Virtuous Character
I pose several questions here all pertaining to the one topic of 'Virtuous Character'. Isn't the opposite of virtuous, vice? Without quoting a verse from the Bible here, consider the width and depth of God's Words at it relates to virtuous businesses.
When you look at many industry businesses and look at our country, don't they kind of match up? We've been sucked up into a WIIFM world-view culture where God, community and others become irrelevant to the "me" wants and needs. Isn't it our responsibility as Christ-like examples of leaders to hire and retain people of character? I'll be clear here: hiring and retaining people of "good, moral, virtuous, honorable character." Unfortunately, when you look at the examples of 'virtuous character' people leading our country can we find any, if but a few, possessing "good, moral, virtuous, honorable character", standing up for and protecting our 1st Amendment rights? Does this not reflect why we must be steadfast in not hiring and retaining people we recognize with having 'vice character' traits?
Isn’t it irresponsible for business leaders and prominent industry trainers to make inaccurate accusations, and hiring and firing assumptions, about people that can’t and shouldn’t be hired or retained, such as those with
‘attitude’ issues, or ‘lacking confidence’, or ‘self-worth’?
Did you know that a study recently completed by the ‘California Task Force for Personal and Social Responsibility’ stated:
“80% of people are hurt by words. Research shows that only 20% of children and
adults are able to handle put downs without emotional pain and psychological
damage.” So, let’s summarize here. Are
we attempting to find those needles in haystacks, with only 20% of us wearing
bullet-proof vests protecting (or disguising) our hurt from within the quote:
“…but words will never hurt me?”
Ugh! Words hurt and this study is
alarmingly telling! Being of Christ-like
'virtuous character' can we coach people of 'virtuous character', yet low
self-esteem, to become the leader that is within each of us, helping them
become all they can be? Can one with
'virtuous character' coach a 'virtuous character' person who has a down
attitude (even a glass of life half-empty for whatever reason), and coach them
to convert their glass of life to half-full?
When you hire and retain people of ‘virtuous character’ doesn't God
always offer up miracles within these people to become better, even much better? When you hire and retain people of 'virtuous
character' aren't you hiring a true winner in the making, knowing that, like
all of us, they need love and positive coaching to bring out and lift up the
best of them. I don’t know about you,
but my Irish face reddens when I here prominent trainer’s state: “you can’t
train attitude.” Are they correct? I can surely tell you with absolute certainty: you CAN COACH attitude.”
Throughout history, people of
‘virtuous character’ are always the ones that make positive differences in
others lives and in the world. Can you name any of ‘vice character’ flaws
that ever made a positive difference in the world? Think about it! Wouldn't you accept everyone with ‘virtuous
character’ over any egotistical WIIFM world-view person any day? Isn't this a key understanding of why Jesus
chose humble Apostles (even a few iffy 'virtuous character' characters) that He
could show all of us how He coached up the virtue in them? Doing what we’ve always done, expecting
different results is insane, right?
Doesn't “80% of people hurt by words” in our U.S.A. tell you it is time
to stop this culture of death negativity and reverse course? Doesn't this 80/20 statistic raise your
eyebrows and wake you up? It needs
reversing. Can it start with me and you
making absolutely certain we are making a positive difference in every life we
encounter, in our every word, in our every deed; in the ‘virtuous character’
Christ-like example we set and build up in others? Can we hire and retain people of ‘virtuous
character’, "train to coach" them with all the love, dignity, respect
and professionalism they deserve (and more) and help develop the leader in each
of them? Do we know of businesses out
there practicing ‘virtuous character’ hiring and retaining? If we do, should we invite them to this
group? Would you agree that a 'virtuous
character' business doesn't hire and fire much, since people of 'virtuous character'
want to associate themselves with like people, and they succeed through even
the toughest of times? You see, ‘vice
character’ traits are always the negatives that divide and pull down, put down
and disrupt, blame and abuse, that causes the chaos circle to expand that
causes hiring and firing to never cease. Are we part of the problem or part of
the solution? What culture; the culture of death ('vice character'), or the
culture of life ('virtuous character') are we building in our business and in
the lives of people around us? Okay, one
verse: Mt: 19:23, Jesus said: "it is easier for a camel to pass through
the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of
God." His word "rich"
refers to all wealth (material and self-serving 'vice character' pride) that a WIIFM
world-view traps far too many. We are
left with the free-will God gave us to choose: do we hire and retain people of
'virtuous character', and never quit coaching them to become the best God made
them to be? If we build up
'virtuous character' businesses, aren't we building up the world, building His
Kingdom here and now? Who knows, if we build up 'virtuous character' businesses, we may just be building up a 'virtuous character' country, yes?
NOTE: I thank God I got to ask these questions openly to an awesome group of 'virtuous
character' Christians! May God bless you
abundantly! I look forward to your feedback.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mark Dubis on -
Tom, you certainly are singing to the choir with your comments. Many of us would love to see a change in the perspective, attitude and approach of people working in auto retailing.
Tell me this, how is your approach and message resonating with your dealer clients?
