"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth"
I'm working with a number of companies who are are obtaining their next round of capital funding to support their business growth. It's a funny thing because regardless of the stage, the pattern is much the same. The company/entrepreneur/founder/CEO puts together a story of the company, sometimes shorter or sometimes longer, then reaches to his/her network of investors who begin to set up meetings. Then there is a dating thing that happens while waiting to see if someone falls in love with the company. Once they do then the company tries to get others to fall in love with better terms, finally, hopefully, ending up with the best terms for the company and ones that the new investor feels like they got a bargain. What neither side knows at that time, like the beginning of any relationship, is how well it will go, but on the day of an executed term sheet and wired money, it all about a hopeful and optimistic good future. How do we make the best decision about capital input, we certainly must do our homework an reference check, etc. but at the end of the day, we make the decision like we do in many cases, based on how we "feel" about the new people who will be making the investment. Yes, once again, it comes down to a set of shared values and principles that make us feel like the best capital input is occurring.
As believers we see out all types of input in our lives. We look for prayer, encouragement, fellowship, support, etc. We gather in small accountability groups to keep us on course and provide advice and counsel that is beyond that we might receive from those who don't share our same beliefs. Yet, at the end of the day, there is one place where we must lean, listen and learn, and that is for the voice of God. Of course, God shows up with words from other believers and from the pulpit, but we also have to do our own listening and only we can read God's word for ourselves and we have to enter into prayer with Him individually, if we want to hear His voice for us. Each and every day we are needing and seeking input for our growth. Let's today not forget that that growth comes from Him and what He has and will give us.
Reference: 1 Corinthians 3:7
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
day 878: No Quitting
"...He did not give up because of the cross."
After the fact we think how easy it looked for the start-ups that get acquired at crazy valuations. But, for every Instagram or Draw Something team, there are hundreds who never get past the first round of money and then fade off into the sunset. Even for the homeruns the story is usually one of near death and then they unlocked what made them successful. Instagram was a failed Brbn before narrowing the offering to photos. The team from Draw Something was at the end of their money and patience from their investors and then they created the Draw Something game that snatched them from the jaws of death. These hits we see do not come easily and they don't come without stories of wanting to quit many times over. But, perseverance and persistence is a quality of great entrepreneurs that can't go unnoticed. Sometimes it is because they don't (to quote Mayo from Officer and a Gentleman) "have anywhere else to go", but in most cases it is because they so passionately believe that the pursuit is unquestionable in how far they go. They go all the way. We could use more of this entrepreneurial persistence in all of our businesses. By creating a compelling vision that everyone can believe in and rally behind we can make that spirit come alive, even in a big company or organization.
What if we knew that the path we were walking, which was filled with rocks, hardships, threats and an ending of excruciating pain and death; would we walk it? I think not. We just aren't built that way. But one person was. When I think of what it took for Jesus to not give up, with what he knew was coming, I am so humbled and thankful. We may be looking at situations all around us where the easy way out is to quit and wash our hands of it, but we know down deep inside that quitting is not the example that Christ gave us and that would be the wrong path to choose. When we are up against it, let's look beyond the problem, the obstacles, and the people who are making it hard on us, and look for the cross. And when we can see the cross, let us be reminded that Jesus wasn't a quitter and that He never gave up and he persevered for each of us! That is the example that we are to follow.
Reference: Hebrews 12:2
After the fact we think how easy it looked for the start-ups that get acquired at crazy valuations. But, for every Instagram or Draw Something team, there are hundreds who never get past the first round of money and then fade off into the sunset. Even for the homeruns the story is usually one of near death and then they unlocked what made them successful. Instagram was a failed Brbn before narrowing the offering to photos. The team from Draw Something was at the end of their money and patience from their investors and then they created the Draw Something game that snatched them from the jaws of death. These hits we see do not come easily and they don't come without stories of wanting to quit many times over. But, perseverance and persistence is a quality of great entrepreneurs that can't go unnoticed. Sometimes it is because they don't (to quote Mayo from Officer and a Gentleman) "have anywhere else to go", but in most cases it is because they so passionately believe that the pursuit is unquestionable in how far they go. They go all the way. We could use more of this entrepreneurial persistence in all of our businesses. By creating a compelling vision that everyone can believe in and rally behind we can make that spirit come alive, even in a big company or organization.
What if we knew that the path we were walking, which was filled with rocks, hardships, threats and an ending of excruciating pain and death; would we walk it? I think not. We just aren't built that way. But one person was. When I think of what it took for Jesus to not give up, with what he knew was coming, I am so humbled and thankful. We may be looking at situations all around us where the easy way out is to quit and wash our hands of it, but we know down deep inside that quitting is not the example that Christ gave us and that would be the wrong path to choose. When we are up against it, let's look beyond the problem, the obstacles, and the people who are making it hard on us, and look for the cross. And when we can see the cross, let us be reminded that Jesus wasn't a quitter and that He never gave up and he persevered for each of us! That is the example that we are to follow.
Reference: Hebrews 12:2
Thursday, April 26, 2012
day 877: Interests
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"Publish his
glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he
does."
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Wednesday, April 25, 2012
day 18,250
Day 18,250?
Well not really, but really.
Today is a milestone day for me and rather than the usual Purposed worKING, I thought I would just take a moment to be grateful for each of you and all that you are doing for the work of the Kingdom. I know that is so, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this each day, or even today for the first time.
The work you do here on the earth, with your talents, skills and experiences, to the best of your ability, to bring glory to God is paying and will pay dividends beyond any of our comprehension. I encourage you today and as we each grow older, let us do so with greater wisdom, grace, patience and understanding. On this day, I also praise God for all that He has given us from the ability to be who we are, to the earth that we get to enjoy and care for, and for the technology that allows us to connect each day and spend a few minutes together.
May today be a special day for you and may God shine his blessings on you today!
Well not really, but really.
Today is a milestone day for me and rather than the usual Purposed worKING, I thought I would just take a moment to be grateful for each of you and all that you are doing for the work of the Kingdom. I know that is so, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this each day, or even today for the first time.
The work you do here on the earth, with your talents, skills and experiences, to the best of your ability, to bring glory to God is paying and will pay dividends beyond any of our comprehension. I encourage you today and as we each grow older, let us do so with greater wisdom, grace, patience and understanding. On this day, I also praise God for all that He has given us from the ability to be who we are, to the earth that we get to enjoy and care for, and for the technology that allows us to connect each day and spend a few minutes together.
May today be a special day for you and may God shine his blessings on you today!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
day 876: Sit With It
"Teach me, and I will keep quiet. Show me what I have done wrong."
In business we are not good at letting ideas, actions, things just sit. One of the harder things to do is to shelve an idea, knowing that someone else will likely pick it up and run with it and then we will kick ourselves for not having followed through. Am I alone in this feeling? But, great companies and great leaders know how to say no and they know how to let the right things sit and how to have others get picked up and moved forward. There are a number of businesses that have failed because they wanted to be all things for all people and they moved forward when they should have let things just sit. We should each evaluate how and what needs to be put on the sideline and let sit for awhile until the time is right, if ever. We'd find that our focus, momentum and progress just might improve.
I read this in Christianity Today last month. It was written by Mark Galli and stuck with me. "At one point in the movie Patton, General Omar Bradley tells General George Patton that Patton may be given a crucial assignment: leading troops in the invasion of Europe. Though he had played a decisive role in the battle for Africa and in the invasion of Sicily, Patton at the time was cooling his heels in England, having been disciplined for slapping a soldier in a field hospital. So Patton is anxious to get back into the thick of battle, and when he hears about the possible assignment, he can hardly contain himself. Bradley tells him no decision has been made, that it's in the hands of General George Marshall. Patton is a man of action, who took initiative while others stood around deliberating their options. But when he heard that his fate lay in the hands of Marshall, he calmed down. "He's a good man," he said of Marshall. "At least he's a fair man. I'll let it with him." He said this based on his knowledge of who Marshall in fact was and how he comported himself in action. The god we know, the God we've seen in action has done this: He died for us. It is because of this that we way with confidence, "He's a good God. He's a fair God. All these questions that torment us - we can let those sit with this God."
Reference: Job 6:24
In business we are not good at letting ideas, actions, things just sit. One of the harder things to do is to shelve an idea, knowing that someone else will likely pick it up and run with it and then we will kick ourselves for not having followed through. Am I alone in this feeling? But, great companies and great leaders know how to say no and they know how to let the right things sit and how to have others get picked up and moved forward. There are a number of businesses that have failed because they wanted to be all things for all people and they moved forward when they should have let things just sit. We should each evaluate how and what needs to be put on the sideline and let sit for awhile until the time is right, if ever. We'd find that our focus, momentum and progress just might improve.
I read this in Christianity Today last month. It was written by Mark Galli and stuck with me. "At one point in the movie Patton, General Omar Bradley tells General George Patton that Patton may be given a crucial assignment: leading troops in the invasion of Europe. Though he had played a decisive role in the battle for Africa and in the invasion of Sicily, Patton at the time was cooling his heels in England, having been disciplined for slapping a soldier in a field hospital. So Patton is anxious to get back into the thick of battle, and when he hears about the possible assignment, he can hardly contain himself. Bradley tells him no decision has been made, that it's in the hands of General George Marshall. Patton is a man of action, who took initiative while others stood around deliberating their options. But when he heard that his fate lay in the hands of Marshall, he calmed down. "He's a good man," he said of Marshall. "At least he's a fair man. I'll let it with him." He said this based on his knowledge of who Marshall in fact was and how he comported himself in action. The god we know, the God we've seen in action has done this: He died for us. It is because of this that we way with confidence, "He's a good God. He's a fair God. All these questions that torment us - we can let those sit with this God."
Reference: Job 6:24
Monday, April 23, 2012
day 875: Looking Up
"The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship."
"Things are looking up!". That's one of those statements we love to hear in the office or from the CEO. Of course, if things are looking up, that might have meant that the picture wasn't all that rosy before, but we will let that go for now. Optimism encourages enthusiasm and confidence. It's well known and shouldn't be ignored. When in doubt about how to to motivate a team, get the call rolling, or starting an initiative, put an optimistic leader in charge and others will follow. Here in Silicon Valley, I see it all the time. Founders and entrepreneurs are over the top optimistic and this optimism pushes them through all kinds of walls and challenges. It's infectious and it works. So, if something isn't going well in your organization, look to the leader and see what level of optimism they are exuding and then go from there.
King David tells us to look up to see God's craftsmanship. He is so right. We need only to look up into God's heavens to understand His power and where we fit into it all. God gives us so many reasons to proclaim His glory and to be optimistic, hopeful and excited about our future and what He can do through us. Today, let's not forget to look up to see Him and to be the ones that others see optimistic about life and all that we have been given.
Reference: Psalm 19:1 (New Living Testament)
"Things are looking up!". That's one of those statements we love to hear in the office or from the CEO. Of course, if things are looking up, that might have meant that the picture wasn't all that rosy before, but we will let that go for now. Optimism encourages enthusiasm and confidence. It's well known and shouldn't be ignored. When in doubt about how to to motivate a team, get the call rolling, or starting an initiative, put an optimistic leader in charge and others will follow. Here in Silicon Valley, I see it all the time. Founders and entrepreneurs are over the top optimistic and this optimism pushes them through all kinds of walls and challenges. It's infectious and it works. So, if something isn't going well in your organization, look to the leader and see what level of optimism they are exuding and then go from there.
King David tells us to look up to see God's craftsmanship. He is so right. We need only to look up into God's heavens to understand His power and where we fit into it all. God gives us so many reasons to proclaim His glory and to be optimistic, hopeful and excited about our future and what He can do through us. Today, let's not forget to look up to see Him and to be the ones that others see optimistic about life and all that we have been given.
Reference: Psalm 19:1 (New Living Testament)
Friday, April 20, 2012
day 874: White Boards
"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."
"We need to go back to the drawing board". This is a common phrase we hear around the office when something we have tried doesn't work, or there has been a shift in the business plan, or when the numbers don't add up, or when the competition just trumped us. We also use the phrase when are trying to figure out a problem with a team or person and everything we have tried comes up short. So, what we do is we "go back to the drawing board". The drawing board, or as we would now day, the "white board" is where the early creations happen. The drawing board term comes from the a draftsman's large sketch board where ideas, schematics, pictures could be drafted and then torn off and thrown away without worry of wasted material or permanency. Usually these were large boards that were on easels or pedestals and you would stand up to work on them like standing at an artist's canvas. They were the precursor to a chalk blackboard or a modern day white board. The beauty was that you had the piece of paper to take with you to show others or to rip off and throw away (in frustration many times) as you were forced to go back to the drawing board once again.
The imagery of having to go back to the drawing board again and again after unsuccessful attempts to try and achieve the task at hand is one that conjures up for me the feelings of not only frustration but ones of failure, helplessness and anxiety. If you have ever been told by your boss that you "need to go back to the drawing board", you know what I am talking about. That may be where you are today with a part of your job or career that you are trying to figure out. You have been at the drawing board multiple times but all that comes up is a blank piece of paper. I was struck by a verse in the book of Hebrews that tells us exactly the drawing board that we should approach when we need to figure out the most complex of complex problems. In Chapter 4:16 it says; "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." There is the drawing board of all drawing boards, the throne of God! We only have to step up to the throne to accept God's mercy and grace to help us through our problems and challenges. The answers and the full design for our work and our lives is already there waiting for us if we will only take that step towards the throne and look upon the drawing board that God has filled out for us. The next time you hear the phrase "let's go back to the drawing board" you can know that you have a supreme drawing or white board that you can approach not with frustration, worry or anxiety but with assurances, hope and promise.
Reference: Hebrews 4:16 (New Living Testament)
"We need to go back to the drawing board". This is a common phrase we hear around the office when something we have tried doesn't work, or there has been a shift in the business plan, or when the numbers don't add up, or when the competition just trumped us. We also use the phrase when are trying to figure out a problem with a team or person and everything we have tried comes up short. So, what we do is we "go back to the drawing board". The drawing board, or as we would now day, the "white board" is where the early creations happen. The drawing board term comes from the a draftsman's large sketch board where ideas, schematics, pictures could be drafted and then torn off and thrown away without worry of wasted material or permanency. Usually these were large boards that were on easels or pedestals and you would stand up to work on them like standing at an artist's canvas. They were the precursor to a chalk blackboard or a modern day white board. The beauty was that you had the piece of paper to take with you to show others or to rip off and throw away (in frustration many times) as you were forced to go back to the drawing board once again.
The imagery of having to go back to the drawing board again and again after unsuccessful attempts to try and achieve the task at hand is one that conjures up for me the feelings of not only frustration but ones of failure, helplessness and anxiety. If you have ever been told by your boss that you "need to go back to the drawing board", you know what I am talking about. That may be where you are today with a part of your job or career that you are trying to figure out. You have been at the drawing board multiple times but all that comes up is a blank piece of paper. I was struck by a verse in the book of Hebrews that tells us exactly the drawing board that we should approach when we need to figure out the most complex of complex problems. In Chapter 4:16 it says; "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." There is the drawing board of all drawing boards, the throne of God! We only have to step up to the throne to accept God's mercy and grace to help us through our problems and challenges. The answers and the full design for our work and our lives is already there waiting for us if we will only take that step towards the throne and look upon the drawing board that God has filled out for us. The next time you hear the phrase "let's go back to the drawing board" you can know that you have a supreme drawing or white board that you can approach not with frustration, worry or anxiety but with assurances, hope and promise.
Reference: Hebrews 4:16 (New Living Testament)
Thursday, April 19, 2012
day 873: Born Ready?
"Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith it tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."
