My friend, Jim, in his previous CEO role, was meeting with a newly promoted store manager. Jim knew this person could have some valuable insight from his frontline experience. But, when Jim asked this new manager for ideas to improve the stores, he didn’t receive any feedback. Jim tried a different approach. Jim informed this new manager that at the ...
Many business owners sign agreements to sell their business before discovering how to leverage that transaction for a greater charitable impact. Fortunately, Dennis was one we reached before it was too late. Dennis was in early discussions of selling his machine tooling business when I learned that none of his advisors had discussed with him donor advised funds. The result ...
Our pastor, Tim, recently shared a story about becoming desensitized. Years ago, Tim was asked to speak at a youth camp. When Tim first opened his cabin door, he gagged due to the rank smell of urine. When he asked his cabinmate how he could stand the smell, his cabinmate shrugged unawares. Days later, Tim’s wife visited. When she ...
One of the things I enjoy most about teaching is when God shows up, in response to my prayers. Recently, I was delivering a talk when I sensed God urging me to scrap one of my stories and substitute another. I marveled as I watched closely the eyes of the men listening. That story resonated with them. Several men later ...
Bill and I hadn’t seen each other for a couple of years, yet it didn’t take long until we were sharing openly about our challenges in life. As I described one of my concerns, Bill smiled and said, “I had a phone call this morning I think may have been meant for you just as much as it was for ...
A Harvard Business Review article entitled, “Where Religious Identity Fits into Your DEI Strategy” provides seven practices to help companies embrace religious diversity. Their fourth recommended practice is to know the law. Many are fearful of religious activity in the workplace due to a misunderstanding of the law. The so-called “separation of church and state” argument is often misunderstood and ...
As I marvel at how radically different America’s culture has become, I’m concerned for the small business owners. Common sense decisions, like not allowing a man in a girl’s bathroom, can get you sued or destroyed in today’s world. It reminds me of a war movie where the soldiers are at the edge of a field full of land mines. ...
This month is when many graduates begin their career and receive their first paycheck. Dale Alexander, author of The Talk, believes this is the perfect time to help these young people avoid financial bondage. In his book, Dale urges young people to immediately save 20% of their pay, give 10% to charity, and live on 70%. These three disciplines will ...
In 1968, Paul Ehrlich’s book, “The Population Bomb,” proclaimed that overpopulation was going to cause a worldwide famine. Ehrlich wrote, “By 1985 enough millions will have died to reduce the earth’s population to an acceptable level, like 1.5 million people.” His urgings of mandatory population control encouraged one child policies and abortions. Despite Ehrlich’s flawed predictions, “60 Minutes” recently ...
Imagine if there were no years. Day after day, life continued without an opportunity to hit reset. Not every culture celebrates January 1st as the new year. Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the Jewish New Year, is typically around September or October. According to Jewish tradition, in the days following creation God was yet to determine the fate of mankind. ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
