Speaking of Good Works

…speak those things which are not, as though they were…

(Romans 4:17)

I am a firm believer that when you speak your desires into the universe, if they align with God Will, He begins to move things around in your favor. Two years ago, I challenged our son to participate in a 5k event with me and reminded him of the purpose of the races, to train to endure and complete. (For the entire blog post, read http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-light-of-good-works.html). Fast forward to now:  not only has every Saturday of this month been consumed with charity races, he currently runs for his high school cross country team. In fact, he’s at a midweek race in Batesville as I type this.

The words that resonate for me are to train to endure and complete. That’s how I am feeling these days about the workforce preparedness efforts in this region. Getting to the desired outcome is a marathon and not a sprint. If the work were easy, the problem would have been solved years ago. The more I learn, the more I see the degrees of systemic institutional and generational layers that must be penetrated.

The funny thing for me is that I find myself stepping out of my comfort zone of operating as process driven and leaning on my relational skills. For a self-proclaimed non-people person, no one could have ever impressed upon me that one day, I would be consumed by community relation activities and that my motivation could be summed up by this meme: I am not in this work for the income. I do this work for the OUTCOME…changing lives. The marathon analogy (to train to endure and complete) holds true if we have any hope of changing the systems and processes most impacting our desired outcomes of our workforce development efforts.

I wondered how I got to this place and started to examine my actions. I believe in the power of I AM. It is no coincidence that about two years ago, I began a morning routine of reciting a list decrees that I speak over my life. One of them is that I decree that I AM a community servant. In ways that I never imagined, I am witnessing God move some things around and open so many doors that I never knew existed.  What are you speaking over your life and your purposed work? What is your expected outcome? Feel free to comment or send me an email to latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Promotion for Good Works

…promotion does not come from man.

It is God who judges…

(Psalm 75:6-7)

It’s back-to-school season. We registered our son for the new year and realized that our family is entering a new season, with a higher level of expectancy. Middle School is a lot different than elementary school. Our first reality check came when we saw his class schedule. In 7^th grade, his courses include pre-algebra, conversation Spanish, robotics, and athletics. Initially, it looked like a heavy load, but after consideration, we realized that this was a reward for all of the previous hard work and efforts. He has been prepared for the new challenges. In other words, he has been promoted.

 

Promotion is defined as advancing to a higher level. Back in school, we learned via a pre-determined process. Our math teachers always reminded us to show our work, that way, there was a record to see errors in our efforts (for correction purposes). We became obedient to following the process in the given examples, and over time, we learned the material. Our reward was promotion to the next challenge, the next course, or the next grade.

 

Promotion, in life, follows a similar process. Remember all of those previous tests and trials? That served to prepare us for our pre-destined purpose, that painful suffering is where glory is revealed. Remember all of that praying about how to solve a problem? That served to remind us to place our burdens at the altar, that He opposes the proud but gives grace and wisdom to the humble. Remember all of the pressing ahead when there seemed no way? That served to remind us of our faith, that all things work for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. Remember that praising when we passed the test? That served to remind us to trust in His process, that He who has begun a good work in us shall perfect it. Promotion for our good works requires us to pray, to press ahead, and to offer praise. In other words, in mathematical expression:

Promotion = Prayer + Pressing + Praise

 

At the beginning of the school year, our pastor reminds us of our responsibilities as parents: Raise your children in the church house, so that they can do well in the schoolhouse, never have to visit a courthouse, and one day, will invite you to their house (J. R. Adolph).  God will never give you a heavier load than you can bear. He gives you challenges to prepare you for your purposed work. What are you doing to prepare yourself or your children for the challenges and responsibilities that come with promotion to a higher level in life? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Repeatable Good Works

…the same yesterday and today and forever.

(Hebrews 13:8)

My favorite Maya Angelou quote is “when you know better, you do better.” I am learning some things about myself in this process of walking in my purposed work. One thing that I have realized is that I have to have order and structure. I get up at the same time every morning, I start my day enjoying two cups of coffee while I record my daily reflections, and I follow what’s on the calendar. The other day, I had a 6:30 am teleconference scheduled. One of the participants called me at 6:15 to ask about the dial-in number…before I finished e-journaling and drinking my second cup of coffee. After the call, I was driving to my next appointment and wondered why I prefer to do things the same way.

In a manufacturing environment, we say that a process is in control if you can predict the outcome. How do you increase the probability of success? The best method is to develop a repeatable process, where the functions are performed the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This allows you to monitor the progress, measure the performance, and make adjustments for further improvements. This same repeatable process methodology can be applied to address everyday life problems.

When I first made the commitment to blog, I was concerned about the time requirements to post consistently. We happened to have a visiting preacher at our church, and ironically, I had a hard time following his sermon. He delivered on style and pageantry…it’s just that my preferred learning method is for the preacher to present a three point message (introduce the subject, give three to four supporting facts from the bible, and close). This is the same process that I learned for writing good essays in elementary school. As I started to write more blog posts, I realized that I was following a similar pattern that allows me to have the order and structure I need for consistency. Since I practice writing daily, I noticed that I have reduced my process time for blogging from over three hours to less than an hour to come up with a topic, write the blog, edit (although I tend to update grammar mistakes throughout the week) and hit PUBLISH. The next frontier for me to conquer (besides grammar edits) is identifying a consistent day of the week to post, in lieu of this busy family and business season!

