mac inside of a corporation, only to finally have to switch over to a PC because the company no longer would support MacOS, nor the hardware. I believe at the time, this was circa 1996, we were the last major American company, outside of Apple, who had been 100% Mac. The point of this is what would have happened to us over all of those years had the guys at the top yielded a little to each other? I can imagine lots of years of higher productivity and maybe even accelerated development creativity had the yielding occurred. Businesses, large institutions, and government are all invited daily to yield. We may never see when they do, but we certainly see, hear about, and feel when they don't.
The same is true in our lives. What James is telling us is that if we seek the true wisdom of God what we will find is that our spirit should be one that yields to others. It's so hard to do. That's why James tells us that we need to seek to be that close to God so that we can. When we yield to others, we are living the example of Christ. When we put ourselves and our own agendas continually first we are missing out on part of the wisdom of God that He wants to give us. Think today about where you are harboring an unyielding spirit and what changes would you have to make to just let it go? There is nothing wrong with yielding. You might even be surprised what you learn when you let someone else go first.
Reference: James 3:17 (New Living Testament)
Business doesn't like to yield. It is not unusual to hear a CEO say, "We will not yield to...(fill in the blank)." Not yielding can turn ugly as unless someone does, someone is going to get crushed and the collision is going to hurt someone, if not both parties. I think back on the days of Apple and Microsoft when neither would yield and they battled in the marketplace for decades without cooperating. At the end of the day, one company won for the first two decades (Microsoft) and then later the other one won (Apple), although Apple did yield and allow for Windows to be installed on their computers after all. But who in the end run was hurt? It was actually you and me and anyone who used a computer. For many years we suffered through bad operating systems on substandard hardware all while there was an okay operating system that couldn't do everything we needed to do for work, sharing, etc. sitting there on fantastic hardware. I went through the days of using a Mac inside of a corporation, only to finally have to switch over to a PC because the company no longer would support MacOS, nor the hardware. I believe at the time, this was circa 1996, we were the last major American company, outside of Apple, who had been 100% Mac. The point of this is what would have happened to us over all of those years had the guys at the top yielded a little to each other? I can imagine lots of years of higher productivity and maybe even accelerated development creativity had the yielding occurred. Businesses, large institutions, and government are all invited daily to yield. We may never see when they do, but we certainly see, hear about, and feel when they don't.
The same is true in our lives. What James is telling us is that if we seek the true wisdom of God what we will find is that our spirit should be one that yields to others. It's so hard to do. That's why James tells us that we need to seek to be that close to God so that we can. When we yield to others, we are living the example of Christ. When we put ourselves and our own agendas continually first we are missing out on part of the wisdom of God that He wants to give us. Think today about where you are harboring an unyielding spirit and what changes would you have to make to just let it go? There is nothing wrong with yielding. You might even be surprised what you learn when you let someone else go first.
Reference: James 3:17 (New Living Testament)
Thursday, September 8, 2011
day 725: Storm, Norm, and Form (repost)
"God's voice is glorious in the thunder. We can't even imagine the greatness of his power."
The common way that teams and partnerships come together is that they pass through the stages of forming, storming and then norming. Forming is easy. It is just coming together and getting to know one another and starting to work together in the best way possible. Norming is when the team or group begin to fall into a pattern of working together that is based on trust of each other and the following of the patterns of their skills and experiences. It is the middle phase that is the most interesting. The phase known as storming. Few like this phase because it is uncomfortable and not pleasant. This is when the true emotions get put on the table and we find the boundaries with each other. It is also the stage when any lingering issues or harbored feelings get exposed. Some groups never come through this phase because the issues to deal with are just too exposed or raw. Or, the people in the team get their feelings hurt beyond repair. While it is ugly, few good teams ever come to be without going through the storming phase. Those who do go through it successfully can be come very tight and trusting as if they are then almost inseparable.
