Friday, January 25, 2013

Look Up, Look Down

What is it that provides people incentive to pursue their goals? What is it that stops others, in the same predicament to quit or complain or try to ind a scapegoat?

We see it at clients, we see it inside our own offices, probably even at home sometimes. One can not just be "on" all the time. We look for inspiration all over the place and yet rarely find what we seek and instead try to regain our focus.

This is shown in this week's parsha in a few ways. First, the Egyptians, realizing they let the Jews leave Egypt are left uninspired by Pharaoh. Chapter 14:5 shows one example:

5. It was reported to Pharaoh that the people had fled; and Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, What is this that we have done, that we have released Israel from serving us?   ה. וַיֻּגַּד לְמֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם כִּי בָרַח הָעָם וַיֵּהָפֵךְ לְבַב פַּרְעֹה וַעֲבָדָיו אֶל הָעָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ מַה זֹּאת עָשִׂינוּ כִּי שִׁלַּחְנוּ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעָבְדֵנוּ:

They followed his orders and then wondered why. And now they needed to get them back and off they went. 

Israel was not much better, some of them complained also Chapter14:

11. They said to Moses, Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us to die in the desert? What is this that you have done to us to take us out of Egypt?   יא. וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל משֶׁה הֲמִבְּלִי אֵין קְבָרִים בְּמִצְרַיִם לְקַחְתָּנוּ לָמוּת בַּמִּדְבָּר מַה זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ לָּנוּ לְהוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִ

So much for 10 plagues and the splitting of the sea! This "what have you done for me lately" group was obviously not awed or inspired by any of these miracles.

And so as the parsha ends, we see Moshe has his hand sup to God and when the people looked at him, and likewise up to Heaven, they were victorious against their enemy Amalek. When Moshe put his hands down and gave the people nothing to look up to, they were losing. Chapter 17:11-12:

11. It came to pass that when Moses would raise his hand, Israel would prevail, and when he would lay down his hand, Amalek would prevail.   יא. וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר יָרִים משֶׁה יָדוֹ וְגָבַר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכַאֲשֶׁר יָנִיחַ יָדוֹ וְגָבַר עֲמָלֵק:
12. Now Moses hands were heavy; so they took a stone and placed it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one from this [side], and one from that [side]; so he was with his hands in faith until sunset.   יב. וִידֵי משֶׁה כְּבֵדִים וַיִּקְחוּ אֶבֶן וַיָּשִׂימוּ תַחְתָּיו וַיֵּשֶׁב עָלֶיהָ וְאַהֲרֹן וְחוּר תָּמְכוּ בְיָדָיו מִזֶּה אֶחָד וּמִזֶּה אֶחָד וַיְהִי יָדָיו אֱמוּנָה עַד בֹּא הַשָּׁמֶשׁ:

And so it is in business and life, as we watch people who gave us inspiration be knocked down as a false hope or because someone on our team dropped the ball. Either way, you do not have to always win, but you do need to find some inspiration.
 
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Parsha Beshalach in the book of Shemot, 13:17-17:16 It is said that the Torah or Bible
could be interpreted in over 70 ways. More likely these days 100's of ways. In light of this idea, I am writing some posts that bring business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom

Friday, January 18, 2013

Living Under One Roof

When you were young you probably thought you went to all the parties of your school mates. Some where along the line you also found out you missed out on some of those parties because you were not invited. Remember how that felt? It sucked, right? In time you get over it and move along and understand that is how the world works, right?

Now you are older, working at a company or managing or owner of the company and do you remember that feeling? Have you thought about it all, now as an adult, in these troubled times, how people would see the same situation?

Maybe everyone is above that, or does not care, the latter is even worse. The happiness you can bring to someone to include them in your events can make a lasting impression.

The truth is this has caused problems you would not believe. I am quite sure I discussed this previously, but it is important to remind everyone about this topic.

Do not exclude people because they are not from your company. Holiday parties, lunch and learns, whatever it is, within financial reason, you should include your vendors, partners or consultants. Even if you do not like the person, maybe it was a bad time for either of you or maybe you were misunderstood, perhaps this can change everything.

