I’m Building a Cathedral!

February 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Last month I read a fantastic business book, Start with Why, by Simon Sinek.

It’s a great piece that works you through discovering and illustrating the purposes behind your business.  Not what you do or how you do it, but why you do what you do.

The best illustration in the book exposes a juxtaposition between two different work ethics:

Consider the story of two stonemasons.  You walk up to the first stonemason and ask, “Do you like your job?”  He looks up at you and replies, “I’ve been building this wall for as long as I can remember.  The work is monotonous.  I work in the scorching hot sun all day.  The stones are heavy and lifting them day after day can be backbreaking.  I’m not even sure if this project will be completed in my lifetime.  But it’s a job.  It pays the bills.”  You thank him for his time and walk on.

About thirty feet away you walk up to a second stonemason.  You ask him the same question, “Do you like your job?”  He looks up and replies, “I love my job.  I’m building a cathedral.  Sure, I’ve been working on this wall for as long as I can remember and yes, the work is sometimes monotonous.  I work in the scorching hot sun all day.  The stones are heavy and lifting them day after day can be backbreaking.  I’m not even sure if this project will be completed in my lifetime.  But I’m building a cathedral.” 1 [Read more...]

Notes:

  1. Start with Why by Simon Sinek ↩
Filed Under: Growth, Work Tagged With: , ,

Live to Work

February 6, 2012 By 1 Comment

When I interviewed for my current job, my boss was very clear that the company culture was one of “working to live” rather than “living to work.”

On the surface that made sense and, consequently, was exactly the type of work culture I was looking for.

But for all the wrong reasons.

Some of my earliest jobs were horrific.  Long hours, low pay, uncomfortable working situations.  I worked in a mall during the holidays (more than once pulling a 12+ hour shift).  I worked for a company that demanded overtime yet refused to pay more than $1000 per month in salary.  I worked for a development company where I was cussed out daily by my supervisor for no apparent reason.

I have had several jobs where the idea of working for the sheer enjoyment of working was a hugely foreign concept.

Now, though, I work for a company I respect with people I trust doing a job I enjoy.  It’s quite remarkable, actually, considering how I got to where I am. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Calling, Growth Tagged With: , , ,

My Prayer

December 6, 2011 By 2 Comments

Last weekend I had the chance to see a truly amazing concert.  But what made the night even better was the remarkable woman with whom I attended the concert.  Frankly, one of my best Saturday nights all year.  Great music, great messages, great company, and great conversation.

But that conversation was actually quite convicting.

On the way back to town, we started talking about common interests.  Music, television shows, etc.  Somehow we got on the topic of ministry and missions work.  She told me about a trip to Costa Rica and explained how she’d like to do the same kind of work abroad in the future.  Then came the question.

“Have you done any missions work?” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Calling, Growth Tagged With: , ,

Statement of Faith

October 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I find new ways to challenge my faith in the oddest of places.  Lately, though, it was a random political conversation I had with some friends on Twitter.  If you’ve been living under a rock for the past few weeks, you might have missed the “Occupy Wall Street” movement sweeping across America.  It’s something I’ve only paid attention to in passing, but on the whole many of the “we are the 99%” arguments resonate with me.

Yesterday, the whole conversation started off innocently enough:

Hoping #OWS can trigger a new "Progressive Era" (except Eugenics or Prohibition; please read before criticizing): http://t.co/Vmon0wiI
October 18, 2011 11:07 am via Twitter for MacReplyRetweetFavorite
@mikeschinkel
Mike Schinkel

We quickly began discussing and debating the point.  Everything from what the Progressive Era represented as an abstract concept, to specific historical evidence and how it tied in to the inevitability of certain tyrannical and corrupt institutions. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Growth, Musings, Theology Tagged With: , , , ,

Reflecting on a Decade

September 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Ten years ago today was picture day at my high school.  Despite everything else that happened on September 11, 2001, we all still gathered in the Auxiliary Gym to take our annual year book photos.  Business as usual, except for the tone that overtook the entire day.

In every class we sat glued to CNN waiting for updates.  No one really knew what was going on, but even if we did there was little we could do from Oregon but sit, watch, and shake our heads in anger, frustration, and fear.

It was those three emotions, though, that brought out the worst in me.  That day, a part of my character that, even a short 5 years later, I’ve reflected upon with shame. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ethics, Growth Tagged With:
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