“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

- Jesus of Nazareth, Matthew 9:37 

The economy seems to take two steps forward and three steps backward, doesn’t it?  It just can’t seem to get any traction.  What’s it going to take to get it going again - more stimuli from the government, bankers loosening their purse strings, improvements in real estate and the stock market? 

Several weeks ago we went into a large well-known department store to purchase a wedding gift for a family friend.  As we entered the gift department we noticed three sales clerks sitting together at a desk chatting.  Obviously business was very slow.  Since we had already decided on a gift to buy we asked where we might find that particular item, to which one responded by pointing - without getting up - “Over there,” she said as she continued to chat with her co-workers.  Hmm, I wondered, how many times have I been guilty in my own way of the same type response?  How often have I waited for the phone to ring, a client to walk in, or someone else to stimulate my business? 

That incident caused me to spend some time examining my business, and in the process it occurred to me that I happen to reside in one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in North America where, in spite of the sluggish economy, the prospects are enormous.  Yet the truth is there are not enough trained, experienced coaches who do what I do to serve all the needs - just in this one marketplace.  “The harvest is plentiful,” in other words, “but the workers are few.” 

 ”You can get everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want,” according to Zig Ziglar in one of his many inspiring quotes.  Zig’s right.  When more of us who are able begin to help other people get what they want and need the economy will get traction and get going again.  That’s the real answer.  Then we’ll see that Jesus’ words are not only true about the Gospel but apply to business and the economy as well:  “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

They became partners in their early twenties starting off with nothing as many do, only a gleam and a dream.  Had it not been for the support of their families who believed in their dream they might not have survived that first year or so.  But they had a mission and were determined to succeed, with a vision and strategy for getting there.  It was risky, but their passion was stronger than their fear and their determination more powerful than the mistakes they would make.  There would be setbacks - cash flow problems, emergencies, disappointments, and heartbreaks.  But they would persevere, and over the years would prosper and expand, and become greatly admired for their success by all who know them.  They would bring others into their fold who they would nurture, teach and mentor, developing a succession plan so that their mission would live on for generations to come. 

This is not the story of a successful business enterprise that grew out of an entrepreneurial venture as you might think, but the story of a successful marriage that grew out of two people’s love for each other.  It is the story of my brother Richard and his lovely wife Janice who celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary this past weekend.  Marrying young, in their early twenties, they started off with nothing, only a gleam in their eyes for each other and a dream about a life they would build together.  They had a mission and were determined to succeed, with a vision and strategy for getting there.  Difficult at times, they experienced their share of setbacks - financial strains, illnesses, emergencies, and heartbreaks.  Yet their family has grown, having raised two fine sons who have blessed them with five beautiful grandchildren, all of whom they have nurtured, taught and mentored, instilling in them the right values and character that will live on for generations to come. 

I share this story for all those who dream of starting their own business, for there is no better model for an entrepreneurial venture than a successful marriage, as so beautifully demonstrated by my brother and his bride.  And I also share this story for all those starry-eyed lovers starting out in life together, for marriage is the best example there is of an entrepreneurial venture, and it is the most exciting one you’ll ever experience.

In my experience as an executive coach it is rare to have a client who during the course of our engagement does not seek help at some level or in some instance in the art of human interaction.  And I’m always impressed when this occurs, for it is an insightful recognition that no matter what position that person holds, how powerful, skilled, intelligent, innovative, or gifted, the ability to relate to others is pivotal in his or her personal and professional effectiveness. 

I’m reminded of an incident several years ago that stirred up an intense debate between my boss and me about a certain colleague who though extremely skilled at what he did, had some severe interpersonal deficiencies.  I argued that in the long run his inability to interact favorably with other people would one day be to his detriment.  But my boss strongly defended the guy, arguing that as long as he produced such profitable results it would outweigh his inability to get along with people.  Neither of us ever won the debate though, for soon after we had engaged in that heated conversation the man left our firm and took a position elsewhere. 

