One movie I’ve enjoyed multiple times is “Groundhog Day.” Phil Connors, played by Bill Murray, is a mean-spirited, egocentric reporter who’s been forced to cover the annual Groundhog Day ceremony in Pennsylvania. Caught in a time-loop, Connors has to relive Groundhog Day over and over again. At first, he exploits his knowledge of what will happen for personal gain. ...
While working construction during college, my boss asked me to pick up Dennis on my way to the job site. When I arrived at Dennis’ house, Dennis was smoking dope. On our way to the job site, Dennis asked me to stop at a convenience store. He returned with a six pack of beer and began drinking. That day, while ...
Mark was trying to grow his trucking business when he met a successful retired business owner. Mark was excited when this man offered to come in and help him grow his business. Months later, Mark called me for counsel. The man who had offered to help didn’t embrace Mark’s values. He learned Mark’s business, only to later take many of ...
There’s an interesting contrast in the Bible between Saul and David. King Saul twice violated God’s commands about handling the spoils of battle. Saul’s consequence was for God to reject him as king. David, however, had an affair with Bathsheba, and killed Uriah to cover up his affair. Yet, God gave David a second chance. In 2 Samuel 12, we ...
Dr. Porath, a professor at Georgetown University, wrote a Wall Street Journal article with profound research on the impact civility can have on the workplace. In a survey of over 20,000 employees published in Harvard Business Review, Dr. Porath discovered the benefits of treating others with respect. The study revealed that those who felt their leader demonstrated respect toward them ...
Ken Eldred, author of “Integrated Life,” wrote in a Washington Times article that many today feel the “Business suit, not one’s character, is the measure of a man.” Ken went on to say, “Character is the long-lost ingredient of successful capitalism, and, biblical values are the underlying values of the character ethic.” Many of our successful business practices flow out ...
A friend recently admitted to me that he struggles with his identity being wrapped around his work. This is a problem for many in the workplace. Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, spoke about this subject at a Faith and Work conference at Samford. His profound insight was, "When you make your work an identity, ...
God has gifted my wife, Kathy, with an amazing gift of leadership. I’ve seen her use it to orchestrate an amazing high school reunion, launch a 50+ ministry at our church, and now, she is starting a workplace ministry for women within Integrity Resource Center. Kathy typically gets so excited about her new project that she easily assembles a ...
My wife and I love watching the “Wonder Years” reruns. Kevin Arnold, the lead character, was my age and lived a similar teenage life as I did. Recently we watched an episode when Kevin went to work with his father. This episode reflected how management styles have changed in the workplace since 1968. Bosses during that era seemed to be ...
In 2015, REI stores, known for selling outdoor and fitness apparel, made a bold move. They declared that Black Friday had gotten out-of-hand and they were going to close their stores to encourage people to spend time outdoors instead. Since their mission is about encouraging outdoor activities, their move, in alignment with their values, sent a strong message about their ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
