Entrepreneurial Endeavors

Weekly Thought – June 27, 2017

Fred studied business from an organizational viewpoint, focusing on principles. In counseling college students he discussed different types of business models, helping them to set their career course. This Weekly Thought shares his ideas on entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurial Endeavors

Very few people can operate their own business, especially from scratch. I have great respect for those few who have taken a very small business and developed it into a sizeable organization.

Research shows less than 5% can be successfully self-employed. The early failures are usually attributed to undercapitalization. I think a better reason is “pilot error.” After all, why was the business started with inadequate funding? Usually wishful thinking and poor planning – what I call pilot error.

When I left a large corporation to form my own company I had planned and saved for 14 years. However, I found two very difficult problems facing me:

1) I was required to wear all the different hats necessary to get the total job completed. As a corporate officer I had a general knowledge of the entire operation, but had specialists to call on. In my own business I had to learn to do things I had formerly delegated. This changed my management style.

2) The second change was psychological. I was now using my own money whereas as a VP of a national corporation I was using (and diligently managing) their capital. Money became very personal. This is a shift many cannot make who have tried to move from corporate to self-owned. Many executives cannot accept this anxiety. They can invest corporate funds, but not their own. This results in nervousness and missed timing.

Often corporate executives say they want to be in business for themselves so they become their own boss. Poor reason. In fact, the customer is the boss of us all and we should never forget that.

I made several misjudgments early, but the biggest surprise was my lack of control of my time. The freedom I thought I would have as owner evaporates – the responsibilities for the business control your time. You can’t run a business like a hobby – particularly in the early years. It is a tyrant.

Naturally, there are some great advantages: you can accumulate more equity; you can design policies according to your philosophical bent; you make decisions without being questioned or sanctioned.

If you want to be in your own business, I suggest you start extremely small, and grow as you become properly capitalized and experienced. Keep your ego in check and don’t try to become too big too fast. I have seen it ruin many capable people.

If you have trouble making yourself work, stay out of your own business. A corporate friend asked me: “You own a business and a boat, how do you make yourself go to work?” It never dawned on me because business is the means by which I express my talent, not boating.

Think about: 1) How did I decide which form of business to enter? 2) Where do I express my gifts? 3) What is my dream job?

Words of Wisdom: “Business is where I express my gifts, not boating.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Warn them of the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.” (Exodus 18:20 NET Bible)

Energy Levels

Weekly Thought – June 20, 2017

Fred drew pictures for people to grasp concepts and apply them. He called his illustrations “handles on pots.” He wanted people to take ideas and make them usable personally and professionally.

Energy Levels

Life for most of us is somewhat like a two stage rocket. The first is physical energy – it ignites and we are off. As physical energy diminishes, the spiritual stage must ignite to boost us into orbit or we fall back. When I say “spiritual” I don’t mean religious, but activity of the human spirit.

I have seen two kinds of spiritual energy: ego and responsibility. I cannot tell in the production between the two, but I can tell the difference in the spirit of the two. Running on ego alone destroys a person like a machine without lubricant. The result is increased heat and then burnout. When our kids were learning to drive I tried to impress upon them the basic rules of automobile mechanics. One of them was fundamental: keep the oil clean and changed.

On the other hand, a sense of responsibility creates great energy – a uniting force which seems to get the person all together. It lubricates and so remains a protection to the machine. The faster the speed, the greater the lubricant. There is joy in the going with a well-oiled machine.

As I write I think of several friends – all high achievers. From the outside they all look equally productive. But underneath you see the ones which are driven by ego, and those motivated by responsibility. The ego lubricant will wear out and they are probably at risk for burn-out.

Remember, the energy fuel or lubricant is not part of the machine. It is external. It is an additive. The fuel drives the engine and the lubrication protects it against friction and heat. In some sense, we are all production machines. I am not equating being and doing, but in reality it is hard to separate a person from what they do and who they are. The two seem to generate a confluence.

You need to understand the differences in machines, as well as fuels and lubricants. Not all are gifted with high performance vehicles. But those who maximize the machine they were given by using the best fuels and lubricants can experience high levels of achievement and satisfaction. If you have a high performance machine, though, use it responsibly and in understanding. It is important to discard false humility. Always remember: humility isn’t denying the power you have, but admitting it came THROUGH you, not FROM you.

