Faith Venture

Fundamentals of Leadership

February 17, 2017

It’s Leadership Friday here at the Faith Venture ranch.

For some reason, some people would say it’s God talking of course but it just could have been the coffee, while meditating this morning I began reflecting on several businesses or projects I’ve gotten myself involved in.

Great potential for doing good. Most of the time pulled it off well. A couple of swings missed the ball, but that’s life.

Failure to plan on your part does not constitute a crisis on mine.

I thought of this old phrase. Failure to plan.

Was there a budget?

Good question. Sometimes you go off spending money, bringing in many resources only to discover in the end that there was never going to be sufficient income to pay for it all.

Several times in my life I have been left with expenditures made with no money to cover it. Oops.

Budgeting is a discipline. It must be done early in the process of the project or business. It must be a living document that changes with changing conditions. I knew one business I was in was in trouble when the president told us his plan for the year to make a profit was to shorten accounts receivable (make customers pay faster) and lengthen accounts payable (make our suppliers finance our operations). He was fired.

Follow up.

Jon Swanson wrote today about letting your yes be yes. How many times have you been involved where leaders chart a course, reach a temporary milestone, and then everything is dropped. No finish. No follow up. People left dangling in the breeze. They said they’d do something, but…

When you coach athletics or conduct an orchestra, you pay attention to the fundamentals or perish. Can’t throw and catch? Don’t know your scales? Performance will be less than acceptable.

In leadership also, pay attention to the fundamentals for success.

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Wanna Get Away?

February 16, 2017

“Wanna get away?” –Airline commercial, when you’ve done something embarrassing

We’ve done it. All of us. Yes, you, too.

Said something stupid. Walked into a door. Walked around with the zipper on our pants down.

Or, maybe deeper. Alienated people who were close to us. Or we feel alienated by others. We’re alone.

Yes, we want to get away. Let’s just hop on that big ol’ jet liner. Carry me so far away.

Maybe we’ve gotten ourselves into some sort of gerbil wheel of busyness. We go harder, faster, longer and can’t get out of the cage.

We want to get away.

Monasteries and convents around the world have programs, brochures even, for people who want to escape for a spiritual retreat.

Do you think that seven days of silence will fix that ache inside?

Not if you return to the same old scene.

Religious communities from the time when they began have known that there are two types of people who seek to enter:

Those who have a spiritual life and wish to deepen it; and
Those who want to get away from something or someone.

Tip: that second type doesn’t make it.

First, take steps to get your life in order. Like Jesus told us, if we’re on our way to church and remembe we have a grudge against someone we know, stop, turn around, go to the person, make things right, then go to church.

Quit that job. Soon. Quickly.

Sit quietly with just yourself. No distractions. Fifteen minutes a day. Then thirty. How about an hour a day? Meditate.

If you can do that, then one of those retreats will deepen your spirit.

Prepare your heart before all else. Begin now.

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Getting Comfortable In Our Self

February 15, 2017

He was sharing about his early experiences in the Navy. Today he is famous around town as a “joker.” Guess he always was.

“Life is too serious to take serious,” he told me.

So, he’s on his first ship. First trip. Sees the Captain. “Morning, Sir. How’s it going?” he said.

Junior officer hears him. Begins to yell at him, “Don’t you ever talk to your commanding officer that way.”

He says that later he observed that senior officers were much more laid back about that sort of thing.

I thought, yes, that’s true. Do we remember back to being in our late 20s or 30s and trying to make it? And how serious we were? And how we were sticklers for protocol and rank? In fact rank was quite important to us.

Then we matured. We were comfortable with ourselves. We stopped worrying about rank and privileges. Maybe we became human.

Spiritual life is like that.

At first we need the rules. Paul calls that like being babies who need milk. Then we get on the maturity track. We realize that the goal, if you will, is to mature. Paul says that is like going from drinking milk to eating steak.

As we mature, we are more comfortable in our spirituality. No more trying to impress people. That’s a lost cause for us anyway.

We are just us. Well, sort of like me and God. “Just us, Lord, right?”

