I just ordered Matthew Kelly’s The Culture Solution. He also wrote one of my favorites called The Dream Manager. Talk about two books that go together! I’m building a residential cleaning service, and The Dream Manager is a fictional parable about a janitorial service, but it’s spot on with what I’m trying to do. I look forward to sharing the insights I gain from The Culture Solution. The Dream Manager without a doubt touches on workplace culture, but obviously Mr. Kelly goes into greater detail about that in his latest. I think it’s his latest. Correct me if I’m wrong.

When I think about all the jobs I had before starting Clean Houses my mind instantly goes to the bad mix of people in each company. The people weren’t bad in and of themselves, but when conflict happened toxicity was let lose, and it became every person for themselves. I’m sure you’ve been there and done that. You might be there right now. I’m sorry because it really stinks. When you spend 40 hours a week doing something you don’t like it’s usually because the people you do it with are toxic. It takes one to know one. I’m toxic. I know that. As a Christian I sin just like every other Christian. It boils down to the sinful nature, and when we give into temptation we make decisions that disappoint God and other human beings. When sin overshadows faith toxic relationships become the common denominator.

I don’t know if Mr. Kelly is a Christian, but there are Christlike principles in The Dream Manager. I suspect there will be Christlike principles in The Culture Solution. The two fictional executives in The Dream Manager come up with a solution for the company’s high turnover that is rooted in the Golden Rule. You don’t have to be a Christ follower to practice Matthew 7.12. Next to John 3.16 I’d imagine that verse is the most recognized of verses in all the Bible.

Tomorrow my family and I will be at church corporately worshipping the Father. Monday morning we will be in the marketplace and school striving to be Jesus to those we interact with. It’s a privilege to represent Christ, albeit imperfectly, but nonetheless faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. I believe that with all my heart. That’s why I don’t throw in the towel in any arena of life. I may crawl in different seasons, but there will be times to run. I’m walking right now, but when books like The Culture Solution come out I never assume God can’t speak through books like that. He can speak through anything and anyone.

I met Jordan Raynor this past fall at a business conference here in Nashville. He is the best-selling author of Called To Create, and in January you can buy Master Of One: Find and Focus on the Work You Were Created to Do. Both books are must reads for Christians in the marketplace. Actually they are books for any place. We compartmentalize so many things, and we forget that the Father is everywhere all the time. The cross happened over 2,000 years ago, but it’s redemptive work is still at play.

If you’re not a reader there are plenty of podcasts and television productions that inspire you the way these books inspire me. Search them out. I’m also a proponent for radio as is my wife. I have some skin in the game with Wayfm, but my wife like NPR. Dan Miller talks about the university you have in your car too. I have an old van, and it’s CD player is busted, but I can listen to podcasts on my phone as I’m driving down the road. You might have bluetooth capabilities in your car, so you can listen to a number of good things that will help you learn. The information age is amazing, and I dare say it’s on steroids. There’s no excuse not to become educated about the amazing things God has put literally at our finger tips.

Dan Miller talks and writes about transferable skills, so whether you are in business, education, the church or any other industry you can learn from any number of sources. I realize reading may bring back bad memories of school. Writing reminds me of the English teachers who gave me D’s and F’s, but I’ve used that as motivation to keep writing.

Eleanor Roosevelt was right, and I want to close with one of her more famous quotes.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.