day 1349: Investing In Home

"Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal."

I was back at Purdue (my alma mater) this week. On Wednesday, General Electric announced a partnership with Purdue around advanced manufacturing practices and technology, and that GE would be building a new jet engine manufacturing plant in the Greater Lafayette, Indiana area.  It was a big deal for Purdue and the community.  In the same week I read that BMW is investing and expanding in South Carolina and Ford is doing the same in the Midwest.  It's a good sign to see multinationals investing in the U.S..  We still have a ways to go as Shenzen, China claims now to be the largest manufacturing location for smartphones.  I predict that might change over time as well.  It's not an easy decision to invest at home.  It can be more expensive and the regulations around the environment, safety and labor can add to that cost, but once the plunge is taken, the reduced complexity of time, travel and cultures, can win the day. At least an honest discussion about the tradeoffs looks to be being held with certain segments of our economy. Here's to more and more of those decisions landing back to home.

Let's not get confused about where home really is for those who are believers.  Jesus tells us where we are to invest and what is our temporary home is not the place.  Home is His Kingdom and it is there that we are to invest and store up.  What seems so important today to us, is truly here today and gone tomorrow. We can't run and hide from the world, but we can make sure that the best of our time, treasures and talents are going towards the Kingdom.  It's the best that we tend to hang onto, collect, store up and keep to ourselves.  Consider what it means to turn over our best to God.  I'm a morning person.  I am at my best early in the day. By the late afternoon, I've burned up what energy and thinking ability that I have.  So, what day part should I be giving to God?  You got it.  If we analyze each part of our lives against whether or not we are giving Him our best, we will find out where we are investing in our real home.

Reference: Matthew 6:19 (New Living Translation)

day 925: Harry Levinson

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works."

This last week the business world lost one of the most influential thinkers and writers of our time.  Most people wouldn't know the name Harry Levinson but they have likely benefited in their jobs from his thinking and writings.  All across America and the world there are positions in corporations called, "Chief Learning Officers".  This position emanated from Levinson's 1968 book titled, "The Exceptional Executive".  Quoting from this obituary in the New York Times, "Dr. Levinson argued that a psychological contract existed between employees and employers, laying out the expectation each had of the other.  Employees who feel that their employers have violated that contract will feel depressed, he said, and may well become underachievers".  Probably the most influential CEO to adopt Levinson's teachings was long-time General Electric CEO, Jack Welch.  Welch built a powerful leadership team and modeled Levinson's theories in how he set up the HR philosophy and practices at GE. Dr. Levinson's passing is a reminder of how influence can occur for generations when the most of us would have no idea where that influence started.

Paul was a also a believer in motivating each other, encouraging and ensuring that there is strong support among believers. What a powerful force each and every one of us could be if we were to be knows as the influence and motivator of others.  Consider today whether or not you are modeling being a motivator of the others around you? If you have doubts, then it is time to spend time with God asking Him to what it is needs to change for you to be so.

Reference:  Hebrews 10:24 (New Living Translation)