Wouldn’t it be awesome to see the future and know how things were going to turn out? You could spare the time and stress of learning as you go, knowing exactly where you were going to land. I believe that as an entrepreneur, it is crucial to have a healthy dose of absolute confidence (at least between 7am and lunch). But even with confidence, often times there is a significant amount of time and effort needed to realize our vision and accomplish our goals. It can wear a person down if there isn’t occasional ‘distractions’. One day I needed a little ‘pick me up’ and I went home and climbed into my 1969 Pontiac GTO – a car I dreamt of owning since I was 12 years old. I drove to my old neighborhood and cruised slowly through the streets where I had grown up. I thought to myself….”wow – if I could only see myself today…while I was 12 back then” I would say “Hang in there! It’s gonna be tough and some days will be down right horrible – but you’re gonna be okay” The car wasn’t an indication of any amount of success nor was any other ‘thing’ – but rather, because I survived! I lasted the bad days and was still kicking. It isn’t about the car, it’s more about the circumstances. If someone needs to throw money around and brag how big their house is or where they go for vacations…then I have to ask “By what scale do you measure your success?”
If your success is measured in people and relationships more than things that aren’t consumed by fire and rust (Matthew 6:19) then you have a great shot at being truly successful.
I remember one day I had a phone conversation with a fellow CEO. Other than our title, I can’t say there was many similarities in our business operational size or financial security. But I do remember that he spoke to me with utter respect and kindness. In fact, it turned out that our businesses had quite a bit in common (sticking to what we know about our products/services, marketing what we have as opposed to marketing what we wish we had) the only noticeable difference between us was the size of our bank accounts. We wished each other well and finished our conversation and then I began to see, we are dealing with the same issues, just on a different scale. So again I ask “By what scale do you measure your success?” Is it by the number of employees, the zeros at the end of your bank balance? Or is it in being a fair, caring and generous person? And no, I do not say this because I don’t have tons of employees or a huge bank account, I say it because I realize I am blessed beyond measure. God has provided for me and my family and my business faithfully for many years, and it didn’t depend on how big things were. As a man, father, husband, entrepreneur and other worldly roles, I wanted to be successful. More business, more clients, more income more more more. But then it hit me…what if I am exactly where God wants me? Could Jesus walk in my door and snap his holy fingers and instantly change my circumstances? Sure! Is he? Who knows…but guess what? Even if he doesn’t – I am ok with knowing He could!
In Daniel chapter 3, three young men (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) who had been in the good graces of king Nebuchadnezzar, were now facing a fiery furnace when they all refused to bow down to the huge golden image as they were being order to do. But when they explained their refusals to the king, detailing how God could do this…or do that…they ended their remarks with “…but even if he doesn’t…”
In more eloquent languages than English, there are two words for “know.” In Spanish, there is saber, which means you know it in your head and by way of casual reference. But then there is conocer, which means to have intimate knowledge of something. First hand experience. So do you just saber what you believe or do you conocer it? (I realize that I am not using these words in the right tense–I am just trying to make a point.) Knowing, believing, trusting absolutely convinced to your core about the possibilities with God makes everything else suddenly seem a little less impossible.