Breaking the Mold Before it Breaks You - 7 Keys for Innovative Christians - #4 Value

Main post of the Week # 2 (Week of April 20-26th)

4. The Key of VALUE

This key is not to be confused with your inherent value as a person, your intrinsic worth. Quite apart from any of your efforts, you are valuable to God and He loves you. (We are not talking about that kind of value here.)

The Key of Value, on the other hand, is a master key that contributes to your success in virtually any environment. This key is so powerful that when it’s understood and employed it will have a transformational impact on your life and work.

It unlocks doors and opportunities all around you and is vital to prosperity.

Creating Value

The Key of Value is about creating value and becoming more valuable. Let me first explain what I mean about becoming more valuable: God is a rewarder of diligence. God is a rewarder of productivity.

God is the rewarder of people who both intend, and consciously work toward, creating exceptional value in whatever situation they find themselves in.

Okay, how do we do that?

How do you become more valuable?

By (1) finding multiple ways to see what really needs to be done and doing it consistently - with or without having to be told - by (2) continually honing your talents so that you consistently add value every year and are not easily replaced; (3) by never settling for what is less than excellent even when nobody is looking.

Please listen…This is a primary way that prosperity comes. Maximize your strengths. Manage your weaknesses. Your combination of talents will become increasingly rare. The more rare something is, the higher price it commands. Think about precious gems.

Whether you are a person making basic wages between 20K-99K per year, or if you already make more, if you would believe it is your calling to advance in the marketplace financially and in influence, please reread the last section after you finish the first time through.

Who Keeps Their Job?

Let me ask you a question. If you are an employee: do you think when times get tough and your employer needs to let a few people go that they will choose to fire those who have become more and more valuable to the organization every year? Probably not. When time for promotion comes, will they promote ones who have been doing about the same ordinary work every year? I also think not.

Sure, we are in a time of economic difficulty; but I can tell you first hand that I am working with clients and projects that are excelling anyway.

Many Americans Have An Entitlement Mentality… Please Don’t Be One of Them

Most Americans do not have a value mindset, they have what I call an entitlement mentality. Christians unfortunately are often at the top of this list. We hear about how God loves us and is for us and respond by expecting we are entitled to float through life on easy street.

We expect that we can cut corners because God is on our side, expect discounts from other Christians for valuable services simply because we are a Christian, “preach” with our words on company time when requested not to, calling that ‘spiritual’ and expect raises for the same or lesser job than we did last year. Nonsense.

Many things God does in our lives come in seed form and we need to plant and water them with faithfulness over extended periods of time. Otherwise he has nothing to increase.

One of the things that is so incredible about the Key of Value is that it doesn’t matter your current position, education or personality type, this key will work for YOU. It has worked many times for me. Put it in the lock and give it a turn.