Joseph Su

Takes on Entrepreneurship, Faith & Family for 2019

Work With All Your Heart

I love this verse in Colossians 3:23-24:

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Whatever work you have, work with all your heart. Work can become our idols and that’s often the pitfall in the pursuit of excelling in whatever work we have.

However, the Apostle Paul isn’t talking simply about work as a means to money, fame, status, or power. He is talking about it as a means to something different.

Work gives glory to God when it is shown that we are doing it for the Lord, and not for men. This means that we see our work as worship to Him.

Worship in work would then mean that the character we show in work and the quality we aim to produce shows that the Spirit is working in us. In this way, what motivates us is not the benefits that come with doing excellent work but what has been promised to us.

We are often accustomed to a system where if we work harder, produce more, and attain higher, we will be rewards by better compensation and rewards at work. The verse confirms that this isn’t the case for motivation, rather, it’s focusing on the SURE inheritance that we are about to receive.

The words “you will receive” here isn’t conditional. It’s stating a fact that will happen… and that should be enough of a motivating factor for those who work.

Why? Because that assurance comes with the realization that every sweat, blood, and tear is devoted towards our God, not towards management or our bosses. With that, yes, it is enough.

It is enough because God sees every effort we put. He sees every injustice we have endured. He sees every hurt caused by those who do not believe what we believe.

It is enough… it is MORE than enough.

Be A Professional

Interestingly, the word “professional” comes from the Latin word “profere”. This means to make a promise (through proffesing).

In Ancient Rome, as people began to accumulate more experience and skill towards a specific trade, he will make an announcement to the public of his specialized trade. This is his profession… making him a professional.

Well, what does it mean in today’s day and age? We have seen it used in marketing slogans. We use it as a description of anything. We even use it to describe ourselves.

The sad thing is we often are disappointed by so-called “professionals”. We are disappointed because they are not committing to what they said they would. We are disappointed because they lied to us.

But, we can change. We can change because we can restore professionalism in professionals by making going back to its root meaning: a promise. We can change if we commit ourselves to become what a professional should be.

The beauty of being a professional is that it isn’t limited to a degree or an achievement. Whatever trade you have, you can be a professional. And why aspire to be a professional?

You owe it to yourself. You owe yourself at least one thing — a craft, a task, a commitment — of which you can attribute to yourself.

You owe it to others. You owe others for your God-given gift is meant to be shared, enjoyed, and be a source of inspiration.

You owe it to your God. You owe it to Him for the talent you have — whether it be a skill, an insight, character, grit, whatever it may be — as one of the unlocked capabilities of a redeemed creator.

And so, the world needs you. We need you to own your profession. We need you to go to the world and proclaim that “this is what I do, and this is how I can contribute“.

On Temporary Positions

I have found that it’s much more easier to place employees or volunteers in temporary positions than permanent ones.

What I mean by that is starting from the day he is assigned to a position, it always comes with a time frame of how long that position is held.

When the time is up, we are due for a conversation. The conversation will then go like this:

  1. What I have learned about you and what I have learned about myself
  2. What positive things I have noticed about you have done
  3. What things I think, based on my limited vantage point, you can improve on
  4. Would you like to remain/change this relationship

I have found this flow a lot easier than placing that person in a permanent role because every conversation after that will be like a performance review and/or talk of demotion.

I think this will result in much less stress for both parties. The only con I see is the possibility of insecurity on the employee’s part that he might lose his position and the perks that comes along with it or worse, his job.

An honest culture that resembles a family might ease up that tension… I thihnk.

Fail As If Your Success Depends On It

The majority of us grew up in a society where we are programmed to avoid failure as much as possible.

It’s embedded in our culture: our family, our neighborhood, mass media, schooling system, work environment and basically everywhere you go.

The harshest truth to this is not the insults that come, it’s the branding that goes along with it; if you fail, you’re branded as a failure. This is absolutely ridiculous.

Next year ends my 1st decade in earning online (I started as a freelancer during my college years and founded Telic on the 3rd year of college). The biggest lesson from that journey is the ridiculous amount of failed experiments that needed to be had BEFORE there is an even slight chance of success.

Ask any of the first hires (who are still partner-employees) and they would easily say that for every successful product/department/expansion, there are 2 – 10 failed experiments in the forms of pivots, micro product announcements, mini teams and so many other catastrophes.

In fact, we fail every day. There’s always a problem, an issue, a hiccup. But those failures, whether minor or major, pave the way for the next reiteration.

Since this is true in every realized potential, shouldn’t we rejoice after taking the leap yet falling short?

If this is true, shouldn’t we rethink how we react knowing that each failure gets us closer to a desired result?

If this is true, shouldn’t we embrace failure as a tool to hone ourselves and the people around us (especially if we lead)?

If this is true, shouldn’t we structure our families and loved ones to withstand the failures and maneuver our ways into a more desirable positions?

The goal ISN’T not to fail, the goal is to fail as many times possible but just enough not to be out of the game.

As long as you’re playing, you still have a chance to win.

So I beg you: please fail… because you need to.

You Only Die Once (YODO)

If there’s any saying that has been more harmful in this generation, it would have to be “YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE”.

