30 Business No No’s (2)

It’s a “No No” to let your workplace get infected!

Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious—don't get infected.[1] Solomon

Like a virus… bad temper is contagious!

Do you remember the bird flu?  Do you remember the steps we were taking to get vaccine to people?  We stopped flights in from China.  People were being screened.  There were pictures on the television of men and women wearing masks.  Every effort was made to prevent the bird flu from getting to these United States.  When it comes to anger we have the same responsibility as leaders. 

I was recently eating lunch with my wife at her place of employment when her team erupted.  There was a loud and abusive conversation between two members of the team.  Her workplace divides each level into pods for creative planning and to encourage the exchange of ideas between team members.  However, there is no training on how to handle conflict or on how to deal with abusive language and personality conflicts.   They are only reminded that they are to behave professionally in their work environment.  This amounts to a slap on the wrist for emotionally toxic individuals who are selfish and self focused rather than team centered in their approach. 

Individuals who act in such a way discourage productivity and stifle creative workers from achieving.  When an employer allows toxic workers to go unchecked he actually loses the better employees.  One unknown author stated it this way.  Anger is one letter short of danger. [2] If you are a leader, understand this, you cannot allow the workplace to become infected with an angry individual.  It is a “No No” to let the workplace become infected with anger. 

The fact is that words kill.  Careless angry words between employees, staff, administrators, and even families kill.  What do they kill?  They will kill your business.  They can kill your family.  They can kill the productivity of the team.  Toxic people let loose their anger when they are frustrated, or feel threatened.  These emotionally disabled employees are an infection to the teams they are one because they kill the joy of going to work.  Words spoken in anger kill productivity.  Even Jesus acknowledged the disabling affects of anger.  He said, "…  Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.[3]

A study from the University of Washington is in agreement.  They titled their study “Bad Apples”.  They describe the workers as like a “Virus”. 

A study from the University of Washington Business School published in Research in Organizational Behavior in 2007 examined how negative behavior by one person in an organization can impact on teams and groups. Researchers describe these individuals as "bad apples" acting like a virus within teams, with the capacity to "upset or spoil the whole apple cart". [4]

Don’t get infected!

I found this article on line from HR magazine from December 1996 issuing a warning to CEO’s, leaders, and business men about the infection of anger in the workplace.  "This is a very real problem for American business," said Hendrie Weisinger, "Management can't just ignore this any longer."  Employees aged 18 to 34 are more than four times as likely to report feeling angry than workers aged 50 and over, …”  "These are real issues to the employee," said Weisinger. "They hurt productivity. They block the teamwork that managers say they want. And, tragically, they lead to the explosions of violence and aggressive behavior that are now all too frequent occurrences in the American workplace."[5]

The apostle Paul when dealing with the organization of the church issued this statement to the churches.  “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.”[6]  Paul

            As leaders you can’t tolerate toxic people.   I think this is admonition from Paul to his leaders to be aggressive about protecting the environment of the church from toxic people.  Get rid of it.  This policy is applicable to business.  Outbursts which are foolish and spoil the workplace should be offenses which lead to an individual being terminated. In the book The Five Dysfunctions of Team by Patrick Lencioni, Lencioni talks about the necessity of building trust in the work place.  A team that trusts each other will not be absent of conflict rather it will be free to engage in conflict.  The character of such discussions in a healthy team allows for disagreement and creative thinking.  However, the team is absent of anger and emotionally toxic behavior.  Allowing teammates that uses their words aggressively breaks down trust.  These must be terminated as necessary. 

            Getting rid of infected employees goes beyond merely firing a toxic employee.  As leaders you have to staff for emotional changes which take place in your workforce.  One thing I would encourage every company to do is to find spiritual counselors who are prepared to assist with employees who are going through difficult life changes.  If an employee is going through divorce, dealing with loss of some kind, or losing their home do not expect that employee to be that productive and remember their emotional status will infect the rest of their team if they are endeared to them and even if they are not.  As leaders you get rid of emotionally toxic environments in your team by finding spiritual advisors to assist you.  This step is proactive and in this way you are working toward getting rid of the emotionally toxic work environment by being prepared. 

