Here are more answers to some of the excellent questions we received.
Q: Will the next conflict resolution trip to Africa carry a different perspective?
A: Don’t know what the ALARM and WMCC partnership has planned for their next trip. However, having participated once in that experience in Burundi, it seems like the priniciples of leadershp and conflict resolution are interchangeable for business here and conflict in Africa. As ALARM deems appropriate it would make sense to me that they could benefit from some of biblical principles applicable to financial stewardship, use of debt, etc. Those fundamentals apply to personal lives as well as business .
Q : When you say you deal with conflict biblically that is great, but how do we grow in this area?
A: I have only grown thru actually engaging in the process….OJT and using the basic principles. Everything from small things at home or in relationships, to big things in business or community, there are lots of opportunities if we are willing to engage with a humble spirit. It has proven helpful to have the counsel of others in community while going thru the process. The Lord of the Rings material is a great resource. You can listen to this series here or download the PDF guide to conflict resolution.
Q :What is the true story about the tax payer owned hotel? How will either outcome effect the average taxpayer?
A: Complicated matter that got pretty political. However, upon reading the proposition, it was actually broader than just being applicable to the hotel. Had it passed I believe it was designed to restrict the city’s ability to provide economic incentives for growth. Historically, Dallas and other cities have needed that right/tool to maintain the health of the core of the city.
Q: What did you do leading up to this crisis that you will never do again?
A : One clear thing I think we did was use debt levels to accelerate prospects for profitability. That was inconsistent with many of the cautions in Proverbs regarding debt as well as the warning in Prov 20:21 that “an inheiritance gained hurriedly will not be blessed in the end”. We certainly weren’t “blessed in the end” The fact that some may have increased their profits using the strategy in the past should not in any way mitigate the reality that many warnings are still there.
Q : How do you balance the need for seeking counsel with the need as a leader to take action – avoiding analysis paralysis ?
A: Great question. I myself tend to over analyize. However, Prov 19:2 says ” its not good for a man to be without knowledge and he who makes haste errs with his feet”. Thus, certainly we should gather facts first. Then if the answers aren’t clear from the facts or if the implications on others are large, seeking counsel will serve you well. Don’t operate in isolation.
Q: What impact has current times had on family and marriage? How has it impacted communication with your wife?
A : Might be better coming from my wife. She summarized it by saying : ‘We are communicating more and depending on each other more. In the process, she has participated in some of the meetings with people I began to counsel with to help ensure she had the benefit of their comments. She also has a greater and detail understanding of our family financial information, that she didn’t have before. In the process , we have also given my kids (ages 21-28) the clear story of where I am and things that we should have done differently. It has resulted in some great mentoring opportunities. So I think it has been very healthy for our family relationships ‘.
Q : We just experienced the great train robbery of all time by Wall Street, how can one invest with integrity in this market?
A : Lots of issues in the market place, in businesses and among individuals, not just Wall Street. I think the starting place is for us to each lead ourselves well in every area of our life, including in our own financial stewardship and accountablility thru community. As to investing in the future, I think the same biblical prinicples apply. Look for integrity and accountability, look at leverage levels, avoid “gaining inheiritance too quickly” by taking on too much risk , etc
Q : What would you tell a person out of work who can’t get a job to pay the bills, would you suggest going to get a higher education degree?
A : I would suggest counseling with some folks regarding your skill sets and the outlook in the job market. Also , they need to help you assess how you would pay your bills and get thru the higher education program . If you have a undergraduate degree already and you already have some job experience, my personal opinion is that higher education is primarily helpful for a career change. My experience is that employers prefer experience over higher education.
Q : Bad things happen, but sometimes our decisions cause bad things to happen to us. Looking back over the past 24-36 months, which if any, core values did you compromise that have led to your current situation or made it worse?
A: The fact that we did not heed the cautions in scripture regarding debt in structuring our business and the fact that I did not “listen” to the wise counsel of others (Prov 12:15) made my situation worse. There is a difference in hearing and ‘listening’!
Q : What advise would you have for dealing with business colleagues that find their significance in financial security and as a result feel insecure and preoccupied with media coverage of the market?
A : Certainly a great time to model where we find our hope and security. Everyone found out its not in our ‘genius’ or balance sheets ! Sharing my own ‘lessens learned’ and the truth of the biblical concepts regarding debt, anxiety, security in money have all given me opportunities to open up faith discussions with friends and business associates.
Q : There’s a lot of talk about “credit” crunch. Why not call it a debt problem? Is it possible that we are rationalizing debt for business?
A : Clearly that is the issue for many involved. From the homebuyer and credit card user to the apartment developer to the major corporations. We all rationalized debt levels that could not be sustained in a downturn. I suspect the market will reset at lower levels for some time. Prov 27 :1 talks about presuming for tomorrow and not knowing what another day will bring.
Q : Does the “hunker down” mode tend to make you pessimistic and apt to miss opportunities. Furthermore, do you foster anxiety?
A: I certainly hunkered down and was anxious early in the process . That tended to lead to isolation, which is not a good thing (Prov 18:1). ” he who isolates himself quarrels with sound wisdom”… and lots of talking to yourself ! If you are living the journey with others and they are sharing the burden , the load will be lighter and there is freedom in knowing others are sharing the responsibility for decisions. Like Moses in Exodus 17 with Aaron and Hur on the mountain, if others are coming around you and “holding your arms up”, you will win the battle. As to missing opportunities, that’s where good business plans and the counsel of others can supplement your ‘processing’ capacity and help you be more objective in a cloudy time.
Q : How has your community group helped you process and lead through this environment?
A : Community, both thru my immediate community group and then the other wise “counselors” been very critical in the area of prayer, support and encouragement and counsel.
Q: How do you balance exerting yourself and trusting God? / How do you balance relying on God and Him being in control, with also being a man or woman of action?
A: I think God gives us skills that he expects us to use in applications where we are following His principles. Thus , exerting yourself in that backdrop is what He wants us to do and we can rest on the outcome. I think its when we are ‘exerting self’ , to the exclusion of or in dirct contradiction to God’s word, that we have to worry about the outcome.( Phil 2:3-4 ; Ps 127)
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