There is always someone on a team that when someone says, "Are your ready?", they answer, "I was born ready". They are usually the cowboy and the daring type. It's a misnomer that one could be born ready. Readiness comes from preparation, practice, repetition, and from experience. Especially in our work lives we have too many examples of people thinking they are ready for an assignment or task only to find that they fail or are in over their head because they don't have the experience or preparation to be up for the challenge. While the adage "nothing ventured...nothing gained" is true, I still hate to see the failure that people have because they and someone else thought they were ready for something that they just weren't yet. That type of failure can end up haunting someone throughout their career and can stunt their confidence for years to come. Everyday we are getting prepared and readied for something that we will face in the future and we should be taking into account each day's learning and cataloging it for the future. Many times those readying experiences are not pleasant. They are come from the school of hard-knocks and we learn what not to do next time as much as learn what to do. And because of that we should not let the hard-knocks in life and at work get us down, but instead use them to add to our capability and strength for the future.
We use these moments in our lives to strengthen our faith and to be sure that we are placing our trials and problems in the right hands, the hands of God. We see this in the book of James where we are told that we must build our endurance in order to be ready for anything. Without the endurance to withstand the challenges and trials that will be put in front of us, then we will never be fully ready. James 1:2-4 says; "Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith it tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." Today, you are facing something at work that is a trial and a challenge for you. It may be something that has been lingering for a long time and you know that you need to invite God to work with you today to help you get it straightened out for once and for all. You may not have had the level of faith yet to let Him take it and for you to follow His direction, but today can be that day when that amount of faith is in you. Today can be the day of building the endurance necessary for you to be ready to face anything. He wants to give you that level of endurance. All any of us need to do is let Him and let our faith build in his assurances that all the endurance and strength we will ever need is ours for the taking. Count the blessing today of knowing that God truly wants us to be ready for anything.
Reference: James 1:2-4 (New Living Testament)
There is always someone on a team that when someone says, "Are your ready?", they answer, "I was born ready". They are usually the cowboy and the daring type. It's a misnomer that one could be born ready. Readiness comes from preparation, practice, repetition, and from experience. Especially in our work lives we have too many examples of people thinking they are ready for an assignment or task only to find that they fail or are in over their head because they don't have the experience or preparation to be up for the challenge. While the adage "nothing ventured...nothing gained" is true, I still hate to see the failure that people have because they and someone else thought they were ready for something that they just weren't yet. That type of failure can end up haunting someone throughout their career and can stunt their confidence for years to come. Everyday we are getting prepared and readied for something that we will face in the future and we should be taking into account each day's learning and cataloging it for the future. Many times those readying experiences are not pleasant. They are come from the school of hard-knocks and we learn what not to do next time as much as learn what to do. And because of that we should not let the hard-knocks in life and at work get us down, but instead use them to add to our capability and strength for the future.
We use these moments in our lives to strengthen our faith and to be sure that we are placing our trials and problems in the right hands, the hands of God. We see this in the book of James where we are told that we must build our endurance in order to be ready for anything. Without the endurance to withstand the challenges and trials that will be put in front of us, then we will never be fully ready. James 1:2-4 says; "Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith it tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." Today, you are facing something at work that is a trial and a challenge for you. It may be something that has been lingering for a long time and you know that you need to invite God to work with you today to help you get it straightened out for once and for all. You may not have had the level of faith yet to let Him take it and for you to follow His direction, but today can be that day when that amount of faith is in you. Today can be the day of building the endurance necessary for you to be ready to face anything. He wants to give you that level of endurance. All any of us need to do is let Him and let our faith build in his assurances that all the endurance and strength we will ever need is ours for the taking. Count the blessing today of knowing that God truly wants us to be ready for anything.
Reference: James 1:2-4 (New Living Testament)
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
day 872: Observing The Upright
"Consider the blameless, observe the upright..."
Part of getting anything done at work is knowing your co-workers well enough that you can predict how they will respond to any request or idea. In effective presentation or public speaking classes this would be called, "knowing your audience". It is true, those who are most in tune with the people around them are usually the ones who are the best influencers and can get the most done. If we are not one of those people, we know who that person is and we take our issues to them and get their advice on how to get through to someone or sometimes we ask them to carry the message for us. Being able to know people well enough that you can predict their answers and reactions is a real skill to be developed and honed. Another outcome of this ability is that once you know someone at that level they begin to trust you in return. It's a nice reciprocal. I have also seen that a trait of these people is that they tend to see the best in people as well. They round up on others. This means that they aren't always looking for the worst in people, like many people do, instead they observe what is good and upright, they look for the best, and they see those traits and they build them up and reinforce the goodness in them. If you want to try something that builds trust from others then if you do nothing else, just do this. So many people walk the halls at work worried about where and when the next cutting remark, or the questioning of their ability or performance is going to hit. For many, self-confidence in their jobs is low to start with and then add on the concern that someone is lurking out there just waiting for them to slip, makes for a lot of people walking on egg shells around their co-workers. When someone comes along who will build them up and give them confidence and assurances, then that person becomes someone they trust, listen to and follow. And yes, that same person who rounds up others becomes the one who can influence and get things done through others.
Are we not to be the ones who round up on other people? In Psalm 37:31 we read; "Consider the blameless, observe the upright..." Yes, we are to the be the ones in the office who round-up on people not round-down or look for the faults in others. Everyone, other than our Lord, has faults and issues. We don't have to go further than the mirror to find someone with faults. So, as we strive to be the living example of a person for others to want to listen to, learn from and see our purpose then let's start with the simple notion and lesson of rounding up and looking for, or observing the upright.
Reference: Psalm 37:31 (New Living Testament)
Part of getting anything done at work is knowing your co-workers well enough that you can predict how they will respond to any request or idea. In effective presentation or public speaking classes this would be called, "knowing your audience". It is true, those who are most in tune with the people around them are usually the ones who are the best influencers and can get the most done. If we are not one of those people, we know who that person is and we take our issues to them and get their advice on how to get through to someone or sometimes we ask them to carry the message for us. Being able to know people well enough that you can predict their answers and reactions is a real skill to be developed and honed. Another outcome of this ability is that once you know someone at that level they begin to trust you in return. It's a nice reciprocal. I have also seen that a trait of these people is that they tend to see the best in people as well. They round up on others. This means that they aren't always looking for the worst in people, like many people do, instead they observe what is good and upright, they look for the best, and they see those traits and they build them up and reinforce the goodness in them. If you want to try something that builds trust from others then if you do nothing else, just do this. So many people walk the halls at work worried about where and when the next cutting remark, or the questioning of their ability or performance is going to hit. For many, self-confidence in their jobs is low to start with and then add on the concern that someone is lurking out there just waiting for them to slip, makes for a lot of people walking on egg shells around their co-workers. When someone comes along who will build them up and give them confidence and assurances, then that person becomes someone they trust, listen to and follow. And yes, that same person who rounds up others becomes the one who can influence and get things done through others.
Are we not to be the ones who round up on other people? In Psalm 37:31 we read; "Consider the blameless, observe the upright..." Yes, we are to the be the ones in the office who round-up on people not round-down or look for the faults in others. Everyone, other than our Lord, has faults and issues. We don't have to go further than the mirror to find someone with faults. So, as we strive to be the living example of a person for others to want to listen to, learn from and see our purpose then let's start with the simple notion and lesson of rounding up and looking for, or observing the upright.
Reference: Psalm 37:31 (New Living Testament)
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
day 871: Power Of The Pen
"At the Lord's direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress."
Ever been to a restaurant and the waiter doesn't write anything down and then off he/she goes to place the order? From the moment of ordering to the time the order comes out on the table, in perfect condition we hope, we worry a little bit about what is going to happen. The waiter thinks that he/she is really impressing us, but in most cases this backfires and we instead fret and our anxiety goes up about the whole ordeal. If the order does come back perfect we don't say at tip time, "Let's really tip big because of his memory", even though that is what they think or wish is going to happen. And if the order is not right at all, then we really take it out on the waiter and say, "All he had to do was write it down". What is interesting about this is that the power of writing something down can create confidence in others, if we let it. Just by showing the concern and taking the time to write down what we have heard or need to do, others around us get a better sense and feeling that we will follow through on what goes on the paper. There are other times when we write things down to chronicle or measure progress what has happened. Minutes of meetings, quality assurance logs, expenditures, travel reimbursements, etc. all are written records of activities for others to use and manage. Without a doubt, writing it down and recording it is important. But way less people understand this than they should. I made it clear as an expectation that everyone who worked for me would carry some sort of notebook into meetings so that when they left the action items and a record of the meeting was written down.
