Recently on the newsletter site Substack, author Samuel D. James compared our expectations in life to gardening. For instance, if we “plant” hard work, we expect a crop of financial gain. If we “plant” self-control, we expect positive outcomes. But sometimes we don’t get the results we expect. Sometimes hard work doesn’t produce success. That doesn’t mean the world is ...
Working for an electric transmission utility required that my colleagues and I did not have a financial interest in another utility. Employees were required to be unbiased in our roles, down to our personal finances. When I discovered that my financial advisor had purchased shares in another utility, I instructed her to sell them immediately. Even though I wasn’t involved ...
In business, there are cycles. Some years are good, but there are also years that are a real struggle. Those years can bring financial challenges, personnel issues, or both. If you’re not clear as to why you’re doing the work you are doing, it can be easier to choose to quit or close your business. But if God has clearly ...
Recently, our church taught a series on God in the Storms. Our pastor mentioned that there are times when storms can be God’s way to teach us something significant. But sometimes we don’t learn the lesson the first time. If you’re like me, sometimes I don’t learn the second or third time either. When God keeps sending the same kind ...
In this series, we’re talking about the rising incidence of manager burnout. The Harvard Business Review identified six reasons behind our growing level of burnout. The second reason listed was a perceived lack of control. In the Harvard Business Review, Elizabeth Saunders wrote, “Feeling like you lack autonomy, access to resources, and a say in decisions that impact your professional ...
My friend Glenn had hit rock bottom. He had pursued his work more than his wife, resulting in a divorce and a lonely evening in an empty house. That’s when Glenn received a pivotal call from his long lost friend, Dave. Because of their history, Dave had the influence to deliver a direct message. Dave told Glenn, “You need ...
In this series, we’re discussing preparing for economic storms. The fourth and last step I recommend is decreasing payroll. Many large organizations start with massive layoffs without considering other solutions. Previously, I worked for a bank that frequently downsized. One year, the bank creatively allowed 40-hour employees to shift to 35 hours a week. This allowed many working mothers ...
In this series, we’re discussing preparing for economic storms. We’ve discussed getting closer to your customers and hiring freezes, the third step you might consider is to trim expenses. In 2009, the economy was crumbling. For those who adjusted and weathered the storm, I heard many tell me a similar story. They discovered that during the good times they ...
In this series, we’re discussing preparing for economic storms. After staying close to your biggest customers, the second step during a recession is to consider a hiring freeze. As a good shepherd, you should protect the jobs of your existing employees. By adding team members during a downturn, you may risk needing to make hard decisions later. Instead, if ...
In this series, we’re discussing preparing for economic storms. With inflation and interest rates soaring and the stock market crumbling, the storm clouds appear to be rolling in. One of my favorite indexes is the National Federation of Independent Business Optimism Index. Because it’s a survey of small business owners’ perceptions, it has helped predict economic storms. In ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
