Growing Our Relationships

Dear Readers,

However well-defined, each of us has certain convictions for growing our relationships with others. For me, there is a particular principle that, with age, gains increasing value as experience shows that it’s one of the best tools for growing my relationships with family, friends and others.

This principle is not always the most popular or easiest to follow. In fact, it’s founded in my Christian faith, and it holds me increasingly accountable for my thoughts and actions, which can often lack consideration for others— even for those I appreciate most. Can you believe that?

As laborers who are challenged daily to build the good name of decorative concrete, the principles we choose for building our relationships in business and in our personal lives are critically important. No, this is not an indiscriminate attempt to convert you to my way of thinking. You’re already good thinkers! If you weren’t, there wouldn’t be so many great articles and pictures in this magazine. That said, please read on…

During communion at church one Sunday, John, our pastor, shared a rather insightful perspective on life, one that I know you will relate to and likely appreciate as I do.

In this trade, as with many other professions, we labor morning, noon and even some nights to accomplish the jobs we have been commissioned to perform. However, for a moment, let’s take money out of the picture. Challenge yourself (I know it’s difficult) to look strictly at a job without any motivation for earning money. So, there you are, exhausting yourself physically and stressing over a project. You labor for countless hours, even weeks or months, and finally the project is complete. Your customer now delights in the work you’ve done, but in a matter of minutes you’ve packed up your tools and are walking off the job, maybe looking over your shoulder to notice a homeowner delighting in his new possession.

Getting back to that Sunday morning; I was reminded of a Carpenter’s life of labor, his trials and tribulations, and ultimately, His life’s sacrifice. Certainly, there were some struggles I could relate to; however, one glaring distinction remained. His handiwork had no strings attached, not even a required payment for services rendered. No, His life of labor was performed free of charge, with undeniable pride, and totally out of love and appreciation for us.

If you’re still with me, and you’ve been able to separate your work each day from your motivation to gain compensation, then I think you’ll understand what I’m going to suggest. In light of the example that this unconventional Carpenter affords us, placing the interests of others ahead of our own is a principle that I believe you’ll find invaluable for growing relationships that last a lifetime.

Remember, it’s not an easy one to apply, personally or professionally. However, disciplining yourself is the most important first step in getting your team to act in a consistent manner. People who notice this principle in action will undeniably be attracted to you.
Sincerely,