day 964: Firm Decisions...Still

This week I have been reviewing past posts and I found that this was one of the most widely-read back in the early days of Purposed worKING so I thought it worth reposting today....have a great weekend!

  "...Don't look back."

Good decision-making is a skill. Not everyone makes the best of decisions and all of us would be really lousy at it if we didn't have others to bounce decisions off of before we make them. I find that the worst decisions are the ones that are made without the advice and counsel of trusted advisers and counselors. I have found myself, more than ever before, telling people that they need to "pass the ball at least four times before they take a shot" (the motion offense). This means that we should get the advice and counsel from at least four other people before we make a decision. It appears harder to make good career decisions today when everything is so uncertain. If it is unclear about the security of the company, then it is very hard to have certainty about one's own job or career. So, decisions about career and work are really hard to make right now. What is still true though is that good decision-makers are ones who when they make the decision, they stick with it, follow-through and live with the consequences and the responsibility of the decision. A decision that is not followed-through was not really a decision at all. We all get faced with these, tens of times a day, and we have to either stick with the decision or be wishy-washy and flimsy in our decision-making.

We all know which type of decision-maker we would like to be, but it is clearly hard to be resolute and firm in our decisions. But, that is the example we are given over and over in the Bible; that the decisions we make, we are to stick with and not look back. There is no better example of that than in Genesis 19:17 and the story of Lot and his wife. The Angel was clear when he said; "...Don't look back". How many times do we know that are not to look back, but we do, because we don't trust our decisions? Fortunately, we don't turn into pillars of salt each time we do, but we do in some way erode our own confidence and the confidence from others when we are seen looking over our shoulders. Today, you may be facing a decision that needs to just be made. Once you have prayed over it, and received the counsel of your four trusted advisers, then make the decision with courage and don't look back. There are other decisions that you have made that you are now waffling and wondering if you made the right decision. Again, if you prayed over the decision and received your counsel, and then you made the decision feeling like it was the best course of action, then before you go back on it, live with it for awhile and follow-through to see if the decision turns our to be right. You will never know for sure if you go back on the decision before you allow time to prove it out. Firm decision-making is not easy for anyone, but it is a skill that you can perfect. Now would be a great season to begin working on how to make better and firmer decisions. Not just for you, but for all the other people around you who look to you to be the one they can count on. It is God that puts you in the position where others look up to you and one way to be the example for them is to be one who is known for "not looking back" on decisions made.


Reference: Genesis 19:17 (New Living Testament)

day 963: Turnarounds

There has and will be a lot talk over the next two months in our political cycle about "turning around" America, our economy, policies, and situations. Every organization (and government is an organization0 and business, at some point in its life cycle will go through a turnaround. Yes, even the companies that we think have unlimited growth potential and we could never imagine stumbling will face a turnaround situation. Some are big turnarounds, others are less visible publicly but can certainly be felt internally. Look no further than the now darling Apple Computer for the cycle to be born out. It is hard to imagine now that they once were the Apple that was teetering on not making it and it is even harder to imagine that someday it will need another turnaround, but it will. The same happens in our careers. We hit points where we have to rethink where we are and what we are doing and we either make a significant shift, turnaround or we go through enough soul-searching that we double down on the path that we know is right and then we don't look back. These are hard times and I suspect that many of us have been through this range of feelings and actions over the past 48+ months. But take heart as turnarounds are good things because when done seriously and well, we end up where we are supposed to be and doing what we supposed to be doing.

We can see this example in the story of the Prodigal Son. The son of the loving father had to make a turnaround to come back to where he belonged. He hit rock bottom before he saw it but when he, repented made the 180-degree turn and headed home he was welcomed with loving and open arms. We all know that this is the story of God's love over our life. God watches over us in our lives and in the sometimes overwhelming part of our life called our jobs. If we are on a wrong path and we need to be turned around, He will be there for us to figure it out if we will just bring Him into the office with us. Rather than wait for the bottom to fall out, before the turnaround, receive the constant invitation that is given to us to look to Him for the guidance and direction that we need.

Reference: Luke 15:12-20 (New Living Testament)

day 962: Being Considerate

"We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive..."

 In legal terms the word consideration means; "Something that suffices to make an informal promise legally binding, usually some value given in exchange for the promise." That is the usual context that we hear the word at work. To get something, something must be gained. But, that is not the only meaning of the word and not the only use of the word at work. Another definition of consideration is; "thoughtful or sympathetic regard or respect; thoughtfulness for others." So, I would ask that we consider (a whole other definition) adding true consideration into our work. I am reminded of the time that someone who worked for me, and who was a good friend at the the same time, was giving me feedback and he said to me, "You will get a lot more out of all of us every day if you will just stop and say 'good morning' and check in on us to see how we are doing". He was asking me to be more considerate of him and others on the team. It's not a hard skill to master if you are willing to take it on as an improvement area.