We don’t impact anyone through our opinions or rules. We impact people through example. What we do shouts louder than what we say.

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Happy Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2017

Today we celebrate love. But what of love do we celebrate?

It’s almost like a “Hallmark Holiday.” Buy a card and a box of chocolates (that neither one of you really need) and escape for a year?

That almost sounds like an inoculation theory of love. You know, get an injection of a little the disease and then you are immune from catching the full shot of the disease.

Many people get confused about love. They get all sentimental, mushy feelings, pastel colors.

I don’t think that is what Jesus had in mind when he said, by this you will know my followers, by their love.

Somehow, I never saw Jesus as sentimental. Tender at times? Yes.

Bet it took tough love to bring together a Trump-loving conservative and a guy who “felt the Bern” into his small group. OK, I’m taking a few liberties on the tax collector and the Zealot theme–but their animosity probably ran deeper.

At the gym the other day I looked up at the TV (hard to ignore flashing pictures). They were showing a rapid succession of happy, attractive people who had used some miracle product. I wondered, do we try to measure our lives by these artificial happy moments? Do we think, gosh, I wish my significant other made me feel that way.

Love is being present in mind as well as body. Watching for ways to help. Being kind mostly, but tough enough to bring them back when they stray.

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Watch What’s On Your Mind

February 13, 2017

There are three types of people.

I know, there are supposed to be two. But I go with the philosophy when life gives you a choice take both…and.

The apostle Paul was struggling to define the difference between those who follow the Law and those who live in the spirit.

I was struggling to explain Paul.

Then it hit me. Paul is actually saying (for example in Romans 6) what even to him ancient thinkers and spiritual seekers had discovered–

You become what you think about.

Some people, who knows why, are rule followers. “Give me a set of rules,” they say, “and I’ll know how to act.” Oh, by the way, and also I’ll know my place on the totem pole versus other people. It becomes easy to compare. In fact, it’s almost essential to compare. Then you know you’re better than the rest.

Some people reject all rules (they think). “I want to be free” is their theme song. “I won’t let no stinking rules tie me down,” they say.

What they don’t realize is that they are not free. Even economists have finally discovered what we all know–we do not make rational economic choices. Six months later we’re saying, “Why did I buy that?” Or, why did I date him (her)? Or, why did I let my anger (jealousy, sexual urge, revenge) control me?

Where your mind is, so shall you go.

The rule follower keeps saying, “I will not covet,” “I will not covet”, “I will not covet.”

What are they thinking about? Right, coveting.

The person living in the spirit may not even know the meaning of the word covet. But, they say, “I will help the next person I meet,” “and the next”, and so on. They say, “I will keep my mind focused on God and on others.”

You shall love the Lord your God…, and your neighbor as yourself.

Like so many truths in life. This is both simple and hard at the same time.

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Leaders Listen To Be Effective

February 10, 2017

Leaders are listeners.

But not just listeners–active listeners.

Some people think that leaders are talkers. It is unfortunate if the person who thinks that is also in a leadership position.

You might get the idea from reading Jack Welch’s books (former CEO of GE) that he spent his time talking to (at?) people convincing them of his message. Maybe that’s why he build an unsustainable conglomerate.

Listen to people. Which employees have great ideas, boundless energy, great passion?

Consider how they relate to the corporate mission.

Tap them for positions where they can succeed by implementing those ideas. And where their success also makes the company successful.

Encourage them. Challenge them. Support them with resources.

Everyone wins.

And where did it start?

The leader has an open mind and listening ears. Then thinks and considers. And at the right time, acts.

See, listening is not passive. It involves engaging the mind combined with deep observation. My focus is not on myself. It is actively engaged with others.

It’s a beautiful thing.

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We Are All The Same

February 9, 2017

I’m at a conference where we are all talking about manufacturing technology. In one way or another everyone here is focused on making things for the safety, security, enjoyment, or enrichment of people.

I met a guy last night (well, I’ve known him a little for a few years). He said, “We are all the same.”

