day 1135: Working In The Shadows

"Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’”

During the Great Recession people who lost their jobs or who had their income reduced had to get creative to find ways to make money.  Driven by necessity and fueled by the innovation that brought technology to us cheaply (the Cloud), we are seeing a new revolution of business growth that is unlike any other form we have seen, or can actually be counted today. Collaborative Consumption is a term used today for those who reuse and/or re-purpose assets or available time for pay.  Those pink mustached cars are cars and drivers that would have been parked yet someone saw an opportunity to re-purpose their car when they didn’t need it for driving.  The bake sale that happens every day now out of the kitchen from someone who loves to cook, has the extra time and a kitchen that sits empty and unused except for three times a day. The garage sale that is now every weekend with the entire neighborhood contributing their unused and unwanted items.  Airbnb that allows us to rent our rooms , apartments and homes when we aren’t around. All of these happen within the “shadows” of how we count and measure employment in America.  I guess it has always happened but since ebay, it has gotten bigger and bigger. It is good for our economy and the shadow is growing.  Those in the shadows also think about products and services differently.  They don’t waste. They won’t overspend. They move quickly. They think ahead.  They desire products and services that speak to their situation and appreciate that they work and live outside of the norm and the expected.

I am reminded of the Apostles after Jesus’ death who went into the shadows of society to shed God’s light for others to see.  Evangelism and the carrying of Jesus’ message many times happens in the shadows and like the shadow economy works, in ways that are unexpected. We never know when we are going to have the opportunity to share our testimony of what God has done for us. I love when I hear that someone came to know and love the Lord from the relationship they had with someone with whom they worked. And those shadow can be long and lasting.  When God promised Abraham generations of descendents, little did anyone know what the impact of that long shadow would be.  If there is a place of shadow that God wants to shine within, it is the workplace. Consider that the extra or re-purposed time and energy you have could be going to work for the Kingdom’s expansion.  And, yes that can happen right there, at work.

Reference:  Exodus 31:13 (New Living Translation)

day 804: Negotiating Principles, Part 3 - When It's All Over

"And the Lord said, "Then, for the sake of the ten, I will not destroy it. The Lord went on his way when he had finished his conversation with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his tent."

It's not easy to conclude tough negotiations and then want to head out for dinner together or celebrations afterwards. Sure, there is that moment when we shake hands, smile and maybe for large-scale stuff, take a picture or two. But, there usually needs to be a little space after it's all over. It's not a bad idea to take that moment and go our separate ways but not without being sure that we have our next steps defined and it's usually a good idea to have that first goal/milestone defined so we have a set time to come back together. But, at the moment, it's okay to step way and not force it.

Even Abraham and the Lord went their separate ways after they had completed their negotiations. We read that they separated and the Bible doesn't indicate that there was any emotion associated with it, they just went their own way and back to where they felt the best. As we go through tough conversations and negotiations it's okay to recognize that we all need some space and to give it to each other might be one of the best deal gifts we could provide. This is a good reminder that getting to yes is hard. Compromise has to happen and with that comes a healing of wounds. Time takes care of those wounds and a little air can help too. Something to think about if you are trying to bring to close a hard negotiation/deal this week and you want to do it in a way that leaves the best impression and jumping off point.

Reference: Genesis Chapter 18

day 802: Negotiating Principles, Part 1 - Equal Footing

"And the Lord said, "Then, for the sake of the ten, I will not destroy it. The Lord went on his way when he had finished his conversation with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his tent."

I was part of a negotiations recently where both sides of the table tried to act that they were on equal footing. The truth of the matter is that someone is always lesser than the other side and it's important to know who is who, and most importantly to know which party you are. If the other side is the strong side of the negotiations and we try and play on the same plane we run the risk of being seen as disrespectful. If it is the other way around and we don't understand that we are the stronger player and miss this then we can come across as arrogant or overbearing. A great deal is one where both sides feel like there is a win and that starts with knowing and appreciating each other. Knowing where we each stand is an important part of that process.

