Ozinga Purpose - Part Two

Having a positive impact on individuals in the midst of a crisis

For over a year now, we at Ozinga have been working more and more to keep our purpose front of mind—to view our day-to-day decisions through the lens of our purpose, which is to make a positive impact on individuals, their families and the community for generations. In many respects, when times were good, the purpose emphasis could seem like a “nice to have”, not critical to our success. But now that we are in the midst of a crisis, it is very evident that the groundwork that was laid during the good times has prepared us to make decisions that are consistent with who we say we are and why we do what we do. 

Our purpose feels more relevant now than ever before. It is proving very helpful during this crisis to hold each other accountable, make faster decisions and learn quickly from our mistakes. This COVID-19 pandemic is proving that the daily decisions we make, individually and collectively, practically impact individuals, their families and the community for generations. One cannot help but view this as a generationally defining moment. The choices we make now to impact the health and safety of people and their families, as well as their economic security, will no doubt be etched into our collective legacy for generations to come.

This second part of my five-part purpose series focuses on the individual. Through the generations of Ozinga ownership, it has been a commonly held belief that the business is “all about the people.” So, what does that mean?

As I mentioned in part one, it’s important to uncover one’s origins in order to identify and appreciate one’s purpose. The Ozinga family has a multigenerational worldview that is shaped by our Christian faith. This faith is foundational to the purpose of our family business. Our worldview holds that every individual is uniquely created by God for a purpose and it is His providential plan that we are in this time and place together. It also teaches us that we are sinners saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The sacrifice of Jesus to willingly lay down His life on the cross at Calvary reconciles us to an intimate relationship with God.

No matter what our perceptions are of another person, we are commanded by God to love and respect individuals and treat others as we would want to be treated, even our enemies. Grace is unmerited favor. We love God and others because God first loved us, not because we or anyone else earns it or deserves it. Our call to positively impact individuals flows from a relationship with God and a desire to please Him. Jesus said there is no greater love than to lay down a life for a friend. That’s what He did for us. In return, He commands us to love others. How would we not fulfill His simple command after He gave it all for us? This is not about an onerous set of religious dos and don’ts—it is an invitation to be in an intimate relationship with the God of the universe. We are learning on the job what He is calling us to do in real time, in order to honor and glorify Him with all that He has entrusted to us, particularly our relationships with individuals. It gives us great joy and freedom to do this in the work we have been given to do. 

The danger in business, and really any organization or community, is that people are viewed as dispensable tools that are a means to an end. Reason and logic could persuasively be used to make the case that ends justify the means. In business, these ends might come in the form of a quarterly reporting number, a performance bonus or even just meeting the demands of the customer. It takes intentionality to look at each individual as a person with unique gifts, life experiences and circumstances entitled to dignity and respect. This really can’t be overstated. Everyone would claim to agree that individuals need to be treated with dignity, but when the rubber meets the road, is the highest priority of the business to strictly make money? Or does it truly put people before profits? It’s a vital question that any business leader needs to do a regular heart check on, particularly during a crisis when there is an enormous amount of pressure on the business. The great irony of course is that the businesses that put people before profits are the ones that have long-term financial success and a legacy that positively impacts the world, leaving it in a better place. These are not mutually exclusive. I would strongly argue these two things are more often than not, mutually interdependent.

In business, there are many individuals we interact with. There are coworkers, customers and what we refer to as the community. A community member is any individual who we interact with that is not part of the first two groups, such as vendors, neighbors, nonprofits, etc. We want to think of every interaction with any individual that we cross paths with to be an opportunity to have a positive impact. These could be once in a lifetime interactions or lifelong relationships that are made up of multiple years’ worth of interactions. In either circumstance, there is an opportunity to have a positive impact and alter the trajectory of a person’s life.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a real-life fire drill for testing our mettle around our purpose. There are many unique dynamics in play with regard to the health and safety of individuals in all three of the groups we serve as well as economic implications to individuals and the business. In some respects, it could be a temptation to get into a survival of the fittest mode. But our purpose demands us to look out to positively impact others, not just take care of ourselves. Positively impacting individuals may come at a cost to ourselves, particularly in the short term. These kinds of choices will take courage and fortitude, but we find time and time again that we are refreshed when we are in the habit of refreshing others. It is more of a blessing to give than to receive. 

Positively impacting an individual comes in numerous forms but it is summed up by making even a small contributive action toward another person’s good. Here are a few ideas for how to have a positive impact on an individual: 

1. Thinking well of the individual: Our attitudes and actions towards others start with how we think of them. We have a choice to make in this regard.
2. Praying for them: Pray for the people you know you will come in contact with or those you already have. Pray for individuals who have a specific prayer need. Keep a list of these and refer back to it on a regular basis.
3. Give an encouraging word: Words can give courage to people, specifically words that recognize the unique way in which an individual has impacted you for the better. We are challenging each other to target a 5:1 ratio of encouragement over criticism.
4. Listen and learn: We can have a positive impact on others when we demonstrate truly listening to them, asking good questions and learning from them.
5. Push boundaries: At times we need to push others outside of their comfort zones, to be firm, tough and maybe confrontational. We have the opportunity to help others achieve things they wouldn’t have achieved without our influence. Making a positive impact isn’t just about saying and doing “nice” things. 
6. Run into the fire: Interpersonal conflict and unresolved issues are great inhibitors of progress. Forgiveness and reconciliation are catalysts for breakthroughs of positive impact. This requires humility and grace.
7. Give generously: There are so many ways to be generous with individuals. The most important thing is to give without expecting anything in return.

Identifying our purpose is all about asking the question, “Why do we exist?” When we get to the bottom line of this question and truly own it, it is much easier to make what may appear to be tough decisions. It is very satisfying to realize that our very reason for existence is in alignment with what is best for the long-term health of the business and those who are affected by it.

Life is short. It goes by really fast. Each of us has an incredible opportunity to positively impact the individuals we come in contact with and we are in a unique position to do just that! This is particularly powerful in these unprecedented times.

Thank you for the positive impact you are making on individuals. I am so encouraged to see countless examples of this all over the world in response to this crisis.

Together, there’s nothing we can’t handle!