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Greetings, Summit Leaders.
Rejoice today that you are here for such a time as this.
Wherever you are and whatever work you are doing, see it as a gift.
Early in my life journey, I felt work was hard labor to avoid. I remember in my first years as a salesperson being in a remote little town named Red Lion. It was far away from our home office and yet my territory. At the time, I sold typewriters door to door.
This morning, I rewalked in my mind a sales call I made in 1975 on a flour mill. I recall thinking, "What good can come from this?" It was a hot summer day, maybe 80 degrees, high humidity, and I wore a suit, white shirt, tie, and carried the typewriter under my arm. Our slogan then was, "Calls plus demos equals sales." To my surprise, the flour mill owner in his bib overalls asked his assistant, following my demonstration, "What do you think?" She said, "I like it!" He smiled and said, "We will buy one." Looking back on this, I am discovering that through work, there is always a more significant play operating in our lives than we can see at the time.
Now, I understand, some four decades later, that those times were testing and preparation for me as a leader. The work was a blessing to me. That experience taught me three lessons that come to me today.
1. Do not despise the day of small beginnings. Our attitude toward our work will determine the results we gain. Often the results are more character, faith-building, perseverance development, and preparation for more excellent work. "Take pains in these things, be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all."
2. Having a purpose for working gives us discernment to see the bigger plan at work in our lives. My selling typewriters door to door, while hard physically, planted seeds of humility and learning how to engage with people. It's always about the people we meet on our life journey. What impact can we have on the people we meet and serve? Great leaders are motivated by helping and not merely to make money. This principle took time for me to understand. "Don't wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off like an eagle."
3. Work hard and become a leader. Be lazy and become a slave. Work is a gift given for our enjoyment and blessing. When I understood that whatever the job, we are to do it heartily with our whole heart, knowing that there is a reward and in all labor there is profit; all things began working together for good.
The pursuit of worthy goals takes energy. The building of relationships takes perseverance and discipline. Now, I am beginning to see the typewriter sales were the bridge of faith to something more significant that I could not even imagine.
So, be encouraged, my friends. Wherever you are and whatever work you are assigned, do it heartily. Never be lazy in your work but fervent in spirit. Remember whom you serve. Knowing there is a sure reward.
Keep the faith!
Victory!