Another acquaintance says, “Well, maybe 80% of us.”

“No, we are all the same. Strip it all out and we have the same hopes and fears and desires.”

At this conference there are people from all over the US. Also people from much of Europe. And India. And Japan. And Middle East. Christian, Muslim, HIndu, varieties of Hindu you find across India, Buddhists, Shinto, nothing, don’t care. We all share a desire to improve manufacturing technology to improve the lives of people everywhere. And we share the desire for a good meal. And friends. And peace.

800 people here. I met no jerks. A variety of personalities, to be sure. In no conversation at any time did I ever hear racist or disparaging comments about gender, sexual orientation, handicaps. None.

I work in a great industry. It’s a blessing to be where I can influence some important things. And meet nice people.

The apostle Paul keeps trying to tell us things like this. (Just in case you think ancient wisdom isn’t wisdom.)

We all have faults (sins), he says. We all deep inside wish for peace with God. We have different approaches. Paul says quit trying to be divisive (try reading Romans sometime).

We are all alike. We can all learn to go outside, beyond our tribe. Meet people of different ethnic backgrounds. People who look differently from all the people we are familiar with. Maybe we’d stop saying disparaging things about “them” not even realizing we are being racist or divisive when we get to know “them”.

Everyone I meet is a child of God. Loved by God. I need to remember that. Daily. It’s not all about me. It’s all about us.

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Are You Concerned About Ethics Today

February 8, 2017

I’m at a conference this week. These days I am called an “influencer” or writer or analyst–not journalist. But I hang out with the business journalists covering manufacturing technology.

Last night at dinner some got to talking about the “fake news” that has has captured the country’s attention. Now that we write for the Web and for Facebook and Twitter, no one checks us on facts and the more extravagant we use words the more views we get. And it’s all about views.

It blows my mind. How can people be so unconcerned about truth or facts? How can they be so cynical about people so as to think that they are gullible consumers of outlandish words?

Or is it our fault for being non-critical readers?

Be honest with yourself now. How often have you been suckered into passing along something you saw on Facebook only to be told it’s a lie?

Ethics leads to trust. Trust reflects character. In the end all you leave behind is the legacy of your character.

We can each do our part in elevating the ethics discussion around us. Be aware. Be careful. Maintain focus on the more important things.

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Where Do You Focus

February 7, 2017

“When you complain, nobody wants to help you.” –Stephen Hawking, physicist

So who would have thought that I quote one of the world’s most famous atheists? If you don’t know of Hawking, he is a brilliant physicist who is confined to a wheel chair. Can barely move or even talk.

But isn’t there a lot of truth to what he said?

Quick know anyone who is always complaining about themselves?

When you spend your time focusing on things that are wrong. When you spend your precious resource of time with someone projecting negativity to everyone, what is your impact on people?

Certainly you won’t be a source of growth. You are a source of destruction.

In America, but not just here but also all over Europe, and not just there but in much of the world, we are in an era of negativity.

We don’t like people different from us.

We don’t like policies of others.

Everything is a zero-sum game–there are either winners or losers.

There is a marvelous thing that God built into our brains. We can choose our focus. We can choose our response.

We can choose to focus on others. It’s not so much covering up bad things, bad health, a relationship gone sour. But by choosing to focus on the other person and building them up, we turn the entire situation on its head. Or better we turn it from being on its head to back upright.

We can, one of us at a time, change the outlook of our web of relationships. We can spread positive thinking.

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Training For The Super Bowl

February 6, 2017

I’m writing this while watching the “Super Bowl.” The championship game of American professional football.

These are skilled and highly trained athletes. They train physically. They train intellectually. They are coached to recognize situations on the move and respond appropriately. They study. The strengthen their bodies.

The apostle Paul often used analogies from athletics to encourage our spiritual life.

How trained are you?

Study.

Prayer.

Meditation.

Simplify.

It is hard work to train. But confidence comes from developing our bodies and minds.

And the payoff is reaching the goal. The olive branch wreath. The Lombardi trophy.

Union with God.