day 778: Do The Right Thing - Part 10: Peace

“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

There is a certain moment of peace and calm when we know that we have made the right decision. That peace can come over us, a bunch of us all at once, in a conference room, on the manufacturing floor, in the Boardroom, or even walking down the hall. We just know when we have done the right thing and that the decision was the right one. The same peace can come over us when we complete a project in the right way or close of the difficult conversation in a way that everyone feels as good as they can about the situation. When it happens, we know it and don’t we wish that we felt it more often? There is also a peace that comes among a team when everyone gets on the same page and knows that they have made the right decision in the right way. I won’t even begin to speculate how often this really happens but when it does it is palpable. As leaders, managers, supervisors, or even as co-workers, we should strive for the right kind of decisions to be made and those being the one where everyone is heard, a good discussion has taken place, no corners were cut in the process, the facts and truth is there in an obvious and evident way, and once the decision is made, everyone aligns and no one tries to second guess or undercut the decision. This can bring peace within our companies. Few companies value that we can work together in peace, but we can, if we so desire and strive for it. Having worked with many CEO’s, I remember distinctly an era where one CEO did just that and the company thrived, grew and was admired across the world as a great company for shareholders, employees, customers, vendors and consumers. The same company was not many years later in disarray, turmoil, controversy and under major competitive threats and losses because the CEO managed 180 degrees in philosophy to the CEO of the past. More case studies should be done on this phenomena as it relates to a company’s growth and profitability.

We also know when we are doing the right thing by the peace that have in our hearts and minds. Think about the times when everything has been in the right alignment and the decision made, or the action taken, brought about peace within you. And now think of the opposite and the worry and stress that came from the decision or the action that was questionable. Those who choose to live and work in that place must be tormented beyond comprehension. We have to look no farther than the impact that one man had on the financial world, his family, his investors and their families, and on and on, all because his scheme and decisions were built on nothing. Today, let’s check our decisions and determination about whether or not we are doing the right thing by the peace that we will have if we do, or we don’t. And, then let’s call upon the promise of peace that we can’t even begin to understand. Bringing our decisions, big or small, to God in prayer and then following His direction can give us the assurance and peace that we are doing the right thing.

Lastly, I would also like to take a moment and wish and pray for each of you to have a peaceful and bountiful Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Also, many of our tables around America tomorrow will be welcoming home those who are or who have served our country so that we may all live in peace and freedom. May we all give thanks and be grateful for what they have and are doing and giving for each of us. Happy Thanksgiving!

Reference: Philippians 4:6-7 (New Living Testament)

day 728: Leave Behinds

"Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you, not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled and do not be afraid."

When we are going into a business presentation we will bring with us our presentation, which we hope covers enough to get the point across but not go into so much depth that we lose the audience. To ensure that, what we will do many times is have some "leave behinds" that the audience can intake later that may answer the questions that didn't come up, or where there wasn't enough time to cover in the presentation. The leave behind material may also have more statistics and data to support the argument or create confidence that what the presenter was saying can be substantiated or believed. While we call them "leave behinds", they are actually very important documents that could make the difference on someones thinking later when no one else is around. What we always want to do with those materials is to anticipate and ensure that we think through how someone might feel after the presentation so that we can address those open questions or issues in a way that keeps them feeling as comfortable and agreeable as we wanted them to be in the actual presentation time.

Jesus gave us the ultimate "leave behind" material. Along with the opportunity for everlasting life, he left us peace and a reason for us to be confident, not troubled and not afraid about what work, life, and the world may bring. There are a lot of follow on questions in our world right now. In our businesses we don't know what will come next; whether we will see another recession, whether the financial markets will recover, what will happen with consumer confidence, etc. We just don't know and when we are given plans, actions, or initiatives that we are told should work, we just aren't always quite sure. We need to have the leave behind materials to go check. In our lives, that is God's Word and God's promises to us. We are told by Jesus directly to not let our hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. With that kind of "leave behind", we shouldn't need anything else to be reassured.

