Dec 14, 2015  – John D. Beckett

Samantha thought the advice of her graduate school professor was a little unusual – words offered as she was about to launch her business career: “Don’t get too close to your co-workers,” he said. “You never know when you’re going to have to fire someone, and you don’t want to fire your close friends.”

Soon after starting her career, Samantha began moving up the ranks at Agile, a large pharmaceutical firm, and had several associates reporting to her. While reading a book on leadership, she was drawn to the story of Vince Lombardi, the legendary football coach of the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers in the late 1950’s.

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Dec 7, 2015  – Rick Boxx

Speaking at a commencement ceremony at the University of Texas in 2014, Naval Admiral William H. McRaven, ninth commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, talked about crucial lessons he learned during basic training for Navy SEALS. One particularly powerful lesson was impressed on him when he and other SEAL prospects were faced with 15 hours of “fighting the freezing cold, mud, the howling wind and pressure from the instructors to quit.”

This almost unimaginable challenge came at the conclusion of what was called “hell week,” after six days of no sleep, constant physical and mental harassment. This make-or-break exercise was conducted at the Mud Flats, an area between San Diego, Calif., U.S.A. and Tijuana, Mexico, a swampy patch of terrain where the mud will engulf anyone in it.

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Nov 30, 2015  – Jim Langley

While working in human resources during the mid-1970s I was introduced to the “Pygmalion Effect,” a concept that emphasized the importance of “expecting the best” from your employees. It was based on a 1971 study by Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson, also known as the Rosenthal Effect, which simply states that higher expectations of people can often lead to improved performance.

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Nov 23, 2015  – Robert J. Tamasy

“Thanks a lot!” These three words carry a tremendous amount of meaning, and can be intended many ways. They can represent a sincere expression of gratitude, extended to an employee for excellent work on a project, a coworker, a valued customer for their business, or a supplier for meeting an urgent need in a timely manner. Or it can be said sarcastically, referring to someone’s work, comments or attitudes that were not appreciated.

But at this time when the calendar year is drawing to a close and people in some parts of the world are preparing for a formal celebration of Thanksgiving Day, it seems a good time to reflect on those things for which we truly do feel thankful. For what are you saying, “Thanks a lot!” in the most positive way?

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Nov 16, 2015  – John D. Beckett

Findlay debated with himself for some time, and then made a conscious decision to leave a Bible on his desk at work. Since becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, he wanted to let others know about his newfound faith. He concluded this small step could open some doors for discussion, even opportunities to tell about what God had been doing in his life.

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Nov 9, 2015  – Robert J. Tamasy

When managers and supervisors are surveyed about the most pervasive problems they must deal with in the workplace, one that typically ranks near the top is gossip. One definition for gossip is “idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others.” So the focus of gossip in the workplace is not team-building.

The content of such gossip can range from job performance to workplace attire to “office politics” to speculating on behind-the-scenes relationships between colleagues. In many cases, none of these discussions contribute to higher levels of productivity or camaraderie. But that does not diminish the temptation to share juicy secrets about other staff not present to hear what is being said about them.

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Nov 2, 2015  – Rick Boxx

Mark Cuban, an American billionaire entrepreneur and one of the investors on the TV reality show, “Shark Tank,” revealed his personal priorities when he criticized one of the entrepreneurs making a presentation to the experts, collectively known as the “Sharks.” Cuban said he wanted the entrepreneur’s commitment to his business to exceed everything else in his life.

Cuban pointed out when he built his first business, he went without a vacation for seven years! He also pointed to a time when his girlfriend told him he needed to choose her or the business. Cuban bragged that he chose the business.

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Sep 28, 2015  –Robert J. Tamasy

One of the most common emotions is fear. Psychologists have a term for our reaction to circumstances we perceive as threatening. It is called the “fight or flight” response. We either confront the persons or situations that threaten us in some way, or we flee, seeking to avoid or even escape potential calamity.

There is, however, a third response, one we are not likely to hear recommended by supposed experts on the human psyche. This reaction is simply to “fear not.” Not long ago I heard a speaker from the west African nation of Sierra Leone who noted the words “fear not” appear in the Bible 365 times, seemingly one for every day in the calendar year.

Since people in Sierra Leone have experienced any number of adversities in recent years, ranging from economic struggles to outbreaks of the Ebola virus to civil discord, the speaker was well-schooled in the subject of fear. And yet he repeatedly declared his determination to follow the exhortation to “fear not” – “do not be afraid.”

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Sep 21, 2015  – John D. Beckett

BUSINESS DILEMMA EDITION Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of monthly editions of “Monday Manna” that will focus on common business dilemmas and ethical issues we confront in the workplace. After a brief summary of the problem, we provide questions for personal consideration or group discussion. We then offer comments on the situation and also consider biblical principles that might apply.

It had been one of those long, aggravating days – the kind in which the nerves of everyone in the company had remained constantly on edge. “At least this day is almost over,” thought Carlos, the customer service representative for Ace Windows and Doors. Just as he was reaching for his coat to leave work for the day, his phone rang.

“I have tried for half an hour, and I cannot get your Model SD 92 storm door to lock properly!” said the frustrated customer.

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Sep 14, 2015  – Jim Langley

In William Shakespeare’s classic literary work, Hamlet, he includes the famous words, “To be, or not to be – that is the question: Whether is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles….” Through these, Shakespeare states, we see the essence of simply being.

For years I have been intrigued with the concept of being versus doing. In the business and professional world, doing is foundational to our work. We create “to-do lists,” maintain schedules either manually or on our computers and smartphones, establish specific, measurable goals and objectives, evaluate performance by bottom lines that reflect sales, productivity and profits. We are all about “doing.” But what about “being”?

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Sep 7, 2015  – Rick Boxx

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