If you are given something great, then He expects great praise. Accept the fine machine you have, properly time it with excellent education, and break it in carefully with experience by not running too fast too soon. Select the fuel and lubricant best suited to your purpose.

Beware the leanness of soul by operating on cheap fuel. If you feel this, check the pump from which you are getting your gas. It may be mislabeled. Warning: don’t run too long on ego alone – it is dangerous stuff!

Think about: 1) How careful am I about the fuels and lubricants I am using in my machine? 2) How has ego negatively affected my effectiveness? 3) When do I feel like I am running “in the zone?”

Words of Wisdom: “Humility isn’t denying the power you have, but admitting it comes through you and not from you.”

Wisdom from the Word: “The reward for humility and fearing the Lord is riches and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4 NET Bible)

Questions to Ask

Weekly Thought – June 13, 2017

Fred’s study of questions gave him an ability to spur conversations and to motivate others to action. A young man’s question: “Can I be a Christian and still be successful?” evoked a 39 page response from Fred. In typical fashion, he began the letter with a question: “Why do you want to get ahead?” This week’s thought is a short excerpt from his lengthy answer.

BWFLI is planning a conference for fall, 2018 bringing students together for an in-depth focus on mentoring, networking, and living out our faith. Please begin praying. Thank you.

Questions to Ask

As I seek to answer the questions you posed for me about being successful I keep asking myself “why does he want to get ahead?” Always remember: it is good to ask why before you ask how.

Behind every plan of action and every commitment of time and energy should be a solid philosophical base. So here is my question for you: “Why get ahead?” Climbing the mountain just because it is there isn’t a satisfactory reason. It is a platitude, but not an adequate motivation.

Do you want to get ahead because you have the unscratchable itch to win – to come in first – to have others look up to you – to gain respect? Do you want the things and positions money can buy? Believe me, it is unfortunate but true that in America position, prestige, and power can be bought.

Are you eager to get ahead to please your parents, impress your friends, or teachers? Do you feel God gives you talents and gifts for which you are responsible? (Think seriously about this one for it will have great bearing on the direction you take).

Your answers will have very little to do with how far you go. Are you surprised I say this? However, it will have a great deal to do with your mental and spiritual attitude as you go. Those closest to you will see, feel, and be affected most by this. Often when I am with friends who have become “successful” but unhappy, I feel they are living out the verse, “He gave them their desire, but sent leanness of soul.”

They are constantly irritated, never enjoying the fruits of success, and always moving on as if goaded by the spirit of their discontent. They are always coming to the truth, but never really finding the truth. There is no quiet center to their life; no eye of the storm in which they can lay down and sleep until the activity starts again. They have “quiet desperation” but long for “quiet adequacy.” They want a time of enjoying their options from their success.

Think about: 1) What makes me want to get ahead? 2) How clear am I on the gifts God has given me? 3) Who helps me keep my motivations worthy?

Words of Wisdom: “Always remember: it is better to ask why before asking how.”

Wisdom from the Word: “When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions.” (1 Kings 10:1 NET Bible)

Older to Younger

Weekly Thought – June 6, 2017

Fred received regular calls and letters from those who valued his counsel. He never answered with pat phrases, clichés, or shallow answers. He carefully considered his answers. His responsibility to those who asked resulted in written material which still helps us.

Our BWFLI season wrapped up this Spring. Please pray for those who graduated, others who are seeking employment, and our school staff spending their summers preparing for next fall. Thank you for your consistent support. Your gifts of encouragement, financial resources, and team participation allow us to continue “stretching and blessing the next generation of leaders… to the glory of God.”

Older to Younger

(This is an excerpt from a letter written to a young businessman who asked Fred: “Can I be a Christian and still be a success?”)

I greatly appreciate your thoughtful letter. Your questions have been asked by business majors in more than 25 colleges and universities where I have lectured. They are important – and can be answered. I want to give you my thinking. I want it to be helpful.

Certainly I’ve seen individuals without integrity get promoted into high corporate positions and others get immensely rich using questionable methods. Yet, as long as corporate success and wealth have been reached by men who have not exchanged their souls, there is no conflict. You must understand the way of integrity and accept the price.