Being considerate of others is one of the more powerful actions that one can take. Paul says to us in Romans 15:1; "We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive..." What I find most interesting about this verse is that Paul says that those who are strong are the ones who can be considerate. Yes, it is a trait and capability of the strong, not the weak, to be able to be considerate to others. As believers we must be strong in our faith and strong in our actions that support our faith in the eyes of others. I can't think of a better core value action that we can demonstrate daily on our job than the act of being considerate to others. Today is the first day of the Easter season and all around the world people are giving up something for Lent. Maybe today, we can give up being so in to ourselves and start practicing more consideration.

Reference: Romans 15:1 (New Living Testament)

day 961: The Right

"It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong"

We cavalierly say that we know what is right and what is wrong and we are quick to hold people accountable for doing something wrong when we know better what was right for them. I agree that deep inside there are clear lines between black and white but in business there are also shades of gray. How we work is colored with these shades. I recently was helping someone who was being criticized for how many hours he worked versus the rest of his team. This is a person whose life revolves around his work and for him, putting in long hours is not a problem and he has structured his life such that the hours don't impede on other parts of his life. Where other people have lots of hobbies or outside interests, for him his life is his family and his work. But, not everyone on his team wants to work to that level. He understands this and never pushes them nor expects the same, but they feel guilty none the less and therefore he gets tagged as doing something wrong. Is he right or wrong in how he works? There were also days, before the accounting standards were tightened that many things were left up to interpretation by auditors and there were no hard black and white lines. It is less so now, but the line between right and wrong was not always clear and turned out to be situational. My advice in any of these gray situations is to make the assumption that what we might be thinking is leaning more towards right might be actually leaning to the wrong. Why is this? Well, because the way we are built as humans just has that in us. So, to be better safe than sorry, we might want to always check in with others to test our judgment and to get a second wrong vs. right opinion.

Paul tells us in Romans that even he, when he wanted to do right, would do wrong; "It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong". If today you are in a situation where things look gray, then assume that human nature is going to sway you in the wrong direction and then correct from there. Being in the right, of course, is always the best place to be. We just have to be sure that we know where is the right!

Reference: Romans 7:21 (New Living Testament)

day 960: The Three Day Load

"Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks."

Getting ready for the upcoming three-day weekend  feels like you are packing work to be ready to be gone for a few days. The hard part of being "gone" (if such a thing now) is  no matter how hard you try to ensure that you have "kept up" there are those who use the long weekend day 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. 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)

day 959: Persuading Others

"Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him...Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise." 

We all have had to give a persuasive presentation at some point in our work lives. Even if the only one that was required was the time in an interview when you had to sell yourself to someone else, it had to be persuasive. For others, the boardroom is a place where persuasive presentations take place all day long. The room is full of doubters, supporters and those sitting on the fence. In walks the young salesperson who has the big idea on how to increase revenues for the quarter. The salesperson has a presentation deck ready to go and with the launch into the spiel the supporters start to take their rallying positions, the doubters are looking for the flaws and the fence-sitters are watching the room and trying to determine which way the momentum will swing. As the presentation comes to a close the doubters spring forward first; peppering the presenter with one question after another seeing if composure can be broken and if true persistence and commitment is present. The supports wait. They hold back so that at the moment of lull they can shift the tide and bring the presenters boat back up swiftly. And then moment comes when the fencer-sitters start to show their colors and one by one they declare their position. In a matter of minutes a battle has been won or lost all on the persuasiveness, or lack thereof, of the presenter. This is how business gets done. If you are not persuasive and influential in your presentations, then the position is lost. Learning how to be persuasive, how to deliver strong and compelling presentations, and having an arsenal of influence skills are key to success in business.

As believers we also have to be resolute in our faith, but we don't have to worry about being persuasive and influential with God. In fact, He doesn't pay any attention at all to those skills from us. He wants the opposite. He looks for us to deny ourselves of these when we come to Him and instead allow Him to flow over and wash over us as we stand by and let it happen with joy and acceptance. What is common about how we approach God and how we approach the boardroom, is that with each we must enter without wavering. We see this in Hebrews 10:22-25: "Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him...Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise." Today, you may have to give a persuasive presentation and win over a bunch of people at work. You should not be afraid to ask God to go into that presentation with you and bring forth His power to help you through that presentation. But, as you enter into that moment with Him know that you can do so with a trusting heart, full sincerity, and the hope that is pure. For God always comes through for us and no matter what we have to present to Him it is like presenting to a room of supporters when we can't even finish the presentation before someone says, "we get it, you've convinced us and we believe in you". It is that feeling of support that God wants us to allow Him to settle down inside of us today. Let His loving persuasiveness persuade you today!

