Integrity Moments

Business Wisdom from James: Part I

2024-08-09T20:45:12-05:00June 10th, 2024|Tags: , , |

When trials come my way, they usually come in waves, one after another until I become weary. Maybe you can relate.  But I’ve also learned that struggling with the waves of trouble is like building up an immunity to sickness. I become stronger each time I successfully navigate those personnel issues or tough business decisions.  The Bible is full ...

Impossible Business Decisions

2024-08-09T20:48:36-05:00June 7th, 2024|Tags: , , |

In 1 Kings 3, King Solomon was forced to make a tough decision. In this story, two women had babies, one of which died. Both women claimed the living baby was theirs.   God gave Solomon the wisdom to offer a brilliant, but unsettling, answer. Solomon asked for a sword and declared that the baby be cut in half.   The ...

Working in Paradise

2024-10-12T14:51:21-05:00June 6th, 2024|Tags: , , |

God desires us to work, to tend to His creation, and serve His people. Author Tom Lutz recently said in a Common Good magazine interview, “Christianity is the only religion where work is part of paradise.”  Although I would include Judaism, I think most people would be shocked to know that we will work in Heaven.   In Isaiah 65, ...

The Religion of Whiteness

2024-10-12T14:53:21-05:00June 5th, 2024|Tags: , , |

Sociologists Michael Emerson and Glenn Bracey conducted a study surveying Christians of all races. They highlighted Bible passages that might impact different races, with a conclusion of how the passage might be applied.   They were surprised to discover that most Black, Asian, and Hispanic Christians affirmed their conclusions, but only 1/3 of white Christians concurred.   I have not yet ...

Respecting Others in the Workplace

2024-10-12T14:55:43-05:00June 4th, 2024|Tags: , , |

A new HR Brew/Harris Poll found that 41% of respondents say that conflicts related to faith have caused tension in their workplaces. Additionally, these types of disputes have increased due to the Israel Hamas armed conflict.   For employers, this can be challenging. As much as we need teamwork and unity, modern day issues can put team members at odds ...

Mrs. Butker’s Calling

2024-10-12T14:56:55-05:00June 3rd, 2024|Tags: , , |

KC Chiefs Kicker, Harrison Butker, caused quite a stir weeks ago with his Benedictine commencement address. The issue that surprisingly received the most attention was his comments about homemakers.  Since Butker’s mother is a physicist I doubt his intention was to denigrate professional women. Instead, I believe he desired to elevate the women, like his wife, who are called ...

International Opportunities

2024-10-12T14:58:52-05:00May 31st, 2024|Tags: , , |

Prior to Covid, large businesses had a competitive advantage over many small businesses by outsourcing work to China or India. Smaller businesses, however, were usually limited in their pool of labor to their local communities.  During Covid, as remote work became more common, the online labor pool expanded. I have friends who have since outsourced marketing functions to the ...

Faith Within

2024-10-12T15:04:35-05:00May 30th, 2024|Tags: , , |

Michael Zigarelli, a professor at Messiah University in Pennsylvania, spoke at a God in the Workplace event recently. One of the simple, but profound, insights Mr. Zigarelli reportedly shared was “the starting point for faith at work is faith within.”  Michael stated that Chick-fil-a doesn’t have a company policy requiring employees to go the extra mile. Instead, Chick-fil-a hires ...

Small and Steady Growth

2024-10-12T15:11:34-05:00May 29th, 2024|Tags: , , |

As a young impatient professional, at times I strived to get rich quickly. This led to foolish decisions that set me back rather than forward.  An activity that exceeded my expectations, however, was when a stockbroker talked me into investing $25 per month into a mutual fund. As a teenager, it was painful at times, especially during college. But, ...

The Strength of an Ox

2024-10-12T15:16:54-05:00May 28th, 2024|Tags: , , |

One challenge small businesses face, who are forced to compete against larger businesses, is a lack of resources. Large companies can hire more people and invest in technology that may be hard for smaller businesses to come by.  This disadvantage requires that a small business needs to be even more selective in hiring the right people who fit the ...

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