The Oak Tree

Where? How? When do you add value? Can adding value become more about YOU rather than the family member, client, stakeholder, student.

We all want to be valuable to the endeavors and interests that we are part of. We certainly should desire to bring something; a skill set, expertise, knowledge, to the table so we add to the bottom line or desired outcome.

What if we become so focused on “adding value” that our identity and sense of self become dependent on being valuable to your spouse, kids, team at work, students in the classroom, the board of your company.

If you read the statement above and felt a ting or ping inside; value adding has become more about you than the person or group you are adding value to.

As a result of a growing and deepening relationship with Jesus Christ; I am shown on a daily basis when my desire to add value oversteps the margins of my servant heart and strays into shopping for self worth. As a teacher, football coach and aspiring author; I am in the value adding business. I see over 200 hundred stakeholders per day (students, athletes, colleagues) my goal is to add value to everyone one of those interactions; everyday. Not to mention, the three most important relationships in my life; Carrie, Isabel and Colton. When I am at my best; I lead with a servant’s heart and become a source (generative force) for my family, students, players, colleagues and whomever I make eye contact with.

When I am operating from the shadow of self, I need validation for the value I add through people telling me how great my value is.

The stalwart servant Paul in the early Christian movement explained how we can add value and not make it about us.

Romans 12:5-8

So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

By being a part of a larger body of people, objective or story; you are thrust into adding value. If your concept of adding value is to serve that body, objective, or story, there will be no space for your shadow to appear. There will be no “void or “lack” to operate from.

When there is no shadow, no void, no lack, adding value takes the form of source (generative force). As part of Jesus Christ’s body; the believer has different gifts. Each of these gifts are a source (generative force) to add value.

In looking at these gifts (value adds) each of us possess these in greater measure than others. I have found when I am trying to do too much; I am not effective in adding value to the body, objective or story I am focusing on.

There are three ways we can stay focused on adding life giving value:

Focus on your strengths as a source (generative force) to add value. From your strengths flow honesty, truth, and steadfastness.

Continue to develop the heart of a servant, it doesn’t matter your title or where you fit on the organization totem pole. Serving without expecting anything in return creates a purpose led satisfaction that adds lasting value.

When you lead, teach, encourage, give, show mercy with a focus on giving life, there is a natural outpouring of value, abundance, and synergy that creates an environment that is rich in substance and strength.

Your body of people, your objective, your story is counting on you to add value that endures, that sustains, that gives life, like an Oak Tree.

If you were in a desperate place, where would your turn for relief?

If all of the usual answers, choices, behaviors no longer worked what would you do?

Men, too many of us don’t do anything different, yet, we expect a different outcome from those same answers, choices, and behaviors we apply to our situations. Take a guess at what this is called? Insanity.

The image above is a Birthday card from my extraordinary wife Carrie! The principles, honest, steadfast, and true are a good place to start if you find yourself in a desperate place; if you find yourself in an indifferent place; or if you find yourself in a demanding place.

The development of a steadfast spirit is crucial to transforming our thoughts and emotions; so that we can operate with a healthier outlook. Steadfastness looks like; showing up available emotionally and mentally to your obligations: work, relationships, and activities. How do you do this when the pain of “showing up” feels greater than your will to “show up”? If you can find a way to see a basic sequence of actions (and act on them) that will get you to the person or place you need to “show up” to. if you can do this you have demonstrated dedication. Sometimes we have to crawl through the pain before we can walk into the promotion. Steadfastness developed; creates trust, loyalty and devotion. (The building blocks for any rich relationship).

In the Bible; James 1: 2-4 gives incredible encouragement:

Count it all joy, my brothers,[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Desperate, indifferent, demanding and painful seasons can be overcome by practicing the basics of steadfastness. When you get to a point of “counting it all joy” you are becoming a source (generative force) for yourself.

With the active spirit of steadfastness comes honest and true behavior. One begets the next. There is a certain purity that comes with honesty and truth. Honesty is the quality that reveals integrity, substance and strength. We all know it can be much easier to be dishonest than practice the humbling of our pride so we can draw near to ourselves and others. True represents the culmination of a sustained period of steadfastness that creates substance, strength and purpose led satisfaction.

The substance of our lives are the experiences, people, mountain tops, valleys, values and character that become the anchors with which we operate from. It doesn’t matter if you are a CEO or you wait tables at Applebee’s; the anchors you operate from lead you to purpose led satisfaction, or they don’t. If your anchors are not creating the satisfaction you desire; it is time to change those anchors. If your anchors are creating purpose led satisfaction; it is time to be a source (generative force) for somebody else.

Honest. Steadfast. True. These are the anchors that help me grow in being a source (generative force) which gives me strength and substance in my presence like an Oak Tree.