This week we look at a quote from the Bible that articulates a belief that transcends religious, ethnic or gender differences.  

“For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again.” [Proverbs 24:16]

What this means to me:

If you really want something you can never give up.  You must persist until you achieve your goal. 

People fail for only two reasons:

1. They don’t have a goal so they don’t know what success looks like.
2. They give up. 

That’s it.  Those are the only two reasons for failure.

When you buy-in to this philosophy, you become a powerful person. 

Think about it.  If you believe in this way of thinking (and just about all successful people do) it is only a matter of time until you achieve ANY goal. 

Please reflect on this for a few days.  This one philosophy completely changed my life.

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I am routinely amazed by how many business leaders don’t have a business plan or even some written goals.  Here’s what the Bible has to say about planning:

Proverbs 13:16 (New King James Version)

 Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
      But a fool lays open his folly.

Proverbs 21:5 (New King James Version)

The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
      But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

Luke 14:28-31 (New King James Version)

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?  Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

What it means to me:

Planning is essential to success in business and in life.  If you do not plan you should expect to fail.  Here are three things you can do right now to get your business on track to a brighter future:

1. Set Goals and Write them Down. All of the successful entrepreneurs I have ever met have written goals that they review regularly.  The is one of the basic success principles that have been around forever.  Why do you have written goals?
2. Make a “to do” list each day.  Most people drift from day to day without though to prioritizing tasks.  Writing a list will automatically make you more productive.
3. Link your “to do” items to your goals.  You must develop your priorities based upon your long term goals.  If you want to be successful, you should focus on the things that advance your business toward the goals you have for the future. 

You have a moral responsibility to use your talent as effectively as possible.  Planning enables you to do just that.

You future is in your own hands.  Take control of it today. 

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This week’s Business and the Bible Passage is from The Gospel of St. Mark, Chapter 10 verses 42–45. 

Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt.

But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;

Whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.

For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

What this means to me:

Much has been made about servant leadership these days.  Why should this begin and end with leaders? 

This philosophy applies to everything in life. 

The more time you put into helping others the more rewards you receive in return.  Sometimes the rewards are not immediately evident.  Sometimes they take some time to develop. 

Try this for the next week:

Find three people who can benefit from your expertise and help them.  Expect nothing in return.

The true reward will be in how you feel about yourself – but don’t be surprised if something greater does not happen at some point in the future. 

It may seem unrelated and you can chose to believe that if you’d like.  But think about how great it would be if everyone gave to others.  That would make the world better for all of us.

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This week’s Business and The Bible passage comes from Mark 38–45:

Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

What it means to me:

Leaders in all aspects of life – especially business– should seek first to help others. Teaching is leading.  Helping others achieve their goals is the quickest way to develop loyal employees and clients.

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This weeks bible passage is from the Book of Numbers, Chapter 11, Verses 11–29:

The LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses.
Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses,
the LORD bestowed it on the seventy elders;
and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied.

Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad,
were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp.
They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent;
yet the spirit came to rest on them also,
and they prophesied in the camp.
So, when a young man quickly told Moses,
“Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp, “
Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses’aide, said,
“Moses, my lord, stop them.”
But Moses answered him,
“Are you jealous for my sake?
Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!
Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!”

What this means to me:

Many businesses suffer from “not invented here syndrome”.  Companies with this ailment routinely reject ideas that don’t come from the usual brain-trust.  This will often hinder growth.

In this bible passage, Eldad and Medad are spreading the Word of God – growing the business (so to speak) – but a young man runs to Moses with “not invented here syndrome”.  Moses corrects the young man and educates him. 

Keep this in mind the next time a good idea from an unlikely source crosses your path.  If the idea can help you advance your business, it doesn’t matter where it comes from. 

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Today’s Business and the Bible quote comes from Deuteronomy 8:18:

“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.”

What it means to me:

Our talent is a gift from God.  We must develop it fully over the course of our lifetime.  When we do, it gives Him glory.

Each of us has a unique ability.  If we make the most of it, we can become rich not only in money but in the knowledge that we have fulfilled our potential.

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This week’s Business and the Bible passage comes from Ecclesiastes 7, verses 9–12:

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
       for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”
       For it is not wise to ask such questions.

 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing
       and benefits those who see the sun.

 Wisdom is a shelter
       as money is a shelter,
       but the advantage of knowledge is this:
       that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.

What this means to me:

Many horrible decision are made when emotions are running high.  We all need to be guarded about the decisions we make when we are angry.  We should limit our interactions to others when they do things that anger us. 

Wise people wait before responding to other people who seek to provoke them.  They take some time (some count to ten) before responding.  They don’t take antagonistic comments to heart. 

Nobody ever wins an argument with a customer (or with the boss).  Even if you prove your point, you will lessen your stature in their eyes.  What feels good in the moment in these situations is seldom good for the long term.

