Integrity Moments

As a child, I sometimes crossed my fingers behind my back when agreeing to something I did not want to do. As a teenager, occasionally I promised to join a friend, then abandoned it when a better invitation arrived.   Those choices may have seemed small, but broken promises erode trust. In business, where relationships depend ... The post Yes or No Should Be Enough appeared first on Unconventional...

In my twenties, our audit department hired a supervisor I’ll call Mary. She reminded everyone of her college degrees and constantly complained about our boss.   Mary promoted her credentials as making her better qualified to lead the department. Eventually, during a staff meeting, she challenged our boss, expecting coworkers to support her. No one did.   ... The post The Folly of Grumbling appeare...

As a teenager, I spent summers working on my uncle’s farm. We planted soybeans and watched them grow, but summer always ended before harvest.   I found it disappointing to invest labor without seeing the final results. My uncle, however, understood that farming requires patience. He trusted that the harvest would come in its season.  James ... The post Patiently Awaiting the Harvest appeared first...

Max DePree, former CEO of Herman Miller, once discovered factory workers discussing his compensation. They believed he deserved more than they earned, but felt the disparity had become excessive.   Rather than reacting defensively, DePree listened, researched, and prayed. He eventually established a policy that the CEO’s compensation could not exceed twenty times the average factory ... The post P...

When Kathy and I married, we held our reception in a facility owned by a wealthy man. Before the reception, I found a man in overalls setting up the tables and chairs alone.   Assuming he was hired help, I asked why no one was assisting him. He barked, “That would cost me money.” He was ... The post The Perils of Hoarded Wealth appeared first on Unconventional Business Network .

The Biblical story of Nehemiah is a powerful reminder that our integrity affects our testimony.  As the Old Testament civic leader was working to rally people to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, opponents continually tried to derail his efforts. A man named Shemaiah tried to convinced Nehemiah to hide in the temple for Nehemiah’s own ... The post Maintaining Your Testimony appeared first on Unco...

Mark was a technical expert who was promoted to manager of the engineering team. His experience had given him great insight into common company challenges. Whatever the issue was, chances are good that Mark had seen some version of it.  Unfortunately, that knowledge became a blind spot in his leadership. Too often, when a team ... The post Listen First appeared first on Unconventional Business Net...

Years ago, my wife, Kathy, and I interviewed Sheri, a high school coach, about her faith at work experiences. We discussed several students whom she loved despite their past poor decisions.   Kathy asked Sheri, “How hard is it to love these kids when they make such poor choices?”  Sheri’s response was profound. “I’ve learned,” she ... The post Love the Sinner appeared first on Unconventional Busin...

Years ago, a University of Kansas researcher referenced in Harvard Business Review, discovered that people asked to sell their personal coffee mug wanted 2.2 times more than potential buyers were willing to pay. Their personal connection to the coffee mug caused them to overvalue the mug.  Small business owners have a similar problem. The first ... The post Overvalued Businesses appeared first on...

Christopher Columbus was passionate about his dream. He had a desire to find a new and quicker route to the Orient, but he needed financial backing.  In 1485, Columbus pitched his idea to the King of Portugal. His plan was rejected, but Columbus persevered.   For the next seven years, he approached multiple nations and potential ... The post Columbus’ Passion appeared first on Unconventional Busin...

One of the kindest comments a colleague once shared with me is that I am open about my failures.   He was troubled by Christians who proclaim to be challenge-free, even though their struggles are just as evident as anyone else’s.   I jokingly responded that my shortcomings are so visible, it would be a sin to ... The post Honest Weakness appeared first on Unconventional Business Network .

New to his manager role, Steve made a mistake common for newly promoted team members; he wanted to keep everyone happy, even if that wasn’t best for the entire group. Over time, team members caught him saying one thing, only to later take actions that contradicted his words. Soon, team members lost trust in him.  ... The post Don’t Be a Hypocrite appeared first on Unconventional Business Network .

A great leader not only has concern for those they employ, they also have compassion. One business owner I know agonized, prayed, and cried as he wrestled with how to reduce his payroll. Due to his compassion for others, I believe God provided a solution different than he expected. Rather than terminating several jobs, his ... The post A Compassionate Leader appeared first on Unconventional Busine...

An executive of a financial organization shared with me recently that his company’s CEO, and most of his executive team, are Christians. But anytime my friend has encouraged the Executive team to be more forward with their Christian values his ideas get dismissed.   Fear of getting sued, or a fear of upsetting employees or customers, ... The post Faith Resistant Workplaces appeared first on Unconv...

The Air Force Thunderbird pilots are the ultimate high-performance leaders. In September, Kathy and I attended an Air Show where the Thunderbirds performed.  Their Diamond Formation was amazing with four jets flying 18 inches apart in a diamond shape, while traveling between 400-500 miles per hour.  A simple sneeze, momentary distraction, or engine flaw could ... The post High-Performance Pilots a...

In a recent Journal of Social and Personal Relationships report, University of Kansas Professor, Jeffrey Hall, discovered that it takes roughly 50 hours of time together to move from mere acquaintance to casual friend, 90 hours to go from casual friend to “friend” status and more than 200 hours before you can consider someone your ... The post Making Close Friends appeared first on Unconventional...

A recent 60 Minutes program featured an Air Force Colonel called Bravo who was shot down in Iran. Bravo was ejected from his fighter jet only to discover that his parachute was shredded.  Professionals believe that Bravo hit the earth traveling 70 to 100 mph. His injuries included a broken back, arm, and other significant ... The post God is Good appeared first on Unconventional Business Network .

Although Len had earned his retirement, the organization was distressed when he departed because of the wisdom and experience that he took with him when he went. Through years of service in various roles in the company, through highs and lows, good times and bad, Len had acquired a perspective and wisdom that would be ... The post Acquired Wisdom appeared first on Unconventional Business Network .

Anson Frerick, former president of Anheuser-Busch Sales & Distribution, was interviewed on The Daily Wire. He provided interesting insight into the business model shift corporate America made several years ago.   In the 1980s, most corporations followed the Shareholder model, believing that the only purpose of business is profit. However, in 2019, 181 CEO members of ... The post A Different Busine...

There are five important issues to be addressed in Developing a Ministry Plan for Your Business. My final one is ministering to your community.  Many businesses give employees paid time off to volunteer for local nonprofits. Others, like my friend, Rusty, take his work team on mission trips.   There are many ways to impact ... The post Developing a Ministry Plan: Part V appeared first on Unconvent...

In my book, Unconventional Business, I wrote about Developing a Ministry Plan for Your Business. There are five important issues to be addressed in your plan, the fourth is ministering to customers, suppliers, and competitors.  Many people are good at ministering to their employees, and some are good at focusing on customers. But few spend ... The post Developing a Ministry Plan: Part IV appeared...

In my book, Unconventional Business, I wrote about Developing a Ministry Plan for Your Business. There are five important issues to be addressed in your plan, including ministering to your employees and their families.  Each of your teammates faces deaths, health issues, and family conflicts. One of our members decided celebrating employee victories was also ... The post Developing a Ministry Plan...

In my book, Unconventional Business, I wrote about Developing a Ministry Plan for Your Business. There are five important issues to be addressed in your plan, the second one is discipleship.  Our Forum Groups, launched within a company, is one tool we have seen businesses use to train and disciple their people on understanding how ... The post Developing a Ministry Plan: Part II appeared first on...

In my book, Unconventional Business, I have a chapter on Developing a Ministry Plan for Your Business. There are five important issues to be addressed in your plan, the first issue being evangelism.   Jesus called each of us to be ambassadors for Him, but how we do evangelism may differ.   I know a publicly traded ... The post Developing a Ministry Plan: Part I appeared first on Unconventional Bus...

I applied for a wonderful new job, but the barriers to getting hired felt daunting. First, the company needed to secure several state regulatory approvals to create the new operation for which I would be working. The company needed to approve the position in the new organization. Finally, I needed to be the successful candidate ... The post What God Knows appeared first on Unconventional Business...