I believe in working for success much more than praying for it. Pray for maturity; work for success. My mentor, Maxey Jarman told me: “If a thing needs doing, it can be done honestly. If it can’t be done honestly, then it doesn’t really need doing.” Often dishonest methods are simply a shortcut to what could be proper goals. If the goals are honest, then the means and methods can also be honest. I hardly believe there could be proper goals with no proper means for reaching them with full satisfaction.

Let me illustrate: There is a choice of ways to get into a ball game. The proper way is to buy a ticket. You can then relax, and enjoy the game with your integrity intact. However, another way is to climb the fence or crash the gate. Some prefer the anxiety of this way. It is a “something for nothing” – and some believe it is the same with quick, though questionable, steps to sudden success. Both see the game, but there is a big difference. One pays their way with dollars; the other pays their way with their character.

As we begin our discussion of success, let’s be clear that success isn’t defined by wealth. The important principle “Success is using your talents and gifts to their highest advantage and contribution.” I often say it this way: “Success is the ratio between talents given and talents used.” Money may come with this, or it may not.

Think about: 1) What lesson am I learning from a mentor? 2) Who is benefiting from my life experiences? 3) When have I sacrificed my character for short-term gain?

Words of Wisdom: “I hardly believe there could be proper goals with no proper means for reaching them with full satisfaction.”

Wisdom from the Word: “The one who conducts himself in integrity will live securely, but the one who behaves perversely will be found out.” (Proverbs 10:9 NET Bible)

Use and Abuse of Humor

Weekly Thought – May 30, 2017

Fred’s humor was definitely a hallmark of his personality, and his speaking. In his later years when he was bed-bound he fought through insomnia by recalling “punch lines” and then telling himself the joke. He had a mental list of over 200. His respect for humor and for audiences kept him from taking “cheap shots.” But his love of word-play and puns left him open to groans from those who didn’t appreciate the fine art form.

Use and Abuse of Humor

For years I’ve studied the serious use of humor. I once asked Malcolm Muggeridge f there had ever been a book written about it. He said, “Yes – I know of two and they are both dreary because the authors had no sense of humor.” In my experience, most books about humor end up being joke books, and not discussing the theory, practice, and meaning of humor.

We all recognize humor as a relief from hostility and rising tempers. Humor can be the softest of soft answers. It can be a coagulating agent for diverse groups in an audience. It is often used to give a psychological break when sustained thinking becomes tiring. I have noted times when a speaker’s remark received a much greater laugh than you would expect just because the audience wanted to laugh and wanted a break.

There are many misuses, as well. I’ll mention only three.

1) The person who borrows a story and tells it as if it happened to them. Since most people in the audience have likely heard the story many times before from many different speakers, such a technique decreases the effect of the story and impinges on the integrity of the speaker. For example, how many people have told you about the dead cat found outside the back door at the same time the tuna casserole prepared and served to guests was consumed by the feline? It would be a strange coincidence for it to happen throughout the country, but it is told over and over as a “first person experience.”

2) Using too much humor causes listeners to just wait for the next laugh and ignore the serious parts of the talk. Laughs are expected and appreciated – sometimes more than substantive remarks. But this shows disrespect for the audience, unless it is billed as stand-up comedy. We have too often dumbed down our presentations and merely gone for entertainment. When we are booked as a speaker with a message, stringing together a series of jokes isn’t honest.

3) Our humor should be theologically correct and clean. I find those who profess faith in Jesus Christ, but joke about hell or immorality of doubtful character. As Christians we should certainly have joy, but we shouldn’t promote an attitude of wanton foolishness. Dirty jokes get laughs, but leave a bad taste.

Humor should illustrate a principle, not just be decorative. The more we can see humor in the human situations, the more they serve as excellent sources of content. One of the purposes I talk about frequently is that of being a social lubricant. It can oil the gears of conversation and ease tensions.

And of course, it keeps us from taking ourselves too seriously. We can foster a healthy perspective when we can laugh.

This week think about: 1) What makes me laugh? 2) How disciplined am I about what makes me laugh? 3) When do I allow myself to laugh to release tension?

Words of Wisdom: “Humor can be the softest of soft answers.”