There just isn't enough time to go back waste others times and try and recreate a memory. God seemed to be telling Moses the same thing in Numbers 33:2; "At the Lord's direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress." We then go on to read in the rest of the chapter the progress that was made. Is writing it down, somehow holy? Probably not, but it is good form and practice and sometimes that is enough in the form of good advice and direction from the Bible. It reminds me that if we follow God's directions in our lives, and in our work, that we will not be led astray.
Reference: Numbers 33:2 (New Living Testament)
Ever been to a restaurant and the waiter doesn't write anything down and then off he/she goes to place the order? From the moment of ordering to the time the order comes out on the table, in perfect condition we hope, we worry a little bit about what is going to happen. The waiter thinks that he/she is really impressing us, but in most cases this backfires and we instead fret and our anxiety goes up about the whole ordeal. If the order does come back perfect we don't say at tip time, "Let's really tip big because of his memory", even though that is what they think or wish is going to happen. And if the order is not right at all, then we really take it out on the waiter and say, "All he had to do was write it down". What is interesting about this is that the power of writing something down can create confidence in others, if we let it. Just by showing the concern and taking the time to write down what we have heard or need to do, others around us get a better sense and feeling that we will follow through on what goes on the paper. There are other times when we write things down to chronicle or measure progress what has happened. Minutes of meetings, quality assurance logs, expenditures, travel reimbursements, etc. all are written records of activities for others to use and manage. Without a doubt, writing it down and recording it is important. But way less people understand this than they should. I made it clear as an expectation that everyone who worked for me would carry some sort of notebook into meetings so that when they left the action items and a record of the meeting was written down.
There just isn't enough time to go back waste others times and try and recreate a memory. God seemed to be telling Moses the same thing in Numbers 33:2; "At the Lord's direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress." We then go on to read in the rest of the chapter the progress that was made. Is writing it down, somehow holy? Probably not, but it is good form and practice and sometimes that is enough in the form of good advice and direction from the Bible. It reminds me that if we follow God's directions in our lives, and in our work, that we will not be led astray.
Reference: Numbers 33:2 (New Living Testament)
Monday, April 16, 2012
day 870: Loyal To The Tee
"Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart"
The Monday after a weekend of sporting events has every meeting and phone call beginning discussing the big game/match from the weekend before. Some fans are ecstatic and others are dejected. And some have their pre-game loyalties challenged enough that they waffle and become neutral after the loss. It's the old cynical adage, "I'm with you win or tie". However, to be there win, tie and lose is to show true loyalty. At work the word "loyal" can come up frequently as decisions are made about who will be promoted, receive a raise or receive more responsibility. Anyone who manages or leads people know that the desire and need for loyalty from their employees is to them very important. No one wants to have someone working for ,or work next to someone, who is constantly looking for the next job or the next company. We have all worked with these people and know that it gets old pretty quickly to hear about "that recruiter call I just got", or that "interview", or "that better job that must be out there for me". These are not the people who you want to recruit on your team or can count on when the going gets tough. We want to work with loyal teammates and your co-workers want the same from us.
There are many examples in the Bible of those who are loyal to Christ and also examples of those who weren't and we learn of the pain they go through as they find their way back. We are to be loyal people in our lives. We make many commitments within our lives and we are to live up to those commitments. In Proverbs 3:3 we are told, "Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart". Some can have their spurts of loyalty but our loyalty is to run deep within us and be super in its impact and example. Of course there is time for change and no one is to be blindly loyal to their company, but there is a loyalty that is supposed to be there to others and we need to know how that loyalty looks and feels for each of us. We are to live up to our commitments. Today, think about the commitments you have made to your co-workers, your boss, your company. Whatever those commitments, know that today is a day to be a great example of how to be loyal. Others are watching.
Reference: Proverbs 3:3 (New Living Testament)
The Monday after a weekend of sporting events has every meeting and phone call beginning discussing the big game/match from the weekend before. Some fans are ecstatic and others are dejected. And some have their pre-game loyalties challenged enough that they waffle and become neutral after the loss. It's the old cynical adage, "I'm with you win or tie". However, to be there win, tie and lose is to show true loyalty. At work the word "loyal" can come up frequently as decisions are made about who will be promoted, receive a raise or receive more responsibility. Anyone who manages or leads people know that the desire and need for loyalty from their employees is to them very important. No one wants to have someone working for ,or work next to someone, who is constantly looking for the next job or the next company. We have all worked with these people and know that it gets old pretty quickly to hear about "that recruiter call I just got", or that "interview", or "that better job that must be out there for me". These are not the people who you want to recruit on your team or can count on when the going gets tough. We want to work with loyal teammates and your co-workers want the same from us.
There are many examples in the Bible of those who are loyal to Christ and also examples of those who weren't and we learn of the pain they go through as they find their way back. We are to be loyal people in our lives. We make many commitments within our lives and we are to live up to those commitments. In Proverbs 3:3 we are told, "Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart". Some can have their spurts of loyalty but our loyalty is to run deep within us and be super in its impact and example. Of course there is time for change and no one is to be blindly loyal to their company, but there is a loyalty that is supposed to be there to others and we need to know how that loyalty looks and feels for each of us. We are to live up to our commitments. Today, think about the commitments you have made to your co-workers, your boss, your company. Whatever those commitments, know that today is a day to be a great example of how to be loyal. Others are watching.
Reference: Proverbs 3:3 (New Living Testament)
Friday, April 13, 2012
day 869: Lighten The Load
"Give your burden to the Lord and he will take care of you."
We've all seen a fool's load and we have likely heard the sound of the result. I first heard the term from the restaurant industry and it has stuck with me. A fool's load is when we try and stack and carry too much in our arms and we think we "have it" but when we lose the balance, miss the step, bump the corner, glance away, brush into another person, well we all know what happens. Down crashes the load and all that is left is us, standing there, looking foolish. Thus, the fool's load. Many times in my career I have sat with people who are carrying a fool's load at work. I have been guilty of such many times as well. We all do it at some point. We continue to say yes and take on more until one day we crash, or nearly crash, and we realize that we have too much on our plates and we forgot to say no or set priorities and boundaries. Somewhere in here is our human nature to continue to burden ourselves with more responsibilities, activities, events, and commitments until we find ourselves overwhelmed, defocused, and struggling to lighten the load that we have created for ourselves. We've all had the conversation to try and blame our companies for asking us to do too much until we finally are honest with ourselves that we can not blame anyone but ourselves, as it is only us that allow this to happen. Bosses and companies shouldn't be the culprits. Only the person in the mirror should be the one to have to face up to the problem.
Undoubtedly, many of us are in this situation right now. For a myriad of reasons we have too much of a load right now and are worried that it will all come crashing down at any moment. Now is the time, before the trip and fall, to begin to lighten that load and set down some of the areas that are being carried. David tells us what to do in Psalm 55:22; "Give your burden to the Lord and he will take care of you." Today, as you look through the long list that you have in front of you, filled with the big and little things to be completed, take a hard inventory of what loads you have taken on that need to be set aside for now. Ask yourself, "Am I carrying a fool's load?" Pray to God to have Him help you reveal this to you and then listen hard. From there, begin to shed off the areas that are not priorities, or the nice-to-do's that have somehow become a part of the burden. If you allow Him, He will show you what to let go of and He will lighten the load. God does not want us to carry the fool's load. He didn't put us here to watch us crash and fall. He desires to lighten the load, and will do so if we will only have the faith to allow Him to do so.
