Honor

“Cultural change and influence happens when we adopt meeting the needs of others as our own passionate pursuit.”

Internal Honor

Most of us are not going to build an Apple Computer, Starbucks, or Tesla Motors. If you are, do not let me discourage you. I see many businesses small and large start out with a similar mission, or ideology if you will, to change the culture or impact the community. For example, they want to build the next “Silicon Valley” by creating more tech jobs, and empowering business owners around them. They will give financially to great causes and hire educated, talented people, yet many still fail, or end up in the shadows of moderate success. Why does this happen?

The average employee today is changing. Many of them are more interested in how the job makes them feel rather than just the dollar sign. Why do feelings matter? It’s a job. You do it for a paycheck, right? Well, yes, but that too is tethered to how we feel. The most important thing to an employee, the cornerstones that make up a large portion of most companies, is honor. We want to feel honored by the amount of paycheck. We want our bosses to speak to us and about us honorably. We want our boss to act honorable. We want recognition for our efforts. We want our co-workers to treat each other fairly. We honor our family by going to a job each day. Honor is at the core of healthy company culture. It starts internally.

External Honor

Let me tell you a story to illustrate this one. There was a successful church that had an abundant amount of wealth, great pastoral leadership, and a congregation that supported them for years. They had built an amazing internal culture. One year, the leadership team decided to expand and build a church in Mexico. They brought all of their best leaders, built a beautiful church, spread the good news to the people in the local city and no one came. The church was empty. Great building. Great people. Giant failure.

The head pastor would not accept defeat. He searched for a community need. He found one of the worst blood banks in all of Mexico. The pastor along with his team helped the blood bank. They served with their finances, time, love, and talents. They were servants to what became one of the largest, most successful blood banks in all of Mexico. And, wouldn’t you know it, their church grew too.

Bringing It All Together

Culture starts with our internal team. Make sure that is healthy first. Find a need around your business and serve, not just with money, but with your time and efforts by helping someone else or another organization succeed.

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” – Booker T. Washington

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