“Why did we ever get into this business?”

This is a running joke I have with one of my entrepreneur friends. We often say this to each other in jest when we can tell the other is stressed out to the max. Truth is, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not some weirdo who lives for panic attacks and sleepless nights; but I love the fact that most days we get it right!

If I’m under a major load, it’s usually because I failed to do one of the following correctly.

Abdicate – assign the duties, responsibility, and results
Delegate – assign the duties and results, but keep the responsibility
Leverage – assign the duties, but keep the results and responsibility

Great leaders are masters at using these three at the right place, at the right time, and with the right people.

And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. [18] Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

Exodus 18:17-18 KJV

The music industry creates millions of jobs and hundreds of billions in revenues annually. It’s massive impact on our economy is undeniable. However, music’s real power is in how we digest and use information. 

Why do you think every self-help guru tells you to write and repeat your goals? Because repeating something over and over helps program your subconscious. And, when something is in your subconscious mind, it gets done.

Be very selective about what you put on your playlist.

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

Exodus 15:1 KJV

People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.

This is why the most effective teaching is between a parent and a child.

And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

Exodus 13:8 KJV

Memorials are just statues, holidays, rocks, steel and old works of art. Right? Nope.

Memorials are much more than their physical counterparts. They stand for something that needs to be remembered by future generations. Our memorials have three purposes; honor the present, remember the past and guide the future.

Memorials should make our children ask “Why?”
We should be ready to tell them the story.
That story will help shape their future.

If there’s a breakdown in this chain, we lose. We lose connection, we lose wisdom, we lose perspective and we will lose our direction.

We must ask why and we must tell the stories, or we will make the same mistakes.

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Exodus 12:14 KJV

“Fake it till you make it.”

Technology and more specifically social media has driven this old saying to new heights. There’s not really an issue with the intent; the problem lies in the execution.

You can temporarily “FAKE IT” by lying.
– or –
You can “FAKE IT” by doing the work as if you were already there.

Everyone who succeeds is an impostor until they become an original.

And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.

Exodus 8:7 KJV

LIES:
Everyone gets a trophy.
You’re not a loser.
Equality of outcome.
Too big to fail.
It’s all good.

TRUTH:
Only one wins the prize.
Sometimes you lose.
Equal outcomes are an anomaly.
Anyone can fail.
Sometimes it gets worse before it gets better.

Don’t give up your freedom to lose.

For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

Exodus 5:23 KJV

What happens if we ignore directional signs?
What happens if we ignore informational signs?
What happens if we ignore warning signs?

I thank God for the First Amendment of the US Constitution! This simple statement affords me the right to peaceably gather with a group of like-minded individuals in support or opposition to anything.

I regularly examine the doctrines and the actions of the groups with which I am involved. Do they still stand for what I believe? Have they been hijacked for money or power? Is their direction still in line with mine? Will this make a better life for my children and grandchildren?

Movements don’t have a conscience and groups don’t self-evaluate. People do. It all boils down to personal accountability. Each of us will stand before God alone to receive the things done in the body.

Pay attention to the signs. 😉

And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

Exodus 4:30 KJV

How could a ruler command to kill children?
How could a ruler command to kill an entire race of people?

Fear, ignorance, hate, greed and apathy blur the lines of what is right and wrong.

Faith, learning, love, charity and humility can help us see through the gray areas.

Always search for the truth.

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

Exodus 1:17 KJV

How do you feel about disposable plates?
How about disposable income?
How do you feel about free lunches?
How about free time?

If you use a disposable plate, it could give you some free time.
If you had free time, you could make some disposable income.
If you had disposable income, you can give someone a free lunch.

Socialist Conclusion: 
All we need to do is give people free lunches on disposable plates.

Capitalist Conclusion:
How much do the plates cost?
What is the total cost of the lunch?
How much time can we save?
How many free lunches can we give and sustain profitability?

We better teach our children and our grandchildren how to reason and think for themselves. Someone must pay the price. Nothing is free!

And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation : the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.

Genesis 50:23 KJV

I believe in personal accountability. I believe It lays the burden of responsibility squarely on the shoulders of anyone who will bear it. I also believe, with that burden comes a freedom that cannot be expressed in words.

What about inequality?
What about providence?
What about things that are out of my control?

We are not born with the same abilities, the same access or the same opportunities. Does that somehow diminish my responsibility as a human being to do the very best I can with what I have? No. History shows us that some of the most successful people who ever lived overcame tremendous adversity. Was it because of providence or their own persistence? Do you think these great men and women saw themselves as victims?

Providence and personal accountability are flip sides of the same coin.

So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 45:8 KJV