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This week’s bible passage is from Genesis 24:12-14.

Then he prayed,

“O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.

By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

What this means to me:

When or boss succeeds, we succeed.  When our clients succeed, we succeed.  Their success is our success. 

This mindset serves all of us well in our career. 

Begin first by creating value for others and that will help you become more valuable overall.

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This week’s quote is from Acts 20:35:

I have shown you in every way by laboring like this, that you must support the weak.
And remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, that
He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’.

What it means to me:

One of the keys to Career Intensity is creating value.   This bible quote is about giving.  There are a number of ways to give at work.  One of the best ways to create value is to give of oneself and help others fulfill their potential.  Here are some ways to help others fulfill their potential at work:

• Teach a course in your area of expertise.
• Mentor someone who is inexperienced.
• Show a brand new employee the nuances of your work environment.
• Make a list of things that everyone should know about working in your office. Share that list with people with everyone else.

If the pure joy of helping others is not enough to motivate you, remember that the best way to get what you want is to help others get what they want.   

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This week’s Business and the Bible Quote comes from Exodus 23:12:

“Work for six days, and rest on the seventh. This will give your ox and your donkey a chance to rest. It will also allow the people of your household, including your slaves and visitors, to be refreshed.”

What it means to me:

We need to take time off the rest and recharge our batteries.  No one can operate at peak efficiency 24 hours per day, seven days per week. 

In order to be at your best, you must take some time off.  I advise my clients to focus their intensity for three days each week and use the two remaining days to do support work.  What is support work?  That term encompasses all the tasks that are required in order for you to serve your clients.  This includes things like organizing activities, placing orders for supplies and all non-revenue producing activity.

I always encourage clients to take entire weekends off from work.  Working on weekends not only tires you out physically but it also takes it toll on you mentally.  Being in the office while your friends and family are enjoying life takes a mental toll as well.  Don’t allow this to happen to you.

Hard work should not be measured in hours on the job.  It should be measured by the intensity of the effort.  Work hard while you are at the office – then rest and spend time with the people you love.

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This week’s Bible passage is from Ecclesiastes 2:17–30:

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.  I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.  So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun?  All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.

What this means to me:

Giving 100% effort in our work is a way for us to give glory to God.  God rewards those of us who give our best to our jobs and to our customers each and every day. 

This passage also highlights some of the feelings that many people have when they create something and then turn it over to someone else.  This happens when a project reaches its completion or when we receive a well-deserved promotion and we leave behind the business we have built.  While this is often a difficult feeling, it is a byproduct of our success.  While others may not fully appreciate our efforts, God does and that should sustain us. 

In the end, we receive tremendous satisfaction in building our business.  Our efforts create value for the people we work with and for our customers.  That is what we get for our toil and anxious striving. 

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This week’s Business and The Bible quote comes from Matthew 17:20:

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

What it means to me:

One of the keys to success is having the confidence to persist through adversity.  Often that adversity will come from the people who are closest to you.  Your well intentioned friends and family members will often discourage you from following your dreams.  In most cases they honestly believe that this is in your best interest. 

When this happens you will need to turn somewhere else for your strength.  Having faith that God will provide you with the direction and guidance you need will pull you through the difficult times. 

Trust in God and believe in yourself and anything is possible.

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This week’s passage comes from Proverbs, Chapter 11 Verses12-14 

A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,
       but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

A gossip betrays a confidence,
       but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

For lack of guidance a nation falls,
       but many advisers make victory sure. 

My thoughts:

This is a tremendous lesson that most people learn the hard way.  People who gossip never develop truly close relationships with others.  If you speak negatively about one person behind their back, most people will believe that you will speak negatively about them.  This hinders the healthy growth and development of the relationship. 

If you do not develop relationships then you have no one to advise you or give you guidance in tough situations.

Without the support of advisors, mentors or close friends we all make bad decisions.  We need the support of others – for our own benefit as well as for the benefit of our business.

Here is a good rule to live by:  Always defend those who are not in the room.  You do not need to agree with them, or with their position.  You just need to support their right to participate in the discussion – in their own defense.

This will not only make you a valuable friend, it will also helps strengthen your character. 

You will find that this gift is one that will come back to you ten-fold.

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This week’s Business and the Bible topic is a little different than our last few posts in this topic area. 

Although I often talk about affirmations and keeping a positive attitude, there is another way that many people draw the strength to persevere through the ups and downs of business and life.  Of course, I’m talking about prayer. 

Many of the successful superachievers I have worked and spoken with have told me that they believe prayer offers them a competitive advantage in business and in life.

This week I’m going to share a prayer with you that was given to me by a the CEO of a multinational corporation.  This is one of the prayers he reflects upon when he needs some inspiration.

