Probably for most of us, one of the earliest songs we ever learned was one written by Anna Bartlett Warner in about 1860 called “Jesus Loves Me.” Here are the words that we learned and have grown to love so much:

Jesus loves me,

This I know;

For the Bible tells me so,

Little ones to Him belong;

They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me;

Yes, Jesus loves me.

Yes, Jesus love me;

The Bible tells me so.

This little, short song says so much to us and is so meaningful to me personally. There are six key points to this song that should apply to each of us in whatever station in life we find ourselves; whatever line of work we have chosen; whatever has happened in the past; whatever aspirations we have for the future; or, whatever trials we face today. Let’s take a look at these six items and see how they might apply to us this very moment:

1. Jesus loves me – Perhaps, the greatest thing we could ever learn in this life is that Jesus loves us. When no one else seems to care, Jesus knows our name, knows what we have done and what we think, and He still loves us. God’s Word, the Bible, says this about Jesus’ love for me:

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love…This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”                                                                                        John 15:9 – 17

We can see from this verse that there is no greater love than what Jesus has shown for us… that He loves us so much that He gave His life for us. And, He gave His life for us, not because we were so good or so lovely. He died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). While we were at our worst, the love of Jesus for us was so great that He voluntarily gave up His perfect life for us. So, yes, Jesus loves us with a love that exceeds all other love.

2. The Bible tells me so – The Bible is God’s Word. He inspired men to write it in their own words, yet it perfectly and without error reflects God’s own heart. As it says in Hebrews 4:12, “…It is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

The Bible has the authority of God backing it up. His Word says:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”   (2 Timothy 3:16 – 17)

So, when the Bible says something is true, you can believe it and count on it. This belief is called faith… the confidence in things not seen or things you cannot personally confirm. This confidence or trust in God’s Word is essential to fully understand the love of Jesus discussed in item 1 above.

3. Little ones to Him belong – Jesus repeatedly demonstrated a tender heart for children. When his disciples asked that the children be sent away, Jesus said (Mark 10:14), “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Children are precious to Jesus and it is clear that He holds them close.

4. We are weak – Paul summed up his own weakness when he said in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” In ourselves, we have no strength or power, but with and through Christ, “… we can do all things.”

5. He is strong – The Bible calls God our rock, our fortress, a stronghold, a refuge (2 Samuel 22.2-3), and a strong tower (Proverbs 18:10). He is our strength and our redeemer. He is the Creator. We can be assured that Jesus is strong and has the power to hold us and protect us.

6. This I know – The most important item in this song for us, though, is that little phrase, “This I know.” We can know that Jesus loves us with our head, but unless we know it in our heart and give ourselves to Him, these words are only a song for a child. Unless we make ourselves like that child, recognize our weakness (sin), recognize that only Jesus can save us, and give ourselves to Him, all is lost.

 

Today is a good day to think about this song that most of us learned years ago… perhaps, the first song we ever learned. The question is this… Do you truly know, with your heart, that Jesus loves you? And, have you accepted that love as your own? Have you admitted your weakness and His strength? Have you really taken it in that Jesus died for you… even when you were still at your worst… a sinner?

I made the decision to give my heart to Jesus when I was 21 years old.  I was newly married and attended church with my new wife.  There, I came to realize that I could not be totally satisfied with my life without Jesus.  I realized that I was a sinner and needed His forgiveness.  I asked Him to forgive me and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.  My life completely changed and I’ve never regretted it.  I know that I have eternal life when I die and my life today is more complete and satisfying than I ever believed possible.

Life can never be all you want without accepting the love of Christ in your life. You might search for love or acceptance or satisfaction in people, things, money, power, or many other things. But, you’ll never fully achieve fulfillment without Jesus. Why not put your life in His powerful, loving hands today?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Why not accept that everlasting life that God offers right now? Jesus loves me…. This I know!

 

 Today a few paragraphs from Max Lucado.  Great words for us any day! 

Today I will make a difference.  I will begin by controlling my thoughts.  A person is the product of his thoughts.  I want to be happy and hopeful.  Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful.  I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances.  I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters.  I will avoid negativism and gossip.  Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark.  Today I will make a difference. 

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me.  Time is a precious commodity.  I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom.  I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant.  I will drink each minute as though it is my last.  When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever.  While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving.  Today I will make a difference. 