Reference: Psalm 55:22 (New Living Testament)
We've all seen a fool's load and we have likely heard the sound of the result. I first heard the term from the restaurant industry and it has stuck with me. A fool's load is when we try and stack and carry too much in our arms and we think we "have it" but when we lose the balance, miss the step, bump the corner, glance away, brush into another person, well we all know what happens. Down crashes the load and all that is left is us, standing there, looking foolish. Thus, the fool's load. Many times in my career I have sat with people who are carrying a fool's load at work. I have been guilty of such many times as well. We all do it at some point. We continue to say yes and take on more until one day we crash, or nearly crash, and we realize that we have too much on our plates and we forgot to say no or set priorities and boundaries. Somewhere in here is our human nature to continue to burden ourselves with more responsibilities, activities, events, and commitments until we find ourselves overwhelmed, defocused, and struggling to lighten the load that we have created for ourselves. We've all had the conversation to try and blame our companies for asking us to do too much until we finally are honest with ourselves that we can not blame anyone but ourselves, as it is only us that allow this to happen. Bosses and companies shouldn't be the culprits. Only the person in the mirror should be the one to have to face up to the problem.
Undoubtedly, many of us are in this situation right now. For a myriad of reasons we have too much of a load right now and are worried that it will all come crashing down at any moment. Now is the time, before the trip and fall, to begin to lighten that load and set down some of the areas that are being carried. David tells us what to do in Psalm 55:22; "Give your burden to the Lord and he will take care of you." Today, as you look through the long list that you have in front of you, filled with the big and little things to be completed, take a hard inventory of what loads you have taken on that need to be set aside for now. Ask yourself, "Am I carrying a fool's load?" Pray to God to have Him help you reveal this to you and then listen hard. From there, begin to shed off the areas that are not priorities, or the nice-to-do's that have somehow become a part of the burden. If you allow Him, He will show you what to let go of and He will lighten the load. God does not want us to carry the fool's load. He didn't put us here to watch us crash and fall. He desires to lighten the load, and will do so if we will only have the faith to allow Him to do so.
Reference: Psalm 55:22 (New Living Testament)
Thursday, April 12, 2012
day 868: Carrying the Bags
"Now I will take the load from your shoulders;I will free your hands from their heavy tasks."
Coming back off of a very busy weekend (like last weekend) feels like you are carrying two days of missed work back into the office. No matter how hard you try to ensure that you have "kept up" there are those who use the weekend days to clean out their inbox and well, there comes the work. Carrying the load and the bags of work is all part of the job. For some people that is what they do, they "carry" the bags of others. And, they usually get looked down on because that is their job. I have been in many a job where it was my responsibility to carry the bags of my bosses and I always felt that it was an important part of business and an honor. It's kind of like the caddy for a pro golfer. Without them, a pro golfer wouldn't get too far (think Bubba Watson's acknowledgement of the importance of his caddy). They are there for knowledge, instinct, advice, counsel, nerve-calming, encouragement, and strength. I know a very high profile executive in a very high profile job right now who could use someone like this. He needs someone with him to fill in the gaps in his skill set and his intuition. Without someone to help him he has a hard time navigating certain areas. With someone by his side, he is the full picture. The problem is that he thinks he is the full equation regardless and doesn't recognize his deficiencies. Many a person is like him and miss so many opportunities because they don't let others carry the bags and some of the load.
As believers, we are so fortunate in that we recognize that God wants to be there for us to carry the load and do all the things that a great caddy would do. And if we really understand how it all comes together, we know that even when we make the shot, we are to give Him the credit and He gets the glory, not us. We are so many times like that executive. We want to carry all the load and we want to do it all ourselves. But God wants to carry the bag and the load for us and He wants to be the one that can call the club and the shot, all the while coaching and having great things done in His name. Today, think about what it is that you are carrying versus what you should be handing over to God. You will find that he wants us to give it over, like he tells us in Psalms 81:5-7; "Now I will take the load from your shoulders;I will free your hands from their heavy tasks." Today, you need to shed some of the baggage and let God start carrying the load for you. If you try to hold on you will only falter under the weight that you have and the weight and tasks that is yet to come. Let God give you a hand today at work!
Psalm 81:5-7 (New Living Testament)
Coming back off of a very busy weekend (like last weekend) feels like you are carrying two days of missed work back into the office. No matter how hard you try to ensure that you have "kept up" there are those who use the weekend days to clean out their inbox and well, there comes the work. Carrying the load and the bags of work is all part of the job. For some people that is what they do, they "carry" the bags of others. And, they usually get looked down on because that is their job. I have been in many a job where it was my responsibility to carry the bags of my bosses and I always felt that it was an important part of business and an honor. It's kind of like the caddy for a pro golfer. Without them, a pro golfer wouldn't get too far (think Bubba Watson's acknowledgement of the importance of his caddy). They are there for knowledge, instinct, advice, counsel, nerve-calming, encouragement, and strength. I know a very high profile executive in a very high profile job right now who could use someone like this. He needs someone with him to fill in the gaps in his skill set and his intuition. Without someone to help him he has a hard time navigating certain areas. With someone by his side, he is the full picture. The problem is that he thinks he is the full equation regardless and doesn't recognize his deficiencies. Many a person is like him and miss so many opportunities because they don't let others carry the bags and some of the load.
As believers, we are so fortunate in that we recognize that God wants to be there for us to carry the load and do all the things that a great caddy would do. And if we really understand how it all comes together, we know that even when we make the shot, we are to give Him the credit and He gets the glory, not us. We are so many times like that executive. We want to carry all the load and we want to do it all ourselves. But God wants to carry the bag and the load for us and He wants to be the one that can call the club and the shot, all the while coaching and having great things done in His name. Today, think about what it is that you are carrying versus what you should be handing over to God. You will find that he wants us to give it over, like he tells us in Psalms 81:5-7; "Now I will take the load from your shoulders;I will free your hands from their heavy tasks." Today, you need to shed some of the baggage and let God start carrying the load for you. If you try to hold on you will only falter under the weight that you have and the weight and tasks that is yet to come. Let God give you a hand today at work!
Psalm 81:5-7 (New Living Testament)
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
day 867: Stone Cold
“Joseph took the body . . . and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away"
We have heard people say that we need to know our business and our craft, “stone cold” in order to be successful. I’m not sure where this came from but I know what it means. It means that in today’s business world that we can’t afford to not be an expert in what business or industry we work. There is too much competition, too many people who are can work a little harder, and an information superhighway that has leveled the playing field on the access to data and knowledge. So, we have to know what we do and have it down, “stone cold”. I was talking to a friend the other day and she was describing her husband’s career and she commented on him being 50 years old and having to survive another eight years to retirement. After using the word, “survive”, she correctly spoke of how hard it is for middle aged middle managers to make it to retirement in a continuous serving company. It is sad, but true. It would seem like it would be better and easier for continuity to actually count for something, but the opposite can happen. We somehow become stale, over-experienced, over-paid, and tired and worn out in the minds of those who are leading a company. All the more reason for us to stay current, experts, continuously learning and knowing what we do “stone cold”.
When Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb on the third day and found the stone rolled back and Jesus gone, she could have only been worried, scared, and upset at what must have happened. Her first reaction wasn’t that he had risen from the dead but that someone has tampered and broken into the tomb and stolen Jesus’ body. Had she reached and touched the stone that has been rolled away if would not have given any clue to what has happened and on that morning it might have been cold to the touch and reminded her of the cold touch of death. For Mary and Jesus’ Disciples, the cold of the stone would have only left them with the same empty feeling inside as the emptiness of the tomb. In this case, “stone cold” was the end of the journey. But soon they learned that there was the other side of the stone that once they could see it, it would not be cold but warm with the love and the hope of an eternal life with their friend, teacher and now Savior. As we navigate this world, our work, our lives, we see both sides of the stone and we are given the choice on which side we want to stand. Jesus did not die for us to leave us on the cold side of the stone. He died and rose for us to stand and bathe in the warmth that is His love for us. So, today, let’s know what we need to know, do what we do well, and renew our faith and relationship with the One who gave all for us so we could stand on the warm side of the stone.