            Getting rid of the infected workplace environment requires that you establish values and a code of behavior for your workplace.  This may seem a bit severe; however, clearly communicating your expectations for behavior in the workplace is essential.  Every employee should know and understand what acceptable behavior in the workplace is.  As a leader we cannot assume that employees know right from wrong or understand what is acceptable office behavior or conduct.  If you want to get rid of all anger and bitterness in the workplace clearly communicate your expectations for behavior and reward and discipline when necessary. 

            Evaluate your attitude.  This is a big key in getting rid of such behaviors.  Leaders have a great influence on the behaviors of their employees.  If you have a bad temper you will likely attract bad tempered people.  “As goes the leader so goes the followers” Author Unknown.  You company will naturally take on the attitude, vision, and values that you hold as a leader.   If you want to get rid of the toxic angry words in the workplace begin with you first and do some soul searching. 

            Finally, do everything you can to prevent yourself from hiring people who are toxic or angry.  As a leader you are the primary protector of your workplace.  It begins with who you allow to work for you.  Hrmguide.com warns leaders about miss firing on hiring. 

"Managers at companies, particularly those in which employees often work in teams, should take special care when hiring new employees. This would include checking references and administering personality tests so that those who are really low on agreeableness, emotional stability or conscientiousness are screened out." [7]

Make no apologies for protecting the life and joy of your workplace.  Work is a necessity for us, but who said it needs to feel like work. 

Let’s review.  To keep from getting infected  you should fire toxic employees when necessary.  Second, you should prepare to take care of your employees by providing counselors for emotional situations. Third, you should let your expectations for behavior be known up front.  Fourth, you should evaluate how your attitude is affecting the workplace.  Lastly, don’t hire toxic people. 

It’s a “No No” to let your workplace be infected with angry or toxic people!

Roundtable:

1.     How do angry people diminish productivity in the workplace?

2.     Describe a work situation where you were confronted with an angry or toxic individual.  How was it handled? 

3.     What is your policy for behavior in the workplace?  Has it been clearly communicated? 

4.     What was the best work situation you have ever been in?  What made it a good place to work? 

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[1] MSG, Proverbs 22:24-25; Biblegateway.com/ March 4, 2009; 10:25 AM

[2] (http://www.quotegarden.com/anger.html/ March 3, 2009: 8:10 PM)

[3] (MSG, Matthew 5:22-23 " www.biblegateway.com/  March 3, 2009; 8:25 PM)

[4] http://www.hrmguide.com/commitment/negative-behavior.htm/ March 4, 2009; 10:35

[5](Workplace anger, a growing problem HR Magazine ,  Dec, 1996   by Elaine McShulskis;http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3495/is_n12_v41/ai_19099646/ March 3, 2009; 8:45)

[6] (NLT, Ephesians 4:31  www.biblegateway.com/  March 3, 2009; 8:30 PM)

[7] http://www.hrmguide.com/commitment/negative-behavior.htm/ March 4, 2009; 10:35

30 Business “No No’s” (1)

1. Do not Destroy the Competition

Don't walk on the poor just because they're poor, and don't use your position to crush the weak (in the market place), because God will come to their defense; the life you took, he'll take from you and give back to them.[1] Solomon

Don’t walk over the poor just because they are poor.

In the early years of our country the colonies were very poor and having just fought the French and Indian war the need for extra funds was expressed from the mother country of England.  Our forefathers did not like the idea of being taxed as you may well know.  They felt as though they were being walk on and taken advantage of.  The English felt they had the right to tax the colonies because these were cities nurtured under the wings of England.  However, our forefathers felt now sense of obligation to pay when being taxed without representation.  Since most of the colonist fled from England for religious reasons there was no sense of duty to a country that had cast them out as criminals.