I will not let past failures haunt me.  Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures.  I will admit them.  I will correct them.  I will press on.  Victoriously.  No failure is fatal.  It’s OK to stumble; I will get up.  It’s OK to fail; I will rise again.  Today I will make a difference.

I will spend time with those I love.  My spouse, my children, my family.  A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love.  A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships.  Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world.  Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening.  Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends. 

Today I will make a difference. (from On the Anvil by Max Lucado) 

Will this make a difference in how we live today?  Have a “top ten” day in everything you do! 

 

 

 

In the US, we are currently in the midst of what is called March Madness, a three week basketball tournament that will ultimately crown our national collegiate champion.  To recognize this event, QQQ today looks once again at some of the important quotes of John Wooden, recognized by many as one of the all-time great basketball coaches.  Wooden’s Pyramid-of-Success is still considered applicable for student, individuals, and business today as a roadmap to personal and professional success.

To me, however, Wooden might be one of the greatest examples I have ever seen of integrity.  He lived his life with purpose and was truly dedicated to enhancing the lives of others, not his own personal success.  And, his dedication to his wife was an inspiration to me.  He was married for 53 years before his Nellie died.  Those close to him, said his life was a love letter to her.  Anyway, he remained dedicated to her until his death at age 99.

Let’s look at a few quotes to get his perspective:

1. “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out” – We may not be able to control what happens or the events around us, but we can control our attitude.  Wooden says that it is also important that we make the best of what does happen.  This is Wooden’s version of “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”
2. “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do” – Do what you can do; control what you can; and keep moving forward.  Simple, eh?  Why, then, is this so hard sometimes?
3. “I worry that business leaders are more interested in material gain than they are in having the patience to build up a strong organization, and a strong organization starts with caring for their people” – Caring for people is such an important concept – not just for business, but in every aspect of life.  I can tell you definitively, that as you get older, you understand this better.  What you do for others lasts; what you do just for yourself is temporary.
4. “You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one” – Keeping perspective in both good times and bad is one way to avoid those peaks and valleys that emotionally drain us.  I think Wooden is right that if you allow either praise or criticism to affect you and the person you are, then it has too much power over you.
5. “All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low” – See #4 above.
6. “Don’t let making a living prevent you from making a life” – This is a powerful statement!  Don’t get so caught up in your work that you fail to enjoy those good things in life.  Don’t be so blinded by your work that you fail to nurture friendships; spend time with your family; or do the things that you enjoy.  An individual can give 110% of their being for this or any company for 20 or 30 years and their efforts can be forgotten in one month.  However, good, deep friendships can last a lifetime – even beyond a lifetime – and make your life more complete and enjoyable.  Don’t neglect the important things of life!
7. “Don’t give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you” – What keeps you motivated?  Are you driven by a goal or dream or are you just getting through the day?  I think Wooden is saying that we all need to have a dream and that we should be striving, every day, to achieve that dream.  Once we give up on our dreams, we’re just merely trying to get through the day.  Time is too short for that!

So think about what these say to you today.  Are you letting circumstances dictate your life?  Or, are you using circumstances to motivate you?  Do you have a dream that you are striving to achieve? Or, is your life a series of “one more day doing the same old thing?”  Let’s make today special!  Have a great day!

The entire March 15, 2016, edition of Fortune magazine is dedicated to corporate culture.  This edition not only covers the best of corporate culture (e.g., The 100 Best Companies to Work for in 2016), but the worst (e.g., Hoaxwagon – the VW Scandal).  As I have said more than once on The Porch,

“Culture is determined, not by what you say, but by what you do.”

There is much to learn from both ends of this best/worst spectrum, but let’s look very briefly at an example of each:

1. Volkswagen – You may recall that VW was recently accused and subsequently admitted that its engineers had devised a “defeat device” that would alter how the engine functioned only when the vehicle was being tested for emissions efficiency.  On the road, the engine was much less efficient in eliminated toxic emissions, but in laboratory tests, the software would detect that a test was underway and alter the engine to yield more acceptable results.  In short, the software cheated the emissions test and, as a result, the company advertised and enhanced sales using bogus eco-friendly credentials.  The company will lose many $Billions and may not even survive.  Major changes have already occurred and many senior managers and leaders have been fired.  The investigation revealed several key points dealing with company culture:
   1. No one had the courage to admit that ambitious goals to improve engine efficiency could not be met.  So, to avoid communicating this failure to management, the engineers devised a way to cheat to obtain desired results.
   2. The mere fact that engineers would believe that the environment favored cheating is a heavy indictment on the poor culture at VW.
   3. Management failed to create an open environment that encouraged collaborative problem-solving and truthful communication.
   4. Management failure to admit their failure and quickly and decisively deal with the problem might explain the entire situation.
   5. Management failed to establish reasonable goals and provide a system to monitor progress truthfully.
   6. The overall culture was one of micromanagement, intimidation, fear, and capitulation.

