Archive for December, 2010

>Seize the Day

Posted in Uncategorized on December 27, 2010 by johncbain

>The other day my oldest son rode his bike for the first time without training wheels.  It was an awesome picture of teaching going into practice.  We had talked about how each day is precious and how we aren’t guaranteed another. Carson decided that he wasn’t going to let another day pas without conquering that challenge.  After a few crashes, some tears, lots of encouragement and a little persuasion, it happened.  I can’t explain to you the joy and freedom that he experienced at the moment he turned around and realized he was riding by himself.

How many of us need to approach today as if it is the last day we’re going to use the training wheels?

The fact of the matter is that we only get one opportunity at today, and we need to make it count.  I love this quote from Kim Lyons, “Yesterday is a cancelled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have so spend it wisely.”  Each day is another opportunity to make a positive impact in this world with lasting implication.

Think of the people that you can make a positive impact with today.  Is it your wife, your kids, a co-worker, a friend, the person ringing up your groceries, or the neighbor you never talk to?  Make it a point to share a kind word, pray with them, do a random act of kindness, take time to listen when you don’t have the time, or just share a smile.  It is the simple things that can make a tremendous difference.

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>Some Thoughts on Hiring

Posted in Hiring on December 19, 2010 by johncbain

>Over the years, I have had the incredible opportunity to recruit, interview and hire some very talented people.  There is nothing more exhilarating than finding the right person for the role you are trying to fill.  Here are some thoughts on hiring.

  1. Hire the best.  Second best will cost you too much.  It doesn’t matter if you are filling a janitorial position or a CEO position, the best is what you have to strive for.  In my experience, second best will always be a disappointment and will leave you and your organization short of achieving your goals.
  2. Resumes can be deceiving.  I’ve seen some remarkable resumes that just didn’t line up with the individual during the interview process.  The best predictor of future performance is past successes.  Don’t let the resume get you starry eyed.  Make sure to use behavioral based interviewing to uncover if this person has what it takes.
  3. Don’t just hire for the current position.  Never allow yourself to be forced into a hiring decision.  Always make sure that you hire a person that can not only fill the current position but one to two positions above the current one.  This is the only way to build capacity into your organization for growth.
  4. Open your options to other markets and industries.  Some of my most successful hires didn’t have any experience in the specific industry that I was hiring them into.  Again, look for the talents, gifts, competencies, and, most importantly, the character traits you want for the role.  If the person has all those, they will more than likely pick up the industry specific knowledge quickly.
  5. Hire for character.  Character is defined as who you are when no one is looking.  Those who have demonstrated and are demonstrating character will demonstrate it in the future.  For me, character is the differentiator because it is what will drive decision making and the culture of your organization.  I’ll take someone less qualified but with high character and aptitude all day long.

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>Life – Road Construction, Detours and Getting Lost

Posted in Change on December 10, 2010 by johncbain

>How many of you love your GPS?  Isn’t great to know where you are at all times, where you are going, the path to get there and exactly how long it is going to take?  I believe that we often think that life is sort of like GPS.

Most of us believe that we have life under control, all mapped out.  We take comfort in things that we believe give us security…our career, finances, marriage, and so on.  Most of us also have a pretty clear idea of where we are going, what things we want to accomplish, the goals we have in life.  And some of us even have a plan on how we are going to accomplish those things and when they will be achieved, but what happens when life comes apart?  You loose your job unexpectedly, your retirement account gets wiped out, or the divorce papers arrive in the mail.

Here is the thing about structuring our life like GPS.  We live in a broken world and we are broken people. Difficult times are going to come.  The other side of this is a life that is on cruise control.  It could be possible that we are living a life that is just way too small, not ever realizing the adventure that God has for you that only you can do.  You see if you already know where you are, where you are going, the path to take and how long it is going to take then where does God fit in?

The thing that I am learning to appreciate and embrace in my life are the times of road construction, detours and getting lost.  These used to freak me out, make me angry and cause me to make bad decisions.  My relationship with Jesus has realigned my perspective and response to change.  It is so clear that these are the times that God develops me exponentially.  Below are some insights that I have gained along that way that I hope will be helpful to you no matter where in life you are.

Road Construction
Sometimes the direction of our life just needs to be torn up and repaved. When we get stuck in ruts, it is time to fix the ruts.  When we keep hitting the same pothole, it is time to remove the pothole.  And when we want to go a new direction, sometimes we have to abandon the old road and make a new highway.  The beautiful thing about this is through a relationship with Jesus we don’t have to do this alone.  He is there with us helping draw up the plans, fund the renovations, supervise the job and cheer you on along the way.

Detours
I have found that even when we are walking completely in the path that God has destined for us there are times when he needs to take us on detours.  For me, this is a way for him to disorientate me in order to re-orientate me back in him fully.  I found that if I travel too long without detours, that I start to believe that is all about me and my abilities versus God working through me.  It is in the detours when I find out new truths about how God designed me and most importantly about how to draw closer to my creator.

Getting Lost
You know you’re really not lost if you don’t know where you are going.  There are times when I believe God allows me to be lost.  These are the times when I just may not be feeling his presence.  That certainly doesn’t mean he isn’t there.  The best advice that I have learned for when I feel lost is that if you don’t feel it, faith it.  Dive into reading the Bible and you will hear his voice and direction.  The times of feeling lost only draw me closer and closer to God, helping me to embrace my true and complete dependence in him.

The most important belief that I have as it relates to changes in your life is to enjoy the journey no matter if you are under construction, in a detour or feel lost.  Drink deeply in what you are learning, how God is using you and the simple pleasures in life that God wants you to experience and appreciate!

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>Multiplication of Talents

Posted in Gifts, Potential on December 5, 2010 by johncbain

>My world has been rocked as God began to challenge me with the question, “Are you multiplying the talents that I have given you to make the most significant impact for me that you can?”

Jesus once told a story about a master of an estate who was leaving for an extended trip.  The master called in three of his servants and gave them each a delegation of responsibility according to each one’s ability.  To the first servant he gave five talents.  To the second, he gave two talents, and to the third he gave one.  Now talents in this time where a form of currency, but the application of this for me was taking the word talent literally to mean talents or God-given gifts and abilities.

So the master left and the man with the five talents and the man with the two talents went out and multiplied their talents…to be exact, they doubled them.  Now the man with the single one took a different approach and went out and buried his talent.

After a long time, the master returned and called in his servants in to settle up with them.  The two men who had doubled their talents showed the master how they had used his investment.  The master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  From now on be my partner.”  The man with the single talent that had buried it then came to reconcile with the master.  He said, “Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error.  I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your talent.”  Furiously, the master replied, “That’s a terrible way to live!  It’s criminal to live cautiously like that.  If you knew that I was after the best, why did you do less than the least?  Take you talent and give it to the one who risked the most.  And get rid of this ‘play-it-safe’ who won’t go out on a limb.  Throw him out into utter darkness.”

Here is how this story transformed my thoughts:

  • Each person receives talents in proportion to their own personal ability.  To some God gives five, to others two and to others one.
  • Regardless of the talents God blesses you with, he is entrusting you with his property.
  • We are expected not only to use our talents but to multiply their effect through utilizing the same power that raised Christ from the grave that is available to each one of us.
  • How you use your talents is directly connected to the most important thought you will ever think.  That is the thought you have when you think about God….refer to how the man with the single talent viewed the master.
  • There is accountability for not using and multiplying the talents God has blessed you with.
  • There is a great promise…utilizing our talents enacts the free gift that we have in a relationship with Jesus.  We become partners in reconciling the world to Jesus.
  • If you want to experience all the God has for your life, you have to take risks.

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