Having the unique perspective of a Christian, American manufacturing business leader and Chinese martial artist; Bob looks into the melding of our two cultures and what it means to our economy, our environment and our freedom of religion. Warning America that we are about to be conquered by the pen and the sword, Bob underscores our need to dig deep to resurrect the post WWII American work ethic and apply this to our efforts to turn the economy around. God doesn't expect us to stop working just because we don't have a job. In fact, He expects us to step up the pace. What's happening in America is we are being conditioned to depend on government handouts instead of taking the risks needed to compete for entry level jobs. There are jobs out there and ladders to climb! More than ever before there are Americans doing nothing all day long. Equally as bad, our large companies are wrought with ineffective managers, wasteful, non-value added jobs in the middle and minimal paying jobs to our least qualified, hardest working Americans on the front lines. Combine this with an out of control litigious society and no wonder our corporations are moving to China. The solution is spiritual! Maintaining a positive individual countenance is critical. This is best done through a mind steeped in thanks, and activities that focus on helping others. Begin each day asking God what He wants us to do for Him instead of asking Him what He can do for us! There is nothing more spiritual than doing His work first each day. Pray, sing, go to church all you want, but He expects work and obedience for His blessings. Underscoring the important role that excellent individual countenance and performance plays in the turnaround of our economy, Bob challenges Americans to honestly examine their own performance whether one is employed or not. As Uncle Sam asks; are you all that you can be? Bob challenges the need for classic managerial roles including our need for "bosses". We only need "bosses" if we don't hire qualified, English speaking people who are responsible and hard working. Bob asserts that we don't have a leadership crisis in this country, we have a followership deficiency. Everybody wants to be the Chief, nobody wants to be an Indian anymore. (Oh Oh, is that not politically correct?) Bob addresses the role that coveting plays in this endless American drama. We don't honor the kind of work that made America, "America" anymore. Our nation was built on the sweat and tears of farmers, steel workers, miners, assemblers, welders, teachers, secretaries, nurses and tradesmen. Americans who worked very hard for very little with no government safety nets. Many of these jobs are being done in third world countries by people working for American companies for slave wages in horrific conditions in factories that pollute our environment at will. We are more than able to compete and win in this global market place, but we need to demand a level international playing field with regards to the safety of their slaves and how their processes effect the environment. Pollution knows no national boundaries. Bob asks why we allow goods to be sold in our country that are manufactured unsafely and pollute our air and water. Beijing is presently so polluted that respirators are required just to be outside! Americans need to work smarter, harder and complain less. We are at war. We need to behave that way. We need to have greater understanding of how important our role as followers is to God and our nation. Should we abandon patriotism for a larger world view? Not as long as we are one nation under God, and China is not! Wake up America! We have much work to do before Christ is ready to return. But be ready! Like any good boss, He wants to see us working when He gets here.
About the Author: Bob Smallwood's 36 year career in manufacturing was spent working for some of our nations most successful businesses in a variety of industries. He began his career pouring iron in the foundry at North American Rockwell's Draper Division in Hopedale, Massachusetts in 1972. He retired in 2008 from his position as President and CEO of SEMO Milling, LLC, a bio-fuel technology company and food grade corn mill in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Prior to this he was a General Manager at one of our country's finest integrated packaging companies for over a decade. He was lauded for his ability to motivate work forces and won "Plant of the Year" and "Employee Loyalty" honors more than once for a world-class business with over 75 divisions. Today Bob is the Assistant Chief for a small Colorado mountain village volunteer fire department and owner/lead instructor of American Hero Response Training (http: /www.americanherort.com), a small business that trains firefighters, search & rescue personnel and civilians on crisis response skills, fire arm safety and martial arts. Bob works in security for a local resort. He is also an active volunteer of the Crossroads Ministry, a non-denominational food bank in Estes Park, Colorado. In the summer he performs with his guitar and banjo for Rocky Mountain tourists. Most importantly, Bob is a happy Christian.