Welcome to the August 13th edition of Faith & Life Lessons.
You will see this email full of tidbits from my week. My goal is simple. I hope that from how I live my life, you can find a thing or two that helps you as you try to live a life that matters. I am always trying to do one thing - make Christ-focused decisions in love, work, and life. And this was my week.
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The Story of My Week
Our family ended the week by taking time off and going away to a resort.
It was good to break the flow of the routine and enter into another routine.
Even if it's just for a few days.
The resort also surprised us.
We had been coming here for about 2 years. Last year, it came under new ownership.
The change in ownership was felt so much more during this visit.
During meal times, the staff engaged more with us. They took time to play with the kids on most tables.
And all these while they were serving.
The atmosphere was more convivial.
They had also gotten smarter with the meals. All meals were buffets but smartly done.
They may not have had as many options on display as the first time we came, but they had great-tasting options that combined well with each other.
The skill was in the combinations that guests could create with meals on display.
A great stay all-in-all.
And a great holiday experience.
Things I Learnt
1-Get Business Agreement Written: This lesson is so important I decided to write it - even if it's not my direct lesson.
During a 1-on-1 call with someone, he gave me a run-through of the side businesses he was working on. He had told me he had a regular 8-5 job so I asked how he was going to manage them.
"I have someone I 'm working with on these" was his response.
According to him, they registered a company with a 50:50 equity split. He provides equity and the guy will be responsible for day-to-day running.
I asked if they have an agreement governing the relationship.
Well, they are long-time friends, went to school together and were both Christians.
So, they had a gentlemen's agreement.
A clear recipe for disaster.
Why?
No matter how well-aligned you think you are, there will always be things that both of us have different understandings of. The only way to resolve that is to have the common understanding documented. And not only that but also document how you can divorce the business relationship.
Yep, you need to have an agreement that covers the good times and the bad times.
I recall someone saying that not having a process for divorce in a business agreement was one of the big failures of her first business arrangement. She and her partner had a good thing going. Unfortunately, the partner died.
The ownership of the partner's portion reverted to her husband. The only problem was that the guy became a drag on the business. He was not emotionally invested in it.
Afterwards, she said for every business agreement she always includes a first right to buy out her partners.
Back to the guy I was on the call with.
I told him it's easy to think his partner would be ok with the current arrangement of no salary at the inception of the business. But he may soon start to feel "used" because he is doing all the work of growing the business and getting no fixed income from it. An agreement at the inception can include all those nice details and create the right expectations.
Get an agreement in place.
It's something I recommend.
An old classmate of mine once called me for advice on her practice - we did our undergraduate together and also served as fellowship leadership.
Instead of just making it a simple call, I treated it as what it is - a consultation call. Even if I was consulting for free.
I sent a non-disclosure agreement before she shared the information about her practice and her proprietary frameworks with me.
It was my way of assuring her that I would not be using her content for myself.
Yes, I know she trusts me but it's my way of creating a new way of thinking for her in her practice.
Get the most important things documented - no matter how much you trust the other side.
2-The Forgotten Spiritual Actions: On Thursday, I took time to listen to a teaching by Pastor W.F Kumuyi. If you are from Nigeria, you know him as the founder of Deeper Life Bible Church.
For the uninformed, his teachings are influenced by John Wesley, Charles Finney and Charles Spurgeon.
Well, at a time when the emphasis is on building skills and professional competence, it was great to be reminded there is something more than that.
Yes, something more.
As we pursue all these, we must remember of priority to pursue spiritual depth with God.
It must take our time and we must be devoted to it.
I was reminded to be devoted to it.
Listening to him took away a lot of my excuses.
Not because I didn't have them. But because they are not big enough to stand in front of God.
I must pursue spiritual depth with God.
Despite these excuses.
This is my pursuit.
Postscript
As you go after all you want to get in life, may you not forget the spiritual formations you need to build inside of you. Amen.
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Tola - The Everyday Disciple
I help Christians like you who want to live intentional lives incorporate their faith into everyday life so they can make Christ focused decisions in all areas of life and truly live to make an impact and make God happy.
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