Nehemiah dreamed of rebuilding Jerusalem after it had been mostly rubble for over 140 years. This week we will examine 5 key steps Nehemiah took that paved the way for his team’s amazing success.  The first step is “Prayerfully Assessing the Situation.” When Nehemiah learned that Jerusalem was in ruins his heart broke.   He prayed ...

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Recently, Kathy and I went with friends on a Kansas City Gangster tour. We learned that Boss Tom Pendergast ruled Kansas City in the 1920s by providing favors for others, provided they voted for his political candidates.   This enabled Pendergast to handpick politicians who ran his city, including Harry Truman.   However, when Truman submitted a ...

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Imagine if the government rounded up possible Christian business leaders and put them on trial for being Christians. During your trial the prosecutors speak to your employees, customers, and vendors.  Would there be enough evidence to convict you?  Many business leaders attend church, but many of their employees might be stunned to learn that their ...

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The holiday season is a time in which we need to watch carefully for signs of isolation or loneliness in our teammates. Loneliness is associated with higher risks of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression and dementia.   Three out of four people report moderate to high levels of loneliness.  Recently, an American Bible Society survey discovered ...

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Farming takes tremendous patience to see the fruits of your labor. Farmers work hard cultivating the ground, planting seeds, and praying for rain, month after month.   Farmers usually see very little, if any, fruit for most of the year. Then harvest time finally comes, bringing joy and gratitude.  Out of joy and gratitude, is when ...

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Recently, I was a judge in an entrepreneurial pitch event for college students. My job was to listen to six startup business presentations, ask clarifying questions, then, provide feedback or recommendations.   The thought and work of each of these young people was impressive. The event for me was a reminder, however, that the most ...

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After 17 years at my employer, it was clear to both of us that it was time for a change. I jokingly told people we were growing apart, with the employer strongly hinting that “it was time to see other employees.”  But behind the joking was tremendous fear. After spending so many formative years at ...

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Likely one of the first American business coaches was a Paxtuxet Indian named Squanto. You may remember the first Thanksgiving story from your childhood.    In 1621, the Pilgrims were dying from hunger and disease. Squanto, an escaped slave that understood English, coached these struggling settlers on how to build a farming and fishing enterprise in ...

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When I was a banker, I used to get nervous when one of my business loan customers would receive glowing press and be featured in articles. When the accolades happened frequently, it was not uncommon to watch my customer’s pride and ego become almost unbearable.  It usually wasn’t long afterwards that I would watch as ...

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During a challenging week, Jason felt called to attend a mid-day service at a church near his work. He was surprised because the church was a different denomination than the one he regularly attended.  Nevertheless, one noon he walked into the sanctuary, took a seat, and just let himself “be” in the midst of the ...

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