Update: There are Seven Days in the Week — Someday Isn’t One of Them

Cultivating a systems approach can help you succeed in the new year

“What lifetime are you waiting for?” – Bill Hybels I hope you had a great celebration on Christmas Day, and that you are still enjoying the joy of this season. Today, I want to encourage you to think about your plans for the new year. I have written before about setting SMART goals, and I […]

Re-Post: The Best Advice Was a Stern Rebuke

Do the work -- it will pay off eventually

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend;     profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” – Proverbs 27:6 (ESV) The story I’m about to tell you is true. While I am not particularly proud of certain aspects of this story, I think it has a happy enough ending, as well as a useful moral, so I’m […]

Remaining Static Caused My Worst Day Ever at Work

How I learned a painful lesson

“Shock the monkey” – Peter Gabriel   Here’s a video post where I tell the story of my worst day at work. Oh, in the ensuing years, I’ve been through awful situations — including having my job eliminated — but this one was uniquely tough, as I hope you’ll understand. The good news is it […]

So, How Have YOU Been?

What I did on my summer blogging sabbatical

“Rest and be thankful.” ― William Wordsworth First, I want to thank all of you who read these words of mine — and the thoughts that inspire them. And I want to welcome you to the third year of Ontozoan — One Real Life. As some of you may know, I took a three-month hiatus […]

Re-Post: Stay Hungry

Put your desire to work

“A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on” — Proverbs 16:26 (ESV) If you follow current events, you know the economic news is mixed.  On one hand, the price of crude oil  has dropped to its lowest in a decade or more, making a gallon of gas much more affordable.  On the other […]

There Are Seven Days in the Week — Someday Isn’t One of Them

Develop a solid system for the new year

“What lifetime are you waiting for?” – Bill Hybels Christmas is soon approaching, and we will do some talking and thinking about it presently. Today, though, I want to encourage you to think about your plans for the new year. I have written before about setting SMART goals, and I won’t repeat myself here, but […]

Why Education Is the Greatest Path to Wealth

And why it pays to be a shrewd consumer

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” – Eppie Lederer (a/k/a Ann Landers) Reader — and good friend — Jeff sent an email following Tuesday’s post. As a side note, he has noted that he often agrees with my conclusions, even though he differs with the path I used to reach them. Here’s a […]

The How and Why of Saying No to Your Boss

Daniel and the Limits of Obedience

“Learn to say ‘no’ to the good so you can say ‘yes’ to the best.” – John C. Maxwell In a recent post, I explained the debt a man owes to his employer. (If you weren’t paying attention then, you can read it here.) In that post I presented a general rule that employees should […]

The Debt of Submission

Rendering unto Caesar without selling your soul

“Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and render unto God that which is God’s.” – Jesus Call me cynical, but I am hearing and seeing more instances of employers behaving in a high-handed and indifferent way toward their employees. This is not an indication that human nature has descended to a new level of […]

Re-Post: Why You — Not Your Company — Should Own Your Career

Think like a contractor to be a rock star at work

“Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the […]