Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

I read a short story yesterday about Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Ford worked for Edison and had invented an internal combustion driven automobile. Edison was planning on inventing an electric car but saw what Ford did and encouraged him to pursue. We know how that turned out for Ford. Those two went on to be lifelong friends.

What did I take away from the story?

•Work is hard enough as it is and there is no place for jealousy, envy or repression of effort.

•You can’t anticipate how things will turn out, so assuming noble intent is the best approach. 

{Edison’s factory burned down years later and insurance wouldn’t cover the loss. Ford gave Edison the money to rebuild…a lot of money, with the promise of more if that wasn’t enough. That would not have happened if Edison had treated Ford differently to begin with.}

•There is always room for civility. Don’t let your ego get in the way of doing the right thing.

It is possible to be competitive, work hard, and build success without detracting from others. We are not crabs in a bucket.

As an old pastor used to close each service with,

“As you go out into the world now, remember, everyone is fighting a battle of some kind, so be gentle.”

Have a blessed weekend and the week to come!

Eric