FAITH: Facing Adversity Instead of Turning and Hiding

In my last post, I shared my journey to find my Purposed Work in manufacturing. I started with my professional work, yet I had a lot of other jobs along the path. And while I was looking for a topic for the next installment, this came to me from a couple of sources: Any job is better than no job. It's not forever. It's merely a stepping stone.

You are a product of your environment. Well, I grew up on Rose Street in Stuttgart, AR. It may not sound like much, but we had a community of families who had faith. Our parents had jobs, sometimes two or three—doing whatever it took to keep the family afloat. Those cooks, drivers, city workers, hospital employees, mechanics, mill workers produced offspring who today are educators, nurses, pharmacists, labor managers, chefs, mechanics, engineers, medical technicians, beauticians, business owners, and community leaders.

We have come this far by faith (Hebrews 11:1-6). Trust that everything that happens in life has a purpose. It’s how you respond to the circumstance that makes the difference. For this post, FAITH is defined as Facing Adversity, Instead of Turning and Hiding.

I got my first job twenty-five years ago. I was a Hamburger Hostess, then known as a cashier, at a local dairy bar and grill. Our family only had one car at the time, so I needed something that was within walking distance from home. It’s funny, I thought I wanted an office job, but God knew I needed a job where I could work 20-30 hours per week (I had a plan to get a car). As it turned out, the restaurant was owned by a local family known for paying bonuses. So at the tender age of 16, I got my first Christmas bonus. It was not a lot, but it was enough to give me extra money for Christmas presents for my family and to start that savings account for my car. By faith, I believe you will harvest what you plant (Galatians 6:7). By April, I was rolling in the Sunbird. I worked at that job until I graduated from high school.

I got fired from a job twenty years ago. I was in college, trying to make ends meet. A lot of friends were working in telemarketing and making good money, so I gave it a try. I was an introvert, so small talk was not my thing. Try as I might, I could never close the deal selling anyone something they did not need. I was telling my story one day in the Student Union, some counselor overheard me talking, and suggested that I get a job on campus as a tutor. By faith, I believe you will reap a harvest if you do not give up (Galatians 6:9). I was at the right place at the appointed time to find a job that allowed me to do good by serving a need. I worked at that job until I graduated from undergraduate.

I got some jobs I did not ask for during the twenty years I worked in corporate America. Shortly after James and I got married, I took a job as a plant engineer. Less than two months after I started, the plant manager took me to lunch one day and explained that they were looking to promote the current quality manager and informed me that he wanted to list me in the succession plan. Really? Six months later, while the corporate office announced reductions-in-force and salaries, I was promoted to Quality Manager. Two years later, I announced I was pregnant and thought I would get reprimanded (long story about working in a male-dominated field). Instead, I was named Plant Engineering Manager. I never applied or interviewed for any of these or other moves throughout my career. (Ironically, I did not get most of the jobs that I applied for out of ego). By faith, I believe if you have an opportunity to do good to all people, unexpected harvest will return to you (Galatians 6:10).   I worked at the last company until I retired from corporate America to do my purposed work.

By faith, I believe, if you want a job that leads to your purpose, it’s yours. Exercise your faith that any job is better than no job, but merely a stepping stone en-route to your destiny. Companies are hiring. Here’s a link to several companies hiring in large volumes that lists the types of jobs that need to be filled:

We're Hiring

The next step is yours. Remember, faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

FAITH is Facing Adversity, Instead of Turning and Hiding.

You Have Not Because You Ask Not!!!

As the nation gets ready to listen to a political message about jobs, I thought I would share my journey about how I got started in manufacturing and realized my calling to fulfill. Conventional wisdom says that the current lack of jobs is because that the economy is in a chicken-egg cycle: employers are not hiring because they have no new customers for the goods; people need jobs in order to buy said goods. For those people looking for jobs, I suggest standing on the promise: You have not because you ask not (James 4:2).  Ask for a job and your purposed work!

I’ll be honest. I went to college so that I could get a job paying better than that of a high school graduate. I was fortunate to have scholarships, so I do not know the entire cost of my undergraduate education. If I had to guess, I would estimate $10k per year for everything, or about $40k. And in 1993, my starting salary was $32k per year, so using quick math, it was easy to justify the return on the investment.

My first job out of college was in a turkey processing plant. I remember when I told Big Mama where I was going to be working; her initial reaction was “we sent you to engineering school for four years to learn how to cut up turkeys?” It was not the sexy job I envisioned, but the management skills I learned were essential to my destiny. I learned how to effectively get things done, from the turkey farm to the conference room. More importantly, I earned credibility and hands on experience of everything from hatcheries to further processing to transportation and logistics (ask me about how turkeys are artificially inseminated). In other words:  Grow where you are planted (1 Corinthians 7:17).

I come from a tithing family, so it was natural for me to give at my new professional level. Proverbs 3:9-10 says to Honor the Lord with your wealth (tithes) and your barns will be filled with overflow (blessings). You have to have an exchange to receive God’s blessings. Giving tithes releases these blessings. I like the way He explains it in Malachi 3:10: Test me in this, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. My blessing was the opportunity to take those management skills and apply them in a new industry. I started working in the compact disc manufacturing industry. I was there for launch of Playstation and DVD platforms (much sexier than turkeys, right?). This company offered tuition reimbursement, so I took advantage of that while working and earned a Master’s degree in Business. Most importantly, during this season I met and married the man prepared especially for me! Blessed!!!

James and I were both career-oriented, so we have moved several times throughout our marriage. Our first move was for James, and I relocated on faith, with no job. But My Father has a plan, power, and provisions (Joshua 1:1-11) for His leaders. I always wanted to work in heavy manufacturing, and he had prepared for me a job that would provide engineering, marketing, and technology experience on both a local and global level. I did not understand it then, but He was arranging everything required for me to be able to lead my own manufacturing company.  His requirement for me: Be strong and very courageous. Be careful and obey the word (Joshua 1:7).

If you are one of those people looking for work, I know the short-term outlook is gloomy. What is impossible with man is possible with God (Luke 18:27). It’s 2011 and many of my friends are preparing to send their children to college, faced with a different challenge.  I have heard more than one story about skyrocketed college costs of over $40k per year. Putting that into perspective, after about five years, the cost of that child’s education is $200k. I cannot predict the future, however, I wonder what types of jobs will be paying $150k+ starting salary in 2016.

As a business owner, I am integrated into both large and small manufacturing operations. One of the common needs is skilled labor-vocational style jobs like welders, machinists, operators, etc. None of these jobs require a four-year degree, and can actually be used as a stepping stone to advance within progressive companies.

If you or your child is among the many faced with finding a sustainable career option, I suggest looking into manufacturing opportunities. Here’s a link to the most recent data explaining 25 consecutive months of industry expansion (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-01/u-s-august-ism-manufacturing-report-on-business-text-.html). I started in turkey processing and look at where He has taken me. If you do not know where or how to get started, give me a call and let’s discuss what jobs are available in your area. I will end this post the same way I started it: You have not because you ask not (James 4:2).  Ask for a job and your purposed work!

BE ENCOURAGED ABOUT FINDING YOUR PURPOSED WORK!!!