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Month: November 2023

Blessings are all around us

Posted on by dan_adm

Blessings are all around us

“God can give you all the grace you need, so that you will always have everything you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8

Hi, it’s your friend Dan Greer, and I’ve got some cheerful wisdom for you, just like a sunny day at a San Diego beach!
 
As I sit here looking at the ocean, I feel really lucky. Picture this: I’m relaxing on the deck of an amazing beach house in lovely San Diego, where each day ends with a breathtaking sunset created by God.
 
A little while back, we went tide pooling, and guess what? Some cool kids found an octopus! They not only found it but also shared the discovery with other kids, making memories that will stick around.
 
But here’s the real treasure, folks. Blessings aren’t just about trips and perfect moments. They’re a way of thinking.
 
Let’s go back to when Jenna and I were tight on money (excuse my language, but it’s true). Even back then, I felt lucky. Why? I had an amazing life partner, someone I could argue with and grow alongside.
 
Jump ahead to our little ones, our kids. Every day with them is a blessing, even when they’re having their usual sibling arguments. Blessings, you know, depend on how you look at things.
 
When our business throws us some tough challenges, I consider it a blessing. These difficulties aren’t curses; they’re chances for us to get better. Always remember, God doesn’t only choose people who are already skilled; He helps and qualifies those He chooses!
 
Now, coming back to what I want to say—being blessed isn’t about reaching a place or having lots of things. It’s about how you think and choose to see the good things in life. 

And you know what? It’s entirely up to you whether you feel blessed or not. No one else gets to decide that. It’s all in your hands.
 
Some people might think having a business is a bad thing, but not me! For me, working on our business has been a continuous blessing, even in the middle of all the daily chaos.

Talking about blessings, here’s something new I learned from my amazing partner, Jenna. We decided to try deep-sea fishing as a family, a first for most of us (except Jenna, who did it when she was a kid).
 
After about an hour on our adventure, Nathen decided to feed the fish (if you know what I mean). Then, half an hour later, Jenna also joined in. Well, about an hour and a half later, I thought, “Why not join the fun too?”

Now, Jenna, with all her kindness, has surpassed us all in the fish-feeding part. But what surprised me even more was her attitude. As we got off the boat, her first words were, “That was so much fun; I’m so glad we went—what a blessing!”
 
As for me, I was still trying to get used to standing on solid ground again, but Jenna’s positive view that everything was a blessing stuck with me.

Now, let’s get things done, my friends.
 
Remember those times when good things happened but you didn’t notice? Can you think of any? I definitely can, like when I got seasick recently (still feeling a bit wobbly, ha!).
 
Take a moment to stop and thank God for those blessings, even the ones that weren’t right in front of you.
 
Take care, my friends! And always remember, feeling blessed is a choice you make every single day.
 
Enhance your faith-led leadership journey with God First Life Next. Explore empowering insights at “Blessings are all around us” Let faith guide your leadership. Click for purposeful living at GodFirstLifeNext.org.

Bosses are not leaders, but leaders can be bosses

Posted on by dan_adm

Bosses Are Not Leaders But Leaders Can Be Bosses

Not everyone starts as a leader, but with some effort, anyone can become a great leader!

We’ve all had jobs where it seemed pointless and our work didn’t feel important. The boss would stay in their office, maybe sending a couple of emails about projects. You rarely heard from them, and when you did, it wasn’t clear what they wanted.
 
Just being a boss doesn’t make someone a leader. Leaders have certain qualities that many bosses may not possess. What does a supervisor need to do to be a true leader?
 

Leaders need to be good at teaching.

First and foremost, leaders must be teachers. A teacher’s role is to educate and bring out the best in their students. Good teachers don’t just sit and tell the students what to do; they show examples, walk around the class to help students, and are firm when needed.
 
Teachers communicate to make sure students understand the concepts or projects they’re working on. After someone finishes their work, teachers evaluate it. When grading, they don’t insult or give up on the students; instead, they provide constructive criticism and help them improve.
 

Our strength is determined by the strength of our weakest link. 

Leaders should always follow the idea that “we are only as strong as our weakest link.” What does this mean? It means that your team, group, office, or company is only as strong as its least strong member. Leaders should be humble when they make a mistake or someone on the team does. Leaders don’t blame others because they are the teachers; it’s their job to ensure everyone understands what needs to be done.
 
Then, the leader checks everyone’s work to ensure it is done properly. If someone makes a mistake, they don’t yell or criticize; they explain where the mistake was made and how to fix it. This should be done privately, not in front of others. Everyone’s morale is crucial; no one should feel degraded. People should feel inspired and proud of their work. Leaders must be committed to providing everything people need to succeed.
 