Please share some of your success stories with the group. Tell us what you and your dealers are doing to change the character of our industry? -
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Permalink Reply by Jim Leman on
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If we could all equal the character and qualities that Paul outlines for Elders and Deacons in I Timothy (I think chapter 4) we would all be well served, whether church officers or not (I am not). Aside from asking this of others, we must be sure as Christians that we ourselves live up to these expectations. The man who does will be honored and his wife and family strong, cherished and loved. Unless the Kingdom of God is at the core of our attitude, desires, being and walk, we can never fully experience God's blessings or joy. God bless
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Permalink Reply by Tom Wiegand on
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Sorry Mark for my delay in responding. I practice: "No One Left Behind" with my client businesses. This means, no matter where a focus may be, we include everyone in on what is happening and seek everyone's input, feedback and ideas. People sometimes rot from the rot imposed or disposed on them from peers or managers that need people skills development themselves. There is much good in bad people and much bad in good people. Whether we know it or not, our character is fine-lined in everything we are and do. If, becoming a better example of Christ, I am able to bring out the better of the good side and keep it showing and producing in many, if not all, then I'm using the gifts He gave me of His to use in what He has me doing in bringing out the virtuous character that truly resides in each of us. Everything that came and comes from Jesus is pure love. The opposite comes from the devil. It's whom we feed that feeds on us. I choose to not touch just one or a few, but all! It is working very well for Him! After all, HE is "The Synergy Coach"...think about it! Praise God!
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Permalink Reply by Mark Dubis on
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Tom, here is a common industry scenario:
• Say you have a dealership with horrible management process and people
• They treat their sales employees as second class citizens,
• Provide no real training to improve their performance or teach them phone skills,
• They advertise just about every other month for new employees “With No Experience Required” advertisements
• They work ungodly long hours, get no weekends off, and are not provided basic tools to do their job.
That dealership doesn't have any real desire to change as they are hitting their basic monthly goal, but they want to hire you to show folks they are trying to improve. Knowing all this, should you as a good Christian and virtuous man take them on as a client?
Thomas (Tom) Wiegand said:Sorry Mark for my delay in responding. I practice: "No One Left Behind" with my client businesses. This means, no matter where a focus may be, we include everyone in on what is happening and seek everyone's input, feedback and ideas. People sometimes rot from the rot imposed or disposed on them from peers or managers that need people skills development themselves. There is much good in bad people and much bad in good people. Whether we know it or not, our character is fine-lined in everything we are and do. If, becoming a better example of Christ, I am able to bring out the better of the good side and keep it showing and producing in many, if not all, then I'm using the gifts He gave me of His to use in what He has me doing in bringing out the virtuous character that truly resides in each of us. Everything that came and comes from Jesus is pure love. The opposite comes from the devil. It's whom we feed that feeds on us. I choose to not touch just one or a few, but all! It is working very well for Him! After all, HE is "The Synergy Coach"...think about it! Praise God! -
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Great question, Mark. S.O.P. in our industry is to "qualify" prospects, or for us, to ask "qualifying" questions to our prospective clients. I actually go through a "Disqualifying" process with prospective clients, where if the so-called Leaders answer questions that would say to me: "stay away", I do just that! Should a Leader request of me to 'Coach' him to become a better leader, and he didn't disqualify himself, I would do everything possible to help him become the leader his team wants and needs.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Dubis on
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Tom, I like your approach to this, and feel whenever possible that is the route to take. However the reality in our industry often differs from your perspective. Most companies have a payroll to meet, employees who depend on work and training gigs to pay the bills. So often some vendors have to "get in bed" with less than honest car dealers.
Dealers with little or no integrity, chase the next transaction and if they are hitting the numbers they don't want to risk "rocking the boat" and changing their ways. Vendors and manufacturers then become enablers of this addictive behavior and as a result change for the good is slow, very slow to arrive. Until then each of us must choose our own path to follow.
Thomas (Tom) Wiegand said:Great question, Mark. S.O.P. in our industry is to "qualify" prospects, or for us, to ask "qualifying" questions to our prospective clients. I actually go through a "Disqualifying" process with prospective clients, where if the so-called Leaders answer questions that would say to me: "stay away", I do just that! Should a Leader request of me to 'Coach' him to become a better leader, and he didn't disqualify himself, I would do everything possible to help him become the leader his team wants and needs. -
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Wow! A coaching session yesterday dealt with this exact scenario, an actual 350 beacon score, and no one would help, ask or relate at all with them. They wanted nothing to do with them! Short cuts, judging people (often wrongly), selling rather than building a relationship are norm in our WIIFM world-view of business life at retail today. Any wonder why our industry retention is 20%? We are both from the same school, Peter. We are to treat every human being as a fellow Brother-In-Christ equal friend. You never know who they know! You never know what you are building in relationship today that doesn't result in a sale today that comes a bit down the road to be a real relationship that matters. The best we can be is a best example of Jesus. Never quit on Him. He'll never quit on us! Thank you for your post. May God richly bless you, Peter!
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