day 536: The Distant Future

Part and parcel to working is the concern and thinking about our future and our career plan. It's a funny thing that we feel like with our work that we have to be thinking not only about our current job, but also about the next one and the one after that and that we get advice to be planning our career at all times. What can happen though is that we become so caught up in the thinking about the distant future that we lose the perspective of the job we are in and being sure that we do the current job well and get the most from the experience, etc. We are not good at living in the moment and being very objective about our current jobs as ones that we can enjoy and from which we can gain great satisfaction. I have a friend who is never in the moment in his job. He is always thinking and talking about the next job and what he can do to further his career and he has little to no regard for the ramifications of him always focusing on the distant future. He can't see that he is not giving his all to the company where he now works, is not investing in the people around him like they need and want him to do, and drives his friends and his family a bit crazy with not settling down. I am not sure what it is that drives this distant future focus versus living and working in the present, but he is not alone in this. Many people are like this. As I was reading the book of Ezekiel, God gives Ezekiel many instructions on what to tell the different countries and leaders about what is going to happen to them in the distant future. This is where the words "distant future" struck me as we cannot ignore what is coming and we must plan and be cognizant of the future, but we can't obsess on it either and miss the life that we have been put here to live. Being present for those around us and being okay in the job we are in today can yield many benefits and positives. Today, as you go through your day, think about how much time you are spending truly in the present and getting the most from it, versus worrying and obsessing about the distant future. It may well be that today, if focused on, could be of such value and worth that it blocks out all concern of the distant future.

Reference: Ezekiel

day 443: Primary Concerns

More than many times I have had to counsel others on and remind myself of priorities. It was Covey who said something to the affect of, "The main thing to remember is that the main thing is the main thing." Work is so full of moving priority targets that it is tough to keep them straight. We are bombarded by new information each day and there is always another big or good idea around the corner, not to mention the constant set of problems that have to be solved. It is hard to stay set on on our primary concerns and stick with them consistently. Yet, this is the foundation for success in our work. Those who are great at keeping to their priorities and not stopping until the job is fully completed are the ones who continue to be given more and rise to the top. To be the best we can be, we need to continue to grow and develop in the area of priority setting and priority management. The best leader I ever worked with could boil down the business into 3-5 priorities and regardless of what was brought to him, he would pull the issue, the problem or the opportunity through those 3-5 filters and if the new things didn't match up to the priorities he would shoo them away. If they did fit, he would get them done. He was amazing that way. We could all benefit in this area. As believers God tells us what our first and foremost primary concern should be and he promises us if we stay focused and stick with it that all the rest will follow. We read in Matthew 6:33, "He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." Today, we might be bouncing around a number of priorities and can't seem to lock in on what we need to do. Let's try regrouping around our primary concern first and then looking to Him to help sort out the rest. We may find that our priority setting skills will get a lot better very quickly.

Reference: Matthew 6:33 (New Living Testament)