Core Value #4: Focus and Discipline

The world is full of distractions.  Information comes to us faster and from more sources than ever before.  Social Media allows us to establish community with countless niches to satisfy almost any personal or professional interest.  The pull of gravity in a business day seems to be more toward the distractions and sometimes conflicts rather than on what really drives organizational performance. 

As a guide in dealing with the realities of the business life we have articulated the following (again from The Thomas Nelson Way orientation manual).

We are focused and disciplined in our business activities. This means:

• We organize and focus our people and resources for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
• We routinely evaluate our fiscal performance.
• We seek the counsel of others, both inside and outside of our company, on important issues and decisions.
• We respect each others' time.
• We adhere to company policy.
• We practice good stewardship of our resources.
• We deliver what we promise.
• We seek continuous improvement in all that we do.

Biblical support for this value can be found in the following verses: "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going" (Ecclesiastes 9:10); as well as, "Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations" (Proverbs 27:23). 

Next post we'll finish up with our fifth core value, Collaboration.