Guest Blog posting today by Executive Leadership Coach, Dr. Stephen Payne. Even with a steady job, this recession is a real test of my faith. Just how will we all get through it? I know that some of the business leaders I coach are very worried about the future of their businesses. It seems that nobody fully understands what’s happening and the financial “experts” flip-flop regularly. I’m sure you see the same stuff as me—stock market, the bail-outs, the US... Read more
Authenticity can be difficult to come by, even in the church community. Go figure. People prefer to hide the awful mess going on inside their lives, choosing to maintain some shred of perceived dignity rather than revealing the sober truth. The meager attempts we make at propping up an image of success is much more appealing than spilling the beans about the troubled marriage, the crippling anxiety, or the poor performance at work. But the stark truth is that all of us are struggling with something. People may be good at hiding... Read more
This is where it all started, folks! It has been almost exactly one year since I posted this namesake essay (much to the shock and dismay of the “Work-Faith” community), where I speak frankly about the Christian joys of ambition, career drive, and making money. I also do a little Evangelical Preacher-bashing, for good measure. All for a good cause – namely to answer the question: Am I the Only One Thinking About These Things? Since then it has more or less set the tone for the voice of my Blog.... Read more
I have been thinking a lot lately about excellence. Not just at work, but in every area of my life — as a Christian, husband, father, friend, church volunteer, Board member, Starbucks customer… Do I truly aspire to excellence in the work I do? In the relationships I have? In every-day interactions with strangers? I guess this sudden conviction is a result of the convergence of many different coincidental situations, conversations, blogging comments, books and bible readings that ultimately leads... Read more
These are worrisome times we are living in. There is an unprecedented global financial crisis, economic recession, threats of terrorism, more and more layoffs, and a growing government deficit. It’s just bad news all the way around. Add this pile of stink to the routine madness that you and I deal with daily, as a matter of course. Like trying to raise decent kids, and maintaining a good marriage, and paying all the bills, and the house is always a mess, the... Read more
Guest post by leadership coach and author, Dr. Stephen Payne. Charlie comes walking towards me waving the Business Section of the New York Times. “Our bank is going bust,” he says. “We’re being taken over by the government bail out. The people from Treasury are in our head office already. That’s it; we’re done for.” “How can they decide so fast?” I say, a bit surprised to hear of a Government department moving quickly. Charlie shakes his head slowly, “It... Read more
Last week I took a train into New York City to attend a “Deal Making Conference.” I know, Ha Ha. Deal-making in the middle of a global depression, right? Trust me, there weren’t many deals getting done. All the same, thousands of men and women in their finest hand tailored suits eagerly descended upon an upper Manhattan hotel for two days, swarming in groups and in clusters, like bees pollinating a field of wild poppies. When it was all over, I... Read more
I have been searching for some spiritual advice on how to deal with annoying employees. The scriptures didn’t offer much help, other than telling me to be infinitely patient and kind. I kept searching. Surely Jesus must have had some irritating moments with his employees, those surly disciples. I mean, come on, they were just ordinary guys like you and me, right? They had to get on each others’ nerves from time to time. The bible doesn’t really showcase Jesus’ irritation levels,... Read more
My mentor, Dr. Payne, suggested that I start meditating. He mentioned it one day as he calmly observed me work myself into a lather over the usual career frustrations and corporate political struggles. He made it sound so easy and fun. And I said, “Well, yes, that might help calm me down.” But I was also secretly thinking to myself how meditating would make me sound extremely hard-core spiritual. You know, the way everyone thinks that Buddhists are so much... Read more
Guest Blog from Dr. Stephen Payne Peter lowers his head with a slow shake. “Frankly,” he says, “I’m bored to the point of mental numbness… And I know I shouldn’t be; it’s a good job.” Peter tells me this because I coach him in business leadership. “In spite of all the accolades and great bonuses for my team, I get nothing out of this place.” He glances up at me: “Do you think I should look for another job?” “I’m... Read more
Shrinking the Camel
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