By creating a culture that exhibited an “achieve my objectives, by any means necessary”, accompanied by fear and intimidation, you get a company culture that says that cheating is an acceptable approach, unless you get caught.  Never allow yourself to be in such an environment.

1. “A Job I Love” – Throughout this edition of Fortune, were quotes like these:
   1. “I’m thankful to wake up every day and go to a job that I love”
   2. “Today’s workers are looking for a corporate culture that values them and their contributions”
   3. “When you empower people, it allows them to do what’s right for themselves and for our customers”
   4. “The culture aligns with my values.  Performance is expected and rewarded.” It is clear that a positive culture is created by ensuring we allow employees to be full and valued participants in the success of the company.  Participation in decision-making, work environment, and the ability to contribute are key attributes of companies on the Top 100 list.

So, what can we do to drive our culture to one defined by purpose, values, empowerment, and involvement?  What is your own personal take-away from this?

 

Today, we take a look at the mystery of communication.  In reality, good communication is no mystery at all — you must simply do it!  However, in most work environments, we suffer because of a basic failure to say what you want, understand what is needed, and ensure that everyone is on the same page.  Let’s look at a simple parable that illustrates these concepts:

 

Parable of the Squirrels

There was once a squirrel named Rollie.  Rollie was considered, by his own account, the King of the Squirrels.  What Rollie wanted, Rollie got.  One day, Rollie told his subjects, the other squirrels, he wanted a nut for dinner.  When they asked what kind of nut, he simply said, “I’ll let you know when you bring it to me.”  So, the subject squirrels had a meeting.  Since they did not know what kind of nut, they decided that they would each gather a different kind of nut, then, they could present each nut in turn until Rollie, the Squirrel King was satisfied. 

Rollie was presented a walnut.  He said, “I hate walnuts!  Why did you bring me that?”  He had the same response with increasing emotion for the pecan nut, hickory nut, and peanut.  Finally, he was presented a hazelnut to which Rollie responded, “I wanted a hazelnut.  Why didn’t you bring that to me first?” 

Moral of the story: When communication is lacking, you might be dealing with a bunch of nuts you don’t need or want.

Alternate moral: When you’re working with a bunch of nuts, communication becomes even more critical!

So, what can we learn from the Parable of the Squirrels?  I think we can discern at least three clear points from this:

1. If you know what you want, say it! – How many times have you seen a leader give an assignment or express a desire, but utterly fail to properly describe the deliverable or outcome he/she really wants?  Why take a chance that teammates do not understand what is really needed or desired?  It is good when expressing any assignment to ask, “Do you understand what is needed?  Do you have any questions?  Are we all clear as to what the result will be or what the product will look like?”  As a general rule, you have no right to believe that your expectations as a leader will be met unless you clearly describe and obtain acknowledgement of the desired output.
2. If you don’t know what your leader wants, ask! – I have seen many examples of followers walking away from the leader with little or no idea of what assignment was just given.  Have you ever heard anyone say, “I really didn’t understand what he/she was asking, but I’ll take a shot at it and adjust later, if needed.”  Please, don’t accept any assignment that has not been clearly articulated or that you don’t know what final output is expected.
3. Poor communication is frustrating, wasteful, and unnecessary! – I am sure you have had an experience in which poor communication made your life more difficult.  We have probably all had instances where poor communication cost us time, money, or effort.  Why?  As leaders, we must be clear as to what we want.  As followers, we should ensure up-front, what is needed, wanted, or expected.  The fear of asking a “dumb” question is at the root of much of this poor communication.

So, the bottom line… If you want a nut, tell what kind.  Better yet, go get it yourself!  Good communication is no mystery – it is simply a matter of doing it.

