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Most people tend to treat conversation like a competitive sport, in which the person who says the most, makes the cleverest point, persuades others of an opinion, or even speaks the longest and loudest is the winner. 

All of us fall into this trap.  We all find ourselves interrupting, speechifying, insisting, and coming up with witticisms – all to support our point of view or display our superior knowledge. 

If you stop and think about it, this approach is the opposite of the one we should take.  In most conversations, the person who speaks least benefits the most, and the person who speaks most benefits the least. 

Storytelling in business is telling a story rather than listing facts when communicating with current or potential customers.

All organizations feed on emotions.  Love, fear, and humor have all been recognized as playing an essential role in the proper functioning of the organization.  On the other hand, hope has been seen as part of the function of project teams (“I hope I can meet that deadline”), but it has never been seriously considered as a needed team emotion.

Until now.

Corporate purpose is once again in the news (it actually never left).

And not for how beneficial it is to corporate management, staff, shareholders, and stakeholders but because of how abused it is.

Consideration of ethics is the most important responsibility of business leaders and entrepreneurs today. We cannot rely on our own internal sense of right and wrong. Professional societies and larger organizations have taken the initiative and developed a starting point for business ethics. However, we all should look to Christian ethics as the foundation of all our personal and professional practices.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The love of Jesus Christ and the message of the Word of God are the only two consistent historical narratives that dispel polarization. Starting with God’s message as a foundation and then gently venturing into the territory of our differences is the only pathway to reconciling with each other and replacing polarization with unity.

Nearly all good business advice includes suggestions on maintaining efficiency and taking proactive actions to keep the energy of the business moving. Successful businesses develop marketing plans and business plans. They create teams, collaborate and set goals. They make offers, hire good people and implement management tools. They employ active verbs in all their undertakings. Unsuccessful businesses simply don’t.

Successful business people and entrepreneurs all desire to learn and do the hard part of learning. It’s time to take on that dream you have been putting off because you think it is too hard.

As business leaders and entrepreneurs, we need to live each day fully. This is living in day-tight compartments where we can focus on what is before us and not be sidetracked by worries and fears. Let God be part of your day-tight compartment.