This weeks parsha Bo (12:49) reminds us that there is but one rule in your house/office:

49. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who resides in your midst."   מט. תּוֹרָה אַחַת יִהְיֶה לָאֶזְרָח וְלַגֵּר הַגָּר בְּתוֹכְכֶם:

Keep the peace, be nice to others and be inclusive while everyone is under your figurative roof.
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Parsha Bo in the book of Shemot, 10:1-13:16 It is said that the Torah or Bible
could be interpreted in over 70 ways. More likely these days 100's of ways. In light of this idea, I am writing some posts that bring business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom

Friday, January 11, 2013

Put The Best Foot forward

How important is it when you go to see a new client that they know your background? Do you provide them with brochures, website links and lists of accolades? Do you do this for each member of the team who will be working on the project?

From my experience, not everyone gets proper representation. Unless you are truly an intern or a fresh out of college person, and even then, you should have something you did that would be impressive to someone looking to hire you and your firm.

Where did all of this come from? The internet? No, people have been outlining their pedigrees, or yichus, since the dawn of time. In fact, a great example occurs in this parsha.

Yes the excitement in this parsha is about the great marketing plan of God, the first 7 plagues, which happen towards the end, but look more closely at the beginning of the parsha.

6:14-27 includes the whole pedigree of Moshe and Aharon and ends with this:


26. That is Aaron and Moses, to whom the Lord said, "Take the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt with their legions."   כו. הוּא אַהֲרֹן וּמשֶׁה אֲשֶׁר אָמַר יְהֹוָה לָהֶם הוֹצִיאוּ אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם עַל צִבְאֹתָם:
27. They are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the children of Israel out of Egypt; they are Moses and Aaron.   כז. הֵם הַמְדַבְּרִים אֶל פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם לְהוֹצִיא אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם הוּא משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן:

Princes, heads of tribes, famous legendary people, like Nachshon ben Aminadav are in the family tree. Of course there is also the fact that Moshe grew up in Pharaoh's palace. This is why the Torah states "He" which is what
הוּא means.

In case anyone had any doubts about who Moshe and Aharon were or why they should be the ones to represent the slaves of Israel, the Torah gives these reasons.
 
Put your best foot forward so those who follow, or hire you, are encouraged.
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Parsha Va'eira in the book of Shemot, 6:2-9:35 It is said that the Torah or Bible
could be interpreted in over 70 ways. More likely these days 100's of ways. In light of this idea, I am writing some posts that bring business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom

Friday, January 4, 2013

Make Your Choice or Have One Chosen For You

Welcome to the anniversary of this blog. It has not quite been a whole year, but the 1st post of this series started with this parsha. As I started to write this one I realized I was focused on the same topic as last year. But there is always something new to find.


All of us at one time or another in business had to go out against all odds and face the wrath of an executive. Sometimes because we are asked, sometime because we are forced.

When God asked Moshe to go to Pharaoh, you know that was not what he wanted. After all, Moshe was wanted for murder and was not really what the palace wanted to see or hear about.


3:10. So now come, and I will send you to Pharaoh, and take My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."
י. וְעַתָּה לְכָה וְאֶשְׁלָחֲךָ אֶל פַּרְעֹה וְהוֹצֵא אֶת עַמִּי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם:

And yet he went, took some coaxing of course, God does have his means. But Moshe tried hard to get out of it. But real leaders face their challenges and take their orders. They try to minimize the problems in advance but they find the strength to carry on.

The executive will succeed but will they be as triumphant as Moshe was when he left Egypt with Bnei Israel?

Some of us live for these moments, others dread them. Make the choices early on or have them made for you. Moshe was on a predefined course few of us will ever reach. Those among us that have planned so much and live for each day knowing what they want to accomplish are few. 

Maybe you will get called to do your duty for your company, maybe not, but keep in mind, your job can't be harder than Moshe's was when you think about it.
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Parsha Shemot in the book of Shemot, 1:1-6:1 It is said that the Torah or Bible
could be interpreted in over 70 ways. More likely these days 100's of ways. In light of this idea, I am writing some posts that bring business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom