Monthly Archives: July 2012

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What Is A Ministry Superstar?

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Recently, I wrote a post called, “How Do You Become A Ministry Superstar?” that generated a variety of responses. Some of the comments and responses questioned the idea of a “superstar” and the negative characteristics that are commonly associated with that term. In an effort to clarify my picture of a ministry superstar, I thought a follow-up post was in order. I hope the following will shed more light on how I see a ministry superstar.

ministry superstar

C12 Group Material

In my earlier post, I borrowed the following three characteristics of a ministry superstar from a talk given by Buck Jacobs, founder of the C12 Group. In this talk, Jacobs was trying to communicate the need for Christian business owners and leaders to step up and use their businesses as platforms for ministry. Here is how he described those who have done this in a huge way:

    1. Ministry Superstars have a God-focused company mission statement. These mission statements point to God as they clarify the reason for the existence of the company and serve as tools to aid in the decision-making process.

    2. Ministry Superstars lead! These stand-outs are not the type to stand back and wait for direction from someone else. They are intentional and choose to take action on their faith. You will not find mere pew-warmers in this group!

    3. Ministry Superstars have an intimate, daily quiet time with God. Someone that fits in this category does not allow dust to accumulate on their Bible. They are so in tune with God because they are intentional about reading and studying the Bible and spending time in prayer every day.

What Other Qualities?

Assuming this is a valid list of characteristics, what type of person do you think you will find in this group? If these qualities are present to a fairly high degree in the members of this group, what other qualities do you think you will find?

Well, this is not an exact science, but I have an idea of what other qualities I think we would find. We are looking at a group of individuals who spend daily time reading and studying the Bible, truly seeking to do God’s will in their lives. As a result, the odds are high that these people recognize the need to follow the example of Jesus (1 John 2:6).

Other Ministry Superstar Traits

Following that logic, let’s take a look at the rest of the traits we could use to describe these ministry superstars.

1. They have an eternal perspective (John 6:27).

2. They submit to the Holy Spirit to seek and save that which is lost (Luke 19:10).

3. They are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

4. They are obedient – fulfilling the Great Commission and the Greatest Commandments.

5. They come to serve, not to be served (Matthew 20:28).

Though this is not an exhaustive list, I think you can get a good picture of what a ministry superstar looks like. We are not (necessarily) talking about someone in the limelight with media attention focused on their ministry.

No, these people that we are describing could be business owners with just a handful of employees or they could have thousands. The size or fame of their ministry activity is totally irrelevant! It is more about their effort and activity in relation to their God-given potential.

Willing To Trade

A true ministry superstar understands that this life is a small segment of their eternal existence. They are willing to trade immediate reward for eternal treasure. They accept that, while still on earth, the following may or may not result from their Christian ministry:

    1. Recognition, here and now.

    2. Prosperity, here and now.

    3. Friends / Reputation, here and now.

    4. Rest / Comfort, here and now.

While any (or all) of these results may occur for the ministry superstars during their life here on earth, these are not their focuses or goals.

Ministry Superstar’s Ultimate Goal

The ultimate goal of a Ministry Superstar is really only one thing. It is one simple phrase spoken by Jesus when telling one of his many parables.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” – Matthew 25:21

Do you consider yourself to be on the path to becoming a Ministry Superstar?

If not, what parts are you missing?

Do you know a ministry superstar from whom you can learn?

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How Do You Plan For Victory?

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Over the past two weeks, I have been posting about victory in our lives. As a result, I have had some great comments from various perspectives. These comments have led me to write this final post about victory and how we should be planning for it in our lives. I hope you will join in the conversation.

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Clarification

In an effort to first clarify my point in doing this series, let’s revisit what I believe should be our primary focus in discussing victory – the definition.

Victory, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “achievement of success in a struggle or endeavor.” For the sake of this discussion, I am looking at victory in our Christian businesses (and lives). That means I am talking about seeking success in the endeavors that make up our Christian walk.

Eternal Perspective

As I said in the first post of the series, we need to base our definition on an eternal perspective, not that of our culture and the world around us. Our view of victory should come ONLY from our complete and absolute surrender to God.

By following the Greatest Commandment, we are to love God with our ALL, leaving no room for any other loves (including fame, wealth, power, etc.)! Whatever He decides is victory for each of us should be good enough for us. Nothing else should matter!

Planning For Victory

Now that we have cleared that up, let’s turn to how we need to plan for victory in our Christian businesses as well as in our daily lives. The simplest description of this issue I have ever seen comes from someone who died more that 100 years ago.

J. Hudson Taylor, a missionary who spent over 50 years of his life in China, gave us this description. Keep in mind that he saw countless opportunities to experience both victory and defeat during his time in the mission field.

The organization he began (China Inland Mission), was responsible for bringing more than 800 missionaries into China and starting 125 schools there. These efforts resulted in more than 18,000 Christian conversions! I think he knows the taste of victory!

Taylor’s 3 Methods

Here are the three ways to do God’s work, according to Taylor:

  1. Make the best plans we can, and carry them out to the best of our ability.
      2. This is probably the most popular method of all. Unfortunately, this one also leads to the most trouble. This is the plan of the world. Aren’t we supposed to stand out from the world?
  2. Having carefully laid our plans and determined to carry them through, we may ask God to help us, and to prosper us in connection with them.
      3. Probably the second most popular method overall, it is likely the most popular among professing Christians. In fact, too many churches follow this method as they erect building after building and seek victory through facility size while ignoring the unmet needs of the world around them.

      Not to be outdone, we do the same thing as Christian business owners, thinking financial success is the best indicator of God’s favor.

  3. Begin with God, ask His plans, and offer ourselves to Him to carry out His purposes.
      4. This method is likely used less often than any other method. Why, I cannot explain. Maybe we feel the need to be in control. Maybe we are impatient and cannot wait on God’s timing.

      Whatever the reason, it is a travesty. We simply must get back to basing our actions on Scripture. Even Jesus, the very Son of God, followed this method when He said He only does what He hears the Father tell Him to do (John 12:50). The cross is the ultimate picture of this.

More Capable Than Jesus?

Do we really think we are more capable of doing it on our own than Jesus is?

Folks, that is simply not true.

It all boils down to this…if you can consistently follow Method #3, you will see victory. It will look different than the victory depicted on TV, but it is true victory.

If that is what you are after, that is what you will find. Expect it!

What thoughts do you have after this series?

How often do you use the third method? Are you consistent?

If so, share how you manage to stay that way!

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Why Is Victory So Elusive?

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Have you ever felt like you can never win? Have you ever wondered why victory is so elusive? Have you ever thought about giving up in the search for victory because it seems like it was only meant for someone else?

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You Are Normal

Well, if you can answer “Yes” to any of these questions, then you are normal. In fact, at one time or another, I believe all of us have felt this way to some degree. Feeling like victory is elusive is certainly nothing new.

That being the case, I want to give you some of the reasons that this is true. We have been discussing these reasons over the past week or so, but I want you to see them all tied together so you get the big picture.

5 Reasons For Elusive Victory

Take a look at these most common reasons for the lack of victory most of us experience. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section!

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1. We do not define victory correctly.

    Jesus defined victory for us when he gave us the Greatest Commandment. If we will submit our lives to the sole purpose of loving God with all of our heart, mind, and soul, and loving our neighbors as ourselves, then we will see victory as it is meant to be.

    As long as we continue to seek victory as the world defines, it will remain elusive and fleeting. When we achieve it, we will find it to be empty and void of meaning.

2. We do not go “All in” for victory with God.

    Jesus said God wants our ALL – in fact He has already paid for it! Anything less is really theft. When we hold back and give God left-overs, we will not get much more than a glimpse of victory.

    If, on the other hand, well sell out for our relationship with Him and ignore the world’s opinion, we will live in victory. It is that simple.

3. We do not expect victory.

    David went into battle expecting God to grant him victory. He knew God had delivered him before and there was no doubt in David’s mind He would do it again. We must have the same confidence – that when we are looking at a situation from God’s eyes, we can expect victory to follow.

4. We do not recognize victory when it happens.

    Like David, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego expected victory as they are being thrown into the furnace. They also recognized that God may see victory differently in that situation than they did. Either way, they accepted His will (Daniel 3:1-30).

    We don’t often recognize victory when it happens because we forget it is about God and His glory, not ours. If we can maintain His perspective in this, we will see the victory even when the world does not. The cross may be the perfect example of this. What looked like tragedy was actually the ultimate victory.

5. We do not view victory in the correct time frame.

    If my kids plant pumpkin seeds in a jar tonight and wake up tomorrow morning, rushing to see how much they grew, they will surely be disappointed. We would probably chuckle at how silly they look in this picture, but we turn right around and have similar expectations in our own lives.