Wisdom from the Word: “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with gladness.” (Job 8:21 NET Bible)

Typology of Gifting

Weekly Thought – May 23, 2017

Fred’s practical approach gave him an objectivity that helped many. He rarely got caught up in seeing something from one vantage point – he liked to consider all angles. And, he didn’t make judgments about decisions (unless they were clearly un-Biblical or downright stupid!) His ability to look at giving through a neutral eye made him an excellent counselor.

Would you all pray for BWFLI as we begin our new initiative: the “What’s Next” conference in 2018 and the “What’s Next Roundtables”… both will explore mentoring, networking, and everyday living faith in depth.

Typology of Gifting

When I look at gifts I try to break them down into categories. Sitting on boards and being close to ministries has given me ample opportunity for this research. Money and ministry are inextricably tied together – often to the dismay of all concerned.

Giving is more than turning over ownership of an asset.

1) Gift as gift. The purest gift is the one that is anonymous. We know about the gift, but the giver is held in anonymity. We think of these not just in amount, but in motive. The classical Biblical example is the widow who quietly gave without throwing the coins into the metal container with pomp and noise. I find that it is sometimes easier to donate smaller amounts anonymously rather than the larger. My friend and mentor Maxey Jarman told of a fundraising dinner which gave people the opportunity to stand up and make open pledges. He said one gentleman stood up, introduced himself, his wife, named his business, gave its location, and then loudly proclaimed they were giving $5000 anonymously!

2) Purchase posing as a gift. In this situation the giver buys recognition or social position. I know of an extremely successful fundraiser who hosts a club for like-minded donors. The catch: You have to give $10,000 each year to belong to the club. I think it would be more accurate to think of this as an expense, rather than a gift. Being known as a member of this club sets one above others. The price of admission really isn’t about giving. Another friend promised a ministry $20million in stock, but kept ownership in order to vote the stock and control the corporation. Ironically, by the time his gift was received by the ministry the value had dropped from $50/share to $1.

3) Attention. This may be crass, but I know people who have discovered the power of being a potential major donor. They receive all the benefits and privileges of those who give but without actually donating. Sadly, too many organizations are afraid to offend such people with “great giving capacity” and treat them with deference.

4) Investment. Donors often speak of their giving in terms of ROI (return on investment). Kingdom work is often difficult to put through a metrics and measurements exercise. Do not misunderstand me. I want ministries to operate with the absolute best practices, for that is excellent stewardship. But there is an element to God’s work that doesn’t fit into a neat formula. I once asked a friend to give to a struggling minister doing excellent, but small, work in the inner city. He quickly informed me he didn’t give to small things. He gave only to those who had the capacity to change the entire system, not just a piece of it.

The philosophy of giving to get back is an example of investment thinking. The human multiplier effect fails when applied to God’s work. He does give an increase, but not because we have manipulated Him.

This week think about: 1) Where is my heart (and my head) when I give? 2) Who can I talk with about proper giving? 3) How can I be helpful to ministries as they think about money?

Words of Wisdom: “Kingdom work is often difficult to put through a metrics and measurements exercise.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1 NET Bible)

Intentions of the Heart and Purse

Weekly Thought – May 16, 2017

Fred was allergic to fluff. He didn’t appreciate those who tried to bamboozle him with lofty, spiritualized financial appeals. And, he didn’t want to be anyone’s “center of influence.” His gift of discernment gave him an objectivity which enabled him to give with insight and wisdom.

Giving to BWFLI is a way you can participate in the “stretching and blessing of the next generation of leaders… to the glory of God.” We ask for your help as we continue our campus work.

Intentions of the Heart and Purse

Not everyone gives for the same reason. Over the years I have known men and women who give high dollar gifts… and those who give the $5.00 donations. Billy Graham once said their ministry operated on the $5 gifts from men and women who stood with them in prayer.

Here are a few (certainly not an exhaustive list, but one that will get you thinking) I have noticed:

1) Tax deduction. “I prefer to give to the church rather than to the government.” Our tax laws currently favor charitable giving, but this may not always be the case. Giving as a tax strategy is usually more mental and emotional.

2) Peer pressure. A well-known CEO had the reputation of being a major fundraiser. In actuality, his gift were relatively small, but he had the ability to “suggest” to those who worked for him and did business with him that certain charitable organizations would be helped by their money. Often I get letters from non-profits listing their donors in descending monetary order. Some consultant told them most people like to do “what other people like them” do.

