Imagine you are a Country Companies Insurance Agent in a town of about 10,000 households.

There are a couple independent agents in town with you, but no other ‘big brand’ is within driving distance.

There’s a catch, though.

In this imaginary world, insurance is not mandated by mortgage or auto loan companies, and the populous is relatively ignorant of the value of, or need for, your products and services.

In fact, in 9 of 10 conversations you have (maybe even more) the person you are talking to that owns their home and drives two cars has never heard of this ‘insurance’ device you are talking about.

They’ve also never heard of ‘Country Companies’…

When I woke up Saturday morning, something didn’t feel quite right.

A couple steps in I felt something in my left calf. Nothing too alarming, though, due to the fact that I had a partial rupture a decade ago that raises its ugly head once in a while.

Then I could feel it starting to spread.

When I (attempted) to get up from reading, I could barely walk.

My left leg did not want to cooperate. It was weak from the hip down. Every step had to be deliberate…

It was an interesting take, to say the least. Powerful, even.

We were discussing levels of employee engagement, and our guest speaker was walking us through it slowly.

Four levels - each level raising the bar of achievement, leadership, responsibility, and value to the organization.

Made a lot of sense.

And then he said some sobering words.

"Don't moralize it."

Wait a minute. Back up the truck. What was that? Who is moralizing anything here?

I know. Terrible headline. But bear with me for a sec.

I came across a video short recently that I want to lean on as a launch to this week’s Monday Morning Stretch.

Here’s the setup question:

“What hurts a human being in their brain, in their mood, and in their energy the most?”

That’s a bit of a foreboding question, is it not?

Even so, in the spirit of my heartfelt focus on holistic health (in Business, in Life, & in Faith), inquiring minds want to know!

Bear with me for a moment while I briefly outline a personal goal before I unpack what I believe is a relatable business owner/ executive leader application.

Though it has been lurking in the background for years, a financial goal recently clarified in, of all places, the shower (you know how that goes!).

Financial Goal: I want my wife and I to be able to more easily afford health care for the remainder of our lives.

100% of the time. Every day. In every way.

As an individual.

As an organization.

As a society.

There is one inevitable truth we would all do well to embrace.

You and I, as individuals, organizations, and communities, are in the midst of a powerful, ongoing process – the process of BECOMING the future version of ourselves.

And only through a growing awareness of how it works do we have any hope of steering this process in a hopeful direction.

Chances are high that you have seen a natural geyser – be it Old Faithful, Steamboat, Mammoth Hot Springs, or one of the many others dotted across our western landscape.

If not, you can at least picture it, eh?

In the oil industry they call it a “gusher”. Same idea.

The earth, out of its bounty, spews forth its valuable resources to our great benefit (be it scenic or productive).

And we did/do virtually nothing to generate or replenish the supply. Nor could we if we wanted to.

It is a gift generously given, out of abundance, with no expectation or pathway for reciprocity.

Make no mistake.

You can ‘take it to the bank.’

If you are brave enough to take the helm of leadership, you WILL be persecuted.

There is an ancient story that I believe gives us tremendous insight into business leadership.

It’s about a farmer scattering his seed.

(Tis an old, old story, so we have to think way back to a time before the industrial revolution. There are no tractors involved.)

It was driven into my head during my stint in Children’s Ministry (in a good way 😉).

“Make the wise choice!”

Intellectually, we understand.

If our emotional intelligence is developed at all, we (hopefully) appreciate the fact that well-meaning sojourners may have different belief systems that support choices that are not aligned with one another’s.

Got it.