          During this time a man named Ben Franklin began using a symbol of a snake in his writings to try to create a more unified group of colonies.  He believed a rattle snake was the best image of the colonies.  When the revolutionary war broke an anonymous writer who called himself, “The American Guesser” wrote to the Pennsylvania Journal that he had observed some marines of the Navy flying a flag with a rattlesnake on it.  He then went on to describe why he guessed that the rattlesnake would be a good symbol for the American colonies against the English. 

First, it occurred to him that "the Rattle-Snake is found in no other quarter of the world besides America."

The rattlesnake also has sharp eyes, and "may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance." Furthermore,

"She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. ... she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her."

Finally, "I confess I was wholly at a loss what to make of the rattles, 'till I went back and counted them and found them just thirteen, exactly the number of the Colonies united in America; and I recollected too that this was the only part of the Snake which increased in numbers. ...

"'Tis curious and amazing to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this animal are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. One of those rattles singly, is incapable of producing sound, but the ringing of thirteen together, is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living." [2]

The flag that was raised was yellow and had a coiled snake in the middle and on the bottom it read, “Don’t tread on me.” 

England tried to oppress the poor colonies of these United States and they received a supernatural defeat in the Revolutionary War.  In business we must make it our duty to treat others justly and with integrity in the marketplace.  We should never use our position or influence to harm or take advantage of another.  The temptation in today’s business culture to make quick money and use people is prevalent.  It is a “no no” to walk over people to achieve success.

Don’t use your position to crush the weak. 

“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”[3]

The original language of scripture uses the words “rob and destroy.”  The idea is that a person in the marketplace with power and influence would use their position to destroy and rob from those that were not as influential.  Their actions would not merely put another person out of business but would essentially take their clients and their lively hood away.  It would crush them and the competition for their products would be diminished. This in turn creates a situation where one company controls the price of a product. 

An example of this is what Amazon is doing to its publishers.  I have quoted from an recent bloggingstock article.

In the last few days, bookselling giant Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) has made a few more enemies in the publishing world by forcing the little-known group of print-on-demand (POD) publishers to either submit to using its POD subsidiary, Booksurge, or risk being prohibited from selling on its industry-leading website. No matter the cost and complications of breaking off relationships with other vendors, reformatting books and a host of other problems, Amazon laid down the law, saying convert -- and do it quickly -- or face the consequences. [4]

These kinds of practices are a business “No No”.  For business to work there must be competition.  Competition is good because it secures for the customer the lowest price for a product. 

          Why should any business care about ensuring competition in the work place?  Why should we be concerned with who gets walked on when we are doing business?  Every business has a Boss.  Our boss, our master is the Lord.  Whatever we do is to be done for the Lord.  We are to work and do business as though we doing it for our Lord.  He is our judge and the defender of those who are poor and weak that we have greater influence over.  We exist to honor him in how we do business. 

 (CEO) Masters … You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.[5]

Round table: 

How do you balance making a profit with being a good competitor? What services do you offer that larger companies cannot? Have you ever felt like you didn’t have any choice in the service that you wanted?  What did you do?  How prevalent is the “dog eats dog” mentality in business?  Why is competition good for the marketplace?

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[1] The Message, Proverbs 22:22-23

[2] http://www.foundingfathers.info/stories/gadsden.html#franklin/ February 25, 2009; 12:10 PM

[3] http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/absolute_power

 February 26, 2009; 12:05 PM

[4] http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/02/amazon-bullying-raises-monopoly-and-business-concerns  February 26, 2009; 11:45 AM

[5] MSG Ephesians 6:9

A Virtous and Capable Leader

A Virtuous and Capable Leader!

(BASED ON PROVERBS 31)

ACCOMPLISHED:  Who can find a virtuous and capable leader?  They are more precious than rubies.

BELIEF:  The Company can trust in them, and the company will be greatly enriched by their leadership.

CONSEQUENCES:  The leader brings them good, not harm, all the days of the leader’s life.  