Many great things can happen with a team when they reach this level of togetherness. There is much storming that happens all around us at work and we just need to be ready and sensitive to taking these times and turning them into good. I am reminded of the verse in Job that references God's voice like one that comes from the storms; "God's voice is glorious in the thunder. We can't even imagine the greatness of his power." Even in the storms God can be there with us. If His voice is in the thunder, then He can certainly be with us as we go through the storming stages in our work. Today would be a great day to ensure that you are taking God to work with you to be there with you in the storms.
Reference: Job 37:5 (New Living Testament)
The common way that teams and partnerships come together is that they pass through the stages of forming, storming and then norming. Forming is easy. It is just coming together and getting to know one another and starting to work together in the best way possible. Norming is when the team or group begin to fall into a pattern of working together that is based on trust of each other and the following of the patterns of their skills and experiences. It is the middle phase that is the most interesting. The phase known as storming. Few like this phase because it is uncomfortable and not pleasant. This is when the true emotions get put on the table and we find the boundaries with each other. It is also the stage when any lingering issues or harbored feelings get exposed. Some groups never come through this phase because the issues to deal with are just too exposed or raw. Or, the people in the team get their feelings hurt beyond repair. While it is ugly, few good teams ever come to be without going through the storming phase. Those who do go through it successfully can be come very tight and trusting as if they are then almost inseparable.
Many great things can happen with a team when they reach this level of togetherness. There is much storming that happens all around us at work and we just need to be ready and sensitive to taking these times and turning them into good. I am reminded of the verse in Job that references God's voice like one that comes from the storms; "God's voice is glorious in the thunder. We can't even imagine the greatness of his power." Even in the storms God can be there with us. If His voice is in the thunder, then He can certainly be with us as we go through the storming stages in our work. Today would be a great day to ensure that you are taking God to work with you to be there with you in the storms.
Reference: Job 37:5 (New Living Testament)
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
day 724: Arc of Day (repost)
"Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began."
When we rise in the morning and ready ourselves for work we shift our mind and thinking to going away from our home and loved ones to another place where we may not be as happy or as fulfilled, but know that we have a job to do so we go do it. We give it our best. We forget to call home. We lose track of the hours and along the day we find ourselves more engrossed in our work than the rest of our lives. As the day winds down and the people around us begin to log-off and pack up we do the same and as we commute back to where we spend most of our time we transition back into the other person who now needs to provide time and attention to those who are also in our lives but don't share the 8-16 hours a day that we do when we are working. We refresh in our hours away from the office. We recharge in the love and companionship of family and friends. And then we start it all over the next day. We live the arc of a day, each and every working day that we have.
What is amazing about the human spirit and ability is that we find both power and energy in our time away from work and within our work. Together, if balanced, we are enthusiastic and fit to tackle the challenges within and outside of work. But, that arc must be managed and balanced for it all to work correctly. When out of synch then we know how we feel; burned out, exhausted, overwhelmed, etc. I was struck by a verse this past week in John Chapter 17. Jesus is near the end of his earthly life and He prays to His Father; "Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began." I read this verse early in the morning before a day that was destined to be out of balance. There would be no time to rest or no time to communicate outside of the work that needed to be done. It was going to be a day where I was not looking forward to the challenges ahead. And then I read this verse and God spoke to me and said, "take a look at what Jesus/I did and then tell me that you can't get through any day ahead of you". I reread the verse and saw Jesus walking out the door to go do His work and near the end of His day looking forward to returning home and to the time before the work began. I heard Him managing the arc of His day! God knows our arc as He created it for us. Allow Him today to carry us from home to work to home and to make the most of the arc of this day!
Reference: John 17:5 (New Living Testament)
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
day 723: Assistants
"But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God."