When you know better, you do better…the same principle applies in business and customer satisfaction. Customers prefer to transact with people and organizations that are consistent in the delivery of goods and services. Why? Because it allows them to predict the outcome and the probability of getting what they expected. Repeat customers tend to share their positive experience with others who could benefit from what you offer. Over time, the predictable outcome is an increase in activity, and prayerfully, revenue for the business.

How do you use order and structure in order to have consistency in your relationships with your family, co-workers, and customers? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Doing Good Works

Do what God's word says.

Don't merely listen to it…

 (James 1:22)

Consulting is cyclical, either feast or famine. While I would prefer to be home more this month because my son is participating in a traveling summer track league, customers are demanding the exact opposite: I am on the road more in this season because the manufacturing plants are busy filling existing orders and investing in process improvements to prepare for future demand. When you are in business for yourself, you DO, by going where and when the work exists, so I won’t complain.

A true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer, said Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese. On the surface, one might ask what these two products and brands have in common. Bushnell, who describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur” offers this advice: Focus on doing. ACT! His drive to DO resulted in Bushnell becoming one of the innovators of the video gaming industry. To learn more about Bushnell, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamerica/whomade/bushnell_hi.html.

During a slow period earlier this year, I started working on a concrete material supply project for the business. I conducted research on the local market, the local competition, and the regional sub-contractors who could be potential partners/mentors in expanding our quotations capabilities, evaluated optional entry points where we could provide value, and socialized the potential synergies throughout the region. And as often happens in my world, the manufacturing activity increased before I had an opportunity to launch. However, I am a firm believer that everything that happens has a purpose, so the work is not void. In this case: imagine my surprise when I recently sat next to someone on a flight who is engaged in manufacturing ancillary products for concrete. Guess where my work is taking me in a few weeks? As an entrepreneur, I understand the importance to DO the work, even when the results are not obvious immediately. You never know where it may lead you.

In manufacturing, we often refer to the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) process for improvement. It is a continuous cycle that illustrates striving for perfection. In my spiritual journey, I am a witness that faith and actions work together, so that by these good works, my faith is perfected. My spiritual process includes accepting that I must

• PLAN the work but trust in the Lord to direct me toward His will.
• DO the work. Faith by itself without work is dead.
• CHECK my heart to examine that my actions are lead by the Spirit and not to satisfy natural desires.
• ACT in obedience, even when the work is outside of my comfort zone or yields no immediate results.
     

The scripture reference above is often shortened to read be ye doers of the word. How will you begin fulfilling that purposed work that you are dreaming? It is time to be obedient to the word by DOing what you have been called to do in the Spirit. What is your first step? Let us know by commenting or sending me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Remembering Your Good Works

Though your beginning was small,

your latter will be greater…

(Job 8:7)

Our college advisor used to remind my sorority sisters to “remember from whence you came.” I gave Dr. Clark credit for this nugget of wisdom until I read a James Baldwin inspirational quote: Know from whence you came. If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go!

Bishop Jakes has a sermon about saving the scraps. The story is taken from the miracle of feeding 5000 and collecting the twelve scrap baskets of leftover bread and fish (Mark 6:42-52). The morale of the sermon is that the scraps are not to be eaten on the boat, but to remind you that when you are in the middle of a storm, of what your God can do, as evidenced by the previous miracles. It took me a moment to understand this message, or to slow down to remember some previous times He made a way for me go and grow. Every step in life has a purpose and requires you to go through The Process.

I have been in business for myself for three years now. The other day, I saw an old check stub from my days in corporate America. I had a momentary thought that maybe it would be easier to just go back to working for someone else. However, I remembered the leftover scraps of imbalance in my purpose of being a good wife and mom and in fulfilling my purposed work. Then I remembered how far we have come in three years. Yes, we are small today, but because of God’s grace, we have made remarkable progress and have accomplished more others gave us credit for being able to achieve. I stand on the promise that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, what God has prepared for them that love Him. By remembering from whence I came, I have the confidence to wait patiently and go through The Process.

I have a box that I call my treasure chest where I keep pictures and small mementos of my life’s journey. All of the memories are not happy, but they are keepsakes that remind me that even with life’s obstacles, I'M STILL HERE, so I am victorious. Someone once asked me why I hold on to some thoughts and trinkets from the past and the answer is simple: when I get to a place in my present when life feels heavy, I can go to my treasure chest and pull out a past reminder of something that I thought was the best, or even the worst, and remember from whence I came and know that my latter will be greater on my journey to good works.

I have a treasure chest of remarkable gems that I go to when I need inspiration for the work I am purposed to do. What do you use to remember how far you have come on your journey toward fulfilling your purposed work? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.