All of us have days when we don’t feel like going to work, making the next sales call or putting everything into your job. When faced with these moments we have a simple choice, take it easy or push forward.

To some degree perseverance is a choice. Thomas Edison, one of the greatest inventors in history, was often quoted as saying inventions were 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Edison was known for pushing and pushing and pushing to drive a concept into an invention that was usable.

In our businesses we tend to be very busy.  Many business owners work 45, 50 or 60 hours a week to get everything done. These time commitments add more stress to the multiple challenges we have accomplishing personal items. 

One option that comes with some expense is to consider hiring a personal assistant.  A personal assistant can take care of many activities and release a busy business owner from tasks that can be delegated. When I consult with business clients, I work with them to understand what work that can be delegated to employees working a lower wage. Using the same principle, a business owner may be able to hire a personal assistant to take care of many routine life activities.

I have always found the conversation between Balaam and his donkey in scripture, very interesting. I pick up the conversation here: 

Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”

Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”

Many of us live in a town with a Christian newspaper.  For a number of years I’ve carried them around in my car and drop a few in different locations, like hospital waiting rooms, doctor’s offices car repair shop waiting rooms and other such places. 

I don’t drop papers where I believe they would be inappropriate or overly offensive, but will go in and out of locations where there are a lot of publications cost around for folks to read. Grabbing a Christian newspaper gives one more option for a waiting person, a positive option that may plant the seed for the gospel or encourage a believer.

The Lord said, “…my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)  Christian newspapers are one way to promote God’s word.

Kenny Rogers sang the old country song, “The Gambler” with the refrain: 

“You've got to know when to hold 'em,
Know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away,
And know when to run.”

In business we need to understand when to stop selling to a prospect. One friend of mine had a slogan that went something like: “When the customer says no, it means they don’t understand.” However, the customer may never understand; and the time you spend trying to convince a poor prospect is time you could be looking for gold elsewhere.