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Posts Tagged ‘work/life balance’

Five Realities of a New Job

Posted in Balance, Calling, Faith and Work, God, Job Search, Marriage, Relationships, Stress, tagged , , , , , on February 20, 2013 | 2 Comments »

How long has it been since you started a new job? Before you make that big move to the next thing you feel “called to”, let’s consider a few simple truths.

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I was reminded of this when a young professional friend who I co-lead a Leadership@Work Nehemiah Study with, started a new job on Tuesday. Josh Richardson moved from a global corporation serving Wal-Mart, to a super cool, high growth small company, also serving Wal-Mart. Talk about a 180. Here was his tweet yesterday: Day 1 at the new job was amazing – better than I could have ever imagined. Praise God for his sovereign timing, purpose, and design!

Josh’s experience reminded me of the sometimes bitter sweet experience of changing jobs. Here are a few simple ideas to consider:

  1. Commit to a six month increase in work life focus – before you say yes to the new gig that you are so excited about, make sure you deal with this reality. Your work life WILL need more focus and time. This is especially critical if you are married and/or have children.
  2. Finish strong where you are – in both execution and relationships.
  3. Enjoy powerful growth with God - because He makes things  ”brand new” (Isaiah 48:7) in a new job, fear and anxiety can be very real. It’s a perfect season to sit daily in His lap.
  4. Be hyper focused – focus with intensity to build new relationships, learn the business,  and find small opportunities to add value to the business.
  5. Enjoy the new adventure - it will be stressful, but it will also be an exciting adventure of personal, spiritual and relational growth!

Have fun,

David

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2013…Living Life on Purpose

Posted in Faith and Work, Faith at work, Family, Goals, Marriage, Parenting, Purpose, tagged , , , , on January 1, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Did you look back at 2012 yesterday?

As I wrote down some thoughts and graded myself (yes, I am that analytical) on my faith, marriage, children, work, etc., it beautifully prepared me for 2013. Just as a business forecast comes from historical data, so can the forecast for our lives in 2013!

2013 year beginning blog post

Let’s keep this simple today. I have shared in the past these basic ideas to help you shape your 2013 to live with more purpose. Let me encourage you to block some time, find a quiet place, buy yourself a cup of coffee (or other stimulus), and just think and listen. Write down what comes to you.

If you are a person that needs some structure, try this on for 2013:

  • Purpose – a simple statement that describes your focus for the year.
  • Word – one word that  summarizes your purpose.
  • Verse – a single Bible verse that supports your purpose.
  • Goals – this can be as short (4-5 goals) or as long (family, work, financial, serving) as you wish.
  • Book – this is a freebee…go to Amazon and buy a book that you really need to read. Here’s mine.

I pray that your 2013 focus will intentionally include closing the gap between your work and your faith. That’s WorkMatters purpose and passion for your life!

Let’s do this,

David

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2012…Are You Looking Back?

Posted in Faith, Faith and Work, Faith at work, Family, Goals, Gratitude, Marriage, Parenting, Planning, tagged , , , , , , , on December 31, 2012 | 2 Comments »

Wherever you are around the world, today is a unique day. Every one of us are living the final day of 2012. Will you treat it like any other day?

I have always believed strongly in using the end of the calendar year as an opportunity to both reflect and project. The Bible tells us that “God will call the past to account“ (Ecclesiastes 3:15 NIV). Knowing that God will be “reflecting”, don’t you think  we should, as well?

2012 yearend blog post

Think about your faith, your family, yourself.

What were the highlights, the memories, the markers that altered your life? Did you check an item off of your bucket list?

What were the lowlights, the things you are still struggling with, the things that were so bad but you are now seeing some good?

How did you grow in your faith? What did you intentionally do to make that happen? Did you get more or less involved in a church? Did you read the Bible? Pray? Did you spend time with other men or women sitting in a circle growing?

How about your work? Did you catch a new vision for why your work matters? Did you begin to close the gap that exists between your faith and your work? Did you take a step towards God …attend an event, read a book or a blog, participate in a biblical leadership study?

Let’s stop right there. This is not a guilt trip session. This is a time for honest reflection on both the incredible blessings of 2012, as well as the struggles and missed opportunities of 2012. We can see our God in both of them as we learn from the past to prepare us for the future!

2013 can be a fresh start. It’s a new opportunity. We’ll talk more about that tomorrow. For today, make sure that you invest some time learning from 2012. It will bless you in ways you never imagined.

Closing the gap,

David

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Changing Your Work/Life Balance

Posted in Balance, Faith and Work, Family, Work, tagged , , , , , , , on August 9, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Ready for change? Ready for some help, for some inspiration in this ongoing, frustrating battle that leaders have with work/life balance?

Before posting this blog, I sent this same content as an email to a large number of workplace leaders that I know and love. After writing it, I knew that you should have it as well.

I’ve struggled with work/life balance issues most of my life. Since moving back to Arkansas 12 years ago, I’ve been blessed to manage my “problem” better – although leading a grueling, fast-paced non-profit with minimal resources has tested me. Without asking, I know that each of you have had seasons of fighting to balance your work and your life.

 This updated story of Urban Meyer’s work/life balance is powerful, exposing the real ongoing battle that leaders face. Wanting to do your work with excellence and win! But also wanting to love your spouse and your children.

Read this story in your quiet time early in the morning when you have time to absorb and reflect. Ask yourself some hard questions. Am I really being honest with myself? How many hours am I really working everyday? When I am home, am I really home? Am I scheduling specific events with my spouse (like date night) and kids every week? Ask your spouse and kids how you’re doing. Be willing to listen to what they have to say. Then listen to what God tells you to do.

And act.

There is a book mentioned in the article Lead… For God’s Sake. It is a powerful, provocative sports fiction book about the real purpose of your work and life. Urban Meyer ended up writing the forward after reading it.

God has given you incredible influence at home and at work. I hope you will use these resources to help you live your life at work with greater purpose and meaning.

We are passionate about helping you live out your life and your work in God-pleasing ways. I hope this is one of them.

David

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A New Vision for Work/Life Balance

Posted in Balance, Culture, Seven Pillars of Faith and Work, Vision, tagged , , , , , on March 15, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

We are an activity-based culture in the United States today. We are busy. Some of us complain about our busyness…some of us wear it as a badge of honor. Regardless, we need help. We need solutions. Try this on…I think it will give you a new vision (literally) for living your life with purpose, not busyness.

Do you know how this woman keeps her balance? She maintains her balance by looking not at her feet, but at the other end of the line!

When I first started driving, I would exhaust myself trying to stay in my lane. I was constantly adjusting the car in relation to the center line. But then my Dad told me to not look at the center line, but far down the road and trust myself to make the adjustments needed. I can still remember the revelation that was to my daughter when she was learning to drive.

It’s the same for us in keeping balance in our lives:  when we have our eyes on the end — where we want to arrive — then we begin to automatically make small adjustments all day long to keep on track.  Sure, the occasional squirrel will dart into the road and we’ll have to make some sudden course adjustments, but we know where we want to return.

Balance can be a tricky business, but when we’re sure of our center of gravity, and our end goal, then adjustments start to become automatic.

WorkMatters is the original brainchild of Tom Frase. He is a 20 year veteran of the advertising industry, and an ordained Methodist Pastor. He’s been there done that…he gets it.

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