CHAPTER 45: Unresolved Conflict, the 5C’s & Four Principles 2024
Unresolved Conflict, how to live life with God in mind, awareness of the Word, Discernment of the Holy Spirit, the free Gift of the cross and the miracles God has given you. The right way yields a learning always — but it takes time, time nobody wants to take. We want it right now, whatever “it” is. If you can overcome the intensity of sidestepping 45, the results are not immediate, however they are coming and much better they are than a society of instant gratification. Embrace and welcome unresolved conflict, i.e. those things that there is no answer for this minute, unwind each issue, take it “captive, bring it to Christ,” and learn what the Lord is teaching.
Your life will slowly become better…, if, on the other hand, one decides to take the short route, take matters into their own hands, bypass unresolved conflict, prayer and Christ — come up with an alternative instant band-aid solution, be willing to pay a hefty price. Don’t believe me? Take out a Cash Advance, hard money short term loan. And that’s just one way of understanding consequences for bypassing unresolved conflict, choosing plan A solution instead of “Doing what needs to be done, long term, identifying the problem and correcting it without making more problems.” Now, let’s investigate the structure of doing things correctly, and learning from Unresolved Conflict in what we all dislike — “long term solutions, the power to challenge oneself into an overcomer, i.e. navigating through raised issues that Unresolved Conflict has brought to the surface.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
English Standard Version (ESV)
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
We start with the 5C’s. Content, Continuity, Contact, Conditions and Closing. You’ll need all five — or none at all.
1) Content – (design phase) Flush out a complete idea, beginning to end. Whatever is best for the plan, the right plan, the idea of let’s get started and we’ll see what happens doesn’t pay well, wastes money or ruins good relationships!
1 Corinthians 14:40
English Standard Version (ESV)
40 But all things should be done decently and in order.
2) Continuity – (the timeline) Times and dates of each portion to be completed. Who, what, where, when and why. Micromanagement gets a bad wrap, it’s actually your best friend, use it, be aware of your project and all personnel in every detail.
Colossians 3:23
English Standard Version (ESV)
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
3) Contact – (the people) Have frequent hourly communication with all employees involved. Never leave any aspect unattended. Keep things correct with a watchful eye!
Romans 12:10
English Standard Version (ESV)
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
4) Conditions – (the money schedule) Upfront have the details and agreed upon schedules regarding payment, change orders, man hours, finish dates, margin and language in the event of unforeseen challenges. Money must be recalibrated as problems arise. Push back unfair or unrealistic expectations of customers and employees. Never proceed on change orders without “all powers that be” in agreement. Stop production immediately when you hear the phrase “Your company must absorb the change order, or it must be done at this time or else…” Not true.
Risk the relationship to re-negotiate. Check the costs everyday and line them up with the contract. Let always cool heads prevail.
Proverbs 15:1
English Standard Version (ESV)
15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
5) Closing – (collection and sign-off) Without the ability to ask for final payment, you are wasting time and killing your company. Retention, if you are familiar with the term, is a real economic nightmare. Try to negotiate these items off the table, or cover the margins without retention, so that this becomes icing on the cake.
Avoid projects that “pay you when we get paid,” or anything resembling that. Those words have destroyed good companies. Don’t be afraid to ask for the cash. When clients get angry because you are asking for the cash you’ve earned, it’s their problem, if you don’t collect, it’s your problem. This is your company, take care of it.
James 5:7-8
New International Version
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
James 4:17
English Standard Version (ESV)
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
5C’s, remember them everyday, re-read them all the time. Content, Continuity, Contact, Conditions and Closing — make these 5c’s a part of your everyday negotiations, the way you drive your company, i.e. “standard company policy.” And as the old commercials used to go, “and that’s not all.” In order to navigate Chapter 45 Unresolved Conflict, I introduce you, in addition to the 5c’s, four very important principles.
Principle #1 “Family First, Business First.” They are the same. If you cannot remain cash positive, your family will suffer, your commitments will suffer and in the end, there is a hefty price to pay for violating principle #1. Never mortgage your family for profit.
1 Timothy 5:8 English Standard Version (ESV)
8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Principle #2 “Always Supportive, Slightly Detached and always, always equal.” Principle #2 is about maintaining good perspective.
- “Always supportive” — having good solutions, being of good cheer.
- “Slightly detached” — so you don’t get emotional, angry, inappropriate.
- “Always, always equal” — not above or below anyone, equal, as God sees us all…, keeping your responsibilities God has given.
Philippians 2:3-4 English Standard Version (ESV)
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Ecclesiastes 11:6
Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another – or maybe both.
Principle #3 “The Truth to the right Person at precisely the right time..” Give people the truth, with love, at a perfect time that will inspire them to work — know the truth, and the right time will present itself so that good things happen.
Romans 8:28 New Living Translation
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Principle #4 “Never expect the company to do for you what you cannot do for yourself..” Take care not to over-burden a good company with nonsense spending of corporate funds.
James 4:3 and verse 10
English Standard Version
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.(Verse 10 goes on to say)
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
All of these items take time to consider and plan. It is not a quick fix, nor should it be. Unresolved conflict is a brilliant avenue, if taken, will sort out serious problems that could in the end, lead into absolutely brilliant.
The problem all of us face is practicing patience and study, lending to reason and wisdom. One must learn to control impatience, to allow Unresolved Conflict to teach and give resolution and honor to an otherwise impossible dead end.
The 5c’s and the 4 Principles keep good order during such an important process. Talent is all but lost when correct behavior is not strictly maintained. Major problems should never be reduced to a petty need to “get things moving.”
Saint Augustine Is quoted as saying: “Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.”
Luke 14:28
For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
A-lot of things cost more than money and they are much more valuable. Duty, honor and dependability in your good reputation, are found at the end of Unresolved Conflict.
Those two words teach people basic essentials of commitment in long term viable thought, that in fact, will most definitely lead to genius. Short term hurry up leads to average, it’ll do, Lou, never realizing the resources of a blessed mind that the Holy Spirit, I.e. God derives pleasure in the direction of careful planning, and the invitation of Divine knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 7:1-4
New International Version
A good name is better than fine perfume,
and the day of death better than the day of birth.
It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
Frustration is better than laughter,
because a sad face is good for the heart.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
Be a leader — learn the hard lessons.
Pray us out, Captain….Amen.