I can remember when I was assigned my first executive assistant. One day I was doing all of my work on my own, and then the next I had someone who wanted to help me manage my calendar and all of my administrative duties. I would say that it took me a good while to understand how best to utilize such a valuable resource. In this day and age even some of the most senior people in a company will share an executive assistant and with the advances in technology and digital communication it makes sense. Still, having someone who can assist and help is such a gift. And then to think of the people we know who treat assistants shoddily or don't value them for what they can do or bring to the office. Assistants should receive great respect and treatment because when led correctly, they can increase our productivity immeasurably.
Now, imagine that we had the assistance of God always with us? Why do we have to imagine, as we do! God wants to be our helper and He is constantly asking and offering out to us His assistance. But, we don't take it, or we continue to decide to go it alone and see what happens. Even on the surface it doesn't make sense that we just turn our back on that much help. Today, think about where you could use the help and don't be hesitant on calling on Him for whatever the need may be. He is not only just outside of your office He is the assistant who is right there with you, right now.
Reference: Psalm 146:5 (New Living Testament)
I can remember when I was assigned my first executive assistant. One day I was doing all of my work on my own, and then the next I had someone who wanted to help me manage my calendar and all of my administrative duties. I would say that it took me a good while to understand how best to utilize such a valuable resource. In this day and age even some of the most senior people in a company will share an executive assistant and with the advances in technology and digital communication it makes sense. Still, having someone who can assist and help is such a gift. And then to think of the people we know who treat assistants shoddily or don't value them for what they can do or bring to the office. Assistants should receive great respect and treatment because when led correctly, they can increase our productivity immeasurably.
Now, imagine that we had the assistance of God always with us? Why do we have to imagine, as we do! God wants to be our helper and He is constantly asking and offering out to us His assistance. But, we don't take it, or we continue to decide to go it alone and see what happens. Even on the surface it doesn't make sense that we just turn our back on that much help. Today, think about where you could use the help and don't be hesitant on calling on Him for whatever the need may be. He is not only just outside of your office He is the assistant who is right there with you, right now.
Reference: Psalm 146:5 (New Living Testament)
Friday, September 2, 2011
day 722: Message Readiness
"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
As we near the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I am reminded of how many companies who didn't have in place at that time a company-wide communication and message plan but now have them established and ready to go at all times. As I sat on the tarmac in Indianapolis on that fateful morning, after having flown out of JFK heading to SFO, there I was trying to coordinate a communication plan with the company from a low-battery Blackberry. Fortunately, we were not one of the companies that suffered the loss of employees in 9/11 and we were able to account for everyone, but we were unprepared to be able to communicate directly with our employees in a coordinated manner. We were not alone. Today, most companies and organizations have planned, reviewed, and practiced what it would take to get a message out and received. Being ready with a message, for whatever purpose, is good business practice.
When Paul wrote about message readiness, he was also coming from a place of distress. Paul didn't have an easy life. He lived most of his Christian life under persecution. Yet, regardless of the situation, he was ready with the message of the gospel. He taught that to his disciples and to the churches that he mentored. He was also teaching it to us. We are being told that we should always have our message ready as well. When asked, or given the opportunity, are we ready to fearlessly speak the gospel? Each day at work, we are provided with such opportunities, if we are listening and ready for them. In the next days and weeks there will be lots of water-cooler talk about 9/11 and where were, what it meant, how it happened, etc. Much of this conversation will come from a place of personal reflection and maybe some questioning about life and why? Let's be attuned for the opportunity to provide our story of why there is true hope and life to be had. Let's have our message ready.
Reference: Ephesians 6:19-20
As we near the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I am reminded of how many companies who didn't have in place at that time a company-wide communication and message plan but now have them established and ready to go at all times. As I sat on the tarmac in Indianapolis on that fateful morning, after having flown out of JFK heading to SFO, there I was trying to coordinate a communication plan with the company from a low-battery Blackberry. Fortunately, we were not one of the companies that suffered the loss of employees in 9/11 and we were able to account for everyone, but we were unprepared to be able to communicate directly with our employees in a coordinated manner. We were not alone. Today, most companies and organizations have planned, reviewed, and practiced what it would take to get a message out and received. Being ready with a message, for whatever purpose, is good business practice.