    God is interested in our conforming to the likeness of Christ much more than He is in the timing of our goals. He is willing to work in our lives over many years to accomplish His will. His perspective is not limited by time, but is eternal. We think we have failed if we work on something for six months without our desired results. Who is silly now?!?

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Reverse These Mistakes

When you take a look at the common mistakes we make in regard to seeking victory in our lives, it becomes easier to see why it seems so elusive. I believe that we simply need to reverse each of these common mistakes and we will experience victory like never before.

Friday will be the last post in this series. In that post, I will give you three options for seeking victory in this life – and tell you which is most likely to succeed!

Which mistake do you make most often?

Do you see how to correct your thinking?

What mistakes did I leave off of the list?

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What Does Victory Look Like In Christian Business?

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Picture someone right now in the business world, or in your industry, that you respect and admire. This needs to be someone that you see as successful – someone who has seen their share of victory. Maybe it is even someone that you wish you could switch places with (at times). Do you have that person in mind?

Make A List

Okay, now that you have someone in mind, I want you to write down the reasons that you have for seeing them in this light. What is it about them that you wish you could have or experience? How do you measure their success? When you say they have seen their share of victory, what do you mean? Be specific with your list. Don’t leave anything out.

victory

Our Look At Victory

For the last week, we have taken some time to look at victory and come to some conclusions.

Victory In Business?

Today, I want us to take a hard look at what victory actually looks like in a Christian business. While this may sound simple at first, it really is critical. See, if we do not have a crystal clear picture of what it looks like in our business or on our job, then how do we really expect to strive for it or experience it? How can we expect to recognize it when it comes?

Your List

Let’s get back to the person you look up to in the business world.

Take a look at your list and tell me what you see.

Are your observations related to his financial success in his business? Do you connect his acquisition of other businesses to your view of his success? Do you like the fact that he has a reputation within the business world for being shrewd and able to generate strong returns on his investments?

What other items are on your list? Did you mention anything about her involvement in industry associations? Did you list some awards she may have won as a result of her hard work or creative solutions to workplace challenges? Maybe you considered her life-long tenure at the same company as worthy of your respect.

Your View Of Victory In Business

Whatever the case, your list is a rough picture of the way you define victory in business.

The tough question is this…does our list match up well with Scripture? Does it fit with the definition the Bible gives us for victory? Can you make a case for a direct connection between your list and the life and example of Jesus? Are you working toward living a life that does the same?

If you can, congratulations!

If not, there is work to do.

Examples Of Victory In Business

In an effort to help you see this picture with a little more clarity, I have put together a list of actual examples that do match up with the Bible’s definition of victory in business (and life). Take a look and let me know what you think about this list in the comment section at the bottom of the post.

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    – The CEO of a national company is accused of discrimination because his company supports the Bible’s definition of marriage. As a result, at least one major city government is moving to block the company’s expansion into their city. (Read about it here.)

    – The owner of a young construction business chooses to take a risk and hire someone he truly cannot afford for a non-revenue-producing position. He decides hiring a chaplain for his employees is too important to pass up.

    – A company chooses not to match the operating hours of the rest of their competition, forfeiting a huge opportunity for revenue. Instead, they close on Sundays. (Read about it here.)

    – An operations director decides that his call to ministry in the workplace is more important than keeping a job where that is frowned upon. He is fired for his decision and is now on his own to start a business that will glorify God.

    – A corporate manager decides to pursue an online degree in apologetics so that he can be prepared to answer the tough questions he will receive from his clients as he makes more of an effort to share with them the reason for his faith in Jesus.

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Eternal Perspective

If you look closely, you will notice that each of these examples reflect an eternal perspective. While victory may not seem evident right now, each item on the list will still be having a ripple effect 1,000 years from now. This is usually the best indicator of true victory.

The other thing you will notice is that these examples would likely be looked upon as silly or even foolish in most pure business circles. Review this list at any of the nations top business schools and you will likely receive laughter or even be mocked.

God’s View

The truth is that God does not define victory as the world does. In fact, Scripture says that He chooses the foolish things of this world to shame the wise and the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). The experts may not agree with my list, but I am not so concerned with what they think. I hope you see it the same way.

How does your list look to you in hindsight?

Would this list have been different for you 5 years ago? Why?

