In the world of accounting, net is a reduction word. Something “net” has been reduced by the combination of positive and negative amounts of somethings.
A client of mine recently used the “net” term in another way. He referred to his employees as either net-giving or net-taking. He observes that most people fit into one or the other category. Either they offer themselves or they consume. They characteristically give or they characteristically take. The terms captured my interest and I want to explore the idea of net-living.
To start, I want to establish a few presuppositions.
1. We are made each uniquely, having a design to be offered in our specific life context. This is the offering, our offering.
2. Then, since we each have unique gifts to offer, others will often have differing gifts to offer. This presents an opportunity to consume the unique gifts others have to offer.
3. Finally, our interactions with one another consist of the back-and-forth exchange between or among us of the offering of our gifts and the consumption of the gifts of others, as they also offer their gifts and consume ours.
I am calling this back and forth exchange net-living. Living reduced to combining the difference between giving and taking.
How is it possible that a high-achieving individual would need help or better, that they would even ask for it? Harvard Business School professor Thomas DeLong could tell you. He’s spent years researching the tendencies of what he calls high need for achievement individuals and has captured his research in his book, Flying Without a Net: Turn Fear of Change into Fuel for Success.
In an article by Sarah Green published in the Harvard Business Review titled “The Hidden Demons of High Achievers”, she interviews Thomas DeLong. The name of the article is telling: high achievers have some hidden demons. It is these demons that make it possible for such accomplished individuals to need help, and it is highly likely these same demons make it difficult for them to ask for it.
Based on 2 Cororinthians 6:11-12:
"We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also."
Like me, you may find yourself restricted in your offering of your own affections.
What then will you do? Remain restricted?
Simulation technology can transport us visually into another world or place, even emotionally. But we have yet to discover how to transport our entire physical selves.
We do a good job of transporting ourselves visually and emotionally, though.
"Sometimes we are fresh for a prayer meeting but not fresh for cleaning boots!" (Oswald Chambers)
My mentor of many years intentionally spoke to being faithful in such mundane tasks of life as cleaning boots, washing dishes. The thing is, though, if we have the means, it is often these mundane tasks of life that we first offer up to another to accomplish for us.