The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director. Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year. God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
Recently on our family cruise my husband and I were waiting
in a long line for the breakfast buffet. I began to get rather frustrated with
the people in line. They were moving as slow as molasses. I’ve never tested how
fast molasses really moves, but you know….
What irked me was that this line as long as an anaconda did not have to stay that way! People moved in slow motion as they reached for a grapefruit or selected a box of cereal. They seemed to be giving serious thought to selecting a sausage. I wanted to scream, “What’s wrong with you people? It’s sausage. This doesn’t require an executive decision. Grab and move! Grab and move!”
What irked me was that this line as long as an anaconda did not have to stay that way! People moved in slow motion as they reached for a grapefruit or selected a box of cereal. They seemed to be giving serious thought to selecting a sausage. I wanted to scream, “What’s wrong with you people? It’s sausage. This doesn’t require an executive decision. Grab and move! Grab and move!”
I quipped to my husband, “For a person who is on the move,
this line that is not on the move but could very easily be is rather
frustrating.” He gently said back to me, “Babe, you’re not supposed to be on
the move this week. This isn’t the week to rush anywhere. Just relax.”
I will admit that was hard advice although I knew he was
right. And, I will also admit I could not just stand there and “waste my time.”
In my previous life I was World Director of Productivity. So as people in front
of me took their sweet time, I took it upon myself to rearrange and straighten
items in front of me like small cereal boxes and butter pats that were not in
perfectly straight lines. I thought my husband would die.
On the same day, I decided to stay on the ship while my
family all went on excursions. I was sorely in need of a day of rest. My
testiness at the breakfast bar proved that if nothing else.
Especially with some things I have faced in this season, I need to be
intentional about taking some time to breathe. Breathe again. Not have to think
so quickly on my feet. Not be the answer person. Not make any decisions. Not
solve a problem. Take some moments to just be. Make a “stop doing” list.
Leaders need to be relentlessly intentional about moving slower on some days so we can keep moving faster on others.
Leaders need to be relentlessly intentional about moving slower on some days so we can keep moving faster on others.
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