Gloria and I began working on a project together that typically would require some research and planning before cementing details. I tend to be a Ready – Aim -Aim -Fire kind of person, cautiously gathering facts and analyzing data before making a decision. But Gloria’s style is Ready – Fire -Aim. The project took off like a rocket. Although Gloria’s ...
Sometimes Matt gets up telling himself, “This is the day I start on ………”, but he doesn’t. It’s not due to laziness, lack of money, or time. It’s Fear. Matt says he’s occasionally fearful that, “This might not work.” So he procrastinates, telling himself, “that he’ll start on it tomorrow,” hoping to muster up the courage to face the possibility ...
To help build trust in your relationships we’re exploring the acronym TRUST. The U stands for “Under-Promise and Over-Perform.” We undermine trust when we make great promises, but never deliver. Likewise, when we exceed expectations trust is built. Jesus revealed the power of this concept in Luke 5:4. Speaking of Jesus it says, “When He had finished speaking, He said ...
Warning sounds began to ring in my head as Billy shared about how he grew his sales to $5 million a year in only four years without any debt. Later, I discovered Billy grew his sales rapidly by pricing his products below his costs! Actually, Billy’s records were so poor he didn’t know his costs until my analysis was complete. ...
The first time I ever rode a bike with handlebar brakes, I followed my friend down his steep driveway. I tried to brake by pedaling in reverse. When that didn’t work, I panicked and grabbed both handlebar brakes firmly. The bike stopped, but I didn’t! My body hurtled over the handlebars and into some rose bushes. Overuse of the brakes ...
With a swift pull of the handle, Matt heard a snap, resulting in the frayed pull cord to the machine dangling in his hand. In an instant, Matt went from poised to possessed, throwing the lacerated rope and handle across his shop floor. Later, Matt reflected on why he lost his composure over a broken pull cord. Matt concluded it ...
It was 10:15 am before Brad realized the phone line to the building had been compromised, preventing incoming calls. After assessing the situation, a technician simply unplugged the phone jack, waited 10 seconds, and re-connected it, correcting the problem. After the technician finished, Brad asked, “How much is the charge for this service call?” “$100 the technician replied.” Outraged Brad ...
Olympic diver Steele Johnson, after receiving his first ever Olympic silver medal, provided some profound insight for all of us. Johnson proclaimed, “The fact that I was going into this event knowing that my identity is rooted in Christ and not what the result of this competition is, just gave me peace ... and it let me enjoy the contest." ...
Friar Joe Mazzone, a Catholic pastor in Stoughton, Massachusetts, recently wrote, “We should have a good “work ethic,” yes, but we should also have a good “leisure ethic,” too, to find time to “get away and rest awhile.” He referenced Josef Pieper, a German Catholic philosopher, who once wrote a famous and influential essay titled “Leisure: The Basis of Culture.” ...
In my new book, “Unconventional Business,” I identify five steps towards developing a healthy, ethical culture. The first step is “Assessing the strength of your culture.” Years ago, I reviewed a culture assessment tool with a business owner. He proudly gave himself the highest rankings, and assured me that his staff would as well. When my assessment was complete this ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
