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“You’re gonna have to serve somebody.”

• Lyric from “Serve Somebody” by several artists (written by Bob Dylan), and as recently quoted during Lyric Week, and one of the 23 Twelve Greatest Songs of All Time

“God wants to use you to make a difference in the world.”

• Rick Warren, on page 233 of The Purpose Driven Life, a transformational book in Faith circles

I have two big meetings today. Both are financially significant, and more importantly, both offer me even more opportunities to make a difference in the world. A guy I know and respect, and in this case, disagree with, describes the best sales professionals as being “coin-operated.” That ain’t the mindset I’m taking to either meeting.

The best sales pros are curious. They broker in ideas. They solve problems. They seek ways to make a difference, and can often be paid handsomely for their work. But making a ton o’ cash ain’t what we’re called to do. We’re called to make a difference in the world.

Not to go all Jesus on you, and also not apologizing for going all Jesus on you, Warren says a few pages earlier in the book: “We’re created to, saved to, called to, and commanded to serve God.” That’s our Somebody, when we Believe.

Getting lyrical now, if we’re going to serve somebody, let’s decide who and why before we engage. “It may be the devil or it may be the Lord,” are the choices in the song. In the moment, it may be the money, the size of the deal, the reputation we get from winning it, or the “win” in the negotiation. None of those are a somebody (unless our somebody is ourselves – and I don’t think that’s the point of deciding whom we will serve…) And if we make the effort to determine before we engage, let’s remember while we engage.

Created, saved, called, and commanded to make a difference. That’s our contribution. That’s our mission. That’s our vision. Let’s git’r done today!