Reference: John 14:27

day 707: Staring Problems In The Face

"For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever"

We are faced with many problems that can seem like they come out of nowhere and we have to decide how to, in the moment, react to them. This week, our business environment is being rocked and rolled as the investment markets are taking a tumble, again. All across the world and country decisions are being made while staring the problems of Wall Street in the face. How we react says much about our leadership and ability to cope and manage through difficult circumstances. Overreaction causes panic and anxiety. Failure to react can raise questions of complacence, apathy or being plainly out of touch. Leaders have hard jobs during these types of times. In these days, it is the test of how strong we are at the core and how convicted we are with our strategies and missions. During the moment of crisis is not the time to shift strategy or try and devise a new plan. These are best done in the good times. Our present troubles will pass so let's stay calm and collected during this moment of trial.

AS followers of Jesus, who has given us the promise that He will take care of us and never let us face anything we can't handle, of all people we should be the ones who can sit in relief that we know that any present trouble that we face, we will come through and on the backside we will be better for it and stronger in our relationship with Him. That is, if we decide to trust and rely on the Him. It may feel and look like we staring into an abyss of problems today, but as sure as we are reading this right now, these will pass and we can turn these days into glory for God. The question will be asked today on how we are dealing, feeling, or reacting to the problems around us? At this moment, when a common problem is there to be talked about, let's use the opportunity to share what calms us and keeps us peaceful.

Reference: 2 Corinthians 4:17 (New Living Testament)

day 683: Inside The Boardroom

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid."

We often wonder what those Boardroom conversations must be like. We may know who the Board of Directors are within a company, but we probably never get a chance to meet many of the Directors or get to know them beyond a superficial level. And what really happens in this Board meetings anyway? Especially, in the closed door sessions? Along with keeping the company business going there is a lot of peace-making that happens. CEOs and Chairmen of the Board have to always be thinking about how to keep everyone aligned, on agenda and at peace. This is hard because each person on a Board comes to the body with their own personal level of knowledge and understanding of the business, their own experience filters, their own personality traits, and their own likes and dislikes of the management team and other Board members. At the core, each person is just a normal person from their own walk of life, but still this has to be managed to keep the group cohesive. The bottom line is that if we have any group of people who share a core set of common values and principles then things become a whole lot easier. I remember reading about Alfred Sloan when he was the Chairman of the Board of General Motors and how he would never allow a unanimous vote of approval from his Board because he felt if that happened then somewhere management had not presented the full story to the Board, so he would take preliminary votes and if it was all one-sided he would send management off to come back with a better and deeper understanding of the issues for a real vote later. That was gutsy because he trusted his Board so much that he was willing to give up peace for an open conversation that included dissension. Any of our Board meetings, or any management team sessions would be best served to get to this level of working.

Maybe the most influential group of people to ever gather into a "boardroom" were the Disciples that Jesus gathered. But even them, like all of us, had a hard time coming together, operating, believing and staying aligned and in peace. The late David Wilkerson gives us his take on this group:

"You would do well to consider the men to whom Jesus first gave his peace. None of them was worthy, and none had a right to it.

Think about Peter. Jesus was about to bestow his peace on a minister of the
gospel who would soon be spewing out cursings. Peter was zealous in his love
for Christ, but he was also going to deny him.

Then there was James and his brother John, men with a competitive spirit,
always seeking to be recognized. They asked to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand when he ascended to his throne in glory.

The other disciples were no more righteous. They simmered with anger at James and John for trying to upstage them. There was Thomas, a man of God who was given to doubt. All of the disciples were so lacking in faith, it amazed and stressed Jesus. Indeed, in Christ’s most troubling hour, they would all forsake him and flee. Even after the Resurrection, when the word spread that “Jesus is risen,” the disciples were slow to believe.

But there’s even more. These were also confused men. They did not understand the ways of the Lord. His parables confused them. After the Crucifixion, they lost any sense of unity they had, scattering in all directions.

What a picture: These men were full of fear, unbelief, disunity, sorrow, confusion, competitiveness, pride. Yet it was to these same troubled servants that Jesus said, “I am going to give you my peace.”

The disciples weren’t chosen because they were good or righteous; that much is clear. Nor was it because they had talent or abilities. They were fishermen and day laborers, meek and lowly. Christ called and chose the disciples because he saw something in their hearts. As he looked into them, he knew each one would submit to the Holy Spirit.

