In the book, “Founding Fathers,” Alexander Hamilton and George Washington reportedly had a volatile relationship. Hamilton was known for his brash ambition and his hot-headed ways. On one occasion, Alexander Hamilton and George Washington had a petty argument that resulted in Hamilton resigning angrily. But, within an hour, Washington “sent an aide to tell Hamilton how highly Washington thought of ...
In God’s worldview, the strength of a leader is one who embraces humility rather than power. Abe Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” In my opinion, one character trait undervalued is humility. The craving for power and control can consume many leaders, but Jesus modeled ...
In this series, we’re talking about leadership lessons I learned from the many bank presidents I observed early in my banking career. My first example is Tom. Many bank presidents wanted a favorable audit, so they typically were somewhat courteous. But not Tom. He came across as aloof and too important to be bothered. Even Tom’s staff described their ...
Rick Altizer, CEO of Earnnest, wrote about Servant Leadership on thegospelcoaltion.org. One of his points was this: To go up, the way may be down. Rick wrote of a time when he was in a McDonald’s executive training program. Even though he was a CPA and MBA, Rick spent two years working inside a McDonald’s store cleaning toilets and working ...
Likely one of the first American business coaches was a Paxtuxet Indian named Squanto. You may remember the first Thanksgiving story from your childhood. In 1621, the Pilgrims were dying from hunger and disease. Squanto, an escaped slave that understood English, coached these struggling settlers on how to build a farming and fishing enterprise in this new country. Even though ...
When I was a banker, I used to get nervous when one of my business loan customers would receive glowing press and be featured in articles. When the accolades happened frequently, it was not uncommon to watch my customer’s pride and ego become almost unbearable. It usually wasn’t long afterwards that I would watch as their businesses would crumble, or ...
Veterans Day was an expansion of what was originally Armistice Day. The original celebration was set for November 11th because the Armistice agreement that ended World War I was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Armistice Day was later expanded to include a celebration of all who have served our country, ...
During the Presidential Debate, Vice President Harris accused former President Trump of selling special treatment to foreign leaders because they flattered the former President. Whether or not that statement is true is not my point. My point is that flattery can be a snare for many leaders. Success often breeds pride, and pride can lead to less discernment. Showing favor ...
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 ...
As I was pondering my friend Frank’s recent passing, I recalled the first time I ever had lunch with Frank. He had just returned from his attorney’s office. Frank shared with me his legal situation and how his attorney had recommended handling it. When he asked me my thoughts, I felt led to gently share some concepts from the Bible ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
