Friday, January 30, 2009

TGIF Part 2 - Get To vs. Have To

Yesterday I talked about how we can change the acronym TGIF from "Thank God It's Friday" to "Today God Is First."

I just read an article written by Jon Gordon, the author of The No Complaining Rule, Positive Ways To Deal With Negativity At Work which shares another change we can make in our attitude which can help us to change the TGIF acronym. In the article he talks about an important distinction between "get to" and "have to":

Who knew that two simple words could change one’s mindset, perspective and approach to work and life? Just two words have the potential to enhance joy, productivity, performance and change a complaining voice to an appreciative heart.

So often we say things like, "I have to take the kids to practice." "I have to go to this meeting." "I have to finish this project." "I have to go to work today." "I have to take care of this customer." "I have to share this new information with my team." "I have to see my family this weekend."

We act as if we don’t have a choice. As if we are imprisoned by a paycheck and the expectations of a world that forces us to do things we don’t want to do. But in reality we do have a choice. We can choose our attitude and our actions. We can choose how we view our life and work. We can realize that every day is a gift. It’s not about what we have to do. It’s about what we get to do.

We get to live this life while so many like Tim Russert and my Mom have left this world far too early. We get to drive in traffic while so many are too sick to drive a car. We get to go to a job while so many are unemployed. We get to raise our children, even if they drive us nuts at times. We get to interact with our employees and customers and make a difference in their lives. We get to use our gifts and talents to make a product or provide a service. We get to eat three meals a day while millions of people are starving. We get to work on projects, answer phone calls, serve customers, participate in meetings, design, create, share, sell, lead and suit up every day for the game of life.

Yes, there will be challenges and life isn’t easy, but each day we wake up we get another opportunity to make today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today. We get to uplift, inspire, encourage, and impact others. We get to live this life. Let’s make the most of it by remembering that life is a gift, not an obligation.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

TGIF

A great friend of mine owns a business in my community. He told me that for about ten straight weeks he would wear all black on Fridays. At about week seven, one of his employees noticed and said, "Bob, why are you always wearing black on Fridays?"

Bob responded by saying, "Because I am sad that this week is coming to an end and I will have to wait until Monday to see all of you again."

Kind of different, huh? And, very cool!

It seems in the workplace that everyone can't wait for Friday. In fact, I have seen studies which show that the highest incidence of suicide is on Sunday nights because people generally dread Mondays. Sad.

We all seem to live for Friday...for the weekend. TGIF is a famous acronym and I think we all know what it stands for. A restaurant chain has even become famous using it in their name.

Bob's attitude above is a tremendous one we all can adopt about our work. You see, Bob gets it. He realizes that his work has a much greater purpose than just providing a paycheck for him and his family.

We have influence over others each and every day and when we begin to realize this, we know that we can have an affect on their lives. It is our choice as to whether we make a positive or negative impact on them. God wants us to choose to have a positive impact.

If we can really get this, each and every day we can say, "Thank God It's Today!"

So let's change our thinking from "Thank God It's Friday" to "Today God Is First!" And who knows...you may even start singing like the Seven Dwarfs, "Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work I Go!"

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Forgiveness and Trust

I am a big proponent on forgiveness, in fact I often talk at length about it when I speak to groups. I believe it is an essential trait to practice as a leader.

However, I don't believe that forgiveness and trust are the same. I believe you can receive forgiveness but you need to earn trust. I have often heard, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

With that in mind, I was dismayed to see the article in The Toledo Blade yesterday stating that Timothy Geithner was confirmed as President Barack Obama's new Treasury Secretary despite having not paid all of his taxes for three years in a row. Even The Toledo Blade, a very liberal paper, started the article in this manner:

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Monday evening confirmed New York Federal Reserve Bank chief Timothy Geithner as President Barack Obama's treasury secretary despite tax problems that might have sunk his nomination in less desperate times.

I believe that Mr. Geithner should be forgiven; however, I am not sure he has earned the trust of the American people yet (at least he hasn't earned my trust) and I don't believe he should be in such a powerful position until he has. I believe that leaders are held to a higher standard than others. This case is no exception.

Any thoughts?

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Peace

I have heard nothing but negative reports about our economy, even from optimists. These are indeed very scary times for many. I recently read an old email I received with some advice for us during the Christmas season that I thought would apply to us now. I have slightly modified this short article from Justin Pinkerman:

For managers concerned about Wall Street to soldiers patrolling the streets of Baghdad, peace would be a welcome visitor around here now. Economic reports showed a loss of 550,000 jobs in November alone. Literally millions of Americans are suffering from layoffs, salary reductions, and a depressed housing market. Thousands more are spending this winter stationed in the mountain ranges of Afghanistan or deserts of Iraq to protect America.

