A number of years ago, probably

more than a decade now, I wrote a column about people who have a mind

to work. I almost looked up that column last night after I watched the

Enron movie on CBS, but it was late, and I didn't want to further disturb

the sleep I was looking forward to at the end of a long and busy weekend.

I was already disturbed, to

say the least, by the film. I have been disturbed over the past couple

of years, in fact, by the goings on inside the big and little Enrons of

America. It is not easy to watch what has happened (is continuing to happen?)

to big business in our land. Or is it little business as well?

I fear I do not like to use

the term "I fear" but it is appropriate here I fear that America

has forgotten what it's all about. Now, mind you, America means you and

me. So don't go throwing stones as you read this. You will want to, but

we need to clean up our own minds and souls before we go casting blame

on somebody else.

First off, I am convinced that

most of us have forgotten who pays our salaries. Oh, we may know who signs

the check and who considers himself CEO, CFO, COO or Chairman of the Board.

And we may know who ultimately decides just how much money we are paid.

But those people are insignificant

really. In the end, and the beginning, they have little or nothing to

do with who you and I work for. We forget that person/s, don't we? We

are so wrapped up in self, and what we are worth, and what we deserve,

that we forget who really buys our bread AND butters it.

We even fantasize from time

to time about lottery winnings or some other easy way to come by money.

It's almost always all about us, isn't it?

The truth is very few of us

and I do mean VERY FEW are going to get something for nothing in this

world. Yes, there are a handful of lottery winners each week. And there

are more than a handful of well dressed business men and women who think

they are putting something over on the little men and women who they think

work for them, or for the companies they run. But there is more truth

that needs to be considered there.

I'm a firm believer that things

done or said in secret eventually come out into the open. That which we

make happen behind close doors always unfolds itself beyond those doors.

No darkness lasts forever, light wins in the end. Revealing light.

I have no doubt that there

are sharp business men and women at, or near, the top of many a business

or industry who thinks he or she can slip in and do their thing to make

the company look good, then skim their take off the top, and be gone long

before that ever revealing light exposes the questionable shenanigans

for which they are responsible. Yep, just like in the Enron movie, book,

and real life!

Businessmen are guilty. As

are politicians. As are you and I. We are all guilty every time we forget

who we are working for. Every time we fail to do our best, to work hard,

to earn every dollar we pocket.

And who are we working for?

That's easy. That would be the man or woman who buys our product or service.

It is just that simple. The day we forget that one fact we all get caught

up in the merry go round that keeps companies like Enron growing and evolving

and cheating the consumer for a time.

Worse than that we are cheating

ourselves. Anytime we give less than our best, we lose.

To succeed in life, really

succeed, we must be willing to serve and know who we serve. If it's not

God first and then our fellowman, we are in trouble from the get go. If

it's the almighty dollar and all it will buy, we may not only be in trouble

in this present life, but in the life to come, as well.

Thank you so much for reading

my column each week. Any response you might want to send my way should

be addressed to [email protected]. May God bless you and yours in this

wonderful new year and help you to thankfully and prayerfully take advantage

of the awesome opportunities that will surely come your way.

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