Wow it is busy!
No new blog last week as I was more focused on inspections and continuing to review and improve our template in Spectora. This weekend I took the opportunity to work on our template in a cabin in Tennessee. Turns out I chose the perfect place – there was no cell service or internet. Did I say it was perfect? On this Sunday evening after a little retreat my mind is overflowing with topics to share and thoughts to discuss.
A couple of those topics revolve around politics and religion. Dare I break all the rules and discuss politics and religion in business? I think I will – if nothing else I am transparent and honest. And not all my posts are always about home inspections – after all, it is people we serve not the homes.
On Monday of this week I did an interview for an industry podcast. Spectora wanted to know how we had grown so rapidly and consistently. Why we switched to Spectora and my thoughts around how we do business – my approach if you will.
Several times during the podcast I mentioned being blessed and at the end Kevin asked me about some of my favorite books. I have a thirst for knowledge and love to read. In the end though my favorite book is the Bible. It is plan for our lives and how we should lead our life to be Christ Like and treat others. Let me assure you that I fail quite often, so much so that I have become pretty good getting up and dusting off the dirt. This is one of those cases, as I apologized for saying the Bible was my favorite book. I have also noticed as I begin dating again sometimes, I am guilty of withholding or downplaying my faith. It is clear to me that God is working on me in this respect to make me stronger and more sensitive to this need in my spiritual growth.
A couple days later a staff member approached me about not doing inspections on the afternoon of November 3rd, election day. After hearing their concern about lines and accessibility, I agreed it was important to support this request in order that each employee might have their voice heard. Frankly, I do not care who they vote for, how they vote, when they vote – only that they vote. Many brave men and women have died for our independence and the peaceful transfer of power remains a stalwart of our country’s belief and freedoms enjoyed by us all. So, we will be closed on the afternoon of Election Day in observance of our God given right that all men are equal and all men and women have the right to cast their vote for the person of their choice.
I am also reminded that part of this concern is driven by the fact that our country is in unprecedented times. Division is at an all time high, turmoil and uncertainty amongst voters is creating an uncomfortable anxiety for some. Our social experiment has performed quite well to date. To watch the election ads, hear public conversations, and listen to some candidate’s propaganda you would think we are failing miserably. Let me assure each one of you that is not the case. I have this certainty because of my faith.
Romans 13:1-2 (NIV) Everyone must submit himself to the governing authority, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against that which God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves.
Now let us be clear this judgement is God’s – not man’s. As we approach election day my faith tells me that whatever happens is the will of God – and as an American and Christian my role is to support the person elected by my peers. I will do just that without hesitation or fear.
The verse also has a personal meaning. Whether we are a leader in our home, business, community, or family we have specific qualities and responsibilities entrusted to us to lead. In business, we generally call it ethics, values, or integrity. But it is those things important to us that we are trusted to live out before our children, peers, followers, clients, and friends.
Our goal however is to be different. To be honest. To be fair. To do a good job that pleases our Creator. To do a good job that pleases our Client. And along the way, be seen as people who care about our client, our families, our company, those who refer us, and hopefully along the way we are able to create positive impacts on the lives and communities we touch.
Life is about more than real estate and home inspections. My desire is to be someone that is remembered for kindness, honesty, and unwavering integrity. Whether you think I am a good inspector or not is not my life’s goal. I try, and we all try, to do the absolute best job we can on each home. But my goal is to one day hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant…”
Dave