What do you need to do to change your list?

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Do You Expect Victory?

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Imagine that you are the back-up quarterback for the unranked Maryland Terrapins and you are playing an away game against the defending National Champion Miami Hurricanes in a televised college football game. It is half-time and your team is down 31-0. What are you thinking? Do you really expect to see victory in the second half? Or would you just hope for a score or two to make it respectable?

victory

This is my third post in a series on seeking victory in this life (Please make sure to read about defining victory for correct context for this subject). As Christian business owners and leaders, we face opportunities for victory and defeat on an almost daily basis. If we are not correctly tuned in to God’s view on victory, then it is going to be impossible for us to experience it the way He created us to experience it.

Actual Game

So let’s go back to the football game! If you are a sports nut, you may recognize this actual game situation from 1984. The back-up quarterback was Frank Reich and his team was actually down 31-0 beginning the second half.

The amazing result is that Reich led his team to victory in that game. His unranked Maryland Terrapins had defeated the 6th ranked (and defending National Champions) Miami Hurricanes 42-40 when the clock expired. This amazing comeback immediately went into the record books as the greatest comeback in NCAA history.

Duplicated Feat!

What is more amazing is that Reich duplicated this feat almost 10 years later in the NFL. He was playing for the Buffalo Bills in the NFC Wildcard game against the Houston Oilers. His Bills were down 28-3 starting the second half. Unfortunately, the Bills started the second half with Reich throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown.

Make that 35-3 with less than two quarters to go.

Similar Bible Story

Let’s pause a minute and look at a similar story in the Bible.

The Israelite army was facing defeat by the Philistine army. They were encamped and being forced to listen to one loud-mouthed Philistine that was taunting them day after day, challenging any one of them to a fight to the death. The problem was that this Philistine was HUGE.

The Bible describes how King Saul and all of the Israelite soldiers were afraid of Goliath’s size and obvious strength. No Israelite had good reason to think they could match their strength and size with Goliath’s and see victory. Therefore they stayed in their camps, listening to the taunting continue.

David’s Confidence

Then, David comes on the scene as the younger brother to three of the Israelite soldiers. David hears Goliath’s taunts and asks a potent question.

“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Do you hear the confidence oozing from David’s pores? Moments later, when explaining why he should be allowed to fight the giant, he says this:

“Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

David was not attempting to match his strength or skills with that of Goliath. Instead, he immediately described how God had given him victory over the wild animals. He simply said that he knew God would do the same in this case.

David Expected Victory!

Folks, David EXPECTED victory. He did not HOPE for it, but very simply assumed it because he knew the God that had promised it. How did God promise it? Look at the previous chapter.

In 1 Samuel, David was anointed to be king by the Samuel. God had determined that David would be king after Saul and that was all David needed to know. After that, he knew he could go “all in” and completely trust God for victory. He simply expected it.

Back To Football

Now back to Frank Reich and the Buffalo Bills. Down 35-3 after a humbling interception in the third quarter, Reich could have given up. He could have watched all of the fans exiting the stadium and joined them in his spirit.

Instead, he led (again) the greatest comeback in NFL history. Over the next 28+ minutes, Reich showed he was a fighter. He and the Bills mounted a comeback that is still in the history books in the NFL. It took a field goal in overtime to do it, but the Bills won the playoff game 41-38.

One Message – Loud and Clear

Folks, this post is not about football. It is about one message and one message only. If you get nothing else out of this post, get this loud and clear:

As Christians, we should EXPECT victory.

The Bible describes it and Jesus promised it (John 16:33). We will not achieve victory in this life if we seek it on our own (John 15:5). But, if we will define it correctly, go “all in” with God, and expect it, then victory will certainly come to us.

Frank Reich could not have won either of those games if he did not expect to win. Going out there hoping to win would not have worked.

As Christians in business, we are no different. We must trust in the God that created us and know that He will deliver His victory. He is faithful to do so.

What challenges are you facing where you need to expect victory?

Are you trusting God fully to do His part?

What is your part?

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Are You “All In” For Victory?

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I am not much of a poker player. In fact, I have not really played since college. At the same time, I do occasionally like to watch the World Series of Poker. I always get excited when one of the players senses victory and calls out, “All in!”

victory

This is the second post in a series of posts on victory in this life. In my last post, I asked you to define “victory.” I also gave you the definition Jesus gave us as the standard we all should follow. If you did not read that post, you really need to take a minute or two to go do that now. It is the foundation for the rest of this series.

