Counting The Cost

Brenda’s Blog – August 28, 2018

“What could go wrong?”

Counting Cars features Count’s Kustom hot rods and choppers. It is one of my favorite History Channel shows. On one episode several of the employees worked to sell Danny, the owner, on the purchase of new equipment. They sold hard, giving enthusiastic reasons why this made total sense. They went on and on while Danny listened. Finally, they stopped and he said, “What could go wrong?”

The conversation stopped and they started thinking about the question. The quality of the question intrigued me.

My son, Jeff Horch, told me one time, “Mom, you love ideas. When you are with people who are enthusiastically throwing ideas around, you get all caught up. Why don’t you ask, ‘Who is going to champion this idea and manage it?’ If they don’t take it on, leaving it to you, then thank them and move on.” Jeff knew when I took on too much, things can go terribly wrong.

Many times it is easy to get captured by the sparkling benefits of something new. It grabs our attention, starts our mind racing, and engages our emotions. Before we make bad decisions, wouldn’t it be good to stop and assess, “What could go wrong?” When we fall in love with a new outfit, car, or even a house, creating a neutral space for our thinking is critical.

Frequently businessmen came to visit Dad, asking his counsel about taking a second generation into the company. After Dad listened to all the positives about carrying on the family tradition, Dad would ask one question: “How are you going to tell your wife you are firing her beloved son?” What he was saying: “If things don’t go well and you have to separate the son from the business you aren’t removing an employee, you are firing your wife’s son.” Suddenly, the emphasis is more on family than on business. Dad’s bottom line was always, “Never hire a relative until you have figured out how you are going to fire them.” Not that the owner would have to, but he has to understand and prepare beforehand for the “what could go wrong.”

Successful decision making considers all elements of the outcomes.

The Importance of Discipline

Weekly Thought – August 28, 2018

Fred highly regarded discipline. He often used the phrase “paying the price” to indicate self-discipline. He believed in preparation. What people saw as spontaneity and “off the cuff” wisdom or even humor was the result of study, deep thought, and life experience.

Thank you for being faithful supporters of the Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute and the What’s Next Roundtable.

The Importance of Discipline

For years I have observed the importance of discipline in a person’s area of expertise. Many, particularly in performance, live undisciplined lives but are very rigorous about their art.

In a documentary about Pavarotti it is interesting to see how much of a perfectionist he is in his music and yet totally unregulated in his eating. A film on Elvis Presley pointed out the discrepancy between his discipline in his personal life and his creative life. An associate told how he would sit at the piano working for hours on his phrasing going over and over until it was exactly right. He was totally disciplined about his singing. Even some geniuses such as Ernest Hemingway who lived a dissolute and destructive life said, “Every morning at 8 I bite the nail.” His professionalism was bounded by strict rules, but his personal habits showed a total lack of disciplined activity —- unless one sees his carousing as a highly developed skill.

Bishop Fulton Sheen when speaking at a retreat for priests said, “People listen when I talk. It is because everyday since I have been a priest I have spent one hour with my Lord. Even when I only had two hours of sleep I walked the floor and prayed for that hour.” His disciplined spiritual life gave him peace and a sense of reality. He believed this time with the Lord as a source of power.

Unfortunately, there are people of superior talent who will not submit to discipline. They are not known or recognized for their abilities. A man asked me to meet with his son to talk about his future opportunities. The young man tried to impress me with all his credentials. He told me of his great giftedness and endless opportunities. He said his biggest problem was dealing with so much potential. He was burdened with his genius. When I asked him about actual accomplishment, he had nothing to report. He clearly lacked personal discipline. He may go through life coasting on potential, but never bringing his talent into tow.

A young man I met was an exceptional runner. His outstanding performance gained the attention of area coaches. He was seen as one with potential for world class speed and Olympian possibilities. He refused discipline, wanting to take the easy way of simply using his natural speed. Eventually he lost his college scholarship. Laziness was his enemy.

Discipline is part of building good habits which result in healthy, effective life reflexes.

This week think about: 1) Where have I paid the price to accomplish a goal? 2) What am I doing to make discipline a key element of my daily life? 3) Who has helped me develop discipline in the important areas of my life?

