"Are you stuck?"

I read recently about a new, hi-tech water fountain. Now, most water fountains you walk up to, find the handle, turn the water on, bend over, and drink, right? This water fountain you simply walk up to, bend over, and drink. It has an infrared sensor or something like that which picks up your presence when you bend over and switches on the water.

What’s amazing is how many people look for the handle or button, search all over the fountain for it, and not finding it walk away, still thirsty; thinking, “Somebody needs to fix that water fountain.” All they had to do was bend over and get all the water they wanted. They were so stuck in their usual way of getting water, they couldn’t get their thirst quenched.

What “usual way” of doing something are you stuck in? Are you open to trying something different, maybe even more convenient?

The fact is many of us choose to stay stuck. So today, do something differently like drive home a different route. And see if God is on that path, too, as you listen to life and make a life, not just a living.

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"Where do you stand?"

Some years ago, jazz musician Harry Connick, Jr. wowed crowds during his concert tour by sending his entire band—except his drummer—off-stage during a really upbeat number. The drummer kept the beat going while Connick went from instrument to instrument and wowed the crowd some more. That’s right, Connick not only could play, but play with excellence every single instrument.

Connick again wowed the crowds in his more recent tour, but in a different way this time. When it came to the point in the concert where he previously played all the instruments, this time he enthusiastically shouted out the names—one by one—of his band members and let them have at it. And he—get this now—stepped off-stage out of the bright lights and cheered each one on. He took a step back into the shadows and clapped for the team.

Do you try to play all the instruments at work, or at home, wanting all the glory and to be a one-person band? Or, do you step back and applaud the team? Be humble as you listen to life and make a life today.

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"Today's Labor Day. What do you do for a living?"

It’s Labor Day, that day we annually set aside to honor those who labor in this nation. So what’s your labor? What do you do for a living?

One day recently a delivery person for a shipping company came by my office. As I usually do with just about everyone, I struck up a conversation about his day.

He told me about a previous stop in delivering a package to an office. The secretary there started telling him about some problem in her life. Even though these folks are on tight schedules, he took the time to listen carefully, and act interested in what she was saying. It was if she had been waiting for him to come so she could unload.

When he started to leave, he said some encouraging words to her, and then said, “I’ll pray for you.”
“You deliver more than packages, don’t you?” I said. “You deliver blessings as well.”

Does your labor deliver blessings as well? Make a life, not just a living as you listen to life on Labor Day for what God has to say.

Click here to listen to Dr. Joey

"Are you making a life or just a living?"

Making a life and making a living are both important. As I speak to business groups and coach business people, I discover that way too many of us make a living to the exclusion of making a life. So how can you tell when you’re just making a living and stopped making a life?

One way you can tell is you email the person who works at the desk next to you, rather than stepping around the petition to speak personally. Another way you can tell is that when you go home, you still answer the phone your business’ name and ask, “How may I help you?”

And you can tell you’re just making a living and stopped making a life when you make phone calls from home, and dial “9” to get an outside line. Another way you can tell is that you've sat at the same desk for four years, worked for three different companies, can name the dates each company took over, but forgot your anniversary this year.

The way to make a life, not just a living is to listen to life, all of life, not just your work life. God’s talking to you. Are you listening?

Click here to listen to Dr. Joey

"Do you step back?"

I admired a floral arrangement recently. My eyes first went to the stunning white flowers in the foreground of the arrangement. I couldn’t take my eyes off of them, until I realized that there were some more flowers behind them. In the back of the arrangement were some of the deepest-colored burgundy flowers you’ve ever seen. They were so very dark and it was easy to miss them in the arrangement. After all, they were in the back of the container and they were so dark compared to the white flowers that lit up the room.

It was then I realized that the reason the white flowers appeared so bright was because of the dark flowers in the background. The contrasting colors made the white flowers all the more brilliant.

Are you humble enough to step into the background and let someone else shine? As you listen to life, you discover—life’s not all about you! You can step back and another person can step up and your worth isn’t diminished. In fact, it’s enhanced because you valued another. Step back today and listen to life!

Click here to listen to Dr. Joey