THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, FIRST CONGREGATIONAL, NORWICH, NY ~ PASTOR’S LETTER

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, FIRST CONGREGATIONAL, NORWICH, NY ~ PASTOR’S LETTER

Dear Friends in Christ,

Tom Peters is a consultant and a famous writer who specializes in the topic of business. I am sure many have heard about or read his most famous book: In Search of Excellence, first published in 1982.

Peters is still active and has a significant number of business clients. Given the recession (which seems to be easing up), last year he was asked by clients to publish a list of recession strategies. I recently came across that list.

If truth be told, these are not recession strategies. My suspicion is Peters recycled some old, sound strategies, because these are strategies to which one needs to pay attention all the time.

In any case, when I read them I realized most of them applied to what the membership of a church, the laity of a church, should be doing both in times of slump and in times of plenty. I have cut out those that clearly or only apply to business and edited them a little, but here they are: Strategies by Tom Peters.

***

Work harder. Adapt to untoward circumstances with a smile— even if it hurts. Volunteer to do more. Dig deep; always bring a good attitude. Fake it when attitude flags.

Give new meaning to the idea and the intensive practice of “visible management.” Take better than usual care of self and encourage other people to do the same— physical well-being determines mental well-being in response to stress to a significant degree.

Try to forget about the “good old days”— nostalgia is self-destructive. Buck up with the thought: “this too shall pass” — and then remember it might not pass anytime soon and so become rededicated to making the absolute best of what is happening now. Work the phones and then work the phones and then work the phones some more, i.e.: be in touch with absolutely everybody.

Frequently invent breaks from routine, including “strange” breaks— “change-ups” of one sort or another prevent wallowing in the old and to help bring a fresh perspective.

Sweat the details as never before.

Sweat the details as never before.

Sweat the details as never before.

Raise to the sky and maintain at all costs the Standards of Excellence by which what happens is unfailingly evaluated. Be maniacal when it comes to responding to even the slightest of problems.

Find ways to be around young people and to keep young people around— they are far less likely to be members of the “sky is falling” school. Be reminded that any difficult situation is not just something to be “gotten through;” it is the Final Exam of Character.

Network like a demon. Network inside and get to know more people. Network outside and get to know more people. Thank others by the truckload if good things happen and take the heat when stuff goes wrong.

Behave kindly but don’t sugar coat and don’t hide the truth— human beings are amazingly resilient and rumors are the real killers. Treat small successes as if they were Super Bowl victories— and celebrate and commend accordingly. Shrug off the losses (while ignoring what’s going on in one’s stomach) and get back to work. And immediately try again and then try again and then try again.

Avoid negative people to any extent able— pollution kills. Eventually read the gloom and doom set the “Riot Act.”

Give new meaning to the word “thoughtful.” Don’t put limits on the flowers budget— “bright and colorful” works marvels. Be mindful of manners, one’s personal behavior, while graciously accepting a lack of manners, less than admirable behavior, in others.

Be kind to all humankind. Leave the blame game at the door. Call out the congenital politicians in absolutely no uncertain terms. Become a paragon of personal accountability.

And then pray.

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And, no, I did not make up that last one. Tom Peters, business consultant, world famous author of business books in a list of sound business practices said: “And then pray.”

And, as a colleague of mine often says in his newsletter: “See you in church.”

In Faith,
Joe Connolly