Stand 4 Something

By Jay Winchester

Peter Marshall (no, not the host on Hollywood Squares; the former two-time Senate chaplain) once said, “Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.”

If we take an honest and uncompromising look at the world around us, it’s safe to say that we’ve fallen for more than a few things over the last three decades. In fact, the turn of economic events over the last year is down right astounding, given the supposed level of oversight, regulation and legislation intended to protect us from the very events that have taken place.

Clearly, our vision isn’t as clear as it needs to be. And what we thought was rock solid ground turned out to be subtly shifting sand- no place to build a foundation for a business or a life.

That’s why it’s vitally important that you and your business stand for something. While most companies tend to stand for profitability and performance- nothing to sneeze at, especially these days- it might be preferable to search for a set of values on which to build a foundation for profitability and performance that goes beyond the financial bottom line. After all, anyone can chase the dollar and all that financial success brings. But the character of a company offers a value that far exceeds that of money. At the end of the day, the peace of mind that comes from knowing you did everything the right way is worth far more than any profit margin.

Finding values to build on isn’t difficult. Begin by looking inside and taking a personal inventory. Ask yourself, “What do I believe in? What has meaning to me?” You might find the answer in community involvement, or political activism, or charitable endeavors or even your personal faith. Or perhaps they all come together for you. There are no limits here, other than what you set for yourself.

Let me offer this personal example: My belief in Jesus Christ is the foundation of my life. As such, it informs my approach to family, faith, relationships, society, culture, how I conduct my business and how I treat my clients. It also provides me with a clear set of guidelines and principles on which to base my conduct in all areas.

Such a stance may not be comfortable for you. But there are other values that you can incorporate into your approach to business that will help ensure your vision is clear, and that you stand for something that is worth the investment of your time and energy. When you find those values, write them down. Why? Listen to the words of William Faulkner, who said:

“I have found that the greatest help in meeting any problem with decency and self-respect and whatever courage is demanded, is to know where you yourself stand. That is, to have in words what you believe and are acting from.”

About the Author
Jay M. Winchester is the owner and operator of The Winchester Group, a Christian media company specializing in delivering professional writing, editing and content creation services to companies of all sizes, including member of the Fortune 500. Since 1994, his byline has appeared over 450 times in a variety of publications, many with national distributions. Jay has written long-form direct response television and other commercial spots for Tony Little, Reliant Interactive Media and others. He is the former Managing Editor of two bi-monthly journals for writers, American Writers Review and Writing for Money. He is also the Managing Editor, Producer and voice for the Bay Area Business Minute, broadcast each workday on NewsTalk 820 AM, WWBA. He is a regular contributor to Bay Area Business Magazine.