Character of a Business

What Drives a Business?

When it comes to business today, what drives them? Businesses have dealt with this topic for years. In Good to Great, Jim Collins dealt with this topic when his team researched many good companies to find out what made the difference for them to become great companies. His research team came up with many great findings that to this day if practiced will indeed make a good company great. One key finding, contrary to what Jim wanted was a key point about leadership.

Much to his demise, his board ganged up on him and told him they needed to talk to him. As much as did not like hearing that a great company can rise or fall on leadership, he was forced to hear it! The Level 5 Leader is now one of the key points in a business going from good to great. The question then is, “What is a Level 5 Leader?” Jim goes into detailed reporting on what the study found. Matter of fact, there is a whole chapter on it! I strongly suggest any business leader to either buy the book or the audio version of it read and annotated by Jim. My version of a Level 5 Leader, look at Joseph when he was second in command of Egypt or King David even before he was a king or look at the New Testament character of Paul. These were truly level 5 leaders in their day from which we can learn a lot about leadership from them.

Solid Rock Photography never acquired a board to help guide the business. That is not to say I did not try after reading Good to Great. It just never came around to having a board. One person can only go so far with it no matter what type of leadership that person has. Some would say I am not a leader and others definitely would. But without a board to go forth, I have decided it is time to move on. Close the business and be a part of the much bigger arts community–Austin Area Art Center and beyond. This is no news to those who have read my blog of late. But what is news is to remember God is not finished with my photography or leadership ability. The grounds left from my days as Solid Rock Photography are where my character has been forged that will allow God to enlarge His kingdom through me.

Question of the Day form John Eldredge

What, at this point in your journey, are the areas of character God would like to work on prior to enlarging your kingdom? I must admit that one of my co-workers has correctly stated I am a little on the OCD side of things. Not that being that way a little is bad. Too much and it becomes, well, something compulsive–overbearing to the point of controlling too much of what happens at the expense of relationships. Being a photographer for me has become that and that is not what God intends for anyone let alone an artist who already is set out from others on an island sometimes to do their art. (Is that a thought of a coming cruise in January?) In order to get back to where God really wants me, I am giving up something, which for us OCD leaning folks is not easy, called Solid Rock Photography.

My character trait of being driven, determined, goal oriented, analytical, and so forth are good and God given traits that are meant to increase His kingdom. While that was always a goal of Solid Rock Photography, I was never really let go of how I felt it should go. I stifled it’s potential by holding on to it so tightly at times. I would let go of it at times but then pull it back inline to where I felt it should go. Now I am letting go of it completely and working closely with a group of artists to bring out more of the arts community in Austin. That way my character does not stifle something else. It can balance other artists strengths and weaknesses much like they can mine. The art center’s character, much like other organizations, is shaped by the whole of the organization. That said, what drives a business at its core is its character which is made of the sum of the characters who are in a leadership role like I now am.

Today’s Spot Light Photos

Just recently, I was able to help out with a service project through my church, Faith Evangelical Free in Austin, Minnesota. This project involved splitting wood. It was a great project to participate in and I am most grateful I did. When the project was over, I asked the organizer if he wanted me to bring the one wood splitter back to its rightful owner. He said he would take me up on that. What does that have to do with Fence Frozen in Time? I knew you would ask so I did for you. Whatever…

I got to go back to the very place I took this photo from. I took this one last winter when we had snow and lots of it by now. For whatever reason, I really enjoying going out to that farm site outside of Austin and visiting. This time around, I even got to talk to more of the family as they had gathered. Being some of the owners kids and I great up together and still know each other, it was a great way to end the project–building relationships!

The Peaceful Mississippi River was another time when I felt more relaxed about my own art as well. I was camping while working and got up on time to do my own photography before work. This one was taken just on the shore of the city campground outside of Winona, Minnesota!

Barges on the Mississippi River was another opportunity I had this fall to capture a scene that I thought was very relaxing as well. It was taken from Barn Bluff in Red Wing while working up that direction a time or three this fall!

All three images are located on my Fine Art America Store! You can save 35% off of any art purchased of mine through there by using Coupon Code SBUKVT at check out! Shop away as today is the deadline for getting things in time for Christmas!

At my Photo Shelter Personal Archive, get 40% off on anything with The Lily Page image or others! Make sure and use Coupon Code 40%GOBS! It is already too late to get most items on my Photo Shelter Store in time for Christmas but you can still order whatever you would wish! Aluminum prints, Chromaluxe images, luster prints, silk paper prints, and more and at 40% off with the code!

A Fun Leaf! On sale at Photo Shelter as well. I know, I will leaf the subject alone shortly.

Art Work Sponsored Pages on FAA!

Three more Sponsored Pages by Solid Rock Photography on Fine Art America!

1. Landscape Greeting Cards I can tell you these are great cards! You can customize them to your liking! Buy them as individual cards or buy in bulk. It’s your choice. If you get my cards, you can use my coupon code for the discount.
2. Kilen Woods State Park Framed Prints
3. Scenic Posters

There You Have It

The question is, what do you have? What character qualities or others is God working on in your life in order to use for His Glory? Can He entrust you with greater measures of His power at present? Is, to do what? If not, what must change before He can? Remember, he longs to give you a hope and a future.

For the Fun Of It

If you want to see how Austin is being progressive when it comes to the Arts programming in town, check out the article I wrote on Vision 2020!