 

Today, an old poem is provided which simply says, “Don’t quit.” Everyone sometimes experiences a time or day or hour when nothing seems to be going well.  In fact, we sometimes experience a season when we face uncertainty, undesired change, problems, loneliness, or whatever that could entice you to throw in the towel and give up.  If that is your state today or if you know someone struggling, share this poem.  Maybe, this is the thing that will inspire you to try one more time or give it one more push.  To all of you tired of pushing that ball up the hill, this is for you:

            Don’t Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about, When he might have won had he stuck it out; Don’t give up though the pace seems slow– You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than It seems to a faint and faltering man, Often the struggler has given up, When he might have captured the victor’s cup, And he learned too late when the night slipped down, How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out– The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far, So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit– It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

– Author Unknown.

I truly hope that you all know or at least sense that I care about each of you. I am excited when good things happen for you and sad when you hurt.  I’m hopeful for your future and seek to encourage you when you are down.  Keep going; keep putting one foot in front of the other; encourage those around you.  And, if I can ever be helpful to you, I trust that you will call upon me.

Have a fantabulous day!

 

Note: The information in this article has been compiled and expanded into a book titled, “The Five Principles of Workplace Stewardship” now available from Amazon at this link:

https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Workplace-Stewardship-Finding-Contentment/dp/B0CMTM6KB1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MZCRNN1RWMAZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TckaCg8cNeKwgjDIQUovQt2tSFdVTnvJmZ-U27-Q_tzQ77C5QLuN6OKXWpMsLzbwYKF_4ymNGb8B8tEHW7fn4DsP6dDpnUltb4f4yI3KNTOqFiZTllBl-RtarR8gaPHf4Xe5RJ7PZUF4Tx7Pm4-QgSAtMXUlO0A6SXkpZJc8m_K92Tip-WJZH6QFHR3AWnOO.y2gCJk5aBo2R5aUr4DylDDiBzpCWDYc2PUcLP2tR4oU&dib_tag=se&keywords=eldon+henson&qid=1727530871&sprefix=eldon+henson%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1

Recently, representatives from across our company assembled in St. Louis to discuss strategy, systems, compliance enhancement, people development, and plot our future as a key contributor to company success. One of the key words used in this meeting was the word stewardship.  Stewardship is a great concept to describe our role and responsibility to the company and to our patients.  Stewardship means the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.  In our case, it means the careful and responsible management of patient care, product safety, and our company’s overall success.  We have an important role that we should never forget.

There are four key principles of stewardship that apply to us as employees or, really, to anyone that properly acts as a steward or caretaker. Let’s look at these principles and see how they apply to us:

1. The Principle of Ownership – Though we may have significant responsibility for large budgets, large numbers of people, or strategic direction of the company, we do not own what we manage. Sure, we need to take ownership of our function, responsibilities, and activities, but the real “owners” are those that count on us every day… our patients. Certainly, the shareholders actually own the company, but we have to remember why we do what we do and how our work impacts those using our products.
2. The Principle of Responsibility – As stewards of our company, we have a responsibility to always do what is best for our patients, our coworkers, our company… we actually come last in this list. We carry a burden to care for that which is entrusted to us. Thus, we must act with that in mind. We must do what is best for all, especially that child in Memphis at St. Jude’s using our products today to relieve their pain or diagnose their cancer.
3. The Principle of Accountability – We cannot perform our work in a vacuum. We must be accountable for our results. We must do what we say we’ll do, in the way required, and in the time promised. Understanding that others count on us is essential as we link our efforts with our coworkers to deliver that required product at the right time.
4. The Principle of Reward – Yes, there are tangible rewards for working at our company. However, we also receive a “reward” every time we hear a patient testimony of how our products improve lives. We are rewarded every time a regulatory inspection ends successfully. We are rewarded when our coworkers are promoted, our teams are recognized, or our work is celebrated. We receive a reward each night when we walk to our car knowing that we made a difference to someone today.

There is a reward for being a good steward. Knowing that we work in an industry that changes lives demands that we operate as good stewards.  So, when you consider that each of us must function as a good steward of the resources, people, challenges, and opportunities under our care, we should be inspired to operate with a bit more care in our daily activities.  And, it should inspire us to hold our heads just a little bit higher as we know that we produce something good… something worthy… something important for the lives of others.  Have a really great day!  It could be our very best yet!

