Blog
- 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! - Animated
I get a little fired up over things sometimes.
I have calmed down some over the years.
But in many cases I have not.
When it comes to something being unjust for example, this is a trigger point for me and I am very prone to say something to try and get it corrected… and I get a little more heated about it all than I should sometimes.
At work, if I feel like we are not getting the support we need or a pricing policy is unfair for example, it can get to me and cause me to have a little more “lively” discussion about it all instead of staying calm and trying to work it out at a more civil level.
I was a little more animated about some things than I should have been this week, and although my intent was correct, my delivery once again was bad. One instance in particular that sticks out was that I ended up lambasting a leader who did not do any homework prior to answering my questions for help and it ended up being a waste of time for us both.
How do you react when things don’t go your way?
Do you keep your cool or sometimes get ”animated”?
A Real Christian Businessman knows that keeping our cool when things get a little stressful is the proper way to act. Yes Jesus flipped the change tables in the temple when he was upset about folks turning the church into a house of gain, but how many other times did he act like this? I think maybe 5 times in total? All the other times we only read about Jesus being calm in so many different stressful situations (even when he was getting the beat down from the Pharisees before being crucified!).
Next time something doesn’t quite go your way or there is some injustice happening around you, remember to have the Jesus attitude and approach it in a calm manner.
There are enough people like me getting “animated” about things that we need others out there to counteract our behavior.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Prov 15:1 (NIV)
- The Thief
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV)
Watch out for the thief this week!
He comes in many different forms… and we don’t always recognize them! - Change It Up
We’ve gone through a few changes on my job recently. I’ve gotten a new branch manager, we moved our offices a couple of weeks ago, and our compensation plan got adjusted (don’t mess with my money! Lol). I also have a different processor that supports me now and a couple of my favorite colleagues left to go work at another company.
That’s a lot of change in the course of 6 weeks! Some of these changes affected me more so than others. Changing how I am paid always ranks as something that I pay close attention to, but also losing a couple of my favorite people that I worked with ranks pretty high for me as a difficult change since I highly value relationships and friendships.
For me, I don’t always do that well with change… I’ve gotten much better about it over the years but I’m still one that doesn’t adjust well or quickly.
A Real Christian Businessman knows that change is inevitable and that “change is constant”. It’s how we grow and how life is in this world today. I’ve had to learn to temper my attitude and actions when changes come around. I now listen more attentively, write down my questions instead of blurting them out and I give myself time to process the change.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” Ecc 3:1 (NIV)
When change comes to the workplace, let’s make sure we stay grounded and curious. The change is going to happen anyway, it’s how we choose to respond that will make the biggest difference and impact.
- In The World
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Rom 12:2 (NIV)
No matter what is going on in the culture and the world, we have to fix our minds on God.
He will then guide us through.
Be in the world and not of it! - Level Up
Every year as a licensed loan officer, I have to take a certain amount of Continuing Education courses in order to renew my license. I also voluntarily take training classes offered by my company to gain better knowledge and expertise on specific loan programs.
One training is required. The other is not.
We have tons and tons of training at our company when it comes to loan programs. You could get lost in the sheer amount of training offered and it would take hours upon hours each day to go through everything that is available.
At one point in my mortgage career I did just this. I got lost in all of the training. I would sign up for everything that was offered and would even watch the recordings of a training later if I happened to miss it.
Now I am being much more focused.
I still take training offered by my company, but I look at what is offered and choose things specifically that will help me grow my business. It’s easy to get caught up in “being active” but harder to stay focused on things that will generate revenue and help me get the families I work with into the best financial situation regarding their mortgage.
Do you ever try to get better at your current occupation? Does your company offer specific training as it relates to your job? Do you regularly seek out education in your field to try and get better?
A Real Christian Businessman knows we have to level up our skills periodically. Staying stagnant in our occupation for too long of a period will only cause us to become complacent… and possibly start to resent the job that we are doing each day.
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…” Ecc 5:15-16a (NIV)
“Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” (Prov 13:4 (NLT)
When you stop and think about your current job, take a little time to engage in some training or learn a new wrinkle as it relates to your occupation.
It will make you better.
It will make you happier.
And it honors God.