Reference: Matthew 27:59–60
We have heard people say that we need to know our business and our craft, “stone cold” in order to be successful. I’m not sure where this came from but I know what it means. It means that in today’s business world that we can’t afford to not be an expert in what business or industry we work. There is too much competition, too many people who are can work a little harder, and an information superhighway that has leveled the playing field on the access to data and knowledge. So, we have to know what we do and have it down, “stone cold”. I was talking to a friend the other day and she was describing her husband’s career and she commented on him being 50 years old and having to survive another eight years to retirement. After using the word, “survive”, she correctly spoke of how hard it is for middle aged middle managers to make it to retirement in a continuous serving company. It is sad, but true. It would seem like it would be better and easier for continuity to actually count for something, but the opposite can happen. We somehow become stale, over-experienced, over-paid, and tired and worn out in the minds of those who are leading a company. All the more reason for us to stay current, experts, continuously learning and knowing what we do “stone cold”.
When Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb on the third day and found the stone rolled back and Jesus gone, she could have only been worried, scared, and upset at what must have happened. Her first reaction wasn’t that he had risen from the dead but that someone has tampered and broken into the tomb and stolen Jesus’ body. Had she reached and touched the stone that has been rolled away if would not have given any clue to what has happened and on that morning it might have been cold to the touch and reminded her of the cold touch of death. For Mary and Jesus’ Disciples, the cold of the stone would have only left them with the same empty feeling inside as the emptiness of the tomb. In this case, “stone cold” was the end of the journey. But soon they learned that there was the other side of the stone that once they could see it, it would not be cold but warm with the love and the hope of an eternal life with their friend, teacher and now Savior. As we navigate this world, our work, our lives, we see both sides of the stone and we are given the choice on which side we want to stand. Jesus did not die for us to leave us on the cold side of the stone. He died and rose for us to stand and bathe in the warmth that is His love for us. So, today, let’s know what we need to know, do what we do well, and renew our faith and relationship with the One who gave all for us so we could stand on the warm side of the stone.
Reference: Matthew 27:59–60
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
day 866: GPS
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
The company, Garmin, and others, have built strong businesses on being on the cutting-edge of utilizing and maximizing GPS (Global Positioning System). Originally developed for the military and government use, this technology has found its way into the hands of consumers and changed the way we work and live. An exaggerated statement you may say? Well think of these applications that we now consider “routine”. There’s no excuse to ever get lost in a car with the built in GPS or a Garmin or Tom-Tom that you can carry with you. If that is too much trouble then look no further than your smartphone for a compass, a map, directions, all located from where you are using GPS. Social applications like Foursquare, Facebook, Highlight, Glancee, Twitter, etc. can all now geo-locate to where we are so that we can better share and receive information and relatioships. As a distance runner I no longer concern myself with getting lost or not knowing how far I have run for my training. On my wrist, no larger than a fashionable wristwatch, is all the technology that I need, and all emanating from GPS. It’s amazing how far and fast technology has come and even more exciting for where it will go. I remember a movie quote from long ago that said, “Wherever you go, that’s where you are.” In today’s day and age, and with the technology that we each can access and utilize in our businesses and lives, it was never more true.
In my Sunday School class that I teach I recently taught on GPS and how like a compass, GPS can help us find our “True North” and to never be lost. But in this case, I was talking about GPS as the Global Positioning System, I was talking to the kids about GPS as “God’s Positioning Sign”. As I built on the metaphor I taught the children that what God gave us in Jesus and His death and resurrection left us with the tools to keep our lives centered and fixed upon Him. Along with His Word, our prayers and the fellowship with other believers, God gave us the ultimate positioning sign at the cross. If ever we doubt on where we are, or feel lost or strayed from our purpose, all we have to do is reposition ourselves with the cross in front of us and we will be heading in the true direction towards home. How blessed we are to have our own personal GPS so to have the assurance that we will never, ever be lost.
Reference: John 3:16 (New Living Testament)
The company, Garmin, and others, have built strong businesses on being on the cutting-edge of utilizing and maximizing GPS (Global Positioning System). Originally developed for the military and government use, this technology has found its way into the hands of consumers and changed the way we work and live. An exaggerated statement you may say? Well think of these applications that we now consider “routine”. There’s no excuse to ever get lost in a car with the built in GPS or a Garmin or Tom-Tom that you can carry with you. If that is too much trouble then look no further than your smartphone for a compass, a map, directions, all located from where you are using GPS. Social applications like Foursquare, Facebook, Highlight, Glancee, Twitter, etc. can all now geo-locate to where we are so that we can better share and receive information and relatioships. As a distance runner I no longer concern myself with getting lost or not knowing how far I have run for my training. On my wrist, no larger than a fashionable wristwatch, is all the technology that I need, and all emanating from GPS. It’s amazing how far and fast technology has come and even more exciting for where it will go. I remember a movie quote from long ago that said, “Wherever you go, that’s where you are.” In today’s day and age, and with the technology that we each can access and utilize in our businesses and lives, it was never more true.
In my Sunday School class that I teach I recently taught on GPS and how like a compass, GPS can help us find our “True North” and to never be lost. But in this case, I was talking about GPS as the Global Positioning System, I was talking to the kids about GPS as “God’s Positioning Sign”. As I built on the metaphor I taught the children that what God gave us in Jesus and His death and resurrection left us with the tools to keep our lives centered and fixed upon Him. Along with His Word, our prayers and the fellowship with other believers, God gave us the ultimate positioning sign at the cross. If ever we doubt on where we are, or feel lost or strayed from our purpose, all we have to do is reposition ourselves with the cross in front of us and we will be heading in the true direction towards home. How blessed we are to have our own personal GPS so to have the assurance that we will never, ever be lost.
Reference: John 3:16 (New Living Testament)
Monday, April 9, 2012
day 865: It Is Finished
"When Jesus had tasted it, he said, 'It is finished! Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
This past week I met with a young entrepreneur who was just about to give up and call it quits on his startup company. He comes to me to ask for advice on occasion and I was glad to be there for him at this moment when it seemed he really needed me. Lots of things have been going well for his business, but he was beating himself up pretty badly as his own self expectations are very high. You can't help but like this in an entrepreneur but it's not always fair for the pressure to be that high. After an hour of talking it out and having someone (me) help him zoom out and see how much has been accomplished in such a short time, with so little I might add, he was ready to go back to work and charge the hill again. It's not always smart to keep going when you know that you aren't going to succeed, but we shouldn't give up before we have given it our all. I had to remind this entrepreneur that quitting is a permanent decision to a temporary situation. We should all in our businesses know the difference between the right time and the wrong time to throw in the towel. It's not always easy to see so we might need the help of others, but we should have as clear of a picture as we can on when and where that decision should be made.
As believers we never have to make the decision on when to say that we are finished, because Christ did that for us. Yesterday we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus and as we thanked Him for the sacrifice He made for each of personally, we can see that it is only He that earned the right to say, "It is finished." We should never find ourselves giving up, quitting, or slacking off from the work that God has given us. How could we ever when we know what He went through to allow us to be able to lead the lives we can to bring glory to Him? If you are finding ourselves on the verge of quitting anything that is in front of you that you know you should be continuing and furthering, then I encourage to restore the Easter story into your heart to be reminded that we, and what God wants to do with us, is never finished.
Reference: John 19:29 (New Living Testament)
This past week I met with a young entrepreneur who was just about to give up and call it quits on his startup company. He comes to me to ask for advice on occasion and I was glad to be there for him at this moment when it seemed he really needed me. Lots of things have been going well for his business, but he was beating himself up pretty badly as his own self expectations are very high. You can't help but like this in an entrepreneur but it's not always fair for the pressure to be that high. After an hour of talking it out and having someone (me) help him zoom out and see how much has been accomplished in such a short time, with so little I might add, he was ready to go back to work and charge the hill again. It's not always smart to keep going when you know that you aren't going to succeed, but we shouldn't give up before we have given it our all. I had to remind this entrepreneur that quitting is a permanent decision to a temporary situation. We should all in our businesses know the difference between the right time and the wrong time to throw in the towel. It's not always easy to see so we might need the help of others, but we should have as clear of a picture as we can on when and where that decision should be made.
As believers we never have to make the decision on when to say that we are finished, because Christ did that for us. Yesterday we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus and as we thanked Him for the sacrifice He made for each of personally, we can see that it is only He that earned the right to say, "It is finished." We should never find ourselves giving up, quitting, or slacking off from the work that God has given us. How could we ever when we know what He went through to allow us to be able to lead the lives we can to bring glory to Him? If you are finding ourselves on the verge of quitting anything that is in front of you that you know you should be continuing and furthering, then I encourage to restore the Easter story into your heart to be reminded that we, and what God wants to do with us, is never finished.
