I am constantly amazed at how many people (despite even a rigorous task) simply keep following the lead of others and do it the way it’s always been done instead of figuring out a better way. I saw a video analogous to this bizarre situation where the herd was following the leader when suddenly one smart fellow didn’t want the exertion and actually thought about it. After carefully analyzing the situation he discovered a new and improved way. Of course, the “herd” was quick to immediately follow its new leader. Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO5XYp–joI
I recently wrote about this phenomenon in our wildly popular newly released book,
Crazy Like Foxes, which can be purchased at Crazylikefoxes.com. One incident that is permanently burned into my memory that is analogous to this situation is back when I worked as a consultant for a large manufacturing firm. I was trying to find ways to increase production for an injection molding operation. A worker was assigned to
trim the flashing off parts after they were removed from the mold. The worker would shave the flashing off a part onto a metal table. After several pieces, had been cleaned, he would rake the trimmings into a cardboard box and walk about ten yards to a trash can and empty the box.
After watching this tedious process for a couple of minutes I walked over and moved the garbage can beside him and took away the box. I showed him how to clean the trimmings in such a manner that they would fall directly into the garbage can without walking anywhere, or using a box, or raking them with his arm. He was a little red-faced but deeply appreciative as he mumbled he was just doing it the way they had always done it.
At another consulting job, I was assigned to find ways to eliminate waste and increase efficiency in an office setting. I observed a lady who produced a complex report that required nearly a week of hard work to complete. Whew! It was a doozy of a report
I tell you.
I asked her what she did with the report when she finished compiling it. She took me over to a large filing cabinet and was literally beaming as she showed off her very neat, highly organized and immaculate filing system that she had systemized to neatly file every report she had produced.
“Very nice” I complimented her. “Who reads the report?”
She furrowed her brow and with a puzzled look on her face said, “Well to tell the truth I really don’t know. I was taught how to do the report when I was first hired and have been doing it ever since”. I looked in the cabinet and it appeared that there were several years of reports stored in it. I asked how long have you worked here? A little over five years. I asked her manager who within their company utilized the report and, you guessed it, no one even read it or was even aware of it.
Ugh!
God designed us to think. That is a major reason He designed our brains so intricately. If we combine careful thought with prayer and faith the world belongs to us.
I read the following excerpt by Norman Vincent Peale and it resonated so much with me I felt I needed to share it this morning:
Pray Big, Think Big, Believe Big!
Seeking divine help in your life? Try this!
“Whenever I think of desperation – and determinism – I think of the two blind men Jesus met in Matthew, chapter 9. Once they spotted Him walking along the road, they began following Him and shouting, “Son of David, have pity on us!” (verse 27). Even after Jesus had reached His destination and gone inside, they persisted.
Finally, Jesus turned to them and asked, “Do you believe I can make you well?” It was a critical moment. Their answer could change everything. Without hesitation the two men responded, “Yes, Lord. Yes! (verse 28). And with the touch of a holy finger, their world swirled into focus. Because of your faith,” Jesus told the blind men, “you will be healed” (verse 29).
Pray big. Think big. Believe big. Your life is going to be in proportion to how greatly you believe. Believe little, you get a little life. Believe weak, you get a weak life. Believe fear, you get a life of fear. Believe sickness, you get a sick life. But believe big, and you get a big life!”
Spend some time thinking big today utilizing that wonderful brain that God designed for you. If your life isn’t turning out the way you had hoped, then analyze what is going wrong and change something. Remember Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity:
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Pray big. Think big. Believe big
Jer. 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you
do not know.’
January 10 2017 – Click here to listen