Proverbs 11:28 (MSG) A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.
The marketplace is filled with people who are building. And building, per se, is good. It’s not the building that’s the problem: it is what one is “devoted to” in that “building” that’s the issue.
Jesus ben Joseph (as, no doubt, he was known in his younger days), this builder, artisan, craftsman from Nazareth, was known for his trade, his work. Among the responsibilities of a Jewish father to his sons were circumcision, and the teaching of a trade – in this case, the potential of a tree (the kind of wood, what could be done with it, what it was best for). Joseph did his job.
More importantly, that teaching included building an understanding of the “Why” of Jewish rites and beliefs. God intended His people to build lives with eternal meaning – not just temporal excellence - and fathers were to pass down to sons that rich heritage of excellence and eternity.
Of course the people with whom he grew up were confused when Jesus the craftsman returned as Jesus the Rabi with a bunch of followers. Where is theological training? He’s an artisan, not a theologian! Jesus, the Christ, came into the world when there existed the same confusion then as today – the scared is over there; the secular is here; and never the twain shall meet. The worship of dead stuff has always been a poor, but widely accepted, substitute for the workshop of the living.
Devoting one’s life to the accumulation of power, prestige, and play–things yield stuff, but not satisfaction: Success, but not significance. Devoting self to the living and eternal should change how we do business: for some of us, power and prestige will follow – not because it’s pursued, but because God wants to show Himself alive in our lives.
The power of our influence will flow out of the prestige of doing business so well that others want to know the how and why.
Upon what are you focused – success (a stump) or significance (a tree)?
Copyright © 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
Showing posts with label influence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label influence. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
10 Additional Ways to Influence the Workplace
1 - 10
11. Practice being open to others by actively listening to them and not “telling” them
12. Daily prepare your heart so you are not seduced by subtle ethical distinctions – subtlety has a way of sneaking up – ambushes work on the ill prepared – be prepared.
13. Develop your personal purpose statement (Why were you created - born? What are you meant to accomplish?) and lead from it (and we all lead no matter our title)
14. As a person thinks so is he – therefore, practice Phil 4: 8-9 “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable – if excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.
15. Be present in all your business conversations – connect with the person speaking – listening is an active activity – passive listening does not honor the speaker
16. Develop inner contentment – joy is accepting the circumstances with an understanding that our loving Father wants what is best for us in spite of the stuff happening around us. The peace of God is directly related to our anxiety.
17. Remember – you are a steward of this company, this team, this project, this business idea, this family – you and I own nothing.
18. Make all business decisions with integrity remembering that wealth is not a goal but a consequence
19. Idle words are dangerous – practice clear, concise, encouraging, edifying conversation
20. Understand what drives you (how God wired you) and then understand how God has wired others and communicate with them in the style that best meets their needs – not yours.
Copyright (c) 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
11. Practice being open to others by actively listening to them and not “telling” them
12. Daily prepare your heart so you are not seduced by subtle ethical distinctions – subtlety has a way of sneaking up – ambushes work on the ill prepared – be prepared.
13. Develop your personal purpose statement (Why were you created - born? What are you meant to accomplish?) and lead from it (and we all lead no matter our title)
14. As a person thinks so is he – therefore, practice Phil 4: 8-9 “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable – if excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.
15. Be present in all your business conversations – connect with the person speaking – listening is an active activity – passive listening does not honor the speaker
16. Develop inner contentment – joy is accepting the circumstances with an understanding that our loving Father wants what is best for us in spite of the stuff happening around us. The peace of God is directly related to our anxiety.
17. Remember – you are a steward of this company, this team, this project, this business idea, this family – you and I own nothing.
18. Make all business decisions with integrity remembering that wealth is not a goal but a consequence
19. Idle words are dangerous – practice clear, concise, encouraging, edifying conversation
20. Understand what drives you (how God wired you) and then understand how God has wired others and communicate with them in the style that best meets their needs – not yours.
Copyright (c) 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010
10 Ways to Influence the Workplace
1. Don’t worship self – work on your internal attitude – remember: it’s not all about you!
2. Value others – by tangible, external expressions - like expressing appreciation or saying “Thank you!” and meaning it.
3. Lead with a moral compass – if you have not thought about your core values, just ask yourself this question: “What would Christ do?”
4. Remember what a wise writer once wrote: – Accept the words of Wisdom as truth; memorize them and store them up; tune your ear to listen to people who are grounded in Wisdom; apply your heart to wisdom; i.e. your mind, will and emotions; and, finally, call for insight, ask for wisdom and cry aloud for understanding.
5. Realize that innovations, insights and impact in the market have their source in God – by doing this an attitude adjustment will follow which will be reflected in your treat other people
6. Show a concern for truth by the questions you ask peers, subordinates and bosses
7. When leading a team or a company, practice humility, modesty and shared decision-making
8. Practice personal discipline to guard your heart with being daily in the Word
9. Build influence by being authentic – For example: when you don’t know, don’t fake it: say you don’t know, but will find out.
10. Practice, with diligence, the art of observing, learning from results (good or bad – no matter), teaching what is learned and mentoring someone to take your place
Copyright (c) 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
2. Value others – by tangible, external expressions - like expressing appreciation or saying “Thank you!” and meaning it.
3. Lead with a moral compass – if you have not thought about your core values, just ask yourself this question: “What would Christ do?”
4. Remember what a wise writer once wrote: – Accept the words of Wisdom as truth; memorize them and store them up; tune your ear to listen to people who are grounded in Wisdom; apply your heart to wisdom; i.e. your mind, will and emotions; and, finally, call for insight, ask for wisdom and cry aloud for understanding.
5. Realize that innovations, insights and impact in the market have their source in God – by doing this an attitude adjustment will follow which will be reflected in your treat other people
6. Show a concern for truth by the questions you ask peers, subordinates and bosses
7. When leading a team or a company, practice humility, modesty and shared decision-making
8. Practice personal discipline to guard your heart with being daily in the Word
9. Build influence by being authentic – For example: when you don’t know, don’t fake it: say you don’t know, but will find out.
10. Practice, with diligence, the art of observing, learning from results (good or bad – no matter), teaching what is learned and mentoring someone to take your place
Copyright (c) 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
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