Reference: Hebrews 10:22-25 (New Living Testament)

day 958: Fitting In

 "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again?

One of the most overused words when recruiting and assessing new people for a company is the word, "fit". The word is invoked over and over, even when no one really knows what it means. Someone only needs to say to others after interviewing a candidate, "He just doesn't fit", and that will either start a debate or it ends the conversation and the candidate is rejected. The feedback that goes back to the candidate is just as vague; "There just wasn't a fit". Hiring is hard, of course, but there is more than just trying to finding fit like the trial and error of finding the right piece in a jigsaw puzzle. Every company has a culture and "fit" is certainly important, but knowing how to define the attributes of the culture to a level of specificity so that there can be a true definition of "fit" is typically where companies fall short. That leaves vast room for the continued guessing game of who fits and who doesn't. At that point, we continue on with always trying to circle in on what is "fit" and what is not. Probably the best definition of what is fit and what is not comes from the attributes that the successful people in a company take on, reinforce, and evolve towards. Since we hire in the likeness of ourselves it only makes sense that a homogeneous culture gets created and everyone ends up being more like the same. And so, "fit" becomes defined. This insular evolution, without discipline, can leave a company one day wondering why they have lost a creative edge, lost their external customer focus, or worse yet, have fallen into group think and can't make decisions. Companies can benefit by being open to people who "run against the grain" and push the envelope in their thinking and background. Companies can benefit in expanding their definition of "fit".

Those of us who are believers and spend our days on the job trying to live out our purpose, run against the grain each day and in our own way, should be defining our own "fit". We read in Matthew 5:13 that we are to be different and if don't then we have thrown away tremendous opportunity; "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless." We all want to fit in the companies where we work. What God is saying is that we can both fit in our companies and also be different. And we can be assured that the saltiness and flavor that God wants us to have can be the exact ingredient that others on our job need to see to view the reflection of God in what we do. Today, as you think about your role and fit within your company and job, remember that the salt that you can bring can be a needed expansion of the definition of "fit".

Reference: Matthew 5:13 (New Living Testament)

day 957: Squeaky Wheels

 "...My cup overflow with blessings."

I've had many an employee in my career who has been one of those people who are always asking for something. If you have never met someone like this (and I would be surprised of you haven't) they are quickly identified as the "squeaky wheel". They are the first people to be in the office wanting to know why someone else was promoted, or why another department got the larger budget, or why they weren't involved in a meeting or asked to travel on a trip. They are usually also the first people who point at others for problems and are not quick to take responsibility for their own action. I might add that they are usually the most immature. I once had a employee who would ask me regularly about when would they be promoted to the next level. When I got down underneath these incessant requests it had nothing to do with needing more salary or that their career was suffering from being in their current position too long, etc. What it boiled down to is that this person had a sense of entitlement that grew out of insecurity and fear that they were going to miss out on something that they wouldn't get unless they asked. I contrast this employee with a very senior executive who I worked with in the early 1990's who kept getting promoted over other people because he kept his head down, never expressed his career desires when not asked, trusted "the system" and when promoted would show a level of humility and gratitude that was far beyond anyone's expectations. As such, it was fun to see this person get promoted and rise through the ranks all the way to the top. How often are we more worried than trustful in what happens to us? Yes, that is right...too much.

When we stop trusting and we stop letting others and God do what they would like to do with us and instead try and take control of the situation, we miss out on the gifts that want to be given to us. With my employee, I got to the point that I knew when the conversation was coming and I didn't look forward to those talks. Our God is a God who wants to give so much more to us than we could ever ask. Our God is the God of David who as we know wrote in Psalm 23:5; "...My cup overflow with blessings." With a little more trust and little more faith and a lot less trying to tell God what to do, we can expect our cup to flow over. But, if we keep asking God to fill the cup in the way we want it filled, He will fill it, but maybe only to our definition of the top which could be far from His definition of what He wants to give us.

Reference: Psalm 23:5 (New Living Testament)

day 956: Selfishness

"Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others."

The first impression is a moment to manage. We all know how important a first impression can be and in business where time is precious and patience runs short, the first impression's importance is multiplied many times over. We can do our best to make the first impression our best in how we speak, hold ourselves, and yes, how we dress. Yet, it can't be completely controlled as long as there is another person involved. The person on the other side of the table or the handshake comes to that moment with their own set of preconceived notions, emotions and filters. It is nearly impossible for us to know what is in their mind or what they have already faced that day that is going to enhance or taint their impression of us. What we can do is put our best foot forward and ensure that we are doing our best to make a connection with them. If by nothing else, if we make those first moments together a time of listening closely and allowing the other person to talk about themselves for a bit so we can get a sense of the mood and their willingness to open up, then we have a better chance of doing well with them. I was listening to a very senior executive describe an interview she recently had where the person doing the interview never asked one question during their hour long session. She said that the interviewer would just throw out random thoughts, sometimes provocative and challenging, and then let those thoughts just sit there until she would pick up on them and continue the riff. As she left the interview she had no idea what impression she had made but she had a really good feel for what kind of person he was and had felt that she had been able to adapt to his style. I suspect because of this, she made a good first impression. So, we never know when we are going to be making a first impression, but let's remember, it is a moment to manage, be thoughtful around, and most importantly be sure that we put the other person first.

For those of us who are purposefully working to bring glory to God in our work and lives the first impression, and every ongoing impression, is even that much more significant. Paul gives us a tip in Philippians when he tells us that we not to live to make a good impression on others. He is right, if we were to totally focus and live just to make a good impression then we would spend all of our time thinking about ourselves, thus why he says in the beginning of the verse, "Don't be selfish". That said, we still must manage our impressions as we know others are always watching and those impressions whether the first, or ongoing, are critical in how others can or can't see Christ reflected through us. Take a moment and reflect on yesterday. What type of impression did you leave on others? Were there actions and words that if you could take them back you would? For me personally when I ask myself that question the answer is always yes, because I know that I can only get better. Today is the day to make your impressions better than yesterday, especially those first impressions that are there for you to begin today in the best and right way.

Reference: Philippians 2:3 (New Living Testament)

day 955: Favorable Timing

“He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

There was a very good article in yesterday's New York Times Week in Review section.  The CEO of the company 37Signals (you'd more likely know them by the collaborative project management software, "Basecamp") explained how at his company they use the calendar seasons to change up the way people work. From May-October they go down to 32 hours a week.  One of the summer months is entirely dedicated to allowing people to work on innovation and new ideas they might have.  By following the seasons of the year, his company changes and in his estimation, improves annually.  Understanding what is favorable timing for our companies is something that we don't consider enough.  Seasonality is common, but allowing the company to rest and ready for the peaks is not so common.  Typically, we push through from season to season with very little change and without some type of pacing and shifting, then we run the risk of never finding favorable timing.

Jesus came to give us all favorable timing. He did this by proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor.  This proclamation followed the Old Testament Jubilee Years, which was anticipated and celebrated each 70 years. Jesus rolled all of those together for us to provide us freedom and liberty in our lives at any time that we choose to allow Him.  As we start this week, we probably all could use some favorable timing.  Let's find that favor by leaning into what God wants from us and listen closely to what we are supposed to hear.  We can find our favorable timing by trusting on His timing and favor.

Reference: Luke 4:18-19 (English Standard Version)

day 954: Troubling

"My experience shows me that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same."

It's hard to fathom but in every company there are troublemakers and sometimes not innocent ones (if such a thing) but hardcore troublemakers. A friend of mine works in a company that has over a hundred thousand full and part-time employees.  He has to remind his co-workers that his company is the same size of small city/big town and that in a place that size, well should we expect that everyone will be good, above board and pure?  Of course not.  Maybe if our background checks are so thorough then we wouldn't have anyone slip through the cracks.  But, as we know, that is impossible.  So, we have to be cognizant that even in our good companies that not all the company is good.  It's why, even though we don't like it, that sometimes rules and regulations will keep the bad people from hurting others.  When we see people go to jail because of what they have done within companies, I can assure you that the people who hired that person, promoted that person, gave that person their personal fortunes, never in their wildest dreams would have thought it would turn out the way it did. So, let's keep our guard up and be sure that we are weeding out and not allowing any hint of impropriety or corruption. 

In the book of Job we read that the experience that what we have ourselves is age-enduring.  We can't allow others and certainly we can't be involved in another planting or cultivating of trouble.  Ours, as believers, is not to be those who traffic in trouble.  When the pressure is on and our backs are up against the wall, ask God to stand with us so that when others have turned their heads or backs, that we don't find ourselves creating or bringing on trouble that could destroy the witness we have built up. There is much at stake and we need to recognize and respect what can happen if we don't stay above board and in the good.

Reference: Job 4:8 (New Living Translation)

day 953: The Endowment Effect

"Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!"