Going “All In”

For those not familiar with poker, going “all in” means you are putting ALL of your chips (money) into the pot and are fully committing to that particular hand you were dealt. You are holding nothing back!

If you win the hand, you win the pot and are able to continue. If not, you are completely out of the game as you have nothing left with which to bet.

Of course, poker is not the only place you will hear “all in” being used. You are not worth your salt as a coach or leader of any team if you have never asked your team to go “all in” at one point or another. If you have ever played any sports, you have most certainly been asked to go “all in.”

What Does It Mean?

So what exactly does “all in” mean?

When a coach or leader asks us to go “all in,” it means they want us to give everything we have (energy, focus, effort, etc.) to whatever strategy he has chosen to employ at the time. Whether it is the last play of a game or the launch of a new product, we are being asked to give everything we have to achieve success as it has been defined for us.

“All In” With God

Folks, the same is true in our life as a whole. We learned in the last post that Jesus defined victory in this life by referring to our relationship with God. In His definition, we are to go “all in” in our love for God and our neighbor.

He did not just ask us to love God, but to love Him with ALL of our heart, mind, and soul. He did not ask for a portion of our lives, but for ALL of our lives. For us to achieve victory in this life, we must submit our all to Him!

This is critical for all of us to accept AND to put into practice!

Giving Up Control

Back to the poker player, I want to be clear about why I get so excited when I hear them call out, “All in!” You see, at this point, there is nothing more they can do. The game, as far as they can control it, is over for them. The victory, or defeat, is out of their hands.

Again, this same idea applies to our relationship with God. He is not interested having us partially rely on Him. No, He wants our whole dependence to rest on Him and His provision. God wants to be our sole (and soul!) provider.

All In For Victory

He wants us to go “all in” in our relationship with Him. He wants us to go “all in” with Him as we seek victory in this life. He is faithful to make good on every one of His promises and to have our best interests at heart. Don’t forget, He DID create us. I think He knows what fulfills us.

One final point about the poker player. You want to know the funny thing about the moment in between them calling out, “All in” and them finding out whether they won or not? Watch their body language.

More often than not, you will see the pressure disappear from their body. They actually show huge relief. Their shoulders will sag and they will exhale in a way that says they have released control and can only now wait on the results.

If you will go “all in” with God, you will quickly realize that He can handle it. There is nothing more for you to worry about. The results are no longer up to you!

Once you submit, you can relax and enjoy the ride!

Are you already “all in” with God?

What victory do you think He wants for you?

What control do you need to release to Him?

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How Do You Define Victory?

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This is the first in a series of posts about victory in our lives as Christian business owners and leaders. I am really excited about this series because I think this is a critical issue for all of us, though most of us have not thought much about it.

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Desire For Victory Is Okay

Sure, we want to win. Most of us have participated in some form of team sports during our lives at one point or another. I am assuming that all of us have wanted to taste victory to some degree. To some, you may not want to win at all costs, but certainly would prefer winning to losing!

Some of us REALLY want to see victory in EVERYTHING! As long as we do not let that desire for victory override our desire to please God, there is nothing at all wrong with it. In fact, I think God places that desire for victory inside of each of us.

Most Stop Here

If you are like most people, this is about as far as your thoughts have gone. You have probably not thought a lot about what victory actually looks like in your life as a whole. If you have, congratulations! You are probably the exception.

For the vast majority, if asked what victory in life means, they would respond with things that the world considers important. Even if we exclude the obviously “non-Christian” answers (money, toys, fame, etc.), we would still likely hear things like the following:

  • Good education for my children
  • Comfortable retirement for me and my spouse
  • Successful career with reputable company
  • Solid reputation with everyone, no enemies
  • Large attendance at my funeral

Are any of these answers BAD?

I think it depends.

Victory Goals or Results?

I think it depends on whether these were your goals or just the results.

Think about that for a minute. If you sought these examples as your ultimate goals, then that means you placed them above any other priorities. Assuming you are a believer, then it means you placed these goals ahead of your relationship with God. That is not good.

If, on the other hand, your ultimate goals related to your relationship with God and these examples came to you as byproducts, then I do not see a problem with them at all. If that is what God blessed you with at the end of a life submitted to Him, then I would say, “Awesome!”