DETERMINED PURPOSE:  The leader finds wool and flax and busily spins it. ¹⁴ The Leader is like a merchant’s ship, bringing food from afar.  (Filled with good things)

DAILY PLAN:  ¹⁵ The Leader gets up before dawn to prepare for the physical needs of their company and plan the day’s work for the employees. 

ENDOWMENT:  The leader goes to inspect a field and buys it; with the earnings the leader plants a vineyard.  

WORK ETHIC:  The leaders is energetic and strong, a hard worker.  ¹⁸ The leader makes sure all the dealings are profitable; the leaders lamp burns late into the night.

FORWARD LOOKING:  The leader’s hands are busy with preparation.

GENEROUS:  ²⁰ The leader extends a helping hand to the poor and opens his arms to the needy.

“HOW TO”:  The leader has no fear of (recession) winter for the company, for everyone has been prepared.   ²² The leader makes his own blankets. The leader dresses in fine linen and purple clothing.

INTEGRITY: ²³ The leader’s character is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.  …

JUST CONFIDENT:  The leader is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs without fear of the future. ²⁶

KIND & WISE WORDS:  When the leader speaks, the leader’s words are wise, and the leader gives instructions with kindness.

LEAVES NO STONE UNTURNED:  The leader carefully watches everything in the company and suffers nothing from laziness. 

“MAKE HEY”: The leader’s family and company stand and bless the leader.  The leader’s spouse praises them:  ²⁹ “There are many virtuous and capable leaders in the world, but you surpass them all!” ³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a leader who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 

NICE BENEFITS:  Reward a leader for all they have done. Let the leader’s deeds publicly declare their praise.

Titanic Maxims

Big Idea:   Avoid making Titanic Decisions that will sink you as a leader!

            100 years ago this month the class of all cruise ships set sail across the Atlantic Ocean.  The Titanic sank early in the morning on April 15 taking with her most of her crew, the captain, and 1500 people were lost.   This ship with its beauty and high class has captured our attention as nation.  It has spawned several movies.  It has led to countless expeditions in search of her resting spot.  The latest movie in her honor was just recently rereleased in 3D.   On this anniversary of sorts I want to take a look at some of the maxims we get from the story of the Titanic. 

1.     Unsinkable 

It was the beginning of the twentieth century and people had absolute faith in new science and technology. They believed that science in the twentieth century could and would provide answers to solve all problems.[i]

             A lot of what was being written about the Ship from White Star lines described the ship as “practically unsinkable.”  This idea about Titanic rapidly spread.  It was the beginning of a new era of “progressive” thinking in our country.  This is an era that would lead many to have greater faith in science than in God.  However, this all came crashing down when the practically unsinkable Titanic hit an iceberg and was lost.  “Unsinkable” was based on the knowledge of the new designs in the Titanic with 12 separated water tight holds that electronically could be opened and closed in the event of the ship taking on water.  The icebergs gash was made across about 5 of these holds rendering the gates ineffective.  Science sinks and ice; well it floats! I don’t think that White Star lines believed the Titanic or for that matter any of its ships were “unsinkable”. 
             However, they were certainly promoting the idea and myth that Titanic was “unsinkable” for profit.  The Captain and crew and many of the passengers believing the Titanic was “unsinkable” did not run any safety drills for loading the life boats.  The ownership failed to put enough life boats on the ship believing in her unsinkable design.  There were only enough life boats for about half the passengers.  Some of the guests on board stayed on board rather than getting in a life boat because they believed the Titanic even though listing would not sink. 

Principle:  Humbly work hard and trust in God for your security, and profitability!  Only the “ark” which was designed by God was unsinkable.  There is no such thing as a full proof thing on this earth.   You can fail in business, ministry, and in life.  The moment you make yourself unbreakable, unsinkable, full proof down you go.  Pride comes before a fall and haughty spirit before a crash. 