Human interaction is an art whether we think of it that way or not.  It is a creative activity, creative meaning that by definition it evolves from our own thoughts and imagination.  And true artists are much more than just conveyors of their thoughts - through painting, sculpting, music, writing and so forth - but are equally concerned with how the audience will receive and perceive their works.  That’s why those who are masters at human interaction are artists, by creatively conveying their thoughts in such a way that considers how others will receive and perceive them. 

Who knows who would have won the argument about my former colleague, perhaps my boss was right on that one.  But I also know that the most successful people I run across consider their ability to relate to be pivotal in their personal and professional effectiveness - and that means seriously developing and practicing the “art” of human interaction.

It’s all a numbers game, isn’t it?  Or that’s the way it seems these days.  Think about the last time you saw your doctor.  If yours is like most physicians he or she probably presented you with a bunch of numbers - cholesterol, glucose, triglycerides, PSA, granulocyte (whatever that is) - all of which are supposed to tell you whether you are healthy or not.  Really!  Now don’t get me wrong, all those numbers are important, for they may be indicators or warning signs of issues affecting your health.  But numbers in and of themselves are not necessarily proof of the state of our health any more than fingerprints at a crime scene are proof someone is guilty of a crime, they are only evidence.  The ultimate determination of our health is how we feel, act, look, how well everything is functioning and how much energy we have.  And that cannot be measured with numbers; it is only an experience we can somehow attempt to describe. 

It still feels like everything is a numbers game, though, doesn’t it?  In business it’s all about sales and profit numbers; in education it’s all about test scores; in sports it’s all about scoring the most points.  And even when there is no logical criteria for measuring we think something up such as “how would you rate her beauty or his looks on a scale of one to ten?”   Really!  Since when can beauty and good looks be measured in numbers?  It can’t; it is only an observation or experience we can somehow attempt to describe. 

Life, health, beauty, family, love, joy, relationships, goodness, mercy and forgiveness - the most important things in life cannot be measured in numbers.  Health is health not just a cholesterol reading; business is providing products and services to other human beings not just sales and profit numbers; education is about learning and the ability to think, not just test scores; and sports is about striving for excellence on the field of competition, not just scoring the most points.  Above all these are life experiences that can never be adequately measured in numbers, that at best we can only attempt to describe. 

Is it all really just a numbers game?  I don’t think so because the most important things in life are beyond anything numbers can ever measure.

“I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. . . .I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”  Ecclesiastes 1:13-14 

We had gone back as we sometimes do to pay our respects at the old family cemetery plot where our parents, grandparents, and other relatives and ancestors have been laid to rest over the years.  It was just my brother Richard and me that particular day.   We were mostly chatting about pleasant memories as we roamed among the various grave markers when Richard suddenly stopped, looked around and made a remark I’ll never forget.   Some in our family, he observed pointing to certain names, have simply vanished as if they had never existed leaving no meaningful legacy of any kind, while others, pointing toward other names, have left indelible footprints that continue to influence our lives as well as the generations beyond our own.  Why the difference?   Those who had simply vanished, we concluded, had spent their lives chasing after the wind, absorbed in themselves and their own worldly desires.  Those who had left the indelible footprints, on the other hand, had a mission and purpose beyond themselves.  That was the difference. 

King Solomon, purportedly the wisest man who ever lived and notably the richest and most powerful person of his day, reported the same conclusion some three thousand years ago in a profound essay known as the Book of Ecclesiastes.  But Solomon didn’t learn this by simply observing others; rather it was the result of his own self-reflection, for he was a man of tremendous knowledge, unheard of achievements, and enormous wealth.   We would say “he had it all”, for he had tried, tested, and tasted almost everything the world had to offer.  Yet, in spite of his great accomplishments and worldly experiences “all of them are meaningless,” he concluded, “a chasing after the wind” - that is, unless we make the right choice, as he points out toward the end of his essay.  Are we in it for ourselves, or are we here on assignment from God?  One is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.  But the other leaves an indelible footprint influencing generations to come. 

My brother’s observation that day has haunted me ever since with one challenging question, “What choice will I make today?” . . . . . What choice will you make?