[Bishop David Epps on leadership and whining ... and how the two never mix  -- Rob]

It’s the bottom of the ninth inning and the opposing team leads by two runs. The team that is behind sends out the relief pitcher. On the mound, the highly paid relief pitcher gathers all his teammates around him and says, “Men, I’m going to do the best I possibly can, but I want to make this perfectly clear—I inherited this situation. This isn’t my fault. The starting pitcher left me this mess.”

Or flash to the Super Bowl. The starting quarterback has been injured

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I saw the title of this post earlier this evening on the back of a UHaul truck.  An obvious ploy to get one thinking about travel and the need for their services.  And not a bad question.

In the midst of this lingering (heaven forbid, a double-dip) recession, many people are feeling “stuck.”  Stuck in a job with no raises, reduced benefits, without the perceived ability to move on should the present circumstances be less than desired.  Many are “hunkering down,” conserving resources, hoping things don’t get worse, holding on until circumstances “get better” on their own.

While you may feel unable to make the big move at this time, don’t let the malaise suffocate you.  Look upon your current circumstances as an opportunity to learn and grow.  Your boss will, no doubt, be open to allowing you to take on new responsibilities, assuming that your work environment is as lean as others.

Yes, I know that you are running 90 miles an hour with your hair on fire already, so be particular about which responsibilities you volunteer for.  Ask for those tasks that will stretch you towards the person you are called to be.  Seek out a mentor.  Develop the skills commensurate with one who is earning what you hope to earn.  Your company may be able to provide other learning opportunities as well.  Ask.

Tight times invite each of us to grow or languish.  At FSTD, we are growing in skills (such as publishing, internet marketing, and direct sales) that we would never have embraced had the “good times” continued to roll.  But these efforts are consistent with who we want to be.  Who we are becoming.  They are preparing us to ride the wave when the economy does turn.

What about you?  Even if you feel stuck, we encourage you to ponder the question “Where will U go next?”