At this point, all that the disciples had was a promise from Christ of his peace. The fullness of that peace was yet to be given to them, at Pentecost. That’s when the Holy Spirit would come and dwell in them. We receive the peace of Christ from the Holy Spirit. This peace comes to us as the Spirit reveals Christ to us. The more of Jesus you want, the more the Spirit will show you of him—and the more of Christ’s actual peace you will have."


And to that, I say, Amen!

Reference: John 14:27-28 (New Living Translation)

day 594: Stress Relief

No matter how we try, stress has a way of hanging around and staying present. We bury it for awhile or we tuck it away after a few days on vacation and then something triggers its return and it starts influencing us again. Not all stress is bad. Actors and athletes would never get to the top of their game if they didn't have some stress to drive them. Nor would we when we have to give the big presentation or close the important deal. We need some of that stress to sharpen and focus us. But, what we don't need is the hang-around and keep us up night after night stress that drags us down and wreaks havoc on our body and mind. It's important that we monitor and know ourselves well enough to know the difference between good and bad stress. It's counter-intuitive but one way to beat stress is to stress our our minds and bodies into other things that take us away from what is bringing on the bad stress. Physical exercise is good, we know that but at some point we can only spend so many hours working out so exercise of the body is not the full answer. Exercise of the mind is also important. But, this exercise must also be really good for us. David tells us the best way to work our minds to relieve the stress, "As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands". If we begin to exercise and discipline ourselves in the commands of the Lord we will find that the stresses of this world will fall away. Let's today, try and see if we can't find what David found in the joy and stress-relief of the Lord.

Reference: Psalm 119:143 (New Living Testament)

day 349: Unanimity

The dictionary says that unanimity is; "the state or quality of being unanimous; a consensus or undivided opinion." I call it being able to get on the same page and being in agreement on how we are going to get stuff done. Having this, or not having this, can be the difference between winning and losing in the business world. When a team is on the same page and everyone is pulling in the same direction with agreement and consensus, amazing things can happen. When only one person is not aligned with where the rest of the team is trying to go then the whole thing starts to fall a part. The question I always ask is, "Who has the responsibility for gaining unanimity?" At first it is the usual suspect, the boss, the manager, the leader. That is a true assumption but the responsibility does not lie with that person solely. A team is not a team without everyone taking some responsibility in assuring themselves and others that they are on the same page and aligned. Too often I see people pointing their fingers at others as the answer to finding alignment when all they really need to do is look at themselves and change their attitude, let go of some resentful feelings, give of themselves more than they are taking, or slow down and let someone else catch up. Too many times, we are the problem. Being unanimity builders is a great example of the role model that God wants us to be. Jesus taught over and and over that peace, love and how others are treated would solve so many problems. He teaches us today in Matthew 12:25 that we cannot be divided and misaligned and expect that something good will happen; "Any kingdom at war with itself is doomed. A city or house divided against itself is doomed." Those are some pretty strong words and words for us to heed. Today, search yourself and the relationships around you and see where you are not in unanimity. Bringing everyone onto the same page may not ensure that disaster won't strike, but it's pretty clear that without everyone coming together, the chance of success is slim to none.

Reference: Matthew 12:25 (New Living Testament)

day 340: Give Peace a Chance

I have recently watched what could be characterized as a "civil war" within a company. It is so clear to everyone that there is one person who does not respect another person and the feelings are mutual from the other side. A lot of time, energy and emotion goes into the day from each of these people making sure that the other person gets pulled down and that there is a constant stream of new recruits who are taking sides. If this was high school the rift would be obvious in the lunchroom with one group on one side of the lunchroom and the other on the other side. It's the same phenomena as high school but just not as outwardly obvious. But, believe me, it is there and it is thick. As I have observed the animosity and the fireworks I have wondered how much of each of these people's emotional and intellectual reserve is being used up day-in and day-out just positioning and maneuvering against the other person. Neither can be happy knowing that each day they have to go to work looking around the corners to see what shot is being taken at them. I honestly don't know why one of them just doesn't quit and move on, if for nothing else, to stop the misery. But, I sometimes get the sense that for them this is more sport than war, but it is still not good. In some ways, we all end up in this position in our careers. It would be great if everyone saw eye-to-eye and liked each other all the time. But that would be more like heaven than work. It is important though that we as believers and those who are trying to set the right example for others don't let ourselves get drug into one side versus another or into a relationship where we harbor bad feelings for someone else. Paul, of all men, could see above all of this and tells us plainly in Romans 12:18 to, "Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone". Notice he did not say, "do what you can". He said, "do all that you can". Paul was saying that it is all-important to be in a place of peace with others. You may have one of those people at work right now where you have done "some of what you can", but you are far from doing "all that you can". Today would be a good day to give "all that you can" a try to give peace a real chance.

