Category: Work

Now That’s a BHAG

A few small tables displaying a basic assortment of Christian books and Bibles line a corner of the large lobby of my church. I stopped there in December to buy a little gift. Lots of other folks thought of shopping there too, so a line had formed. As I got closer to the cashier, I spotted my friend Cheryl who runs the book ministry as a volunteer. People were commenting that she was busy with sales and she replied, “My goal is to outsell Amazon!” Now that’s a BHAG!

A BHAG is a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. James Collins and Jerry Porras coined the term in an effort to incentivize companies and employees to dream really big. The idea is not necessarily to set a realistic, reachable goal but to think way beyond expectations and believe in the impossible. For example, Walt Disney embodied the BHAG mindset and he achieved legendary success. The adage “Reach for the moon and if you miss you’ll still be among the stars” is a similar expression.

We have just begun the New Year. This is a season when many set goals, or at least reconsider priorities. But New Year’s resolutions almost seem out of vogue these days because people fail at them or forget them so quickly. I am not keen on setting New Year’s resolutions yet I do think of a new year as a fresh start and a chance to improve and grow. My nature is pragmatic and realistic so BHAGs aren’t my mental default. Instead I mull over changes I want to make and prayerfully reset priorities for my time. Above all, I love to make lists, which is a type of goal. Lists, and weekly planners, act as short term goals for me and the reward for me is checking them off. Apparently this is not a bad idea.   Just the other day a professional email came through at my work suggesting that making very low, easy-to-reach goals was helpful. As the goals are met, mood and accomplishment improve.

A friend just gave me this planner, photographed in the same setting as my blog theme photo. The planner was created by Cheryl Martin and the Excellent Living organization.

Speaking of work, you might be surprised to know that elementary students are required to write personal goals quite regularly. Counselors provide guidance about how to draft goals. Young students come up with some winners: “I want to spelle beter.” Children often lack the maturity to implement steps to meet their goals. Things like practicing math facts daily teaches the student the times tables, but kids don’t always make that connection. My hope is that children do begin to understand the link between effort and success; that is an important part of education and life.

So how does this topic of goals connect to words from the Author of Life, which is the aim of my blog? I think the Bible states some incredible BHAGs. For example, Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.”   That sounds wonderful but God spoke those words to people in captivity, living in exile a thousand miles from their homeland. For them, prosperity and hope were a BHAG! Another amazing Scripture BHAG is, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20) Wow, God outperforms even our wildest imagination but the fine print identifies that the power is God’s and only if that power is activated in you, by belief and repentance. Which leads to the ultimate Biblical BHAG: God’s plan, His goal for mankind.   Scripture states that the one sacrificial death of Jesus justifies the sins of the entire world, for those who claim that truth (Romans chapter 5). And that is NOT a wishful BHAG; it is a goal accomplished, a task finished, for you to embrace in this New Year 2018!

Postscript:   I don’t know if you can PS a blog post, but I will add this anyway. When I announced my blog, a friend emailed me back that she hoped my blog would reach millions. I was thankful for Cynthia’s dream for me. My goal is to write regularly, highlighting God’s word with my experiences. I have usually met my own deadlines in the past 18 months and I appreciate all of you who are reading and sharing my posts. Please feel free to continue sharing it and sign up to automatically receive posts, if you haven’t already. The best way to find my blog on-line is www.brendaproulx.com.

The Work of Your Hands

My family had the wonderful opportunity to go on a mini winter getaway. Northern Virginia has not had any decent snow this year so it was especially fun to experience a wintery atmosphere.  The first morning my husband and I stopped for some hot chocolate.  We ordered at the counter and waited as the young woman who was both the cashier and barista, prepared our drinks.  She seemed barely twenty and had darker skin tones and long, dark hair.  She could have been Hispanic or Native American; either would have been likely in this western part of the country.  She was neatly dressed and cordial, though not as jovial as other resort workers had been that morning.

She finished off our drinks with real whipped cream sprayed from the chilled silver canister and then carried the two steaming cardboard cups to where I was waiting. That’s when I noticed her left hand.  She had a thumb but three of her fingers were missing and she had only a disfigured partial pinky finger.  It appeared to be a birth defect.  Yet she had just delivered two hot cocoas to me, one in each hand!

Many people use handicaps as an excuse not to work. If working is hard and a disability complicates matters, some will decide not to work at all.  They rely on others and miss the satisfaction of accomplishment.  A disability is an embarrassment too.   In a culture where perfection is prized, it is difficult to be in a place where you will get noticed.  Thoughtless comments may be overheard.  Bravely, this cashier turned barista, took employment out in the public eye.

“A work of art” sounds like an oxymoron but we can take pride in our work products*. These cute sugar cookies from Cameron’s Coffee and Chocolates are decorated for Mardi Gras.

Sometimes, depending on the disability, employment can be hard to find. This is particularly true for those with cognitive impairment.  It takes well-trained supervisors and special options to employ the developmentally challenged.  Creating a business niche for them is a labor of love.  Cameron’s Coffee and Chocolates in my town is just such a place.  Coffee drinks and homemade confections are made and sold, giving work to special needs young adults.

 

Work is a gift. God gave mankind work in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15).  Of course work became cursed after Eden (Genesis 3: 17-19), but it continues to have value.  Occupation offers a healthy use of time and a sense of fulfillment, and it provides financial support as well as the opportunity to give to others and help those in need.  The Bible tells us to do work and to do it well (Colossians 3:23).  I’m applauding the overcoming attitude of the young café worker.  For her and all of us, “(Lord,) establish the work of our hands, yes, establish the work of our hands.”  (Psalm 90:17)

*A good book on the subject of being artful on the job is A Million Little Ways by Emily Freeman