Voices Need to be Heard

A quick lesson on problem solving-

In business, we are constantly faced with issues that demand our attention and resources. There could be customer complaints that require a drop everything sense of urgency if you truly are customer focused. Internal issues creep up every day and can't be ignored. If you do ignore them, they will grossly infect your organization with waste, sloth, and apathy.

These issues can only be solved by seizing, extracting, and removing the problem's root. The "root cause" of the problem is driving the effect. The latter is the pain you feel and sense. It is the fire that needs to be doused so you can move to more productive work such as employee development and customer service.

Too many times we only address the symptom of a problem and don't dig deep enough to find the root. A simple example: If you wake up tomorrow feeling very sick, you may go to the doctor. Let's say your stomach hurts bad enough for you to miss work. The pain you feel is the symptom. The doctor surely needs to know the symptom but must address the cause of the pain to make you well. Watch any episode of House and you know what I mean.

Right now, our country has multiple opportunities for improvement. There is a widespread sense that we need solutions and we need them post haste. The government is throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at the economy to jump start it back to vitality.

But are we addressing the symptom or the root? I would argue the former. I don't disagree that something must be done. I'm not smart enough to understand the intricacies of our economy but do feel that many of our systems (banking, etc.) are broken and must be fixed. So, some level of involvement is needed.

But ask yourself this-How did we arrive at this mess? I submit that we did so by straying from the principles on which this country was founded. Words like greed and corruption come to mind as I list the issues we have heard and read about over the last six months.

The root lies within our hearts and minds. Our standards for living have altered. This country was founded on God's standards. We seemed to have strayed from how God instructs us to live. We need voices to speak up and say what needs to be said. I don't care if it is the President, a Major League Baseball player, or a Minister, now more than ever, this country needs to run from unethical and amoral practices and get back to life's basics-that is living according to what God says in the Bible.

To me this is not debatable along the political spectrum. Read the story of Joshua as he prepared to lead the people into the promised land. They lived in the wilderness (where we seem to be right now) for decades and were poised to cross the Jordan River into the promised land. God had just transferred leadership from Moses to Joshua and gives Joshua a small "pep talk". He speaks several pieces of advice as the people stared across at the unknown land promised to them many years ago.
To Joshua, He says:
1. I will not leave you or forsake you.
2. Be strong and of good courage
3. Observe to do according to all the law which Moses commanded you-do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
4. Do not be afraid nor dismayed.

In my lifetime, this is as close to wilderness as our country has come. The government can't enable us to cross over because the root lies within our relationship (or lack thereof) with God.

Hope this gives you much to think about. Please share this with friends and colleagues.