Why Every Man Should Strive for Work He Loves

The Dignity and Sacredness of Work

“From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us the rulers of creation…” – The Book of Common Prayer (Rite II, Eucharistic Prayer C) Here in the US we’ve just commemorated Labor Day which, despite its origins as a celebration of trade unionism, […]

The Best Advice Ever 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 […]

Why You Should Always Take ALL Your Allotted Vacation Days

Work/Life "Balance" is a misnomer -- Life is much heavier

“It is in vain that you rise up early     and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil;     for he gives to his beloved sleep.” – Psalm 127:2 (ESV) As a man considers his work, and how it fits or doesn’t fit his life, he needs to set aside proper amounts of time […]

Why It Pays to Pay What You Owe

Default Should Not Be Your Default

“A good name is more desirable than great riches;     to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” -Proverbs 22:1 (NIV) Last month the New York Times published an op-ed piece by Lee Siegel titled “Why I Defaulted on My Student Loans” in which the author explained — duh! — why he wasn’t paying back […]

What Your Boss Wants

Master these old-school basics

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” -Colossians 3:23 (NIV) Congratulations! You got the job! Now what? If you’re just entering the work force, or changing to a new job, you wouldn’t be human if your excitement didn’t also contain a bit of apprehension. […]

Comparison Is The Thief of Joy

“But godliness with contentment is great gain” – 1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV) The title of today’s post is a quotation attributed to American president Theodore Roosevelt.  The truth of this statement is so blinding, I am partly tempted to let it stand on its own.  If I did that, though, you might think I was […]

Three Vectors of Emotional Health

“All the world’s a stage.” – William Shakespeare Some time ago, I read an article expounding on the theory of 20th century playwright and anthropologist, Robert Ardrey.  In his book, The Territorial Imperative, Ardrey states that once a creature’s survival needs are met (Think Maslow’s hierarchy: food, clothing and shelter), there is a hierarchy of […]

Six Reasons You Should Consider a Job in Sales

“Nothing happens until something gets sold” -Ancient proverb It’s no secret that the  job market is tough and more competitive than ever.  There is a surplus of highly educated and ambitious college graduates vying for the most prestigious positions — and this is before one takes into account the number of people already working and […]

Deliver Results in Every Circumstance

“You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.” – Henry Ford (1863 – 1947) Your reputation is critically important. You earn it — a task at a time, a job at a time, a decision at a time —  over a period of years.  The tough part is your reputation is largely if […]

How to Disagree Agreeably

“A man’s got to know his limitations.” -Det. Harry Callahan – a/k/a Dirty Harry There are times in a man’s life when he cannot remain silent.  It may be on behalf of someone else, or you may have to stand up for yourself, but when the time comes, voicing your objection in the right way […]