2.    The “Just missed it” club! [ii]

Guglielmo Marconi, The Italian inventor, wireless telegraphy pioneer and winner of the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics was offered free passage on Titanic but had taken the Lusitania three days earlier. As his daughter Degna later explained, he had paperwork to do and preferred the public stenographer aboard that vessel.  Milton Hershey, The Inventor of the Hershey candy bar missed the ship.  J. P. Morgan, He owned interest in White Star lines, but missed his ship for a back rub and bath. John R. Mott, Evangelist missionary and leader of the YMCA missed the boat.  An Heir of the Vanderbilt estate also missed the boat. These joined The “Just Missed It” club.  Their shipped had already sailed and while initially they were dejected their sadness soon faded when they heard of the loss of Titanic.  Almost all of these famous people seemed to have their priorities in line.  One had paper work, another was taking time to relax, Mott took a lesser ship that sailed earlier, and still others had priorities which were more important than catching their ship. 

Principle:  Priorities are essential for success in life and in the long run.   There will always be other ships!  Just because you missed this one doesn’t mean there will never be another one.  

3.    “Be British”

What you do when failure is imminent will be all of the legacy you leave for others to follow.  On the plaque that is below the statue of Captain Edward John Smith is the statement believed to be his last words.  It reads, “Commander Edward John Smith, RD, RNR. Born January 27 1850 Died April 15 1912, Bequeathing to his countrymen the memory and example of a great heart, a brave life and a heroic death. Be British.”[iii]  He heroically went down with the Titanic and his body was never recovered.  However, he was seen moments before the sinking and gave these last words to his crew as Titanic sank, “Be British my men”.[iv]

By all accounts the truest sense of the Captain’s words meant that these men were to by his command serve, assist, and die in a fashion that would bring honor to their families and country.   There death was sure, the only doubt left in the moment of this tragedy was the character of each man being asked to serve those who aboard. The only doubt left was who would lead in this crisis, and there standing with a blow horn in his hand shouting to him men was the Captain, “Be British”!

Principle:  Leaders must be visible in a crisis moment giving the example to follow for those under their charge and care. 

       You can’t lead from behind the desk, or behind the wheel in a crisis.  You must be visible, your commands clear, and your example unwavering.  About 700 people were saved because of the leadership of this man.  His crew didn’t abandon their posts though death was certain for each.  His life and body are gone, but his memory and legacy are intact. He failed as a navigator, but he succeeded as a Captain and leader.

4.    And the band played on[v]

I was listening to Dr. Bill Bennett’s morning show yesterday as I took my kids to work.  He had guest on who discussing just what the band was playing and he seemed to disavow the idea that the band would have played anything other than jazz as they were going down with the ship.  I asked myself what kind of men were these men who played, and why when they were under no obligation continue to play when they could have found safety in a life boat?  

            I found this article on line of quotes from people who knew the band leader Wallace Hartley.  It seems that Hartley was a church going man at a Methodist church and was very faithful in attendance when he was on land.   He was asked by a friend what he would do if he was ever on a sinking ship and he stated that he loved the song “Nearer my God to thee.”  He also had a sense that music was a great weapon against disorder and he used music to assist in such cases.  All this is mentioned in the article I have sighted below.   It seems that Hartley had contemplated and prepared himself for the inevitability of being on a sinking ship.  He had a prepared response to assist in those horrifying moments.  I have no doubt that this is likely why the band played on.   What kind of leader can compel those that follow him and play with him to assist in such a manner?  A prepared leader must make plans for every contingency if he is going to navigate and lead when the ship is sinking.  How glorifying to God that the band played on.  I believe they played “Nearer My God to Thee” accepting at that moment that their task was to be a weapon against chaos in a moment that was tragic. (Steve Turner, “The Band that Played On”)

Principle:  All abilities, gifts, are a weapon against chaos.

Principle:  Christ is the foundation of great character.  In Christ we understand duty, endurance, suffering, meekness and the like!  Without Christ there is chaos, but with Christ character, commitment, and conscience!

Principle:  Use your gifts and abilities for greater causes.  There are times when money is not the greatest motivator.  There are times when financial benefit is not what is most beneficial.  Know the difference and serve those that need what you have been given by God above.  

