Making a very little adjustment to the weights in ancient times could become very profitable for the wealth-driven business person. In business today, although we don't use the same kind of scales, it is still the little things that can make a big difference. The CRA-induced financial crisis is an example of a collection of little changes (demands on banks to lend to those who would not normally qualify) that has had a huge impact on global business today.
Slight, very small “adjustments” in how the inventory is recognized is another example that can have an impact on value of a firm. Recognizing revenue is fraught with minefields of gray areas where small decisions can affect the financial statement.
A little adjustment here, a little lie there and white lies everywhere yielding a response to the question, “What can I get away with?" Our culture today presents leaders with many opportunities for self-righteous behaviors; but for those who understand that they work for God, and not humans, the small stuff, while remaining critical, becomes easier to handle when we begin to assimilate the truth that running a business is a heart thing.
Even as business people, Believers are called to pursue God, not “advantage.” We are called to righteousness, not riches. We are called to multiply what He has given us for His glory.
Are you delighting God?
Proverbs 11:1 (NASB) A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight.
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Showing posts with label attitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label attitude. Show all posts
Monday, May 11, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: The Value of Others
God’s laws, like principles of leadership, are fundamentally about two issues: personal integrity and the value of others. Robin S. Sharma in Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari put it this way: “The greatest privilege of leadership is the chance to elevate lives."
Robert E. Staub - (The Heart of Leadership: 12 Practices of a Courageous Leader) - reveals that those who purport to lead - but fail - do so because they don't understand who it is they're trying to lead. Sometimes, evaluations of the team are based upon the wrong criteria – they may well be the right “people on the bus” and leaders miss it because they are not holding the skills possessed as “precious.”
According to Jim Collins, “The good-to-great leaders understood …[a] simple truth…. if you begin with “who,” rather than “what,” you can more easily adapt to a changing world.” What I have learned is that working on developing the “who” is a rigorous process and takes competency, intimacy, integrity, and passion.
Leaders know what is precious: It not the stuff that must be done; rather, it’s the people who team with them to get it done.
Who is (or is it “what is”) most precious to you?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Robert E. Staub - (The Heart of Leadership: 12 Practices of a Courageous Leader) - reveals that those who purport to lead - but fail - do so because they don't understand who it is they're trying to lead. Sometimes, evaluations of the team are based upon the wrong criteria – they may well be the right “people on the bus” and leaders miss it because they are not holding the skills possessed as “precious.”
According to Jim Collins, “The good-to-great leaders understood …[a] simple truth…. if you begin with “who,” rather than “what,” you can more easily adapt to a changing world.” What I have learned is that working on developing the “who” is a rigorous process and takes competency, intimacy, integrity, and passion.
Leaders know what is precious: It not the stuff that must be done; rather, it’s the people who team with them to get it done.
Who is (or is it “what is”) most precious to you?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: Lighting the Way
Qualities of a business leader often deal with competency, care, and communication. Great qualities to develop. Christian leaders must develop both secular standards of leadership and scared standard that may include providing sound, Biblically-based advice, good teaching that provide “light” and living a life of moral discipline.
Life is not simple and neither is leading.
It is about being a light. Light has a way of revealing. Christian leaders must distinguish right from wrong even in the face of what might be "legal," but not righteous, in God's eyes.
Is the “light” of your life revealing Christ in you?
Proverbs 6:23 (MSG) For sound advice [that had come from Wisdom] is a beacon, good teaching is a light, and moral discipline is a life path.
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Life is not simple and neither is leading.
The ability to discern truth and righteousness demands, of leaders, something beyond their natural skills. Being known as a Christian business leader should have an eternal impact on the lives around you.Business is in constant flux. Capital gets depleted. Priorities change. Boards demand progress. Individual contributors are often driven by self-centered motives painted in the texture and hue of team effort. Complexities arise very often fraught with gray areas that take special wisdom.
It is about being a light. Light has a way of revealing. Christian leaders must distinguish right from wrong even in the face of what might be "legal," but not righteous, in God's eyes.
Is the “light” of your life revealing Christ in you?
Proverbs 6:23 (MSG) For sound advice [that had come from Wisdom] is a beacon, good teaching is a light, and moral discipline is a life path.