I read a fascinating article on the power of incentives and how they can either motivate or demotivate a worker. This new research work done out of Harvard by Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman flips the idea of the timing of when to provide incentives. They call their research the "Endowment Effect".  Basically, what they are proposing is that instead of providing incentives, like bonus payments, at the traditional timing of after the payment has been earned, that instead, the model gets flipped and the payment is made ahead of time and if the results are not achieved, then the money or the incentive would be taken away. The concept is built off of human nature and how we will pay or do more to keep something that is ours than we will to acquire it in the first place.  So, if someone is paid or given an incentive at the beginning of the earning period, then they will work harder to keep it for fear of losing it or having it taken away. I am fascinated by this thinking and also wonder if any business could be convinced to broadly experiment with the approach. It would take a lot of guts to pay out prior and then wait.  I can see the pitfalls but I can also see the power in this.  Let's try it at the Olympic Games in Rio...before the start of the race, everyone is awarded a gold medal and then after the race all but one get it taken away and see how the results are different.  Fat chance, huh?

What is so fantastic and marvelous about our God is that we don't have to earn anything from Him! All that He gives us is a gift that we only have to believe in and accept.  It doesn't get taken away or bestowed in greater amounts to one versus another.  We don't compete to get God's love given to us. We are certainly provided many incentives to accept Him and even then so many don't.  But once we do, as it is written in John, we will from then on, "Know Him".  God has indeed endowed us with an eternal life and eternal glory of living with Him forever.  There is no greater incentive or endowment than this. Let's never take this for granted or become ungrateful for what we have been given.

Reference: John 14:6 (The Message)

day 952: Non-Trivial Pursuits

"Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor."

If you have ever worked with a software engineer or a Chief Technology Officer you will hear somewhere along the way, "This is non-trivial".  That statement is their way of saying, "This is hard, complicated and could get in the way of other things if you really want to pursue it."  There are many things in business that are non-trivial and must be pursued.  The art is in knowing which is which and what to pursue when.  I am always amazed and a little taken back when I hear someone say, "we need more ideas".  Idea shortage is typically never the problem. The problem is ferreting out the right ideas and being honest enough with ourselves to say no to the bad and non-value added ones. Trivial Pursuit, while a fun family game, is not a good business strategy and must be guarded against vigorously.  We need only pursue that which is going to make the most difference and move the needle most significantly and then remove all of the rest of the trivial.  It is, as I said, an "art" but it also demands the discipline of science for it to happen consistently and reliably within a business.

We are the same.  As human beings we love to pursue the trivial.  The hours we each have are all the same and it is in how and what we pursue that we get our returns. Solomon tells us what to pursue and what we get in return.  What greater promise is there to find life and a life that is filled with righteousness and honor?  Let's today take a moment and ask ourselves, "What are we pursing today?"  The follow up question then needs to be, "And, what is is trivial and what is non-trivial?"  Let's pursue the path of righteousness and be sure that it is in this pursuit that we focus on the non-trivial that really matters.

Reference: Proverbs 21:21 (New Living Translation)

day 951: Pirates vs. Swashbucklers

"And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, “These that have turned the world upside down have come hither also..."

The business world doesn't like "Pirates", but they love "Swashbucklers" and buccaneers. Pirates steal, copy, rip-off and can cause irreparable harm and destroy value and spirit.  In my videogame days there was nothing worse than watching a team of people work and give years of their lives to a product only to have someone leak the product before it was shipped and then to see that same product be pirated into the black market.  It was disheartening and devastating.  Any product or service that depends on their intellectual property as part of their competitive advantage will be constantly concerned and cautious of those who would be pirates.  Now, swashbucklers and buccaneers are a different story.  Business loves the Steve Jobs of the world who out together a band of swashbucklers and flew the pirate flag within Apple to launch the Mac.  Hollywood makes billions off of romanticizing the image of the swashbuckler (from Errol Flynn to Johnny Depp).  The untethered, high risk, high reward attitude of those who can buck the system and sail away on their own is the gestalt of Silicon Valley,  It's a fine line between pirates and swashbucklers, but we know that we want the latter to ensure progress and innovation.

Are we strong enough in our faith to fly the flag of Christ and march to His drum beat versus the rest of the world?  We have many examples in the Bible of those who took on their own swashbuckling way to spread the word of Christ throughout the world.  The world pulls us into its' ways and the trappings of work and business can be one of the most draining and eroding environments of our faith and principles.  We must guard against, and be strong to not get pulled in and find ourselves adrift without a course.  It is not easy to sail against the winds, but it is what we must sometimes do in order to be consistent where it matters most.  Do we have enough inside of us today to be like Jason and be called one of those who "have turned the world upside down" for God?

