Overwhelmed? Take a guess at the most common theme for many of our clients…a pervasive sense of overwhelm and frustration from trying so hard yet feeling like little to no progress is being made in their business and perhaps at home too.
When we are pressured, maybe even overwhelmed, we could succumb to musings that are NOT TRUE. Far too often these “lies” are kept alive and well in the thinking and actions of many businessmen and women.
Here are 3 of the top “lies” we have encountered as we help men and women live life well as Christ followers in business and at home. Let’s see if you can relate. We sure can!
Lie # 1: The Sunday stuff does not apply to the Monday stuff!
For many a businessperson claiming Christ, the connection between what they hear on a Sunday morning and the application to the realities of business on a Monday morning is an unrealistic ‘pipe dream’.
In some ways it seems ‘easier’ to continue on living out this lie. The gap between our faith and experiencing life fully, both in business and at home, seems to grow. Yet, if we choose to listen, that ‘still, small voice’ reminds us of what is true. There IS a way to bring Sunday truth to our workday reality. Our challenge is having a real-world way to close the gap.
We do not need to stay this way. We were designed for so much more.
“THERE IS A WAY TO BRING SUNDAY TRUTH TO OUR WORKDAY REALITY. OUR CHALLENGE IS HAVING A REAL-WORLD WAY TO CLOSE THE GAP.”
Lie # 2: Work Harder – That Will Solve My Business Problems!
According to Bloomberg, over 80% of small business startups fail within the first 18 months. Is this because the small business owner is not willing to work hard? I don’t think so! All of our clients are hard-working individuals. I suspect that you are too.
So, is it true that the business challenges you and I face exist because we are not willing to work hard? No! This is not about working hard. This is about working hard at the right things. So the question begs, “What are the right things?”
One of our clients has an awesome story of doubling his revenue in 3 years. But the story does not end there. He is now coming home to enjoy dinner with his family each evening and he is working less hours in total than he did 3 years ago! Sounds like someone who is working hard on the right things!
Lie # 3: Chasing The “Shiny Penny”!
“Somehow we think that by ‘chasing the shiny penny’ everything will be fixed and our problems will go away.”
Admittedly, there are times when a new idea, a fresh thought or an innovation is exactly what is needed. The temptation, however, is to pursue the quick fix or the new tool rather than determine what is most important. Somehow we think that by “chasing the shiny penny” everything will be fixed and our problems will go away.
True confessions! My nature loves the “shiny, new penny”. I so enjoy the innovative, creative process. I have learned (still learning) that this needs to be expressed within the wise context of what is most important now.
This is where my business partner, Chip, comes in. I am the dreamer; the idea generator and seed sower. Chip is the pragmatist; the logical one and the voice of reason, ensuring the right processes are put in place to support the “vision” of what we decide to do.
Both are needed of our perspectives are needed. This saying is our reality – “A dream without a plan is just a dream; a plan without a dream is drudgery!
We are steadily watching out for these lies in our own business as we stand against the press of overwhelm. This takes a committed focus over the long haul to make sure that we are not being seduced into believing one or more of these lies.
