This week we’re examining 5 steps Nehemiah took to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls in an amazing 52 days! After he prayerfully assessed the situation his next step was to “Cast a Compelling Vision.” For 140 years, no one had revived the city of Jerusalem, and few likely believed it was possible, or necessary. Nehemiah, however, had a much bigger vision and ...
Recently, I was a judge in an entrepreneurial pitch event for college students. My job was to listen to six startup business presentations, ask clarifying questions, then, provide feedback or recommendations. The thought and work of each of these young people was impressive. The event for me was a reminder, however, that the most critical factor in any new ...
After 17 years at my employer, it was clear to both of us that it was time for a change. I jokingly told people we were growing apart, with the employer strongly hinting that “it was time to see other employees.” But behind the joking was tremendous fear. After spending so many formative years at the company, I had no ...
In leading any organization there are constant challenges and decisions to be made. Some decisions are more difficult than others, which can leave me feeling inadequate at times. That’s when I yearn, and seek, the wisest counsel I can find. Fortunately, I have access to boundless wisdom. Recently, faced with some difficult decisions, I was reminded of the importance ...
When you host a business event or conference, you can decide who will occupy the best seats. Many will reward their best paying customers with the best seats. That may be appropriate if they pay extra, but if not, the dilemma for followers of Jesus comes when we try to apply the wisdom of James. James 2:3 says, “If ...
When I was in my 20s, I started a used car rental agency. But unfortunately, interest rates soared to 20% and unemployment to 13%. About a year later, I asked a friend for his advice on my business. My friend looked at my business’ financial condition and kindly, but firmly, told me, “Rick, if you get out now you can ...
When I first started in banking I was accepted into a management training program. Young college graduates were given exposure to all facets of the bank, giving us the opportunity to discover our best job fit for the future. Their concept was a good way to match people’s interests and passions with the area of the bank where they ...
A friend of mine had history with a publicly traded company that had invested heavily in a DEI program. He believed their program was harming the business. He called a board member to ask a simple but profound question. “What problem were you trying to solve with this program?” The program has since been discontinued. Many businesses get caught ...
When I was a banker I worked with hundreds of small businesses, most of whom never had a budget for their business. They sometimes pulled together projections to obtain a loan, but they rarely used them for comparison purposes later. Although a budget is simply a tool to help you compare your original expectations to your actual results, it ...
Kathy and I have had a string of unexpected challenges with our home recently. For example, a strong wind blew an entire wall of our deck down. Then our basement flooded. We were about to build a new deck when our basement flooded again, in a different location. That led to discovering hail damage on the roof. Suddenly we ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
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