day 1045: Year-End Examination

 'Let a man examine himself…'.

At the end of the year we are usually scrambling to get everything on our to do lists out of the way and cleaned and tidied up for a fresh start in the New Year. I also notice that at the end of the year there is a mad dash to use up all of the health reserve money that has been saved up tax-free throughout the year. I always thought that it must be interesting for doctors who get this year-end set of appointments for examinations, whether people need them or not. The end of the year is when most of us do the self-examinations of ourselves. We reflect back over the past year and evaluate how we did in life, work, spiritually, financially, etc. and we then set our goals for the New Year, some being called our "New Year's Resolutions". This self-examination is good. Paul calls for us to do this continually in I Corinthians 11:28. David Wilkerson, the author of The Cross and the Switchblade and former pastor of the Times Square Church in New York City said, "Paul further urges us, 'Let a man examine himself…'. The Greek word for examine here means 'scrutinize, test.' The apostle is saying, 'Test yourself—see if you’re walking according to God’s Word.' We’re to constantly ask ourselves, 'Am I changing? Am I becoming more loving and tenderhearted? Am I treating my family and friends with godly respect? Is my conversation becoming more righteous?” These are great questions of self-examination as we head into our new year of work life.

As we set our goals for the person we want to be at work and to be a person who works to their purpose, we can be assured that our constant self-examination and adjustments and corrections are the way that God wants us to live and pursue His righteousness. So, set those goals this year with confidence and great expectations that this New Year will be a year of positive change for each of us.


Reference; I Corinthians 11:28 (New Living Testament)

day 879: Capital: Part One - Input

"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
 

day 518: Obstacles

We all have had work obstacles that kept us from getting done what we think we should have, could have, or wanted to do. Sometimes these obstacles are uncontrollable in the sense that we are provided assignments and people to work with, or circumstances and decisions made are outside of our sphere of influence. But, even with all of that, we are able to control how we think about these obstacles and how we allow ourselves to feel. I am constantly amazed at the people who can come to work each and every day and regardless of the challenges or obstacles in front of them, carry with them a positive attitude and a sense of optimism that no challenge is too great or no obstacle too hard that it can't be overcome. The irony is that these people are also the ones who the boss looks to when she/he has something to be done that seems impossible to achieve. Why? It's simple. The person who cannot see obstacles stopping them, no matter what, are the ones who get the most done. If we look at the obstacles in front of us and shrug our shoulders and say, "it can't be done", then it should be of no surprise that others wouldn't bring us their challenges, their problems to be solved, or their need for advice and counsel. This is not the way we want to be perceived or known. We want our reputation to be one of being the person who seems beyond the challenge and sees the opportunity within the problems. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 7:30; "Happiness or sadness or wealth should not keep anyone from doing God's work." We are doing God's work when we are bringing glory to Him in the earthly work that we do for a living. If Paul says that even happiness or wealth should not get in the way of doing this work, then surely there is no obstacle we could imagine that should get in the way of us being the best we can be and approaching our work as being filled with many possibilities and really, no obstacles that can stop us.

Reference: 1 Corinthians 7:30 (New Living Testament)

day 233: Form

I was out running yesterday and at mile 5 of my usual 6 mile run I found myself tiring for no apparent reason. As I tried to analyze what was going on, I realized that for the last few miles my mind had drifted and I was getting sloppy with my form and that was what was making me tired. I tried to clear my head, concentrate on my form, and return my body to the upright posture and lean forward position that I know holds me together and strong for many miles. As I did that, I could almost immediately feel myself strengthening and I went on to finish the run feeling stronger and better than I did at mile 5. What does this have to do with purposed worKING? Much, and in fact it what Purposed worKING is about. Work and our jobs try and give us a form to follow and unfortunately it is not always the form that God spells out for us in His word. Paul talks about how important it is to run the race well and finish strong. He says in 1 Corinthians 9:26; "So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step" Without the right form and concentration the run is never run well and finished strongly. Our work is a career marathon and with each day that we lose our form and get sloppy we run the risk of not finishing with the strength that God expects from us. Malcolm Gladwell recently wrote about the pitfalls of hubris (being overly proud and arrogant) and one of the things he said was that many times hubris comes from lots of experience on the job and tenure in a position. We become overly confident in ourselves and before long we become prideful and arrogant about what we can do versus others. As this happens, we, in God's eyes and others around us, lose our form. The great thing is that we can with God's help course correct ourselves, right now, today, when our form slips. It may be that today you know that you have not been the person you should be at work to others. You know that you have become prideful and defensive of your work versus others as you share less with others and look for credit from the boss. Or, it may be that you find yourself looking at others around you and instead of thinking how you can build them up, you are seeing them as competition and that is shaping how you interact and communicate with them. Whatever the circumstances, if you feel as though you are losing form, then now is the time to make the correction. God's Word is full of those corrections and that is what we also try and provide here at Purposed worKING as well. The prayer for each of today should be that we can all find the form that God desires for each of us.

