A different world

As I was weaving through the airports yesterday I got a sense of how far removed I am from the business world. The magazine in the seat-back pocket had articles on how to rub shoulders with the big boys, best ways to get the most out of employees, etc. The lady next to me was reading a book on eight ways to improve your life and make your work a success. Three guys ahead were sharing anecdotes that conveyed to all who could hear them that they were big-business travelers.  I, meanwhile, was curled up in my seat, eating my way through a novel I’m hoping to assign for my class in the fall, feeling about as far from that world as possible.

This morning my mom and I attended a lecture by Ken Blanchard, who is a big leadership and business guru, known for his One-Minute Manager book and recent stuff on situational leadership theory. Are any of you familiar with him? I was intrigued because a) he got degrees at Cornell b) I’m curious to see what these business people really talk about c) he was giving a talk on business leadership and Christ.

He was quite interesting, and offered some really nice affirmations of disciplines that we can gain from Christ’s example: solitude, prayer, care for others, etc. But it made me a bit edgy that those things that I affirm and hear about in church were woven in with business techniques or ways in which following Christ’s example can make one a better [business] leader.  I’m pretty old-fashioned: I don’t want my sermon mixed in with trips to Starbucks at the back of the church.  I like hymns over rock songs in church.  And I am not completely comfortable with the implicit message that becoming a student of Jesus means you are also going to lead your business to success.  In one sense, I completely understand that.  Striving to reach out to others, put them before your own concerns, etc., you’re going to obviously be a much better person than if you don’t do these things.  But if we think success in business means you make money hand over fist, I have some real problems with that model.  I didn’t notice that Christ was all that “successful” in those terms.

Anyway, I had some majorly mixed feelings.  But it’s nice to know that there are some religious businessmen out there, hopefully ones who carry their church lessons into their workplace.

Erin