As leaders, we have the tremendous opportunity to be heralds of peace to our families, friends, and colleagues during this season. However, we won't convincingly deliver a message of peace if we're inwardly ruled by fear. Here are four ways to find peace during these turbulent times:

Let In...
The loved ones in your life.
Laugh together, cry together, share stories from the year. Take joy in being with the friends and family who care about you most. Now is not the time to barricade yourself in the office to plan for the coming months. Pause, reflect, and be reminded of what matters most on this earth - relationships.

Reach Out...
To those in need.
Brooding on our problems sinks us into the ugly muck of self-pity. To counteract self-pity, take intentional steps to bless another person in need. Donate toys or food to a local shelter. Visit a shut-in or take flowers to a nearby nursing home.

Strangely enough, you may find that being generous pulls you out of the dreariness of your circumstances. Focusing on another person's world takes your mind off of whatever may be wrong in your own. Giving our time and resources helps us to regain perspective on the most meaningful pursuit in life - blessing others.

Work Out...
Your body to counteract the nasty habit of overeating.
Don't compound your problems by adding pounds to your waistline. We have enough to fret about without worrying about being overweight.

Toning the body heartens the spirit. Our bodies are holistic - not compartmentalized. Staying in shape (or improving our shape) adds to our self-confidence and strengthens our resolve to deal with the challenges around us.

Look Up...
To heaven.
If you're a follower of Christ, make time to draw from the reservoir of comfort that can be found in Him. Spend time in prayer, and partake of the hope offered through Jesus.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Bumpers

Last Wednesday through Friday my wife and I attended the Call2All Congress in Dayton, Ohio. It was amazing!

One of the speakers in the business track talked about the importance of having "bumpers" in our life. He said that a bumper is like a bumper used in a bowling alley for kids to keep their ball out of the gutter.

In life, a "bumper" is someone you have given permission to to speak Truth into your life and to hold you accountable. It could be that you need to be bumped because of your eating habits, your lack of exercise, your looking lustfully at members of the opposite sex or spending quiet time with God.

This was a great analogy and I also believe we all should have bumpers in our life. This is tough, though, because having bumpers in your life will force you to change and to grow. Change and growth many times is painful. We might have to give up something that we really like. But, this is the path to true growth and fulfillment in life.

I feel so blessed to have a number of bumpers in my life. These are other men who pray for me, encourage me and speak the brutal truth to me. I had breakfast with one this morning and I have breakfast with another tomorrow.

Do you have bumpers? If not, I challenge you to seek them out and ask them to breakfast or lunch.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Goals


We are quickly closing in on the end of the first month of 2009...can you believe it? This is typically the time when New Year's Resolutions begin to crumble, if they haven't already. I hope that is not the case with you!

I know some people who are not fans of resolutions. I think they believe they are empty promises. They believe goals are better. I think resolutions get a bad rap.

Here is what dictionary.com says resolution means:

1. a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group.
2. a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.
3. the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.
4. the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.


Those definitions sound anything but empty to me. A resolution to me looks to be a pretty firm goal. In any event, I think resolutions are a good thing. They are setting the bar high at the beginning of the year...or at any time of the year.

Zig Ziglar recently had this to say about the importance of setting your sights high:

In one of our major universities a professor of economics gave a test to his class. The test had several sections of questions, each of which contained three categories of questions. He instructed the students to choose one question from each section on the test. The first category in each section was the hardest and was worth 50 points. The second category in each section was not quite as hard and worth 40 points. The third category in each section was the easiest and worth only 30 points.

When the students had taken the test and all the papers had been turned in, the students who had chosen the hardest questions, or the fifty-point questions, were given A's. The students who had chosen the forty-point questions were given B's, and the students choosing the thirty-point questions, or the easiest questions, were given C's. Whether or not their answers were correct was not considered. Understandably, the students were confused and asked the professor how he had graded the exam. The professor leaned back and with a smile explained, "I wasn't testing your knowledge. I was testing your aim.

"I believe it was Browning who said, "Your reach should exceed your grasp, or what's a Heaven for?" Langston Hughes wrote, "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die then life is like a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." Yes, we need those dreams or, if you prefer, a vision. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said, "My people perish for lack of vision." Helen Keller was asked the question, "What would be worse than being blind?" She responded that it would be infinitely worse to have 20/20 eyesight and no vision than to be blind but have that vision.