Reference: John 19:29 (New Living Testament)
Friday, April 6, 2012
day 864: Worked To Death (redux)
It's a common phrase to hear someone say, "I am working myself to death". There was a time that in the United States, and still in other places around the world, that the phrase could be more of a statement of fact versus just a phrase to exaggerate how hard one is working in their job. Today, there are still people who work too much and too hard to the point of physical distress and danger, but for the most part we don't put our lives at risk or die because of our physical or mental exertion at work. Before I go further, I do give great admiration to those who go beyond work to serve us and our country for security, protection, rescue and war. They do in fact put their lives on the line each day and to them we should each be extraordinarily grateful.
Considered in totality, for most of us to make the statement that we are being "worked to death", is vastly overstated. It is a mindset and an attitude that can come across as very self-centered and overly emotionally based. It can also drag other people down around us. When we feel this way and before we express this emotion we should stop and remember that no matter how bad we have it that there was One who went before us who really did work Himself to His death. He knew that this was His purpose and He did it for us. Before Easter, let's read together Phil Keaggy's lyrics from the song "Maker of the Universe" and reflect on the commitment and love that was given for us. Think about what it truly means for one who was so precious to have truly worked Himself to death.
"The Maker of the universe,
As Man for man was made a curse.
The claims of Law which He had made,
Unto the uttermost He paid.
His holy fingers made the bough,
Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow.
The nails that pierced His hands were mined
In secret places He designed.
He made the forest whence there sprung
The tree on which His body hung.
He died upon a cross of wood,
Yet made the hill on which it stood.
The sky that darkened o'er His head,
By Him above the earth was spread.
The sun that hid from Him it's face
By His decree was poised in space.
The spear which spilled His precious blood
Was tempered in the fires of God.
The grave in which His form was laid
Was hewn in rocks His hands had made.
The throne on which He now appears
Was His for everlasting years.
But a new glory crowns His brow
And every knee to Him shall bow."
Considered in totality, for most of us to make the statement that we are being "worked to death", is vastly overstated. It is a mindset and an attitude that can come across as very self-centered and overly emotionally based. It can also drag other people down around us. When we feel this way and before we express this emotion we should stop and remember that no matter how bad we have it that there was One who went before us who really did work Himself to His death. He knew that this was His purpose and He did it for us. Before Easter, let's read together Phil Keaggy's lyrics from the song "Maker of the Universe" and reflect on the commitment and love that was given for us. Think about what it truly means for one who was so precious to have truly worked Himself to death.
"The Maker of the universe,
As Man for man was made a curse.
The claims of Law which He had made,
Unto the uttermost He paid.
His holy fingers made the bough,
Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow.
The nails that pierced His hands were mined
In secret places He designed.
He made the forest whence there sprung
The tree on which His body hung.
He died upon a cross of wood,
Yet made the hill on which it stood.
The sky that darkened o'er His head,
By Him above the earth was spread.
The sun that hid from Him it's face
By His decree was poised in space.
The spear which spilled His precious blood
Was tempered in the fires of God.
The grave in which His form was laid
Was hewn in rocks His hands had made.
The throne on which He now appears
Was His for everlasting years.
But a new glory crowns His brow
And every knee to Him shall bow."
Thursday, April 5, 2012
day 863: Noise Cancellation
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”
As you read the title of this post you might think I am going to talk about the technology of noise cancellation headphones like Bose, Dr. Dre, Skullcandy, etc. I could as that technology is great for those of us who travel frequently and get tired of the airplane engine drone. But, I am not going to write about that technology. Instead I am going to relay an interview I saw on TV last night between Oprah Winfrey and Lady Gaga. Patti just can't enough of Oprah so we now DVR Oprah's extended format interview segments on Sunday night. Patti convinced me to watch the interview and I was drawn into the segment because it was about her Mother and the very strong, and actually quite grounded relationship she has with her daughter that is more normal than relationships I have seen between non-celebrity/normal moms and daughters. Lady Gaga's Mother is a person of committed faith and it shows in how she talks to her daughter. During the interview Lady Gaga talked openly about her creative process and how important it is for her to find a place of stillness and peace to "cancel out the noise". The noise she talked about was the world that screams at her about who she is or who she should be. Whether you like what she is, or stands for or not, you have to appreciate her raw talent and the discipline that she uses to find her creativity. Not to mention, the very accomplished business person she has proven to be. "Cancelling the noise" is a good lesson for us all and as we try to create, we may have to find our own quite spot to do so, figuratively or literally.
To hear God, we also have to be still. We are told so. If we think we are going to hear God in the midst of the noise of the world, then we are going to have to be finely attuned. Instead, God gives us the instruction that we need. "Be still and know that I am God." How committed have we been to canceling out the noise of the world so we take time to be still with Him. He can and will work within us if we will get rid of the noise long enough to find stillness. Can we take a few minutes today; at our desk with the door closed, in our car before we pull out of the parking lot, in a quite corner for just a moment to be still with Him and allow Him to cancel out and replace the noise?
Reference: Psalm 46:10 (New Living Testament)
As you read the title of this post you might think I am going to talk about the technology of noise cancellation headphones like Bose, Dr. Dre, Skullcandy, etc. I could as that technology is great for those of us who travel frequently and get tired of the airplane engine drone. But, I am not going to write about that technology. Instead I am going to relay an interview I saw on TV last night between Oprah Winfrey and Lady Gaga. Patti just can't enough of Oprah so we now DVR Oprah's extended format interview segments on Sunday night. Patti convinced me to watch the interview and I was drawn into the segment because it was about her Mother and the very strong, and actually quite grounded relationship she has with her daughter that is more normal than relationships I have seen between non-celebrity/normal moms and daughters. Lady Gaga's Mother is a person of committed faith and it shows in how she talks to her daughter. During the interview Lady Gaga talked openly about her creative process and how important it is for her to find a place of stillness and peace to "cancel out the noise". The noise she talked about was the world that screams at her about who she is or who she should be. Whether you like what she is, or stands for or not, you have to appreciate her raw talent and the discipline that she uses to find her creativity. Not to mention, the very accomplished business person she has proven to be. "Cancelling the noise" is a good lesson for us all and as we try to create, we may have to find our own quite spot to do so, figuratively or literally.
To hear God, we also have to be still. We are told so. If we think we are going to hear God in the midst of the noise of the world, then we are going to have to be finely attuned. Instead, God gives us the instruction that we need. "Be still and know that I am God." How committed have we been to canceling out the noise of the world so we take time to be still with Him. He can and will work within us if we will get rid of the noise long enough to find stillness. Can we take a few minutes today; at our desk with the door closed, in our car before we pull out of the parking lot, in a quite corner for just a moment to be still with Him and allow Him to cancel out and replace the noise?
Reference: Psalm 46:10 (New Living Testament)
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
day 862: Treasure Sharing
"He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity."
Last week Apple declared that for the first time in their history they would pay a dividend to each of their shareholders. Their treasury had grown to so much money that there wasn't anyway they could ever spend it on acquisitions or research and development, so they had to do as any other company that reaches that apex, they are beginning to share their treasures back to those who have invested their own treasures into the company. It was a remarkable moment and since then their stock has increased significantly which means more people want to own their stock. Yesterday an analyst put a price target of $1001 on the stock. We can all learn a lesson from the sharing of treasures. The lesson is not that every company needs to create a dividend. The lesson is that each business has a treasure to share. Yes, sure we have to hunt for the treasure first, but once we have found it, we should share it with others. Our product excellence, our quality commitment, our service standards, our employee appreciation, whatever it might be that is part of our treasure, we should be sure to share.
