In the early 1900s workplace conditions were dismal. Many industries were unsafe, paid less than a living wage, and required 12-hour days, 7 days a week. In 1909, with these unjust conditions as a backdrop, Labor Sunday was launched as a day when pastors preached on the value and dignity of work. This led to a federation of churches identifying ...
Sam shared with me that Seth, a mutual acquaintance of ours, called him years ago and asked Sam to consider serving on a board of a local business that Seth had purchased. Sam as a courtesy to Seth met with the local manager, but left the meeting feeling very uncomfortable. Sam passed on the opportunity. Sam told me, “God protected ...
All new hires are important, but a small business jeopardizes their culture even more if someone makes a poor hiring decision. If you have twenty employees who have represented your organization well, hiring the wrong person will hurt, but it’s unlikely to devastate your culture. However, if you’re the only employee and you bring on someone new, they become 50% ...
One of the hardest things about interviewing job candidates is the relationships that develop and cloud your judgment. My friend, Joe, reminded me of this truth recently. Joe has helped hire thousands of employees, so I called him for help. When I shared with Joe about a possible employee I was considering, Joe said, “They’re not the right fit, Rick. ...
Years ago, I helped interview multiple people for an executive director role for a new nonprofit organization. Some were highly qualified, but seemed to quickly focus the discussion on pay and benefits. We, however, were looking for a leader with a servant’s heart, not someone looking for a better paycheck. We finally found the perfect candidate. She was passionate about ...
My friend, Ron, admitted that he still constantly strives to prove himself. He constantly works to expand his business, even when he doesn’t have the time and doesn’t need the money. Realizing this was a form of bondage, Ron chose to shrink his business and his stress. Then the true test came. His largest client offered him a significant new ...
Recently, I met a radio talk show host who had a very colorful past prior to becoming a follower of Jesus. Several of his past business partners had experienced significant legal problems, bankruptcy, and even fraud convictions. His partners had been so renowned that I still remembered them decades later. He said, “Those guys had a hard time staying out ...
A friend forwarded an article that made a great point, and seemed ideal for an “Integrity Moment.” As I began to write, I had a nagging feeling that this story couldn’t possibly be true. My research revealed the story to be an urban legend that had been passed around as truth for over 20 years. Its fictionalized account would have ...
An entrepreneur, I’ll call Susan, who lived in Florida, called me for counsel. Later that day, Debbie, an accountant, called to discuss our free FIRE assessment. She was also from the same town in Florida. I prayed for both, but for Debbie I felt led to pray that God would bring customers and other Christians into her life. Two callers ...
Recently, I saw an old friend that knew me in my young wild days. He began sharing stories and joking with me about my foolish escapades from those past years. It was tempting to swap stories from our past, but I knew that it could easily lead me to say and discuss things that would not be pleasing to God. ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