5.     Missed Signals

Titanic was equipped with a telegraph but it was of no use and at the very least poorly used. 

Titanic was warned by early ships passing ahead of her of the icebergs in her path.  These messages were either missed by the telegraph operator or ignored by the captain.  The Titanic in desperation sent it flares up in the darkness in a last ditch effort to notify nearby ships for assistance.  The nearest ship’s telegraph operator had turned off his radio and gone to bed.  The flares were viewed as celebration fireworks from a ship on its maiden voyage and ignore by near ships that had no radios for messages.   It seems that every possible opportunity to communicate was blundered to some degree and that the cosmic fate of the Titanic was stutteringly imminent.   Signals were missed, misunderstood, and mishandled. 

Principle:  Have a plan for communicating clearly in all situations! 

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[i] http://historyonthenet.com/Titanic/unsinkable.htm

[ii] http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Seven-Famous-People-Who-Missed-the-Titanic

[iii] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Smith_(sea_captain)

[iv] http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/be-british-my-men-capt-smiths-order.html

[v] http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/04/09/why-did-titanic-band-play-on/

Prepare the Ground!

1. There is seed “A message” “A Gospel” a product your must give to others!

(What is your seed that you will scatter?) Luke 8:5-15 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. b. (Where is the best place to put your message, gospel, or product?)
• Footpath: As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it.

• Rocks: 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.

• Thorns: 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8

• Fertile Soil: Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

2. There is a vision, a dream, a desire, your gospel! (What is the vision for your company that makes your gospel important to the world?)
     a. What is the vision? Make sure your disciples get the Gospel! 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

     b. The Vision is exclusive to followers, to those committed to the Kingdom. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God.

     c. The vision should make others wonder, and seek to want to become followers. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’

3. Prepare the ground.
     a. What do others need to know that will motivate them to carry your vision in their hearts?

     b. This is God’s word about your company. It is Your Gospel! It is the most important message everyone in your kingdom should be able to share! 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word.

• The Footpath: Sowing your vision here means people will hear it but something will prevent your customer from believing it. (What is preventing customers from receiving your gospel? Is someone taking away or preventing customers from believing in your gospel, or product? How do you identify what is preventing and inhibiting the message?) 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.

• The Rocks: Sowing your vision here means people will hear it and be excited about it. They may very well buy your vision and become a customer. However along the way they will begin to lose interest in your gospel, your product and fall away. They lack the depth, or understanding of what makes your product so valuable. (What necessary information do customers need to grow deep roots? How can you break up the rocky soil and make it softer for those who lack understanding and need more information about the gospel? What are some of the temptations people who don’t understand will face regarding your business?) 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.

• The Thorns: Sowing your vision here means people will love what your vision is. They will join you and become your customer. However, they will face challenges because there will be many other companies with similar gospels or messages and they may well become confused about your gospel and vision over time. They will wonder what the benefit is for staying with your company? (How can you make your vision more distinctive? Can you clearly state the benefits and compare your vision to others? In what ways is your business in a crowded field? How have and how can the cares of this world and pleasures of this life diminish your vision for your company? What thorns are choking you out? Are there any benefits for customers who carry your vision for a period of time? How can you grow your customers too maturity? What defines a mature customer? 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

• The Good Soil: Sowing your seed here means that you have identified the people who will receive your gospel, and will carry your vision! These are the gospel clingers of your company, and they intern bring you new customers! (What reward is there for bringing a new customer to you? How can you encourage others to carry your gospel? Have you identified what companies, and organizations are best capable of using your gospel and carrying your vision? What customers cling and bring you new customers?) 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

Have a great product to talk about. Share the message and vision for that product in the right places, with the right people, and they will buy the product, talk about it, and carry your vision to others!

Have an Attitude!

Attitude is foundational to everything you desire to achieve and accomplish! I should say, “a good attitude” is foundational to achieving everything you envision.

