Do I know you are going to be there to do the work?
Can I count on you when the chips are down?
Will you show up like the sun?

Consistency establishes trust; but, don’t stop there.

I heard the story of a man who had worked for a company for 30 years. At his retirement ceremony someone asked him if he had any regrets. His reply was “For 30 years they have paid me for the work of my hands. If they had only asked, I would have given them the work of my mind for free.” What a waste of untapped potential.

Everyone in an organization can participate in some way to the “master-mind”. Great entrepreneurs and great leaders create collaborative environments where the best ideas are allowed to win.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Genesis 8:22 KJV

As a subordinate, you receive orders from your superior.
As a server, you receive orders from your customer. 
As a child, you receive orders from your parents.
As a worker, you receive orders from your boss.
As a player, you receive orders from your coach.

Do you want to visit the restaurant where the food is inconsistent and often not what you ordered? 

Would you want your 4 year old daughter to do whatever she chooses without regard? 

Do you want your star player to only run the plays as called and never improvise?

Do you want to go to work and punch the same widget the same way every day?

Culture answers these questions. Our culture is not what we say, it’s what we do. Do we encourage thinking, lying, sloppiness, collaboration, love, kindness, yelling, cursing, etc? Ultimately, the success of the organization and the happiness of the participants is determined by the culture. 

It’s up to you to find the right one or create your own. 🙂

Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

Genesis 7:2 KJV

Confidence comes from hard work, preparation and practice.

Pride comes from overconfidence.

Destruction follows pride. Why? Because there is no grace. 

The love of God is administered through grace.

Grace is only given to the humble.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Genesis 6:8 KJV

NextGen Healthcare
NextGen Aviation
NextGen Finance
NextGen Technology
NextGen Communication 

Seems like we are always looking for something a little better in the Next Generation. 

Same holds true with our children. The only difference, we are the responsible party.

And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: [29] And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.

Genesis 5:28-29 KJV

We are a nation of laws. These laws provide an agreed upon framework for our society to function and prosper. They allow us a safe and stable environment to build and create. Over the past 200 years we have created more than 23,000 pages of laws. Of course, some of these laws grow useless over time and need to be changed or discarded.

Natural and moral laws, on the other hand, were not created by mankind. These laws are immutable and we run into some real issues when we attempt to change or discard them.

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Genesis 4:5 KJV

You have money.
You have time.
You have ideas.
You have faith.
You have relationships.

At any given moment you might have a lot or a little.
Either way, cherish and multiply what you have and use it to be a blessing.

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Genesis 2:15 KJV

A faulty foundation in a house will cause cracked walls, cracked floors and eventual collapse.

A faulty foundation in a code base will result in a convoluted mess that eventually has to be discarded and completely rewritten.

A faulty foundational belief will lead you to do things that are contrary to your own life.

The FOUNDATION is the key to durability, simplicity, growth, stamina, strength, great relationships, faith and happiness. Start at the beginning on a solid foundation. 🙂

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1:1 KJV

It’s a good thing to take pride in your work.
It’s a bad thing to be prideful about your work.

Even though you do your best… no one succeeds alone.

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Revelation 22:12 KJV

Coca Cola’s secret formula.
A Cure for Cancer.
Microsoft’s code base.
How to change the headlight in my car.
My latest million dollar idea.

Some things should be exclusive, others should be inclusive. 

Should I tell someone?
Should I post this online?
Should I file a patent?

People are listening. We have to evaluate the cost/benefit of sharing.

If any man have an ear, let him hear.

Revelation 13:9 KJV