Reference:  Acts 17:6 (21st Century King James Version)

day 950: Badges

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"

This past two weeks what we haven't seen is the behind the scenes activities at the Olympics from the people who attended the games live.  We were fortunate enough to attend the Atlanta summer Olympic Games in 1996 and what happens is that there is a whole other economy that happens on-site with people bartering, trading and buying pins and badges for what events they attended and saw.  It's fascinating as status us earned by amount and type of badges and pins accumulated.




Companies have learned that "social status" is a powerful consumer force and a powerful motivator.  I read of the MacArthur Foundation's work with HASTAC (Humanities, Arts, Sciences and Technology Advanced Collaboratory) to create badges for proficiency of work, skills, trades and knowledge.  It could be interesting if indeed we do see these take hold.  Giving someone, anyone a way to be recognized for their achievements and advancements can be significant and it is worthwhile to explore how to use this concept internally and externally to our organizations.

We are challenged as believers to turn the concept of badges inside out.  Yes, we are to wear our armor of God, but that armor is only as good as what flows from inside of us out to others, who are watching and assessing how real and legitimate we are followers of Christ. Our badges that we are given come from the Holy Spirit and we learn that if the fruits of His spirit are not evident an growing that something isn't right.  God gives us our own internal "badge" system to evaluate ourselves.  As we start this week, let's read through the fruits of the Spirit to ensure that we are focused on what is right and best for us and consider the badges that others see us wearing.

Reference: Galatians 5:22-23 (New Living Translation)

day 949: Performing

“What should we do with these men?' they asked each other. 'We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it."

We are coming into the last weekend of the 2012 London Olympic Games.  It's been exciting to watch and every day Patti and I have been monitoring the medal count.  I have been fortunate to get a bit of an insider look at the Olympic process because of my ex-bosses involvement and some work I got do with the USOC a few years back. What is amplified by the Olympic Games is that at the end of the day performance matters.  By nature of sport and competition there is a winner and then all others.  Second through the last person have given their all but there is only one who crosses the finish line first.  I was struck by the interview that Lolo Jones gave the Today show.  She was discussing the ridicule and accusations she received from the media in the days before her competition, but she also talked about the disappointment that comes with not winning and not performing to her expectations. I am paraphrasing what she said as she spoke through her tears, "I have worked and trained eight hours a day, six days a week for four years for a 12 second race."  Few of us can say that we have every put forward that amount of effort for so little amount of time of performing.  Business is like sport.  We either win and beat the competition or we settle for some other place in the consumer's mind. Sure, there is room for many competitors, but to be great, we must perform and perform better than the next company or person.

Our Christian life is about performing and living out our lives in the closest modeling of the life of Jesus as we humanly can. Yes, people listen for our words, but when those words don't match our actions then they become hollow and false.  It is our actions and how we perform at what we are given that matters if we want to be an example to others. The Sadducees didn't know what to do with Peter and John, not because they spoke or thought about the works of Jesus, but because they acted and "performed a miraculous sign".  It would be wise of us to take a moment today and consider how we are performing in the eyes of Christ and from the perspective of others around us who are watching.  Like I am watching the Olympic medal count with anticipation of American being at the top by Sunday night, others are watching us and expecting, counting on us to perform so that they can also feel confident in their faith.  Let's do our best to give our best and to perform at the level that God desires from us!

Reference: Acts 4:16 (New Living Translation)

day 948: World Changers

"When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also;"

"We are going to change the world!"  "I want to change the world!" "Together, we can change the world."

These are the types of rallying cries that are said at new product launches, company creations, or announcements of inventions.  Few ever become a reality and truly change the world, but there's no harm or foul in thinking and aspiring to do so.  To truly change the world, we have to come up with something that not only is additive but also disruptive.  Any great innovation ends up extincting something that was there before, creating yes, a bit of a win-lose.  So, with world-changing progress there will be lawsuits, PR attacks, threats, accusations, deep discounting, vendor conflicts, patent challenges, etc.  Net, the world does not change easily nor quietly. There's always a story plot as to why the world shouldn't change and forces to fight against progress.  We have to be on the lookout for those forces within our companies and sometimes the enemy is "us".  Innovation, experimentation and change too many times is killed before it starts because internally we really don't want our world, as we know it, to change.  Think about innovation within your organization.  Is it free and flowing or are there speed bumps and resistance points to change?  The world cannot be changed without being all in to do so.