Words of Wisdom: “Discipline is part of building good habits which result in healthy, effective life reflexes.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything.” (1 Corinthians 25:9a NET Bible)

Clarifying Expectations

Weekly Thought – August 21, 2018

Fred’s ability to assess people and situations enabled him to effectively consult with corporations, ministries, and family businesses. One of his great principles: “Everyone is logical if you understand their fundamental operating basis. Once you have identified this, their decisions make sense.”

BWFLI is moving quickly into the fall season for the What’s Next Roundtable. Teams are forming and preparations are being made by our fine schools. Please continue praying.

Clarifying Expectations

I walked into the office of one of my clients with whom I enjoyed a long time relationship. He was one of my favorite people. I reached over and took two pieces of scratch paper from the pad on his desk. I gave him one piece of paper and I told him, “Sam, write down on that paper the most significant contribution you want me to make to this organization. I will write down on my paper the most significant contribution I am trying to make.”

You have to have a pretty good understanding of a client to do this. Years of trust allow this kind of transparency. It is a very good exercise.

Do you know when we turned the face up they were almost diametrically opposite? The thing that I thought was the most important thing for me to do for him was opposite what he wanted me to do. What he was expecting wasn’t part of my plan at all.

He was a long time client, as well as a friend, yet we were operating with polar opposite expectations. Think of the implications of continuing with both of us going full steam ahead with such a lack of understanding. And I could imagine other clients, family members, business associates that I didn’t know as well. How often had I operated assuming I knew exactly what was expected only to find I was traveling in the wrong direction at 70 miles an hour. As I considered this, situations came to mind which were created simply by the failure to clarify expectations.

What is Sam and I had continued to operate with unspoken, but opposing expectations? How often does this occur without our knowledge? How often do business deals fall apart and nobody really knows why? Sadly, how many parent/child or husband/wife relationships falter because each is operating fully thinking they know what the other wants, but without clarifying before going ahead with decisions.

Clarity, not assumption, is the rule for successful relationships whether in business, community organizations, or personal connections.

This week think about: 1) Who needs me to clarify expectations? 2) How can I most effectively ascertain the assumptions of others? 3) What skills do I need to develop to best clarify relationships?

Words of Wisdom: “Clarity, not assumption, is the rule for successful relationships whether in business, community organizations, or personal connections.”

Wisdom from the Word: “He has filled him with the Spirit of God—with skill, with understanding, with knowledge, and in all kinds of work,” (Exodus 35:31 NET Bible)

Gotcha Covered

Brenda’s Blog – August 14, 2018

“Don’t worry, I will take care of you.”

My friend Sharon is a horsewoman of exceptional skill and passion. As she spoke lovingly of her experiences she told of an event with challenging jumps. She approached a particularly difficult one, feeling her anxiety rising.

As if reading her mind (and body language), her beloved horse seemed to exude confidence and unspoken assurance. She said she could feel the message, “It’s alright, I have this – just relax.” At that moment they sailed over the fence with strength.

As she spoke I thought about the relationship we have with God through Jesus. We are told in scripture He “never leaves us or forsakes us.” Our confidence is in our triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are joined together in communion and can relax no matter how daunting the jump, nor frightening the task.

When our spiritual body language shows we are losing focus and beginning to struggle, we can hear the words “Be bold and of good courage.” God has it!
A friend reminded me this morning of the words, “In this world you will have trouble (tribulation).” The rest of that verse tells us He has overcome and is in control. When we are in sync with Him, we can see Him work His will even as we face the most troubling times.

Sharon’s communication with her horse and her subsequent peace about the most urgent demands remind us we can trust our hopes, our dreams, our very lives to the One who loves us. Life gets messy and uncertainty often rules, but we don’t have to see the fence – we can see the One who takes us over. And as we sail we can do a great big “Yay, God – you had it all the time!”

Christians and Business

Weekly Thought – August 14, 2018

Fred’s reputation as a successful businessman drew many for interviews. And many asking for participation in new ideas. Many came expecting to use “Christianese” to impress him, quoting verses to support their budding business plan. They were surprised to meet a “velvet-covered brick.” Fred spoke truth with grace, and directness.

Christians and Business

Going into business with someone just because he or she is a Christian doesn’t seem to make sense to me. My personal experience has been rather negative. Most of the money I have lost has been to Christians who were either greedy or inept.

