This past Sunday, Fr. Carlos delivered a message in the homily that captured my interest.
He described an online business that has done well with the following phrase:
Keep Calm and Carry On.
The Message
Each of us has a different perspective when we hear something we value as important. Each time Fr. Carlos provided an example of why we should keep calm and carry on, the takeaway resonated.
While there are obvious religious interpretations from the phrase, I would like to transfer the knowledge to the work we do in the business community. The focus of the message is the same, but the application is a bit different.
Don’t Worry About the Obstacles
Regardless of the type of work you do, you will face challenges. You should be worried if the journey is mostly smooth sailing. A week or so ago, I spoke to someone about my online project management training. She said, “It sounds like a great product, and I will make sure to get your foot in the door.”
When I hung up the phone, I was somewhat baffled. The organization she represents is well-respected, and becoming a provider must be more difficult than getting a recommendation from one person. In addition, I only communicated my product over the telephone, which meant she had not seen it.
From my years of business experience, I know that challenges are part of the game. As it turns out, she has not returned my emails or calls. What does this tell me? I need to follow-up with other stakeholders of the organization. In short, the challenging work begins. This is what I expected, and I now know the effort will be worth it.
Keep Spreading the Message
Fr. Carlos made it clear that we need to spread the message even when others are unwilling to listen. We must develop a tough skin, and know that what we are doing is right. When we communicate the vision of our organizations, we build a strong community. Just as important, we must stay calm and press ahead.
As leaders and managers of our companies, we must ensure our employees understand the expectations. It’s our job to paint the picture. We need to let them know that they can make a huge difference in our success. However, before they will take action, they must believe that our message is reliable and sound. As the messengers, we must have a plan that is carried out despite the number of apathetic individuals that we meet along the way. In short, it’s imperative that we stick to the plan.
Fr. Carlos reiterated that challenges are part of the process. If we expect a tough uphill climb, we can increase our energy and stamina to fight through difficult times. In business, making someone a customer is tough, but it’s even more taxing to keep them loyal to our products and services. Success requires dedication and patience, especially if we plan to build loyal customer bases.
I suppose the main takeaway that I learned from Fr. Carlos’ homily is the following:
When you believe in what you do and who you are, make sure to stay the course. Success will only come to those who fight through the challenges.