In the declining years of his life, Albert Schweitzer was asked, "How goes it with you, Dr. Schweitzer?" The aging medical missionary responded, "My eyesight grows dim, but my vision is clearer than ever." Think about it. Develop your own dream, your own vision, and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Judgement

From a recent email I received:

One day God was looking down at Earth and saw all of the rascally behavior that was going on. So he called one of His angels and sent the angel to Earth for a time.

When he returned, he told God, "Yes, it is bad on Earth; 95% are misbehaving and only 5% are not.

God thought for a moment and said, "Maybe I had better send down a second angel to get another opinion." So God called another angel and sent him to Earth for a time.

When the angel returned he went to God and said, "Yes, it's true. The Earth is in decline; 95% are misbehaving, but 5% are being good."

God was not pleased. So He decided to e-mail the 5% that were good, because he wanted to encourage them, and give them a little something to help them keep going.

Do you know what the e-mail said?

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Okay, I was just wondering, because I didn't get one either.

While I don't agree with the theology of this, I do think it's funny...and a bit true. We all are messed up. Isn't it refreshing to know that you are not the only one who has issues? We all do. We should remember this when dealing with others.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Matthew 7:1-2

Monday, January 19, 2009

Change

I think all of you can agree that we are living in different times. The same old way of doing things may not work anymore. As a result, changes will need to be made in some, if not many, areas of our lives.

The problem is...change is typically painful. Have you ever started lifting weights for the first time. How do you feel the next day? That's right, very painful. Yet, if you continue with the program, that pain will diminish and eventually go away altogether. That pain will also go away if you quit the program; however, you will not change and see any new results.

As a leader, helping other people to change can be very difficult. Change requires that people break out of their comfort zones...and we as humans, like to be comfortable so we resist. This short video (click on the purple box) gives some great pointers on helping others to change. I hope you enjoy!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Adversity

In our men's group this morning, one of the guys shared that he was homeless as of today. He has no money and he's not sure what he is going to do.

But you know what else he shared? He said that he cannot explain it, but, he feels almost privileged. He feels as if he is being purified. He actually described himself as feeling "white hot" (and this on a day that is -12 degrees!). Another phrase he used was that he is "almost thankful" for this.

Amazing!

He inspired all of us this morning with his words and the peace that was in his face. We read some verses together which discussed the very things he shared:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thankfully, he has some options for where he is going to stay. And, we all know that God has a great future planned for him! (Jeremiah 29:11)

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Pride Before The Fall

I was watching American Idol last night with some of my family. This was the second show this season, and if you have ever watched it, you know that in the early shows they will showcase both people with talent and others who clearly do not have musical ability.

It was easy to spot when someone would do well or when they would flop. The people who would flop were typically the ones who would sound cocky and say that they would be the next American Idol.

Last night, one girl said that she thought the judges would be very surprised that such a powerful voice would come from a cute little girl. Well, Simon Cowell (one of the judges) actually said that her singing reminded him of a cat falling off the Empire State Building. Ouch!

Anyway, this shouldn't be surprising. The Bible warns us of this thing called pride quite frequently.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The 5% Difference



Tom Ziglar, proud son of the great speaker and author, Zig Ziglar, had this to say about his dad and the way he approached life on his blog recently:

I am sure you are familiar with the headlines “make this your best year ever!” So how do you make 2009 your “best” year ever?

I think you can learn a lot from how Dad would prepare his speeches. He would invest hours and hours studying (for many years at least three hours every day) and then he would spend three or four hours preparing for and “fiddling” with his next speech. What amazed me is that his next speech would appear to me to be just like his last speech, but if you listened closely there was always a slight change.

No matter how good the reviews from his last talk, Dad always tried new things and customized the next talk. Without realizing it, Dad was benefiting from the 5% difference. Every speech, short or long, was always about 5% different and new from the previous one.

Some of the changes became permanent while others only got prime-time once.So how do you make 2009 your “best” year ever? Determine the three or four things that you do that have the greatest impact in your personal life and your professional life, and every day study how you can make them better, and then put in an extra 5%. Now you have set a new standard for yourself! As the shampoo instructions say: Repeat!

