Blog
- Lots To Do
I’ve been running a little rouge at work the last couple of weeks. I end up finding lots of things to do, but many times none of them lead to me making any revenue. Being 100% commission based and basically self-employed, I many times find myself being very “busy” or “active”, but not “productive.”
This has bled over into my personal life as well. I am doing lots of things around the house (putting away dishes I find in the sink, bringing in the delivery packages at the front door, etc.), but not focusing on important things like repairing the towel rack in the bathroom or paying the bill that has been sitting on the counter for 3 weeks.
I’m pretty busy.
But not very productive.
And nothing important is getting done.
A Real Christian Businessman knows that we have to set the example and do things that will generate revenue for our company/business (and make a difference at home!) instead of just doing things to be doing things. This is something that has never been easy for me! I like to touch things and move things and put things away etc… but these last couple of weeks I have really gone overboard with all of these unproductive tasks and my output has stalled.
“Take a lesson from the ants, … Learn from their ways and become wise!” Prov 6:6 (NLT)
I’ve re-committed going forward that even though it is near the end of the year, I am going to focus more on doing things that will directly impact my business and personal life so that the habit will already be in place as the new year rolls around.
Wanna join me? - Built Differently
“Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift.” Eph 4:7 (MSG)
We may not understand what other folk’s gifts are (or may disagree with how they use their gifts!), but are reminded that each of us is made unique and brings something to this world that fits together in God’s plan.
Even at our workplace! (With those folks that drive us crazy!) - Who’s Helping
When you are in the mortgage industry as a 100% commissioned loan officer, you are basically self-employed. You have to generate all of the business yourself (or you don’t eat lol!). This can be very self-rewarding as there are unlimited opportunities, but this type of business also comes with its own pitfalls.
Whether you work for a large organization like I do that provides back room support, team meetings, trainings and leadership or you are completely out on your own and you “hire out” what is needed ad hoc, being self employed takes much diligence and self-discipline in order to be successful.
Yet occasionally I look to my leadership for help. I need encouragement, or help with a tough file, or a question about a specific situation or loan program.
But sometimes that help is not there.
Or my leadership is busy.
Or doesn’t answer.
Or gets back to me later than I needed them to.
So I end up frustrated, discouraged and deflated. I strive hard to succeed but sometimes I need just a little help to get over the hump and get what I need done.
My wife often gets to hear me complain about situations that come up like this as I mostly work from home and she is right here working from home too. Other times I pick up the phone and call my colleagues and complain to them.
Neither of those options is helping anyone get anything done, especially me!
A Real Christian Businessman knows that not having the support that I need is going to happen sometimes – no matter if I am self-employed or work for someone else.
What would it be like if instead I prayed a little more about a specific situation and ask God for help – instead of complaining? Or if I turned for some quick guidance from the Bible regarding a work situation I am going through instead of rattling off to a colleague?
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Jam 1:5 (NIV)
Don’t worry, praying is not my first reaction when I don’t get help the help that I need! I rarely do this… and that is why I am writing about it today.
I’m encouraging us to try a different approach, even if it is every now and then.
I mean, at least if we pray or read the bible regarding a situation we need help with – something could actually happen that could benefit us, couldn’t it?
I rarely see anything good come from complaining to others though… - Critique
“…For at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” Rm 2:1b (NIV)
or in The Message version:
“…Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one.” Rm 2:1b (MSG)
This has me written all over it.
Master judger…
Mr Critiquer….
Can you help me this week?
Together let’s skip all the judgments and look for the good in others.
I definitely need some help in this area. - Blah Blah Blah, Thankful Thankful Thankful
Yes of course Thanksgiving is coming up this week (later than usual!).
As yes it’s time to be thankful.
But how thankful are we?
I know I have not been as grateful for things as I have been in the past. I take so many things for granted these days! My family is in good health, my in-laws are in their 80s and still very mobile (wow!), our family has more income than I ever imagined I would have when I was growing up , my job, my friends, our house, our cars, my kids… and those are just a few of the big things!
So many little things that I take for granted all around me that I don’t even acknowledge anymore… like running water, electricity that comes on at the touch of a switch (!), more clothes to wear than I will ever need, etc etc etc.
But I still complain when my app doesn’t work at the Sam’s Club gas station to re-fuel my car.
