Articles published in 2016

More Paradoxes in Michigan

By Rick Boxx In September I wrote about paradoxes in business, how commonly held and widely accepted views about how to conduct business often run counter to a biblical worldview of the same practices. Here are two others we should consider, both involving money management:
Tags:  Financial Stewardship, Generosity

Finding Purpose Behind The Pain

By Jim Langley Someone once made the observation, “I wouldn’t mind pain if it didn’t hurt so much!” We can all relate to that. For some time now I have been dealing with sharp pain shooting down my right leg, excruciating at times. It is amazing how a slight narrowing of discs in the spine can cause so much discomfort.
Tags:  Purpose, Pain

No Shortcuts In Recipe For Greatness

By Robert J. Tamasy Do you aspire to greatness? Would you like to lead a great company, or create a business that became the standard in the industry for excellence? Or would you like to gain acclaim for being a great leader, the kind of person whose name appears in the pages of a book like Who’s Who or be on the cover of TIME magazine as its “Person of the Year”?
Tags:  Greatness, Perseverance, Motivation

Repairing, Restoring and Improving the Broken

By Jim Mathis In my photo restoration business, I often see photographs that are stained, faded, or even torn into pieces. My job is to carefully put the pieces back together, remove stains and blemishes, and restore faded colors. In the process I use a variety of tools. Sometimes the tools are obvious, such as soap and water and a cotton swab. Other times I use highly sophisticated computer graphics software, such as Adobe Photoshop, to fill in cracks or even replace pieces that are missing. One of my great pleasures – professionally and personally – is being able to present to a customer a restored image that they believed was lost, beyond repair, whether of a loved one or a cherished memory.
Tags:  Restoration

Three Paradoxes of Business

By Rick Boxx Have you ever taken time to examine your personal worldview and factors that have formed it? Our worldviews are critical since they shape the ways we think about the world and how we respond to it. In that light, many commonly held views on business run counter to the biblical worldview, and we would be wise to understand how these perspectives conflict. Here are a few of them:
Tags:  Paradoxes of Business, Business, Profit, Partnership, Position

The Power of Learning From Others

By Ken Korkow The late motivational speaker, Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, used to say, “Five years from now you will be the same except for the books you read and the people you meet.” I do not intend to discuss books here, but can speak volumes about the impact of people we meet during our lifelong journey. Here are some examples from my own life:
Tags:  Learning, Learning from others

Is Bigger Always Better?

By Robert J. Tamasy When a business gets started, the hope is that it will attract customers or clients. But once that’s assured, the question becomes, “How can we grow?” followed by, “How much should we grow?” While answers to both questions vary by company, growth is rarely regarded as a bad thing. The bigger the better, right? More profits. Greater impact. Bigger brand. Sometimes, however, it might be wise to ask a different question: “How big is too big?”
Tags:  Service

Six Words for Greater Thankfulness

By Ed Thompson A virtue we see too rarely in the business and professional world is thankfulness. We are reminded of it once a year in many countries when we observe Thanksgiving Day, but being thankful should not be limited to an annual holiday. The common act of awakening each morning, feeling healthy and able to work should inspire in us a spirit of thankfulness. Most days we encounter problems and adversity to varying degrees, but we can still find many reasons for feeling thankful.
Tags:  Thankfulness

Reeling From Rotten Reorganizations

By Rick Boxx Constant reorganization was one of the biggest drawbacks I have experienced in working for large organizations. Every year, usually around September, the budget process would begin. Rumors would start about the expected casualties as budgetary cutbacks were being considered.
Tags:  Reorganization, Business, Biblical Principles