I can’t remember the name of the book, but that’s all right because I was probably around 5 years old when I read it. You know the kind of book I’m talking about, lots of pictures and one or two sentences per page. This book had a pretty predictable plot that was kind of like a Hallmark movie. This little old lady was living happily ever after in a little house with a white picket fence. The pictures showed her watering the flowers or sitting in a rocking chair on the porch, holding her cat. The plot thickened when this dastardly land developer came to town and told her he was going to put a highway right through the middle of her property and she was going to have to find a new place to live. My guess is that because the book was geared toward young children, they probably left out the 5 or 6 year court battle! Like most children’s books this one had a happy ending. The land developer decided to do the right thing and redirected the highway around her little house.
There may be a few dastardly developers out there, but most of them are conscientious about the impacts and long-term benefits of the land they are developing. An excellent example of this was a man named Frank Stringer. Frank had a reputation for doing the right thing. He was not only a successful land developer but also a good friend and provider of much wise counsel over the years. While I cherish the encouragement that I received over the years, the correction he gave was probably more valuable. I learned from our relationship that wise counsel sometimes comes with a stern warning to change direction. Frank’s courage to go against popular opinion coupled with a track record of success gave him credibility when he spoke. Frank passed away in December, but left behind a lot of wisdom to those who were willing to listen.
King Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs about the value of wise counsel. “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel” (Proverbs 1:5, NASB).
In business, as in life, there are many challenges that require sound judgment. One’s success will often be proportionate to one’s ability and willingness to seek wise and godly counsel. Great careers are most often the result of a consistent decision-making process. Finding a good Christian mentor can make all the difference when it comes to building that consistency. Wise counsel will also guide you to do the right thing, regardless of how it may affect you. We can only assume that when the developer in the story realized the impact that the highway would have on the little old lady, he sought wise counsel. He was probably given some ideas on how to address the conflict and advised to do what was right. At the end of the day, God will honor a selfless act such as this.
My friend Frank exemplified the character of a selfless man, and although he will always be known for his keen ability to navigate the business world, I learned more about life from him than anything else. Frank, who was gifted with competency and guided by integrity, was never really driven by financial rewards. My friend taught me by example to never confuse success with the rewards of success. Thanks, Frank!