I love that Solomon considers common sense as a treasure. We all know so many people that we could only hope they could get a dose of common sense along the way. And, he says that in order for that treasure to be granted, we must be honest. That honesty is precursor to common sense is a thought for us to also treasure. We each go to work to do our best and to do something that we would be proud to accomplish.That is being honest with our talents and time. Of course, once we are granted our common sense, it only makes sense that it should be shared. Common sense is a powerful attribute. Those with a high level of common sense see and sense things that others don't. They also seem to connect with more people than others. When we wonder why we can't connect or others tell us that we may be out of touch, it could be that we aren't using our common sense to look at a problem or situation to be solved. We need to be sure that we have as much common sense as we can and since God promises it to us through Proverbs, then as we should in all that we do, try to be the best and most honest that we can be for Him. Common sense is a great treasure to be shared.
Reference: Proverbs 2:7 (New Living Testament)
Last week Apple declared that for the first time in their history they would pay a dividend to each of their shareholders. Their treasury had grown to so much money that there wasn't anyway they could ever spend it on acquisitions or research and development, so they had to do as any other company that reaches that apex, they are beginning to share their treasures back to those who have invested their own treasures into the company. It was a remarkable moment and since then their stock has increased significantly which means more people want to own their stock. Yesterday an analyst put a price target of $1001 on the stock. We can all learn a lesson from the sharing of treasures. The lesson is not that every company needs to create a dividend. The lesson is that each business has a treasure to share. Yes, sure we have to hunt for the treasure first, but once we have found it, we should share it with others. Our product excellence, our quality commitment, our service standards, our employee appreciation, whatever it might be that is part of our treasure, we should be sure to share.
I love that Solomon considers common sense as a treasure. We all know so many people that we could only hope they could get a dose of common sense along the way. And, he says that in order for that treasure to be granted, we must be honest. That honesty is precursor to common sense is a thought for us to also treasure. We each go to work to do our best and to do something that we would be proud to accomplish.That is being honest with our talents and time. Of course, once we are granted our common sense, it only makes sense that it should be shared. Common sense is a powerful attribute. Those with a high level of common sense see and sense things that others don't. They also seem to connect with more people than others. When we wonder why we can't connect or others tell us that we may be out of touch, it could be that we aren't using our common sense to look at a problem or situation to be solved. We need to be sure that we have as much common sense as we can and since God promises it to us through Proverbs, then as we should in all that we do, try to be the best and most honest that we can be for Him. Common sense is a great treasure to be shared.
Reference: Proverbs 2:7 (New Living Testament)
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
day 861: Declaring Good
"And God saw that it was good."
There have been all kinds of businesses and services that have been created to declare what is good and what is not. The Better Business Bureau was established to do that for consumers who wanted to know which business was good. Today we have Angie's List to do the same. Consumer Reports magazine rated and covered new products and services. Then we got online sources like CNET to do the same. We have many ideas, people and things that are now about declaring what is good. Why is this and what does it mean to our businesses and organizations? Without a doubt there is so much information that hits us daily that we are looking for those who can curate and edit what is best and help us determine where we should spend our money and time. Conversely, as we work and run our businesses and organizations we need to understand that out there, right now, someone is helping someone else determine if we are good or not. It's a scary proposition when you think about it that someone we likely don't know is rating, ranking, and evaluating us against our peer organizations so that they can assist someone else in determining what is good or not. We need to be aware and open to where and when this is happening and be sure that we are also a part of that conversation.
When God declared that the work that was done in the first week of the earth's creation was good, He was making the ultimate declaration of goodness. As believers we don't need anyone else to tell us what is good, because we can know that what is good starts with Him. All other falls beneath his goodness. What is important for us to remember each and everyday as we carry our talents, time and treasures into this world is that we are ambassadors of that goodness and we can be the standard bearers that God needs for His goodness to be spread and fulfilled. Each and everyday that we work, with each and every action and word, we can either be supporting and carrying forward His message or, hopefully not, detracting from it. The choice is ours to make.
Reference: Genesis 1:25 (New Living Testament)
There have been all kinds of businesses and services that have been created to declare what is good and what is not. The Better Business Bureau was established to do that for consumers who wanted to know which business was good. Today we have Angie's List to do the same. Consumer Reports magazine rated and covered new products and services. Then we got online sources like CNET to do the same. We have many ideas, people and things that are now about declaring what is good. Why is this and what does it mean to our businesses and organizations? Without a doubt there is so much information that hits us daily that we are looking for those who can curate and edit what is best and help us determine where we should spend our money and time. Conversely, as we work and run our businesses and organizations we need to understand that out there, right now, someone is helping someone else determine if we are good or not. It's a scary proposition when you think about it that someone we likely don't know is rating, ranking, and evaluating us against our peer organizations so that they can assist someone else in determining what is good or not. We need to be aware and open to where and when this is happening and be sure that we are also a part of that conversation.
When God declared that the work that was done in the first week of the earth's creation was good, He was making the ultimate declaration of goodness. As believers we don't need anyone else to tell us what is good, because we can know that what is good starts with Him. All other falls beneath his goodness. What is important for us to remember each and everyday as we carry our talents, time and treasures into this world is that we are ambassadors of that goodness and we can be the standard bearers that God needs for His goodness to be spread and fulfilled. Each and everyday that we work, with each and every action and word, we can either be supporting and carrying forward His message or, hopefully not, detracting from it. The choice is ours to make.
Reference: Genesis 1:25 (New Living Testament)
Monday, April 2, 2012
day 860: Boldly Stepping Forward
"It was about faith..."
We love bold businesses. Bold businesses bring to the consumer products and services that amaze us and have us wearing their tee shirts and placing stickers of their logo on our notebooks and hardware. If we each were to think of a company that fits this mold for us, we would quickly come to our own list. And if helped to come to the definition, we could use the word bold and feel that it describes these companies. We often wonder why certain companies get to this level of respect and others don't. To me it is clear; each of these companies have a clear and concise vision and then build their organization with strong talent to make that vision a reality. It is when these two vectors intersect that companies get bold and consumers and customers recognize it too. Finding our way to have a bold business is a good challenge and one that we should think about when we decide where to take our businesses, the direction of our teams, and the way that we think about the future.
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews walks us through many of the great people of faith in the Bible. As we read about each person and their actions, the writings start with, "It was by faith...". Each of us have our challenges and those things that get in the way of our job performance and what we believe would be success for us. I used to think that men like Noah, Abraham, Moses, etc. were somehow super-charged with faith, but as I grew older and learned more about the nature of people I found that each of these men were just like us. They each had their lives, like ours, filled with family, friends, co-workers, peers, etc. who challenged them and in some cases ridiculed and/or persecuted then as well. But, they were able to go forward boldly because of their faith. This is the lesson for us. If we allow our faith to be magnified then we can be bold in how we live and work. As we go into this Holy Week, let us ensure that our faith is strong so that we can boldly step forward for Him.
Reference: Hebrews Chapter 11
We love bold businesses. Bold businesses bring to the consumer products and services that amaze us and have us wearing their tee shirts and placing stickers of their logo on our notebooks and hardware. If we each were to think of a company that fits this mold for us, we would quickly come to our own list. And if helped to come to the definition, we could use the word bold and feel that it describes these companies. We often wonder why certain companies get to this level of respect and others don't. To me it is clear; each of these companies have a clear and concise vision and then build their organization with strong talent to make that vision a reality. It is when these two vectors intersect that companies get bold and consumers and customers recognize it too. Finding our way to have a bold business is a good challenge and one that we should think about when we decide where to take our businesses, the direction of our teams, and the way that we think about the future.
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews walks us through many of the great people of faith in the Bible. As we read about each person and their actions, the writings start with, "It was by faith...". Each of us have our challenges and those things that get in the way of our job performance and what we believe would be success for us. I used to think that men like Noah, Abraham, Moses, etc. were somehow super-charged with faith, but as I grew older and learned more about the nature of people I found that each of these men were just like us. They each had their lives, like ours, filled with family, friends, co-workers, peers, etc. who challenged them and in some cases ridiculed and/or persecuted then as well. But, they were able to go forward boldly because of their faith. This is the lesson for us. If we allow our faith to be magnified then we can be bold in how we live and work. As we go into this Holy Week, let us ensure that our faith is strong so that we can boldly step forward for Him.
Reference: Hebrews Chapter 11
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