* When it comes to work, God’s favor gets you in the door but excellence will keep you there.
* God provides opportunities.
* We provide results.
* The better the results, the more opportunities we’ll have.
* If you want excellence in your work, then make your work worship.
* Attempt to make God smile with your effort.
* vs 10 - “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.”
* Imagine trying to cut down a tree w/a dull blade.
* You work much harder, but not smarter.
* But if you sharpen the blade, you get more done in much less time.
* This is working smarter, not harder.
* Abe Lincoln - “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
* How do we stay sharp?
* We hone our skills.
* Hone = “to smooth and sharpen; refine or perfect over a period of time.”
* vs 10b - “…skill will bring success."
* A talent is something you’re born with.
* A skill is something you learn.
* Honing your skills will make you valuable.
* Question - what skills do you have that you can sharpen?
* Some of the best skills to have in the workplace:
* Be a good CONNECTOR.
* Learn how to be good w/people.
* Connect w/them - emotional intelligence.
* Be a good COMMUNICATOR.
* It starts w/listening to God - tuning in to hear His voice.
* Then, be a “fast” communicator w/your clients.
* Over-communicate with your customers.
* Be a good CUTTER.
* Always think in terms of what you can automate, eliminate, or delegate.
* This will allow you to scale your efforts and do more work in less time.
* EX: Minimize Mouse Clicks.