Integrity

We’ve all heard the word “integrity” before. I remember that in high school, they always talked about it. Back then, I didn’t think much about it, but it turns out that to be a good leader, you need integrity. A leader is honest not only with the people they lead but with everyone. Keeping secrets can affect others’ morals a lot. If there’s a problem with someone’s work, a great leader will tell them, not in a mean way but in a helpful and teaching way.
 
There’s a saying, “A great leader can tell you to go to hell in a way that you actually look forward to the trip.” Also, it’s important to be fair to everyone, not playing favorites or leaving some behind. You shouldn’t embarrass anyone in front of everyone. Instead, you need to encourage unity and teamwork.


Leaders can be found in people of all sizes.

 
Leaders can be of various shapes, sizes, and personalities, just like the people they lead. They must understand the individuals they lead, recognizing their strengths and weaknesses. This helps in placing them in positions where they can succeed.
 
Leaders have to make tough decisions, but true leaders are confident in their choices. Even if they make a mistake, they shouldn’t let it discourage them; instead, they believe the situation can be fixed, and they’ll do better next time.
 
They need to be creative in finding solutions because what worked in the past might not always work. Leaders can have different ideas on how to succeed; there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
 
To be a boss and a leader, you need to know your purpose, and it’s not just sitting in an office and sending emails. The real purpose is to bring out the best in your team, teach them to be their best, inspire hard work, instill pride in what they do, and promote teamwork. To be a great leader, you must have integrity, commitment, good communication skills, accountability, and confidence in your decisions.
 
A boss truly becomes a leader when they do all these things. If you follow these principles, you’re sure to succeed and bring out the best in your employees.
 
Enhance your faith-led leadership journey with God First Life Next. Explore empowering insights at “Macro Leadership” Let faith guide your leadership. Click for purposeful living at GodFirstLifeNext.org.

Break out of the office and get some ACTUAL work done

Posted on by dan_adm

Break out of the office and get some actual work done.

You can work from any place; the challenge is convincing the boss to allow it!

Today, I did a lot of work at the office on my computer. I left early to take my son to lacrosse practice. Now, I’m chilling on the grass, enjoying the nice weather. I overheard other parents talking about their busy jobs and plans for promotions. It feels like we’re all in this together—juggling work and family, sharing experiences, and dreaming big. It’s a mix of personal and work life, creating a friendly atmosphere as we go about our daily routines.

Excited for the lifestyle shift ahead, I treasure the freedom to work anywhere, anytime. Curious, though—why does the corporate world cling to the notion of mandatory offices? Embracing change sparks my enthusiasm as I anticipate the liberating journey toward flexible and location-independent work.

The idea that you must be in the office to get things done is as old-fashioned as payphones, which most managers thought were cool when they were kids. To keep good employees and ensure their happiness, you need to be more flexible and trust them to do their best work. Let your employees choose when and where they work, as long as they finish their tasks.

Start by letting a group of interested people work from home three days a week. Don’t constantly monitor them. Evaluate their performance based on both the amount and quality of their work. When employees feel trusted and have some freedom, their creativity, quality of work, and even productivity tend to increase.

I know there are many arguments about how some people believe you can only be productive by working in the office. They think being watched by the manager or having coworkers around makes you get more work done. Some even feel superior because they’re in the office from 8-5. But all these ideas can be proven wrong with good leadership.

The new generations don’t want a traditional 8-5 “job.” They prefer a flexible workplace where they can attend appointments in the middle of the day and make up for it by working later in the evening.

Let’s discuss the various generations from my perspective. It’s okay if you don’t agree. One of the great things about where we live is that we can have different opinions and still get along. Baby boomers prefer working from 8 to 5 every day with a one-hour lunch break. They believe that this time should be spent in the office or at the workplace. If you’re on a salary, you’re expected to work at least 50 hours a week. If you’re the boss, you should arrive before any employees and stay later than everyone else to set a good example. It’s important to note that when this generation graduated high school, the 8-track was considered really cool. Gen Xers are somewhat similar to baby boomers. They also believe that their employees should be in the office from 8 to 5, but they are a bit more flexible. They allow leaving early on the Friday before a holiday.

They are trying to be more open-minded, but it’s a challenge because they grew up with the baby boomer work mentality. Gen Xers were the first to think having a phone in a bag was an amazing way to stay connected. They used to connect it to their car, and when the phone rang, the car horn would honk! Pretty stylish.

Millennials often get a bad reputation. People say they get easily offended and throw a fit if things don’t go their way. While this is true for some, many millennials are top achievers.