Prayer to Saint Joseph for the Spirit of Work

Glorious Saint Joseph, model of all who pass their life in labor, obtain for me the grace to work in a spirit of penance to atone for my many sins; to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my own inclinations; to work with gratitude and joy, considering it an honor to use and develop by my labor the gifts I have received from God; to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without ever recoiling before weariness or difficulties.

Help me to work, above all, with purity of intention and with detachment from self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must render of time lost, talents wasted, good omitted, and vain complacency in success, which is so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all after your example, O Patriarch Joseph! This shall be my watchword in life and in death. Amen

What this means to me:

Once again we see the theme of giving glory to God through our work. He has granted us unique talent and ability and we owe it to ourselves and to Him to do the best we can. 

We also see the mention of a “final accounting” in this prayer.   That is a point at which we will have to answer for how we used our talent during the course of our lifetime. 

Even if you do not believe in God (or a higher power) the sense of ultimate accountability can be an incredibly powerful motivating force.  Use it to keep you focused.

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This week’s passage is from the New American Version of The Bible -Psalm 127

 Unless the LORD builds the house,
       its builders labor in vain.
       Unless the LORD watches over the city,
       the watchmen stand guard in vain.

 In vain you rise early
       and stay up late,
       toiling for food to eat—
       for he grants sleep to those he loves.

My thoughts:

Our ability to work is a gift from God.  We have a responsibility to give our best effort to our jobs everyday.  Our effort is a reflection upon us and upon God.

Give 100% of your effort to your work each and every day.  You’ll feel better about yourself and it will pay big dividends in the long run.

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This week’s passage is from the New American Version of The Bible –  Exodus 5: 

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.’ ”

Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.”

Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”

But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!”  Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working.”

That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and foremen in charge of the people:  “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw.  But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’  Make the work harder for the men so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”

Then the slave drivers and the foremen went out and said to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you any more straw.  Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.’ ” So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw.  The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, “Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw.”  The Israelite foremen appointed by Pharaoh’s slave drivers were beaten and were asked, “Why didn’t you meet your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?”

Then the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated your servants this way?  Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”

Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’  Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.”

The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.”  When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, and they said, “May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

Moses returned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”

My thoughts:

How many times have our bosses asked us to do more with less resources?  This is a common fact of business.  Whenever times get tough, it becomes necessary for businesses to increase productivity in order to compete.  In many cases, our employers have to lay people off and the burden of the furloughed workers’ tasks falls upon us.  We often don’t receive extra compensation for the additional responsibility.  Often, we are not given any extra time to complete the additional tasks.  We often go to our supervisors, just as Moses went to the Lord, and we gripe and complain.

Difficult times – times when a productivity increase is necessary for the survival of the business – can make us stronger.  They can help us find new ways to grow and push ourselves.  We can learn to work smarter and not necessarily harder. 

We can take solace in the fact that we are building a deeper portfolio of experience that will make us more valuable. If this value is not realized by our employer when economic conditions improve, we can market this value to other companies when hiring picks up. 

The positive aspect of this type of situation is that it is forced learning.  We learn new skills and we learn to become more efficient.  Eventually this will provide us with a personal competitive advantage.

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This Bible passage is from Ecclesiastes 3:9–14

“What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.”

There are some powerful messages that can be taken away from this passage.  My thoughts:

• Work is tough and God knows it.
• God worked hard in creating the earth and we should appreciate that.
• Our work should “do good” for others.
• Taking satisfaction in a good day’s work is a gift from God.

I especially like the last point. 

When I was a teenager I worked in a supermarket unloading pallets of food from tractor trailers.  Believe it or not, there was kind of an “art” to using a hand operated pallet-jack to remove pallets with cases of food stacked 10 feet high.  At the end of the workday I would get in my car and when I sat down my whole body would ache – and this made me feel good.  I felt like I had done a good, hard day’s work.  I took satisfaction in that. 

Do you get that feeling when you come home at the end of the day?

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I am pleased to announce a new category on The Career Intensity Blog:  Business and The Bible. 

Usually I just sneak new categories in without fanfare but this category is different.  Many people look to The Bible for inspiration and strength.  I hope people reading this blog find those two qualities evident here as well.

This category is not going to be a statement about religious beliefs – mine or those of others.  It is intended to provoke thought, entertain and yes, maybe even inspire those who read it. 

Although the category is titled “Business and The Bible” I’m also going to look for inspirational thoughts from other religious works.  Don’t be surprised if you see passages from The Torah, The Holy Qur’an or the Upanishads. 

“Business and the Bible” has an alliterative quality that is attractive and I am most familiar with The Bible, so most of the early postings will come from there.  But posting on this topic will definitely help me broaden my religious perspective.

If you know of any inspirational religious passages related to business, please send them to me.  I would love to share them.

This topic area will appear primarily on Sundays. 

I hope you enjoy it.

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