Ultimate Question

I say all of this to come to one central, and very important question. In fact, I would rank it as one of the most important questions any of us can ask ourselves. This is a question few ask, but all answer in one way or another. Whether you stop and ask this question or not, you will end up answering it. Here it is…

How do you define victory in this life?

It looks like a fairly straightforward and simple question, doesn’t it?

Simple Question, Rarely Asked

It may be a simple question, but it is not one correctly answered by most people. Instead, most people never ask the question at all. They simply accept the definition given to them by the world around them.

Most people allow everyone else to define victory for them. Then they spend the rest of their lives chasing that definition. I think this is sad.

Simple Answer

I think it is sad because there is a simple answer to this question. I think it is sad because the simple answer to defining victory is found in the Bible and chasing this definition brings everyone the fulfillment they so desperately crave.

For the question itself, and the answer, we only need to look at Matthew 22:34-40. Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment of all. Jesus is essentially asked how He defines victory for all of us. Here is His answer…

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Simple and Straightforward

There it is. It is very simple and straightforward. We are to love God, our Creator, with all of our heart, mind, and soul and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. That is God’s definition of victory for all of us. It does not get any simpler than that.

As a result of this Scripture, there really is no longer a need for us to struggle in defining victory. We have it right there in black and white. All we need to do is chase that definition.

Of course, it may be a simple definition, but it is not that easy, right?

More Questions

Once we accept this definition as the truth, many more questions begin to come to mind.

    How exactly does God want me to show Him this love through my life?

    How do my individual skills and talents play into this?

    How much of this victory depends on me and my efforts?

    What happens when I mess up and lose?

I understand. I have the same kinds of questions at times…okay, all of the time! That is not a problem. God likes these questions! When you are asking these questions, it means you are thinking about it! That is exactly what He wants from us. It is so much better than mindlessly accepting the world’s definition of victory.

Over the next several posts, we will be talking a lot more about victory in this life and our roles and responsibilities in seeking it. Stay tuned!

Are you one of the few that has already defined victory in your life?

On what Scripture is your definition based?

If you’ve never thought about it, when will you start?

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Are You Making Yourself Useful?

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Have you ever heard a quote that you just could not get out of your head? It is kind of like that annoying 80’s song that gets stuck in your brain and continues to play over and over, without letting up. I know you know what I am talking about! Well, I heard a quote the other day that continues to echo in my mind. The good thing is that this quote about being useful fits with what I believe is my life purpose!

 

The Quote

I was listening to Jim Collins speak at the Catalyst conference in Atlanta. He was talking about an interview he had with Peter Drucker. Towards the end of the interview, Peter asked Jim for permission to offer him some advice. Jim, of course, was quick to agree! Who would refuse to take advice from Peter Drucker?!?

Drucker went on to say something to this effect (imagine his Austrian accent here)…

“Jim, you keep talking and thinking about survival…(pause)…You will probably survive. You also keep dwelling on success…(pause)…you will probably be successful. (longer pause)…Why don’t you go make yourself useful?“

Collins said he had no response. He said that quote has stuck with him since then.

My Response

Well, I just have to tell you that it has stuck with me as well. As I continue to hear it rattle around in my head, I wonder if I am truly being “useful.” Then I start to question what “useful” really means, in light of my faith, my (stewardship of His) business and an eternal perspective.

So I did what anyone would do this day and age…I googled it! Here is the Dictionary.com definition of useful:

usefulLooking at the first definition, I keyed in on the words serving some purpose. Am I serving some purpose? What purpose should I be serving?

Serving Some Purpose

It is clear to me that Jesus has already told us what our purpose should be. When asked about the greatest commandment, He answered with two…”Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength” and “love your neighbor as yourself.” His final instructions to us before He ascended was to “go and make disciples of all nations….” Now it is simply up to us to determine how He has gifted each of us to carry out, to serve, this purpose.

Of Practical Use

As for the second definition listed above, “of practical use,” it is similar, but I also see a little different perspective. I see myself as the tool in God’s hands – carrying out whatever practical work or task He has in mind for me. This requires my vision to be submitted to His. It requires me to be flexible, ready to change direction according to His will. In this definition, I see fewer grandiose projects and more washing of feet. I see God getting glory from the most menial of my tasks.

Useful?

So, once I break it down…what is my answer? Am I making myself useful?