Today, we will look at one quote from Benjamin Franklin, an early American philosopher, politician, and inventor (be patient, you might have to read this twice):

“For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe, the horse was lost; and for want of a horse, the rider was lost; being overtaken and slain by the enemy, all for the want of care about a horseshoe nail.” 

This quote talks about three things in my mind that apply to us:

1. Details are important – Neglecting the minor items can ruin us.  Our work in heavily compliance-dominated business is all about the details.  I am always amazed at how many details covering months or years that are examined by the regulatory investigators without a problem.  Doing the small things right leads to compliance with the big things.
2. The root cause is not always evident – This illustrates perfectly the importance of getting to the root cause when investigating issues or problems.  Unless we do, the problem is likely to recur.
3. Big things can be influenced by the most minor of things – That one detail we neglect is the one that will cause us problems.  Excellence cannot occur unless we do those small things well.

How about you?  Have you neglected a shoe nail that could lead to a bigger problem down the road?  Are we really looking for the root cause of our problems or merely accepting the first thing we see?  And, do we realize that much can hinge upon little?  What needs our attention today?

Today just might be our very best day yet!   Have a great one!

In the middle ages, skilled crafts were passed down through the ages from Masters to apprentices who eventually became Masters.  The process of apprenticeship to Master often required several years of careful and patient learning from the Master.  The Master taught the skills, then observed the apprentice practicing his/her own skills.  There was careful and close supervision in the beginning, but a slow transition to more and more freedom to the apprentice as mastery of the skills was demonstrated.  Eventually, the apprentice had to create his/her own “masterpiece”.  This work was often judged, not only by his/her own Master, but by others to ensure that the piece was worthy of the trade.  Once deemed worthy to be called a masterpiece, the apprentice graduated from apprentice to Master.

Each of us should be serving as either a Master quality practitioner or as an apprentice… or both.  We should be striving to learn something new — a new craft — as we progress in our careers, even if we have mastered one element or field or discipline.  We should be open to learning from someone that has demonstrated exceptional ability with the goal that we would eventually be considered a master ourselves.  Likewise, we should all be either actively involved or aspiring to serve as a “Master” teacher to one or more others.  The best way to really demonstrate your mastery of a craft is to pass it on.  Mentoring is one way to pass it on.  Being intentional about sharing your knowledge is another.

Business today is rapidly evolving.  We are in the midst of significant transformational change that requires that we keep up.   Thus, we need to be intentional about building our own skills, as well as, our team’s bench strength.  Serving as a “Master Practitioner” or volunteering to learn something new as an “Apprentice” is something each of us can do to strengthen our company and better prepare us as individuals and as a company for our future of adventure and intrigue.

All of us should be in the midst of our own “apprentice” journey in something.  How about you today?

 

On a plane trip recently, I met a fascinating young physician traveling to St. Louis.  She has specialties in pediatrics, neurology, and oncology.  Simply put, her specialty is brain cancer in children.  She talked about “her kids” and how special they are.  She was excited about new advances in treatment and how kids are being helped every day by these advances.  She talked at length and with pride about her hospital, St. Jude’s in Memphis, Tennessee, and how no family has to pay for treatment… everything is completely covered by donations.  When she learned that I worked at Mallinckrodt, she spoke of how our products relieve the severe pain “her kids” suffer.  And, the importance of our products, and others, that allow precise imaging of the brain of these children. 

This terrific woman also spoke of serving children in underserved countries… Mexico, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Africa, and others… on her many medical missionary trips.  It was clear to my wife and me that this young lady spent 14 years in medical school, internships, and residencies not to live a life of luxury (by the way, she was flying in coach), but to serve others, especially children.  She also spoke of her own family and the focus on serving she learned from her mother.  It was clear that she was motivated to serve and save the lives of children.  After going our separate ways, I am still in awe of an individual obviously so talented, dedicating her life to children.  It was a pleasure, but humbling, to spend that hour with her.

This dedicated doctor was not motivated by title, prestige, education, or position… she was motivated by what she could do to improve the lives of “her kids.”  So, what motivated me to come to work today?  Am I here to improve the lives of others or am I here for any other reason?  What is that one thing I plan to do today to make a difference for someone else?  How about you?  We don’t all have multiple titles or degrees or the ability to cure brain cancer, but we do have the ability to help turn a bad day into a better one for somebody.  Do you accept the challenge?