Grow or Die at Work
A business either grows or it dies. You've heard this before, haven't you? It's true...and so it goes with our souls.
The first time I heard this about business, it annoyed me. Why? It felt like you almost didn't have control over your business. You had to grow - no choice. What about if the business was successful, if you were making a lot of money. No matter. Grow or die. Never a moment's rest, I thought.
But, really, it just makes sense. For example when I worked for a large corporation, I expected our "numbers" to increase from quarter to quarter. Indeed, once, when my company at the time hit the skids, I lost my job. I noticed the decline in sales, revenues, profits, etc. And the inevitable came: layoffs. And I became one of the "inevitables" who lost his job.
The same holds if you start and run your own business. Of course, you won't be arrested if you don't grow. And there, you really do have a choice. You can let the business slowly (or quickly) wind down if you want. Maybe that's the best course for you at some point. But the rule holds: your business will simply die unless it grows. It may not be any kind of tragedy, but without constant growth, it dies in the end. And so if you've ever thought of selling your business or passing it on to your children, it's got to grow. (And do yourself and your children a favor: don't pass them a dying business!)
So when we hit the ground running everyday, one thing we know is to grow - grow the business. If not, you can hit the ground, but if you're not growing the business then what's the point of hitting the ground running?
Anyway, while you're hitting the ground each morning, whether it's to grow your business or watch it die, there's one thing that has to grow each day: your soul; Put another way, your spiritual life.
St Peter, in his Second Letter, talks about those of us who have taken those first steps in our spiritual life, but stop making progress or, what's worse, take a step back:
Disgusting to think about - the dog and the pig - isn't it? But, of course, that's St Peter's intent. He drives the point home: grow or die. Your spiritual life - more specifically your interior life, i.e., the life of your soul - must grow. We must make progress each day. If not, the pull of the world, the flesh, and the devil will, like gravity, drag us down.
Today, at work, do your best. Let's hope your business grows with that best effort. But don't leave your spiritual life behind when you hit the ground running. Don't let those hours at work serve the world, the flesh, and the devil. Make them serve God. Sanctify your work with your best efforts, with your aspirations ("Everything for you Lord"..."Lord, I love you more than anything"...or maybe just the simple Holy Name itself: "Jesus!"). Just a fleeting thought in the midst of your busy day brings you yet another step closer to Our Lord. And that one step is a step forward. That's how we grow.
Does this seem daunting? It once did to me. It once seemed like it was just another pile of things to do. Bad enough I had to keep the business growing. But on top of all that I have to keep my spiritual life growing?
I hope you don't think this. I hope you're spared those sorts of feelings. But if you do think that, or if you do feel that way, just take it one step at a time - just like you should when facing a big challenge in your work life. To grow your business, you have to do it one step at a time. To grow closer to Our Lord, it's the same step-at-a-time. It's not daunting; it's not a pile of things to do.
In the end, it comes down to love. Do you love Christ? If you do, you'll grow. If you don't you'll die. Maybe that's the simplest way to look at it.
The first time I heard this about business, it annoyed me. Why? It felt like you almost didn't have control over your business. You had to grow - no choice. What about if the business was successful, if you were making a lot of money. No matter. Grow or die. Never a moment's rest, I thought.
But, really, it just makes sense. For example when I worked for a large corporation, I expected our "numbers" to increase from quarter to quarter. Indeed, once, when my company at the time hit the skids, I lost my job. I noticed the decline in sales, revenues, profits, etc. And the inevitable came: layoffs. And I became one of the "inevitables" who lost his job.
The same holds if you start and run your own business. Of course, you won't be arrested if you don't grow. And there, you really do have a choice. You can let the business slowly (or quickly) wind down if you want. Maybe that's the best course for you at some point. But the rule holds: your business will simply die unless it grows. It may not be any kind of tragedy, but without constant growth, it dies in the end. And so if you've ever thought of selling your business or passing it on to your children, it's got to grow. (And do yourself and your children a favor: don't pass them a dying business!)
So when we hit the ground running everyday, one thing we know is to grow - grow the business. If not, you can hit the ground, but if you're not growing the business then what's the point of hitting the ground running?
Anyway, while you're hitting the ground each morning, whether it's to grow your business or watch it die, there's one thing that has to grow each day: your soul; Put another way, your spiritual life.
St Peter, in his Second Letter, talks about those of us who have taken those first steps in our spiritual life, but stop making progress or, what's worse, take a step back:
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righeousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed only to wallow in the mire.
Today, at work, do your best. Let's hope your business grows with that best effort. But don't leave your spiritual life behind when you hit the ground running. Don't let those hours at work serve the world, the flesh, and the devil. Make them serve God. Sanctify your work with your best efforts, with your aspirations ("Everything for you Lord"..."Lord, I love you more than anything"...or maybe just the simple Holy Name itself: "Jesus!"). Just a fleeting thought in the midst of your busy day brings you yet another step closer to Our Lord. And that one step is a step forward. That's how we grow.
Does this seem daunting? It once did to me. It once seemed like it was just another pile of things to do. Bad enough I had to keep the business growing. But on top of all that I have to keep my spiritual life growing?
I hope you don't think this. I hope you're spared those sorts of feelings. But if you do think that, or if you do feel that way, just take it one step at a time - just like you should when facing a big challenge in your work life. To grow your business, you have to do it one step at a time. To grow closer to Our Lord, it's the same step-at-a-time. It's not daunting; it's not a pile of things to do.
In the end, it comes down to love. Do you love Christ? If you do, you'll grow. If you don't you'll die. Maybe that's the simplest way to look at it.
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