When Abraham negotiated with the Lord about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, he did out of the greatest respect and humility. Abraham certainly knew where he stood in relation to God. Abraham had no power or leverage. All he could do was reach to the Lord for an understanding and appreciation of his request. Many times in Genesis Chapter 18 we read that Abraham requested the Lord to make concessions but not before each time he spoke he would humble himself before the Lord. It's worth reading the Chapter to understand the example that Abraham is giving us. To reach someone else for what we need, we should humble ourselves to them so they will listen and appreciate what we are requesting. Consider today how much can be gained by taking this approach.

Reference: Genesis Chapter 18

day 486: Vision

Somewhere along the way in our work lives we will engage in an exercise that asks us, and likely a group of our co-workers, to think about the vision of our company. It may be that we are told what the vision statement is, or we may find ourselves right smack in the middle of defining and writing the vision for the organization. Regardless, the vision of the company or organization is part and parcel to how a business runs. Without a vision of where we are going, how would we know when we get there? What is hard for many people is to see a vision and embrace it with full emotion and commitment. Either the vision seems too lofty and unattainable or the vision is something that we tried a long time ago and its just a bunch of new people at the top restating what we already knew. It's easy to be a "vision cynic". But, to survive, thrive and grow there must be a well stated and well understood vision that everyone buys into and everyone supports. The best visions of the future are those that are clear enough that they make us decide on whether this is the best company or place for us, or not. Visions that force us to evaluate and recommit to going where the company wants us to go are the ones that are most inspiring and compelling. Still, it takes something down deep in all of us to really commit and sign up. As believers, we know that our faith should never placed in those things that are here on earth but rather on the things that are of God. That said though, we can look at the faith of those who came before us and learn lessons on how to act and conduct ourselves in this world that we now live. In Hebrews Chapter 11, many times referred to the "Hall of Faith" chapter, we read the accounts of many of the most faithful people of the Bible. The lesson I take from this chapter is that each of the people of faith described, once committed, never wavered and never faltered in following the vision that was put in front of them. If these people could be like this, then so can we. We may not be asked by God to do something extraordinary like Noah, Abraham or Moses, but we are called upon daily to put our faith in God and to believe that the work we are given here on earth to do is to bring glory to Him. We are just like these other men when we read in Hebrews 11:13; "...but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God." They had vision. We can have our own vision in looking ahead to the promises of God for what can happen when live and work according to His will and glory.

Reference: Hebrews 11:13 (New Living Testament)

day 448: Be Nice To The Boss

My friend and ex-colleague, Steve Arneson, just wrote and published a book called, "Bootstrap Leadership". It is filled with many leadership lessons and a good read for anyone who leads other people. He also speaks and does leadership seminars. He spoke to a group of people that we all worked together back in the day and asked a great question. He asked the group how many of us had ever, over the dinner table, talked about our bosses? Every hand went up. He then asked us to reflect on the tone, tenor and content of those discussions. There was snickering in the room. He made a joke about how he was sure that we had all always had great things to say about our bosses and never would we speak poorly of them, especially in front of our family or friends. From that there was a good laugh. He then asked how many of us were bosses to other people. Everyone was. He asked if we could speculate on what the topic of the dinner conversation tonight was going to be at the homes of our subordinates. No one laughed. It was a poignant and sobering moment. We are hard on our bosses and our people can be hard on us. We can make the relationship with our bosses better and make them better as people by praying for them. We can pray for them to continue to lead well and accomplish their own purpose. We can pray for them to improve so that we can have a better working experience. There is nothing wrong with praying for our bosses. The servant Eliezer prays for Abraham in Genesis Chapter 24:12; "O Lord, God of my master", he prayed, "Give me success and show kindness to my Master". He goes on to pray that by God giving him success, as the servant, he would know that God has shown kindness on Abraham. How many of us actually care for our boss enough to pray for her/him? Today, let's add the boss onto the prayer list and lets ask for his/her success and for God to show kindness on them. What better way to be nice to the boss than to offer a prayer for their success?