For me, I believe God has placed me in a position at the head of a family business for the purpose of loving and serving Him and others. I am to do this as a business leader, but I am also to serve this purpose as a godly husband, father, church member, neighbor and friend. Each of these roles requires a different approach and I may need to employ various methods or skills, depending on the role. Regardless, each of these roles should fulfill the core purpose Jesus laid out for me.

So, for now I will say I am definitely a work in process. I am learning and growing. I am striving to be and do those things that will result in hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I am certainly not there yet. I don’t suppose I will ever actually be there. At the same time, that is what the “making” is all about!

What about you? Are you too concerned with survival or success?

Are you making yourself useful?

What do you need to change to improve?

Originally posted 11/7/11

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Great Leadership Advice From My Dad

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My Dad’s advice is still coming in handy after all these years! You likely remember similar words of advice in your life, whether it was from your father, a teacher, or even an Andy Griffith show! Even after many years, some advice continues to apply in our everyday lives.

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Dad’s Advice

I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was heading out on a date in high school and Dad wanted to give me some final advice. His wise words still ring in my head some 25 years later.

Son, make your decision about what you will and won’t do right now. Whether is it drugs, alcohol, or sex, you cannot wait until the heat of the moment to decide. It will then be too late.

Of course, then I was too cool to let him know that I was listening! Fortunately, I was listening and made (mostly) wise decisions during those years. I knew he was wise then, but I had no idea I would still be following (and giving!) that advice these many years later!

Good Advice?

What makes this advice so good?

Well, in my mind it is ALL about timing. If we go through life waiting to make decisions until we face certain circumstances, then, as my Dad said, it will be too late. The emotions of the circumstances will override our logic and cause us to lean toward immediate gratification rather than deferred gratification. Making these decisions ahead of time allows us to think more clearly and to consider all consequences.

Example Situations

I think the picture was fairly clear in the high school example. Let me give you some examples of situations we may face as adult Christian business owners and leaders to illustrate what I am talking about.

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  • If you have not decided ahead of time how much money you will give or how you will give it, then what do you think you will do when the profits start rolling in or your income increases?
  • If you have not decided what you will do in advance, what do you think you will do if shown a “grey area” loop hole by your financial planner that he describes as “commonly used” by others?
  • If you have not made up your mind beforehand, what will your response be when offered a chance to go alone to a business lunch with a very attractive rep from one of your vendors?
  • If you have never planned your response to an opportunity to tell a little white lie to cover up a mistake you made, what do you think you will say?

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As you read through these examples, one or two of them probably stood out to you. You may have already faced these circumstances. If so, whether you made the right choice or not, you know what I am talking about. You also know that the likelihood of a good decision without advance planning is very low.

Applying The Advice

So how do you make the right decisions in advance?

You may be thinking that you cannot possibly be expected to anticipate EVERY potential circumstance when you would have to make such decisions. If so, you are right. I do not expect you to do that at all. In fact, that would be ridiculous.

No, I have a few simple thoughts that should put you on the right track. Take a look at these and see what you think.

1. Ask God to search your heart and show you where you are vulnerable. (Psalm 139:23-24)

    It is very likely that you are stronger in some areas of your walk and weaker in others. If you will ask God to point these weaker areas out to you, He will be faithful to do so (Psalm 145:18-19). It is these areas where you need to focus your attention.

    You do not need to worry about EVERY possible scenario in these areas. Take the most likely decisions you could face in each area and start with those.

2. Take these weaker areas and plan out your responses. (Proverbs 12:5)

    Take these weaker areas that God reveals to you and think about potential pitfalls. What kinds of decisions could you face that might throw you off your game? What decisions would you want to make in each area if you could write the script? Now begin doing exactly that!

    Make the decisions in these areas NOW so that you do not have to try to think about it when it is too late and you are under pressure (Proverbs 1:10-19)!

3. Use Scripture as the strong foundation for these decisions. (Psalm 119:11)

    If your vulnerable decision is about giving more money even when the temptation is there to spend more on yourself, try 1 Timothy 6:17-19 or Luke 6:38. If your weakness is maintaining your integrity when preparing your taxes, then use Psalm 119:36 or Proverbs 11:3.

    You get the idea. The point is to use an easy-to-remember verse from which to rally when put in a tough spot. Memorize the appropriate Scripture and call on it when challenged.

Do you remember similar advice from years back?

How does this advice apply to your work today?

What advice would you give to someone else today?