Simple things that demonstrate The 5% Difference
1. Write your spouse or child a love note
2. Go one more minute in your workout
3. Prepare three minutes before your big phone call
4. Get to work ten minutes early
5. Trade a bad food choice for a good one
6. Write a list of seven things you can do this week, and then do one each day

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Moonshadow

Oh, I'm being followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,
Oh if I ever lose my hands, oh if.... I won't have to work no more.
And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,
Yes if I ever lose my eyes, oh if.... I won't have to cry no more.
And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg,
Yes if I ever lose my legs, oh if.... I won't have to walk no more.
And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south,
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, oh if.... I won't have to talk...
Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light.
Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night?

Those are the lyrics from Cat Stevens' song Moonshadow. That took on a new meaning to me last night. I don't know if this was a universal thing or just something that happened where I live, but did you happen to look outside last night? It was amazing!

It was as light as I have ever remembered it (at least for 10:30 PM). And this all because of the shining of the moon (well, actually the reflection of the sun off the moon...). You could see distinct shadows from our trees in our yard and the whole atmosphere had a blue hue to it. It truly was beautiful. Someone mentioned to me that this weekend would be the brightest moon of the year. I'm not sure if that's true, but I believe it.

How about we take a cue from the moon this week and let our light shine wherever we go. Remember, you may be the only Bible someone you know ever reads.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise you Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Determination

Did you happen to see this in the news yesterday? It seems a six year-old boy missed his school bus in Virginia and was so intent on getting to school on time, that he drove his parents' car.

According to reports, he made at least two 90-degree turns, passed several cars, and ran off the rural two-lane road several times before hitting an embankment and utility pole about a mile and a half from school.

"He was very intent on getting to school," said Northumberland County Sheriff Chuck Wilkens. "When he got out of the car, he started walking to school. He did not want to miss breakfast and PE."

Obviously there are some bad parts of this story...but don't you love his determination and persistence?

Go here to read the whole story.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Math Question = Forgiveness

A backhoe weighing 22 tons is on top of a lowboy trailer heading east on Interstate 70 near Hays, Kansas.

The extended shovel arm is made of hardened refined steel and the approaching overpass is made of commercial-grade concrete, re-enforced with 1 1/2 inch steel rebar spaced at 6 inch intervals in a criss-cross pattern layered at 1 foot vertical spacing.

Solve: When the shovel arm hits the overpass, how fast does the driver have to be going to slice the bridge in half ? Assume no effect for headwind and no braking by the driver.

Extra Credit: Solve for the time and distance required for the entire rig to come to a complete stop after hitting the overpass at the speed calculated above. Yes, you can neglect friction.










I couldn't solve it either, but who cares!

Just remember this the next time someone around you makes a mistake and know that mistakes can and will happen...and most of them won't be as costly as the one above!

So forgive easily!

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Matthew 6:14-15

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Bummer

Well, the annual Ohio State bowl loss happened in the desert last night in the Fiesta Bowl. Actually, it just kind of feels that way lately. Ohio State has had some incredible bowl wins in recent years; however, they have lost the last three.

Two years ago, they were pounded by Florida in the national title game. Last year they were soundly beaten by LSU in the championship game and this year they were edged out by a very good Texas Longhorn team on a Colt McCoy touchdown pass with 16 seconds remaining to lose 24-21.

In their last two bowl losses I did not feel good about the games because I felt that the Buckeyes just did not play well. In fact, many say they did not show up at all. The same cannot be said about their play last night.

Nobody was giving Ohio State a chance against the high-powered Texas offense and the experts had Texas as an 8 point favorite. Ohio State held them to their lowest scoring output of the season in nearly upsetting them and I thought they played very well and gave it their all.

No matter what we do in life, whether it is playing football or making a sales call, if we give it our best that is all we can ask. We can then rest easy knowing the outcome is in God's hands.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23

Monday, January 05, 2009

Sabbath

One of my goals in 2009 is to do a much better job of practicing a Sabbath. I have known for a long time that it is one of the 10 commandments, yet, I haven't taken it very seriously. After all, I have lots of stuff to do!

I am starting to look at it a little differently, thanks to God's whispers (and sometimes shouts) in my ear. I am beginning to see a day of rest as a gift to me from God. When I don't take advantage of that and accept that gift, I will be less effective the rest of my week. I will actually be robbing myself.

Yesterday, I had a day of rest and, while it was a bit awkward at first (I was still looking for things to do from time to time), I thoroughly enjoyed it. I do feel more refreshed and ready to take on this week. Thanks God!

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
Exodus 20:8-11