February 14. Great Starts With Good.

Every successful business does some good things that customers do not really place value on. It seems that resources are being used up and result with raising the end user price. But they are good things, and they must be in place.

Examples are things like accounting services, the utilities for the workspace, the internet access, and web hosting services. These good things are in place so that the service and product experience is not halted or interrupted.

They must be done, or the business will probably suffer and sputter along with limited success at best. The harvest will not be very good when they break down. Many activities must be planted before a crop ever comes to fruition.

On our teams, we might provide more value if we build up those with unique abilities to do their respective part. No one person needs to deliver every part of a system. But it can be difficult to let things go even if we are not that good at doing them.

Perhaps we can celebrate individual capability by assembling it skillfully and strategically. We are better together, and the sum is greater than the addition of the parts. Who can you encourage this week to be great at the good?

We might be able to multiply capability by offering to take something off their plate. What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?

In Galatians 6:6-10 NLT, we read, "So let us not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we do not give up." The setup or foundation of a business, a local church or family is critical.

The basics must be in place or what you build is likely to need repairs and maintenance quicker. The structure might not even last for a normal lifetime. In business some might call foundational pieces the overhead. With our people and relationships, it is what I see as the basic good of the team.

What is the good you provide that comes easy to you to give? We can see this ability in thos e around us as well. Who on your team could you encourage to give more of their good? Our good can be our unique ability. Let us remember that we are part of that good regardless of our role.

It does not matter whether we are the CEO, the volunteer, the pastor, the singer in the choir, the janitor or the temporary employee just filling in for a short time. Never tire of doing what is good.

What is the first thing you can do in the next seven days to step up the good? Starting with ourselves and bringing along others might show love and honor God.

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, your grace is enough. You have given us the most wonderful base to run our lives from. Sometimes we find ourselves tired. We find that we overlook the everyday routine and take for granted the basic good you have given as a gift.

Empower us to stop ourselves from complaining, criticizing, and reacting without compassion. Guide and steer us closer to you. Highlight the path to excellence every day and show us what might seem as ordinary to be the good. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen,