The worst and most important first impressions

First impressions are a big deal. Real estate agents call it curb appeal, in business, we add our elevator pitch to a firm handshake. Will Roger’s statement that “you never get a second chance to make a first impression” has stuck with us.

I delivered my worst first impression when meeting my wife-to-be’s 6’2” alpha male older brother. At a family dinner, I was carrying a paper plate with baked beans, and as I walked behind my future mother-in-law the plate folded and beans drooled into her hair. Yes, big brother got a big laugh - ouch.?

Not to top that one, but the first time I ever helped at a funeral, the zipper on my black slacks failed so I had to walk around with a bible to cover it up. You can guess it…the same big brother was there.

My list is long. You’ve probably had your own failed first impressions. Hopefully, they don’t represent a fail as epic as either of those experiences.

Jesus had his moment of first impressions, too.?

The first word of the first sermon Jesus preached was “repent”.?

That’s a word that’s been the subject of many a street preacher's sandwich board and has become a word with almost exclusively religious meaning. Unlike many other religious terms, it hasn’t found its way into the mainstream vocabulary like the word “evangelist,” which can now mean someone who promotes a brand, or the word “conversion,” which can now refer to clicking an advertising link.?

Repent as a term has remained stuck in the religious vocabulary, and as a result, doesn’t mean much to us in modern culture. When we do hear it we recall some movie about a T.V. evangelist. It doesn’t line up with the way Jesus used it.

Repent comes from the Greek word metanoia, which means, “change direction.”?

The first word of Jesus' first sermon was repent. That’s a strange way to introduce yourself.

Imagine trying that out when in a job interview. Instead of saying, “Hello, nice to meet you,” you would simply look someone in the eye and say, “Repent!”

Fasten Your Seatbelt

This idea of changing direction sets the stage for everything that Jesus did and said.

He was a reframer taking people beyond ethics to a way of life birthed in Heaven. Jesus is the greatest movement maker in human history, who started out with a group of misfits who had no funding, social influence, or a power base. He reframed the cultural traditions around him and demonstrated something new in relationships, worldview, and personal mission. He has transformed human history and impacted multiplied millions of people.

If you want to go along with what Jesus has for your business and your leadership you should take a cue from his first impression introduction.

If you want to follow Him, You’ll need to change directions…regularly.

Everything about following him in your business is going to be different than what you expect, or what the cultural norm dictates. He will take you on a ride requiring constant adaption and change.

When Jesus said, “repent,” he didn’t mean any of the things that our modern stereotypes suggest. He was talking about radically changing your perspective on life.

He was preparing people for real change. To the degree that some of those early disciples who responded to Jesus when he said, “follow me,” could have used roller coaster warning signs:?

• Keep all your body parts inside.?
• This is a loud, high-speed ride.?
• Don’t ride if you are not in good health.?

They saw things and even did things with Jesus they could have never imagined. He was setting the stage for what it means to participate in his ways. It is going to be a wild ride.

Make this assumption

When it comes to what God wants to do in your life, you should assume it will include some surprises. I find that many of the times when I hear the Lord’s prompting it catches me completely off guard. I can’t remember the number of times that I was moved to take a direction that I had completely written off, or wouldn’t have even considered.

You can just assume that His ways will be above your ways. In His Kingdom, you have to get comfortable with changing direction. It’s the first word of His first sermon.

We’re used to being flexible to adapt to changing market conditions or shift to meet customer needs, but there is a higher order at work when Jesus leads.?

The second part of Jesus’ first recorded sermon helps explain the reason that heart and mind changing is a prerequisite. If you read the whole sentence it says, ”You must change your hearts—for the kingdom of Heaven has arrived.” (Phillips Mathew 4:17)

The surprise, direction-changing reality of following Jesus is because the rulership of Heaven had landed like an army on D-day. He was announcing the attitude required to participate.

If you want a part in the marching forward of what God is doing on the earth, then the critical response is to be ready to change direction.

Some things still aren’t plug ‘n-play

Like modern software, lots of the skills that we put to work in our leadership and business can simply be bolted onto what we already know and practice.?

You can improve your communication skills, up your game in sales, hold better meetings, and work to improve your company culture along with lots of other skills. Many of those are plug ‘n play activities that you can use to improve your work.

But there is something about Jesus' way of doing things, that is completely different. Instead of plug ‘n play, he’s about the radical transformation of people and their world.?

So adding Jesus into your work and life won’t be like a nice sprinkle of cinnamon on your daily latte. It will be a lot more like a full remodel.

I appreciate the fact that he told us what we should expect right from the start. There was no loss leader or great discount offer to get us in the door. He made it simple. He was saying, “This is going to change you.”

That’s what you’re signing up for when you start thinking about what faith in your business might look like.??

What is shaping the direction of your leadership and business??

Jesus’ one-word introduction begs an important question: What is shaping the direction of your leadership and business??

I heard some great advice from a leader who was working in the sleight of hand and illusion capital of the world: Las Vegas. He said that in developing your leadership and business culture you have to be very careful to “mind your influences.”

And Jesus is giving us notice that no matter who your favorite business leader or sales hero is, you’ll probably have to change how you think.

Paul gives us an insight into this idea in his letter to the Roman church in which he tells them they shouldn’t be conformed to the image of the world around them (Romans 12:2).

The underlying Greek word for conformed should be familiar to you if you work in anything ranging from psychology to coding or digital communications. It’s the Greek word “schema.” It’s the mental blueprint that is used to organize information or thinking.?

Paul tells us not to be shaped or molded by the popular blueprint for business or leadership. That’s because Jesus' way is fundamentally different.?

• Instead of self-serving, it is sacrificial.
• It makes love the measure of value.
• It speaks the truth even when it’s not popular.
• It refuses to break someone who is already bruised.
• It sees promise when others see failure.

He’s following Jesus' approach to telling us that what seems common or normal in business and the direction that celebrity leaders might be taking us, isn’t the right one.?

Our culture and the demands of business and life want to mold us into a specific shape.?

Jesus responds with a simple instruction: change direction.

I’m always open to a personal conversation about how this impacts your life. At Brand Disciples offers an accelerator that helps business leaders learn to join Jesus on His mission in ways that transform companies, communities, and industries.??