What a great compliment that Jason received when he was accused of "upsetting the world"!  Here's what we need to remember as we go to work each day and try to bring glory to God as our purpose; by virtue of working, acting and speaking in the likeness of Christ we are "upsetting the world".  We all know that our workplaces can be the worst of places for the fruits of the spirit to be evident and at every turn there is a catalyst to take us to the dark side. But, if we stand strong, stand forward to the wind in our face, and remain steadfast in our faith then we become an upsetting force and yes, even a world-changer.

Acts 17:6 (New American Standard)

day 947: Olympic Fatigue?

"But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Anyone have Olympic fatigue yet?  No, I'm not talking about being tired of the Olympics as I never tire of seeing athletes from around the world peak every four years and make the impossible look so easy.  I am talking about the fatigue from staying up late every night to catch up with all that has happened and watching NBC's nighttime coverage.  I know, I can timeshift with the DVR or go online and watch them whenever I want,  but I like not knowing what has happened and then being there, in the moment as best I can.  But, if I am tired, imagine how nearly exhausted those who have put on the games must be?  Exhilarated and exhausted at the same time is sometimes magical.  Startups know the feeling as do any group of people who have had to meet an important milestone and had to give their all to get there. We can't peak everyday, but having moments and times like the Olympics does every four years, to garner the best of people can, while fatiguing, still be amazing.

God gives us His remarkable strength and endurance and promises that we will have the energy to keep on going when doing His work and following His will.  We should never allow ourselves to grow weary in His work and if we feel that we are, we need to return to His Word and our knees for rejuvenation.  God wants us to be at our best for Him at all times; in our lives, our work, today in a meeting, etc.  Let's never let ourselves be fatigued but full of His spirit!

Reference: Isaiah 40:31 (New Living Translation)

day 946: A Simple Choice - redux

"You both precede and follow me"

One of the earliest leadership lessons I was taught was to either "lead, follow or get out of the way". Seems simple on the surface but very hard to do. Much of the confusion in the workplace has to do with us not knowing which of the three we should be doing at the same time others are also figuring it out. Many a toe has been stepped on and ball dropped because we are confused on which role we should be playing. Lots of consultants have made a ton of money trying to teach people and organizations on the differences. However, we can all get better at this just by asking the question when we are unsure and then listening for the direction and following from there. We like to make that mistake too in once we hear what role we are supposed to take we fight it and rebel instead of falling into the lane we are supposed to be in and getting comfortable with it. Do you know what role you are supposed to take today on each project or task you have in front of you? It's not always the same and even if you are the boss, you are sometimes meant to follow or get out of the way.

King David describes the One, and the only One who leads and follows consistently each and every day in our lives. How wonderful it is to know that in all that we do that the Lord both precedes and follows us and even more glorious to know that He never gets out of the way even when we elbow Him out. Let's go into today allowing Him to lead and thanking Him for following so closely. In that time of thanks also ask Him what role He wants you to take today with others. Because He precedes us He will show us the way we are supposed to take.

Reference: Psalm 139:5 (New Living Testament)

day 945: Misson Driven

"Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth."

Few things about a business give me more confidence than when I see an organization that has a vision and mission that drives and aligns the entire company from top to bottom and steers direction and decision making.  It's really so simple, but so hard to establish and follow that many companies just never get to it and then wonder why they seem to flail and lose direction as the market changes and people come and go. In order to truly be mission driven there must be a deep-seated belief in the mission and then the unwavering discipline to stick with it and keep it alive.  I've seen way too many companies who write a mission statement, hang it on a wall and then go about doing business as if the statement never existed.  That is almost worse than never having put together a mission at all. Not following what we say we are going to follow creates cynicism and distrust.  Both are culture poisons and company killers.  What are you doing to be mission driven in your company, function, department or team?


Purposed worKING is about each of us fulfilling a mission of bringing glory to God through what we have been given as our earthly work. Each day as we approach the office or sit down for that first time in front of the keyboard, are we thinking about this and aligning our words, actions and thoughts in a mission-driven way?  In the church world groups of people come together and then go and do "mission work" in a far off place or in a part of their community that is under served.  Let's take today and start from the inside out with some of our own mission work and be sure that our hearts, mind and soul are truly mission driven.


Reference: Ephesians 4:14 (New Living Translation)

day 944: Grown Ups

"Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth."

There have been a number of articles written over the last years about the changing face of Venture Capital and the type of companies now funded by VCs.  We are now, depending upon who you ask, in the third generation of West Coast Venture Capitalists.  From the early days of guys like Bill Draper who made Sand Hill Road synonymous with venture capital, to today when we are seeing those who reaped rewards from early successes like AOL, Yahoo!, PayPal, Google and Facebook become the next generation of VC's.  