Reference: Romans 12:18 (New Living Testament)

day 116: Turf Wars

It's right there. Right there on the tip of our tongue. It's ready to come out with a sting that could turn into fury. It's the words that would cause a fight. At some point or another we all feel those words rising up inside of us as we disagree over a contentious point of discussion at work. We can get ourselves all worked up over the silliest of things. It could be just a differing thought on how something should get done or a disagreement on who should go do the work. In the business world, these are sometimes called "turf wars"; the act of someone stepping over their own boundaries of what they are supposed to be doing and taking on the work of someone else without being invited to do so. People do it all the time and why it can be so infuriating versus helpful is that the person who typically is crossing over is doing so to show others that they could do the job better than the next person. It is a self-glory move. When that most would upset me was when someone would do that to me when I knew that that they weren't doing so well in their own area of responsibilities and they were just using this is a deflection away from the attention on where they were failing. Regardless of the motive, these are some of the things that can cause strong emotions at work and make us stray from our purpose. Needless to say that we are not to be dragged down into this activity. Proverbs 17:14 says: "Beginning a quarrel is like opening up a floodgate, so drop the matter before a dispute break out." These are wise words. If we can stop ourselves short of the quarrel then there really is no turf war to be fought. It takes two to quarrel or fight, so all we have to do is rise above it all, hold our emotions in place and deal with the issue in a straightforward, non-combative way. More often than not that will mean not responding in the moment but instead picking the right time and place to bring forward the concern when our emotions are in check and the other person won't feel defensive. Believe me, this is not easy as our (my) first instinct is to deal with it now and take the offense. A deep breath, a walk outside, a good night's sleep, and a long prayer will do wonders for not starting or fueling the fight. As you go through today watch for the moments and the feelings inside of you that could come to a boil if you let them, and then don't let them. Instead, remember that we are not to be the quarrellers, we are to be the peacemakers.

Reference: Proverbs 17:14 (New Living Testament)

day 108: Peacemaking

I am working with a company where there is a fair amount of internal politics. One group feels very much like the other group is about to put a "squeeze play" on them and force them into a corner where the decisions made will be suboptimal and wrong for the business, etc. The other group looks across the table and can't understand why "the other guys don't get it and see it the say we do?". And as such, they are pushing their agenda as hard and as fast as they can and not worrying about what others think. This happens all the time in business and across companies today the same dynamic are playing out and people are waking up and heading to work with a knot in their stomach knowing that they are going to have to deal with this stuff once again this week. The choices we think we have in these situations, for most people, come down to the "fight or flight instincts". We feel like we either have to give up and run from the situation or we must get in there and slug it out for the survival of the fittest. I personally hate these situations and while I understand how we get there, it doesn't make it anymore palatable to me. So, what is our role as believers and desire-to-be role models and examples? In Matthew 5:9, Jesus gives us a straightforward blessing and word about how we are to conduct ourselves. He says, "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God". I have read that verse so many times and I always equated it to those who strive for world peace and some peace that is beyond all understanding. While that may be true, Jesus is saying to each of us, "those who work for peace", He will bless. We all work. So, we can all work for peace. Today, when you are in the middle of one of these fights and struggles and you can feel the tension in the air and the emotions rising in those around you (or even within yourself), take a deep breath and call on Him to give you the right peacemaking words and peaceful spirit to fill the room and take over the conversation. Blessed you will be if you work for peace and yes, others will see what you are doing and appreciate it immensely. While I doubt someone is going to stand up in the meeting and make the declaration, as Jesus says, the truth will one day be known, that you are a child of God. And in that moment you will have fulfilled the purpose of your work.