3) Emergency response. Another strategy is sending out SOS letters to donors under the banner of “we need your help NOW!” There are those who quickly respond to such pleas and feel they are jumping in to hold up the organization at a critical time. The problem with this is the sense we get when we see retail stores holding “going out of business “sales for years on end. Non-profits which hope to spur giving with SOS alerts risk creating doubt.

4) Legacy. Some foundations give when the understanding their name will be attached prominently to the gift. A fundraiser friend of mine always looks at “naming opportunities” when he first enters a facility. There is nothing wrong with giving to an organization and receiving public recognition. But one must be careful about the possibility of manipulation.

5) Obedience. If done out of respect and love, this is an excellent motive. If it is fear driven, then it is weak. A new Christian with great wealth was told by others he would be punished by God and stripped of his assets if he didn’t give super generously to the church. Obedient giving is not to obligate God but to obey Him.

6) Gratitude and love. Christian gratitude should start at Calvary and show itself in our consistent love. True love is extravagant, spontaneous, and natural.

7) God’s glory. When we give for His glory, we must be careful not to try to share the glory because God says He will not share with anyone. To give for His glory drives others to see Him for who He is.

This week think about: 1) What do I think about when I give? 2) How extravagant am I in my love for God? 3) What gives me the greatest joy in giving?

Words of Wisdom: “Obedient giving is not to obligate God, but to obey Him.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NET Bible)

Giving With Joy

Weekly Thought – May 9, 2017

Fred’s generosity covered financial support, but also the use of wisdom, time, and presence. His thoughts on giving were often sought by those who wanted to be good stewards. His ability to “sit loose to things” (a phrase he gleaned from Oswald Chambers) allowed him to give with great freedom.

Thank you for your ongoing support as BWFLI continues to impact Christian college and university campuses. Since our first event in 2008 we have brought 16 teams in contact with over 15,000 students. Your continued friendship through prayer and financial giving is greatly appreciated.

Giving With Joy

Money is an important scriptural concern. It shapes life in America as much or more than any other single item.

Here are several principles to consider for personal giving and also while leading others to give with integrity.

1) Giving may be harder than earning. A lifestyle of giving away money may be both difficult and dangerous. I say difficult because profitable stewardship requires a new and often more difficult discipline than making the money. It is dangerous because many temptations confront those with money to give.

2) Giving must move from duty to joy. The sheer administrative monotony of philanthropy can steal the joy. Administration is constant and often kills the delight. Freedom comes in crossing the line from duty to joy. Theologically, freedom comes in moving from works to grace.

3) Generous giving is a lifestyle. This involves more than the money or appreciated assets, techniques, or programs. It involves our spiritual maturity. How often am I willing to pray, “Lord, prosper me financially in proportion to my spiritual maturity?” What a snare if we try to bribe God with financial gifts to rationalize our failure to offer Him our spiritual gifts.

4) Motive is imperative. Biblical wisdom tells us “Out of the heart are the issues of life.” In the New Testament the story of Ananias and Sapphira warns us of wrong motives. As you remember, they claimed to donate 100%, but in actually held some back for themselves. They were greedy for credit and it cost them their lives. Their sin wasn’t in the reduced gift – it was the increased greed.

Obedient giving is not to obligate God, but to follow Him. We need to give – He doesn’t need the money. The glory which accrues to Him is the goal – along with our maturity.

This week think about: 1) How serious am I about my giving? 2) When I consider my stewardship do I just think about money? 3) What will increase my joy in giving?

Words of Wisdom: “Theologically, freedom comes in moving from works to grace.”

Wisdom from the Word: “And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the LORD examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently.” (1 Chronicles 28:9 NET Bible)

Overcoming, not Overwhelming

Weekly Thought – May 2, 2017

Fred believed we have much to learn from our enemies. He also believed we are known by not only the friends, but also our enemies. He also believed in external and internal opposition. “Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.”

Overcoming, not Overwhelming

Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan tells the story of Christian and his trek to the Celestial City. Along the way are the City of Delight and the Valley of Despair. He starts on his way, determined to persevere, but the enemies actively pursue him. Successful perseverance comes by overcoming the enemies cleverly disguised, and customized to fit each traveler and each situation.