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11 Benefits of Living Out Your Vision and Core Values

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I have posted recently about some issues going on in our business and how one of these issues related to one of our core values: Integrity. Well, I want to talk about the other situation a little more in depth at this point. This situation is related to another of our core values: Employee Development.

core values

Not A Good Time

As I mentioned in a recent post, a key, long-term member of our company’s leadership team (my inner circle) gave me their resignation. While there is never a good time for this to happen, this announcement came at a particularly bad time for me.

We are less than 60 days away from beginning a total renovation of our Honda dealership facility and this leader was to be one of the key drivers of this project. He was also a leader in ensuring the smooth transition into the temporary location from which we will operate during construction.

We are also just over six months into a new management team under his leadership. This leader has played a critical role in their development. Though the team has shown amazing progress during this six-month period, there is still a distance to go before this team truly realizes their full potential.

As I said, this is not a good time for him to leave.

Employee Development

At the same time, one of our company’s five core values is Employee Development. We describe this core value this way:

We strive to create an atmosphere that inspires and enables people to reach their full potential.

Moving People

In addition to this core value, our Vision statement is “Moving people.” We explain our vision by first pointing out the connection between “moving” and transportation – in our case, selling and servicing automobiles. But the true meaning of this vision applies to the people that come into contact with our business – the stakeholders. These people fall into three categories – employees, customers, and community.

We want anyone, from any of these three categories, that comes into contact with our company to be better off having done so. We want to help “move” them from one position into another, better position as a result of their interaction with us. We want every decision we make to reflect this vision.

Key Leader Resignation

Let’s go back to the leader that has now resigned. When he first told me, he generously offered to work a month’s notice. He was willing to help in the transition in any way I wanted. He explained how this new business opportunity was not one that he sought out, but was simply too good for him to ignore.

As he explained the opportunity, I quickly saw that he was right. I realized that I could never offer him the same chance to reach his full potential in our company as he could reach in this new job. I was disappointed in losing him, but I could not blame him for saying yes to the offer.

Living Out Core Values?

It was at this point that I had a choice. I could get angry and do what the majority of owners would do in our industry – tell him to pack his things and go ahead and exit immediately. I could cut off his compensation and benefits that very day and do only what I was legally bound to do.

OR, I could embrace our core value of Employee Development and our “Moving people” vision. I could congratulate him on his tremendous opportunity and begin laying out a plan that would maximize his effectiveness while he worked his notice, benefiting both of us in the process.

I chose the latter. In fact, I used the opportunity to reinforce our commitment to our core values by going to every department individually and explaining the whole situation. I tried to show, by example, that we are indeed serious about these core values and our vision.

The Results

The results? Well it has not been long enough yet to give a full report, but I can give you some of the immediate benefits…
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    1. Other leaders have immediately stepped up to fill in the void caused by his departure
    2. Employees have seen we are committed to our core values – “moving” them whether that means they are moving “up” in the company or “out!”
    3. Our company’s relationship with this leader is fully intact and will bear fruit by maintaining an open line of communication in the immediate future in case we need help tying up loose ends (or accessing a lost password!).
    4. We were able to have a going-away party to show him our appreciation for his contributions and to allow closure to those employees closest to him.
    5. I believe his transition into a new job will be easier because we eliminated any stress that could have come from a messy separation.

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As I began listing these immediate benefits, I realized that there are longer-term benefits as well. Here is a short, not exhaustive, list of these benefits…

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    6. The remaining leaders in the company will be stronger in the long term due to stepping up their game in the transition and beyond.
    7. Other employees may realize we are serious about employee development and our other core values. Hopefully, they will work for similar opportunities in their own career. While some may move “out,” they will be better off having worked here. Still others will move “up” and make us a stronger company as a result.
    8. Our ongoing relationship with the departing leader will bear fruit in many other forms as he will be working on cutting-edge ideas and processes in his new job. We will have the inside track access to what he is learning.
    9. His future job performance will be better due to the ongoing relationship with our company. We will likely serve as testing grounds for some of his ideas and projects.
    10. His personal relationships with some of the employees, hampered while here due to working relationship, will likely blossom without that hindrance.
    11. I will maintain a friendship with him. I already look forward to hearing how his new job is going and how he is using the skills and talents God gave him to impact others.

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Have you had similar opportunities to live out your company’s core values?

What would you have done differently?

What benefits did I overlook?