Controlling Motion With What’s in Your Hand!

There’s a fellow named David. He’s an engineer. He also happens to be the founder and CEO of a company that makes products to control motion. They employee, oh, I would guess, about 150 people. David’s a very humble guy with a really big faith and a great love for Christ. But, he also believes that absolutely everything belongs to God; so all he’s really doing in life is trying to be a good steward (caretaker) of God’s business – which, in this case, is called US Digital. In 2006 this company purchased and renovated a new facility. Interestingly, the facility actually came with 17,000 square feet more than what they needed.

So, if you were this guy and the engineering and manufacturing business you were taking care of for God had 17,000 square feet of unused space, what would you do with it? Well, for David, he was inspired by a simple question in the Bible, “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2) He looked at his hand and said, “Well, God, you’ve given me extra unused building space!”

Out of the creativity and love God had placed in his heart, he gathered a team around him and developed a very simple idea: Design the space and use it to provide the infrastructure for a variety of small Christ-centered ministries that complement each other. They constructed 30 some offices that they provide free to these ministries. US Digital allows them the freedom to operate independently to fulfill their purposes.

Because of God’s ownership and David’s stewardship of this manufacturing site, they produce an amazing high-tech product that helps control motion in a variety of creative ways. They also do a fantastic job of caring about their employees through good nutrition, a gym, an exercise coach, even massages, and easy access to such services as dry-cleaning, hair salon, and a coffee shop.

But, through these free offices, they also participate in the movement and motions of God’s activity in other ways as well through: adoption services; arts and education; compassionate ministries – like rescuing minor children from sex trafficking, violence and abuse. (BTW, do you realize that we have over 150,000 children being traded here in the United States – especially at some of our major truck stops along the interstate?) They provide marriage and divorce recovery support, outreach and witnessing, leadership training; mission work; networking; prayer; radio broadcasting; suicide prevention…well, you get the idea!

Do you? Do you get the idea?  If so, “What is that in your hand?”

For more information on US Digital, go to: http://www.usdigital.com/outreach

Why Being a Meaner Boss Will Help Your Company

I recently read an article by Denis Wilson entitled “Why Being a Meaner Boss Will Help Your Company–And Make Your Employees Happy.” [See link below.] When you read the article, though, you find that what he describes as a potentially “mean” boss is a person who a) Isn’t weak and afraid to actually manage. They are brave enough to own their authority before things go wrong. (THAT’S being “mean”?) b) They take time to really work things out by talking to their people one-on-one so they can truly understand what the problems are, and remind them of how their role fits into the greater mission at hand. (THAT’S being “mean”?) c) They build structure so decisions can be made and the overall direction, message and strategy of a business can be managed. (THAT’S being “mean”?) d) They separate the wheat from the chaff by terminating non-performers and dead wood. (THAT’S being “mean”?) e) They share information and the facts up front and establish an environment of transparency. (THAT’S being “mean”?) f) They hold themselves responsible by taking ownership for bad news. They explain the business decisions that were made, and how it will affect the company. (Again, THAT’S being “mean”?)

It looks to me like what Mr. Wilson has really described is a good leader! In my book, a mean boss is one who intimidates and makes others look weak; or when they use power and domination instead of dialogue. A mean boss centralizes and controls all decisions within him or herself; they show favoritism in their reward systems; they refuse to terminate or address poor performers and poor performance as a whole; they keep all critical information to themselves because “knowledge is power.” They always hold you or others responsible for anything that goes wrong. They have no problems passing the buck!

Let’s be careful of taking the cheap route and tagging good leadership as “mean” when in reality most of us truly respect and flourish under such leadership qualities.

[Dennis Wilson. FAST COMPANY.COM . “Why Being a Meaner Boss Will Help Your Company–And Make Your Employees Happy.” http://www.fastcompany.com/1830539/why-being-a-meaner-boss-will-help-your-company-and-make-employees-happy?partner=homepage_newsletter]