We have a new computer system at work. It hasn’t been implemented yet, not until next month. However, lots have already been cast, lines drawn in the sand, teams picked, war paint applied. And you can take a guess who the project manager is for the implementation. Yes, indeed…yours truly.
Any time I have a meeting about this system, 3 out of the 12 implementation team members attend. I have been told I can “drink the Kool Aid” if I want to, accused of forcing a useless program down peoples’ throats, told the program is destined for failure (with even a monetary wager), and told point blank how much this program is hated by the masses. Closed-mindedness can be so mean-spirited. Although, I don’t take their angst personally.
Here are a few interesting factoids. Back in Jesus’ day, the world population was about 228 million. He began His ministry with 12 souls. That would have been about .0000005% of the world population. There are about 2.1 billion Jesus-believing people in the world today…about 33% of the world population, and 9 times more than the total population of the world in Jesus’ time. But He started with 12. Sure, Jesus’ mission and purpose is exponentially more significant than my workplace’s new computer system, but even the founder of Dell said about his efforts in his own company, “…while some resisted, many welcomed the chance to play a more prominent role in the entire process.” The lesson I learned from this? Don’t concern yourself with the naysayers and scrooges when you are trying to move forward with something you know will ultimately be a benefit to business and customer service. Cleave to your compadres–those few who stand along side you and are doing their part to help things progress as they should.
Play it out in your mind. What could happen? Now, STOP IT!!! Are you kidding?? Don’t play anything out in your mind! Just press forward with your plan. Exercise patience, humility, careful directing, and positive control.
The Bottom Line: If it is a venture that is truly worthwhile, people will become believers, even if they don’t start out that way.