Jesus started the Sermon on the mountain by addressing what the attitude should be of those who seek God and desire to live for God’s kingdom on this earth. It is one of the most challenging passages of all the Scriptures. Being needy, loving, forgiving, holy, and focused on God are not just actions, but attitudes of our heart and mind. These attitudes are foundational to living for God and being “Godly”! The attitudes Jesus spoke about demonstrate our desire for God! Desire can’t be faked.

1. Have an attitude that is easily spread.

Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching? ~Dennis and Wendy Mannering

A positive, vision filled attitude is one of the biggest contributions to growth that can be made by any leader! Is your attitude catching on? Yes it is. As goes the leader so goes the organization. Whatever your attitude it is being caught every day.

2. Have an attitude that leads to an evolution.

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~Winston Churchill

I love the speech that Sir Churchill made about surrendering. To summarize he said, “We will never surrender.” He realized that for his country to change to face the enemies and the challenges that it would need to face as a leader he had to set the tone. The English went from being overwhelmed to overwhelming conquers of their enemies. Churchill deserves much of the credit for the evolution of Britain during WW2 from an underdog to one of the Big dogs.

You will not experience the kind of progress you desire if you let a little frustration, a little anger, and a little fear control you. Progress is stifled by grumbling and complaining, and distress and discontent. A good attitude produces change and progress.

3. Have and attitude that is enthusiastic & enabling.

Don’t let your attitude be a disability! “Attitudinally challenged” is not a special needs issue.

The only disability in life is a bad attitude. ~Scott Hamilton

A leader with a positive attitude enables others to be drawn to his vision. Jesus had this kind of dynamic to his sermon on the mountain. He enthusiastically challenged those on the mountain to seek God, to long for Him, to love God and others even their enemies. Who would have believed you could even love your enemies prior to Jesus. He is the originator of that concept which is today widely accepted. Today we believe that if we live with the attitudes Jesus described that we are lights to the world. We shouldn’t hide such an attitude toward life as it lights up the world. So a leader with a bad attitude covers up the vision, the vitality, and value of his company. A leader with a positive attitude lights up the world with the value and vision for his corporation. He enables that vision to be carried by others!

If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm you will be fired with enthusiasm! Vince Lombardi

4. Have an attitude that exerts itself. Work for what you believe!

Make your optimism come true. Unknown

Effort is based in our attitude toward what we believe is going to happen. You cannot fake enthusiasm or effort. If the leader believes it is possible anything the leader believes can be achieved.

America put a man on the moon because a leader had the vision, believed it was possible, and then put the steps in place to make it happen. The man who walked on the moon said it was one small step, but one giant leap for mankind.

Your effort is essential in convincing others that you want to succeed. If the leader is working and endeavoring to achieve the vision then it will not happen.

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty! Winston Churchill

I recently watch the movie Secretariat. Almost everyone knows the story of the horse that loved to run and set the Belmont race track record to win the Triple Crown of horse racing. However, most don’t know about the incredible owner and that is what the movie undertakes to tell. Helen Bates "Penny" Chenery Tweedy was faced with difficult decisions as her father took ill and the family stable became financially insolvent. She was an example of how a positive attitude produces tremendous results.

Her character his ripe with the enthusiasm Penny displayed amid the obstacles she faced financially and the foes her horse would be challenged by.

This is not about going back. This is about life being ahead of you and you run at it! Because you never know how far you can run unless you run. Penny Chenery, Script from the movie Secretariat, 2010.

So I leave you with this challenge. Have an attitude that will let you run and run well.

More than three thousand years ago a man named Job complained to God about all his troubles and the Bible tells us that God answered. Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane? Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting? He paused fiercely, rejoicing in his strength and charges into the fray. He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing, He does not shy away from the sword. The quiver rattles against his side, along with the flashing spear and lance. In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground. He cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds. Penny Chenery, Script from the movie Secretariat, 2010

Charge! Get moving my friend by having an attitude that lets you run life well, and to win!

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Apostle Paul