“HOPE is not a Strategy??”

My former employer repeated this mantra anytime one of my colleagues or I would give an update on an account, such as, “I hope to pick up the signed partnership agreement this week.” They would reprimand you by declaring: “HOPE is not a Strategy!”

This "mandate" highlighted one of the many times that my Professional Life & Career and my Spiritual Life as a Christian were in conflict.

Hope is defined as“to want something to happen or be true and think that it could happen or be true; to cherish a desire with anticipation; to desire with expectation of obtainment; to expect with confidence.” http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hope

In the Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV), the word “hope” is used 151 times.  www.biblegateway.com

Bible Verses include:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” - Hebrews 11:1  

“So the poor have hope, And injustice shuts her mouth.” - Job 5:16

“Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord.” - Psalm 31:24   

“But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.” - Psalm 71:14

“rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer” - Romans 12:12 

“because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,” - Colossians 1:5 

“in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,” - Titus 1:2

”Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” - Hebrews 10:23

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,” - Hebrews 6:19

The question is:  How can HOPE be wrong?

Powerful Quotes (from Pinterest) include:

HOPE is ‘Having Only Positive Expectations.”

Once you choose HOPE, Anything is possible.

HOPE shines brightest in the darkest moments.

There is always HOPE.

HOPE in the things unseen.

HOPE sees the invisible; feels the intangible; and achieves the impossible.

90% of success is waking up each day with a little HOPE in your heart. –Jason Hall

And sometimes, against all odds, against all logic, we still hope.

Don’t lose hope. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

Without HOPE, the only other option is “hopeless,” which is defined as, “ having or feeling no hope; unable to be helped or improved; having no expectation of good or success; incapable of redemption or improvement;  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hopeless

My job or career is just WHAT I DO...it is not WHO I AM. After all of the research, sales strategy, cost-savings & persuasive talk I provide to a client...at the end of the day...it comes down to HOPE.

I choose to embrace HOPE in all facets of my life…Professionally, Personally, Emotionally & Spiritually.

I HOPE you do, too… J