Because if everything is important, nothing is. Something is always born of excess: great art was born of great terror, great loneliness, great inhibitions, instabilities, and it always balances them. ~ Anaïs Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin Every year in my company, I send out an in-depth survey to find out just a little…
The Legacy of Work
In short, work — and lots of it — is an indispensable component in a meaningful human life. It is a supreme gift from God and one of the main things that gives our lives purpose. But it must play its proper role, subservient to God. It must regularly give way not just to…
In a Crisis, Trust and Act
When you face a crisis, seek counsel from someone who has faced a similar challenge. Ask friends to pray. Look for resources. Reach out to a support group. Most importantly, make a plan. Management guru Jim Collins has some good words here. He and Morten T. Hansen studied leadership in turbulent times. They looked at more than twenty thousand companies, sifting…
Just Do It! Make a Difference!
To some, “Just Do It” is a catchy phrase for a sports apparel company. To Robert Griffin III, that phrase has more meaning and purpose. When it was announced that Robert Griffin III was the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner, Baylor fans erupted in cheers of great joy. The man known as “RG3” is the first Heisman winner in Baylor history.…
What Is Your Dream?
Editor’s Note: Pastor Matthew Barnett of the Dream Center in Los Angeles, CA, the first of 150 Dream Centers launched around the world, shares true stories and testimonies of people whose lives hit rock bottom in the new book God’s Dream for You. Through the guidance and direction at the Dream Center, millions have learned about the…
Helping Teenagers Make Money
When it comes to the decision of whether to give out allowance or help teenagers make money through part-time jobs, parents have a wide variety of opinions. I’m the the parent of four teens, and while my husband and I don’t want them to miss out on their youth, we also want them to take…
Using Our Skills For God
Every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability… [is] to do the work just as the Lord has commanded. — Exodus 36:1 We sometimes forget that during most of His life Jesus was a carpenter, working with His hands among His neighbors in the town of Nazareth. “Isn’t this the carpenter?”…
The Power of Real Praise
Public praise empowers your team to be the leaders you already know they are. It was a brisk and beautiful April day, but I was as nervous as I’d ever been. This was my first day on the job as the new chairman of Herschend Family Entertainment, and Jack Herschend was going to introduce me…
Discipline
“I’ve never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline.” –Vincent Lombardi Discipline can mean different things to different people. To Lombardi, it meant hard work and sacrifice. Hard work isn’t just the number of hours invested or the blisters and bruises…