Some of the biggest and most successful companies are run by this generation. Millennials don’t like strict working hours, and they really don’t enjoy working in an office. They prefer working a few hours from home, going to the office only when necessary. They like a flexible schedule, including a break to work out and have meals. They can get their work done without needing to be in an office.

Each generation has its strengths and weaknesses. I want to tell you that to keep younger employees happy, we need to let go of the traditional office mindset. With today’s technology, there’s no need to constantly track or closely manage salaried employees. For many of them, having a physical office space is unnecessary.

All you really need is a place for meetings, and there are plenty of options in every town. Even in rural areas, you can find spaces like libraries, schools, or Grange halls that are big enough for your meetings. Let’s be creative about it. When evaluating, consider both the quantity and quality of their work, not just the time spent at a desk. Let’s step out of the office and accomplish meaningful tasks.

Ready to Transform Your Leadership Approach? Delve into ‘BUILD YOUR HABITS TO BUILD YOUR LIFE‘ and enhance your skills. Follow our expert insights on this transformative journey. Explore more now at Eclipse DOT

Bridging The Gap Between The Crystal Palace (Cooperate Office) & The Field

Posted on by dan_adm

Bridging the Gap Between the Crystal Palace (Cooperation Office) and the Field

As a company gets bigger, it becomes challenging to maintain strong connections between the main office and the field. The more it grows, the tougher it is to keep these essential relationships and communication open. Success relies on good communication in a growing business.

As a company gets bigger, it becomes challenging to maintain the important connections between the main office and the field. The more the company grows, the tougher it is to keep these crucial relationships and good communication going. Successful businesses rely on effective communication.

Let’s talk about communication. When the big bosses are open, the folks doing the actual work feel they can share their worries with the higher-ups. This creates a chance for lots of good things. Soon, employees will start bringing you new ideas to make the business better. Those on the ground notice where production has issues and why unsafe things happen. They also look for ways to do their tasks better, saving time and energy.

Spend a bit of time away from the office and go where the real work is happening—whether it’s in the field or on the production floor. This gives you a firsthand look at what your team faces. Make it a habit to have real conversations with your people every week. You’ll be surprised at how much this small action can achieve. It’s not just about fixing immediate problems; it’s about creating a place where new ideas pop up and everyone working together moves the business forward.

In the office world, we might not realize that when we make new rules or best practices, it adds more work for the folks doing the actual work. They usually don’t get a choice or a say in these new rules. Before making a new rule official, take a moment to talk to the people on the ground and ask what they think. If you haven’t done this before, they might agree to the new rule, but they might not be very happy about it. When you open up to their ideas, they will be more willing to share them. This way, everyone in the company works together to make the processes even better than before, instead of just a small group.

Remember the little things. In my experience with many companies, there’s something that often gets overlooked. Don’t forget the small details. Note down their birthdays in your calendar, and if you’re close, remember their work and marriage anniversaries. You don’t need to mention their age; just a simple acknowledgment and maybe a small gift. Corporate goodies work well for birthdays, and a dinner gift certificate is great for anniversaries. It shows you care not just about them but also their family.

Your actions and your team’s actions speak volumes. Remember when you were new, working from the bottom? What did you think of the higher-ups? Did they act like they were better, or were they friendly? Train your corporate team to understand they have jobs because they are unafraid to get dirty and get the job done.

I’ve often been invited by companies to help improve their relationship with the field. Quickly, I noticed most corporate employees felt superior to those in the field. With that attitude, they’re not just closing the door; they’re barricading it with office furniture. It’s crucial for everyone to be on the same level. When the corporate team recognizes the value of everyone’s contributions, it opens the door to collaboration and a stronger, more unified company. It’s not about who’s better; it’s about working together on a level playing field to achieve success.

If you’re leading any organization, consider these essential tips to bridge the gap:

  1. Be available for field employees as a corporate team member.
  2. Keep communication open at all levels, ensuring everyone feels heard in decisions that impact them.
  3. Truly listen when employees talk; take their words to heart.
  4. Discuss and understand company policies through communication sessions with the team.
  5. Remember the little things, like birthdays and important events in employees’ lives.
  6. Realize that the corporate team’s attitude sets the tone; a negative vibe from your team can affect others.

Every problem is a chance to make things better. Closing the gap between the corporate office and the field isn’t too tough, but it needs time and hard work from the corporate team. It’s like turning an ugly situation into an opportunity for improvement.

Ready to Transform Your Leadership Approach? Delve into ‘Effective Leadership and Communication in Business‘ and enhance your skills. Follow our expert insights on this transformative journey. Explore more now at EclipseDOT.com.

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