Certainly it would be pleasant if we could be assured all Christians bring integrity to the operation. But, the Christian experience should not be the common denominator or the dominant element for getting together in business. I think it was St. Francis, when asked if he bought sandals from a Christian cobbler said, “My first concern is that the sandals are comfortable to walk in.”

I am convinced any deal must first be viable. And then it must be executed by individuals with expertise and integrity. If the aptitude jibes with the Christian attitude, it is a strong bond. But faith alone won’t overcome ineptitude.

In my long business career I’ve unfortunately seen many deals go sour which were supposed to be Christian. I remember one man who wrote a book on how God ran his business. His management was so poor he went under and another company had to take him over. Another acquaintance boasted God served on his board. When a hostile takeover drove the stock to nearly nothing, hurting the shareholders and all the employees, I had to suppress the temptation to wonder if God missed a few board meetings.

Sometimes individuals say to me, “Fred, I want to have a Christian business.” I appreciate their sincerity, but I always remind myself (and them) that there cannot be a Christian business. Christ did not die for corporations. He died for individuals. There can be Christians IN business, but I do not believe a business can be made Christian.

It is important to remember integrity is a Christian principle. But this does not correlate to the Christian salvation experience. Some of the most moral men I know are non-believers. They have impeccable integrity, but are spiritually lost.

This week think about: 1) What principles do I use to analyze business deals? 2) How do I judge the aptitude of a potential associate? 3) Who could be helped by this Weekly Thought?

Words of Wisdom: “Christ didn’t die for corporations; He died for individuals.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Look, you desire integrity in the inner man; you want me to possess wisdom.” (Psalm 51:6 NET Bible)

Call or Mandate

Weekly Thought – August 7, 2018

Fred once sent his daughter a scrap of paper with just a few words: “Brenda, opportunity is not mandate.” He was trying to succinctly tell her every open door did not necessarily require walking through. Fred considered every decision carefully, rarely letting impulse interfere with the process.

The BWFLI Roundtable schedule for fall is robust. Teams will be in Kentucky, Texas, and Illinois. Keep praying and supporting financially when possible. Each gift is gratefully received and carefully used.

Call or Mandate

There’s a difference between a mandate and a call. A call is personal; it comes to the individual. A mandate is collective, corporate. The mandate is the organization’s reason for being; the call is the individual’s reason for service.

A leader needs to have a sense of call, and dedication, to serve effectively. Prison evangelist Bill Glass emphasizes this in training his prison counselors. “You have volunteered to be a counselor, but you have dedicated your life to personify Christ in this prison.” He goes through a litany of experience that might exasperate, even frighten, a volunteer ( e.g. getting cussed out, having urine thrown at him, or hostile body language shown). The dedicated counselor will hang in and not be driven out by these behaviors.

A call may change. A person might sense a call to a different organization, or a different form of service. Sometimes I think the call may lead someone out of ministry.

Recently I talked with a pastor in Iowa whose primary ministry was in the teaching role in a church populated by older, long-time Christians. I asked him how he was doing and he admitted he was very unhappy. And not surprisingly, so was the congregation. I asked him, “What is your real love?”
“Winning people to Christ” was his quick, passionate answer.

“In your saint-saturated organization,” I said, “there are probably very few who haven’t heard and responded to the Gospel. When you get up to preach you don’t see anyone who needs salvation. By gift, you are an evangelist. Have you considered leaving the vocational ministry and going back to automobile sales where you are constantly in touch with unsaved people?”

“That’s when I was the happiest,” he said.

He let his ego, family demands, and social expectations push him into seminary and the pastorate. I later checked on him. He resigned from the church, went bac into sales, and is extremely happy and effective. His call “to win souls” did not match the organizational mandate to do expositional preaching for mature Christians.

Many I know need to seriously determine if their call and their organization’s mandate are in sync.

This week carefully consider: 1) How did I recognize my call? 2) What is the primary mandate of my workplace? 3) Who in my environment can help me analyze the fit?

Words of Wisdom: “A leader needs to have a sense of call, and dedication, to serve effectively.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches.” (1 Corinthians 7:17 NET Bible)