As a mentor to a young man in the financial services sector, I am regularly engage in dialog that is relevant to folks in the marketplace. Recently, my mentor commented that he has observed a clear pattern I his boss. “When he is into something, he is all in. The duration of this interest may not last long, but it is intense. His priorities seem to change frequently. My young friend and I discussed the value of a team member who has that type of intensity, and we agreed on the danger that accompanies such a temperament. Since we are both interested in athletics, we naturally discussed the benefits and challenges of a power hitter with a lot of home run capability and a low batting average (Adam Dunn) versus a contact hitter with a high on-base-percentage (Joey Votto). We considered the career of a player who “shows up every day” and does the basics very well and for a long time (Cal Ripken Jr.). We agreed that most of us are more like the guy who “shows up every day,” and does a job without a lot of attention or celebration; therefore, we should do that with all of our passion. Are you more an intense person who is “all in” in short spurts, or are you a “long-haul” type personality that has endurance to perform over the longer periods of time?

Mike LaRosa, CEO LaRosa’s Pizzeria (head quartered in Cincinnati, OH) spoke to a group of businessmen in Cincinnati last week at our YBL Summer Series. He shared his daily routine: prayer, devotional bible reading, exercise, & planning. As the son of the founder, Mike has worked for the family business his whole life. He spoke about the company’s successes and struggles, but what grabbed my attention was the joy he had in sharing his daily practice. Although he did not refer to the ancients, it certainly is reminiscent of the “Daily office” of Ignatius or many other early church fathers. He views his relationship with Jesus as the fuel of his life that propels him throughout the day. The daily routine is more methodical-sounding than attention-getting. However, Mike shared that his daily reading of scripture and application to his life has been transforming – driving his passion to serve, lead, and make an impact. Have you experienced your passions begin fueled by consistent practices or routines? Have you considered the effect on your work performance through a daily routine? How might your perspective on relationships be impacted if you spend time daily reading the scriptures, praying, thinking, and applying the principles to your life?yee

“Consistency takes a depth of character that enables people to follow through no matter how tired, distracted, or overwhelmed they are.” (The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player , John Maxwell) Author and speaker John Maxwell has promoted the “Law of 5.” (See blog http://www.johnmaxwell.com/blog/take-5 ). Ask the question: “What are the five things I must like to do in order to be successful?” Then, take time daily to do these five things. They may not require a lot of time, but you must do them daily. Reflect daily to inspect your life and ask, “How is it going?” This is not complicated. When we pay attention to the basics and faithfully engage in daily exercises, we cultivate a quality in our character.