I tend to think that this current generation looks more like the first in that we've learned a lot over the years and are now back to following the basic principles of business before the majority of investments are made.  Sure, venture investing is like trying to predict what an eight year boy will be like when he is 24, but it's been encouraging to see that the focus has returned to underlying fundamentals.  The second generation had some growing up to do and it seems to have worked. As we consider approaching investors now, we better have our ducks in a row because this time around we are pitching to grown ups.


Paul tells us clearly that we all have to grow up and put our immaturity aside and stay close to the truth. In our spiritual journey it is easy to fall back into our immature ways and lose discipline, focus and discernment.  It's no different than how we try to grow in our business life so that we become more knowledgeable, prepared, broadening our perspective and finding our points of view.  We don't get there by being lazy or flitting around our work.  We rise to the occasion because we are ready and have put in the hours, work and energy to do our best when called upon.  That is what Jesus wants from us too.  We can't expect to do our best if we continue to allow ourselves to develop spiritually in an immature fashion.  Consider today what you are doing to act like a grown up in the eyes of God?

Reference: Ephesians 4:14 (New Living Translation)

day 943: Closeness

"And His disciples said to Him, 'You see the crowd pressing in on You; how can you say, 'Who touched me?"

We all know the importance of being close to our consumers but never more than now are we experiencing the ability to not only know who they are but to really know about them in a way never possible before.  How we act and interact with the web is not a full picture of a person but in many ways it has proven to be the best consumer information ever.  Tracking and following what and how someone experiences things on the web and through social media opens up all kinds of opportunities.  Many companies are capitalizing upon the information and targeting very precisely their products and services.  Others would like to do so, but they are bound by privacy restrictions as well as the "creepy factor".  For instance, LinkedIn, if they wanted to do so, could predict exactly when someone is going to change a job and where they are going next.  It's not a hard algorithm. A person gets active on LinkedIn and starts updating their profile and making lots of connection.  Bingo, they have become an active job seeker.  From there they start adding connections from people at different companies and each time more than five are added from a single company, bam now we know a company they have interviewed with.  And then one day all of the flurry of activity stops.  Boom, in two weeks or so we will see an announcement and changed profile to a new company and role, most likely to the company where the last set of connections were made. Who would want this information, beyond obviously the current employer of the job seeker?  Well, if I was a real estate agent, a moving van line, a clothing store, a financial advisor, a credit card company, a car company, yada yada, I might be interested.  So, the challenge is how do we take advantage of the consumer closeness that we can have to move our business forward?

In the account of the woman with the blood there are many, many lessons for us to take with us.  I have heard and read this story many times and I was always struck by how Jesus, even when bustled by the crowds, was in tune enough to feel the closeness of those around Him.  When the woman touched his robe, he could feel her faith.  How wonderful it would be if we could each have the level of faith that the woman had who at that time didn't know what, if anything, would happen, but still she reached to touch Jesus.  That is true faith. And in this lesson is also a call to each one of us to be close and aware to those around us so that when they reach out, we can know them and respond in a way that is with caring and His love.  There is no excuse in our advanced world to not stay in touch, know, and be close to others.  Let's today be close.

Reference Mark 5:31

day 942: Marathoning, Part 3 - Endurance

"...let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

Summer is always a good season for me to think about the importance of endurance.  Maybe it is watching the Tour de France and being totally blown away each year with the endurance that it takes to compete and complete that race.  Or, it is the build up of miles for a Fall marathon.  In this year, I am excited to watch all of the endurance events in the Olympics and see how the athletes prepare and race when the moment comes. Work is a marathon too.  26.2 miles is a lot like all of the year we work looking for a finish line.  Companies must sign up for the marathon or fear that they will come up short when a competitor continues to be there.  Endurance is about training, fitness, pacing and mental strength.  How many times do we sit down a year and think about where our business will be in 5-10 years and how we will get there, or more importantly, how are we readying ourselves to get there?  We would be best to always think in terms of a marathon to be run and be sure we are ready for the long run that is work and business.

Paul tells us to run with endurance, but not just run with endurance any run, but to run the race God has put before us.  Paul does not tell us the distance of that race, but we know that the race of being human does not stop and lasts a lifetime.  We have a marathon of faith to run, if we so choose to enter that race.  Let's consider that each step we take, at home, at work, with purpose or for leisure is about the race and the finish line that God has set before us. Let's think today about the different aspects of our lives that are either keeping us moving forward or setting us back and deal with each accordingly so that we may have the endurance to complete the full race and so with God's favor!







Reference: Hebrews 12:1 (New Living Translation)