Karl Edwards presents Working Matters

Author: Karl Edwards

  • Thought Leaders Unpacked -> Clutch #10: How to be Clutch with Your Money

    thought-leadersOuch.

    When it comes to straight-talking about money issues, the initial feeling is usually, “Ouch”.

    Downsizing one’s plans, shifting into a lower gear, or turning around and going back all feel nasty when money is on the line.

    When the money is coming in, there seems little need to evaluate one’s decisions. The inflow of cash is almost universally interpreted as validation.

    But what if you could have been making more? What if you could have been making the same amount, but having done so in such a way that built a sounder financial foundation and infrastructure?

    We usually don’t give a very thoughtful look at our finances until we run into trouble.

    It might be too late to respond well by the time the stitching is coming unraveled or the ship has sprung a leak.

    Hence the significance of being “clutch” with one’s money. In this chapter, Sullivan explores stories where people were and were not able to make crucial (more…)

  • Loving Monday: The Bigger Truth About You

    loving_mondayIt’s true, your boss should have noticed your initiative and responded with a promotion or a raise. It’s true.

    It’s true, your client should have noticed that your project came in on time and under budget and paid you promptly and given you promising referrals as well. It’s true.

    It’s true that your co-workers should have noticed how you help out and responded by returning the favor. It’s true that your spouse should have noticed your hard work and responded with more affirmation and confidence.

    It’s true.

    While it is true that others often get it wrong about you, it is not true that they need to get it right about you before you can move forward, find your way, or achieve success.

    The bigger truth about you is that you have to step to the plate again even if you aren’t being noticed, appreciated, rewarded or supported.

    The bigger truth about you is that no one can either be you or fully grasp what having you on the team means.

    Therefore, if in your discouragement you pull out of the team, withdraw from the game, or withhold what you have to contribute while everyone will miss out, only (more…)

  • Quote to Consider: Source of Friends

    quote-to-consider“How casually and unobservedly we make all our most valued acquaintances.”

    Ralph Waldo Emerson

  • Karl Shares Six Words… #23


    Which boss will I fail today?


    Karl Edwards

  • Listen In -> Bridging the Work-Faith Divide #3: Character Formation and Lifelong Learning

    We have in the past discussed what we have called, “The Hard Facts of Working with People”.

    One of the “hard facts” is that people are learning, developing, maturing beings. You and I grow and change over time. It’s a fact.

    Bridging the Work-Faith DivideThis fact has important implications to the workplace, team-building, motivation, empowerment, and accountability.

    This fact bears directly on career development, setting goals, and professional development.

    In this week’s show, Claudia and I discuss how to show up at work both fully authentic to who you are, and grow into who you need to become to fulfill your job responsibilities.

    As persons of faith, we do not need to compartmentalize our faith at work into issues of superficial behavioral morality. Don’t steal pencils. Work hard. Don’t tell lies.

    At a deeper, more fundamental level God-designed people need to contribute and make a difference; learn and develop; and connect and belong.

    Incorporate these three opportunities into your workplace culture and watch your team come alive on the job!

    Listen in.

    Just now joining the conversation? Catch up on the entire series here.
    Interested in how we can resource your church or organization? Get more information here.

  • Loving Monday: Overwhelmed Meet Obsessed

    loving_mondayThis morning I’d like to introduce Overwhelmed to Obsessed.

    You know who you are.

    Overwhelmed, you come back to work on Monday and are dizzy before you have even started. All the tasks and messages, piles and people are a fuzzy blur, and you have a difficult time choosing where to begin.

    Obsessed, you come back to work with only one thing on your mind. That one project that has captured your imagination and consumed your attention. You don’t even see the tasks and messages, piles and people waiting for you.

    Overwhelmed meet Obsessed.

    I want to introduce you because I believe you have something to learn from each other.

    Instead of merely being annoyed by the weaknesses and pitfalls the other brings to the table, what if we could pick up a tip or two from their strengths?!

    Overwhelmed, notice the determined focus Obsessed brings to their efforts.

    Obsessed, notice the alert awareness that Overwhelmed brings to the process.

    You need both sets of skills… an alert awareness of the dynamics and issues unfolding and changing around you at all times, AND a determined focus to make real progress toward real results on real projects.

    We tend to major in one style or perspective more than the other. Some of us are more sensitive to the dynamics around us, while others of us are more sensitive to the task at hand.

    Why not take advantage of the differences with which we approach work? Instead of surrounding ourselves with people like us in temperament and style, why not befriend someone with a different approach?

    Not only will you benefit from the strengths the other brings to the working relationship, you will be well-positioned to see and experiment with those approaches as part of expanding your own repertoire of work skills.

    Overwhelmed meet Obsessed.

    On your side,

    – Karl Edwards

    Loving Monday is a weekly column designed to encourage us to step into our weeks with an intention to show up authentically, engage fully, and choose to make it a good week for ourselves. Explore past columns here.

  • Quote to Consider: Renown for Modesty?

    quote-to-consider“A modest man is usually admired – if people ever hear of him.”

    Edgar Watson Howe

  • Let’s Have a Failure Party!

    Have you celebrated your latest failure yet?

    Yes, you heard me correctly. Have you celebrated your latest failure yet?

    We celebrate failure because failure is a potent form of learning. Those of you who have worked with me know how we go about reframing our negative failure experiences into positive learning events.

    This week’s Economist has an interesting article on the value of failing early and often. (You can read it here: “Fail Often, Fail Well”)

    They point out not only that failure is a good teacher, but also a sign of creativity and the ability to adjust and persevere.

    There are even companies that throw “failure parties”!

    What about you? Does failure knock you out of the game or provide valuable information about how to move forward differently?

    In the one case failure feels like an enemy, from another perspective failure can be quite the friend.

    Check out the article. Then throw yourself a failure party!

    On your side,

    – Karl Edwards

  • Karl Shares Six Words… #22


    Substituting musical chairs for dismissal… again.


    Karl Edwards

  • Listen In -> Bridging the Work-Faith Divide #2: All Work as a Legitimate Calling

    I don’t know about you, but I am tired of being warned at church about the dangers my work poses to my faith.

    Sure some dangers exist, (e.g. greed, exploitation, workaholism, and various obsessions with power, status and money), but the focus on these dangers to the exclusion of the gifts and opportunities that my work holds for me is the greater danger by an exponential magnitude.

    Bridging the Work-Faith Divide

    In this week’s podcast discussion, Claudia and I focus on these gifts and opportunities: to make a difference, to apply yourself meaningfully, to mature in your skills and capacities, to belong to a working community, etc.

    The biblical concept that describes finding work that fits you beautifully is “calling.”

    I define “calling” as the intersection of God’s values, our personal make-up, and our life context.

    Sadly, the word has been so closely associated with going into the clergy or taking up cross-cultural missionary work that those of us in secular professions often feel our work is less blessed by God or less relevant to his kingdom.

    Nothing could be further from the truth.

    Whether it’s your profession, your field, your role or your daily responsibilities, nothing is more life-enhancing or worth waking up for in the morning than when you find a good fit.

    Have you been looking down on your profession because it isn’t an explicit form of religious ministry? Do you feel guilty for being as deeply invested in your work as you are?

    Listen in.

    Just now joining the conversation? Catch up on the entire series here.
    Interested in how we can resource your church or organization? Get more information here.