Reference: Genesis 24:12 (New Living Testament)

day 410: The Journey Is Worth It

Some of the happiest people I know are the people who have a job where the work is done each day and at the end of the day there isn't much to stress about. But, most jobs are not so tidy and there is usually something to be done in the longer term so that the work becomes a bit of a journey from here to there. This is where we learn endurance and perseverance. It is also where we learn to plan, pace, sequence and bring the work in on time. Some people become masters at this. Others struggle, but make it happen. And there are those who never quite get it right and go through their work career careening to get things delivered. There is a skill in being able to manage and work on something for an extended amount of time and do so with the same energy level and commitment at the end as when the work was started. Those who can do this earn the respect and the confidence of the people making work assignments and tend to get more and more put on their plate. Consequently, they grow in both stature and rewards. So, we need to know, learn and remember that inside the journey is the real work and completing the journey is what you are expected to do. The story of Eliezer in Genesis 24 is one from which we can learn. He was sent by Abraham to find a wife for Isaac. His task involved a journey, commitment and faith to find completion. He prayed along the way a prayer that we should all pray as we go about our work; "Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey". You may be at the beginning, the middle or near the end of your own work journey. Wherever you are, do not lose faith or energy. Instead call upon God for Him to help you accomplish the purpose. Like He did Eliezer, He will bring you to the right well and be there for you to complete the task and finish the journey.

Reference: Genesis 24:12 (New Living Testament)

day 348: Show Versus Tell

The other day I met with an executive who was new into her job and she was so excited about her new company that she could hardly hold back her enthusiasm. As she talked about the company she quickly described the business and got to what was so exciting to her; the people and the way the company worked. She described the organization as a place where people really meant what they said and it was evident through the values and principles of the company and more importantly how the values were not just words but real actions. She had a great reinforcing story for each of the values and before too many minutes I could see and feel exactly what kind of good, well-run company it was. She then gave me a quick tour of the office and in each of the conference rooms was a large picture that was one of their print advertisements that told the company's story externally but each was another strong reinforcement of the values. This company clearly understands the power of show versus just tell. This meeting reminded me of what God was telling Abram (later Abraham) about what he could expect in the future when God took him outside and told Abram to look into the sky and count the stars; "Then the Lord brought Abram outside beneath the night sky and told him, 'Look into the heavens and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that - too many to count!' And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord declared him righteous because of his faith." It's one thing to tell, it is another thing to be able to show while telling. Being able to back up who you are, what you want to do, and what others can expect from you, with a real-life story and something to point towards to show someone else what you say can and will happen is very powerful. If you can show versus just tell it is only making true the adage, "actions speak louder than words". As we all know, we are judged and evaluated by our actions way more than our words. As you think about today and what you have on your agenda, what is it that you can point to and show versus just say and tell? You may find that the more you show the stronger the message and the more others will look to you as one who follows through and lives your words out not just through your words, but through your actions. That level of credibility opens up all kinds of possibilities for you.

Reference: Genesis 15:4-6 (New Living Testament)

day 321: Guarantees

A big part of work is looking for guarantees. We want guarantees from vendors and suppliers that the parts or service they are providing will be nothing short of stellar and perfect. We seek their guarantee and want them to stand by their workmanship. We look for guarantees from each other as co-workers. These are the guarantees that work will be done on time, complete and to the satisfaction of our internal customers and our ourselves. We look for guarantees from our bosses. When we work hard and we perform to our best ability, and to our bosses expectations, we want the guarantee that we will be recognized and rewarded for our efforts. In all of these cases we either sit with another person and express our desires and look for their personal guarantee and promise, or we will be even more explicit and try and get the guarantee in writing from the other party. Here is the flaw in our thinking; there are no guarantees that are 100% sure in the human life that we live. People, regardless of how pure, well-meaning or trustworthy, can and will always let us down at some point. The guarantees of this world are only as good as the piece of paper or the words spoken. But yet we still look for them and we need them as a part of our own assurances and confidence. What if we could remove that need from our life and trust forward that God will deliver what guarantees we seek? I think of Abraham in the Old Testament who God would continually ask to do bigger and bolder things and God would continue to tell Abraham; "I will bless you richly. I will multiply your descendants into countless millions, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore." The amazing part of that guarantee from God is that God would tell that to Abraham even before Abraham and Sarah were able to have children. Even more amazing is that Abraham, while he could not contemplate or fathom what God was promising, believed without doubt in God's promise and guarantee. In my own faith I would like to have a lot less need for the guarantees of men and a whole bunch more of the faith of Abraham. As we march through our working days and we look for the guarantees from others, let us reflect on the difference of the unsecured guarantees of people and the firm and 100% guarantee of God.

