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Hope

BlogCultureFacing Adversity

Ancient Text

by Ron Potter

Over the last several blogs we have been looking at a text written over 2,000 years ago.  A partial reading of the text says that we are afflicted in every way, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down.

Notice that I said this was a “partial” reading of the test.  This text was written by Paul to the people of Corinth.

When I add the text that I left out during the blogs written over the last several weeks it says:

  • Afflicted in every way, but not crushed
  • Perplexed, but not driven to despair
  • Persecuted, but not forsaken
  • Struck down, but not destroyed

These added words bring assurance and hope.  While we will be afflicted, we will not be crushed.  While we’ll feel perplexed, we will not be driven to despair.  While we will be persecuted, we will not be forsaken.  And even though we will be struck down, we will not be destroyed.

Reason for Hope

These additional words provide hope.  It’s important to examine our source of hope.  In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he of course is speaking of our hope in Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the one who offers eternal life regardless of the afflictions, perplexities, persecution, and strikes in everyday life.  You may put your faith and hope in other things and they will likely lead to relief in some or all of the conditions.  But please consider where you place your hope and the full relief from being crushed, experiencing despair, being forsaken, or destroyed.

Where Is Your Hope?

The only answer I know of avoiding the destruction mentioned in this text is through putting our faith in something greater than ourselves.  Those sources of hope can vary over time and in the moment.  I know that as I reflect on my hope at any given moment, it can come from many different sources.  However, there is only one source greater than ourselves which keeps us from being crushed, experiencing debilitating despair, feeling forsaken, or being destroyed.  That source is Jesus Christ.  Please examine your source of hope and put your faith in the complete answer.

Read the next post in the series.
Facing Adversity
Afflicted in Every Way
Perplexed
Persecuted
Struck Down
Ancient Text
Regrets—Text to Corinthians
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BlogCulture

Hope is Not a Strategy

by Ron Potter
Source: Dave Hogg, Creative Commons

Source: Dave Hogg, Creative Commons

Forbes Leadership contributor John Baldoni recently published an article titled “Don’t Let Your Team Become Like The Detroit Lions”

I’m from Michigan and have lived most of my life here.  When I was a young lad of nine, the Lions won their last championship.  In the over 50 subsequent years, the Lions have not won a single playoff game.  For me, hope was lost a long time ago.

John Baldoni offers three lessons to avoid becoming the floundering dysfunctional organization that I’ve watched my whole life:

Evaluate Talent

“Seek to understand who they are as people and what they want to achieve now and in the future.”  You’re hiring human beings, not human doings!  Hire people for their character and values and their fit in the organization.  Knowledge and talent are always needed but if they’re not quality human beings there will be no value in the long run.

Develop Your People

“When you bring new people on board you need to groom them and provide them with opportunities to succeed.”  Part of that responsibility is integrating them into the team.  Leaders all too often under estimate the impact that a new member has on a team or how much effort it takes to develop the trust so that a new member can be successful. Build great teams!

Respect Your Customers

Peter Drucker wisely counseled, ‘The purpose of business is to create and keep a customer.  Spend time getting to know their needs as well as their desires.”  I watched one of my clients several years ago lose their most important customer even when they had the greatest “customer satisfaction” rating. The problem was that my client had developed this customer satisfaction rating internally based on what they thought the customer wanted.  But, they never set down with the customer and asked them what was most valuable about the relationship. Don’t assume you know the customer’s needs. Ask them.

Hope is not a strategy.

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BlogLeadership

Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little and Hope

by Ron Potter
Image source: Paul K, Creative Commons

Image source: Paul K, Creative Commons

Once again, my favorite blogger Shane Parrish at Farnam Street Blog exposed a wonderful little piece.

He talks about E.B. White, the author of the above books, writing to someone who had lost faith in humanity.

In White’s letter, he says, “Hope is the thing that is left to us. In a bad time I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock as a contribution to order and steadfastness.” Now my mind tends to go to something deeper (or higher) on Sunday morning than a clock, but his point is a good one. Keep on keeping on. We have hope for the future.

One observation I’ve had of myself and every team I’ve worked with through the years is that for whatever reason the human mind tends to project in straight lines. When things are going bad we can only imagine them getting worse.  When things are going good, we seem to think the good times will just keep rolling.

Maybe this is why it bothers me that people don’t seem to know history as much anymore. It doesn’t take much historical examination of our personal lives, our companies track, the fate of nations to realize that life runs in cycles, not straight lines. Part of the reason for knowing this is hope and preparedness. Hope that the bad times will be followed by good and we must be prepared for the down turns that eventually come.

E.B. White ends his letter with “Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.”

Keep adjusting your vision and keep working toward it.

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BlogLeadership

Wellness, Hope & Leadership

by Ron Potter

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As I struggled with some major health issues last year, I noticed an interesting phenomenon.

The first question people often asked me was “How are you doing?” It amazed me that my answer back tended to be, “I’m well.”

That’s interesting. I dealt with health issues that affect less than one percent of the patients in my situation. I was not physically well. And yet, when I said, “I’m well.” I actually meant it. Why?

As I analyzed this it became clear to me that my wellness statement was related to my hope, not to my physical well being.

Did I have hope that my future would be better?
Did I have hope that the present pain and suffering would pay off in a healthier future?
If the hope of a better future was there, then I could honestly answer, “I am well” when people asked how I was doing.

Providing Hope

Our business environments seem to spend almost equal time being sick and being healthy. There are times when our strategy is working, the customers are responding, margins are good, life is good, but it never lasts. We also go through times of radical market shifts, take-over bids, collapsed market place and other disruptions that leave our workplaces very ill. People are stressed and overworked. Stress brings out the micro-manager in us. There are conflicts and blame games. It’s just not a healthy environment. But when asked, “How are you doing?” can you or your people honestly answer, “I’m well?”

The answer is “yes” if you and your people have hope for the future.

I’m not talking about blind faith. That is not hope. Hope has a confidence that we’re on the right track, we have a good strategy, and our hard work can turn this thing aground. It’s not blind faith and it’s not complete confidence. It’s believing we are doing the right things to get to a better future.

Leaders MUST Provide Hope

We must provide our people with this kind of hope, especially through difficult times. With this hope, people will say they are well in spite of the stress and hard work.

Leaders CAN Provide Hope

We can provide this kind of hope as leaders if we’re transparent and realistic. If we’re open about our views, our fears, and our need to work through this thing together. When team members feel engaged, when they believe they’re getting the total unvarnished story. When they can also express their creative ideas as well as their fears, they also feel more in control.
Giving people a clear hope for the future, will keep them “Well!”

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