The Power of Perspective

How we see things shapes what we do with them.

I have come to realize that our perspective doesn't necessarily change our circumstances, but it can change how we respond to them and ultimately what comes out of them. This is especially true in business. Two people can face exactly the same situation and have entirely different experiences because of how they choose to see it. One sees a problem, while the other sees an opportunity. One sees a burden, while the other sees a responsibility or even a blessing. The circumstances may be identical, but our perspective often determines what we do with them.

Consider a seed. If you only judged it by its appearance, you would never imagine what it could become. Planting requires effort, patience, and time, with little immediate evidence of a return. Yet someone who understands the potential of a seed doesn't resent the work of planting because they can envision the harvest.

Business is much the same. We can become frustrated by how busy we are, the demands on our time, or the responsibilities that come with leadership. But perhaps some of the things we see as burdens are actually seeds of future fruitfulness. What feels like busyness today may be what produces business tomorrow.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

Paul reminds us that there is more to life than what we can immediately see. His focus is on eternal realities, but I believe that perspective should also influence how we approach our everyday responsibilities, including business. When we see our work and the people around us through the lens of God's purposes, it changes how we lead.

People are not Problems

Years ago, I remember speaking with a business owner who employed around 150 people. During our conversation, he referred to his employees as “pains in the butt.” I remember being struck by his perspective because I saw my own employees very differently.

I have always believed that the people God brings into our business are people He has entrusted to our care. That doesn't mean leadership is always easy or that people don't present challenges. They certainly do. But when we see employees as people to serve rather than problems to manage, it changes the way we lead.

That business owner eventually went out of business. I wouldn't suggest his attitude alone caused that outcome, but I believe our perspective toward people significantly influences the culture we build.

Today, I'm grateful that we are celebrating more 10, 15, and even 25-year employee anniversaries than ever before. I don't take that lightly. It's a privilege to have shared so much of life's journey with these people.

Perspective also shapes how we respond to adversity. I remember the economic crash of 2008. There was plenty of uncertainty, and many people understandably focused on what they had lost. But another way to view that same season was to recognize that suddenly, almost everything was on sale. The circumstances hadn't changed, but a different perspective revealed opportunities that fear might otherwise have hidden.

Romans 12:2 encourages us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. I believe that includes allowing God to reshape how we see the circumstances, responsibilities, and people in front of us.

As marketplace leaders, perhaps one of the most valuable things we can ask God for is the ability to see beyond what is immediately visible.

What if the thing you're calling a problem today is actually a seed God has entrusted to you for tomorrow's harvest?