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Friday, May 1, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: In Tough Times Leaders Relax Then Lead
Thoughts about leadership come from many diverse sources. While thinking about sharing my thoughts on stillness and resting, relaxing and leading, I was in bed, also reading a Tanenbaum novel last night wherein this description awoke my thinking:
That author captured the both the wonder of stillness and result it produces. This result will impact all those around - all those watching you. You want to be a magnet of quiet meaning to those seeking rest and relaxation from the troubles of their life? Relax.
If lost in the woods, we are taught to be still. Stay in one place. Our nature is to move. Run. Flee. Frantically find the way out. Instead of frenetic activity, on writer advised, "I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother."1
This verse says there is a simple method that will provide what you need to learn to relax – and it’s free!
Go deep into life – be still. It takes patience and discipline to quiet self and listen to the still, small voice of our Creator. For hard chargers like me, it is difficult to quiet my mind, my soul and my body – and I want God to shout. Being still – relaxing – I have learned will help you discover your way.
Do life right: Shift your focus. Being self-absorbed brings anxiety: Becoming God-absorbed yields relaxation. The choice should be clear.
In the stillness, to whom are you paying attention?
Proverbs 1:33 (MSG) "First pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy--you're in good hands.
Copyright © 2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
1 David, in Psalm 131:2
“Lucy in the meantime was exercising her primary religious talent…simply keeping still and reflecting in peace and gratitude. This had a radiating effect on the other lunchers.”
That author captured the both the wonder of stillness and result it produces. This result will impact all those around - all those watching you. You want to be a magnet of quiet meaning to those seeking rest and relaxation from the troubles of their life? Relax.
If lost in the woods, we are taught to be still. Stay in one place. Our nature is to move. Run. Flee. Frantically find the way out. Instead of frenetic activity, on writer advised, "I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother."1
This verse says there is a simple method that will provide what you need to learn to relax – and it’s free!
Go deep into life – be still. It takes patience and discipline to quiet self and listen to the still, small voice of our Creator. For hard chargers like me, it is difficult to quiet my mind, my soul and my body – and I want God to shout. Being still – relaxing – I have learned will help you discover your way.
Do life right: Shift your focus. Being self-absorbed brings anxiety: Becoming God-absorbed yields relaxation. The choice should be clear.
In the stillness, to whom are you paying attention?
Proverbs 1:33 (MSG) "First pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy--you're in good hands.
Copyright © 2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
1 David, in Psalm 131:2
Monday, April 27, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: Barrier-breaking Leadership
Once they knew that their Redeemer lived, the hearts of the earliest church leaders changed from fearful to focused, becoming bold breakers of cultural and religious barriers. They faced the world with new hearts and became models of leadership to follow.
Consider the place of women in this community. At the first recorded prayer-meeting, women were present; incredibly, praying with the men. Unheard of in the Jewish synagogues, this was a radical result of the leadership of the Great Servant-Leader. The gender-barrier broken, ethnic barriers fell, and these leaders ultimately changed the diet of the early church. These, and other barrier-breaking behaviors, were lived out in deeds - not just motivating words and were born of hearts broken of self and filled with the Lord of the Universe.
From their lives (especially seen in the book of Acts), we learn that a heart committed to life of significance is educated through a commitment to prayer, enlightened by reading and meditating on the Word, and ultimately empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The result? Even in the workplace, as you work to break down societal and cultural barriers, your heart, reflected in your countenance, will attract followers who want what you have – the beauty of becoming a magnet of meaning to those seeking meaning.
What do you see reflected when you gaze into the mirror? Do you have the heart to break barriers?
Proverbs 27:19 (NIV) As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.
Copyright © 2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Consider the place of women in this community. At the first recorded prayer-meeting, women were present; incredibly, praying with the men. Unheard of in the Jewish synagogues, this was a radical result of the leadership of the Great Servant-Leader. The gender-barrier broken, ethnic barriers fell, and these leaders ultimately changed the diet of the early church. These, and other barrier-breaking behaviors, were lived out in deeds - not just motivating words and were born of hearts broken of self and filled with the Lord of the Universe.
From their lives (especially seen in the book of Acts), we learn that a heart committed to life of significance is educated through a commitment to prayer, enlightened by reading and meditating on the Word, and ultimately empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The result? Even in the workplace, as you work to break down societal and cultural barriers, your heart, reflected in your countenance, will attract followers who want what you have – the beauty of becoming a magnet of meaning to those seeking meaning.
What do you see reflected when you gaze into the mirror? Do you have the heart to break barriers?
Proverbs 27:19 (NIV) As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.
Copyright © 2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
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