“Doing that will put me into several years of debt… but you only live once.”

“I know drinking/eating/taking part of that will put me in danger… but you only live once.”

And so, let’s put that into a healthier perspective by making a habit that whenever we go into our “YOLO” mode, we also go into “YODO” mode.

Yes, we only live once, but you also die once. What legacy are you leaving? How will this decision affect the quality of life long-term? How much will making this decision affect what you can sacrifice for the good of others?

In decisions that affect both now and the future, always remember: you only die once.

Why We Need Soundboards

I always cringe when I hear myself talking on a recorded audio/video file.

The sound simply is familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. The scientific explanation is that whenever we talk, we always hear two types of sounds together through the vibration inside our head and the noise that goes through our ears.

When it comes to ideas or plans, listening to yourself through the analysis of others always have benefits. When I am the sole conjurer of a plan, I almost always seem to think it’s the perfect plan. However, many times I am mistaken.

The benefit of having people you trust to listen to your ideas is to have a soundboard to make sure you sound right. It’s amazing how my plans actually sound almost ludicrous when it bounces back to me off of someone.

Just recently, I honestly believes my plan would be the best recourse in a situation. After explaining to people I trust, the sound immediately came back to me and it wasn’t close to good. It was almost destructive.

Lesson learned: planning something big? Listen to it through others first.

Take Good Care Of Them

When you get so busy with life (mostly with work and opportunities), you tend to lose sight of what you have.

The things that you have now and are happening pass you by with a blur. I’ve never thought I’d ever feel as if I’m one of those dads who are so busy with life that they don’t see their children growing up.

Physically, I’m always there. I’m there during breakfast, usually lunch and dinner.

But, I’ve found myself recently more and more not being there mentally. My mind was always gearing towards something “bigger” — an elusive aim that seems to go higher and higher as soon as I can reach higher, maintaining that few inches of separation.

One thing I do love is that realization hits hard during times where you don’t expect it. Just minutes ago (I’m typing this at almost 11PM). my son woke up from his sleep and was looking around to see where we are at (he sleeps in a different bed but in the same room). I went to him and he immediately hugged me and said “Daddy”.

As I put the covers on him and hugged him to sleep on a very quiet night, I realized it was also when the message was loudest: “Take good care of them. Stop looking on what’s not here and focus on what’s here”.

I realized that what kept me preoccupied are things are still not here. Clients who have not yet signed up. Employees who I have not yet hired. Impacted people who have not yet been impacted.

I also realized what got me here is not things to come but things that are here: my family, clients who I’ve taken care of, employees who I have loved and the people that surround me.

I vow to take care of them first by being there physically AND mentally.

Habit of Delaying Gratification

The desire to feel satisfied by acquiring more or achieving more is normal. It’s part of who we are.

However, we must learn how to differentiate between what’s beneficial and what’s detrimental.

What’s not beneficial is the need to immediately give in to our desires for more.

Take Netflix, for example. It’s designed to serve the need to watch a whole 10-hour series in one sitting.

The access to credit is also another symptom of this culture. Institutions drag down downpayment rates and first year interests just enough to entice us to bite at a 5 year car loan.

The spike in deliveries on non-peak hours is another. We see an ad (usually it’s sweet), sees a delivery option despite feeling rather full, and immediately opts to have one delivered.

The thing is, there is always a benefit in waiting an hour more, a week more and even a year more. We don’t have to get it NOW.

This habit matters not only on the big purchases but actually starts on the tiny purchases.

Make it a habit to delay gratification.

The Beauty of Continually Trying

Nothing comes easy. At least for the 99% of us.

We’re all born with a “story”: a parent who doesn’t fulfill his/her responsibilities; a family that doesn’t support our dreams; living with prejudice; it could be anything.

However, we’re all being pushed towards a common trajectory: forward. Whether we like it or not, not everyone sympathizes with our story. Some ridicule it and some praise it. Regardless, this temptation to play the victim in our stories could easily result to us to stop trying. And we must always avoid that from happening.

When we stop trying, we stop the process of continually refining ourselves. When we stop trying, we influence those around us to stop trying themselves. When we stop trying, we deny those who could benefit the most from our work to fully enjoy the talents which God has gifted us. That is tragic.

Let’s not stop from adding beauty in this world. When failure is the result from trying, it simply propels us to the direction of success. Let’s keep trying.

Who Are You Connecting?

I first heard this question during Seth Godin’s talk on “The Tribes We Lead”.

This is a great question to commonly ask ourselves. As an entrepreneur, I would even go as far as suggesting that every time a new business idea comes up, ask yourself this question.

You see, ideas and opportunities are everywhere. But, in this digital media age, if it’s a simple venture to make you more money, it’s designed to work only for a few years.

What will last are businesses that build common-minded people together. This might often mean at the beginning that you microsize your audience but it’s actually building a loyal customer base that is loyal to your brand since you’re also loyal to them.

A business that seeks to connect people towards an environment through your services or products also ensures that it’s easier to deliver their needs. This is contrary to a business who tries to serve all. In doing so, they the ones they actually really care about.

Loyalty goes both ways. Do you want true brand loyalty? Earn it and by giving it first; don’t expect it to be given for free.