“Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4 NASB
I was talking to a friend the other day. He shared how he was covered up with employee challenges at the moment. He has approximately 3000 employees at any given time in over 100 locations throughout the South. I asked him if it was worth it. He said of course, because he loved his people. Then he said, “If you don’t love your people you should get out.” I found that to be a powerful point of view. Let’s face it, some of us have trouble loving all our friends every day. During this time of crisis after crisis, I have watched the most effective and successful business leaders (those representative of “The Edge”) tend to be the ones who very naturally care for all their people. I was with the former CEO of one of America’s largest companies in New York a few years ago and listened to him talk about how he took over his business the day it filed bankruptcy. Combining his faith and sound business practices, he rescued it. To do so, he said he shifted the priority of the company away from the investors, the customers, and even the board; he actually took the unprecedented step of firing the entire board. He put the priority of the company on the employees. In a few short years the company became a huge success again and, in the end, it was a win for all involved. It is easy to run a business where you are the only employee, maybe even fun for a while, but real impact and success comes from being a part of a team and the love and trust they can share. Today, appreciate those you are partnered with and see them for what they are, a gift from God. #BeTheEdge
“And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 NASB