Reference: Matthew 5:9 (New Living Testament)

day 93: Job Worries?

Did you wake this morning worrying about whether or not the security of your job is as good as you want it to be? Are you faced this week with a situation, a report, a presentation, a sales call, or a difficult decision that has you worrying about the outcome as it relates to keeping your job or business? Let me assure you, if you are, you are far from being alone. Each week and each day we can be facing a decisive moment or situation that could affect whether or not we keep our job or lose it. I would say that it is more of an occurrence today than ever. What are we to do with ourselves on these days? Are we to hit the snooze button and roll back over and avoid the day? Are we to allow ourselves to stress, strain and worry ourselves and others into paralysis or worse? Of course not. We are to face the challenges head on without fear or worry, knowing that if we are following in the footsteps of our Lord that these issues will pass and the right things will happen. We are told this in Matthew 6:25: “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life…” The verse goes on to tell us not to worry about many of the things that are the output of our work. Things like, food, drink and clothes. It is so clear, but so hard to practice. It is hard to have the faith to put the worries of everyday life aside and trust God that He will deliver. I have known people who have been able to do so and sometimes it seems almost ridiculous to hear how much of their lives that they turn over, but in the end they are the ones that have the faith, certainly not me who can find myself not having enough faith to even believe that they do. But, it is clear, we are to give up the worries and let God direct us. In this time of turmoil I hear of many who are seeking God for the first time as they exhaust all other possibilities. Let’s be the examples as ones who have put their worries of everyday life, work being a part of that everyday life, on the back burner and allowing others to see a peace of mind and being that truly passeth all understanding.

Reference: Matthew 6:25 (New Living Testament)

day 92: No Quitting!

We all have reasons and times to quit and leave our jobs. Sometimes it is the work. Sometimes it is the lack of progression or pay. Sometimes it is the direction and future of the company. Sometimes it is the people we work with and more often than not, it is because of our boss. Yes, all the research says we don’t really work for companies, we work for people and the most influential people are the people who we directly work for; our bosses. And if there is ever anything that wants to make you pack up the boxes, email in the resignation and stomp out the door, is when your boss is upset or angry with you and you know that he/she just doesn’t “get it” or understand or worse, want to take the time to really understand the situation at hand. So, we let it get under our skin, fester until we can’t take it any more and then we make the decision to quit, if for no other reason than we can’t stand working for that boss anymore. Sound familiar? This happens all the time and I would say that a very high percentage of people issue conversations I have had in my career have linked directly back to a bad boss/subordinate relationship. Many of these failed “relationships” ended up with the subordinate leaving the company in a huff and not feeling good about the company or themselves. Something that could have been fixed became the catalyst for a major life change. The Bible has so much to say about work, but I am guessing that you wouldn’t think, like I didn’t, that we are actually given a word about this particular topic. In Ecclesiastes 10:4 we are told: “If your boss is angry with you, don’t quit. A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes”. Amazing, huh? So the next time that your boss or your bosses boss takes aim at you and they are angry with you and you with them, know that you are to not let it get to you. We are to draw upon the strength that we find in our faith and let the quiet spirit and peace take us through this rough patch. The over-arching message I receive from this verse is that once again we are to tame our tempers and our reactions to the tempers of others, even when the tempers of others are so influential like they are when it is our boss. We are human but the reactions that we decide to allow of ourselves can have serious consequences or very positive results. The choice remains ours each and every day. If faced with this choice today, we now know how we are to respond.