When Paul wrote about message readiness, he was also coming from a place of distress. Paul didn't have an easy life. He lived most of his Christian life under persecution. Yet, regardless of the situation, he was ready with the message of the gospel. He taught that to his disciples and to the churches that he mentored. He was also teaching it to us. We are being told that we should always have our message ready as well. When asked, or given the opportunity, are we ready to fearlessly speak the gospel? Each day at work, we are provided with such opportunities, if we are listening and ready for them. In the next days and weeks there will be lots of water-cooler talk about 9/11 and where were, what it meant, how it happened, etc. Much of this conversation will come from a place of personal reflection and maybe some questioning about life and why? Let's be attuned for the opportunity to provide our story of why there is true hope and life to be had. Let's have our message ready.
Reference: Ephesians 6:19-20
Thursday, September 1, 2011
day 721: Start to Finish
"Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly."
Every business or organization has its own business cycle that it follows. For some it can be a long cycle of product development, review, approval, customer acceptance, etc. For others, it is opening the door and counting the customers and cash register receipts by the hour. Regardless, there is a beginning that is filled with expectation and hope and unlimited upside; there is a middle of assessing and adjusting an necessary; and there is a conclusion of measurement and reconciling. For those who believe in continuous improvement, there are also postmortems to decide what worked well and what didn't and then an application to the process, design or service to make things bigger and better for next time. The best businesses do it all. They know and prepare for a starting point and rally their organization towards that day or moment. They are watching from start through middle to end to recalibrate if need be, and they know how to conclude and celebrate in a way that brings the troops back for the next time.
We are the same way in our own jobs and the different aspects of our lives. We have cycles and seasons that we have to understand and manage. Having just experienced my first true hurricane season event, I found David's words so true. With each morning as we prepared for Hurricane Irene; through the start of the blowing winds; through the passing of the middle of the storm, to the aftermath of nearly 90 hours without power; it was each morning waiting expectantly to see how the day would unfold. David teaches us to bring those requests and needs to God each morning and let that be our cycle, start to finish. His words and God's promise are good ones. If we can string together day after day of listening for his voice and bringing ourselves to Him daily then from start to finish of the day, we will be as prepared for own work and life cycle as we can be.
PS: Thank you for the prayers, notes, support and encouragement this past week.
Reference: Psalm 5:3 (New Living Testament)
Every business or organization has its own business cycle that it follows. For some it can be a long cycle of product development, review, approval, customer acceptance, etc. For others, it is opening the door and counting the customers and cash register receipts by the hour. Regardless, there is a beginning that is filled with expectation and hope and unlimited upside; there is a middle of assessing and adjusting an necessary; and there is a conclusion of measurement and reconciling. For those who believe in continuous improvement, there are also postmortems to decide what worked well and what didn't and then an application to the process, design or service to make things bigger and better for next time. The best businesses do it all. They know and prepare for a starting point and rally their organization towards that day or moment. They are watching from start through middle to end to recalibrate if need be, and they know how to conclude and celebrate in a way that brings the troops back for the next time.
We are the same way in our own jobs and the different aspects of our lives. We have cycles and seasons that we have to understand and manage. Having just experienced my first true hurricane season event, I found David's words so true. With each morning as we prepared for Hurricane Irene; through the start of the blowing winds; through the passing of the middle of the storm, to the aftermath of nearly 90 hours without power; it was each morning waiting expectantly to see how the day would unfold. David teaches us to bring those requests and needs to God each morning and let that be our cycle, start to finish. His words and God's promise are good ones. If we can string together day after day of listening for his voice and bringing ourselves to Him daily then from start to finish of the day, we will be as prepared for own work and life cycle as we can be.
PS: Thank you for the prayers, notes, support and encouragement this past week.
Reference: Psalm 5:3 (New Living Testament)
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