It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
Last week we talked about a "service" mentality and going above and beyond what is expected. CLICK HERE to read the post. Thanks for your comments.
I'll share one note from Tim: He's referring to the Ladies and Gentlemen Sign I shared..."The darkness in the world provides windows for us to provide light. In response to your challenge, for me it starts with being intentional about showing kindness (and love, joy, peace, and patience) to everyone we meet"
Thanks for your thoughts Tim about how KINDNESS is a way for us to serve, love and bring encouragement to a polarized world.
Today I want to continue a little on this theme of "going above and beyond expectations".
2 things triggered this thought today:
First, in a conversation with my daughter Rheanna, she was sharing with us about a client that had an urgent need and had an opportunity, so she was responding by helping them meet a deadline. She shared that because of this, she was having to work on the weekend. Both my wife and I challenged her with her parameters, we pushed her to say no, and we tried to protect her margins and life. Her response kind of shocked me... she simply said that the client really needed this help, and she was going to do what it took to help them. As I thought about it, that's a great response. Thinking about last weeks conversation, that's "going above and beyond" to serve someone else. It's not about money, it's not about getting overtime and credit, and sometimes it's not even about having a morning off. In this case, there was a need, an opportunity, and my daughter could help meet that need. I think in the moment, I was reacting like a father and wanting to protect her. Instead, I need to continue to challenge her in her healthy parameters, but while doing that I can also celebrate her skills, her desire to serve a client, and her intuition about what to do and what not to do.
It's also easy to forget all the times I've given up my personal time to help someone over the years. Sometimes I've whined about it, but I still showed up.
Second, a friend encouraged me to listen to a podcast, so this past week as I've walked, I've been listening to an intriguing podcast: "How I Built This with Guy Raz" It's an NPR podcast, and in each episode they talk to "serial entrepreneurs" about how their business started, scaled and lasted. Really interesting to hear these stories. If you listen to podcasts, give this one a shot.
A common them from almost all of these entrepreneurs is this: "Starting something is just a lot of hard work!" Story after story of working multiple jobs, of working late in the night to see a dream realized, of failing and having to start over again, of having partnerships fall apart. I've been encouraged as I've listened to these stories.
For each of us, doing what we were created to do, or doing the best at where we're currently at is simply a LOT OF WORK. That's why it's called WORK.
I think we forget this. If you're doing something that matters, it's not going to just happen. You have to work at it. You might have to put in extra time. You might be up later or have to revisit some things on your day off.
I'm not advocating for workaholism at all. In fact, if you know me at all, healthy rhythm and margin is important in my life, but there is a time to WORK.
Don't be afraid of that.
Did you know that we've been created to work?
Bob Shank teaches in The Masters Program the idea that we have been created to work. Productivity is actually God's design and desire. Acts 20:34 - 35 says this: "You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Today I simply want to remind you of this:
• Following up from last week, remember to look for ways to serve others, ways to go above and beyond what's expected. This is a way to encourage and influence others in our daily life.
• The thought from today is a reminder that sometimes we're just called to DO THE WORK. It can be difficult and challenging, it can be exhausting, it can even result in failure. Remember that anything worth something requires your effort. You can make a great contribution by doing the work needed to accomplish what God has placed in your heart and in your hands.
"Without labor nothing prospers." Sophocles
"Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen." Conan O'Brien
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23
