Tevis Austin

Generally Speaking or Should I Say Blogging

I spent the past couple of days catching up some of the blogs that I like to visit.  Here are a few things that caught my attention.

• Bono at the NAACP Awards
• What do you think of Jesus and Christians? - video clip interviews from Dan Kimball
• Perspectives of Teens - some interesting statistics regarding teenagers
• Where do you go to get staff? - ideas on hiring staff by Dave Ferguson.

"Change happens when we become discontent enough with the status quo to actively take steps." - Rosabeth Moss Kanter

The above quote was found on Ron Martoia's blog where he raises the point that if we can be pulled to the future instead of pushed from the present, we can set ourselves up for significant momentum and health. He even gives a few simple tips on how to help push yourself to the future.

Everything Matters

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."  - Leo Buscaglia

When I started reading the chapter on "Everything Matters" in The Starbucks Experience, I was originally thinking about how it applied to my area of work.  The concept reflected on how you can quickly settle for status quo and costly things can occur if details are overlooked and missed.  In order to create the best culture, not only must the details be right, but the blending of those details must be carefully crafted.   

The interesting thing was that as I was processing this for my area of work, I also began to think about what this concept might mean for every area of my spiritual life and my family life.  What if I began to realize that the small details and decisions I make do matter?  What if I realized that the small details in how I spend my time, in how I react to situations, in what I say, in how I say something, in how I display my attitude, in how I care, in how I listen , in how I take initiative, in how I control my thoughts really do impact my spiritual life, my family life, and every other area of my life? 

Instead of thinking that the small details don't matter, what if I switched my mindset to understand that the small things do matter and can make a difference?   

Be Welcoming

 

"People want a place where they can belong in the community that stands for something more than just an enterprise that makes money."  I have been reading through a book describing the values that have helped to make Starbucks.  I actually have been intrigued several times to find statements that at first glance would appear to be coming from a church.  One of the first principles stressed is the importance of "offering everyone a sense of belonging."  The book lists some of the most important questions that individuals are asking involve:  Do people care to know me?  Do they remember me?  Do I matter?  Am I invisible?   

All of these questions and the importance of belonging are the very same things being asked and felt by the very people Christ followers interact with on a daily basis.  Starbucks teaches its workers or partners the importance of this principle by simply saying "Be Welcoming."  I believe that as Christ followers we also believe the importance of "be welcoming," yet I almost feel like Starbucks has got us beat when it comes to this concept.  How are we...How am I doing at demonstrating what being welcoming looks like?