Reference: I Corinthians 9:26 (New Living Testament)

day 224: Little Matters

It's the big things that matter at work. Much of our energy and emotion get tied to the presentations to the Board, the big sales meeting, the major cost saving initiative, the big marketing and advertising roll-out, the big idea from the shop-floor, etc. We tend to get excited and focus on the big things and we overlook the small things. But, the small things that are overlooked can drive us crazy. Have you ever been in a real rush with something important that needs to copied on the copy machine and as you are running your copies up comes the message, "out of paper"? Yes you have, we all have. After we throw our hands up in the air we start scrambling for the ream of paper that is lying next to the machine, which of course is barely full with not enough paper in it, so instead we start searching for another ream, which of course someone has rearranged the supply cabinet again and we can't find the paper. And so it goes. How different that last scene may have played out had the person before us recognized that the paper supply was low and instead of walking away for someone else to deal with it, they would have found the ream of paper, replenished the copier and put an extra full ream next to the copier just in case someone needed it? We don't get rewarded at work for the little matters as much as we do the big things. If we did then offices would be tidy, phone calls would be returned, emails inboxes would be empty, people would feel recognized and thanked for their work, and we might all be happier with each other. Little does matter in the bigger scheme of work and life. Without the focus on the details and the little things the bigger things would never happen. In 1 Corinthians 1:28 Paul tells us that God chose "things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important." Today you will be faced with things that seem so little that they can't matter. They are nothings, really. But, they are something big to someone else and you taking a moment of your time to take care of the little thing could change the course of something big. Imagine the Sales VP who needed those extra copies before the Fedex man left, but couldn't find the extra ream of paper and missed the delivery window because he couldn't get the copies made in time and because of that the company missed out on winning the big contract, which was the make or deal for the year for him and everyone in the company. Little matters. God tells us so, so don't take for granted that the little things you are given today at work are inconsequential, they may be quite important after all.

Reference: I Corinthians 1:28

day 62: Year-end Examination

At the end of the year we are usually scrambling to get everything on our to do lists out of the way and cleaned and tidied up for a fresh start in the New Year. I also notice that at the end of the year there is a mad dash to use up all of the health reserve money that has been saved up tax-free throughout the year. I always thought that it must be interesting for doctors who get this year-end set of appointments for examinations, whether people need them or not. The end of the year is when most of us do the self-examinations of ourselves. We reflect back over the past year and evaluate how we did in life, work, spiritually, financially, etc. and we then set our goals for the New Year, some being called our "New Year's Resolutions". This self-examination is good. Paul calls for us to do this continually in I Corinthians 11:28. David Wilkerson, the author of The Cross and the Switchblade and now pastor of the Times Square Church in New York City says, "Paul further urges us, 'Let a man examine himself…'. The Greek word for examine here means 'scrutinize, test.' The apostle is saying, 'Test yourself—see if you’re walking according to God’s Word.' We’re to constantly ask ourselves, 'Am I changing? Am I becoming more loving and tenderhearted? Am I treating my family and friends with godly respect? Is my conversation becoming more righteous?” These are great questions of self-examination as we head into our new year of work life. As we set our goals for the person we want to be at work and to be a person who works to their purpose, we can be assured that our constant self-examination and adjustments and corrections are the way that God wants us to live and pursue His righteousness. So, set those goals this year with confidence and great expectations that this New Year will be a year of positive change for each of us.


Reference; I Corinthians 11:28 (New Living Testament)

day 41: Running In The Halls - part 3: Discipline and Training

"This job will be the death of me", he said as he pulled out of the parking lot at 10:30pm for the third time this week. The race we run with our work is a long one. The way careers are set up we can expect to spend most of our adult lives working. We do this day after day, sometimes closer to seven days a week than we want. We subtract hours from other parts of our lives, like sleep and family time, and add them to our work days. We do this month after month and year after year until one day we hit a wall and say we just can't take it any longer. It is a long and grueling race and if we were able to step back from it and see the size of the hills in front of us we would probably think differently about how we approach our work. But, trying to gain that perspective is nearly impossible, so we do out best and we slug through day by day, giving it our all, running the race the best we can. We have been exploring what Paul had to say about how to win the race of life and faith and how to finish strong for our Lord. We have applied the principles that he describes about knowing the goal/objective and focus and on how to get to the finish line. He also says in verse 27 of I Corinthians Chapter 9; "I discipline my body like an athlete, training to do what it should". I like this statement because I believe that much of the success any of us have at anything we strive to achieve comes from the preparation we do before the task. I believe it was Billy Martin, the controversial but heralded coach of the New York Yankees in the 1970's, who said, "The World Series is won in spring training". He was saying that the finish line and how the we finish is all in how we prepare, discipline and train ourselves. We can run a strong race at work if we also adopt this attitude and we begin today to train and discipline ourselves for the future and the work ahead of us. We can be stronger and have more endurance if we think of our physical bodies as the tool that allows us to operate day in a day out at our highest productivity. How we eat, sleep and exercise can make a difference. And, how strong we are spiritually before the crisis hits lets us be prepared for the times when we will be tested emotionally and physically. If we begin each day in training, both physically and spiritually, and we stay disciplined to be strong in both areas, we will stand a much better chance of completing the long race, winning along the way, and knowing that when we finish we will have finished well.

Reference: I Corinthians 9:27 (New Living Testament)

day 40: Running In The Halls - part 2: Straight Ahead

"It's a rat race around here". Ever heard that statement? What picture does it conjure up? When I hear that statement I think of a maze with two rats being let loose into the entrance and off they go working their way from one side of the other to get the cheese. Or, I see two rats running after each other, running in circles and swerves trying to catch each other. Minus the rats part, (or not minus, depending on where you work), the picture of running around like crazy or running around a maze can feel just like the office. We so many times feel like we are chasing and going from thing to thing without purpose or definition that we end up feeling like we have wasted time and energy until it just wears us down. We then wonder why we are not springing out of bed in the morning to get to work. As mentioned yesterday, Paul gives us his tips to winning the race for life and not only does he tell us to run the race to win, he also says to run with discipline and focus. In verse 26 of I Corinthians 9 he says, "So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches". What Paul was modeling for us was efficiency and productivity in reaching a goal and purpose, because we can straighten out the line between two points. When we feel like we are in the rat race at work, a place to start to fix is determining where it is that you are trying go and get very specific on that goal and purpose and "straighten out" the corners and angles that get in your way. And when at work we meander and wander and lose that purpose of why we are here in the first place, we can end up in a maze that takes us quite a bit of time to exit at the goal. The straightening out of work can happen when we part ways with those that drag us down or cause issues for the sake of causing issues, or it might be adjusting our own emotions to filter out the negative attitudes within ourselves that so often can creep in. And, it might be that we need to start afresh today with getting down to business and not spending that extra time worrying or talking about what it is that things should be, but are out of our control. There is a great feeling about finishing a race strong. The same can happen today at work for you by setting your goals and purpose for the day and running straight towards that goal keeping the distractions away until the goal is achieved. A day where on he way home you can feel great about what was achieved is a GREAT day!

Reference: I Corinthians 9:26

day 39: Running In The Halls - part 1: Focus

"How are things at work?", you are asked. The reply rolls off of your tongue easily. "I'm running around like crazy, trying to get everything done". It's a familiar feeling isn't it? So much to do, not enough time to get it all done. The metaphor for running around is an apt one. But are we running to a goal, to finish a race, or to win a prize, or are we just running up and down the halls metaphorically because everyone around us is doing the same and we aren't sure if we are getting anywhere at all? It's so easy to fall into this trap and find ourselves day after day in a full out sprint but not sure of the location of that elusive finish line, if there is one at all. While Paul, in I Corinthians 9:24-27, was talking about the "run of life" and how we are to race for the finish line for the prize to be with Jesus, he is also describing to us how it is that a runner wins any race of life. If we chunk down the different portions of our lives, like work as a significant chunk, the lesson he gives us can also help us win the races that we run at work, each and every day. The first lesson he gives us that we must run in a way to win, not to just run for the sake of running. For exercise, I am a distance runner and I understand what he is saying completely. When I run without a goal or an objective, I do not run the same. I am more likely to not push myself and to not actually improve. When I know I have a goal, which would be my personal race to win, then I train differently. I train in a disciplined fashion, which makes me better. Paul talks about the way to win the race is to first run to win, not to just show up. How we conduct ourselves at the office and live our worklife is a large part of the life race that we run. How we get our work done and balance it within our lives is also a part of the race. The example of working and living in a Christlike manner is part of the race of life. So, today, instead of running up and down the halls without purpose, can you chunk down the day into the things that are most important to accomplish and then also think about "how" it is that you will accomplish those goals as you work with others and affect how they feel about this day of work? Can you lay all of this out today to God and ask Him to help you run this race well, with a "W" in the win column when you leave the office today? Let's have a win today, regardless if a big or small race because we were able to focus on why we are running the race. Tomorrow, more of how Paul says we can win the race.

Reference: I Corinthians 9:24-27 (New Living Testament)