And I still get sour on the highway because someone sped up and passed me and then slowed down.
And I still get bent out of shape when my son or daughter forgets to put their dishes in the dishwasher and leaves them in the sink.
And oh, when something goes differently than was originally planned? I have a hard time rolling with it, not able to see the good in what is to come so I grumble about it all.
Grumble, complain, scorn.
Instead of:
Thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation.
A Real Christian Businessman knows we have to STOP all this complaining business. And this week we have the best time of all to do that. Thanksgiving!
So while we are visiting with family members we rarely see this week, and eating a meal with folks we would rather not be around (who we may or may not agree with us on many different things), let’s take the high road and be thankful for something about the situation that we always overlook.
It’s easy to complain (Satan’s way).
It’s easier to be thankful (God’s way).
Let’s be different this week and take the easier route.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Th 5:18 (NIV)
- Honesty
“They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty.” 2 Kings 12:15
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we never had to recount our change, or check the receipt to make sure we weren’t overcharged for something?
Let’s be part of the solution this week and do our best to always act with truthful intentions! - Know-It-All
I was in a meeting last week and there were a lot of questions that arose regarding several different loan programs. One of my colleagues in particular kept speaking up and answering any of the questions that were mentioned.
And he kept speaking up.
And answering.
And he kept speaking up.
And answering.
Now collaboration is always good, especially when we have a chance to learn from others’ experiences and knowledge as it make us better workers. But this person kept being the one that answered every topic that was brought up and didn’t leave room for anyone else to answer.
He acted like a know-it-all.
Have you ever had this happen to you in a meeting? Where someone keeps talking and answering the questions and not leaving space for anyone else to respond?
Or is it even possible that you have ever been the one to answer everyone’s questions and not give anyone else a chance to speak?
A Real Christian Businessman realizes that being a know-it-all is not a good thing to be in the workplace. Being supportive and ready to answer as needed is always great, but being the one to answer all the questions and not leave room for anyone else to speak is not how we are to act.
“Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God.” 1 cor 8:2-3 (NIV)
Being a know-it-all is a very dangerous thing. When we think we know something that others don’t, many times we find out that we either didn’t know it like we thought or there was information we weren’t aware of that makes us look like someone who DOESN’T know anything at all.
Let’s focus this week on being someone who loves God and known by God.
There are enough people with all the answer already. - All The Time
I was struggling last week and Psalms 62 came to my mind (I don’t know why but it did).
So I read it every day.
This verse in particular stuck out:
“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Ps 62:8 (NIV)
If things get a little rough for you just look up.
Comfort is close! - Man Down
A good friend of mine lost his job recently. Obviously I know how this feels as I have been down this road twice in the last several years. He is very skilled at his profession, very well spoken, always on top of his game, but as many of us have seen before, it doesn’t matter how good of a job it is that you do, how well you are liked by your company, co-workers or your clients, businesses make cuts.
I’ve kept in touch with him regularly. I check on him a couple of times a week, not to give him advice on how to improve his resume or to give him interviewing tips, but just to see how he is doing after having lost his job. I do this not because I’m anyone special, but because I remember all too well how it felt when I lost my job and how alone you can feel sometimes when all of your efforts seem to yield zero results while the days keep passing by.
A Real Christian Businessman knows that in the workplace people will lose their jobs. It’s how we react to it all that will convey our true heart to others.
Do we stand around the next day and talk about the person that was fired and wonder what happened? Or do we not say anything at all, fearful that if we even bring up their name “I’ll be next to go”?
Do we reach out to your former colleague after several days have passed to see how they are doing? Or are we afraid to do this because we don’t know what to say?
Our co-workers need to hear from us when they lose their job. They don’t need a bible verse or to hear you bad mouth the company for “doing them wrong”, but they do need a supportive ear and to know that someone actually cares about them as a person.
So the next time someone you work with loses their job, take a moment and at least reach out to see how they are doing. Better yet check on them in 3-4 weeks too. Those small interactions can be just the thing they need to brighten their day.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1Th 5:11 (NIV)
- Light
“…Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” John 11:9-10
We use the light to walk because it is very helpful in preventing us from stumbling, right?
But how does “walking in the light” apply to our Christian walk, especially at work?
It’s harder to stumble when we have the Light of the World in us!