Reference: Ecclesiastes 10:4 (New Living Testament)

day 51: Don't Let it Linger

I woke up this morning and did a quick inventory of how I felt and what my emotions were going to be into this day. Fortunately, this was a day where my head and emotions were clear and I was optimistic about the day. Ah, wouldn't it be great if each and every day felt that way. Wishful thinking, yes. One of the best ways to control how you feel in the morning, and how you will feel on your way to work in the morning, is to be sure that all of the unfinished business that might drag you down has been taken care of the night before. What really makes the day the worst is when you go into the office knowing that you are harboring feelings of anger about something that happened prior and you just aren't over it yet. You might even be talking to yourself on your way to work, preparing for the fight that is going to occur. The Bible tells us to not start our day that way and to ensure you don't by taking care of things the day before. Ephesians 4:26 says, " And don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry...". I always heard this verse in the context of marriage and it certainly is true there, but it holds true for work as well. If you allow yourself to carry anger home and into the night, not only will you have subjected your family to something that they never asked for or deserved, but you will have that same anger sitting with you in the morning and it will shape the rest of your day. We all know people who come to work who are ready to battle. We don't want to be or live that example. So, today, see if you can clean out that anger locker before you go home and leave it all at the office, even if that means getting around to those today who you feel have wronged you and cleaning up the situation. It will be worthwhile and tonight and tomorrow will be better for it.

Reference: Ephesians 4:26 (New Living Testament)

day 46: It Should Have Been Me!

You were passed over for the big promotion. You didn’t get to go on the business trip. The project was given to someone else. The sales territory was split up and you lost out on the best accounts. The boss just pays way more attention to others than to you. You have been in the same position much longer than everyone else. You are sure that you make less money than everyone else at your level. How many of these are real and how many are just “work ghosts” that keep showing up and tormenting you? What are these all about? At the root, it is easy to be jealous and envious at work. The whole system is set up to pit one person against another where someone wins and someone is left out, passed by or just the loser. We are not to be envious or jealous. Both of these are emotions that can get in between our relationship with God. We are to do whatever we need to do to not allow ourselves to slip into these states or mind. The Proverbs tell us how bad this can be as jealousy is described as “cancer in the bones”. I have never known anyone who has had bone cancer but I am told that it is one of the most painful of all cancers with every move putting pressure and strain on one’s bones. It is not a pretty picture. In the same verse, we are also told that a removal of those things in our heart that does not promote peace and allows for our hearts to be peaceful, that we can expect a healthy body in return. As we look at the things at work that we find ourselves feeling jealous or envious about, we need to do what we can to remove these instigators and replace them with those thoughts and things that can promote a peaceful heart. Today, call on God to show you the things in work that are getting under your skin and ask Him for His help to put these aside as the unimportant things in life.

Reference: Proverbs 14:30 (New Living Testament)

day 10: Choppy Waters

This time of year is always choppy in business. The summer doldrums are gone and there are expectations for the holiday season (high and/or low expectations) and there is lots of planning going on for the coming calendar year. Some companies get serious about hiring and some use the fourth quarter to lay-off employees and write-off what didn’t work for the year. This year is particularly worse with the crashing stock market and the impact that is having on businesses and investors alike. Decreases in stocks, mutual funds, and 401K accounts of 30%+ and greater (and worsening at the time of this writing) puts a whole new psychological spin on work and what happens at the office. Most of the attitude that one brings in the office doesn’t start at the office, it starts at home or on the way into the office. A bad night’s sleep because of a sick child can cause all kinds of after shocks throughout a work day. Like the concentric ripples that come from one pebble in a pond, one bad attitude in the office can spread rapidly and the infestation can ruin the office’s productivity for that day and more. As people of faith are we immune to having a bad day? Of course not, but as examples and role models we are to do our best to stay above our emotions and outside influences and remain peaceful within our faith. Hard to do, huh? Here would be one verse to hang onto today as the troubles and tribulations might mount. Romans 5:3 says, “We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know they are helping us develop endurance”. What I find most encouraging about that verse is that there is a built in expectation that we need endurance because we are in it for the long haul and that there are more choppy days to come. When I see those trials and problems land on my desk or in my lap, I do my best to look at them as training opportunities to get stronger and more faithful and to find a place of rejoicing for the rigors and drilling. If we can find ourselves a place of true peace, calm and rejoicing, I can guarantee that others will notice and you will have your chance to answer the question, “how do you stay so calm and nothing ever seems to get you down or ruffle your feather?” And then, best of all, you get to tell them the answer.


Reference: Romans 5:3 (New Living Testament)