Reference: Genesis 22:17 (New Living Testament)

day 211: Right Moves?

I get a chance to meet lots of people and hear their work and career stories. One aspect of the stories that I always find interesting and intriguing are the tales and decisions on why someone would relocate for one job over another. There is a new best-seller out right now written just on this subject, titled "Reloville". I myself have moved nine times for work relocations. I have a friend who has moved 21 times in his career (nearly half of those with a wife and kids). Each time we move, we start all over with a new set of friends, new community and services, new church, new house, new schools, just about everything new. And each time, there is some moment along the way when there is a time of doubt about whether or not it was the right move. Like any big decision, there comes that time when you wonder, "did I make the right move?" Big changes like relocations require much thought, consideration, discussion and prayer. There are so many moving pieces that it takes the time of weeks and months to settle and to know for sure that the right decision was reached. In the case of my last move it was not until around the two year mark that my wife and I became settled and happy with the move. Even though the job was good, the social life and development of friends and activities were slow to develop. All decisions are made with the best available information and knowledge and when all of that had been gained, we take a leap. If we are believers and we have asked God to help direct and bless our decision, then the leap is a leap of faith and we trust that God will make it all work out for us. I reflect on the faith of the Biblical forefathers and thank God that we are not required to be literally like some of them in their moments of decision. We take before God our decisions like relocation. Abraham had to take before God the decision to follow what he heard from God and sacrifice his son Isaac. It is in James that we are reminded that Abraham was seen as right with God because of his unwavering faith. James 2:21-22 say: "Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was declared right with God because of what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, he was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to do. His faith was made complete by what he did - by his actions." God has all the right moves for us. Sometimes it will be big moves, like a work relocation. Other times it will be smaller decisions and actions that we are to take. Regardless, He gives us the right moves if we turn them over to Him. Today, you may be facing both big and small moves. You want them to be the right ones and the only guarantee that you can have is if you have invited God to be a part of the decision-making and ultimately to be the decision-giver. Let your faith be tested today and let God be the one who moves you in the right direction.

Reference: James 2:21-22 (New Living Testament)

day 52: God's Workers

So many times we feel like in order to do God’s work we have to be called to leave our jobs and go into ministry. And because we thnk this, we can feel unfulfilled in our work. I was reading a section of Blackaby’s Experiencing God and he points out that if you catalog some of the great people of the Bible, you will see that they were workers and through their work God used them to do great things in His name and glory.

Take a look:

-Abraham (Genesis 24:35
-Isaac (Genesis 26:12-14)
-Jacob (Genesis 30:43)
-Joseph (Genesis 41:37-57)
-Moses (Exodus 3:1-6)
-Elisha (1 Kings 19:19-21)
-Amos (Amos 7:14)
-Jesus the Carpenter
-The Apostles (Mark 1:16-20, Mark 2:14)
-Joseph of Arithmea (Mark 15:42-43; John 19:38)
-Lydia (Acts 16:14-15)
-Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:1-2)

If you doubt at all if God can use you in your work to do great things for Him, then doubt no more. You have been trained to understand people, economics, what products and services people want and desire, leadership, and teamwork. What a great piece of clay you are for His molding. As you go to work today, remember you may be the next worker that God taps to do something marvelous.