Many of our obstacles may be external, but the most serious are generally internal. When I was a director of the S.H Kress Company, I visited the stores and asked the manager about his problems. If he described them as externally driven, I doubted his managerial capabilities. If he discussed the internal problems, I knew we had a manager with potential for progress. This manager defined situations he could do something about. Certainly, there were external threats, but most were out of his control.

Each step of the perseverance process comes back to building good mental disciplines. Fighting the enemies of endurance requires good habits. Start with a reflex, and then train it into a habit. Habits are our friends.

A couple came to see me saying, “We have a problem.” As I listened, it became clear she had nothing to do with the creation of the problem. Yet, she maturely accepted ownership as half of the marriage partnership. She could have easily said (and I have heard it many times before), “This stupid husband of mine, much against my advice, lost our money.” But she didn’t. And, eventually they worked together to find an answer. She knew that resolution, not recrimination, was the road to solution.

How easy it is in rough times to point fingers and shift blame. From childhood we learn to respond like a quick draw sharpshooter.”It’s not my fault.” Our third grandchild is a boy named Jeff. He was born behind two strong-willed sisters. One day when he was still a pre-schooler our daughter heard him mumbling to himself. She got close enough to hear, “Not my fault, not my fault, not my fault.” “Jeff, what did you do?” “Nothing – I’m just practicing for when Heather and Meredith blame me.”

This week think about: 1) What reflexes am I honing into good habits? 2) What are the customary pitfalls on my journey? 3) How do I assess my external and internal threats?

Words of Wisdom: “She knew that resolution, not recrimination, was the road to solution.”

Wisdom from the Word: “You have joy, Israel! Who is like you? You are a people delivered by the Lord, your protective shield and your exalted sword. May your enemies cringe before you; may you trample on their backs.” (Deuteronomy 33:29 NET Bible)

Ideas on Motivation

Weekly Thought – April 25, 2017

Fred consciously motivated people. He spent hours thinking about those in his network and how to stretch them. He thought of himself as a conduit for several of his friends who were speakers. As he read, listened, thought, he would put “material” into mental files to be accessed when he talked with any of these three people. He wanted to be part of their growth – and the use of their great gifts.

Ideas on Motivation

One of the ways I motivate people to think is always carrying blank cards in my pocket. When anyone says something worth writing down, I do. For years I tried to keep mental notes of memorable lines and then jot them down later. Then I realized the positive effect of asking someone, “May I write that down?” Often I get the response, “I didn’t know it was that good!”

People love to be quoted and doing so motivates them to think better. One of the nicest compliments you can earn is “He makes me think smart when I’m with him.” It’s a sign you are motivating people to think.

One of my early bosses had a way of saying nice things about his employees which would get back to them. True things which were nice. We appreciated it and worked hard to keep on doing things which he could notice. People work hard to uphold a good reputation.

Ask “what is special about this person?” For example, some people have a way of focusing on the positive in people. That can give you an opportunity to say “Here’s a person who looks for the best in others.” It not only strengthens the person, but gives them an idea of what you value.

I have consciously augmented my wife’s reputation as a creative listener. She is. I began doing it to comfort her because she was ill at ease in social situations and felt that she had little to say. We would come home and she would lament, “All I did was listen.”

One night at a dinner party, she was sitting next to a powerful top executive. His wife, seated next to me said, “Oh, I feel sorry for your wife having to sit next to my husband.” I replied, “He will talk his head off.” “You don’t know him at all then.” “No, I don’t know him, but I know my wife.” Sure enough, this man with the surly reputation did talk his head off. I am sure his wife wondered what in the world happened to him. What happened was Mary Alice. She had the ability to listen dynamically, to make people feel comfortable, and smart. She didn’t compete with him, and he thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Effective leaders work to develop motivational strategies. They spend time thinking about specific techniques which are sincere motivation, not shallow manipulation.

This week think about: 1) Who is one of the best motivators I know? 2) How can I know the people around me and motivate them more strongly? 3) What is my motivation to motivate others?

Words of Wisdom: “People work hard to uphold a good reputation.”

Wisdom from the Word: “For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.” (Romans 15:4 NET Bible)

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